Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Ayubowan,
Mr. Chairman,
Excellencies, Distinguished Guests

I am deeply honoured to deliver the opening address at the Launch of the Sri Lanka Chapter of the United Nations Global Network on Migration. At the outset may I take the opportunity to extend a warm appreciation to Her Excellency Madam Hanaa Singer, the UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka and Mr. Sarat Dash, Chief of the International Organization for Migration for inviting me to deliver the opening address at this event.

The United Nations Global Network on Migration establishes a network on migration to ensure effective, timely and coordinated system-wide support to Member States. In carrying out its mandate, the Network would prioritize the rights and well-being of migrants and their communities of destination, origin, and transit. Most importantly, it places emphasis on those issues where a common UN system approach would add value and from which results and impact can be readily gauged.

In 2018 Sri Lanka, together with other UN Member States endorsed the Global Compact on Migration for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). This was the first successful attempt to comprehensively capture all important elements associated with international migration. The Government of Sri Lanka indeed, believes that the launch of this network, especially at this juncture, would be a valuable resource for the country. We are confident that this would strengthen the efforts and existing work of the Government of Sri Lanka to develop its national GCM implementation.

The 270 million international migrants amount to around 3.5% of the global population. 60% of this constitutes labour migrants. There is indeed overwhelming evidence to demonstrate the significant socio-economic contributions of these labour migrants to both the countries of destination (COD) and to the countries of origin (COO).

Sri Lanka has seen a tenfold increase in migrant numbers in the last two decades, and current estimates suggest that around 1.5 million migrants work overseas, with an annual outflow of about 200,000 persons. Around 800,000 of these overseas Sri Lankans work in the Middle Eastern region.

The Foreign Ministry has decided to resume document attestation services offered by the Consular Affairs Division of the Ministry to limited number of clients per day strictly on prior appointment basis with effect from 11 November 2020, in order to ensure uninterrupted efficient service for the general public in line with the health protective measures introduced.

Accordingly, an appointment should be made through the following web extension or telephone number prior to visit the Consular Affairs Division and the appointments will be available only from 10.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. during working days:

Web extension: http://consular.mfa.gov.lk/ONLINEBOOKING

Telephone: +94 112 338 812

The persons who have not made an appointment in this manner will not be allowed to enter the office premises located at the Ceylinco Building in Colombo 01 and the people in the areas of isolation/ curfew should refrain from visiting the office during this time.

For queries related to death, compensation, repatriation and miscellaneous matters of Sri Lankans overseas please contact the following:

Fax:+94 112 473 899              e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Please note that both the Regional Consular Offices in Matara and Jaffna, will also be opened for the general public during working days. Please make prior appointment through the following telephone numbers:

Regional Consular Office in Matara:  +94 412 226 697
Regional Consular Office in Jaffna:   +94 212 215 972

Foreign Ministry
Colombo

10 November 2020

His Excellency Harsha Kumara Navaratne, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Canada graced the Annual Award Ceremony of the Canadian Immigrant Magazine on 11^th August 2022 in Toronto  where two Sri Lankan origin Canadians, Professor Janaka Ruwanpura and Dr.  Sivakumar Gulasingam were among the Top 25 Canadian Immigrants of 2022. The annual awards program celebrates the achievements of inspiring Canadian immigrants.

Professor Ruwanpura is a scholar in construction engineering and an award-winning academic. He is the Vice-provost and Associate Vice-President (Research/international) and Professor of Engineering at the University of Calgary. Professor Ruwanpura has won international, national, provincial, and municipal awards for his academic accomplishments, research   and innovation. A few recent awards received by him include the Distinguished Alumni Award (Arizona State University), Life Time Achievement Award from Sri Lanka Foundation (Los Angeles) and City of Calgary’s International Achievement.

Dr. Sivakumar Gulasingam is an award-winning physical medicine and rehabilitation physician attached to University Health Network’s Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and an Assistant Professor of the University of Toronto. He is a medical graduate from the University of Colombo. Before migrating immigrating to Canada, Dr. Gulasingam had worked as the lead physician at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Sri Lanka. He is a national trainer and para-athletics classifier with Athletics Canada, International Paralympic Committee classifier and international trainer for World Para-Athletics and World Para-Dance Sports. Dr. Gulasingam is a recipient of many prestigious awards including Michael Gordon Award for Humanism in Medicine from University of Toronto and The Most Outstanding Young Persons of the Year - Humanitarian and Voluntary Services, Junior Chambers International (JCI), Sri Lanka (2004).

The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship of Canada, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Canada and a cross section of academic, professionals and business community in Canada attended the event.

Sri Lanka High Commission

Ottawa

18^th August, 2022