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Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa
AUSTRALIAN HOME MINISTER HOLDS WIDE RANGING TALKS WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTER PEIRIS
The Australian Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews met Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris on 20 December 2021 at the Foreign Ministry during her official visit to Sri Lanka and discussed avenues for enhanced cooperation on a broad spectrum of areas.
The Foreign Minister expressed satisfaction with Australia’s significant involvement in preventing people smuggling and transnational crimes in Sri Lanka as well as in the region. The Minister reiterated that the vibrant partnership between Australia and Sri Lanka exemplified the highly effective and successful collaboration between the two countries in the field of preventing people smuggling and border security matters.
Minister Peiris also apprised the visiting Minister on the ongoing review of policies and laws, including the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in order to address the residual issues still remaining after the end of internal armed conflicts in 2009. Among the measures undertaken by the Government include the setting up of the Office of Missing Persons, Office for Reparations, the Office of National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR), SDG 16 Council and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.
During Minister Andrews’ visit, the Sri Lanka Border Risk Assessment Centre (BRAC) at the Department of Immigration and Emigration was ceremonially inaugurated jointly with her Sri Lankan counterpart, Minister Chamal Rajapaksa at the Department of Immigration and Emigration. Earlier in the day, both Ministers also signed the Memorandum of Understanding of Return and Readmission of Persons between Sri Lanka and Australia at the State Ministry of Home Affairs.
Referring to Australia’s experience in vocational education, Foreign Minister Peiris sought Australia’s technical assistance to strengthen Sri Lanka’s vocational education sector.
Minister also expressed keen interest in the proposed establishment of a Transshipment Hub in Sri Lanka to route Australian products through Sri Lanka to the other markets which would immensely benefit the Sri Lanka economy.
Furthermore, both Ministers also agreed to hold the next session of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on People Smuggling and other Transnational Crime in Sri Lanka in the coming months and agreed to work together closely to further enhance the cordial relations between Sri Lanka and Australia.
Minister Andews and Minister Peiris agreed on the need to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries next year, 2022 in a befitting manner.
Foreign Ministry
Colombo
21 December, 2021
FOREIGN MINISTRY AND FOREIGN MISSIONS CONTRIBUTE TO COVID-19 FUND
FOREIGN MINISTER CONVEYS SRI LANKA’S APPRECIATION TO CUBA FOR SUPPORT DURING COVID-19
The Minister of Foreign Relations Dinesh Gunawardena conveyed his deep appreciation to the Cuban Government for the support extended through the dispatch of a Cuban medical team to the Republic of Haiti to attend to the medical needs of Sri Lankans employed in Haiti. The Foreign Minister conveyed these sentiments during a meeting with the Cuban Ambassador in Sri Lanka Juana Elena Ramos Rodriguez on Tuesday 12 May at the Foreign Ministry. The five-member medical team was dispatched by the Cuban authorities on the express request of the Sri Lankan Government to support the over-100 apparel sector employees in Haiti.
The medical team which arrived in Haiti on 7 May, advised the Sri Lankan employees on best practices to be adopted for the prevention of COVID-19 spread, regular health screening, and primary care for those in need. In this regard, Minister Gunawardena once again conveyed his gratitude to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla through the Cuban envoy in Colombo.
The Foreign Minister also discussed COVID-19 containment measures adopted by Sri Lanka and Cuba, assistance sought by the Sri Lankan Government in obtaining diagnostic medical items from the Cuban Government to contain the virus, as well as future strategies for economic cooperation. Ambassador Rodriguez commended the Sri Lankan Government for the successful COVID-19 containment measures implemented through timely and centralized action, making use of the effective health system prevalent in the country.
The Cuban Ambassador updated the Foreign Minister on developments in Cuba and the Caribbean region, activities of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and connectivity between Cuba and the European and Asian regions. The discussion also focused on existing cooperation between Sri Lanka and Cuba in the bilateral and multilateral spheres on issues of relevance.
THE HIGH COMMISSIONER OF INDIA MEETS FOREIGN MINISTER
The High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay met Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris at the Foreign Ministry today and discussed the progress of the ongoing bilateral engagements between the two countries.
The two parties discussed an array of matters relating to areas of ongoing mutual cooperation and the outcomes of the recent visit of Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa to India.
Foreign Ministry
Colombo
16 December 2021
INDIA DONATES 4TH CONSIGNMENT OF ESSENTIAL MEDICINES TO SRI LANKA
The Deputy High Commissioner of India in Colombo Vinod Jacob today made a token handover of the fourth consignment of essential medicines and medical items to Minister of Foreign Relations Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister of Health and Indigenous Medical Services Pavithra Wanniarachchi, and Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha at the Ministry of Foreign Relations.
The consignment, which consists of around 12.5 tonnes of medicines and equipment arrived by a special Indian flight on 8 May 2020 in Sri Lanka, marks Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative to assist the neighbouring and partner countries to combat COVID-19 pandemic.
Following the symbolic handing over event, the Deputy High Commissioner called on the Foreign Relations Minister for a brief meeting to review the ongoing bilateral cooperation in the fields of politics, trade, tourism, health and regional affairs.
The Foreign Relations Minister appreciated the continued support of India in sharing vital resources including medical supplies as donations in the current period of common challenges. Minister Gunawardena expressed gratitude to the Indian Government for expeditious action in relation to the repatriation of Sri Lankan nationals in India in the midst of a national lockdown.
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