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Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa
OVER 38,000 SRI LANKANS IN 143 COUNTRIES SEEK TO RETURN HOME
Over 38,983 Overseas Sri Lankans (OSLs) in 143 countries at present seek to return home, based on information gathered mainly through the ‘Contact Sri Lanka’ Web Portal of the Ministry of Foreign Relations. This comprises 3,078 students, 4,040 short term visa holders, 27,854 Migrant workers, 3527 dependents and 484 duel citizens and others. Meanwhile since 21 April, up to now, 3600 OSLs have been repatriated from 15 countries, largely comprising foreign students and government officials on training, as well as their dependents.
Recognizing the need to collect data on vulnerable OSLs, the Ministry of Foreign Relations, with the assistance of the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), on 26 March 2020 created the ‘Contact Sri Lanka’ Web Portal, within a week following closure of the airport to inbound commercial flights. In parallel to the Portal, Sri Lanka Missions were also instructed to collect data on those who wish to return. The two sources, serve as the base for identifying vulnerable groups, prioritizing and repatriation.
The Contact Sri Lanka Web Portal also serves as a virtual help desk for the benefit of OSLs. According to Acting Director General, Economic Affairs (Multilateral) and Overseas Sri Lankans Anzul Jhan, since its launch, 78,033 Sri Lankans have registered on the Portal and a dedicated team operating effectively 24/7, have answered 7,788 questions posed by OSLs from across the globe – mainly on assistance on repatriation and consular issues, but also relating to other operational and policy matters.
The portal has not only been able to direct Sri Lankans to the nearest Sri Lanka Diplomatic Mission, specially where there is no Sri Lankan representation in the countries concerned, but also to help connect with vulnerable categories of Sri Lankans who are in need of food and also face medical emergencies, with provision of dry rations, medicines and in some occasions facilitating arrangements for shelter. It has also prompted streamlining issues pertaining to transfer of funds by migrants to Sri Lanka and to short term travellers and students from Sri Lanka. Some Missions have also helped students who faced issues in educational institutions and those whose employment contracts have expired to secure new employment agreements, so that they are not compelled to return due to unemployment.
Participating in a television discussion on Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation on Saturday (16 May), Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha said, the ‘Contact Sri Lanka’ portal has become a reliable analytical organizational tool in forward planning and in fine-tuning the relations and direct communications between the Ministry, the Missions and the OSLs. He also added that the Ministry looks forward to expanding its utility and functions in the future.
Questioned on the manner in which the Missions abroad have responded in the face of the many challenges posed by the present pandemic, the Foreign Secretary explained to the public the complexity of the multiple tasks the Ministry and Mission staff had to simultaneously address across the globe, in an unprecedented manner. These included meeting the concerns of diplomats and tourists in Sri Lanka, securing Missions abroad, addressing the demands of those who wanted to return, easing conditions on the ground for those who wanted to remain in their host countries in collaboration with host governments and communities, securing essential supplies both medical and food, ensuring Sri Lankan exports reached their destinations and markets were found for new products such as Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs), garnering donations for the COVID-19 fund to the tune of Rs.27 million, and engaging with the WHO and other multilateral, regional and bilateral partners in leveraging Sri Lanka’s interests.
Foreign Secretary Aryasinha said, in this context, it was noteworthy that at present out of the 67 Missions of Sri Lanka, 1/3 of Missions function with officers in acting capacity from the Sri Lanka Foreign Service (SLFS), in the absence of an accredited Ambassador/High Commissioner and also several vacant diplomatic posts. He believed this experience has given significant exposure to several young SLFS officers who were acting in the posts of Heads of Mission to face high pressure situations, taking swift and calculated decisions in analyzing the host country situations to identify vulnerabilities, while dealing with aggrieved communities. He believed that such experiences would enrich their future career and would hold them in good stead in their professional progression.
CHARGÉ D'AFFAIRES OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO SRI LANKA IBRAHIM ALI IBRAHIM AL GERGAWI CALLS ON FOREIGN MINISTER OF SRI LANKA PROF. G.L. PEIRIS
Chargé d'affaires of the United Arab Emirates to Sri Lanka called on Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris on 26 November 2021.
In his opening remarks, the Chargé d'affaires extended greetings from the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Al Nahyan and expressed the UAE government's willingness to enhance bilateral trade and economic relations with the government of Sri Lanka. Further, he also recalled the recent bilateral meeting held between Foreign Minister G.L Peiris with the Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, at the sidelines of the 76 Session of the UNGA, New York.
Responding to the remarks made by the Chargé d'affaires, Foreign Minister Peiris expressed that the Government of Sri Lanka and the UAE has witnessed extremely cordial relations, and during his tenure he is looking forward to further strengthening Sri Lanka's relations with the UAE. Minister Peiris also noted with appreciation, the support extended by the United Arab Emirates to Sri Lanka in the Regional and Multilateral Fora.
Foreign Minister G.L Peiris emphasized the importance of cooperation among the member countries of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), where Sri Lanka took over as the Vice-Chair during the 21st Council of Ministers Meeting held at Dhaka, Bangladesh, and commended the role played by UAE as former Vice-Chair for the progress of the Association.
He also stated that he is looking forward to further discussing and deliberating on these issues during his participation at the 5th Indian Ocean Conference – IOC scheduled to be held in December 2021 in Abu Dhabi, UAE which will be Chaired by the President of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa under the theme “Ecology, Economy, and Epidemic”.
Foreign Ministry
Colombo
28 November, 2021
FOREIGN MINISTER STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATION AT UNIVERSITY OF COLOMBO ANNUAL RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM 2021
Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris was the Special Guest at the inauguration of the Annual Research Symposium 2021, at the University of Colombo on November 23.
The symposium brings together distinguished academics representing a number of disciplines, and highlights the theme for 2021 – Impartial Research through an Interdisciplinary Approach.
The event was also attended by the Acting High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Vinod K. Jacob, notable academics from the Faculty of the university.
Addressing the opening plenary session, the Minister, while stressing the importance of the symposium, drew particular attention to two principal aspects of symposium: namely, impactful research and the methodology adopted, in the wider context of interdisciplinary approach.
Elaborating on the role of the University of Colombo, the Foreign Minister highlighted the importance of the institution in fostering interaction within our diverse communities, adding that it is an area in which the University is capable of doing much more, especially in offering programmes of instruction to not only undergraduates but to professionals and members of the community who would benefit immensely from the expertise the metropolitan University has to offer.
Minister Prof. Peiris highlighted the importance of multidisciplinary research, and its immense contribution in dealing with many of the issues the country is facing at the present juncture, particularly in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. The situation demanded the collaborative efforts of the many researchers, microbiologists and specialists who have been and are essential to crisis management. The Minister made special mention of the stellar contribution of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in this regard.
The Foreign Minister underscored the critical need for preparedness in crisis management, highlighting the recent Express Pearl disaster, and the invaluable contribution that an interdisciplinary approach could make in addressing the calamity and its collateral consequences.
Speaking further, Minister Prof. Peiris drew attention to the need for sustained research that can be undertaken in many fields that can inform the efforts of policymakers.
Elaborating on the genesis and evolution of the university system in Sri Lanka, Minister Prof. Peiris recalled the origins of the system and its development over the years from representing an elitist system to becoming a more inclusive system that welcomes students from a wide cross-section of society.
The Foreign Minister also highlighted the need for a change in the system to be socially relevant, in order to address the mismatch between the content of formal education and the availability of livelihoods, which would result in the production of employable graduates with competencies that match the job market.
Alluding to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Neighbourhood First” and its potential for shared success, the Foreign Minister highlighted the vibrant relationship between India and Sri Lanka and their peoples emphasizing the scope for multi-faceted regional cooperation
Minister Prof. Peiris concluded his remarks by pointing out the disconnect between academia and vocational training and the need for greater focus on vocational training institutes so that a greater number of persons qualified in various skilled trades and professional occupations could be incorporated into the higher education system.
Foreign Ministry
Colombo
26 November, 2021
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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.
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