Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

The Foreign Minister Prof. G L Peiris had a meeting with the Actg. High Commissioner of Pakistan in Colombo Tanvir Ahmad today to discuss the matters relating to financial security / compensation of the family of late Priyantha Kumara who was killed by a mob in Sialkot area, Pakistan last week.

While highlighting the long-standing friendship and trust between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, Minister expressed confidence that the Pakistan Government would take required steps that the family of late Priyantha Kumara gets justice.

Recalling the telephone call had with the Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday, the Minister said “he offered his condolences & promised to make available to Sri Lanka all the information from the probe at the earliest”.

The Foreign Minister also appreciated the intervention of Pakistan Prime Minister who has taken personal charge of this investigation and taken steps to immediately investigate the incident. He also welcomed the announcement of the donation of US$ 100,000 by the business community in Sialkot and payment of monthly salary of Priyantha Kumara to his widow.

Minister Peiris highlighted the fact that the Sri Lankan government is concerned about the future of the two children of the late Priyantha Kumara and the importance of receiving the payments on time.  He requested the Pakistan envoy to arrange a mechanism to ensure that the salary will be received by the family every month without any disruption.

Conveying his heartfelt apologies for the incident, the Acting High Commissioner assured that the Government of Pakistan has taken the necessary steps for a full investigation and ensuring  compensation for the family. The law enforcement agencies in Pakistan are working to ensure the safety of all other Sri Lankans living in Pakistan, he further stated.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

09 December 2021

(https://mfa.gov.lk/fm-pakistan-env/)

Modalities to issue temporary travel documents to undocumented workers abroad following proper authentication procedures has been agreed on by the Department of Immigration and Emigration. This follows consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Relations, Ministry of Skills Development, Employment and Labour Relations and Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE). It is intended to facilitate the repatriation of migrant workers, once the Government decides on a timeline for their repatriation.

This was discussed at a meeting convened today (04 May 2020) by the Minister of Foreign Relations, Skills Development, Employment and Labour Relations, Dinesh Gunawardena with the relevant line agencies.

The interest expressed through the ‘Contact Sri Lanka’ portal by migrant workers to return and the amnesties presently declared by Kuwait and Jordan were reviewed. The vulnerability faced by migrant workers particularly in the Maldives and possible measures to address it, was also discussed. The programme by the Foreign Ministry and the SLBFE to provide dry rations to the Sri Lankan migrant communities most affected was also assessed.

Minister Gunawardena briefed those present on the negotiations that have taken place with the foreign governments concerned and efforts being made to be responsive to these governments, while ensuring that any repatriation remains consistent with the ongoing quarantine process.

Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha, Senior Additional Secretary (Development) of the Ministry of Skills Development, Employment and Labour Relations Sujeewa Thissera, Controller General of Department of Immigration & Emigration Sarath Rupasiri, Chairman of Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Kamal Ratwatte, and other Senior Officials, participated at the meeting.

Sri Lanka’s envoy to Canada, Harsha Kumara Navaratne presented his Credentials as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner, to Governor General Mary May Simon of Canada at a ceremony held at the Rideau Hall in Ottawa on 7 December 2021. Senior officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, Canada and Diplomats attended the ceremony which was held to mark the presentation of credentials by four envoys representing Sri Lanka, Spain, Israel and the United States of America.

Following the welcome by the Master of Ceremonies, the Chief of Protocol of Canada, Stewart Wheeler introduced each of the four envoys.

The introduction was followed by the presentation of Credentials.

The Governor General in her welcome address outlined the bilateral relations shared between each of the four countries and Canada. Speaking of Sri Lanka, the Governor Genaral referred to the strong people to people ties and the large Sri Lankan origin diaspora in Canada, joint economic collaboration and development programmes between the two countries.

During an audience with the Governor General following the presentation of credentials, Sri Lanka’s new High Commissioner briefed Canada’s Governor General on recent developments in Sri Lanka. High Commissioner Navaratne stated that his priorities in Canada would include renewing reconciliation efforts, improving and increasing trade and investment ties between Sri Lanka and Canada and encouraging Canadian tourism and investments in Sri Lanka.

Prior to his appointment as Sri Lanka’s envoy to Canada, High Commissioner Navaratne was the Chairperson of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists headquartered in Bangkok which supports a network of socially engaged Buddhist practitioners and organizations in over 40 countries and currently leads two initiatives in South and South-East Asia bringing interreligious organizations to work together. As a follow up of these initiatives, the Buddhist-Muslim dialogue was set up in Malaysia and Indonesia. He was also a Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka and the Founder and Chairperson of Sevalanka Foundation, Sri Lanka, a community-based organization that provides rural services related to sustainable agriculture, fisheries, tourism, enterprise development, microfinance, environmental conservation, psychosocial support, and peace and reconciliation.

He is married with three daughters.

Sri Lanka High Commission

Ottawa

7 December 2021

Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris  met Minister of Foreign Relations and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on the sidelines of the 5th Indian Ocean Conference – IOC 2021 that was held in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.

Foreign Minister of U.A.E. welcomed the Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris to U.A.E. and recalled the friendly relations that exist between the two countries over the decades.

Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris extended congratulations to the U.A.E. Foreign Minister on the 50th Anniversary of the National Day of the U.A.E. which falls on 2 December 2021. The Foreign Minister of the U.A.E. emphasized the importance of enhancing friendly relations by high-level visits between the two countries and expressed his willingness to visit Sri Lanka in the course of next year. Foreign Minister Prof. Peiris mentioned that Minister Sheikh Abdullah would receive a very warm welcome in Sri Lanka.

Minister Prof. Peiris briefed the Foreign Minister on the country’s situation with regard to the Covid-19 pandemic and the successful measures being implemented by the Government of Sri Lanka to control the spread of the virus. Minister Prof. Peiris said that Sri Lanka consistently appreciates the support of the U.A.E. in multilateral fora, especially in the Human Rights Council and emphasized that Sri Lank cannot accept any intrusive external mechanisms when robust domestic mechanisms are vigorously moving forward.

Among the other topics discussed by the two Foreign Ministers were cooperation in the energy sector, enhanced employment opportunities for Sri Lankans in the U.A.E. and increasing the volumes of investment by the U.A.E. in commercial ventures in Sri Lanka.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

07 December, 2021

(https://mfa.gov.lk/fm-sl-uae-fm/)