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Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa
AMBASSADOR OF JAPAN TO SRI LANKA MIZUKOSHI HIDEAKI CALLED ON FOREIGN MINISTER PROF. G.L. PEIRIS
Newly appointed Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka MIZUKOSHI Hideaki paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister G.L Peiris on 30 November 2021.
The Foreign Minister warmly welcomed the new Japanese Ambassador and recalled the long-standing diplomatic relations between Japan and Sri Lanka. The Foreign Minister emphasized that Japan has continuously been providing extensive assistance and training opportunities to Sri Lanka in several areas under the Colombo Plan since 1951. Following the historic speech of former President JR Jayewardene, the then Finance Minister of Sri Lanka at the San Francisco Peace Conference, the Government of Japan as well as its people have greatly assisted Sri Lanka as a gesture of solidarity. Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital is one of the significant gifts from Japan to Sri Lanka that shows enduring friendship between the two countries.
The Foreign Minister extended his gratitude for the mega development projects which were implemented in the recent past in Sri Lanka with Japanese funds, such as “the Bandaranaike International Airport Development Project, New Bridge Construction Project over the Kelani River” and "Anuradhapura Water Supply Project", "Kandy City Wastewater Management Project." Additionally, the Foreign Minister stated that the Digitalization of Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Project which has been implemented under Japanese assistance will be a great value.
The Government of Japan has always addressed the real needs of the people of Sri Lanka. The Foreign Minister recalled that during his tenure as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo, the Japanese Government has donated resources to establish the Institute of Computer Technology for the University of Colombo which gave a valuable opportunity for the young people of Sri Lanka to improve their IT skills. The Japanese language is one of the very popular foreign languages among the younger generation of the country and he appreciated the contribution made by the Japanese Government to improve both IT and Japanese language skills among our youth.
The Minister appreciated the contribution made by Japan’s special peace Envoy to Sri Lanka Yasushi Akashi to the peace building process of Sri Lanka.
The Ambassador extended greetings from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan and expressed the Japanese Government’s eagerness to enhance bilateral trade and economic relations with the Government of Sri Lanka.
Further, he said that the 70th anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and Sri Lanka will be celebrated in the year 2022 and the Japanese Government will organize several activities to celebrate the anniversary. The Ambassador extended an invitation to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to visit Japan during the 70th anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between the two countries.
Foreign Ministry
Colombo
03 December, 2021
Remittance of funds to Sri Lankans abroad to pursue studies and on short term visits, to meet their expenses
SRI LANKA MISSIONS TO ACCELERATE TOURISM PROMOTION
Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga and State Minister of Regional Cooperation Tharaka Balasuriya jointly addressed the Sri Lanka Heads of Mission and Post abroad on accelerating the tourism promotion activities of the Sri Lanka Missions and Posts on 01 December 2021 at the Foreign Ministry. The Chairperson of Sri Lanka Tourism Kimarli Fernando made a detailed presentation on the wide range of tourism attractions in Sri Lanka and the way forward to increase the number of inbound tourists.
It was decided to vigorously promote tourism openings in several sectors including health, religion, food, environment, sports, film and music through the 66 Sri Lanka Missions and Posts in different parts of the world and review the progress on a monthly basis. Senior officials of the Foreign Ministry, Tourism Ministry and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau also participated in the meeting while the Heads of Mission and Post of Sri Lanka joined virtually.
Foreign Ministry
Colombo
02 December, 2021
SRI LANKA EXPRESSES SOLIDARITY WITH FAMILIES OF FOREIGN NATIONALS ON THE DEVASTATING LOSS OF LOVED ONES
In a post earlier today to Missions in Sri Lanka and abroad on the one-year anniversary of the suicide attacks on Easter Sunday, 21st April 2019, the Ministry of Foreign Relations observed:
“On this day, Sri Lanka remembers all those lives lost and changed forever in barbaric acts of violence one year ago. We share the grief of families who lost their loved ones and stand in solidarity with those countries which lost their nationals”.
These attacks on churches and hotels killed around 270 persons, Sri Lankans as well as foreign nationals from 14 countries from across the world, and injured many others, on a day venerated by Christians the world over. Among those killed were citizens from Australia, Bangladesh, China, Denmark, India, Japan, Netherlands, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, UK and USA.
In commemorating this date and the loss of so many lives in Sri Lanka, officials of Sri Lanka Missions in countries of accreditation which lost their nationals in these attacks, took the initiative to contact the families of those foreign nationals, to express Sri Lanka’s grief at their loss and offered continued solidarity. Others were conveyed formal sentiments of condolences through their respective Foreign Offices. The officials were in return met with grace and appreciation even at this time of remembrance of grief and irreplaceable loss.
FOREIGN MINISTER G.L. PEIRIS HOSTS WORKING DINNER FOR AMBASSADORS OF ISLAMIC STATES
Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris hosted a working dinner for the Heads of Mission of Islamic States in Colombo on 30 November. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa also joined the occasion as Guest of Honour.
The Minister exchanged views with the Islamic envoys on the constructive role played by the Sri Lankan Muslim community both historically and in the recent political and social life in the country. This enriching interaction with the Muslim community of Sri Lanka extends to the most cordial relations Sri Lanka enjoys with the Islamic states of the international community.
The Minister stated that Sri Lanka will continue to uphold its rich democratic tradition as a society where every person irrespective of their religion, ethnicity or race enjoys the freedom to express their identity by practising their own religion, culture and language. This is also reflected in the rich and varied legal tradition of Sri Lanka which includes personal laws specific to Muslim, Kandyan and Tamil communities, which Sri Lanka will continue to retain. In recent years, as in other parts of the world, fringe groups of extremists in the name of various faiths have tried to disrupt this social harmony and create confusion in our society, including through the misuse of modern communication technology and ungoverned access to social media. The Minister also explained to the Islamic envoys the legislative steps currently underway to curb such hate speech.
The envoys present agreed that diversity of religion and culture was a strength to Sri Lanka and expressed confidence in the measures taken by the government to clarify ambiguities spread by extreme elements, as well as other recent progressive step relevant to the Muslim community. They expressed their solidarity with Sri Lanka in these efforts as well as their cooperation in overcoming the challenges related to economic recovery and progress.
The Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister thanked the envoys for the open and constructive discussion, and for their goodwill towards Sri Lanka.
The following Envoys joined the working dinner – The Ambassadors of Sultanate of Oman, The State of Palestine, The Kingdom of the Saudi Arabia, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, The State of Qatar, The Republic of Turkey; The High Commissioners of Malaysia, Republic of Maldives, The People’s Republic of Bangladesh; the Actg. High Commissioner of Islamic Republic of Pakistan; Charge D’Affaires of State of Libya, The Arab Republic of Egypt, State of Kuwait, Islamic Republic of Iran, United Arab Emirates.
Foreign Ministry
Colombo
02 December, 2021
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