Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner for Canada, Asoka Girihagama visited the Sri Lanka Pavilion and met with the Sri Lankan delegation consisting representatives from ten Sri Lankan companies who were on a promotional Mission to Canada at the Grocery Innovations Canada Exhibition which took place at the Toronto Congress Centre in Toronto on 22^nd of October 2019.

Grocery Innovations Canada is the only show in Canada which comprehensively connects grocery professionals and retailers. The show was an excellent opportunity for Sri Lankan companies to build relationships with the Canadian grocery sector as it brings together all facets of the grocery trade together under one roof.

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Consulate General in Toronto and Mr. Peter Murphy, Canadian Marketing Consultant had organized this promotional mission to Canada coinciding with the Grocery Innovations Canada exhibition in Toronto. The Sri Lankan delegation comprised of representatives from Sri Lanka Export Development Board, GP International Inc., Hero Nature Products (Pvt) Ltd, Ecoma Organics Ltd, Bio Foods (Pvt) Ltd, Samanala Natural Foods (Pvt) Ltd, Food & Nature (Pvt) Ltd, Jayalanka Suppliers, Sayaladu Coco Products (Pvt) Ltd, Waguruwela Oil Mills (Pvt) Ltd and Kandrick Tea Beverages Lanka. The Promotional Mission included a market orientation programme with a retail market visit, awareness sessions for Sri Lankan delegation and Sri Lanka product display pavilion themed “Island of Ingenuity” at the Grocery Innovations Canada Exhibition from 22^nd to 23^rd October 2019.

Sri Lanka High Commission

Ottawa

24^th October 2019

Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris met the Charge d’ Affaires of the Embassy of the State of Libya in Sri Lanka Amar A.M. Muftah,  on Wednesday, 01 September 2021 at the Foreign Ministry and discussed matters of mutual interest in the bilateral relations between the two countries.

The Libyan Charge d’ Affaires conveyed the felicitations of the Libyan Minister of Foreign Affairs to  Minister Peiris on his recent appointment as Foreign Minister.

Libyan Charge d’ Affaires Muftah briefed the Minister on the current situation in Libya, in particular the role of the interim caretaker government that has been in office since March 2021. He briefed on the preparations for the Presidential and Parliamentary elections to be held on 24 December 2021 and made a request for Sri Lanka to consider sending an election monitoring mission. Foreign Minister Peiris recalled that Sri Lankans have enjoyed universal franchise since 1931, 17 years before independence. He said that Sri Lanka, as a democracy is supportive of the efforts by Libya to further strengthen the democratic process and will consider this request.

The Foreign Minister highlighted that the Government is focusing on economic diplomacy, by improving trade relations and expanding the export market in the African region. It was agreed to continue discussions regarding improving Sri Lanka's trade ties with Libya in the tea, gem and jewellery and tourism sectors.

Minister Peiris apprised the Libyan envoy on Sri Lanka’s regional and multilateral engagements and it was agreed to continue close cooperation at the international level.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

02 September, 2021

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

The Annual Katina Ceremony of the Ottawa Buddhist Vihara was held on 19^th of October 2019 at the Foster Farm Community Centre in Ottawa. Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner for Canada, Asoka Girihagama, Sudharma Girihagama and family was the main sponsor of the event.

 The ceremony commenced with katina robe procession and religious observances followed by dana to the monks. High Commissioner Girihagama together with the staff of the High Commission and the Buddhist community in Ottawa offered Dana (almsgiving) to 20 Buddhist monks who attended ceremony representing many Buddhist temples across Canada and Sri Lanka. Then, High Commissioner Girihagama offered katina-robe to monks followed by the Punya anumodana speech by chief incumbent monk of Ottawa Buddhist Vihara, Venerable Walassmulle Sirisumana thero. The ceremony concluded with the vote of thanks delivered by the High Commissioner Girihagama.

The Government of Sri Lanka has been made aware that the UK Home Secretary has decided to maintain the proscription of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as a terrorist organization under the UK Terrorism Act No. 7 of 2000.

The Home Secretary’s decision, which has been taken following the judgement of the Proscribed Organizations Appeals Commission (POAC), rejects the application of a LTTE front organization to de-proscribe the LTTE in the UK.

The LTTE, therefore, remains a proscribed organization in the UK, as in over 30 other countries worldwide, including in the EU region.

LTTE was initially proscribed in these countries due to the group’s brutality and atrocities targeting civilians and democratically elected leaders, involvement in organized crime and other criminal activities that impacted global and regional security. The continued retention of the LTTE’s proscription worldwide, is a recognition of the continued threat posed by the remnants of the group working through its international network, which continue to finance terrorist activities, radicalize youth towards violent extremism and cause ethnic disharmony and disrupt cohesive living in every country in which they are active.

The Government of Sri Lanka is appreciative of the partnership with the UK, and all governments, in the global fight against terrorism, and remain committed to working with the UK in all efforts to mitigate terrorism and violent extremism, that threaten the lives of citizens, and endanger global and regional peace and security.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

2 September, 2021

(https://mfa.gov.lk/ltte-proscription-uk/)