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Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Sri Lanka having paid its dues, calls on the UN to utilize resources in an effective, impartial and transparent manner

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Asserting that despite many domestic priorities Sri Lanka has discharged its obligations in paying its assessments to date, the Sri Lanka delegation to the UNGA this week called on the United Nations Secretariat to utilize the available resources received from the Member States in a more effective, impartial and transparent manner, at a time when the Organization is battling its worst financial crisis leading to the implantation of austerity measures and limited operations.

Sri Lanka’s delegate, Deputy High Commissioner in Canada Ms. Sithara Khan made this observation at the Fifth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on improving the financial situation of the United Nations on 18 October 2019, in the presence of the President of the General Assembly Tijjani Muhammad-Bande.

The delegate appreciated the Secretary General’s assurance to meet obligations to Member States providing troops and equipment to UN Peace Keeping Operations as promptly as possible based on the availability of funds. Sri Lanka also urged the Secretariat to fulfill its financial obligations with regards to the peace keepers identified to be replaced, at the point of repatriation and added that it was important for the UN Secretariat to ensure a predictive system of payment on all dues concerning peacekeeping operations.

Recalling that Sri Lanka had been a regular contributor to the UN Peacekeeping Operations budget since 1960, Ms. Khan also expressed concern regards the practices adopted by the Department of Peace Operations (DPO) recently in relation to Sri Lanka, which was in violation of a MoU with a sovereign country, while challenging the decision of a Head of State. The delegate observed that the Secretariat had failed to formally reply the written communications addressed on the relevant aspects of the matter for over a month and added that it was important to have formal communications in order to avert confusion and misunderstanding on information provided verbally. She also called on the UN Secretariat to ensure that such a misplaced process should not be allowed to be systematized, in order to avoid politicization of the decision making process and for professional ethics of the organization to be secured.

Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations

New York

18 October 2019

THAILAND DONATES COVID-19 RELATED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT TO SRI LANKA

Foreign Secretary Jayanath Colombage accepted a donation of medical equipment today (01/09) from Chargè d’ affaires of the Royal Thai Embassy in Colombo Tayatat Kanjanapipatkul at a symbolic ceremony at the Foreign Ministry. The donation was thereafter handed over to Secretary, State Ministry of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Dr. R.M.S.K. Ratnayake to be distributed to hospitals treating COVID 19 patients islandwide.

The donation comprises 30 oxygen concentrators, 02 ventilators, 108 oxygen tanks, 62 regulators/ cannulae sets, 160 pulse oximeters and 150 personal protective equipment (PPE) sets. This donation includes contributions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara Somdet Phra Sangharaj Wat, Bovoranives Vihara Foundation, Sri Lanka Association of Thailand, Thai-Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce and the Royal Thai Embassy in Colombo.

The Sri Lanka Embassy in Bangkok coordinated and made the arrangements to send the donation which was air transported by courtesy of Qatar Airways.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

01 September, 2021

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

Mrs. Sudharma Girihagama, spouse of Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Canada appointed to the new steering committee of the Asia Pacific Heads of Missions Spouses Association of Canada

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The new steering committee was appointed during the monthly luncheon meeting consisted of 25 spouses of Heads of Mission Spouses Association’s Asia-Pacific chapter held at the residence of the Ambassador for Japan in Ottawa on 04^th October 2019. Prior to Mrs. Girihagama’s appointment, Mrs. Aparna Swarup, spouse of India’s High Commissioner to Canada represented Asia region at the steering committee of Asia Pacific Heads of Missions Spouses Association.

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APOSTOLIC NUNCIO DISCUSSES EASTER SUNDAY BOMBING INVESTIGATION IN MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER

His Eminence Archbishop Brian Udaigwe, Apostolic Nuncio (the Vatican Ambassador) to Sri Lanka paid a courtesy call on the Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris on Tuesday 31 August at the Foreign Ministry.

During the meeting, the Foreign Minister explained that one of his first duties in his previous portfolio as Minister of Education was to confer degree awarding status to the Benedict XVI Catholic Institute at Bolawalana, Negombo, which was built by the then Defence Secretary, and present President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the armed forces. The Minister highlighted the importance of setting up the institution in not only imparting education but also developing social equity for the less privileged segments of society.

The Minister also expressed deep sorrow on the calamitous and horrendous tragedy, and the great deal of pain and suffering undergone by the Catholic Church, and his understanding of the sentiments of the Catholic Church, and the need for justice to bring all those who were responsible before the law.

Alluding to the sensitive nature of the ongoing investigation, the Minister emphasized the need to have an informed discussion with a view to facilitating to resolve the matters with His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith and the Catholic Bishop’s Conference at the earliest juncture.

The Minister further stated that the Government understands perfectly the sincere motivation and unendurable anguish of the Catholic Church and its purest of motives.

The Minister drew attention to certain groups who are trying to exploit the situation for their own purposes which he asserted were contrary to the genuine motives of the Catholic Church, highlighting the upcoming session of the United Nations Human Rights Council Session, scheduled to commence on 12 September, and the United Nations General Assembly which is to be held on 21 September, 2021. The Minister remarked that every endeavour should be made to ensure that the purest motives of the Catholic Church are not hijacked, either locally or internationally.

While expressing his sincere appreciation for the attention being received by the Catholic Church and Catholics in Sri Lanka, though they are a minority, the Papal Nuncio indicated that he has not witnessed similar recognition given to Catholics in other countries.

The Apostolic Nuncio suggested that a meeting could be arranged at an early date with a Committee of the Bishop’s Conference, so that the Government could discuss the relevant issues with representatives of the Church.

The Minister expressed appreciation of this opportunity, and said that the government is collecting all particulars from the Attorney General’s Department, the Police and other relevant State agencies to be able to provide the fullest information at the discussion with the Church.

The Apostolic Nuncio wished the Minister of Foreign Affairs every success in his new assignment.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

01 September, 2021

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

Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation of Sri Lanka, Arjuna Ranatunga leads the Sri Lanka delegation to the 40th Session of the ICAO Assembly, in Montreal

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Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation of Sri Lanka, Arjuna Ranatunga and Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Canada, Asoka Girihagama attended the 40^th Session of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly which was held from 24 September to 4 October 2019 in Montreal, Canada with a delegation of senior officials from Sri Lanka.

In his address at the Plenary on 28^th September 2019, Minister Ranatunga, the leader of the Sri Lanka delegation stated that significant progress had been made in the field of aviation in Sri Lanka due to the focus of the Government of Sri Lanka in promoting the aviation sector.

Minister Ranataunga stated that the Government of Sri Lanka had finalized a new National Civil Aviation Policy referred to as the NCAP in March of 2019 which emphasized the commitment of Sri Lanka to the importance of safety and economy of the aviation industry. He also noted that the ICAO Global Regional Air Navigation Plan would be used as the basis for planning, designing, equipping and managing Sri Lanka’s airspace. Accordingly, Sri Lanka’s airspace would be managed to keep pace with ICAO’s advocated policy of Aviation System Block Upgrade that fulfills the requirements identified by the national air traffic management programmes.

ICAO policies and guidelines on principles of non-discrimination transparency cost-relatedness and consultation with users in the determination of levies fees and charges relating to civil aviation would be incorporated in the NCAP together with the creation of a separate Accident Investigation Bureau along with the recognition of business standards for designation in Bilateral Air Services Agreements.

The Minister noted that Sri Lanka had achieved result well above the global average in the ICAO Safety Oversight Audit in both 2010 and 2018 and that the consistency in safety oversight was a result of the ongoing commitment of the Government of Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and other stakeholders. He also referred to the 10^th ICAN Conference in 2017 which was hosted by Sri Lanka and the 53^rd DGCA’s Conference of the Asia Pacific region in 2016.