Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha who is presently leading the Sri Lanka delegation to the 74^th Session of the UN General Assembly, met with Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General, Office of Counter-Terrorism (OCT) and his team and Ms. Michéle Coninsx, Assistant-Secretary-General (ASG) and Executive Director of the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly this week. Ambassador Kshenuka Senewiratne, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, and other senior officials were associated with the Foreign Secretary.

The Secretary thanked the UN and the international community who unreservedly condemned the Easter Sunday attacks, and for supporting the Government in numerous ways. He particularly noted that the recent visit undertaken by the ASG and Executive Director of the CTED, Ms. Michéle Coninsx had provided an opportunity to draw on international best practices in consolidating domestic efforts in countering terrorism and violent extremism among the relevant stakeholders.

Sri Lanka continues to monitor the developments in Afghanistan and remains concerned about the situation, including its humanitarian aspect.

Sri Lanka has been facilitating, with the assistance of its international partners, evacuation of its citizens from Afghanistan.  As of 30th August 2021, sixty six (66) Sri Lankans have been evacuated and seven (07) more remain to be evacuated while twenty-one (21) Sri Lankans have opted to remain in Afghanistan for the time being.

Sri Lanka hopes that all those who possess travel authorization from other countries will be allowed to proceed in a safe and orderly manner to the points of departure and travel out of Afghanistan.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

30 August, 2021

(https://mfa.gov.lk/sl-afghan-2/)

Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha who is presently leading the Sri Lanka delegation to the 74^th UN General Assembly Session, on Friday (27^th September 2019) met with Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under Secretary General of the United Nations Department of Peace Operations (USSG/UNDPO) at the UN Headquarters in New York to discuss obstacles placed on Sri Lanka’s Peacekeeping contribution to the UN.

Upon the Foreign Secretary seeking clarification on the statement made on 25^th September 2019 by the Deputy Spokesman of the UN Secretary General relating to Sri Lankan troops deployed for UN Peacekeeping, the Under Secretary General (USG) stated that only 25% of the troops from Sri Lanka presently engaged in peacekeeping operations will be replaced, when they complete their term in Lebanon. These places would be filled through a re-adjustment of existing peacekeepers presently in Lebanon. USG Lacroix confirmed that there will be no further reduction of Sri Lanka Peacekeepers.

Earlier, the Foreign Secretary pointed out that the President of Sri Lanka had appointed Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva as the Army Commander in the context that there were no factually substantiated or proven allegations of human rights violations against him, and by virtue of his being Chief of Staff at the time.

The Secretary observed that the Government of Sri Lanka disputes the credibility of the compiled reports relating to allegations against Lt. Gen. Silva. He recalled that the 2011 Darusman Report was so seriously flawed that the Human Rights Council at the time had rejected to issue it with a formal number, as a UN document.  Further, it was stated that the OHCHR Inquiry Report (OISL) of September 2015 made clear that “it was a human rights investigation and not a criminal investigation” and that “the names provided in the description of the chain of command do not imply criminal responsibility for those particularly alleged violations listed in this report, either as direct responsibility or under command or superior responsibility. Individual criminal responsibility can only be determined by a Court of Law with all necessary due process guaranteed.”  The International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) publication of January 2019 was a re-formulation of previously published flawed material. 

The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) as well as the Paranagama Commission reports, which were domestic processes that examined the allegations particularly with regard to the last stages of the conflict, have not found substantive evidence against the conduct of the current Army Commander, who has testified in person before both Commissions.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Sri Lanka Demet Şekercioğlu paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris on Wednesday 25 August at the Foreign Ministry.

During discussions, Foreign Minister Peiris highlighted the rich civilizational roots of Turkey, as well as the country’s harmonious co-existence of cultures, which is of interest to the world.  Minister Peiris underscored the importance of bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Turkey in the political, economic and cultural spheres, and reiterated Sri Lanka’s interest to further elevate existing good relations.

Extending warm felicitations to Foreign Minster Peiris on his new appointment, Ambassador Şekercioğlu emphasised the multifaceted nature of cooperation between Sri Lanka and Turkey comprising strong political ties, as well as cooperation in trade and investment, science and technology, education and culture, among other spheres. Minister Peiris referred to the potential to further expand bilateral trade, and the importance of the Turkish market for Ceylon tea exports.

Minister Peiris also expressed his deep appreciation for the support extended by Turkey in multilateral fora, and welcomed collaboration on thematic areas of mutual interest.

The discussions underscored the need for solidarity and cooperation among nations in addressing the global challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Foreign Minister Peiris, in this context, recalled with appreciation the donation of ventilators and personal protective equipment by Turkey to Sri Lanka in February this year.

State Minister for Regional Cooperation Tharaka Balasuriya, Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage and Senior Officials of the Foreign Ministry participated in the meeting.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

27 August 2021

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