Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Toronto together with Toronto Police Community Partnership and Engagement Unit and the Toronto Police Cricket Club organised a 'Sri Lanka Day' on 08^th September 2019 at the Toronto Police Perceval Cummins Cricket Field in Scarborough, Toronto.

'Sri Lanka Day' was ceremonially started with a procession carrying Sri Lankan national flags, Sesath and other traditional symbols and a march by Toronto Police Ceremonial Unit. After playing the national anthems of Sri Lanka and Canada, the event was adorned with traditional cultural dances of Upcountry, Bharatha and a bridal pageant.

Delivering the opening remarks, as the Chief Guest, Sri Lanka's High Commissioner in Canada  highlighted  the importance of sports in unifying all expatriates in Toronto and admired the assistance extended by the Toronto Police to organize this event under the theme of    “Partnership and Engagement”. The Superintendent of Toronto Police as Chief representative from the Canadian side, David Rydzik assured their support for partnership among all in his speech. Other dignitaries who graced the event as special guests were representatives from diplomatic corps and international organisations, senior Toronto Police officials, Member of the Sri Lanka Parliament Mayantha Dissanayake and other professionals from Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim and Malay communities.

The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Sri Lanka Holger Lothar Seubert paid a courtesy call on the new Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Prof. G.L. Peiris on Tuesday 24 August at the Foreign Ministry in Colombo.

At the meeting, Foreign Minister Peiris underscored the significance and multifaceted nature of Sri Lanka - Germany bilateral ties ranging from political, economic relations to longstanding cultural links and people-to-people contacts.

Ambassador Seubert highlighted the vibrant and productive cooperation existing between the two countries both bilaterally and multilaterally.  He also referred to the success of the recently concluded political consultations between Sri Lanka and Germany which covered a wide range of sectors.

Referring to the strong presence of reputed German companies in Sri Lanka, the Foreign Minister invited Germany to further optimise investment and trade opportunities in Sri Lanka towards mutual benefit.

Identifying development cooperation as an important dimension of bilateral cooperation, Foreign Minister Peiris expressed his sincere appreciation for the valuable vocational training opportunities provided to Sri Lankan youth through the German Technical Training Institutes in Katubedda, Kilinochchi, and the new training institute being set up in Matara.  Ambassador Seubert apprised the Foreign Minister on the Mahamodara Maternity Hospital (Helmut Kohl Hospital) in Galle, which is constructed with German assistance.

Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage and senior officials of the Ministry participated in the meeting.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

25 August, 2021

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

To all Sri Lankan migrant workers in Canada,

The Government of Sri Lanka is exploring the possibilities of starting  English Medium classes for children of migrant workers in government schools and to give priorities in the University admissions for them.

If you expect to enroll your children in government schools / universities in Sri Lanka for studies in the English medium during the next two years, kindly submit details of your children to the High Commission on  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it at the very earliest.

Sri Lanka High Commission 

Ottawa

The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Ottawa and Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Toronto virtually hold the first International Day of Remembrance and tribute to the victims of terrorism on 21^stAugust 2021 at 6.00 p.m.

The General Assembly, in its resolution 72/165 (2017), established 21 August as the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism in order to honor and support the victims and survivors of terrorism and to promote and protect the full enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The programme commenced with observing a minute of silence in memory of all victims of terrorism. The Acting High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Canada, Mrs. Sithara Khan delivered the welcome address. Consul General for Sri Lanka in Toronto Mr. Kapila Jayaweera also made an address. Hon. Yasmin Ratansi, Member of Parliament for Don. Valley East Canada and the Chair of the Canada Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group who addressed the event recalled her visits to Sri Lanka and to the Northern and Eastern Provinces and stated that “It was important to me visit some of the places where young kids who were taken by the LTTE to fight for them and hear the horror stories that Tamils themselves were used as human shields by the LTTE”.

The Keynote address was delivered by Dr. Sarath Chandrasekara, Sessional Professor in Sociology at the university of Toronto and McMaster University, former Civil Servant, Canadian Civil Service of the Federal Public Service and Professor of Social Work at the National Institute of Social Development (NISD) Sri Lanka. In his address, Dr. Chandrasekara defined ‘terrorism’ and genocide according to the UN definitions and also explained the countries which were vulnerable to terrorist attacks and how it had affected the social life of people in the world. He also referred to Sri Lanka’s experience and stated that the “LTTE forced people to contribute and Canada was a leading contributor in the amount of Canadian Dollars 280,000 per month which went for arms purchase. Tamil businesses in Canada were asked to pay 10% to 20% of their income or profit to the so called liberation war. Although Canadian RCMP was fully aware about of these transactions they were not allowed to publicize the details”. He further stated that the LTTE recruited young children as cadre and used women as suicide bombers. He also stated that the LTTE invaded public schools and recruited students, children to their cadre and also disable women were used as suicide bombers”

The event which was well attended was compered by Mrs. Lashinka Dammullage, Counsellor of the High Commission.

Sri Lanka High Commission

Ottawa

21^st August 2021

(youTube)