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Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa
LTTE PROSCRIPTION IN THE UK
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
Thirteen new Heads of Mission approved by High Posts Committee - Career HOM ratio rises from 37% to 54% within this year
The Committee on High Posts of the Parliament of Sri Lanka to Examine the Suitability of Persons Nominated/Appointed to the State Services and State Corporations (High Posts Committee) has approved the appointments of thirteen persons nominated by President Maithripala Sirisena, as Heads of Sri Lanka Missions overseas.
Among the thirteen new Heads of Mission appointed, there are nine career diplomats of the Sri Lanka Foreign Service (SLFS): Mr. A.S. Khan, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Nigeria, Mr. U.L. Mohammed Jauhar, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Kuwait, Dr. A.S.U Mendis, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Korea, Mrs. S. Shanika Dissanayake, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Jordan, Mr. W.G.S. Prasanna, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Vietnam, Mrs. Himalee Arunatilaka, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Nepal, Mr. Lakshitha Ratnayaka, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Cuba, Mr. P.R.S. Sugeeshwara Gunaratna, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Ethiopia and Mrs. D.P.C.W. Karunaratne, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Lebanon.
Sri Lanka maintains 52 High Commissions/Embassies overseas. With these appointments, the percentage of career diplomats who will head Sri Lanka Missions overseas will increase to 54%, from 37% at the commencement of 2019. Of the 27 Heads of Mission appointed this year, 23 have been from the Sri Lanka Foreign Service.
Colombo
10 August 2019
10 August 2019
Text in Sinhala (PDF)
Text in Tamil (PDF)
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
Sri Lanka High Commissioner to Canada attended Tri- City Cricket Tournament
Sri Lanka High Commissioner to Canada, M. A. K. Girihagama attended the 34th annual Tri- City Cricket Tournament organized by the Sri Lanka Canada Association of Ottawa (SLCAO) on 2nd of August at Hunt Club- Riverside Community Center. The event was attended by MP David McGuinty, Ottawa South, Hon MP Chandra Arya, Nepean among many other distinguished guests.
Two teams each from Ottawa and Montreal and one team from Toronto competed for the SLCAO Tri City Championship. The team from Toronto “TW Cricketers” won the championship. The event also consisted of a 1 hour complimentary softball cricket workshop/demonstration for children/youth, books giveaway and Sri Lankan acoustic music.
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
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- NORWEGIAN AMBASSADOR PAYS COURTESY CALL ON FOREIGN MINISTER
- High Commissioner Girihagama and Consul General Jayaweera participated in the 7th Annual Pilgrimage to Martyr’s Shrine – Sri Lanka Day by the Canada – Sri Lanka Catholic Association Ontario
- SRI LANKA SEEKS SAFETY OF TRAVELLERS FROM AFGHANISTAN
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