Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Extension of Sri Lankan Visa

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Sri Lanka, it has been decided to extend the validity period of all types of Visas issued to foreigners who are currently in Sri Lanka.

You are kindly requested to proceed as advised below.

1. The validity period of all types of Visas will be extended for a period of 30 days from 14^th March 2020 to 12^th April 2020 
2. Please visit the Visa Division of the Department of Immigration and Emigration either on  08^th or 09^th April 2020 to pay the relevant fees and to obtain the visa endorsement on your Passport.
3. If you intend to leave Sri Lanka during the aforementioned period, your journey will be facilitated by paying the relevant visa fee at the Airport without any penalty.
4. The validity period of the Acknowledgement issued for applications already submitted to the Department of Immigration and Emigration to obtain visas, will also be extended for a period of 30 days with effect from 14^th March 2020 to 12^th April 2020. If you intend to leave the country during this time, a request to obtain your passport from the Department of Immigration and Emigration should be sent to the following E-mail addresses along with a copy of your air ticket. Necessary details in this regard will be communicated accordingly via the same channel.

 i.        This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

ii.        This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

iii.        This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

iv.        This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

v.       jithanieathukorala@gmail,com

 For inquiries:  +94771588724

You are kindly advised to refrain from visiting the Department of Immigration and Emigration premises during the above period. Any inconvenience caused in this regard is regretted.

This notice is issued on the instructions of the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration.

 

Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha has requested foreign governments to facilitate the appropriate extension of visas for Sri Lankans currently visiting their countries, and facing difficulty to return to Sri Lanka on account of the travel bans that have and will become applicable as part of the control measures on COVID- 19. He noted that the Government of Sri Lanka had on Tuesday (17 March) announced a one-month extension of all types of visas for those foreign nationals presently in the country, from the date of expiry of their present visas. He said such reciprocal arrangements were a common practice, and hoped that this could be facilitated for Sri Lankans, to minimize the anxieties faced by those travelling, in these exceptional times.

Foreign Secretary Aryasinha made these observations today (18 March), when he addressed a group of Ambassadors from Western Hemisphere, as part of the series of briefing sessions to keep the diplomatic community informed of the developments with regard to measures taken by Sri Lanka to control the spread of COVID-19.

While appreciating the supportive role played by the respective governments on assisting the Sri Lankan communities in their countries, the Foreign Secretary shared with the envoys present, the current status regards foreign nationals in Sri Lanka and some difficulties experienced by Sri Lankans overseas. He said, recognizing the concerns at present, all Sri Lanka diplomatic outposts now serve as emergency response units, where only limited consular and other services are continued to be offered amid the current challenges.

Concerns of foreign missions in Colombo over their citizens, facilities at the quarantine centres, and proper communication channels, were effectively responded to by the local stake holders present. The meeting also reached consensus on the smooth departure of foreign nationals, notwithstanding the closure of the airport for those seeking to enter Sri Lanka.

The envoys expressed appreciation for the efforts of the government in handling the situation, including extension of visas for their nationals, and assured that the request to reciprocate the same for Sri Lankans travelling in their countries will be communicated to their respective governments.

 

 

According to instructions received from Sri Lanka Health Authorities, all international Airports in Sri Lanka will be closed for operation of inward international commercial passenger flights (i.e arrivals) with effect from 0400hrs on 19 March 2020 (local time in Sri Lanka) until 2359hrs on 25 March 2020 (local time in Sri Lanka).

The closure will be reviewed by the Sri Lanka Authorities.

During the above mentioned restricted period the following will be permitted:

1. Aircraft Departures with passengers originating from Colombo, Stop overs, transit passengers or visiting tourists.
2. Emergency Diversions to Bandaranaike International Airport
3. Freighter Operations and humanitarian flights to Bandaranaike International Airport
4. Technical landings at Bandaranaike International Airport
5. Inbound ferry flights (without passengers) at Bandaranaike International Airport

The Government of Sri Lanka has temporarily suspended all types of visa issuance to enter Sri Lanka for two weeks with immediate effect to nationals of most affected countries, including Canada.

All types of Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), Entry Visas, Landing Endorsements, Multiple Entry Visas and Residence Visas already granted to Canadian nationals will be temporarily suspended and they will not be allowed to enter Sri Lanka for two weeks with effect from 23.59hrs (local time in Sri Lanka) on 17 March 2020 to 24.00 hrs (local time in Sri Lanka) on 31 March 2020.

This restriction does not apply to Diplomatic, Official and Service Passport holders.

 

Sri Lanka High Commission

Ottawa

16.03.2020

Further to the Ministry comment yesterday (14 March 2020), regarding one of the family members of an officer of the Foreign Relations Ministry being diagnosed with COVID -19, and the series of precautionary measures taken to avoid and minimize the possible risk of transmission of the virus, the Ministry wishes to update the following:

It is firmly asserted that the Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and members of the Sri Lanka delegation to the recent Human Rights Council Meeting in Geneva had only interacted with the Foreign Ministry official concerned prior to the officer’s sole contact with the affected family member who was already travelling in Europe on a private engagement, during the period of 29 Feb - 1 March 2020.

Minister Gunawardena has also not come in to contact with the said officer, following the officer’s own return to Colombo on 8th March 2020.

The officer concerned had arrived at the Ministry only on one working day during the week starting 9th March which was prior to the return of the infected family member to Colombo which happened a few days later from the officer’s arrival.

Nevertheless, as a precautionary step, all staff who have come in to contact with the officer concerned, during this one working day last week, staff and family members residing in the Ministry quarters where the officer and family member reside and the staff of the Geneva Permanent Mission where the officer concerned was working during the previous 2 weeks, have been advised to ‘self-quarantine’.

Further action has been taken to disinfect the relevant areas of the Ministry and the quarters.

Presently the Ministry official is in good health.

The Ministry will continue to monitor and assess the situation to ensure the safety of its staff, its visitors and the general public.

 

Ministry of Foreign Relations

Colombo

15 March 2020

Sri Lanka will lead the Science, Technology and Innovation sector in the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). A BIMSTEC Facility for Technology Transfer is planned to be opened in Sri Lanka in the future.  Sri Lanka will also appoint a Director to the BIMSTEC Secretariat in June this year.

This was agreed during the finalization of areas of cooperation among BIMSTEC Member States during the 20^th Session of the Senior Officials’ Meeting (SoM) Chaired by Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha on 3 March 2020. The SOM was preceded by the 3^rd Permanent Working Committee Meeting (BPWC) Chaired by Additional Secretary (Economic Affairs) P.M. Amza, from 1 to 2 March 2020 at the Ministry of Foreign Relations.

Sri Lanka is mandated to lead the sector on Science, Technology and Innovation under which cooperation in Technology, health and human resource development is also included. Bangladesh was mandated to lead Trade, Investment and Development, Bhutan - Environment and Climate Change, Myanmar - Agriculture and Food Security, India - Security (Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime, Disaster Management & Energy), Nepal - People to people contact (culture, tourism, forums of Think Thanks, Media etc) and Thailand - Connectivity. BIMSTEC Charter which is the institutional mechanism to effectively steer the process of regional cooperation under BIMSTEC was also finalized and is expected to be adopted at the 5^th BIMSTEC Summit.

Read more: Sri Lanka will lead Science, Technology and Innovation Sector in BIMSTEC

43^rd Session of the Human Rights Council – High Level Segment

Statement by Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister of Foreign Relations of

Sri Lanka

26 February 2020

Madam President

Madam High Commissioner

Ladies and gentlemen,

As this Council is aware, in November 2019, the people of Sri Lanka gave a resounding mandate to President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, to pursue a policy framework aimed at achieving the “four-fold outcome of a productive citizenry; a contented family, a disciplined, a just society and a prosperous nation”^[1]. It is envisaged to achieve sustainable development and peace in the country, firmly anchored in safeguarding “national security without compromising the democratic space available to our people”[2].

It was over a decade ago, on 18 May 2009, that Sri Lanka defeated LTTE terrorism militarily, bringing to an end three decades of conflict and suffering. The end of the brutal conflict advanced, secured and protected one of the fundamental human rights - the ‘right to life’ for all Sri Lankans- Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslims and others. I would like to state with pride that since May 2009, not a bullet has been fired in the name of separatist terrorism in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka never had any illusion that the end of the conflict against the LTTE terrorists, will overnight convert to a lasting peace. Although Sri Lanka was not a case of nation building, like many conflict situations that this Council is dealing with, we were mindful that Sri Lanka needed certain reviews and strengthening of existing structures, as part of a sustainable peace and reconciliation programme.

The government led by the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa, of which the current President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, initiated a sustainable reconciliation process in Sri Lanka to bring about ‘healing and peace building’, taking due cognizance of the ground realities at that time. This was viewed as an incremental and inclusive process, as it had taken even better-resourced countries several decades to address and achieve.

Read more: 43rd Session of the Human Rights Council – High Level Segment Statement by Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister of Foreign Relations of Sri Lanka