Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Sri Lanka High Commissioner to Canada, M. A. K. Girihagama attended the 34^th annual Tri- City Cricket Tournament organized by the Sri Lanka Canada Association of Ottawa (SLCAO) on 2^nd 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.

The Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Sri Lanka Yuri B. Materiy paid a courtesy call on the newly appointed Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris on Friday 20 August at the Foreign Ministry.

During the meeting, Foreign Minister Peiris underscored the importance of Sri Lanka’s longstanding friendship and wide-ranging cooperation with Russia, and expressed appreciation for Russia’s support to Sri Lanka on issues of principle and relevance in multilateral fora.

The Foreign Minister’s sentiments were reciprocated by Ambassador Materiy who congratulated Foreign Minister Peiris on his appointment, and reiterated Russia’s interest in further expanding bilateral relations in multiple sectors including trade, investment and tourism, energy, science and technology, defence and counter-terrorism.

The meeting entailed reference to upcoming political consultations between the two Foreign Ministries; convening of the intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation; and commemoration of the 65th anniversary of Sri Lanka–Russia diplomatic relations in 2022.

The two sides agreed on the importance of pursuing shared solutions to common challenges faced by humanity today with the COVID -19 pandemic.

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

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

23 August, 2021

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

The High Commissioner, Asoka Girihagama and the Consul General, Kapila Jayaweera attended a Meeting with Sri Lankan expatriates at Brampton Buddhist Temple on 27^th July.

Around 100-120 Sri Lankan community members attended the meeting held in the temple’s sermon hall with the participation of the chief incumbent and other two monks. High Commissioner Girihagama explained the purpose of the meeting and briefed them on the activities of the High Commission and the Consulate, trade between the two countries, development projects, areas of cooperation and political issues that are currently being handled by the Mission and the Post including genocide allegations.

The Consul General, Mr. Kapila Jayaweera addressing the gathering explained the services rendered by the Consulate General office and issues that have impacted on Sri Lanka along with the action taken by the Mission and the Consulate.

The High Commissioner and the Consul General clarified various issues raised by the community members, which are related to dual citizenship, current trade activities, pension, genocide allegations and strategy to counter it. The chief incumbent and the organizers of the meeting appreciated the efforts of the High Commission and the Consulate to brief them on the current political scenario highlighted the importance of keeping them informed of the Mission’s and Consulate General Office’s activities.

Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka Akira Sugiyama while congratulating Minister Prof. G.L Peiris for his new appointment, reiterated Japan's continued support and cooperation to Sri Lanka when he called on the new Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris at the Foreign Ministry on 20 August, 2021. Ambassador Sugiyama mentioned that Sri Lanka and Japan maintain excellent partnerships at all levels and emphasized that Japan is committed to complete all ongoing development projects on time, and accelerate the implementation of impending projects despite challenges posed by the pandemic.

Foreign Minister Peiris thanked the Government and the people of Japan for extending steadfast support to Sri Lanka at its all-difficult times. Japan is a valuable partner of Sri Lanka in its fight against the Covid -19 pandemic, and the 1.4 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines recently donated to Sri Lanka by Japan were immensely useful to conduct an uninterrupted vaccination programme within the Western province in Sri Lanka.

Recalling Mr. Yasushi Akashi’s valuable contribution during the peace negotiations as a special envoy of the Government of Japan, Minister Peiris thanked Japan for understanding the ground realities in the country and its mediatory role in the international fora to find permanent solutions for the reconciliation and human rights issue in Sri Lanka.

While agreeing to celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year in a fitting manner, Foreign Minister Peiris and Ambassador Sugiyama both agreed to work tirelessly to enhance trade, investment, and people-to-people contacts between the two countries to a further height.

Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage was also associated with the meeting.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

23 August, 2021

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