Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka Akira Sujiama called on Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and expressed his gratitude for the solidarity shown by Sri Lanka by participating in this year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. The meeting took place at the Foreign Ministry on 9th August.

Minister Gunawardena conveyed that the Government of Sri Lanka and its people are grateful to the Government of Japan and its people for donating 1.45 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines, at the request made by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to the Prime Minister of Japan. The Japanese Ambassador stated that the Government of Japan is very pleased with the prompt action taken by the Government of Sri Lanka to make the vaccines donated to Sri Lanka available to the public at the earliest.

Since the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries falls in April next year, both sides discussed at length on the possibility of holding a joint commemoration ceremony on the occasion. The two sides also exchanged information on bilateral relations between the two countries and the progress of the development projects in Sri Lanka under Japanese investment as well as new investment opportunities.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

10 August 2021

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

The 4^th Annual Kochchikade in Ottawa St. Anthony's Feast was held at Good Shepard Church in Orleans on 15^th of June 2019. The event was organized by the Sri Lankan Community living in Ottawa to celebrate the annual feast of St. Anthony's Shrine at Kochchikade in Sri Lanka.

Addressing the large gathering at the ceremony Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Canada, Asoka Girihagama highlighted the importance of St. Anthony’s Shrine in Kochchikade to Sri Lankan citizens regardless of their religion and race and underlined the significance of this feast which is annually celebrated on a grand scale at St. Anthony’s national shrine. High Commissioner also took the opportunity to pay tribute to the victims of the senseless terror attacks occurred in Sri Lanka on 21^st April 2019.

State Minister of Regional Cooperation Tharaka Balasuriya, speaking at the 28th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) held virtually on 6 August 2021, emphasised Sri Lanka’s commitment for enhanced cooperation with the ARF. The State Minister Balasuriya appreciated the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) for the initiatives to empower youth, sustainable use of ocean resources and promoting successful ocean based trading system, as well as combating and preventing cybercrime in the context of developing a digital economy through a collective mechanism.  Sri Lanka further expressed its commitment to work in tandem with ARF and contribute, with a focused effort, to promote ideas and best practices. State Minister of Regional Cooperation Tharaka Balasuriya represented Sri Lanka at the meeting which was chaired by the Foreign Minister of Brunei Darussalam Dato Erywan Yusof.

Sri Lanka was appointed to be a co-chair of the Inter – Sessional Meeting on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament 2022, together with Viet Nam and the United States. In this initiative, Sri Lanka will play a lead role in the area of use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. At this year’s ARF, Sri Lanka co-sponsored the Joint Statement to Promote the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda together with Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Australia, US, New Zealand and Canada, expressing Sri Lanka’s commitment to invest in youth for future prosperity.  Sri Lanka will also host a Workshop in the field of disaster management contributing to the discussion on nurturing a climate of stability, especially in the dynamic disaster prone Southeast Asian region.

The participating ministers from member countries exchanged views on a wide array of issues facing the region including possible future challenges.  All members endorsed the importance of enhancing regional and international solidarity and cooperation towards a collective and effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic and advancing global recovery.

The Meeting also expressed concerns over the situation in Myanmar and urged to address the issues as agreed at the ASEAN Leaders Meeting on 24 April 2021, through the Five-Point Consensus and its swift implementation through a clear timeline.  Furthermore, all members called for achieving complete denuclearisation and establishment of permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula through diplomacy and dialogue.  Referring to the South China Sea, the meeting reiterated the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security and stability through peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with universally recognised principles of international law.  The Meeting further affirmed its commitment to addressing the complex challenges posed by terrorism, violent extremism and transnational crime, and the importance of ensuring security of ICT supply chains for economic growth, within the rapidly changing ICT environment.

ARF has over the years contributed as a premium platform for security, dialogue and cooperation in the region to deal with issues through a collective approach.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

10 August, 2021

(https://mfa.gov.lk/sm-28th-arf/)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs participated for the fourth time, at the ‘Rata Wenuwen Ekata Sitimu’ national programme, held under the guidance of President Maithripala Sirisena, with the aim of providing swift and sustainable solutions for issues faced by the general public.

As part of this national programme coordinated by the Presidential Secretariat, the Ministry organized a consular mobile service at the Maritimepattu Divisional Secretariat in the Mullaitivu District on 07 June 2019 and participated at the Mullaitivu District Progress Review Meeting, chaired by the President on 08 June 2019.