Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Representative of Sri Lanka to the State of Palestine Nawalage Bennet Cooray presents Letters of Credence

Representative of Sri Lanka to the State of Palestine Nawalage Bennet Cooray presented Letters of Credence to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Palestine Dr. Riad Al-Malki at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates in Ramallah, Palestine on 03August, 2021.

During the meeting, that followed the presentation of Letters of Credence, Minister Al-Malki appreciated the longstanding ties with Sri Lanka and stated that Palestine is keen to expand the scope of bilateral cooperation in various aspects, especially with the development projects of the Palestinian International Cooperation Agency (PICA) and reactivating the Sri Lankan project “the Mahinda Rajapaksa Vocational Training Centre in Beitunia”.

Representative Cooray conveying greetings and best wishes from Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to Minister Al-Malki, expressed the commitment of Sri Lanka to further advance and strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries.

Representative Cooray pointed out that due to the prevailing global pandemic, it would take a while to process the starting of the Mahinda Rajapaksa Vocational Training Centre.

Minister Al-Malki expressed his gratitude for the support extended and the stance of the Sri Lankan Government on the Palestinian cause and Palestinian people in all international fora.

Representative Cooray stressed the solidarity that Sri Lanka shares with Palestine and its people and their right to establish an independent state. He expressed his willingness to strength the special relations nurtured between Sri Lanka and Palestine covering a multitude of areas.

Representative Office of Sri Lanka
Ramallah

09 August 2021

High Commissioner Girihagama attends Roundtable Luncheon.

High Commissioner Asoka Girihagama attended the Roundtable Luncheon with Deputy Speaker, Bruce Stanton hosted by the Embassy Connections Canada on 06th June 2019. During the Roundtable discussion, current political situation in Canada and its international relations were also discussed.

The Embassy Connections Canada is a non-political organization founded to provide spiritual support and assistance to Canadian Parliamentarians and foreign diplomats in Canada. In Ottawa, it facilitates networking between these leaders by organizing luncheons, roundtables, seminars and other activities featuring prominent Canadian leaders.

The Ambassadors of Poland, South Korea, Yemen, El Salvador, Latvia, Serbia and Jerry Sherman, President of the Embassy Connections Canada attended the Roundtable Luncheon.

FOREIGN MINISTER GUNAWARDENA STRESSES ENHANCED GLOBAL VACCINE COLLABORATION AT THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON COVID-19 VACCINE COOPERATION

Addressing the first International Forum on COVID-19 Vaccine Cooperation held virtually on 05 August 2021, Foreign Minister Gunawardena called for enhanced global efforts to forge closer cooperation between countries to enable the availability and affordability of COVID-19 vaccines to everyone in line with SDG 3 target to ensure access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.

While highlighting GoSL’s success in vaccinating more than 90% of its population over the age of 30 with the first dose of vaccination, Minister Gunawardena underlined that there still remained significant inequalities in vaccination programs across the world, that need to be remedied to successfully defeat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Towards this end, Minister Gunawardena thanked both bilateral and international partners, particularly China for the timely supply of over 10 million vaccines including the gift of 2.7 million Sinopharm vaccines to Sri Lanka’s vaccination campaign.

Foreign Minister also urged closer cooperation on research and product enhancement to maintain the quality of vaccine manufacturing.

The Forum, which was chaired by the Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi was attended by the UN Secretary General, Director General of the WHO, Foreign Ministers and Health Ministers of 24 countries, representatives of GAVI, CEPI and vaccine manufacturers. A Joint Statement on advancing vaccine cooperation was also released by the participants following the meeting.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

06 August, 2021

(https://mfa.gov.lk/fm-1covid-forum/)

HIGH COMMISSIONER OF INDIA TO SRI LANKA CALLS ON FOREIGN MINISTER

High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay called on Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on 03 August, 2021.

Minister Gunawardena thanked the government and the people of India for extending assistance to Sri Lanka in combating the COVID 19 pandemic and appraised the opening of the country for economic activities. The High Commissioner Baglay also appreciated Sri Lanka for lifting entry restrictions imposed on Indians if they are fully vaccinated as lifting of such restrictions would provide immense benefits for Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and the economy as a whole.

During the discussion, a joint commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of Independence of India and Sri Lanka was proposed in view of celebrating the centuries old cultural values shared between the two countries. Commemorating this milestone which consists of cultural and religious events such as Buddhist pilgrims' programmes and more importantly bringing down sacred Buddhist relics from India to Sri Lanka, which would the bilateral relations to flourish further.

The Minister Gunawardena underscored the government's priority in the field of renewable energy and he invited Indian private sector investments in the sustainable energy sector in Sri Lanka. While endorsing the Government’s move, High Commissioner Baglay stated that Indian investors are keen to invest in the renewable energy sector, especially in solar energy.

A wide range of areas of mutual interest such as the joint commission on renewable energy, air connectivity, mutual trade and investment ventures, technical cooperation for digitalizing Sri Lankan movies and regional cooperation in the BIMSTEC were also discussed in length.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

05 August, 2021

(https://mfa.gov.lk/india-slfm/)

Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa takes part in Heads of Mission Spouses Association (HOMSA) Charity event at Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health

Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa participated in the Heads of Mission Spouses Association charity event organized to raise funds for school supplies for Indigenous children in Ottawa on 11^th June 2019. This was the first time that the Mission participated in this annual charity event.

The spouses of Heads of Mission Spouses Association’s Asia-Pacific chapter organized this event together with a team at the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health, which is an Ottawa-based health centre aimed at supporting the Indigenous community in Ottawa. The goal of the event was to raise $10,000 to supply 50 children at the centre with basic school essentials as part of the centre’s “Walk in Beauty” program.