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Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

SRI LANKA, AS A GLOBALLY ACCLAIMED LEISURE DESTINATION, TAKES THE LEAD TO REVITALIZE THE REGIONAL AND DOMESTIC TOURISM INDUSTRY THROUGH ENHANCED REGIONAL COOPERATION

The Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka, jointly with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, organized a virtual business to business (B2B) interactive session on 17 August, 2021, with the Member States of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) to enhance tourism cooperation. About 100 tourism industry experts representing the public and private sector from twenty-seven CICA Member States participated in the webinar. The discussions focused on the importance and benefits of international collective efforts and joint endeavors to build a more resilient and sustainable tourism sector in the post-pandemic era.

Delivering the opening remarks, State Minister of Regional Cooperation Tharaka Balasuriya stressed that the Government of Sri Lanka has demonstrated its unwavering dedication and sheer commitment consistently though a worrying economic and social impact has been left by the dreadful waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. He stated that the Government of Sri Lanka was working with all the international organisations and friendly governments including the CICA Member States to defeat the pandemic and uphold the economic and social development aspirations of our peoples, to which the revival of the tourism industry will play a key role.

Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando in her keynote speech highlighted that Sri Lanka has all the attributes to position itself as a perfect post-pandemic travel destination with its wide-open spaces and a multitude of nature-based experiences and spoke extensively on Sri Lanka’s rich experiences and initiatives relevant to the revival of the tourism industry in the island nation during and the post pandemic era.

Past President of the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) Mahen Kariyawasan, President of the Association for Small & Medium Enterprises in Tourism (ASMET) Rohan Abeywickrema and President of the Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) Sanath Ukwatte also addressed the session. The session was moderated by Sri Lanka Tourism Marketing Director Dushan Wickremasuriya.

While sharing their experience and expertise on the subject, the Global industry experts participating in the webinar agreed to develop a road map conceptualizing the way forward for tourism revival within the CICA region in the post-COVID context.

CICA is a multinational forum of twenty-seven member States formed for enhancing cooperation towards promoting peace, security, and stability in Asia. Sri Lanka obtained the full membership of CICA in 2018 and currently serves as the co-coordinator for Confidence Building Measures in Tourism.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

18 August, 2021

(https://mfa.gov.lk/b2b-cica/)

 

Sri Lanka at the 8th annual Vesak in Ottawa and Asian Heritage Month Celebrations at the Ottawa City Hall

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The Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa participated at the 8th annual Vesak in Ottawa and Asian Heritage Month celebrations at the Ottawa City Hall on 5th of May 2019.

Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Canada, Asoka Girihagama together with the Staff of the High Commission offered Dana (almsgiving) to 16 Buddhist monks who attended Vesak ceremony representing many Buddhist countries.

Addressing the gathering at the ceremony Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Canada` paid his respect to late hon. Lakshman Kadirgamar, former Minister Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka who pioneered in UN to accept Vesak as an international celebration day. High Commissioner also highlighted the teachings of Buddhism such as respect to other ideas of beliefs, freedom for belief and noninterference of other cultures and how they have led to Buddhist Culture to co-exist among many other cultures and traditions in Canada. He also thanked the Mayor of Ottawa for proclamation of Vesak in Ottawa and acknowledged Government of Canada for accepting and facilitating Vesak in Ottawa.

 

FOREIGN MINISTER PROF. G.L PEIRIS ASSUMES DUTIES

The newly appointed Foreign Minister Prof. G.L Peiris assumed duties at the Ministry today (18 August, 2021) at a simple ceremony graced by outgoing Foreign Minister and the new Minister of Education Dinesh Gunawardena; State Minister of Regional Cooperation Tharaka Balasuriya; State Minister of Women and Child Development, Preschools & Primary Education, School Infrastructure & Education Services Piyal Nishantha De Silva;  Member of Parliament and General Secretary of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Sagara Kariyawasam; Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage and other officials. The Buddhist clergy led by the chief incumbent of the Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya Ven. Dr. Bellanwila Dhammaratana Nayaka Thero invoked blessings on the occasion.

Thereafter, both incoming Minister Prof. G.L Peiris and outgoing Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena met the senior staff of the Ministry. Addressing the occasion, Minister Prof. G.L Peiris stated that he was pleased to be back at the Ministry after six years. He commended the outgoing Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena for the leadership provided to the Foreign Ministry during the last two years and stated that in all activities of the Foreign Ministry, Minister Dinesh Gunawardena ensured that Sri Lanka’s inherent self-respect and dignity was not compromised.

State Minister of Regional Cooperation Tharaka Balasuriya and Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage welcomed the new Minister and stated that they looked forward to continue delivering on the mandate of the Foreign Ministry under his guidance. Both State Minister Balasuriya and Secretary Colombage thanked the outgoing Minister for his visionary leadership and guidance over the last two years.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

18 August, 2021

(https://mfa.gov.lk/fm-assumes-duties/)

   

First ever Sinhalese Heritage Day and 43rd Annual New Year Celebrations at the Parliament of Canada

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The inaugural Sinhalese Heritage Day and 43rd Annual New Year Celebration organized by the Sri Lanka Canada Association of Ottawa (SLCAO) was held at the Parliament in Canada on 27th April 2019. This event was organized in collaboration with Canada Sinhalese Association of Toronto, Sri Lanka United National association (SLUNA) of Toronto, Sri Lanka Canada Association of Manitoba (SLAM) and Friends of Sri Lanka in Montreal among others.

The ceremony comprised of Sri Lankan cultural dance/music performances, heritage stations exhibiting various aspects of Sinhalese heritage and complementary traditional Sri Lankan Food. The Sri Lanka High Commission station promoted Sri Lanka as a tourist destination and served complementary Ceylon tea to the visitors who attended the event.

 

EFFORTS TO EVACUATE SRI LANKAN NATIONALS IN AFGHANISTAN

The Foreign Ministry wishes to clarify the following with regard to the current situation in Afghanistan and the ongoing efforts to evacuate Sri Lankan nationals there:

  • The Foreign Ministry is currently in the process of working with international partners to facilitate the return of Sri Lankan nationals in Afghanistan, if they wish to return.
  • The Sri Lanka Embassy in Kabul, which is functioning from a hotel, currently does not have any Sri Lankan nationals present and is manned by one local staff.
  • The Embassy is in possession of details of forty three (43) Sri Lankan nationals in Afghanistan while the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLBFE) has certain details as well. The Sri Lankan nationals present in Afghanistan mostly work for the United Nations, international organizations, NATO military bases and private companies.
  • The Foreign Ministry remains appraised of the situation and will make every effort to ensure the safe return of Sri Lankan nationals, if they wish to return.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

15 August, 2021

(https://mfa.gov.lk/afghan-sl/)


   

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