Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Sri Lanka's response to the joint statement issued by the UN Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide and the Special Advisor on the Responsibility to Protect

Responding to the joint statement issued by the United Nations Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide Adama Dieng and the United Nations Special Advisor on the Responsibility to Protect Karen Smith on 13 May 2019, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York Ambassador Dr Rohan Perera stated that their prejudiced statement only serves to sensationalize issues at a time the government is taking stringent measures to maintain law and order and quell unrest in the interest of safety of all and that it skews the situation on the ground and interprets post-April 21 events through a narrow prism of stereotypical labels, while disregarding the deeper and more nuanced issues at play.

The full text of the response is appended below:

Begin Text

Mr. Adama Dieng

United Nations Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide

Mrs Karen Smith

United Nations Special Advisor on the Responsibility to Protect

Dear Mr. Dieng and Mrs. Smith,

The Government of Sri Lanka has carefully reviewed your joint statement of 13 May 2019, issued as a note to correspondents, where you have expressed alarm on the ‘growing acts of violence on the basis of religion’ in Sri Lanka. While noting your concerns, we were taken aback by your oversimplified narrative of events that are nuanced and complex in nature.

For the past decade, the people of Sri Lanka had been enjoying their hard-won peace and freedoms, and had embarked on the arduous path of reconciliation and national healing after nearly three decades of struggling against separatist terrorism. As has been perpetrated by ruthless terrorist groups inspired by ISIL/ Da’esh with global reach in many parts of the world, the horrendous Easter Sunday attacks were intended to create division among us and destroy the very fabric of our multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural society, and deal an intentional blow to our economy. All peace-loving citizens of Sri Lanka are still trying to come to terms with the shock and aftermath.

While we mourn the loss of innocent lives, the support and solidarity from our friends in the international community, including the UN Secretary-General, have been overwhelming. We were reminded that we are fighting a common adversary in terrorism, and its associated manifestations of radicalization and violent extremism, which had taken many innocent lives from across many parts of the world in recent times.

THE FIRST CONSIGNMENT OF ASTRAZENECA VACCINES RECEIVED FROM JAPAN AT THE REQUEST OF THE PRESIDENT ARRIVED IN SRI LANKA DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY

Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena expressed his gratitude to the Government of Japan and its people on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka for donating over 1.4 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines to Sri Lanka at the request of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, under the COVAX facility. He made these special comments speaking at a media briefing at the Katunayaka Bandaranaike International Airport on Saturday (31/07) afternoon, after receiving the first consignment of the AstraZeneca vaccines (over 700, 000) donated by Japan.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa wrote to the Prime Minister of Japan requesting for a consignment of AstraZeneca vaccines to save the people of Sri Lanka from the COVID pandemic. Following this request, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Japan Sanjiv Gunasekara under the guidance of Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, and Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka Sugiyama Akira worked towards realizing this donation along with the UNICEF and the WHO in Sri Lanka. The Chief Sangha Nayaka of Japan Ven. Banagala Upatissa Nayaka Thero also assisted in this effort. Minister Gunawardena said that this consignment of vaccines will be used primarily to give the second dose of AstraZeneca vaccine to the 490,000 people in the country who had received the first dose.

This consignment of vaccines, brought to the Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport aboard a SriLankan Airlines flight UL 455 arrived from Narita Airport, Japan last Saturday afternoon, was received by Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena accompanied by Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka Sugiyama Akira, Minister of Health Pavithra Devi Wanniarachchi, Minister of State Prof. Channa Jayasumana, Advisor to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the Foreign Ministry Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage, officials from the Health Ministry, and representatives from UNICEF, WHO and other dignitaries.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

02 August, 2021

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

Vesak on the Hill 2019

The Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa, Canada joined Vesak celebrations on the Parliament Hill hosted by the Member of Parliament of Canada and a member of the Canada - Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group, Chandra Arya on May 18, 2019.

Addressing the gathering at the ceremony Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Canada, Asoka Girihagama appreciated the efforts of different Buddhist monasteries and temples in Canada to propagate Buddhism and celebrate Vesak by arranging various spiritual programmes. The High Commissioner also described the current situation in Sri Lanka and explained how Sri Lankans had celebrated Vesak in a simple manner this year by diverting from normal practices such as Dansalas (free Giveaways) to provide more assistance to the churches and families of the victims of the April 21^st attacks in keeping with the real practice of Buddhism.

VIDEO OF COUNTERFEIT “NIKE” SHOES WITH LTTE INSIGNIA CIRCULATING ON SOCIAL MEDIA

The attention of this Ministry was drawn to a video circulating on social media of a pair of shoes, bearing the NIKE logo and LTTE insignia.

On inquiry, NIKE, Inc. confirmed that the shoes depicted in the video have not been manufactured by NIKE.

The NIKE, Inc. also informed that they would investigate to ascertain the abuse of intellectual property and conduct appropriate enforcement as per company practice.

Foreign Ministry
Colombo

31 July, 2021

(https://mfa.gov.lk/nike-fm/)

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

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