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Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa
US AMBASSADOR CALLS ON THE FOREIGN MINISTER
The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alaina Teplitz called on the Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena 13 July. The Foreign Minister Gunawardena thanked the government and people of the United States for the assistance extended to combat COVID-19 pandemic and to mitigate the environmental and socio-economic impact of the MV X-Press Pearl disaster. He particularly appreciated U.S. government for sending emergency medical supplies such as PPEs and oximeters through the USAID as well as vaccines through the COVAX programme.
The Foreign Minister Gunawardena also welcomed private sector investments from the United States, utilizing the strong political and economic bilateral cooperation enjoyed by the two countries.
Other bilateral matters, including convening of Partnership Dialogue and Joint Commission of Trade & Investment Framework Agreement, were also discussed in detail.
Foreign Ministry
Colombo
15 July 2021
Awareness Programmes for the inscription of Tripitaka to be a World Heritage
The Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Toronto in co-ordination with the Buddhist temples in Toronto organized a series of events to mark the inscription of Tripitaka to be a World Heritage.
On Saturday, 16th March 2019, the first event was organized at the West End Buddhist Temple & Meditation Centre in Mississauga. The programme commenced with the observance of the five precepts followed by the Buddha Pooja. This was followed by two lectures which were conducted during the event on ‘Introduction to Tripitaka’ by Ven. Kusalagnana Thero and on ‘Thripitaka and Spiritual values of Sri Lankan Social Life’ by Dr. Sarath Chandrasekera of the University of Toronto.
SRI LANKA AND AUSTRALIA TO STRENGTHEN PRACTICAL COOPERATION
Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena during a meeting with the Australian High Commissioner David Holly on 13 July 2021 discussed avenues for consolidating relations between the two countries in multiple spheres to achieve tangible outcomes.
Following up from the successful telephone conversation held with the Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne in June this year, the two sides discussed ways and means to enhance the capacity of the Sri Lankan Marine Protection Authorities to minimize the damage caused by future maritime catastrophes. In this regard, the Minister Gunawardena extended Sri Lanka’s gratitude for the provision of personal protective equipment and gear to assist the coastal cleaning efforts due to the MV X-Press Pearl disaster. It was agreed to build a broad-based dialogue around the issue of maritime environmental calamities and the importance of curtailing the adverse impacts of such incidents through international and regional fora such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
The Foreign Minister Gunawardena appreciated Australia’s continuous support to enhance capability of the public health sector to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and projects implemented under Australian Overseas Development Assistance to bolster the socio-economic development in Sri Lanka.
The two sides also agreed to prioritize convening of bilateral consultations between the two countries in the political, economic and maritime sectors as key platforms for deepening and extending the bilateral partnership in keeping with the mutual interests of the countries. Advancing collaborations in the science and technology field through a structured mechanism, was also identified as a potential sector for exchange of expertise.
High Commissioner Holly affirmed Australia’s keenness to jointly promote Sri Lanka as an educational hub where international students could obtain Australian qualifications in Sri Lanka. While welcoming the education cooperation between the two countries and Australian Government’s current efforts to permit the return of international students to Australia, whose higher studies have been affected due to the ongoing COVID-19 related travel restrictions, Foreign Minister Gunawardena requested to consider the early facilitation of Sri Lankan students’ travel to Australia.
Foreign Ministry
Colombo
14 July, 2021
Sri Lanka at the Travel and Vacation Show in Ottawa
Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa operated the Sri Lanka booth at the Travel and Vacation Show which was sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism Development, Wildlife & Christian Religious Affair’s Sri Lanka.
The Ottawa Travel and Vacation Show which took place from March 30th to 31st, 2019 at Shaw Centre in Ottawa, attracted more than 17, 000 prospective travellers for the purpose of preparing their trips, discovering new destinations and seeking expert advice on their future holiday destinations. More than 45 countries were represented at this event through their tourism offices, tour operators and travel agents.
FOREIGN MINISTER DINESH GUNAWARDENA AND LUXEMBOURG MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS JEAN ASSELBORN REVIEW BILATERAL COOPERATION
Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg Jean Asselborn have agreed to strengthen and expand bilateral relations into new areas of mutually beneficial cooperation, leading to the celebration of the establishment of 50 years of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Luxembourg in 2022.
This understanding was reached yesterday (Friday, 09 July, 2021) during a video call between the two Ministers, as a follow up to Minister Asselborn’s official visit to Sri Lanka in January 2020, the first visit by a Luxembourg Foreign Minister to Sri Lanka. The two Ministers also agreed to celebrate this landmark anniversary next year in both countries in a fitting manner.
During their cordial discussion, both Ministers reviewed bilateral relations and underscored the importance of enhanced economic cooperation, especially in the financial sector with a focus on sustainable and green bond financing, trade & investment, air connectivity, employment, and education.
Minister Gunawardena briefed his Luxembourg counterpart on Sri Lanka’s progress in reconciliation, international assistance for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines and cooperation with multilateral institutions, among other matters of mutual interest.
Foreign Ministry
Colombo
10 July, 2021
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