Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Please see the latest list of urgently required medicines and medical equipment issued by the Ministry of Health on 27the June 2022.

List of urgently required medicines and medical equipment

Facilitated by the Sri Lanka  High Commission in Ottawa  the  Canadian  Organic Trade  Association (COTA) Executive  Director Tia Loftgard  had  discussions  on  promoting  organic  trade, capacity  building   and  areas  of possible  collaboration  with  the Export Development Board  (EDB)  Sri Lanka  on 10^th June 2022 virtually. 

Welcoming the participants   High Commissioner  Harsha Kumara Navaratne informed  that  the meeting  is an  extension  of  previous  discussions  with COTA on   improving  and expanding  the  organic trade base  of  Sri Lanka and  the  need  for  capacity  building . 

EDB   Chairman Suresh De Mel emphasised that organic trade  is one of the fastest growing markets with untapped potential for expansion.

According to a presentation made by EDB, there are 333 certified exporters, 626 certified processors and 20,679 certified farmers growing on 85,561.45 Ha.  The Sri Lanka export basket includes Tea, Coconut kernel products, Spices, Fruits and Vegetables, Food and Beverage, Traditional Rice, Herbal Products, Super foods and Essential oils. 

The National Organic Control Unit (NOCU) has been established under the EDB in July 11, 2014 and the EDB is deemed as the Organic Control Body of Sri Lanka in terms of section 29 of the Export Development Act. No 40. 

EDB  stated  that it is   looking  forward  to establish credible organic agriculture system in Sri Lanka  with independent certified farmer groups with a view  to increase  export  volume with  credible  organic input.  It  also  outlined  its  registration and  the  process  of  obtaining  mutual  recognition  for  organic standards  and on developing an automatic  stakeholder registration system.

Introducing the Canadian Organic Trade Association Tia  Loftgrad stated COTA is a  membership-based association for organic agriculture and products in Canada.  The  membership include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers’ associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, retailers and all points along the organic value chain. According to her, Canadians have spent $ 8.138 Billion in 2020 out of which $6.519 Billion was on food and beverage (non alcoholic). 

The EDB and COTA  discussed  on  collaboration  that   could  mutually  benefit  in  exchange  of best practices  and  obtaining  assistance  on  capacity  building. 

Deputy  High Commissioner Anzul Jhan,  and  Counsellor  Lashinka  Dammullage  participated  in the  discussions  while  Consul General  Thushara Rodrigo  and  Deputy Consul General Chandima  Kiriwandala   participated  from the  Toronto Consulate Generals  office.

Sri Lanka High Commission

Ottawa

13^th June 2022

The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Ottawa together with Prof. Janaka Ruwanpura, Vice Provost and Associate Vice President (International) of the University of Calgary and the University Grant Commission of Sri Lanka organized three virtual meetings to explore cooperation with Canadian Universities and academics.

The first meeting was to link U15 Universities with seventeen Sri Lankan State Universities.  The U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities is a collective of some of Canada’s most research-intensive universities, fostering the development and delivery of long-term, sustainable higher education and research policy in Canada and around the world.

The second meeting was with MITACS, which powers research & development creation by connecting private sector with the best post-secondary institutions to solve organizational challenges.  The discussion focused on exploring possibility of including Sri Lankan academics in its collaborative projects and the Globalink Research Award (GRA) Programme.

The third meeting was with Canadian Sri Lankan academics on building networks and partnerships to identify and address immediate mid-term and long-term needs of Sri Lankan universities.

The meetings were attended by Vice Provosts and Directors of International Relations of the Universities of Alberta, Calgary, British Columbia, Dalhousie, Manitoba, McGill, McMaster, Ottawa, Saskatchewan, Waterloo, and Western in Canada and Chairman of University Grant Commission and Vice Chancellors of all State Universities of Sri Lanka and Heads of Sri Lankan Missions in Italy and Los Angeles.

High Commission of Sri Lanka in Ottawa

10^th June 2022

Minister of Foreign Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris registered the Government of Sri Lanka’s emphatic protest and deep concern over the adoption of a motion in the Canadian Parliament on 18 May 2022 on the alleged genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka.

In a meeting with the Acting High Commissioner of Canada in Sri Lanka Amanda  at the Foreign Ministry on Friday 20 May 2022, the Foreign Minister categorically rejected the blatantly false content of the motion, and highlighted that its erroneous substance is fundamentally inconsistent with and contradicts the position of the Government of Canada that "it has not made a finding that there was genocide in Sri Lanka."Minister Peiris also pointed to the need for such technical terms with specific legal connotations to be used with caution and responsibility, as well as to the dangers of its seeming endorsement by any senior members of the Canadian Government.

Considering the inaccurate and prejudicial nature of the motion, as well as the negative perceptions on Sri Lanka generated in the public domain as a result of such conduct, the Foreign Minister requested the Canadian Government to take appropriate action to correct the fallacies contained in the motion.  The latter request was conveyed in the context of the strong bilateral relations of over six decades existing between Sri Lanka and Canada.

In response, Acting High Commissioner Strohan referred to the non-binding, non-legislative nature of the private members’ motion adopted in the House of Commons of Canada.  She also agreed to convey the content of the démarche to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development of Canada for appropriate action.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Colombo

20 May, 2022

(https://mfa.gov.lk/cahocom/)