Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

State Minister of Foreign Affairs Vasantha Senanayake attends 12th Bled Strategic Forum 2017 in Slovenia and calls for further consolidation of bilateral ties during meeting with Slovenian counterpart

State Minister of Foreign Affairs Vasantha Senanayake attended the 12^th Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia on 4^th to 05^th September 2017 at the invitation of Hon. Karl Erjavec, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia. The visit was preceded by a bilateral segment on 30th August to 2^nd September 2017 in the Capital Ljubljana.

Read more: State Minister of Foreign Affairs Vasantha Senanayake attends 12th Bled Strategic Forum 2017 in Slovenia

Mrs. Gethsie Shanmugam has been awarded this year's prestigious Magsaysay Award at a ceremony on Thursday (31 August) in Manila for 'Rebuilding lives from the psychosocial wounds of war and violence'

Read more: Sri Lanka's Gethsie Shanmugam honoured with the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award 2017

Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana visiting New Delhi from 8^th – 10^th September 2017, called on the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and held talks with the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval called on Minister Marapana as well. 

Read more: Foreign Minister Marapana undertakes his first official overseas visit to India

The Ambassador for Sri Lanka to Nepal Swarna Perera will handover USD 50,000 from the Government and people of Sri Lanka as humanitarian assistance for those affected by the devastation caused by floods and landslides in Nepal.

Read more: Sri Lanka provides humanitarian assistance to the people of Nepal

Address by Hon Tilak Marapana

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka

Indian Ocean Conference 2017

31^st August- 1^st September 2017, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Excellencies,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies & Gentlemen, 

The Indian Ocean has historically been a powerful communication channel for the spread of culture, global trade and commerce. Today, the Indian Ocean’s traditional status as a major source of livelihood is more valid than ever before, as it remains an important international trade highway. 

Read more: Address by Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana, Indian Ocean Conference 2017: 31 August 2017

State Minister of Foreign Affairs Vasantha Senanayake paid a courtesy call on the President of Lebanon General Michel Aoun at Babda Palace in Lebanon during his official visit to Lebanon. On behalf of the President of Sri Lanka, the State Minister extended an invitation to the President General Michel Aoun which was warmly accepted. 

Read more: State Minister of Foreign Affairs Vasantha Senanayake Visits Lebanon

Hon. Tilak Marapana, Minister of Development Assignments assumed duties at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Friday 18 August 2017. 

Minister Marapana was received by the Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Prasad Kariyawasam and senior staff upon arrival at the Ministry. Following the lighting of the traditional oil lamp and holding of religious observances, the Minister officially assumed duties at the Ministry.

Read more: Hon. Tilak Marapana assumes duties as Minister of Foreign Affairs