Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Under the directive of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Foreign Ministry reviewed the entry procedure today, 06 April 2021, as a measure of relief for prospective Lankan returnees.

Under the new procedure, Sri Lankans, dual citizens who travel on Sri Lankan passports, spouses and unmarried children of Sri Lankans, who are foreigners, and Sri Lankan seafarers arriving by air will be permitted to enter into Sri Lanka without prior approval of the Foreign Ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority.

The responsibility of maintaining a manageable number of passenger arrivals has however been entrusted with the Civil Aviation Authority, who will, through the respective airlines, regulate the numbers in a manner that would cope with the local capacities of quarantining and other logistics required.

All arriving passengers will be required to strictly adhere to health protocols and guidelines that are effective at the time of arrival.

Foreign Ministry
Colombo

06 April 2021

Today (07/04), Sri Lanka and Afghanistan signed the MoU on Establishment of a Political Consultations Mechanism between Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan.

The MoU that provides for regular engagement and partnership between the two South Asian countries was signed by Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and  representing the Government of Afghanistan, by  Afghan Ambassador in Colombo Ashraf Haidari.

Under the MoU, the two countries expressed confidence that Sri Lanka – Afghanistan bilateral partnership will grow further through active facilitation by both Foreign Ministries, thus enabling a yearly review of the whole gamut of bilateral relations.

This would cover areas such as political, economic, security, culture, health, social, people – to –people contacts and other areas of common interest including regional cooperation.

With this MoU, Sri Lanka completes the establishment of bilateral instruments of Political Consultations or Foreign Office Consultations with all countries in South Asia. The signed MoU remains an important bilateral instrument in the history of 63 years of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The two sides agreed to further enhance bilateral relations and to hold an inaugural session of the Political Consultations at a mutually convenient time in the near future. Close cooperation in economic and trade matters as well as connectivity with neighbours, and Members of the SAARC remains Sri Lanka’s foremost Economic Diplomacy goal.

Both sides underscored the high potential areas for bilateral trade, including tea, gem and jewellery, dry fruits, nuts and cereal and highlighted that direct air connectivity would provide both countries to have closer cooperation in tourism, cultural and social engagements.

The State Minister for Regional Cooperation, Tharaka Balasuriya, Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof Jayanath Colombage, and officials of the Afghan Embassy in Colombo and Foreign Ministry were associated with the event.

Foreign Ministry
Colombo

07 April 2021