Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

State Minister of Foreign Affairs Vasantha Senanayake attended the Fifteenth Ministerial Meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) in Kathmandu, Nepal, on 11 August 2017. 

Read more: State Minister of Foreign Affairs Attends BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting in Kathmandu

The Dengue Epidemic that has become a concern in Sri Lanka for the past few months is successfully brought under control by the measures taken by the relevant government authorities and collective effort of the general public alike, Sri Lanka Tourism confirms. Reported cases have dropped by 35-40% since mid-July according to the sources of Ministry of Health. Regular campaigns were implemented to educate, clean up areas and other preventive measures have been taking place to control the spreading of the disease under guidance and surveillance of the Ministry of Health of Sri Lanka.

Read more: Dengue Epidemic in Sri Lanka is successfully brought under control

“Though I wind up as Ambassador to the USA, I want to say that I will forever remain an Ambassador for ‘U.S.-Sri Lanka relations.’ I believe there is so much that our two countries, though geographically distant, can achieve for mutual benefit”, Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam said addressing a distinguished gathering at a farewell reception hosted by the U.S. State Department this morning.

Read more: Farewell for Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam in Washington D.C.

Hon. Vasantha Senanayake, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka, had a bilateral meeting with H.E. Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada on Monday   (07 August 2017) on the sidelines of the 24^th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Manila and exchanged views on measures to strengthen relations and enhance cooperation between the two countries. 

Read more: Sri Lanka – Canada Bilateral Relations Reinvigorated

The State Minister of Sri Lanka Foreign Affairs Hon. Vasantha Senanayake, currently in the Philippines to attend the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)  met with H.E. Prak Sokhonn, the Foreign Minister of Cambodia on 04^th August 2017 in Manila during which meeting initiatives relating to economic and trade, tourism, education cooperation and the long standing cultural cooperation and Buddhist linkages were discussed.

Read more: Sri Lanka to Strengthen Cooperation with Cambodia

Hon. Vasantha Senanayake, State Minister of Foreign Affairs ended his five day visit to Ha Noi yesterday (02.08.2017) on his way to Manila, the Philippines to attend 24^th Asia Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial meeting. 

Read more: Hon. Vasantha Senanayake, State Minister of Foreign Affairs visits Viet Nam

The Department of Immigration and Emigration (DIE) of Sri Lanka has informed that as a part of ongoing effort to strengthen the integrity of the passport issuance process, the Department of Immigration and Emigration (DIE) has successfully introduced the mandatory collection of biometrics (fingerprint and digital face image) from passport applicants and Automated Fingerprint Identification (AFIS) checks on 15^th August 2015. The system was initially introduced for applicants applying for passports in Sri Lanka. At present, biometric data are not captured when applications are submitted through Sri Lanka Oversea Missions which has been identified as an area which could be a concern to the integrity of the passport issuance process. With the implementation of Phase II of the project, the Department has now decided to extend the system for applicants applying for passports via Sri Lanka Missions Overseas with effect from 01^st November, 2017. 

Read more: Collection of Bio Metrics from the Passport Applicants applying through Sri Lanka Diplomatic Missions from 01st November 2017