Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Sri Lanka was elected to the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on 11 November 2015 during the 38^th General Conference in Paris. Sri Lanka was one of six countries that qualified to serve on the Executive Board from the Asia and Pacific Group for the period 2015-2019, having received 149 out of 186 votes at the election in which there were eight candidate countries. The countries which were elected to the Executive Board from the Asia and Pacific Group with Sri Lanka are Malaysia, Viet Nam, Republic of Korea, Pakistan, and Iran

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/general-conference-38th/elections/results-executive-board).

Read more: Sri Lanka elected to the UNESCO Executive Board

Sri Lanka is deeply concerned about recent developments in the Maldives and events that have impacted on Sri Lanka, including the recent arrest of two Sri Lankan nationals in the Maldives, the questionable removal of a Maldivian social media activist who was in possession of a valid Sri Lankan visa, the stabbing of a Maldivian national in Sri Lanka, as well as the state of emergency that has been declared in the Maldives and the impeachment of the Vice-President.

Sri Lanka is also concerned by the impact of the State of Emergency on the fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution of the Maldives and urges the Government of the Maldives to uphold the commitments it has made – including as a member of the Commonwealth and signatory to the Commonwealth Charter – to the universal and Commonwealth values of democracy and the rule of law.

Having endured similar challenges in its recent past, the new Sri Lankan Government is committed to the principles of democracy, good governance and the rule of law.  We also believe that the right to dissent is an integral part of a functioning democracy. Unlike the previous regime in Sri Lanka which silenced dissenting voices in the guise of fighting terrorism, the new administration is committed to the fundamentals of democracy.

It is in this context that the Government finds it deeply disturbing that Sri Lanka, a country which has always maintained the closest friendly relations with the Maldives is being used to initiate questionable
action against political and social media activists. Sri Lanka encourages the Government of the Maldives to ensure that recent developments are not allowed to escalate into a source of regional instability.

Sri Lanka hopes that the Maldives will take steps to end the state of emergency, initiate measures to respect and protect freedom of expression and ensure that recent developments will not reverse Maldives' hard-won democratic achievements.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Colombo 

Joint Press Statement

Official Visit to the Kingdom of Thailand of H.E. Maithripala Sirisena,

President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

1-4 November 2015

President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Maithripala Sirisena and his delegation paid an Official Visit to Thailand from 1-4 November 2015 at the invitation of General Prayut Chan-o-Cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand.

Read more: Official Visit to the Kingdom of Thailand of H.E. Maithripala Sirisena, President of Sri Lanka

The Government and people of Sri Lanka are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives caused by the crash of Russian airliner Flight 9268 in Sinai, Egypt on Saturday, 31^st October 2015. 

Read more: Condolence Message on crash of the Russian airliner in Sinai, Egypt

Statement by Hon. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Minister of Justice on

Sri Lanka joining the Open Government Partnership (OGP),

OGP Global Summit, October 28^th, 2015, Mexico City

His Excellency Enrique Peña Nieto

Members of the OGP Steering Committee,

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, 

At the outset, I offer my profound gratitude to President Peña Nieto and the Mexican government for its gracious welcome and hospitality accorded to us in this historic city of Mexico. I also congratulate Mexico, as the outgoing lead chair of the Open Government Partnership for its efficient stewardship of this forum and look forward to working with co-chairs South Africa and France in the coming year. 

Read more: Sri Lanka joins the Open Government Partnership

U.S Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, Catherine Russell, is visiting Sri Lanka from 27^th -29^th October 2015. 

Read more: Visit by U.S Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Catherine Russell