Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Speech delivered by President Maithripala Sirisena at the 68th Independence Day celebrations on February 4, 2016

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Today we all join together to celebrate the 68th anniversary of Independence Day with pomp and glory. Since we got independence from the British Colonial rulers, we have been marking this momentous day of Independence every year and this is the 68th occasion.

Read Full speech in English (PDF), Sinhala (PDF), Tamil (PDF)

68th Independence Day Celebrations in Ottawa

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Sri Lanka’s 68^th Independence Day Celebrations was held at the Official Residence of the High Commissioner in Ottawa on 4^th February 2016. It was attended by a large number of Sri Lankan Canadians representing all communities. Religious discourses on the theme of national unity were delivered by the Buddhist, Hindu, Catholic and Islamic clergy.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit Sri Lanka

Accepting an invitation extended by the Government in February 2015, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein will undertake a four-day official visit to Sri Lanka.

The High Commissioner will arrive in Sri Lanka on the morning of Saturday 6 February and depart on the morning of 10 February.

Minister of External Affairs of India to visit Sri Lanka

The Minister of External Affairs of India, Smt. Sushma Swaraj will undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka from 5-6 February 2016 for the Ninth Session of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission. The Joint Commission, co-chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka and the Minister of External Affairs of India will be held on 5 February 2016 in Colombo.

Statement on the attack at the Bacha Khan University in Northwest Pakistan

Sri Lanka strongly condemns today’s terrorist attack at the Bacha Khan University in Northwest Pakistan.

Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this deplorable terrorist attack.

Sri Lanka condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and wishes to reiterate support towards all efforts to combat this scourge.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Colombo

20 January 2016