Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Leaders’ Summit on Peacekeeping:

Statement by H.E. Maithripala Sirisena President of Sri Lanka

New York, 28 September 2015

Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies  & Gentlemen, 

I thank you Mr. President,  and also the Leaders of the countries that are co-hosting this Summit for convening this important meeting at a critical time in the evolution of UN peace keeping operations. 

For over five decades, Sri Lanka has been making modest contributions to UN peacekeeping efforts. 

Read more: Leaders’ Summit on Peacekeeping - New York, 28 September 2015

Sri Lanka and the USA today (29 September) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Rule of Law Capacity Building Assistance. The MoU was signed by US Ambassador Atul Keshap and Actg. Foreign Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo.

Read more: Sri Lanka and the USA sign MoU on Rule of Law Capacity Building Assistance

United States Secretary of State John Kerry called on President Maithripala Sirisena in New York yesterday evening, 27 September. 

Read more: US Secretary of State John Kerry calls on President Maithripala Sirisena

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier who visited Sri Lanka at the invitation of Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera concluded his one day visit to Sri Lanka today, Tuesday 22 September 2015.

Read more: Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany - concludes visit to Sri Lanka

Today we have achieved a path-breaking success in the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva at the current 30^th Session. 

For the last several years, Sri Lanka was repeatedly humiliated by the international community with Resolutions that censured the conduct of our country. Successive resolutions since 2012, adopted by divisive and acrimonious voting, resulted in repeated defeats and isolation for Sri Lanka. 

Read more: UN Human Rights Council Resolution on Sri Lanka: Comments by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera

Statement to the media by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Foreign Affairs after the official talks with the Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany, H.E. Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier 22 September 2015

Good morning ladies and gentlemen, 

I have just concluded a meeting with the Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany, His Excellency Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier. This is Minister Steinmeier’s first visit to Sri Lanka and we are indeed honoured and happy to welcome this distinguished minister to our country. I also hope that this visit will allow me to reciprocate the warm and cordial hospitality extended to me when I visited Berlin a few months ago in May. 

Read more: Statement to the media by Foreign Minister Samaraweera after the official talks with German Federal Foreign Minister Steinmeier

Statement by

 Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, MP

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka

General Debate of the 30^th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

Geneva, 14 September 2015

Mr. President

High Commissioner for Human Rights

Excellencies

Distinguished delegates 

I would like to begin by thanking you, and the members of the Council for the trust reposed in Sri Lanka at the 28^th Session and agreeing to defer the release of the Report of the OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka.

Read more: Statement by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, at the 30th Session of the UNHRC - Geneva