Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

On the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will undertake an Official visit to India from 14^th to 16^th September 2015.

Read more: Visit of Prime Minister Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe to India

Ahmed A. Jawad presented his Credentials as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Governor General David Johnston of Canada at a ceremony held at the Rideau Hall in Ottawa on 10^th September. 

At an audience that followed the presentation, the new High Commissioner among other matters, briefed the Governor General on recent developments in Sri Lanka, including the Presidential and General Elections, and the emergence of a consensus based political culture in the country characterized by an all-inclusive approach. This he said included an engagement with the large Sri Lankan diaspora around the world comprising all communities. 

Read more: New Sri Lankan Envoy Presents Credentials in Canada

Hon. Dr. Harsha de Silva assumed duties as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, today, Friday 11th September 2015.

The Deputy Minister was received at the Ministry by the Secretary of the Ministry and other senior officials. A religious ceremony was held at the Ministry prior to his assuming duties.

Read more: Dep. Foreign Minister Dr. Harsha to focus on Economic Diplomacy

It is with profound grief and sorrow that we learnt about the death of forty - five soldiers from Armed Forces of the United Arab Emirates in Yemen while contributing to restore security and stability of the country.

It was indeed unfortunate that this news reached us soon after the visit of H. H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister of United Arab Emirates to Sri Lanka. 

The Government and the people of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka express their heartfelt condolences to the Government and the people of the United Arab Emirates on this tragic incident. 

The Government of Sri Lanka hopes that peace and normalcy will be restored in the region as soon as possible. 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Colombo 

9^th September 2015

The Audio of the Presentation of the Statement of Government Policy by H.E. the President of Sri Lanka made this afternoon at the ceremonial sitting of the first session of the Eighth Parliament has been recorded from the live stream and uploaded to the Ministry SoundCloud website. It can be accessed at the following link:-

https://soundcloud.com/spokespersonmfasrilanka/he-the-presidents-address-to-the-8th-parliament-1-september-2015

Your Excellencies,

It is my pleasure, this evening, to welcome all of you today to the Republic building, having been sworn in early this week as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. At the moment Sri Lanka has the dubious honour of having the smallest Cabinet in the world, having had the largest in the world last year.  At the moment we have a Cabinet of five, but the Government will be in place by Wednesday.

Read more: Remarks by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Diplomatic Corps based in Colombo, 28 August 2015