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A Petition was tabled at the Ontario Legislative Assembly (OLA) on 17 June 2020 by Hon. John Fraser, MPP representing Ottawa South to mark April as the Sri Lankan heritage month. This was made possible due to the tireless efforts by Sri Lankan associations in Canada, especially the Sri Lanka Canada Association of Ottawa (SLACO), which was in the forefront of this effort.

Comprehensive measures taken by the Ministry of Foreign Relations, in close coordination with the key Government Economic Agencies and the private sector to address and mitigate the impact of COVID 19 particularly on Sri Lankan exports, has helped in sustaining and regaining lost markets for traditional Sri Lankan exports, while enabling new opportunities. Exportswhich accounted for US $ 277 Million in April 2020, had increased to US $606 Million in May, and is expected to grow in the coming months, in line with the revised projections.

This observation was made by the Foreign Ministry’s Additional Secretary/Economic Affairs P.M. Amza, during an interview on Ada Derana on 10 June 2020, held to discuss the economic impact of COVID-19, and its demands and challenges for Sri Lanka.

The Additional Secretary said, since the outbreak of the COVID-19, the Ministry’s ‘Economic Diplomacy Programme’ has been playing a pivotal catalyst role, in partnership with Agencies such as the Export Development Board and the Tea Board, in facilitating Sri Lankan exporters to overcome the adverse impact of COVID 19. Despite the challenging circumstances, including disruptions to the global supply chains and logistics, the proactive stance of the Ministry and Missions abroad has seen the emergence of new market destinations as well as opportunity to regain the markets for Traditional Sri Lankan exports such as Tea, Rubber and fresh/processed food. As a result of the evolving global COVID 19 situation, Sri Lanka has also been able to target new products and markets particularly for Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and rubber based products (Face masks – 12 markets, protective gowns – 17 markets, Rubber Gloves – 12, Hand sanitizers – 12). Interventions made by the Ministry saw 344 MT and 220 MT of Ceylon Tea exported to Turkey and Egypt and 30 MTof frozen food to Oman, under challenging circumstances.

Read more: FOREIGN MINISTRY HELPS SRI LANKAN EXPORTERS OVERCOME ADVERSE IMPACT OF COVID 19

The Foreign Ministry has dispatched 10,000 kg (2000 packs) of essential items including dry rations, to be distributed through the Sri Lanka High Commission in the Maldives, amongst the Sri Lankan community members in Male and outer Male. This Is an effort to mitigate the many difficulties faced by the most vulnerable, particularly in Greater Male where a red alert has been declared by the Maldivian Government with the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, and access to food items and medicines is limited.

The Sri Lankan Airlines has collaborated with the Foreign Ministry in this cause, through carrying these support kitson a cost free basis on Sunday, 7 June 2020, by a Sri Lankan Airlines cargo flight to the Maldives. These individual support kits, to be provided, each comprise 18 items, which include basic commodities such as instant food packs and sanitary items and also much needed medicines that are commonly used by the community.

Approximately 7000 Sri Lankans are currently seeking repatriation from the Maldives, and of this, almost 2000 are in Greater Male. The Foreign Ministry has already consulted with the Maldivian authorities, who have expressed willingness for PCR tests to be facilitated to Sri Lankans being repatriated on payment, prior to departure.

In most capitals, the Sri Lanka Missions overseas availing of funds provided through a special allocation from the Sri Lanka Government and in collaboration with Sri Lankan Community Associations and local organizations, continue to support migrant communities abroad through the provision of dry rations and medicines. Where possible, they also assist in medical emergencies in their respective locations, while continuing to assist and facilitate in the repatriation process of those seeking to return.

Video Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sF1WeRYp1pnHbq7bbhIRgkknbStrsYKc/view?usp=sharing

Sri Lanka’s Acting Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Dayani Mendis, in a letter addressed to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, has raised concerns regarding the allegations made in a press release issued by the High Commissioner on 03 June 2020 regarding “clampdown” of freedom of expression during COVID-19, in which a reference had been made to Sri Lanka.

The letter highlights that it has become essential for all countries and Governments to take measures to counter misinformation and disinformation in the interest of protecting public health, particularly during the
COVID-19 pandemic. These measures are also in line with the consensus resolution on COVID-19 response adopted on 18 May 2020 at the 73 World Health Assembly (WHA), which also, inter alia, calls on Member States to provide the population with reliable and comprehensive information on COVID-19 and take measures to counter misinformation and disinformation.

Read more: SRI LANKA RAISES CONCERNS ON REFERENCE TO SRI LANKA IN OHCHR PRESS RELEASE