Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

UNEDITED SPEECH  -  18.2.2015 

ගරු මංගල සමරවීර මහතා (විදේශ කටයුතු අමාත්‍යතුමා)

(மாண்புமிகு மங்கள சமரவீர - வெளிநாட்டலுவல்கள் அமைச்சர்)

(The Hon. Mangala Samaraweera - Minister of Foreign Affairs) 

Hon. Presiding Member, as you maybe aware, at the end of January, I was in Brussels, the home of the European Union. The objective of my visit was largely to revive positive relations and begin a new chapter in Sri Lanka-European Union relations, based on mutual respect and understanding. But, I was also in Brussels  to specifically address two very urgent issues of great national importance: firstly, the EU-IUU fishing ban which was announced on the 14^th of October last year and which came into force three months later, on the 14^th of January this year, exactly one week after the new President was sworn into office. Secondly, I went there to discuss the question of the GSP Plus tariff concession, which was withdrawn from Sri Lanka nearly five years ago as a result of the previous Government’s persistent reluctance to embrace good governance and ensure basic human rights. 

Read more: Foreign Minister's Statement in Parliament on EU visit, Fishing & GSP

The Government of Sri Lanka vehemently condemns the gruesome killing of twenty one Coptic Christian Egyptians by the terrorist group, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Libya last Sunday, 15^th February 2015.

Read more: Sri Lanka condemns the brutal Killing of 21 Egyptians in Libya.

President Maithripala Sirisena returned to the island today (Feb.18) after completing a successful three-day State visit to India.

This was the first overseas visit by President Sirisena after assumption of office last month.

During his visit, President Sirisena met with Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The President also met several political leaders and other dignitaries.

Read more: President returns after successful visit to India

Press Releases issued by Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

• External Sector Performance -December 2014
• Monetary Policy Review - February 2015
• External Sector Performance -November 2014
• Monetary Policy Review - January 2015

Economic Research Department

Central Bank

Colombo

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, Mangala Samaraweera will undertake an official visit to China on 27-28 February 2015, at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, Wang Yi. 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Colombo 

17^th February 2015

The Indian government is most keen to make Sri Lanka among the closest friends of India in the economic sector and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena’s official visit to India give great strength to this said the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He said so at the discussions with President Sirisena at Hyderabad House in New Delhi this afternoon.

Read more: India keen to make Sri Lanka a closest friend in economic affairs – PM Modi

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera visited Washington DC from 11-12 February. The visit which was his first to the US capital since assuming office as the Minister of Foreign Affairs followed the visit of US Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal to Colombo on 2-3 February and coincided with the completion of 30 days in office of the new Government in Sri Lanka.

Read more: Foreign Minister Samaraweera concludes successful visit to the US capital