Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Secretary General of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Tenzin Lekphell paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Prof. G. L Peiris and briefed on his first official visit to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is the Chair of BIMSTEC (since 2018), and the Minister assured Sri Lanka’s commitment to furthering the goals of the regional organization.

Thanking the Government of Sri Lanka for hosting his visit the Secretary General informed that Sri Lanka has achieved much during its tenure which includes the finalization of the BIMSTEC Charter and the allocation of defined areas of cooperation among member States, which form the base of the organization.  Sri Lanka will host the 5th BIMSTEC Summit early next year where the Chairmanship will be handed over to Thailand.

As Sri Lanka  is  the lead  country  for Science  and Technology  and Innovation  with sub-sectors  of Health  and Human Resource  Development, the Secretary General  briefed the Foreign Minister on the  discussions  with  focal  sectors   which  included  meetings  with  Minister of Health Dr. Keheliya Rambukwella;  State Minister of Indigenous Medicine Promotion, Rural and Ayurvedic Hospitals Development and Community Health Sisira Jayakody; State Minister of Regional Co-operation Tharaka Balasuriya; State Minister of Skills  Development, Vocational  Education,  Research and Innovation Dr Seetha  Arambepola, and  Acting Foreign Secretary A M J Sadiq and  Ministry officials.

The Secretary General also paid courtesy calls   on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa   and commended the Government of Sri Lanka on its achievements in curtailing the impact of COVID 19   and the vaccination programme.  He also emphasized the need to revive economies in the region and informed that BIMSTEC has an important role to play in this area.  President Rajapaksa   emphasized the  need  for all member states  to  formulate  action plans under given sectors  that  would  reach  the  people  of  the  region.

The Secretary General also   paid homage to the temple of the Tooth in Kandy during his visit.

Additional Secretary Sabarullah Khan, Acting Director General Anzul Banu Jhan and Executive Assistant of the Economic Affairs Division Kalani Dharmasena were also associated with the visit.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

10 December, 2021

(https://mfa.gov.lk/bimstec-fm-sl/)

The Foreign Minister Prof. G L Peiris had a meeting with the Actg. High Commissioner of Pakistan in Colombo Tanvir Ahmad today to discuss the matters relating to financial security / compensation of the family of late Priyantha Kumara who was killed by a mob in Sialkot area, Pakistan last week.

While highlighting the long-standing friendship and trust between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, Minister expressed confidence that the Pakistan Government would take required steps that the family of late Priyantha Kumara gets justice.

Recalling the telephone call had with the Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday, the Minister said “he offered his condolences & promised to make available to Sri Lanka all the information from the probe at the earliest”.

The Foreign Minister also appreciated the intervention of Pakistan Prime Minister who has taken personal charge of this investigation and taken steps to immediately investigate the incident. He also welcomed the announcement of the donation of US$ 100,000 by the business community in Sialkot and payment of monthly salary of Priyantha Kumara to his widow.

Minister Peiris highlighted the fact that the Sri Lankan government is concerned about the future of the two children of the late Priyantha Kumara and the importance of receiving the payments on time.  He requested the Pakistan envoy to arrange a mechanism to ensure that the salary will be received by the family every month without any disruption.

Conveying his heartfelt apologies for the incident, the Acting High Commissioner assured that the Government of Pakistan has taken the necessary steps for a full investigation and ensuring  compensation for the family. The law enforcement agencies in Pakistan are working to ensure the safety of all other Sri Lankans living in Pakistan, he further stated.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

09 December 2021

(https://mfa.gov.lk/fm-pakistan-env/)

Sri Lanka’s envoy to Canada, Harsha Kumara Navaratne presented his Credentials as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner, to Governor General Mary May Simon of Canada at a ceremony held at the Rideau Hall in Ottawa on 7 December 2021. Senior officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, Canada and Diplomats attended the ceremony which was held to mark the presentation of credentials by four envoys representing Sri Lanka, Spain, Israel and the United States of America.

Following the welcome by the Master of Ceremonies, the Chief of Protocol of Canada, Stewart Wheeler introduced each of the four envoys.

The introduction was followed by the presentation of Credentials.

The Governor General in her welcome address outlined the bilateral relations shared between each of the four countries and Canada. Speaking of Sri Lanka, the Governor Genaral referred to the strong people to people ties and the large Sri Lankan origin diaspora in Canada, joint economic collaboration and development programmes between the two countries.

During an audience with the Governor General following the presentation of credentials, Sri Lanka’s new High Commissioner briefed Canada’s Governor General on recent developments in Sri Lanka. High Commissioner Navaratne stated that his priorities in Canada would include renewing reconciliation efforts, improving and increasing trade and investment ties between Sri Lanka and Canada and encouraging Canadian tourism and investments in Sri Lanka.

Prior to his appointment as Sri Lanka’s envoy to Canada, High Commissioner Navaratne was the Chairperson of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists headquartered in Bangkok which supports a network of socially engaged Buddhist practitioners and organizations in over 40 countries and currently leads two initiatives in South and South-East Asia bringing interreligious organizations to work together. As a follow up of these initiatives, the Buddhist-Muslim dialogue was set up in Malaysia and Indonesia. He was also a Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka and the Founder and Chairperson of Sevalanka Foundation, Sri Lanka, a community-based organization that provides rural services related to sustainable agriculture, fisheries, tourism, enterprise development, microfinance, environmental conservation, psychosocial support, and peace and reconciliation.

He is married with three daughters.

Sri Lanka High Commission

Ottawa

7 December 2021

Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris  met Minister of Foreign Relations and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on the sidelines of the 5th Indian Ocean Conference – IOC 2021 that was held in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.

Foreign Minister of U.A.E. welcomed the Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris to U.A.E. and recalled the friendly relations that exist between the two countries over the decades.

Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris extended congratulations to the U.A.E. Foreign Minister on the 50th Anniversary of the National Day of the U.A.E. which falls on 2 December 2021. The Foreign Minister of the U.A.E. emphasized the importance of enhancing friendly relations by high-level visits between the two countries and expressed his willingness to visit Sri Lanka in the course of next year. Foreign Minister Prof. Peiris mentioned that Minister Sheikh Abdullah would receive a very warm welcome in Sri Lanka.

Minister Prof. Peiris briefed the Foreign Minister on the country’s situation with regard to the Covid-19 pandemic and the successful measures being implemented by the Government of Sri Lanka to control the spread of the virus. Minister Prof. Peiris said that Sri Lanka consistently appreciates the support of the U.A.E. in multilateral fora, especially in the Human Rights Council and emphasized that Sri Lank cannot accept any intrusive external mechanisms when robust domestic mechanisms are vigorously moving forward.

Among the other topics discussed by the two Foreign Ministers were cooperation in the energy sector, enhanced employment opportunities for Sri Lankans in the U.A.E. and increasing the volumes of investment by the U.A.E. in commercial ventures in Sri Lanka.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

07 December, 2021

(https://mfa.gov.lk/fm-sl-uae-fm/)

Foreign Minister Prof. G. L Peiris and Minister of External Affairs of India Dr. S. Jaishankar discussed bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and India on the sidelines of the 5th Indian Ocean Conference in Abu Dhabi.

Cooperation in the economic sector, cultural as well as people to people initiatives, and joint initiatives in regional organisations formed the main subject matter of the discussion.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

06 December, 2021

(https://mfa.gov.lk/fm-sl-india-moea/)

The Swedish Ambassador concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka from New Delhi Klas Molin discussed matters of mutual interest during a meeting with Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris on Thursday 2 December 2021 at the Foreign Ministry.

Minster Peiris conveyed Sri Lanka’s felicitations to Sweden on the election of the country’s first woman Prime Minister.  The two sides appreciated the evolution of Swedish - Sri Lanka relations over the years from development cooperation to a vibrant, multifaceted partnership encompassing trade, investment and tourism ties.  Referring to the presence of Swedish companies in Sri Lanka, Ambassador Molin informed that further promotion of trade is facilitated by ‘Business Sweden’ which supports market expansion of Swedish SMEs.

Recalling Sweden’s contribution as an important development partner in the construction of the Kotmale Dam, Minister Peiris conveyed Sri Lanka’s readiness to increase engagement with Sweden in spheres of synergy including sustainable development, clean technology and ICT.  The Foreign Minister also apprised the visiting Ambassador of progress in reconciliation and development.

Ambassador Molin also met Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage during the visit.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

05 December, 2021

(https://mfa.gov.lk/swedish-amb-calls-fm/)

Newly appointed Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka MIZUKOSHI Hideaki paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister G.L Peiris on 30 November 2021.

The Foreign Minister warmly welcomed the new Japanese Ambassador and recalled the long-standing diplomatic relations between Japan and Sri Lanka. The Foreign Minister emphasized that Japan has continuously been providing extensive assistance and training opportunities to Sri Lanka in several areas under the Colombo Plan since 1951. Following the historic speech of former President JR Jayewardene, the then Finance Minister of Sri Lanka at the San Francisco Peace Conference, the Government of Japan as well as its people have greatly assisted Sri Lanka as a gesture of solidarity. Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital is one of the significant gifts from Japan to Sri Lanka that shows enduring friendship between the two countries.

The Foreign Minister extended his gratitude for the mega development projects which were implemented in the recent past in Sri Lanka with Japanese funds, such as “the Bandaranaike International Airport Development Project, New Bridge Construction Project over the Kelani River” and "Anuradhapura Water Supply Project", "Kandy City Wastewater Management Project." Additionally, the Foreign Minister stated that the Digitalization of Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Project which has been implemented under Japanese assistance will be a great value.

The Government of Japan has always addressed the real needs of the people of Sri Lanka. The Foreign Minister recalled that during his tenure as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo, the Japanese Government has donated resources to establish the Institute of Computer Technology for the University of Colombo which gave a valuable opportunity for the young people of Sri Lanka to improve their IT skills. The Japanese language is one of the very popular foreign languages among the younger generation of the country and he appreciated the contribution made by the Japanese Government to improve both IT and Japanese language skills among our youth.

The Minister appreciated the contribution made by Japan’s special peace Envoy to Sri Lanka Yasushi Akashi to the peace building process of Sri Lanka.

The Ambassador extended greetings from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan and expressed the Japanese Government’s eagerness to enhance bilateral trade and economic relations with the Government of Sri Lanka.

Further, he said that the 70th anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and Sri Lanka will be celebrated in the year 2022 and the Japanese Government will organize several activities to celebrate the anniversary.  The Ambassador extended an invitation to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to visit Japan during the 70th anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between the two countries.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

03 December, 2021

(https://mfa.gov.lk/japan-fm-sl/)