Media Centre

News

Visit of Dr. Somkid Jatusripitak, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand to Sri Lanka 8-12 March 2016

DepPM-FM

Dr. Somkid Jatusripitak, Deputy Prime Minister in Charge of Economic Affairs of Thailand, arrived in Sri Lanka on 8^th March for an official visit, at the invitation of Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera. The visit is a follow up to the visit of President Maithripala Sirisena to Thailand in November 2015.

Joint Statement by Sri Lanka and New Zealand on the Occasion of the Official Visit to Sri Lanka by the Prime Minister of New Zealand

Pres-PM-NZ

JOINT STATEMENT BY SRI LANKA AND NEW ZEALAND ON THE OCCASION OF THE OFFICIAL VISIT TO SRI LANKA BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND, RT HON JOHN KEY ON 23-27 FEBRUARY 2016

1 At the invitation of H.E. Maithripala Sirisena, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, the Rt Hon Mr John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand, paid an official visit to Sri Lanka from 23-27 February 2016. During the visit, Prime Minister Key held official meetings with President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo.

Address of Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera at the US Institute of Peace

US-IofP

Address by

Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, MP

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka

US Institute of Peace, Washington DC

25 February 2016

Advancing Reconciliation and Development in Sri Lanka

Last February, soon after the election of President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Election held on 8 January 2015, I stood before a similar audience in this great city and outlined our plans and our vision for Sri Lanka.

Minister Mangala Samaraweera concludes successful visit to the United Nations

Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Mangala Samaraweera concluded a three day visit to New York to attend the UNDP 50th Anniversary Ministerial meeting held at the UN Headquarters, from the 21st-24th of February.

Awarding of compensation to families of deceased migrant workers by Actg. Foreign Minister

Thirty four families of deceased migrant workers in the Middle East were given compensation and salary dues by the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Harsha de Silva on 17th February 2016 at the Foreign Ministry. A total of Sri Lankan Rupees 57 million was awarded to the family members. This was the first awarding ceremony held at the ministry this year.

Initial consultations on the ICRC Report titled: “Needs of the Families of Missing Persons in Sri Lanka: Living with Uncertainty”, held at the Foreign Ministry

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with the ICRC delegation in Sri Lanka held a meeting today, 12 February, with the participation of representatives of relevant line Ministries and Agencies to discuss the ICRC report titled: ‘Needs of the Families of Missing Persons in Sri Lanka: Living with Uncertainty’. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Harsha de Silva, and held at the Ministry premises.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit Sri Lanka

Accepting an invitation extended by the Government in February 2015, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein will undertake a four-day official visit to Sri Lanka.

The High Commissioner will arrive in Sri Lanka on the morning of Saturday 6 February and depart on the morning of 10 February.

Minister of External Affairs of India to visit Sri Lanka

The Minister of External Affairs of India, Smt. Sushma Swaraj will undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka from 5-6 February 2016 for the Ninth Session of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission. The Joint Commission, co-chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka and the Minister of External Affairs of India will be held on 5 February 2016 in Colombo.

‘No foreign influences in drafting new constitution’ – President emphasized

pres.sl

President Maithripala Sirisena says that there is no any foreign influence in formulating the new constitution and this will be done understanding the needs of the country, even though some extremists groups spread false rumours across the country that the Government is prepared to implement the new constitution under the foreign influences.