Consulate General of Sri Lanka, Toronto

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono visits Sri Lanka

Hon. Taro Kono, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan undertook an official visit to Sri Lanka from 4-6 January 2018.

During the visit, Foreign Minister Kono called on President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and discussed the progress of ongoing development projects in Sri Lanka with Japanese assistance. Recalling the existing friendly and cordial relations between the two countries, Minister Kono assured that development cooperation with Sri Lanka would continue. Minister Kono also indicated the desire of the government of Japan to extend assistance for infrastructure development in Sri Lanka.

Clarification on the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Program of the United States of America

MEDIA RELEASE

The United States’ Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) provides duty-free treatment to goods of 120 designated beneficiary countries and territories[1]. The program was authorized by the Trade Act of 1974 to promote economic growth in the developing countries, and was implemented on January 1, 1976. The GSP expires periodically, and must be renewed by the US Congress to remain in effect. The 2015 GSP reauthorization (H.R. 1295) will expire on December 31, 2017. The US Congress has not re-authorized its renewal before adjourning for the year 2017. Therefore, the GSP program will expire on December 31, 2017, and all those importing GSP eligible goods to the USA, from Sri Lanka as well as all other beneficiary countries and territories will be subject to non-preferential duties from January 1, 2018.

Lifting of Temporary Restrictions on the Imports of Ceylon Tea and other Agricultural Products from Sri Lanka

A nine member Sri Lankan technical delegation led by the Chairman of Sri Lanka Tea Board, including the Director General of the Department of Agriculture joined with H. E. the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation, had a fruitful discussion with the Head of the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor), Deputy Head of Rosselkhoznadzor in charge of phytosanitary matters, and other officials of Rosselkhoznadzor on December 25, 2017.

Canada - Sri Lanka Friendship Group in the Federal Parliament in Ottawa

Press Release

At the Annual General Meeting of the Canada – Sri Lanka Friendship Group in the Federal Parliament held on 13th December 2017, the following were elected. Chair: Hon. Yasmin Ratansi, M.P., Co-Chair: Senator Salma Ataullahjan, Vice Chair: Hon. Ramesh Sangha, Vice-Chair: Hon. Terry Duguid, Executive Members: Hon. Ali Ehsassi Treasurer, Hon. Tom Kmiec, Hon. Irene Mathyssen, Hon. Kelly Mc Cauley, Hon. Robert-Falcon Ouellette, Hon. Ruby Sahota.

U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation Reselects Sri Lanka to Continue Grant Programme

The Board of Directors of the United States Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) reselected Sri Lanka for its grant programme at its meeting on December 19. This will enable MCC to continue developing its compact programme with the government of Sri Lanka for which Sri Lanka was selected a year ago, in December 2016.