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On an invitation extended by President Hassan Rouhani, President Sirisena undertook a two-day State visit to Iran on 12 and 13 May 2018 that included official bilateral discussions between the delegations led by the two Presidents at the Saadabad Palace in Tehran, and a meeting with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The visit included the signing of five (05) Memoranda of Understanding between the Sri Lanka and Iran for cooperation in:

 -Combating illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs;

-Cinema and Television;

-Standardization, Metrology, Training between the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran (ISIRI) and the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI);

-Cultural, Scientific and Technical Cooperation; and

-Health, Medical Science, Pharmaceutical and Medical Equipment.

Discussions between the two Presidents and the meeting with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on all issues of mutual concern were underpinned by shared people-to-people contact between the two countries that transcend modern politics and diplomacy, dating back to ancient history and culture. Focusing on trade relations between Sri Lanka and Iran, President Sirisena and President Rouhani agreed on the importance of convening the 12th meeting of the Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation (JCEC) in August this year. It was acknowledged that the convening of the JCEC would enable the better management of trade, economic and business cooperation including in areas such as tourism, agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, dairy farming, and investment in sectors such as transport and infrastructure connectivity.

President Sirisena was accompanied on the State Visit by Minister of Foreign Affairs Tilak Marapana, Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine  Rajitha Senaratne, Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Rauff Hakeem, Minister of Industry & Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Higher Education & Cultural Affairs Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe and Member of Parliament K. Kader Masthan.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Colombo

16 May 2018

Text in Sinhala  & Tamil  PDF

The first public consultation of the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) can be considered as a success, says Chairman of the OMP, Saliya Peiris PC, as around 250 family members of missing persons attended the meeting in Mannar yesterday(12th).

Peiris told that the commission met with family members of those reported missing, along with civil society groups and members of media. “We engaged in a productive discussion with them where they raised the many concerns they had about the process,” he said, adding that the majority of the families appeared to be disheartened and frustrated but also hopeful they may receive the answers they are searching for.

With the OMP commencing its operations, he said the office hopes to gain the trust of the people through its process. Earlier, member of the OMP, Dr Nimalka Fernando was quoted assuring the families that their problems will be addressed and asking the families to place their trust in the newly formed office.

However, according to regional correspondents attending the meeting, the public had raised their concerns, claiming they were finding it difficult to have faith in the office after the long period they have had to go through without receiving any answers about their missing family members. As a result, many are said to have requested an international mechanism to be put in place.

Meanwhile, Peiris also said much still needs to be done with the setting of the OMP such as hiring necessary staff. “It will happen simultaneously along with the public process,” he said, adding that, however, a time frame cannot be given as it is an ongoing and complex process.

The series of regional level consultations are considered a vital and the initial step in the process to operationalise the functions of the OMP to assist the families of missing persons. Commencing in Mannar, the OMP will visit Matara, Trincomalee, Mullaitivu, Kandy, Kilinochchi, Jaffna, Batticaloa and Ampara in the first phase.

The office while understanding the urgency and frustrations of the families has requested them to be patient so that the office can ensure the vital processes put in place.

Source:https://www.news.lk/news/sri-lanka/item/20513-omp-holds-consultations-in-mannar

The Office on Missing Persons (OMP) is launching a series of regional-level consultations,  commencing in Mannar on Saturday, 12th May 2018. The consultations are a vital step in the process to operationalise the functions of the OMP in its search for missing and disappeared persons.

Consultations will be held with the families of missing and disappeared persons, activists, professionals and organisations working on the issue. In the coming weeks, the OMP will visit Matara, Trincomalee, Mulaitivu, Kandy, Kilinochchi, Jaffna, Batticaloa and Ampara in a first phase of visits. The purpose of these meetings will be to share the OMP’s organisational plan and strategies, as they currently stand, in order to hear public views and incorporate suggestions on measures and processes. The plans thus far attempt to build on the lessons learned and recommendations from previous commissions and the Consultation Task Force on Reconciliation Mechanisms process.

The OMP understands the urgency and frustration of the families and individuals who have been searching for their loved ones over a number of years, but respectfully requests their patience to ensure vital processes are put in place in order to ensure an effective response and to avoid ad hoc measures. These consultations mark the start of the outreach process of the OMP and are a positive indication that the search for missing and disappeared persons is underway

Source.https:www.news.lk/news/business/item/20491-omp-consultations-commences-in-mannar-tomorrow

Sri Lanka welcomes the Inter-Korea Summit between the leaders of the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on 27 April 2018 and the adoption of the Panmunjom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity and Unification of the Korean Peninsula.

We look forward to the implementation of the important commitments and agreed actions outlined in the Declaration aimed at progressing through dialogue, diplomacy and trust-building towards achieving sustainable peace and prosperity, and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

We also look forward to the consolidation and advancement of the gains at the Panmunjom Summit at the Summit between the two leaders of the United States of America and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea that is expected to take place on 12 June 2018 in Singapore.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Colombo

11 May 2018

Sinhala Text in PDF

Sri Lanka participated at the SIAL Canada 2018 - Food and Beverage Sector International Exhibition, which is one of world’s most popular professional food and beverage sector exhibitions. SIAL Canada is visited by several thousand buyers, buying agents, importers, food sector distributors, experts, wholesalers and retailers.

Read more: Sri Lanka Participates at SIAL Canada 2018 Food and Beverage Sector International Exhibition in Montreal