Statement by
Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, MP
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka
32nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council
Geneva, 29 June 2016
Mr. President
High Commissioner for Human Rights
Excellencies
Distinguished delegates
At the 30th Session of this Council last October, Sri Lanka, by co-sponsoring the Resolution 30/1, ‘Promoting Reconciliation and Accountability in Sri Lanka’, broke away from the years of disengagement, self-isolation, and confrontation that preceded the election of President Maithripala Sirisena in January 2015.
Address by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka
6th World Congress Against the Death Penalty
Despite its widespread use, for millennia the death penalty has caused lingering societal discomfort and unease. Fairly early on in history many enlightened leaders have found the death penalty degrading of human dignity. For example, in ancient Sri Lanka a number of kings - influenced by the Buddha’s teaching - abolished the death penalty. In fact, for much of the first, third, fourth and thirteenth centuries the death penalty was not employed in Sri Lanka.
Remarks to Media by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera
following discussions with US Asst. Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal & US Asst. Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour
Tom Malinowski
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Colombo. 12 July 2016
Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a pleasure to welcome Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal and Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour Tom Malinowski to Sri Lanka and to this Ministry, once again.
I am sure that by now, both Nisha and Tom are quite familiar to all of you.
Good evening ladies and gentlemen,
It has been an honour and a great privilege to welcome to Sri Lanka the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, H.E. Wang Yi. The visit is significant as it is the first high level visit and the first visit by a Foreign Minister of China, following the formation of the National Unity Government in Sri Lanka.
ADVANCING RECONCILIATION DIPLOMACY
Speech by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, MP
at the Norwegian Institute for International Affairs (NUPI)
Oslo, 21 June 2016
Ladies and Gentlemen, in fact all of you are aware, that on the 08th of January last year in a historic election, in fact what the world calls the rainbow election of 2015, the people of Sri Lanka voted for change, and for democracy, reconciliation and development, the three pillars on which the Government of President Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe are taking the country forward today. In fact on that day, the people of Sri Lanka chose free and fair elections, good governance and the rule of law over authoritarianism and impunity; they chose stability, reconciliation and peace over the politics of fear and hate which had prevailed for many, many years previously. And they eschewed isolationist crony capitalism for openness to the world and a competitive, transparent rules-based economy.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mangala Samaraweera, upon the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers, has appointed Harim Peiris, as Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, with immediate effect.
Read more: Harim Peiris appointed as Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Click here: Letter in PDF.... format
Dear Sir,
This is to inform that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo has informed this High Commission that a comprehensive programme of action has been put into place to provide urgent relief assistance to those affected by the floods in Sri Lanka. The High Commission has been authorised to accept donations in cash for this purpose since it will help to purchase most of the urgent relief items locally in Sri Lanka and rush such items immediately to the affected areas.
Sri Lankan expatriates wishing to make donations are kindly requested to deposit them in the official bank account of the Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa, of which details are as follows:
Name of the Account : High Commission of Sri Lanka
Account No : 00006 – 77-02914
Name of the Bank : CIBC
Bank Branch : Sparks Street, Ottawa
Donors are requested to state the following message in their respect of their bank transfers: “Donations for Flood Relief in Sri Lanka”.
They are also requested to without fail fax or email a copy of the Bank Deposit Receipt to the following Fax/email address of the Sri Lanka High Commission along with their names, addresses and contact numbers.
Fax: (613) 238-8448
E-Mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
The High Commission would on confirmation of the donations, issue every single donor an official Government of Sri Lanka receipt in respect of such donation. This will be sent by post.
Further, inquiries if any could be had by contacting the undermentioned officer of the Sri Lanka High Commission.
Mr. A.D.L.G. Kalansuriya, Minister, Sri Lanka High Commission
Email : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Gen. Telephone Nos: 613 233 8449
613 233 1550 –(Direct Line)
613 233 5700 – (P.A. to the High Commissioner)
Thank you,
High Commissioner for Sri Lanka
Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, together with the Minister of Disaster Management Anura Priyadharshana Yapa and the Minister of Health & Indigenous Medicine Dr. Rajitha Senaratne briefed the Heads of Diplomatic Missions and International Organisations based in Colombo, on the flood and landslide situation in the country, yesterday Thursday 19 May 2016 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Read more: Ministers brief Diplomatic Community on Flood Situation
Please click here : Letter in PDF. format
Dear Sirs,
This is to inform that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo has informed this Consulate General that a comprehensive programme of action has been put into place to provide urgent relief assistance to those affected by the heavy rain and floods in Sri Lanka. The Consulate General has been authorized to accept donations in cash for this purpose since it will help to purchase most of the urgent relief items locally in Sri Lanka and rush such items immediately to the affected areas.
Sri Lankan expatriates wishing to make donations are kindly requested to deposit them in the official bank account of the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Toronto, of which details are as follows :
Name of the Account : Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Toronto
Account No. : 00112-010-23-09610
Name of the Bank : CIBC
Bank Branch : St. Claire, Toronto
Donors are requested to state the following message in their respect of their bank transfers: “Donations for Flood Relief in Sri Lanka”.
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