Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said, “I will not allow any room for attempts to discredit and destroy the dignity of our war heroes who made countless sacrifices to bring peace to entire Sri Lanka.

…..If any international body or organization continuously target our country and our war heroes, using baseless allegations, I will also not hesitate to withdraw Sri Lanka from such bodies or organizations”

President Rajapaksa made this comment today (19 May) during his speech at the Ranaviru Day commemoration.

The full text of the speech is below:

Reverend Maha Sanga representing Maha Nayaka Theros and Anu Nayaka Theros of Malwatta and Asgiriya Chapters, Amarapura and Ramannya Nikayas,

His Eminence Cardinal,

Hindu Kurukkal leader, Islam Mowlawi,

• Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa, former President and the Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka,
• Hon. Maithripala Sirisena, former President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka,
• Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda,
• Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Gunatilleke, Governor of the Western Province
• Secretary to the President,
• Secretary Defence,
• Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force,
• Acting Inspector General of Police, Director General of the Department of Civil Defence,
• Distinguished guests,
• War heroes of Army, Navy, Air Force, Police and Civil Defence,
• Dear parents, wives, sons and daughters of war heroes,

May 19th is a very important milestone in the history of Sri Lanka.

Read more: PRESIDENT’S SPEECH AT NATIONAL RANAVIRU DAY COMMEMORATION

Announcement

The Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa and the Consulate General in Toronto request all Sri Lankan citizens to register on the following link urgently .

https://forms.gle/hh1sCw2NmWi1h4in7

Sri Lanka High Commission

Ottawa

8 April 2020

Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha has called on migrant workers as well as students and parents, to carefully calibrate the effect repatriation at this time could have on their jobs and education, before making decisions to seek to return to Sri Lanka, availing of the limited flights being operated by the Government for those facing compelling circumstances. He made this observation yesterday (16 May 2020) in an appearance on the ‘News at 9’ on Sri Lanka Rupavahini, where he noted that over 38,000 Sri Lankans are seeking to be repatriated, of that nearly 28,000 migrant workers. The comments made by the Secretary are below;

Priority right now of the Government following the Cabinet Paper presented by my Minister Dinesh Gunawardena two weeks ago, is to bring back the migrant worker category which needs to come, but more so in some cases have to come. Because they have gone out of status and are illegal, they also as a result of being illegal do not have access to the health facilities and anything else in those countries. There are many who have been thrown out of jobs. They are pretty much destitute. Thereafter we can consider those who want to come, but who have jobs and who simply want to come on holiday to avoid any Corona vulnerability.

Read more: FOREIGN SECRETARY APPEALS TO OVERSEAS SRI LANKANS TO RETHINK PLANS TO BE REPATRIATED UNLESS IN COMPELLING CIRCUMSTANCES