Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

The Third Foreign Office Consultations between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, co-chaired by the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries was held on 03^rd July 2017 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The Bangladesh delegation was led by Mr. Md. Shahibul Haque, Secretary of the  Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh and the Sri Lankan delegation was led by Esala Weerakoon, Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka that included Yasoja Gunasekera,  High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Bangladesh and officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Higher Education & Highways, Department of Commerce and Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

Read more: Third Foreign Office Consultations between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka Concludes

Importation of Red Lentil from Canada

Co-operative Wholesale Establishment (CWE) of Sri Lanka which is fully government owned establishment wishes to purchse 12000MT of Red Lentil from the suppliers in Canada.

Read more: Tender Notices for Red Lentil from Canada

United Nations Secretary-General’s office announced today (20^th June) that Secretary General António Guterres has appointed Jayathma Wickramanayake of Sri Lanka as his next Envoy on Youth. She will succeed Ahmad Alhendawi of Jordan.

Read more: Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake of Sri Lanka appointed as UNSG’s Envoy on Youth

Responding to media queries, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, Ravi Karunanayake, expressed shock and grief at the tragic loss of life and injury as a result of the devastating fire at Grenfell Tower in London early today, 14 June. 

Read more: Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake extends condolences on the Fire at Grenfell Tower, London

High Commission of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Dear expatriate Sri Lankans and well-wishers,

As you are aware over 500,000 people in Sri Lanka have been severely affected by the recent floods and landslides caused by heavy rainfalls that have resulted in 213 deaths. Many people have been displaced and lost their belongings as a large number of houses have been completely destroyed. The displaced population is in need of assistance to return to their normal lives.

Read more: Fresh appeal for Flood Relief Assistance to Sri Lanka

The National Unity Government, headed by President Maithripala Sirisena reaffirm commitment, in accordance with the mandates received from the people at the Presidential elections in January and Parliamentary elections of August 2015, to ensure that our nation never again returns to a conflict-ridden past, and instead resolve to guide our nation towards reconciliation, sustainable peace, and economic progress. Communal, ethnic and religious hatred and violence, and impunity have no place in the society that we strive to build. 

Read more: Statement by the Cabinet of Ministers against Violence and Hate Speech

Press Release

The process for developing the National Reconciliation Policy was initiated in September 2015 by the Office for National Unity & Reconciliation (ONUR) chaired by Former President Her Excellency Madam Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.

After a one-year comprehensive consultation process with multiple stakeholders including Government officials, ministries, departments, members of provincial councils, civil society, academia, and experts and grass-roots activists, the National Reconciliation Policy was submitted by His Excellency President Maithripala Sirisena in September 2016 to Cabinet of Ministers for discussion. In his accompanying note to the Cabinet, His Excellency stated that the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) had drafted the National Policy in a “manner that reflects that reconciliation is a whole-of-government effort and a multi-stakeholder endeavour.” 

Read more: Government Approves Historic National Policy on Reconciliation and Coexistence