Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Sri Lanka is shocked by the terrorist attack at the British Parliament yesterday, 22 March 2017, resulting in death and injury.

Read more: Sri Lanka strongly condemns terrorist attack on UK Parliament

Item 2:

Adoption of the Resolution A/HRC/34/1 ‘Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka’ 

Mr. President 

I wish to thank all the members of this Council and the Observer States for the support that they have extended for the adoption of Resolution A/HRC/34/L.1 titled ‘Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka’, by consensus. 

Read more: Statement by Hon. Harsha de Silva, MP., Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka 23 March 2017

The Ministry is pleased to announce that the vessel ‘Aris 13’ that was hijacked by pirates was released late last night/ early this morning (16-17 March Sri Lankan time) along with the eight Sri Lankan crew. The crew members were released unharmed, without the payment of a ransom.

Read more: Government of Sri Lanka secures the release of Sri Lankan Crew and ‘Aris 13’ Vessel hijacked by Pirates

Statement by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Foreign Affairs following Bilateral Talks with H.E. Yun Byung-se, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, on 15^th March 2017 in Colombo

Your Excellency Yun Byung-se, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea,

H.E. Chang Won-Sam, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea,

Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, 

It gives me great pleasure to welcome H.E. Yun Byung-se, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea to Sri Lanka.  The visit is significant as it is the first official visit by a Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea to Sri Lanka in 31 years, since 1986.  The visit is also of significance as it coincides with the 40^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries which we celebrate this year.

Read more: Statement by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Foreign Affairs following Bilateral Talks with H.E. Yun Byung-se, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea

President Maithripala Sirisena who ​​left for Indonesia this morning, 6 March 2017, arrived in Jakarta today. He will participate in the 20th Anniversary Summit of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in which Sri Lanka is a founding member, on 6 and 7 March. 

Read more: President Sirisena on State Visit to Indonesia following participation in the 20th Anniversary Summit of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Mangala Samaraweera is attending the Ministerial Meeting of the 20^th Anniversary of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) taking place today, on 06^th March 2017, in Jakarta, Indonesia. The meeting is being held on the theme of “Strengthening maritime cooperation for a peaceful, stable and a prosperous Indian ocean region”.

Read more: Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera takes part in IORA Ministers Meeting

Statement by

Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, MP

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka

High-Level Segment of the 34^th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

Geneva, 28 February 2017

 Mr. President

High Commissioner for Human Rights/ Madam Deputy High Commissioner

Excellencies

Distinguished Delegates

Ladies and Gentlemen 

It is an honour for me to be here today at the 34^th Session of the UN Human Rights Council which I believe has the highest number of dignitaries in attendance. 

Read more: Statement by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera at the High Level Segment of the 34th Session of the Human Rights Council