Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Prof. G. L. Peiris called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Minister Prof. Peiris briefed the Prime Minister of Bangladesh on Sri Lanka’s success in containing the COVID 19 pandemic and on a wide range of current issues. Particular attention was paid to progress towards a Preferential Trade Agreement – in respect of which negotiations at the official level have already commenced – and cooperation in the field of shipping. The Prime Minister described to Minister Prof. Peiris initiatives taken by her government to embark on an extensive digitization programme, and to enhance the disposal income of farmers. Increased airline connectivity between Colombo and Dhaka, and tourism sectors was also discussed.

Minister Prof. Peiris in Dhaka to assume the Vice-Chair of IORA, at the 21st Meeting of the Council of Ministers.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

18 November, 2021

(https://mfa.gov.lk/fm-sl-pm-bangladesh/)

The US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal & Sri Lanka, Ambassador Kelly Keiderling held wide ranging discussions covering bilateral relations and matters of mutual interest with the Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage on 15 November 2021 at the Foreign Ministry. Ambassador Keiderling was on an official visit to Sri Lanka from 13 to 15 November 2021.  The Foreign Secretary extended a warm welcome to the visiting senior official from the US Department of State to Sri Lanka.

The Foreign Secretary thanked the Government and people of the United States for the continued support and assistance extended to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and to mitigate the environmental and socio-economic impact of the MV X-Press Pearl disaster.   He expressed the sincere appreciation of the Government of Sri Lanka to the US Government for the recent gift of the third Cutter ‘DOUGLAS MUNRO’ to the Sri Lanka Navy, which would augment Sri Lanka’s drug smuggling interdiction capacity and prevention of other illicit activities in the high seas.  He also explained to the visiting US official, the progress being made in the areas of reconciliation, accountability, rehabilitation and human rights in Sri Lanka.

The Foreign Secretary and the US DASS reviewed ongoing bilateral initiatives between the two countries, including convening of the US-Sri Lanka Partnership Dialogue. They also exchanged views on important contemporary issues, such as strengthening democracy, the need for international cooperation to combat climate change & global pandemics and organic farming.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

16 November 2021

(https://mfa.gov.lk/fs-us-dass/)

The Government of the Kingdom of Thailand with the concurrence of the Government of Sri Lanka has appointed Mr. Poj Harnpol as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Thailand to Sri Lanka in Succession of H.E. (Ms.) Chulamanee Chartsuwan. He has presented credentials to H.E. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka on 16 November 2021 at 10.30 a.m. at President’s House, Colombo 01.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

16 November, 2021

(https://mfa.gov.lk/thailand-to-sl/)

The Government of the Republic of South Africa with the concurrence of the Government of Sri Lanka has appointed Mr. Sandile Edwin Schalk as the High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa to Sri Lanka in Succession of H.E. (Ms.) Robina P. Marks. He has presented credentials to H.E. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka on 16 November 2021 at 10.30 a.m. at President’s House, Colombo 01.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

16 November, 2021

(https://mfa.gov.lk/south-africa-to-sl/)

The Government of Japan with the concurrence of the Government of Sri Lanka has appointed Mr. Hideaki Mizukoshi as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Sri Lanka in Succession of H.E. Akira Sugiyama. He has presented credentials to H.E. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka on 16 November 2021 at 10.30 a.m. at President’s House, Colombo 01.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

16 November, 2021

(https://mfa.gov.lk/japan-to-sl/)

Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris  held discussions  with Secretary General Tenzin Lekphell  of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical  and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) on  the  side lines of the 21st IORA Council of Ministers Meeting  in Dhaka,  Bangladesh today (16/11).

Minister  Peiris reiterated that  Sri Lanka as the  Chair   focused on institution building  during its Chairmanship and  was successful in  finalizing the BIMSTEC Charter and the allocation of defined areas of cooperation among Member States in order to add  focus  to  future  activities  of BIMSTEC.  He also added that Sri Lanka is keen to hold the 5th BIMSTEC Summit in person in Colombo early next year and the date for the meeting will be communicated in consultation with Member States given the successful vaccination programme carried out in Sri Lanka to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Secretary General  thanked the Minister  for extending an invitation to visit  Sri Lanka  from 5 to 9 December 2021 where he  plans to meet  with  high  dignitaries  and line agencies  to discuss  lead sectors  coming under the purview of Sri Lanka; Science and Technology  and Innovation  with sub sectors  of Health  and Human Resource  Development. Minister Peiris stated that   the Foreign Ministry officials   have met some of the line agencies and are in the process of formulating action plans for the sectors that would benefit the region.

High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Bangladesh Prof. S.D.S. Seneviratne, Acting Director General Economic Affairs (Multilateral) Anzul Jhan from the Sri Lanka Foreign Ministry and Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka Ruwanthi Delpitiya attended the meeting along with the Foreign Minister.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

16 November, 2021

(https://mfa.gov.lk/bimstec-secretary-fm-sl/)

Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris today (15/11) met the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen at the State Guest House Padma in Dhaka.

Foreign Minister Peiris recalled the visit of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa who visited Bangladesh in March 2021 for the joint celebration of the 100 Birth Anniversary of Bangabandhu and the Golden Jubilee of the Independence Celebration of Bangladesh and that the discussions were very fruitful and the Prime Minister appreciated all aspects of his visit.

The Foreign Minister expressed warm appreciation for the consistent support which Sri Lanka received from Bangladesh in international fora especially the Human Rights Council and the CMAG (Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group) of which the previous Foreign Minister who is the current Education Minister of Bangladesh was the Chair.

The two Ministers also discussed the active commercial relationship between the two countries with Sri Lankan investment into Bangladesh being in the region of approximately 2.5bn USD. About 110 Sri Lankan companies are operating here and are excelling especially in the services sector such as insurance, banking and power sectors. However, there is scope for improvement of the volume of trade which is presently at the level of 200 mn USD annually.

Sri Lanka is keen on a Preferential Trading Agreement with Bangladesh and is happy that Technical negotiations have commenced and are proceeding.

There is particular interest in cooperation in the field of shipping because of Sri Lanka’s focus as a shipping hub and would like to strengthen the cooperation between the ports of Chittagong in Bangladesh and the ports of Colombo and Hambantota.

Emphasis was made in particular on the feeder services and coastal shipping arrangements. Cooperation between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka regarding a transshipment hub would be beneficial to Bangladesh because of the reduction of time and nautical miles.

The Foreign Minister said that a substantial number of Sri Lankan students are receiving their education in Bangladesh with Chittagong being popular among medical students.

Sri Lanka has reciprocally offered to assist with the training of nurses of Bangladesh in educational institutions in our country.

In regard to tourism, direct connectivity between Colombo and Dhaka is helpful and the Bangladesh Minister intimated the interest of a private Bangladesh airline in operating flights to Colombo.

The two Ministers discussed in detail cooperation between the two countries, within the framework of the IORA with particular reference to conservation of marine resources and security dimensions.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

15 November, 2021

(https://mfa.gov.lk/fm-sl-bangladesh-2/)