Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

The Matara Regional Consular Office of the Foreign Ministry was declared open today (15) jointly by Minister of Foreign Affairs Tilak Marapana and Minister of Finance and Mass Media Mangala Samaraweera. Several members of the Southern Provincial Council, members of local government bodies of the Matara District and senior government officials including the District Secretary of Matara and Divisional Secretaries of the Southern Province attended the opening ceremony.

Following the ceremonial opening, documents attested by the Matara Regional Consular Office using the e-DAS system were handed over to their owners by the two Ministers, as the first consular service provided by the new office.

Addressing the gathering, Foreign Minister Marapana stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will take steps to open more regional offices in future particularly in the areas where a substantial number of families of migrant workers reside, enabling them to obtain consular services in their own districts, without travelling to Colombo. He appreciated the contribution of Minister Mangala Samaraweera as his predecessor towards taking the services of the Foreign Ministry to the people by first opening a Regional Consular Office in Jaffna.

With the opening of the Regional Consular Office, the general public is able to obtain consular services including attestation of birth, marriage and death certificates and other legal documents for their use abroad, assistance to family members of Sri Lankans stranded abroad, facilitation of redress and compensation claims of families of migrant workers and repatriation of human remains from abroad, among a range of services.

Minister Samaraweera thanked Minister Marapana for choosing Matara to open the Ministry’s second Regional Consular Office.

Earlier on, Acting Foreign Secretary, Ahmed A. Jawad, welcomed the Ministers, representatives of government agencies and the general public and thanked them for their support and presence. The Vote of Thanks was delivered by Director General Administration of the Ministry, Aruna Fernando.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Colombo

15 February 2019

Text in Sinhala (PDF)

Text in Tamil (PDF)

The Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa, Canada celebrated Sri Lanka’s 71^st Anniversary of Independence with a diplomatic reception hosted for more than 150 dignitaries consisting of Ambassadors/High Commissioners in Canada, senior diplomats, Senior officials from various Ministries and Departments in Canada, Sri Lankan professionals, members of the media and Sri Lankan expatriates on 11^th of February at the Andaz Ottawa Byward Market Hotel (Hyatt).

The occasion commenced with the playing of the National Anthems of Sri Lanka and Canada followed by the welcome address by the High Commissioner Girihagama. Speaking on the occasion, High Commissioner reviewed the strong bilateral relations that exist between Sri Lanka and Canada since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1958. He focused on the development cooperation between Canada and Sri Lanka and appreciated the support provided by Canada since 1950s.  He enumerated several positive developments in Sri Lanka in terms of trade and tourism and emphasized the interest need in strengthening trade, economic and cultural relations with this Canada.  

Addressing the gathering the Chief Guest of the occasion, Dr. Donald Bobiash, Assistant-Deputy Minister of Asia-Pacific at Global Affairs Canada recalled how Sri Lanka was held as a role model for development in the past because of its emphasis on meeting the health and education need of its people and for many decades the life expectancy and literacy levels of Sri Lanka exceeded that of its developing country neighbours. He stated that he was deeply impressed by the growth in middle class, number of students studying abroad and the vibrant business culture of Sri Lanka at present. He referred to the importance of reconciliation process in Sri Lanka and extended support to reconciliation process and espoused values by Sri Lanka.

The evening featured traditional Sri Lankan up country, low country dance performances and Bharatanatyam dance based on Rudra Tandava. The guests at the reception were also entertained by a live band, playing Sri Lankan music.

A Sri Lankan cuisine featuring a variety of dishes and sweet meats along with popular Canadian delicacies were served at the reception. All guests were also gifted with Ceylon tea packs and key tags.

Sri Lanka High Commission

Ottawa

11^th February 2019

As a part of the initiatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take its consular services to the people, without having to travel to Colombo, the formal opening of the second Regional Consular Office in Matara will take place on Friday, 15 February 2019 at 10.30 a.m.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tilak Marapana and Minister of Finance and Mass Media, Mangala Samaraweera will declare open the office in the presence of Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Members of Parliament representing Southern Province.

Consular services to be extended to the public would include attestation of birth, marriage and death certificates, educational and other legal documents for their use abroad, extending assistance to family members of Sri Lankans stranded abroad, facilitation of redress and compensation claims of families of migrant workers and repatriation of human remains from abroad. The Regional Consular Office is located at No.391, Anagaraika Darmapala Mawatha, Matara. A regional Consular Office has been functioning in Jaffna since 26 January 2017.

The 71^st Anniversary of Sri Lanka’s Independence was celebrated at the Sri Lanka High Commissioner’s Official Residence in Ottawa, Canada with the participation of over 120 Sri Lankan Community members.

The ceremony was commenced with hoisting the national flag and singing the national anthem in Sinhala and Tamil languages, followed by observance of two minute silence in honour of our National Heroes. The traditional oil lamp was lit by guests representing all communities and Sri Lankan associations based in Ottawa.  Religious discourses were delivered by the members of the clergy representing the Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Islamic faiths.

The message of President Maithripala Sirisena was read by Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Canada, M.A.K. Girihagama, while those of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tilak Marapana were read by Ms. Sithara Khan, Deputy High Commissioner and Ms. Mithila Perera, Second Secretary of the High Commission.

Speaking on the occasion, High Commissioner Girihagama noted that the main challenge that Sri Lanka is facing today is bringing economic prosperity to the country. He enumerated several positive developments in Sri Lanka in terms of imports, exports, and tourism sectors and emphasized the need of committed and planned economic drive to a better economic growth in 2019.

The High Commissioner stated that the relations with Canada remains very warm and cordial and that the Mission’s priority was to strengthen trade and economic relations with Canada.

Referring to the substantial presence of Canadians of Sri Lankan extraction on the occasion, the High Commissioner referred to them as the greatest strength to Sri Lanka’s efforts in promoting bilateral relations with Canada. The 71^st National Day celebration was attended by the Sri Lankan community members including, particularly, a group of Tamil community members from the city of Montreal, depicting strong friendship and reconciliation.

A luncheon was hosted by the High Commission at the conclusion of the ceremony.

 Sri Lanka High Commission

Ottawa

04^th February 2019

Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Canada, Asoka Girihagama was the Special Guest at the Thai Pongal celebrations organized by the Thamillor Oli Association of Quebec in collaboration with the Montréal Tamil Schools and Fine Arts Schools on 12^th January 2019 at the Ecolé Lucien Page Auditorium in Montréal, Quebec.

High Commissioner Girihagama and Mrs. Sudarma Girihagama were welcomed by the organizers on their arrival.

Addressing the large gathering, which consisted of prominent dignitaries including MPs, MNAs the Mayor, City Counsellors and representatives of different cultural communities, High Commissioner Girihagama spoke of the prominence according to all religious festivals in the Sri Lankan calendar and stated that the festivities begin for the year with the celebration of Thai Pongal. Speaking of the significance of the celebrations, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner stated that the celebrations bring families together and is a time when old enmities, personal animosities and rivalries are forgotten. He said that estrangements are healed and reconciliation effected on this festive occasion.

 High Commissioner Girihagama also commended the community members for following their cultural practices and traditions although they live thousands of miles away from their motherland for many years, which he said, proved the popular saying that “culture has no boundaries and limits”.

The Thamillor Oli Association was established in 1984 and has been working towards uniting Tamil community throughout Montréal and helping them to integrate into the Canadian society. The Association has also been in the forefront of keeping the community’s heritage and culture alive through language development and fine arts including music, art, dance and poetry.

The celebrations included many cultural items performed by the members of the community.

High Commissioner Girihagama was accompanied by his spouse, Mrs. Sudarma Girihagama.

Sri Lanka High Commission

Ottawa

14^th January 2019

Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana has called on Sri Lankan diplomats to boost the image of Sri Lanka overseas through efficient and effective execution of public diplomacy, utilizing its intrinsic brands such as Buddhism, gems, tea, spices, high-end export products and the warmth of traditional Sri Lankan hospitality.

Minister Marapana made these remarks at the certificate awarding ceremony on Friday (11 January) of the two-week long Public Diplomacy and Media Relations training programme, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its officials in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) with a view to enhancing their public diplomacy and media relations skills. The programme was attended by the officers of the 2018 intake of the Sri Lanka Foreign Service and a group of mid-level officers serving in the Ministry.

This was the first time in two decades that the Ministry organized a professional training programme dedicated to public diplomacy and media relations for its officials.

Read more: Foreign Minister Marapana calls on Sri Lankan diplomats to boost the image of Sri Lanka overseas through effective execution of public diplomacy

Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Canada, Asoka Girihagama on the invitation of the Sri Lanka-Canada Association Ottawa (SLCAO), was the Chief Guest at the Sri Lankan Community Festive Dinner Dance held at the St. Isidore Church Hall in Kanata on 5^th January 2019.

In his addressed at the event, High Commissioner Girihagama stated that the SLCAO which began functioning 43 years ago with about 138 members is a well established community organization in Ottawa. He noted that the Association has been carrying out many charitable activities including helping flood victims in Sri Lanka. The High Commissioner also commended the Senior Group of the SLCAO for the various events they have continued to conduct including meditation, religious programmes, etc for their members.

Read more: High Commissioner Asoka Girihagama graces SLCAO Community event in Ottawa