Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Visionary political leadership of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the effective use of technology in a whole – of – government approach has enabled Sri Lanka to control the COVID-19 and a wide range of pandemic related issues – said Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena addressing the Virtual Ministerial Conference on ‘Close the Digital Divides: the Digital Response to COVID-19’.

The Conference jointly organized by Estonia and Singapore on 1 July 2020 was attended by Ministers and representatives from over 60 countries.

Foreign Minister Gunawardena also briefed the Conference on the digital solutions introduced by Sri Lanka during the COVID-19 period, including ‘Contact Sri Lanka Portal’ set-up by the Ministry of Foreign Relations along with the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), to respond to the requests from overseas Sri Lankans. He thanked the private sector partners for their contribution during these challenging times.

Observing the increasing role of digital technology in a post- COVID-19 world, Minister Gunawardenacalled for collective action of all nations to address cyber security challenges as well as to share the best practices and technologies with resource constrained countries.

Sri Lanka endorsed the “Global Declaration on the Digital Response to COVID-19”, that was adopted at the Virtual Ministerial Conference.

The Declaration is available at :https://vm.ee/sites/default/files/Estonia_for_UN/Rasmus/close_the_digital_divides.pdf

Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha has observed that despite its immediate gloom, the present situation has been an eye opener in many respects that could help correct structural, procedural and human interface incongruities in Sri Lanka’s labour migration. It also presents an opportunity for Sri Lanka to re-orient foreign employment in a post-Covid-19 world, sensitive to the ground realities in both Sri Lanka and the migrant labour receiving countries, so that the future footprint of Foreign Employment Sri Lanka will provide the world – though probably Smaller, could be Smarter and more Sustainable.

The Foreign Secretary made these observations when he addressed the 33rd Annual Session of the Organization of Professional Associations (OPA) via a video link, on the theme “The Role of Foreign Employment in the Economic Revival of Sri Lanka; Challenges and Opportunities”.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa inaugurated this year’s Annual OPA Session held on 27-28 June 2020 as a Digital Conference,on the theme ‘Bounce Back–Disasters and Opportunities”.

Read more: FOREIGN SECRETARY ARYASINHA SAYS “FUTURE FOOTPRINT OF FOREIGN EMPLOYMENT SRI LANKA WILL PROVIDE THE WORLD, THOUGH PROBABLY SMALLER, COULD BE SMARTER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE”

A Petition was tabled at the Ontario Legislative Assembly (OLA) on 17 June 2020 by Hon. John Fraser, MPP representing Ottawa South to mark April as the Sri Lankan heritage month. This was made possible due to the tireless efforts by Sri Lankan associations in Canada, especially the Sri Lanka Canada Association of Ottawa (SLACO), which was in the forefront of this effort.

Comprehensive measures taken by the Ministry of Foreign Relations, in close coordination with the key Government Economic Agencies and the private sector to address and mitigate the impact of COVID 19 particularly on Sri Lankan exports, has helped in sustaining and regaining lost markets for traditional Sri Lankan exports, while enabling new opportunities. Exportswhich accounted for US $ 277 Million in April 2020, had increased to US $606 Million in May, and is expected to grow in the coming months, in line with the revised projections.

This observation was made by the Foreign Ministry’s Additional Secretary/Economic Affairs P.M. Amza, during an interview on Ada Derana on 10 June 2020, held to discuss the economic impact of COVID-19, and its demands and challenges for Sri Lanka.

The Additional Secretary said, since the outbreak of the COVID-19, the Ministry’s ‘Economic Diplomacy Programme’ has been playing a pivotal catalyst role, in partnership with Agencies such as the Export Development Board and the Tea Board, in facilitating Sri Lankan exporters to overcome the adverse impact of COVID 19. Despite the challenging circumstances, including disruptions to the global supply chains and logistics, the proactive stance of the Ministry and Missions abroad has seen the emergence of new market destinations as well as opportunity to regain the markets for Traditional Sri Lankan exports such as Tea, Rubber and fresh/processed food. As a result of the evolving global COVID 19 situation, Sri Lanka has also been able to target new products and markets particularly for Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and rubber based products (Face masks – 12 markets, protective gowns – 17 markets, Rubber Gloves – 12, Hand sanitizers – 12). Interventions made by the Ministry saw 344 MT and 220 MT of Ceylon Tea exported to Turkey and Egypt and 30 MTof frozen food to Oman, under challenging circumstances.

Read more: FOREIGN MINISTRY HELPS SRI LANKAN EXPORTERS OVERCOME ADVERSE IMPACT OF COVID 19

The Foreign Ministry has dispatched 10,000 kg (2000 packs) of essential items including dry rations, to be distributed through the Sri Lanka High Commission in the Maldives, amongst the Sri Lankan community members in Male and outer Male. This Is an effort to mitigate the many difficulties faced by the most vulnerable, particularly in Greater Male where a red alert has been declared by the Maldivian Government with the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, and access to food items and medicines is limited.

The Sri Lankan Airlines has collaborated with the Foreign Ministry in this cause, through carrying these support kitson a cost free basis on Sunday, 7 June 2020, by a Sri Lankan Airlines cargo flight to the Maldives. These individual support kits, to be provided, each comprise 18 items, which include basic commodities such as instant food packs and sanitary items and also much needed medicines that are commonly used by the community.

Approximately 7000 Sri Lankans are currently seeking repatriation from the Maldives, and of this, almost 2000 are in Greater Male. The Foreign Ministry has already consulted with the Maldivian authorities, who have expressed willingness for PCR tests to be facilitated to Sri Lankans being repatriated on payment, prior to departure.

In most capitals, the Sri Lanka Missions overseas availing of funds provided through a special allocation from the Sri Lanka Government and in collaboration with Sri Lankan Community Associations and local organizations, continue to support migrant communities abroad through the provision of dry rations and medicines. Where possible, they also assist in medical emergencies in their respective locations, while continuing to assist and facilitate in the repatriation process of those seeking to return.

Video Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sF1WeRYp1pnHbq7bbhIRgkknbStrsYKc/view?usp=sharing