Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa
Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana reiterates Sri Lanka's commitment for a comprehensive regional approach to combating people smuggling
Wednesday, 08 August 2018 20:17
Speaking at the 7th Bali Process Ministerial Conference on people smuggling, human trafficking, and other international crimes on Tuesday 7 August in Bali, Indonesia, Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana reiterated Sri Lanka's commitment for a comprehensive regional approach to combat people smuggling, and to work in partnership with governments, international organizations and civil society to prevent human smuggling, protect and support victims, and bring perpetrators to justice.
Following deliberations at Ministerial and Senior Officials level, the Conference adopted a Ministerial Declaration and Chairman's Statement of the Senior Officials' meeting.
While recognizing the importance of the UN system, and other multilateral organizations as vehicles for international discourse and norm setting, the Minister expressed support to the Bali Process and to implement Sri Lanka's legal obligations with respect to combating migrant smuggling, trafficking in persons and transnational crimes. The Minister explained steps being taken by Sri Lanka including being party to the core international human rights treaties which provide for the prevention and suppression of human trafficking, noting in particular the ratification of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its 2015 Protocol, and The Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption. He also referred to the monitoring mechanisms under Sri Lanka's National Anti- Human Trafficking Task force and the five-year strategic plan (2015-2019) based on the 4 pillars of Prevention, Protection, Prosecution and Partnership, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
Foreign Minister Marapana was joined by Deputy Minister of Justice, Prison Reforms, and Buddha Sasana, Sarathi Dushmantha, who led Sri Lanka's interventions at the Ministerial session with Business leaders.
The Minister held bilateral discussions with the Foreign Minister of Indonesia (Mdm) Retno Marsudi, Australia's Home Affairs, Immigration and Border Protection Minister Peter Dutton, and IOM's Director General Ambassador William Lacy Swing.
During his remarks at the Conference and during his interactions with Indonesia's Foreign Minister (Mdm) Retno Marsudi, Minister Marapana conveyed Sri Lanka's condolences to all those who have been affected by the devastating earthquake off the island of Lombok in Indonesia.
Associated with Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana at the Conference and related meetings were Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister of Justice, Prison Reforms, and Buddha Sasana Sarathi Dushmantha, Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Indonesia and ASEAN Dharshana M. Perera, and officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice & Prison Reforms, the Attorney General's Department, and the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Indonesia.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Colombo
8 August 2018
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News Reports regarding Imports from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to Sri Lanka
Wednesday, 08 August 2018 20:31
The attention of this Ministry has been drawn to news reports regarding textile imports from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to several countries including Sri Lanka during the period October 2017 and March 2018.
The Ministry wishes to clarify that the information contained in the news reports in relation to Sri Lanka are erroneous.
In keeping with Sri Lanka’s international obligations as a member of the United Nations, the Government of Sri Lanka abides by the provisions of the UN Security Council Resolutions in relation to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Accordingly, necessary domestic regulations in relation to the implementation of relevant UN Security Council Resolutions have been gazetted on 06 October 2017, 19 April 2018 and 14 May 2018 respectively (reference: Extraordinary Gazette Nos. 2039/32, 2067/14 and 2071/3).
Sri Lanka cooperates closely with the UN Security Council Panel of Experts (PoE) for the implementation of the respective Resolutions, and provides responses to questions raised by the PoE from time to time.
There have been several instances where, at the point of data entry into the Customs Automated Data Processing System by the Consignee/ Customs House Agent, the country of export had been selected inadvertently as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, instead of the Republic of Korea. Having clarified this inadvertent error to the PoE, the Sri Lanka Customs has now initiated a mechanism to prevent repetition of such errors in the future.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Colombo
08 August 2018
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Forging stronger ties between Switzerland and Sri Lanka
Tuesday, 07 August 2018 20:42
Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga, Head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police of the Swiss Confederation undertook a three-day visit to Sri Lanka, during which she called on President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The main highlight of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Swiss Confederation on the establishment of a Migration Partnership.
The MoU which was signed by the Minister of Internal Affairs & Wayamba Development S.B. Nawinna on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, and Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga on behalf of the Swiss Federal Council, enables the establishment of a regular and constant dialogue and common reflective process of migration matters beneficial to both countries, especially in the following areas: management of migration flows; prevention of irregular migration; readmission of nationals, stateless persons, and third-country nationals; return assistance and reintegration; capacity building in migration governance matters; prevention of smuggling of migrants and fight against human trafficking; visa issues, consular and related administrative matters; vocational training; promotion of safe and regular migration for sustainable development through a comprehensive engagement on all levels; strengthening framework conditions for diaspora investment in Sri Lanka; integration; and projects promoting rule of law and reconciliation.
Delegation-level discussions between the two countries were held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 06 August, with the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Vasantha Senanayake leading the Sri Lanka delegation. Discussions focused on a range of issues including steps being taken by Sri Lanka to strengthen democratic institutions, advance reconciliation and achieve economic development, and Sri Lanka’s active and progressive engagement with the international community. Foreign Secretary Prasad Kariyawasam, and officials of several ministries including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs joined the Acting Minister at the discussions.
During her stay in Sri Lanka, Councillor Sommaruga also visited Swiss assisted projects in the Eastern Province.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Colombo
07 August 2018
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Minister of Foreign Affairs leads Sri Lanka delegation to the 25th ASEAN Regional Forum
Tuesday, 07 August 2018 18:57
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tilak Marapana led the Sri Lanka delegation to the 25th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting held on 4 August 2018 in Singapore.
Inaugurated in 1994 in Thailand, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) is the principal forum for security dialogue in the Asia-Pacific region which seeks to promote regional development and prosperity while recognizing challenges to regional peace, security and prosperity.
Delivering Sri Lanka’s statement at the Forum, Foreign Minister Marapana highlighted the important areas of cooperation for Sri Lanka, including maritime security, disaster management, defence related confidence building measures and preventive diplomacy, and for sustaining the growing economic dynamism and prosperity of the region. The Foreign Minister also welcomed the steady advancement in the areas of cooperation in the ARF and unreservedly supported the process.
Foreign Minister Marapana held a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the ARF with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Brunei, Lao PDR and Cambodia, and discussed on areas of mutual interest.
The Sri Lanka delegation included the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Singapore and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Colombo
05 August 2018
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Lao PDR extends on arrival visa facility to Sri Lankans
Wednesday, 01 August 2018 18:25
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People's Democratic Republic has confirmed that, with effect from 01 August 2018, Sri Lankan citizens holding valid travel documents could apply for visa on arrival at the international border check points of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Colombo.
01 August 2018
පැමිණීමෙන් පසු වීසා ලබාගැනීමේ පහසුකම ලාඕසය ශ්රී ලාංකිකයන් වෙත ලබා දෙයි
2018 අගෝස්තු 01 වැනි දින සිට ක්රියාත්මක වන පරිදි, වලංගු ගමන් බලපත්ර දරන ශ්රී ලාංකිකයන්ට ලාඕස ජනතා ප්රජාතන්ත්රවාදී ජනරජයේ ජාත්යන්තර දේශසීමාවට පැමිණීමෙන් පසු (on arrival) වීසා අයැදුම් කළ හැකි බව එරට විදේශ කටයුතු අමාත්යාංශය දැනුම් දී තිබේ.
විදේශ කටයුතු අමාත්යාංශය
කොළඹ.
2018 අගෝස්තු 01 වැනිදා
லாஓஸ் மக்கள் ஜனநாயக குடியரசு இலங்கையர்களுக்கான வருகை வீசா வசதியை வழங்குகின்றது
01 ஆகஸ்ட் 2018 முதல் நடைமுறைக்கு வரும் வகையில், செல்லுபடியான கடவுச் சீட்டுக்களை வைத்திருக்கின்ற இலங்கை பிரஜைகள் லாஓஸ் மக்கள் ஜனநாயக குடியரசின் சர்வதேச எல்லைக்கு வருகை தந்ததன் பின்பு வீசாக்கு விண்ணப்பிக்க (ON ARRIVAL) முடியும் என லாஓஸ் மக்கள் ஜனநாயக குடியரசின் வெளிநாட்டலுவல்கள் அமைச்சு தெரிவித்திருக்கின்றது.
வெளிநாட்டலுவல்கள் அமைச்சு
கொழும்பு
01 ஆகஸ்ட் 2018
Secretary-General of the Commonwealth to visit Sri Lanka from 1-4 August 2018
Tuesday, 31 July 2018 14:05
The Commonwealth Secretary-General Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland QC will arrive in Sri Lanka on Wednesday, 01 August for a four-day official visit. This will be her first visit to the country since she assumed the Office of Secretary-General in April 2016.
On 01 August, the Secretary-General will call on Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and meet the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tilak Marapana. Her meetings on 02 and 03 August will include the Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama; the Minister of Provincial Councils, Local Government and Sports, Faiszer Musthapha; the Minister of Youth Affairs, Project Management and Southern Development, Sagala Ratnayake; the Minister of Public Administration & Management and Law & Order, Ranjith Madduma Bandara; the Minister of Education, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam; and the Leader of Opposition R. Sampanthan. The main objective of the Secretary-General’s meetings will be to explore greater cooperation and collaboration in the implementation of the agreed outcomes at the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London, including promoting intra-Commonwealth trade.
Discussions will also include the implementation of the ‘Commonwealth Blue Charter’, under which Sri Lanka holds the role of a champion country to lead the Commonwealth effort towards the restoration of mangroves.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Colombo
30 July 2018
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Joint Press Statement on the Official Visit of His Excellency General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka 12-13 July 2018
Friday, 13 July 2018 14:08
His Excellency General Prayut Chan-o-Cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, and his delegation paid an Official Visit to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka from 12 to 13 July 2018 at the invitation of His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
The Prime Minister of Thailand and the President of Sri Lanka had bilateral discussions on 12 July 2018, covering a wide range of issues including political, economic, technical, agricultural, fisheries, cultural, religious, tourism, as well as regional and multilateral cooperation. The two leaders noted with satisfaction the continued close and cordial relations between Thailand and Sri Lanka. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen the existing ties to a higher level of strategic economic partnership. During the discussions, the two leaders also recalled the successful outcome of the Official Visit of the President of Sri Lanka to Thailand in November 2015.
The President of Sri Lanka reiterated to the Prime Minister of Thailand that Sri Lanka is pleased to present a sapling of the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi tree as a gesture of goodwill to bless the reign of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun and the people of the Kingdom of Thailand, signifying the long-standing historic, religious and cultural ties between the two countries. The Prime Minister of Thailand graciously welcomed the offer and informed that necessary preparations were underway to ensure that appropriate arrangements are made for the Sacred Gifting Ceremony.
With regard to trade and investment relations, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to increase bilateral trade volume to USD 1.5 billion by the year 2020, together with achieving an equitable trade balance. Both sides also agreed on the need to enhance investment flows between the two countries. On this occasion, both leaders jointly declared the launch of the Thailand - Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations. Both sides expressed confidence in attaining the envisaged objectives through this comprehensive instrument. The first round of negotiations was held on 13 July 2018 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The two leaders witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Economic Partnership between the two countries, which would serve as an important mechanism to enhance bilateral economic cooperation in ten priority sectors. In this context both sides agreed that a Joint Action Plan be drafted at the next Thailand - Sri Lanka Sub-Committee on Trade Related Matters Meeting, which is scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka.
The Prime Minister of Thailand informed the President of Sri Lanka about the keen interest among Thai companies to invest in Sri Lanka. The President of Sri Lanka welcomed their interest, and the two leaders discussed ways and means to further encourage and facilitate more investments from Thailand to Sri Lanka.
On the area of technical cooperation, both sides witnessed the signing of the "Joint Action Programme for Cooperation on Sustainable Community Development Model based on the Application of Sufficiency Economy Philosophy in the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka". The said Joint Action Programme is intended to expand the application of the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy of His Majesty the Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Sri Lanka. This joint cooperation will significantly assist Sri Lanka to further augment the social and economic conditions conducive for rural communities.
The President of Sri Lanka expressed his appreciation for the technical assistance extended by the Royal Thai Government in rainmaking technology to address issues of hydro-power generation and facilitate irrigation for agricultural purposes. The President of Sri Lanka also noted with satisfaction the existing collaboration between the experts in agriculture of the two countries, and in this context thanked the Thai Prime Minister for the expertise shared to identify possible means of modernizing the agricultural sector in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, with a view to enhancing the collaboration in agricultural and fisheries sectors, the two leaders, while recognizing the importance of convening the related Joint Working Groups, expressed that the two sides prioritise the exchange of proposals on envisaged cooperation.
In addition, the two leaders also witnessed the signing of the Treaty between the Kingdom of Thailand and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on the Transfer of Offenders and on Co-operation in the Enforcement of Penal Sentences and the Memorandum of Understanding between Kasetsart University and the Ministry of Primary Industries on Technological Collaboration Related to Value Addition of Primary Products. The Memorandum of Understanding between the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce was also concluded.
Following the meeting, the President of Sri Lanka hosted a banquet in honour of the Prime Minister of Thailand and his delegation at the President's House. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe hosted a breakfast meeting for the Thai Prime Minister and his delegation on the following day.
The Prime Minister of Thailand visited the historic city of Kandy and paid homage to the sacred Tooth Relic. He also called on the Most Venerable Mahanayake Theros of the Malwatta and Asgiriya Chapters of the Siam Sect. The Prime Minister of Thailand also visited the Royal Botanic Garden, Peradeniya, and planted a sapling to mark his visit to Sri Lanka.
This successful high-level visit reflects the timeless partnership between Thailand, Sri Lanka and their peoples, which is based on shared historic, religious and cultural affinities, augmented by mutually beneficial economic ties.
13 July 2018
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