Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Introductory Remarks by Hon. Tilak Marapana, Minister of Foreign Affairs & Chairman of the Board of Management of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies

Lakshman Kadirgamar Memorial Lecture 

Colombo, 15 January 2018 

Read more: Introductory Remarks by Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana at Lakshman Kadirgamar Memorial Lecture

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Message in PDF format

I am extremely happy to convey my greetings to all the Hindus across the world celebrating Thaipongal, the festival that expresses gratitude to the nature.

Since the dawn of civilisation, the importance of agriculture was widely known to human beings. In a background of the rural community migrating to urban areas abandoning agricultural farming to obtain material benefits from industrial and technological growth, the celebration of Thai Pongal depicts the ardent desire to protect and cherish ancient traditions to refill humanity with culture, kindness, peace and reconciliation with utmost devotion towards fellow human kind.

Read more: Thaipongal Messages from H.E. the President and Hon. Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

The Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo has sent the brochure  of  the  medical degree programme for  the  foreign  students.  Ten  (10)  slots for  foreign nationals  have  been allocated annually for  the  MBBS degree programme. 

Please click on this  -  A copy of  the  foreign student handbook is enclosed.

Hon. Taro Kono, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan undertook an official visit to Sri Lanka from 4-6 January 2018.

During the visit, Foreign Minister Kono called on President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and discussed the progress of ongoing development projects in Sri Lanka with Japanese assistance. Recalling the existing friendly and cordial relations between the two countries, Minister Kono assured that development cooperation with Sri Lanka would continue. Minister Kono also indicated the desire of the government of Japan to extend assistance for infrastructure development in Sri Lanka.

Read more: Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono visits Sri Lanka

MEDIA RELEASE

The United States’ Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) provides duty-free treatment to goods of 120 designated beneficiary countries and territories[1]. The program was authorized by the Trade Act of 1974 to promote economic growth in the developing countries, and was implemented on January 1, 1976.  The GSP expires periodically, and must be renewed by the US Congress to remain in effect. The 2015 GSP reauthorization (H.R. 1295) will expire on December 31, 2017. The US Congress has not re-authorized its renewal before adjourning for the year 2017. Therefore, the GSP program will expire on December 31, 2017, and all those importing GSP eligible goods to the USA, from Sri Lanka as well as all other beneficiary countries and territories will be subject to non-preferential duties from January 1, 2018.

Read more: Clarification on the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Program of the United States of America

Press Release

At the Annual General Meeting of the Canada – Sri Lanka Friendship Group in the Federal Parliament held on 13^th December 2017, the following were elected.  Chair: Hon. Yasmin Ratansi, M.P., Co-Chair: Senator Salma Ataullahjan, Vice Chair:  Hon. Ramesh Sangha, Vice-Chair: Hon. Terry Duguid, Executive Members:  Hon. Ali Ehsassi Treasurer, Hon. Tom Kmiec,  Hon. Irene Mathyssen, Hon. Kelly Mc Cauley,  Hon. Robert-Falcon Ouellette, Hon. Ruby Sahota.

Read more: Canada - Sri Lanka Friendship Group in the Federal Parliament in Ottawa

A nine member Sri Lankan technical delegation led by the Chairman of Sri Lanka Tea Board, including the Director General of the Department of Agriculture joined with H. E. the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation, had a fruitful discussion with the Head of the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor), Deputy Head of Rosselkhoznadzor in charge of phytosanitary matters, and other officials of Rosselkhoznadzor on December 25, 2017.

Read more: Lifting of Temporary Restrictions on the Imports of Ceylon Tea and other Agricultural Products from Sri Lanka