News

PM ABE'S NOD FOR SL'S GROWTH

Potential to become hub of Indian Ocean Rim economic zone

President appreciates Japan's ODA assistance

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in a joint statement yesterday noted the consistent economic growth of Sri Lanka and shared the view that Sri Lanka has the potential to become a hub of the Indian Ocean Rim economic zone.

Joint Statement between Sri Lanka and Japan

～A New Partnership between Maritime Countries～

The Prime Minister of Japan, His Excellency Shinzo Abe paid an Official Visit to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka from 7 to 8 September 2014, on the invitation extended by the President of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa, during his Official Working Visit to Japan in March 2013. This is the first visit to Sri Lanka by a Prime Minister of Japan in 24 years since 1990.

First Japanese PM to visit Sri Lanka after 24 years

jaPANESE_PM

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who will arrive in Colombo today, described Sri Lanka as a country with a growing influence in economic and political domains.

Prof. Peiris meets SL Envoys to European countries in Italy

At the Sri Lankan Embassy in Rome, External Affairs Minister Professor G.L. Peiris met with several of the country's Ambassadors in the region for a comprehensive review of their work.

Capital Market Conference, Colombo Sri Lanka – 9th October 2014

http://capitalmarketconference2014.com/

High Commissioner Pillay seeks to influence the OHCHR investigation process

The Ministry of External Affairs regrets the comments made to the media by the outgoing UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Navanethem Pillay, relating to the investigation on Sri Lanka that has been undertaken by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) following the adoption by a vote of Resolution 25/1 in March 2014. In an e-mail interview to the Thomson Reuters Foundation, High Commissioner Pillay states that “the United Nations can conduct an effective investigation into reports of war crimes in Sri Lanka without visiting the country.”

GL underlines the need for diplomatic missions to respect local sensitivities

In a comprehensive briefing for Ambassadors and High Commissioners accredited to Sri Lanka at the Ministry of External Affairs, last Thursday (7^th August) Professor G.L. Peiris dealt with several current developments.

External Affairs Ministry Statement on the Meeting at CSR on 4th August

The attention of the External Affairs Ministry has been drawn to an incident that occurred at the Centre for Society and Religion in Colombo on 4th August. According to reports, a meeting had been organized by the NGO “Right to Life Human Rights Centre” involving families of disappeared persons from the North. However, another NGO, “Parents’ Collective of Disappeared Persons”, had sought access to the meeting, demanding that their grievances be heard too. An ensuing argument had led to a tense situation which had subsequently been brought under control by law enforcement authorities. Several diplomatic representatives from western Missions based in Colombo had also been present at the event.

While recognizing the fundamental right to freedom of assembly and expression, the Ministry wishes to point out that that, once again, a certain section of the diplomatic corps appears to be involved in a manner lacking in objectivity, in events organized for a particular region and community. This has led to the emergence of a pattern of such potentially volatile situations giving rise to the perpetuation of mistrust amongst communities at a sensitive juncture in the country’s history.

The Ministry wishes to urge the diplomatic community to be more conscious of local sensitivities when attending events of an emotive nature.

Ministry of External Affairs

Colombo

5th August 2014

PRESS RELEASE-conduct of legitimate activities by NGOs

The attention of this Ministry has been drawn to several media reports and expressions of concern relating to recent instructions issued by the Director/Registrar of the National Secretariat for Non Governmental Organizations on the conduct of legitimate activities by NGOs.