News

Galle Dialogue 2015

The statement made by the Hon. Prime Minister at the inauguration of the Galle Dialogue 2015 on Monday 23 November 2015.

Click here for full statement…..

Remarks to the Media by Foreign Minister following talks with US Permanent Representative to the UN

HonFM-RemarkstoMedia-21Nov

Remarks to Media by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Foreign Affairs

following talks with H.E. Ambassador Samantha Powers,

Permanent Representative of the USA to the United Nations

Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 21^st November 2015

Annual Review of Proscribed Entities Under UN Regulation No. 1 of 2012

The Government of Sri Lanka proscribed 16 organisations and 424 individuals under Gazette Extraordinary No. 1854/41 on 21 March 2014 using powers under the United Nations Act No. 45 of 1968. The proscription was announced eight days before Western and Southern Provincial Council elections, which were held on 29 March 2014.

Congratulatory messages to Aung San Suu Kyi

Message by President

H.E. Maithripala Sirisena, President of Sri Lanka has sent a congratulatory message to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Leader of the National League for Democracy on the landslide victory at the recent elections held in Myanmar.

The text of the message is as follows:-

Condolence Messages on Terrorist Attacks in Paris

Condolence Message by H.E. the President

H.E. Maithripala Sirisena, President of Sri Lanka conveyed his condolences in a message to H.E. François Hollande, President of France on the terrorist attacks that occurred in Paris yesterday.

The text of the message is as follows:-

Sri Lanka elected to the UNESCO Executive Board

UNESCO_ExecBoard

Sri Lanka was elected to the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on 11 November 2015 during the 38^th General Conference in Paris. Sri Lanka was one of six countries that qualified to serve on the Executive Board from the Asia and Pacific Group for the period 2015-2019, having received 149 out of 186 votes at the election in which there were eight candidate countries. The countries which were elected to the Executive Board from the Asia and Pacific Group with Sri Lanka are Malaysia, Viet Nam, Republic of Korea, Pakistan, and Iran

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/general-conference-38th/elections/results-executive-board).

INVITATION FOR BIDS

Paranthan Chemicals Company Limited

Sealed Bids are invited from principals or their Accredited Agents for the Following;

Bid No. : PCC/07/CYL/2015/01 - 200 Nos. Brand New Empty Cylinders of 68kg capacity

More details please click here.....

Statement on recent developments in the Maldives

Sri Lanka is deeply concerned about recent developments in the Maldives and events that have impacted on Sri Lanka, including the recent arrest of two Sri Lankan nationals in the Maldives, the questionable removal of a Maldivian social media activist who was in possession of a valid Sri Lankan visa, the stabbing of a Maldivian national in Sri Lanka, as well as the state of emergency that has been declared in the Maldives and the impeachment of the Vice-President.

Sri Lanka is also concerned by the impact of the State of Emergency on the fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution of the Maldives and urges the Government of the Maldives to uphold the commitments it has made – including as a member of the Commonwealth and signatory to the Commonwealth Charter – to the universal and Commonwealth values of democracy and the rule of law.

Having endured similar challenges in its recent past, the new Sri Lankan Government is committed to the principles of democracy, good governance and the rule of law. We also believe that the right to dissent is an integral part of a functioning democracy. Unlike the previous regime in Sri Lanka which silenced dissenting voices in the guise of fighting terrorism, the new administration is committed to the fundamentals of democracy.

It is in this context that the Government finds it deeply disturbing that Sri Lanka, a country which has always maintained the closest friendly relations with the Maldives is being used to initiate questionable
action against political and social media activists. Sri Lanka encourages the Government of the Maldives to ensure that recent developments are not allowed to escalate into a source of regional instability.

Sri Lanka hopes that the Maldives will take steps to end the state of emergency, initiate measures to respect and protect freedom of expression and ensure that recent developments will not reverse Maldives' hard-won democratic achievements.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Colombo

10 November 2015

Official Visit to the Kingdom of Thailand of H.E. Maithripala Sirisena, President of Sri Lanka

Joint Press Statement

Official Visit to the Kingdom of Thailand of H.E. Maithripala Sirisena,

President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

1-4 November 2015

President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Maithripala Sirisena and his delegation paid an Official Visit to Thailand from 1-4 November 2015 at the invitation of General Prayut Chan-o-Cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand.