News

UNITED STATES SELECTS SRI LANKA FOR MCC COMPACT

Sri Lanka was selected as eligible for a Compact Programme under the U.S. Millennium Challenge Cooperation (MCC) at the meeting of the MCC Board of Directors held in Washington DC on 13 December.

Compact Programmes are large, five-year grants for countries that meets MCC’s eligibility criteria of good governance, economic freedom and investment in its citizens. The selections are based on performance indicators of these criteria compiled by the MCC in an annual scorecard for countries under consideration.

Sri Lanka and Tajikistan strengthen trade and investment ties

“Sri Lanka is keen to strengthen economic relations and explore new vistas for bilateral trade engagements with Tajikistan”, stated Hon. Dr. Harsha de Silva, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, when he made the welcome remarks at the Sri Lanka- Tajikistan Business Meeting held on 14^th December 2016 in Colombo.

Joint statement on strengthening bilateral relations between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

1. At the invitation of the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon paid a state visit to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on 12– 14 December, 2016. During the visit, President Emomali Rahmon held official meetings with President Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Speaker Karu Jayasuriya in Colombo.

2. Prior to the state visit, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe had met with President Rahmon, on the side lines of the 12^th World Islamic Economic Forum, which was held in Jakarta, Indonesia in August 2016.

Maldivian Foreign Minister Dr. Mohamed Asim calls on Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera

Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Foreign Affairs held discussions with Dr. Mohamed Asim, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives today (02.11.2016) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two Ministers discussed ways and means of strengthening bilateral relations, including economic and trade links. Discussions were also held on enhancing cooperation in the areas of education, health, investment and security. The Foreign Ministers agreed to hold the next Joint Commission meeting between the two countries early next year. The last meeting of the Maldives- Sri Lanka Joint Commission was held in Colombo on 10 September 2014.

Sri Lanka calls for measures to address the menace of chemical terrorism

Sri Lanka has called for ways and means to address the menace of chemical terrorism, in the wake of Non-State Actors acquiring the capability to manufacture and use chemical weapons.

Statement by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP22) in Marrakesh

PIC_02

Statement by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, MP

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka

High Level Segment of the 22^nd Session of the Conference of Parties

to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP22)

and

12^th Session of the Conference of Parties serving as a Meeting of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol

16 November 2016, Marrakesh, Morocco

H.E. Salaheddine Mezouar, President of COP22 and CMP12

Executive Secretary of UNFCCC

Excellency’s

Distinguished delegates

Ladies and gentlemen

At the outset, let me convey my delegation’s appreciation to the Government and the people of the Kingdom of Morocco for hosting this important Conference and for the warm hospitality extended to us. Let me also convey the best wishes of my President H.E. Maithripala Sirisena.

This Conference is significant as it takes place just days after the entry into force of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change on the 4^th of November.

Remarks by Hon. Dr. Harsha de Silva,Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Regional Consultations on Transitional Justice in Asia-Pacific Hilton Colombo, 9 November 2016

DepFM-TJ

UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and

guarantees of non-recurrence, Mr. Pablo de Greiff,

Acting UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Alain Sibenaler,

Officials from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to be here with you this morning, and I extend to all of you, a very warm welcome to Sri Lanka.

I understand that this meeting brings together State representatives, representatives of transitional justice mechanisms, national human rights institutions, NGOs, victims groups, UN officials, and representatives of regional organisations from the Asia-Pacific region to discuss and share experiences on transitional justice processes in the region.

Sri Lanka President and Prime Minister Congratulate President elect of the U.S.A.

Felicitation Message by the President of Sri Lanka to the President-elect of USA

Mr. Donald J Trump

President-elect of the United States of America

Dear Mr. Trump,

The Government and the people of Sri Lanka join me in congratulating you on your victory on November 8, 2016 in a historic Presidential Election that received wide global attention.

Sri Lankan Community in Toronto Celebrates Deepavali

torontopic01

The Sri Lankan Community in the Greater Toronto Area organized an event, in co-ordination with the Consulate General of Sri Lanka, to celebrate the Deepavali Festival, bringing the Sri Lankan community together on 30^th October 2016 at the Periya Sivan Temple Hall, in Scarborough.