News

Canada briefed on recent developments in Sri Lanka

High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Canada Ahmed A. Jawad met with Michael Chan Minister of Immigration and International Trade of Ontario. The High Commissioner briefed the Minister on recent developments in Sri Lanka. Trade, tourism and investment opportunities were also discussed

Joint Statement by Sri Lanka and New Zealand on the Occasion of the Official Visit to Sri Lanka by the Prime Minister of New Zealand

Pres-PM-NZ

1 At the invitation of H.E. Maithripala Sirisena, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, the Rt Hon Mr John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand, paid an official visit to Sri Lanka from 23-27 February 2016. During the visit, Prime Minister Key held official meetings with President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo.

Address of Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera at the US Institute of Peace

US-IofP

Address by

Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, MP

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka

US Institute of Peace, Washington DC

25 February 2016

Advancing Reconciliation and Development in Sri Lanka

Last February, soon after the election of President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Election held on 8 January 2015, I stood before a similar audience in this great city and outlined our plans and our vision for Sri Lanka.

Minister Mangala Samaraweera concludes successful visit to the United Nations

HC.MS.SriLanka.Lowres

Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Mangala Samaraweera concluded a three day visit to New York to attend the UNDP 50th Anniversary Ministerial meeting held at the UN Headquarters, from the 21st-24th of February.

Awarding of compensation to families of deceased migrant workers by Actg. Foreign Minister

Thirty four families of deceased migrant workers in the Middle East were given compensation and salary dues by the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Harsha de Silva on 17th February 2016 at the Foreign Ministry. A total of Sri Lankan Rupees 57 million was awarded to the family members. This was the first awarding ceremony held at the ministry this year.

President to visit Germany and Austria

President Maithripala Sirisena left for Germany today on a State Visit at the invitation of the Federal Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel. The objective of the visit is strengthening political and trade ties and is expected to mark the beginning of a new chapter in Sri Lanka-German relations. Accompanying the President is a high level trade and investment delegation which will participate in a special forum organised to create awareness on Sri Lanka’s economic potential.

Initial consultations on the ICRC Report titled: “Needs of the Families of Missing Persons in Sri Lanka: Living with Uncertainty”, held at the Foreign Ministry

ICRC

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with the ICRC delegation in Sri Lanka held a meeting today, 12 February, with the participation of representatives of relevant line Ministries and Agencies to discuss the ICRC report titled: ‘Needs of the Families of Missing Persons in Sri Lanka: Living with Uncertainty’. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Harsha de Silva, and held at the Ministry premises.

Statement regarding the Long Range Missile launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

The Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka condemns the launch of a long range missile by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on 07^th February 2016.

Sri Lanka calls upon the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to abide by its international obligations and desist from any action that would adversely impact on the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Colombo

10 February 2016

Speech delivered by President Maithripala Sirisena at the 68th Independence Day celebrations on February 4, 2016

pres-Independence

Today we all join together to celebrate the 68th anniversary of Independence Day with pomp and glory. Since we got independence from the British Colonial rulers, we have been marking this momentous day of Independence every year and this is the 68th occasion.

Read Full speech in English (PDF), Sinhala (PDF), Tamil (PDF)