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Address by Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Foreign Affairs at the German Council on Foreign Relations

Address by

Hon. Mangala Samaraweera

Minister of Foreign Affairs

German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP)

Berlin, 22 May 2015

Contours of a new Sri Lanka

Secretary General Dr Harald Kinderman,

Members of the Board of the German Council on Foreign Relations,

Excellencies,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I thank all of you for so graciously hosting me here today at the prestigious German Council on Foreign Relations.

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera meets German Foreign Minister Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier

SLFM-GermanFM

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera met German Foreign Minister Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier this morning (22) at the German Foreign Office in Berlin. Please find text and pictures of the media remarks after meeting below.

Sri Lanka hosts forum on international humanitarian law

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The sixth annual South Asian Regional Conference on international humanitarian law (IHL) jointly organized by the Government of Sri Lanka and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), is being held in Colombo from 19-21 May 2015.

Minister of Plantation Industries, Lakshman Kiriella concludes official visit to Kuala Lumpur

Minister of Plantation Industries Laksman Kiriella successfully concluded his official visit to Malaysia on 11th May. Minister Kiriella led the Sri Lanka delegation to the Special Session of the Association Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) Assembly at Ministerial level which was held in Kuala Lumpur from 7-8 May 2015. The meeting was attended by Ministers of Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Senior Officials from India, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Philippines. The ANRPC meeting was chaired by YB Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities of Malaysia. Mr. Anura Jayawickrama, Secretary of the Ministry of Plantation, Mr. R.B. Premadasa, Director General of Rubber Department of Sri Lanka and Mr. S.D. Kalansooriya, Coordinating Secretary of the Minister also participated at the ANRPC meeting.

Our policy is that of development and reconciliation - President

“We never let the brutal terrorism to be arisen in this country again”

Speech in Sinhala (pdf)

President Maithripala Sirisena said though the damaged buildings, destroyed roads and other physical resources were being re-built there was no reconciliation process during the post-war period to rebuild the broken hearts and minds. “Therefore, as the new government we clearly state that our policy is that of development and reconciliation,” he said and added, “we cannot fulfill our expectations for reconciliation only through development.”

Sri Lanka condemns the terrorist attack on a bus in Karachi

Sri Lanka denounces in the strongest terms, today’s terrorist attack on a bus in Karachi, killing innocent civilians and injuring many.

Firing on men, women and children while they were on their way to participate in religious observances displays a brutality of unimaginable proportions.

Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this deplorable violence. We stand firmly with the Government and people of Pakistan in their hour of grief and wish those who were injured, a quick recovery.

Sri Lanka condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and expresses support for all efforts to combat this scourge.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Colombo

13^th May 2015

Foreign Minister Samaraweera briefs the diplomatic corps

At a meeting with the diplomatic community based in Colombo at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday 12 May, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera highlighted the achievements of the Government in the last four months.

Sri Lanka’s relief and rescue operations in the aftermath of the earthquake concludes with accolades from Nepal

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The Nepal authorities have warmly commended the Sri Lanka contingent led by Maj. Gen. Maithri Dias and Brig. Jagath Gunawardena, on its excellent relief work during the two-week rescue and relief operation in Nepal following the earthquake on 25 April 2015. The Sri Lankan Contingent returned to Sri Lanka on Monday night (11 May).

SRI LANKA EXTENDS CONDOLENCES ON PAKISTAN HELICOPTER CRASH

Having learned with deep shock and consternation the unexpected crash of the Pakistan Army Helicopter in a mountainous area in Northern Pakistan, and the tragic loss of lives including the Ambassador of the Philippines and Ambassador of Norway and spouses of the Ambassador of Indonesia and the High Commissioner of Malaysia to Pakistan on 8th May 2015, the Government and people of Sri Lanka express its heartfelt condolences to the family members of the bereaved passengers. While sharing their grief and sorrow, the Government and people of Sri Lanka are confident that their courage and fortitude will help them overcome the irreparable loss and wish those injured a speedy recovery.