Consulate General of Sri Lanka, Toronto

Toronto Sri Varasiththi Vinaayagar Hindu Temple Annual Chariot Festival

Sri Lanka Consulate General in Toronto participated at the Annual Chariot Festival of the Sri Varasiththi Vinaayagar Hindu Temple on 23^rd July 2022 at the invitation extended by the Chief Priest and the Board of Trustees of the Hindu Temple.

The festival was attended by more than 10,000 Sri Lankan Canadian Tamils including high-profile business community representing a cross section of their population. Also, the festival was attended by several Canadian provincial political dignitaries and senior officials of the public and private sector of Canada. The Canadian political leaders highly commended the contribution of the Sri Lankan Canadian Tamils towards cultural diversity and socio-economic development of Canada. They highlighted that Canada has become home to the largest Sri Lanka expatriate Tamil population in the world.

This festival reflected the broadening space in the moderate Tamil community for a welcoming engagement with Sri Lanka. This moderate Canadian Tamil segment of the population mainly represents academics, professionals, and high-profile business community. They have shown interest for increasing presence in Sri Lanka in the economic development. There is a growing trend of submitting dual citizen applications by this segment having prospects for broader engagement in Sri Lanka. The Consulate General in Toronto is providing consular services for an increasing number of Sri Lankan Canadian Tamil community and representing their social, cultural and community events. Sri Lanka may utilize this platform and the political force to strengthen the reconciliation efforts of Sri Lanka through some constructive engagements on a clear roadmap.

Consulate General of Sri Lanka

Toronto

26^th July, 2022

SRI LANKA ELECTED AS CHAIR OF THE SEVENTH ASIA PACIFIC FORUM ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (APFSD), IN BANGKOK

The Seventh Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) held on 20th May in Bangkok-Thailand, was convened as a virtual meeting for the first time, complying with the ‘new normal’ in the COVID 19 context, and Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Council for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), H.E. (Mrs.) Samantha K. Jayasuriya, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Thailand, was elected by acclamation as the Chair of 7th APFSD and will serve for a period of one year.

The 7th APFSD was held under the theme ‘Accelerating action for and delivery of the 2030 Agenda in Asia and the Pacific’. Recalling that the UN has declared a ‘Decade of Action’ in realizing the 2030 Agenda, Ambassador Jayasuriya, addressing the Opening Session underscored the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships and well coordinated response at national, and regional levels, including with all institutions and all members of society, as well as from the multilateral cooperation framework, in moving forward.

Joining the Opening Session online from New York was the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, and the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, and H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thailand, also addressed the Session. The speakers highlighted the need to change the challenges posed by COVID-19 crisis into new opportunities. They suggested on enhanced investments in social protection and health care, developing economic models aiming at green jobs, leveraging on innovations to advance technology based solutions while bridging the digital divide and enhancing scientific cooperation in the Asia Pacific Region etc.