Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris addressed the Diplomatic Corps at the Foreign Ministry Auditorium on 26 January, 2022 during the first diplomatic briefing for the New Year.

Foreign Minister Peiris appreciated the opportunity to meet with the entire diplomatic corps as a continuation of the regular briefings organized by the Ministry to share current developments. The objective of this briefing was to share information on progress related to human rights and reconciliation as part of the continued engagement ahead of the upcoming 49th Session of the Human Rights Council, which will commence in the last week of February.

The Minister recalled that at the September 2021 Session of the Human Rights Council he had reiterated Sri Lanka’s commitment to the promotion and protection of Human Rights and to remain engaged with the United Nations including the Human Rights Council. In this context, the Minister referred to the constructive engagement with the international community in a spirit of cooperation and dialogue.

Foreign Minister Peiris said the Government of Sri Lanka has undertaken substantial steps with a view to accountability, restorative justice and meaningful reconciliation which were efforts due to the work of domestic institutions and invited the heads of these institutions to brief on the tangible progress made. Accordingly, presentations on the progress of domestic institutions during the past year were made by: Chairperson of the Office for Reparations (OR) Dhara Wijayatilake, Director General, Sustainable Development Council (SDC) Chamindry Saparamadu, Director General, Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) Deepthi Lamahewa, Head of Protection & Legal, Office of Missing Persons (OMP) and J. Thatparan, Director, Research and Monitoring of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) Nihal Chandrasiri.

The Minister was particularly pleased to inform that after 43 years, the Prevention of Terrorism Act is being amended with the objective of bringing it in line with international norms and best practices. He informed that Cabinet approval has been obtained to gazette the Bill containing the proposed amendments and thereafter to table the Bill in Parliament for final approval. The Minister explained that the PTA is being amended after lengthy deliberations over several months.

He added that substantive amendments to the PTA include amendments to the sections on detention orders, restriction orders, expressly recognizing judicial review of orders, expeditious disposal of cases of those charged to avoid long term detention, repealing sections impinging on freedom of expression and introduction of provisions on access by magistrates and judicial medical officers, prevention of maltreatment and torture during the detention period, right to communicate with the family, grant of bail to long term detainees and day to day hearing of cases.

The Foreign Minister also referred to the establishment of an Advisory Board under Section 13 of the PTA to advise the Minister of Defence on long term detainees. Any person who has been issued a Detention Order or a Restriction Order under the PTA is provided an opportunity to request a review of the Order. In addition, Presidential pardons were granted to 16 LTTE cadres serving sentences under the PTA in June 2021 and a legal and administrative process has been set in motion to release detainees who have been in judicial custody for extended periods under charges relating to the PTA. Accordingly, 13 more persons were discharged as of 13 January, 2022.

Foreign Minister Peiris also referred to recent developments relating to Hejaaz Hizbullah noting that a case has been filed by the Attorney General under the PTA. The Attorney General has informed the Court of Appeal that he will not object to bail being granted to the accused. With regard to the Presidential Task Force on Archaeological Heritage Management, the Minister informed that representatives of the Tamil and Muslim communities had been included.

The Foreign Minister informed the Heads of Mission of the visits he had undertaken to the Eastern, Southern and Central provinces and his forthcoming visit to the Northern province of Sri Lanka with the objective of engaging in consultations with various stakeholders including politicians, government officials, intellectuals and academics, members of civil society Organizations at the grass roots to discuss and obtain a feedback on various measures the government has already taken to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and on human rights and reconciliation efforts.

The Resident Coordinator of the United Nations Hanaa Singer-Hamdy appreciated the work done by the relevant national institutions in the areas of transitional justice, achievement of the SDG’s and amendments to the PTA. The Ambassador of Egypt Maged Mosleh highlighted the importance of the international community working with Sri Lanka to promote human rights and reconciliation and observed the impressive achievements made by Sri Lanka in combating terrorism and dealing with its aftermath.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

27 January, 2022

(https://mfa.gov.lk/fm-briefs-dpl/)

High Commissioner Harsha Kumara Navaratne presented credentials to Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar at the Headquarters of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in Montreal, Canada on 13^th January 2022. The High Commissioner and his delegation was cordially welcomed by the office of ICAO under COVID health guidelines. 

Presenting Credentials to the Secretary General, High Commissioner  Navaratne added greetings  from  H E the  President Gotabaya Rajapaksa  and the Government of Sri Lanka   and also took  the opportunity to congratulate  the  Secretary General   on his  appointment as the  ICAO Secretary  General in the latter part of 2021. 

During discussions, the High Commissioner stated that Sri Lanka is member of the ICAO since 1948 and has endeavoured to incorporate ICAO principles in the Sri Lanka National Civil Aviation Policy introduced in 2019. He further stated that the Government of Sri Lanka has acceded to the Cape Town Convention and related Protocols, Beijing Convention and Associated Supplementary Protocols and Protocol to amend the Convention of offences and certain other acts committed on board aircraft and the Montreal Protocol. 

Appreciating  the call  of ICAO and United Nations  World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)  for acceleration  of global efforts  to reconnect the  world  due to COVID 19 in August last year the Sri Lanka  delegation stated that  such  efforts  will ease the  economic hardships   felt  by the  peoples of all  countries and  Sri Lanka  would  also benefit  as  its  economy depends on tourism.   The Sri Lanka delegation also inquired and discussed on new   training opportunities from which   industry officials in Sri Lanka    could benefit. 

Secretary General  Salazar  stated that he  is has  close interaction  with  Sri Lanka  even before  his  appointment and  has  visited  Sri Lanka and  is familiar with  the  country. He also  stated that  ICAO is  closely  working  with  UNWTO  on several  fronts  and he  welcomes  Sri Lanka  to  take part in  its  initiatives  based on interest. 

At the  end of the discussions,  High Commissioner  Navaratne on behalf of the  Government  reiterated  its  commitment  to  ICAO  principles  that include safe and orderly development of international civil aviation, with  the complementary aim that international air transport services should be operated soundly and economically and established on the basis of equality of opportunity. 

Deputy High Commissioner Anzul B Jhan and M D K Aravinda, IT Officer of the High Commission participated in the discussions.

Sri Lanka High Commission

 Ottawa

14^th January 2022

“Thaipongal is the festive harvest season for the Hindu Tamil community world over. Thai Pongal is dedicated to the Hindu sun god Suriya Bhagavan thanking him for providing agricultural abundance beginning from the month of January.

The festival is named after the ceremonial "Pongal", which is the traditional dish prepared from the new harvest of rice boiled in milk with juggery. To mark the festival, the pongal sweet dish is prepared, first offered to the gods and then shared with family and friends. The festival also includes offering prayers in the home, temples, getting together with family and friends, and exchanging gifts to renew social bonds of solidarity.

The Tamil language is regarded as one of the oldest languages in the world and abundant with literary works. Among the great poets who have enriched the Tamil language are Thiruvalluvar, Kambar, Ilangko and Subramania Bharathiyar. Similarly, Sri Lankan poets like Somasunthara Pulavar,Vipulanantha Adigal and Mahakavi have contributed to the richness of Tamil poetry.

Thaipongal is also a time to celebrate the contributions made by Tamil-Canadians to the Canadian society; the richness of the Tamil language and culture, and passing down at important traditional values, ethics for future generations.

Sri Lanka as a multi - ethnic and multicultural society that has over the years collectively nurtured the celebration of important festivals such as Thaipongal: I am pleased and happy to wish peace and good health to the Canadian Tamil community as they celebrate Thaipongal.

Harsha Kumara Navaratne

High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Canada

The Foreign Ministry, following careful consideration, has taken a decision to temporarily close three of its Missions / Posts overseas, i.e., the Sri Lanka High Commission in Abuja, Nigeria; the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Frankfurt, Germany; and the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Nicosia, Cyprus; with effect from 31 December 2021.  The decision, which has received the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers, is part of a restructuring process of Sri Lanka’s network of Missions and Posts overseas carried out by the Foreign Ministry.  The restructuring is undertaken with a view to conserving the country’s much needed foreign reserves and minimising expenditure related to maintenance of Sri Lanka’s Missions / Posts overseas, while ensuring the effective conduct of bilateral relations, in the backdrop of the grave economic challenges posed by the global pandemic.

Upon closure of the three identified Missions / Posts, their functions, including maintenance of bilateral political, economic, cultural relations as well as consular functions as relevant, will come under the purview of accredited, and in the case of Abuja and Nicosia, non-resident High Commissions / Embassies of Sri Lanka.  In this regard, action is in process to concurrently accredit Nigeria through Sri Lanka’s High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya; and the other countries in Africa concurrently accredited through the Sri Lankan Mission in Abuja, through Sri Lanka’s Embassy in Cairo, Egypt and High Commission in Nairobi, respectively.  The functions of Sri Lanka’s Consulate General in Frankfurt, including trade, investment and tourism promotion, as well as consular matters of Sri Lankan nationals living and working in and around Frankfurt, will come under the purview of Sri Lanka’s Embassy in Berlin, Germany.

The concurrent accreditation of Cyprus through the Sri Lanka Embassy in Rome, Italy will continue, with the latter handling Sri Lanka’s bilateral relations with Cyprus as per current practice.  The consular functions handled by the Consulate General in Nicosia will be brought under the purview of the Sri Lanka Embassy in Rome.  However, considering the significant consular and welfare requirements of the approximately 6,000-strong Sri Lankan employee community living and working in Cyprus, which need to be addressed on a regular basis, action is being taken by the Foreign Ministry to appoint forthwith a suitably qualified Honorary Consul based in Nicosia.  The Honorary Consul thus appointed will function under the direction of the Sri Lanka Embassy in Rome and the Foreign Ministry, in close coordination with the State Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotions & Market Diversification and the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment.  The Foreign Ministry will closely monitor the transition process in Cyprus in order to address issues, if any, and provide further solutions if deemed relevant and necessary in the foreseeable future.

Notwithstanding cost-cutting measures, the Foreign Ministry continues to attach highest priority to maintenance of bilateral relations with all countries at optimum level, to meet the foreign policy objectives of the Government with special focus on economic diplomacy, which entails the promotion of exports, foreign direct investment, tourism and foreign employment generation.  The Ministry pays high attention to its mandate of safeguarding the welfare and effective functioning of Sri Lankan employees overseas with due regard to their direct and significant contribution to the nation’s economy in terms of foreign remittances.  A continuous evaluation of Mission / Post requirements vis-à-vis achievement of targets is being undertaken by the Foreign Ministry through a consultative process, both internal and external, involving senior representation of the Foreign Ministry and Sri Lanka’s Heads of Mission / Post overseas, as well as relevant line institutions of Government including the Ministries of Finance, Trade and Labour; the State Ministries of Regional Cooperation and Foreign Employment Promotion & Market Diversification; the Department of Commerce, the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, among other agencies.  The decision to temporarily close the three identified Missions / Posts is subject to continuous review, and action will be taken in due course to consider re-instatement of relevant resident Missions / Posts as deemed necessary.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

27 December, 2021

(https://mfa.gov.lk/temporary-closure-sl-missions/)