Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Further to the Ministry comment yesterday (14 March 2020), regarding one of the family members of an officer of the Foreign Relations Ministry being diagnosed with COVID -19, and the series of precautionary measures taken to avoid and minimize the possible risk of transmission of the virus, the Ministry wishes to update the following:

It is firmly asserted that the Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and members of the Sri Lanka delegation to the recent Human Rights Council Meeting in Geneva had only interacted with the Foreign Ministry official concerned prior to the officer’s sole contact with the affected family member who was already travelling in Europe on a private engagement, during the period of 29 Feb - 1 March 2020.

Minister Gunawardena has also not come in to contact with the said officer, following the officer’s own return to Colombo on 8th March 2020.

The officer concerned had arrived at the Ministry only on one working day during the week starting 9th March which was prior to the return of the infected family member to Colombo which happened a few days later from the officer’s arrival.

Nevertheless, as a precautionary step, all staff who have come in to contact with the officer concerned, during this one working day last week, staff and family members residing in the Ministry quarters where the officer and family member reside and the staff of the Geneva Permanent Mission where the officer concerned was working during the previous 2 weeks, have been advised to ‘self-quarantine’.

Further action has been taken to disinfect the relevant areas of the Ministry and the quarters.

Presently the Ministry official is in good health.

The Ministry will continue to monitor and assess the situation to ensure the safety of its staff, its visitors and the general public.

 

Ministry of Foreign Relations

Colombo

15 March 2020

Sri Lanka will lead the Science, Technology and Innovation sector in the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). A BIMSTEC Facility for Technology Transfer is planned to be opened in Sri Lanka in the future.  Sri Lanka will also appoint a Director to the BIMSTEC Secretariat in June this year.

This was agreed during the finalization of areas of cooperation among BIMSTEC Member States during the 20^th Session of the Senior Officials’ Meeting (SoM) Chaired by Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha on 3 March 2020. The SOM was preceded by the 3^rd Permanent Working Committee Meeting (BPWC) Chaired by Additional Secretary (Economic Affairs) P.M. Amza, from 1 to 2 March 2020 at the Ministry of Foreign Relations.

Sri Lanka is mandated to lead the sector on Science, Technology and Innovation under which cooperation in Technology, health and human resource development is also included. Bangladesh was mandated to lead Trade, Investment and Development, Bhutan - Environment and Climate Change, Myanmar - Agriculture and Food Security, India - Security (Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime, Disaster Management & Energy), Nepal - People to people contact (culture, tourism, forums of Think Thanks, Media etc) and Thailand - Connectivity. BIMSTEC Charter which is the institutional mechanism to effectively steer the process of regional cooperation under BIMSTEC was also finalized and is expected to be adopted at the 5^th BIMSTEC Summit.

Read more: Sri Lanka will lead Science, Technology and Innovation Sector in BIMSTEC

43^rd Session of the Human Rights Council – High Level Segment

Statement by Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister of Foreign Relations of

Sri Lanka

26 February 2020

Madam President

Madam High Commissioner

Ladies and gentlemen,

As this Council is aware, in November 2019, the people of Sri Lanka gave a resounding mandate to President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, to pursue a policy framework aimed at achieving the “four-fold outcome of a productive citizenry; a contented family, a disciplined, a just society and a prosperous nation”^[1]. It is envisaged to achieve sustainable development and peace in the country, firmly anchored in safeguarding “national security without compromising the democratic space available to our people”[2].

It was over a decade ago, on 18 May 2009, that Sri Lanka defeated LTTE terrorism militarily, bringing to an end three decades of conflict and suffering. The end of the brutal conflict advanced, secured and protected one of the fundamental human rights - the ‘right to life’ for all Sri Lankans- Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslims and others. I would like to state with pride that since May 2009, not a bullet has been fired in the name of separatist terrorism in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka never had any illusion that the end of the conflict against the LTTE terrorists, will overnight convert to a lasting peace. Although Sri Lanka was not a case of nation building, like many conflict situations that this Council is dealing with, we were mindful that Sri Lanka needed certain reviews and strengthening of existing structures, as part of a sustainable peace and reconciliation programme.

The government led by the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa, of which the current President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, initiated a sustainable reconciliation process in Sri Lanka to bring about ‘healing and peace building’, taking due cognizance of the ground realities at that time. This was viewed as an incremental and inclusive process, as it had taken even better-resourced countries several decades to address and achieve.

Read more: 43rd Session of the Human Rights Council – High Level Segment Statement by Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister of Foreign Relations of Sri Lanka

A Reception for Members of Parliament, the Diplomatic Community and senior officials of the Government of Canada, was hosted on 24^th February 2020 by the Sri Lanka High Commission in Canada to celebrate the National Day of Sri Lanka at the Sheraton Ottawa Hotel.

The Assistant Deputy Minister for Asia Pacific of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Development of Canada, Hon. Paul Thoppil graced the occasion as Chief Guest.

The evening began with a welcome address followed by the singing of the national anthems of Sri Lanka and Canada after which Sithara Khan, the Acting High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Canada, addressed the gathering.

The Acting High Commissioner in her address referred to the strong bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Canada spanning over six decades and the ongoing bilateral engagements and trade ties between the two countries.

In her address, the Acting High Commissioner highlighted the economic policies outlined in His Excellency President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s manifesto ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’ and quoted excerpts on H. E the President’s commitment to create a progressive national economy and a pluralistic society. The Acting High Commissioner noted that the vision of H. E the President set the pace for Sri Lanka to enter an era of prosperity.

Acting High Commissioner Khan also outlined Sri Lanka’s economic growth and the measures taken to prioritize business-friendly policies to increase business, trade and investment. In this context, she pointed out to the conclusion of the first code-share Air Transport Agreement (ATA) on 5 December, 2016 between Sri Lanka and Canada and stated that following the conclusion of the ATA, an increase in tourism from Canada to Sri Lanka was observed. The Acting High Commissioner noted that Sri Lanka has much to offer the world and to all visitors to the country and added that Sri Lanka has something for everyone.

Read more: Sri Lanka High Commission in Canada hosts Reception to celebrate Sri Lanka’s National Day

Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardenatoday (16 February 2020) formally conveyed to the US Ambassador AlainaTeplitzSri Lanka’s strong objections on the imposition of travel restrictions by the Government of the United States of America on Lt. Gen.Shavendra Silva, Commander of the Army and Actg. Chief of Defence Staff, as well as his immediate family. Earlier on Friday (14 February 2020), the Foreign Ministry had issued the Government of Sri Lanka’s immediate reaction following the announcement by the US Secretary of State.

During his discussion, the Minister reiterated that Lt. Gen. Silva was appointed as the Commander of the Army by the then Head of State, taking into account his seniority and that there were no substantiated or proven allegations of human rights violations against him. His elevation as the Actg. Chief of Defence Staff by the current Head of State President GotabayaRajapaksa was on account of his being the senior most serving military officer.

Noting that Lt. Gen. Silva was one of the senior military officials who contributed significantly to liberate Sri Lanka from terrorism over a decade ago, the Minister said it is disappointing that a foreign government should question the prerogative of a democratically elected President to call upon persons of proven expertise to hold key positions on national security related matters. The Minister said this action unnecessarily complicates the US-Sri Lanka relationship.

On coming to learn that the designation was not based on independently verified information, but on the much disputed OISL Report of 2015, the Minister requested the United States to verify the authenticity of the sources of information. It was recalled that this report made clear that it was “a human rights investigation and not a a criminal investigation”, and that “the names provided in the description of the chain of command do not imply criminal responsibility for those particularly alleged violations listed in this report, either as direct responsibility or under command or superior responsibility. Individual criminal responsibility can only be determined by a Court of Law with all necessary due process guaranteed.”

Foreign Relations Minister asked that the United States Government review its decision.

Ambassador Teplitz Informed that she would convey the concerns of the Government of Sri Lanka to Washington DC, and reiterated the continued commitment of the US Government to all aspects of ongoing collaboration with Sri Lanka and to ensure its expansion, including in the field of defence.

Foreign Secretary RavinathaAryasinha, Director General/ North America, Dharshana M. Perera, and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Relations were associated with the Minister at the meeting. Mr. Martin Kelly, Deputy Head of Mission accompanied the US Ambassador to the meeting.

 

Ministry of Foreign Relations

16 February 2020

 

“Timelines evolved externally in achieving stated objectives would only seek to hinder the process of reconciliation since they would be bereft of ground realities” emphasized Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Kshenuka Senewiratne during a one day debate at the UN Security Council titled “Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace: Transitional Justice in conflict and post-conflict situations,” held on 13^th February 2020.  She added that when seeking mechanisms of transitional justice, related simple theories would need to also take cognizance of the various historical, cultural and religious sensitivities.

Ambassador Senewiratne stated that the basic tenet of a transitional justice process is the application of its theoretical principles on State obligations and it is the State that needs to pursue truth, justice, reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence. She further explained that the post conflict milieu of each country is unique and those traversing the path of post-conflict transition and reconciliation have often made deliberate efforts to maintain a balance between the speed of the transitional justice process and desired standard which includes inclusiveness and the sustainability.

Read more: “Timelines evolved externally would hinder process of reconciliation”: Sri Lanka’s envoy tell the UN Security Council

The Sri Lanka High Commission in Canada celebrated the 72^nd Anniversary of Independence and National Day of Sri Lanka on 4^th February 2020 amidst a large gathering at the Official Residence of the High Commissioner.

The National Day events commenced with the hoisting of the national flag and the singing of the national anthem of Sri Lanka. Thereafter, multi-faith religious observances by the venerable members of the Maha Sangha and respected religious dignitaries representing the Hindu, Islam and Catholic faiths were conducted to bestow blessings on Sri Lanka and the people of the country.

The National Day messages issued by H.E the President, the Hon. Prime Minister and the        Hon. Minister of Foreign Relations were read, followed by the address of Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Canada, Asoka Girihagama.

Read more: Sri Lanka High Commission in Canada celebrates the 72nd Anniversary of Independence and National Day of Sri Lanka in Ottawa