The Government of New Zealand with the concurrence of the Government of Sri Lanka has appointed Mr. Michael Edward Appleton as the first High Commissioner of New Zealand to Sri Lanka based in Colombo. He has presented credentials to H.E. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka on 22 July 2021 at 10.30 a.m. at President’s House, Colombo 01.
Foreign Ministry
Colombo
22 July, 2021
“Central and South Asia: Regional Connectivity. Challenges and Opportunities”
Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan, 15-16 July 2021
Your Excellency Abdulaziz Kamilov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzebkistan,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am honoured to participate in this high-level forum dedicated to discussing the very relevant topic of connectivity between two important and dynamic regions in the world today: Central and South Asia. I would like to commend His Excellency Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, for organising this timely forum bringing together the views of diverse countries on one platform in spite of the challenges posed globally by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is also an opportune moment to discuss connectivity, when Uzbekistan and the other Central Asian countries mark their third decade as independent nations this year.
Joint Media Release
(The Foreign Ministry and the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka)
Sri Lanka launches the Submarine Cable Protection and Resilience Framework
On 15 July 2021, at a stakeholder meeting chaired by Secretary to the President Dr. P. B. Jayasundara launched the Submarine Cable Protection and Resilience Framework.
Sri Lanka is the first country in Asia to come up with such a Framework and it would have not been possible, if not for generous support of the Government of Japan through the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) – Global Maritime Crimes Programme (GMCP).
The temporary suspension of inbound passenger arrivals to Sri Lanka which was in effect from 11.59 pm on 21 May 2021 to 11.59 pm on 31 May 2021 was removed with effect from 1 June 2021.
The following categories of persons will be permitted to enter Sri Lanka without prior approval of the Foreign Ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority:
Ex-Sri Lankans holding foreign passports (who do not hold dual citizenship) as well as dual citizens travelling on foreign pasports travelling to Sri Lanka for family visits/family emergencies etc and valid residence visa holders should continue to obtain prior approval of the Foreign Ministry/Civil Aviation Authority. Such persons should obtain Foreign Ministry/Civil Aviation Authority approval by sending a request to the Foreign Ministry in Colombo to the email address entry.permission@mfa.gov.lk giving the following details:
Foreign passport holders should have prior visas to enter Sri Lanka as On-Arrival visas are not issued at present. As visas for Sri Lanka are issued only by the Department of Immigration and Emigration at present, all passengers who need a visa for Sri Lanka should arrange a representative in Sri Lanka to apply for a visa/landing endorsement at the Visa Division of the Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka at Battaramulla with the relevant documents (copy of the passport of the traveller and the approval received by email from the Foreign Ministry for traveling to Sri Lanka) to obtain a by paying the relevant visa fee.
Ex-Sri Lankans holding foreign passports and foreign nationals who wish to travel to Sri Lanka for the purpose of tourism should follow the Tourist Travel Bio Bubble procedure of the Sri Lanka Toursim Promotion Bureau. The procedure, including how to obtain the approval for travelling and visa procedure is available on the website at the link https://www.srilanka.travel/helloagain.
The Government of Sri Lanka has apprised the European Union (EU) of progress in specific areas of reconciliation, as part of its regular engagement and dialogue with the organization. Accordingly, the Foreign Ministry on 25 June, informed the EU of action underway to revisit provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, No 48 of 1979, with the study of existing legislation, past practice, and international best practices.
High Commissioner Saroja Sirisena and the members of the staff at the High Commission of Sri Lanka in London participated at the Poson celebrations organised by the Sri Saddhatissa International Buddhist Centre in Kingsbury under the aegis of the Chief Incumbent Aggamahapandita Ven. Galayaye Piyadassi, MBE on 24 June 2021.
The highlight of the celebrations was the display of a colourful pandal depicting the life story of Bhikkhuni Patachara which was inaugurated by High Commissioner Sirisena. The pandal which is 65 feet tall is the largest Poson pandal ever displayed in Europe. It was displayed at the forecourt of the temple premises for a period of one week.
Sri Lanka’s Control of Pesticides Act No. 33 of 1980 and the National Policy and Action Plan on Prevention of Suicide of 1997 are among the five inspiring and impactful laws and policies that won the Future Policy Award 2021.
The Award, often referred to as the ‘Oscar on Best Polices’ is celebrating the most effective policy solutions that minimise the adverse effects of exposure to chemicals on human health and the environment. The above two policies from Sri Lanka have contributed to one of the greatest decreases in suicide rates ever achieved in the world. They have saved about 93,000 lives over 20 years at a direct government cost of less than USD 50 per life.
Addressing the Asia-Pacific High Level Conference on Belt and Road Cooperation virtually on 23 June, 2021, Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunwardena stressed the importance of enhanced cooperation among states and other partners in addressing the COVID-19 challenges, including by recognizing the vaccines as global public health good. He also highlighted Sri Lanka’s policy focus and thrust on sustainable development with renewable energy as a national priority.
High Commissioner Saroja Sirisena together with senior diplomatic officers met the members of the Executive Committee of the Sri Lankan Medical & Dental Association in the UK (SLMDA-UK) at the High Commission of Sri Lanka on 19 June 2021.
At the meeting, the members of the Executive Committee informed of the origins of the Association in 1982 and that it is a voluntary Association for Sri Lankan and Sri Lankan origin Medical & Dental professionals in the UK. They also briefed the High Commissioner of the activities and charitable work undertaken by the Association in the recent past.
Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and the UK Minister for South Asia and the Commonwealth, Lord Tariq Ahmad have agreed to explore avenues to boost bilateral ties, during a video call yesterday, Thursday, 17 June 2021. They welcomed the multifaceted nature of the bilateral engagement between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom in a wide range of areas of mutually beneficial cooperation.
The Consular Affairs Division of the Foreign Ministry organized a ceremony to handover letters of compensation of the deceased Sri Lankan workers abroad to their respective family members at the Ministry Premises in line with the International Domestic Workers Day as well as the International Day of Family Remittances held on 16 June, 2021.
The High Commission of Sri Lanka in London held annual Vesak celebrations from 26-30 May 2021 at the High Commission premises while observing the UK Government’s Covid-19 guidelines.
The celebrations began with a ceremony on 26 May 2021 with the attendance of the Maha Sangha, Members of Houses of Parliament, the diplomatic corps and members of British Sri Lankan community.
In celebration of the International Tea Day – 21st May 2021, the Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) and Colombo Tea Traders Association (CTTA) have organized a webinar to introduce Sri Lanka’s artisanal teas to a wider audience of tea connoisseurs around the world.
The webinar will include a short video on the Ceylon Artisanal Tea Association (CATA) and live visits to several member estates, as well as a panel discussion on the growing global demand for artisanal tea featuring Sri Lankan leading tea exporters and major global tea buyers and writers etc.
Feel free to join – 21 May 2021, 1PM UK time @ https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89535798612
Sri Lankans returning to home country and ex-Sri Lankans traveling for family visits etc
The following categories of persons will be permitted to enter Sri Lanka without prior approval of the Foreign Ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority:
Ex-Sri Lankans holding foreign passports (who do not hold Dual Citizenship) as well as Dual citizens travelling on foreign pasports travelling to Sri Lanka for family visits/family emergencies etc should continue to obtain prior approval of the Foreign Ministry. Such persons should obtain Foreign Ministry/Civil Aviation Authority approval by sending a request to the Covid Team at the Foreign Ministry in Colombo to email address entry.permission@mfa.gov.lk with copy to kanchana.bandara@mfa.gov.lk giving the following details:
They should have prior visas to enter Sri Lanka as On-Arrival visas are not issued at present. As visas for Sri Lanka are issued only by the Department of Immigration and Emigration at present, any person of this category who need a visa for Sri Lanka should arrange a representative to visit the Visa Division of the Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka at Battaramulla with the relevant documents (copy of the passport of the traveller and the approval received by email from the Foreign Ministry for traveling to Sri Lanka) to obtain a visa/Landing Endorsement by paying the relevant fee.
Ex-Sri Lankans and foreign nationals visiting Sri Lanka for tourism
Ex-Sri Lankans holding foreign passports and foreign nationals who wish to travel to Sri Lanka for the purpose of tourism should follow the Tourist Travel Bio Bubble procedure of the Sri Lanka Toursim Promotion Bureau. The procedure, including how to obtain the approval for travelling and visa procedure is available on the website at the link https://www.srilanka.travel/helloagain.
Last updated on 07 June 2021
The Sri Lankan born executive chef Mario Perera is showcasing the vibrant, colourful and spiced dishes from Sri Lanka at the brand-new dining outlet at The Dorchester from 10 – 30 May 2021. The newest culinary experience ‘A taste of Sri Lanka with executive chef Mario Perera’ is the third instalment of The Dorchester’s summer series.
Chef Perera’s culinary endeavour which is supported by the Sri Lanka High Commission in London and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, is a combination of the passion for his Sri Lankan heritage and 20 years’ experience at The Dorchester.
කොන්සියුලර් සේවා සැපයීම
මෙම මහ කොමසාරිස් කාර්යාලයේ කොන්සියුලර් අංශයෙන් කොන්සියුලර් සේවා (විදේශ ගමන් බලපත්ර සහ ද්විත්ව පුරවැසිභාවය සඳහා ඉල්ලුම්පත් මෙන්ම උපත් ලියාපදිංචි කිරීම, ඇටර්නි බලපත්ර සහ දිවුරුම් ප්රකාශ අත්සන් කිරීම ඇතුළු ලේඛන සහතික කර ගැනීම) සඳහා අයදුම් කරන අයදුම් කරුවන් අනිවාර්යයෙන්ම ඒ සඳහා වෙලාවක් කලින් වෙන්කරවා ගත යුතුය.
ඒ සඳහා වෙලාවන් වෙන් කර ගැනීම ජාලගත ක්රමවේදය ඔස්සේ https://hclappontments.embassyonline.lk යන සබැඳියෙන් කර ගන්නා මෙන් ඉල්ලා සිටිමු.වේලාවන් වෙන් කර ගැනීම දුරකථනය ඔස්සේ සිදු කළ නොහැකි බවද දැනුම් දෙමු.
එහෙත්, ජ්යෙෂ්ට පුරවැසියන්ගේ විශ්රාම වැටුප් සඳහා අවශ්ය ඔවුන්ගේ ජීවිත සහතික ලබා ගැනීමට අදාළ ඉල්ලුම්පත් භාර දීමට මෙම මහ කොමසාරිස් කාර්යාලයේ කොන්සියුලර් අංශයට පැමිණීමට කලින් වෙලාව වෙන් කරවා ගැනීම අවශ්ය නැත.
ජ්යෙෂ්ට පුරවැසියන්ගේ විශ්රාම වැටුප් සඳහා අවශ්ය ජීවිත සහතික ලබා ගැනීමට අදාළ ඉල්ලුම්පත් තැපැල් මගින්ද එවිය හැකිය. තැපැල් මගින් අයදුම්පත් එවීමට පෙර, අයදුම්පතට ඇමිණිය යුතු ලියකියවිලි, කොන්සියුලර් ගාස්තු සහ අනිකුත් විස්තර සඳහා කරුණාකර අපගේ වෙබ් අඩවියේ “Consular” මෙනුවට ගොස් තොරතුරු කියවා බලන්න.
කරුණාකර තැපැල් මගින් එවන ජීවිත සහතික සඳහා අයදුම්පත් පහත ලිපිනයට එවන්න:
Consular Section
High Commission of Sri Lanka
No 13, Hyde Park Gardens
London W2 2LU
කරුණාකර සතියේ දිනවල ප.ව. 2.00 සිට ප.ව 5.30 දක්වා පමණක් කොන්සියුලර් විමසීම් සඳහා පහත සඳහන් දුරකථන අංක අමතන්න:
විදේශ ගමන් බලපත්ර සඳහා – 02072621841 -Ext. No. 0245
උප්පැන්න ලියාපදිංචි කිරීම්/පුරවැසි සහතික සඳහා – 02072621841 -Ext. No. 0228
ද්විත්ව පුරවැසිභාවය සඳහා – 02072621841 -Ext. No. 0251
විශ්රාම වැටුප්/ජීවිත සහතික සඳහා – 02072621841 -Ext. No. 0252
වෙනත් කොන්සියුලර් කටයුතු සඳහා – 02072621841 -Ext. No. 0229
අවසන් වරට යාවත්කාලීන කරන ලද්දේ 2021 මාර්තු 29 දින
கொன்சியூலர் சேவைகள்
இங்கிலாந்திலுள்ள இலங்கைக்கான உயர்ஸ்தானிகராலயத்தின் கொன்சியூலர் பிரிவின் அனைத்து கொன்சியூலர் சேவைகளும் (கடவுச்சீட்டு, இரட்டை பிரஜாவுரிமை, பிறப்புக்களை பதிவுசெய்தல், சட்டரீதியான மற்றும் பிரமாணப்பத்திரங்களில் கையெழுத்திடுவது உள்ளிட்ட ஆவணங்களை சட்டபூர்வமாக்குதல்) கட்டாயமாக முன்னனுமதியினைப் பெற்று விண்ணப்பங்களினை சமர்ப்பிக்கவேண்டும்.
https://hclappontments.embassyonline.lk என்ற இணைப்பு வழியாக ஒன்லைனில் முன்னனுமதியினை பெற்றுக்கொள்ள வேண்டும். தொலைபேசியில் முன்னனுமதியினை பெற்றுக்கொள்ள முடியாது என்பதனை தயவுடன் அறியத்தருகின்றோம்.
இருப்பினும், ஓய்வூதிய நோக்கங்களுக்காக தங்கள் வாழ்க்கைச் சான்றிதழை பெறவேண்டிய மூத்த குடிமக்கள் முன்னனுமதியின்றி கொன்சியூலர் பிரிவிற்கு வருகைதரமுடியும். விரும்பின், அவர்கள் வாழ்க்கைச் சான்றிதளுக்கான விண்ணப்பங்களினை தபால் மூலம் அனுப்பலாம்.
விண்ணப்பங்களினை தபால் மூலம் அனுப்புவதற்கு முன் சமர்ப்பிக்கப்படவேண்டிய ஆவணங்கள் மற்றும் கட்டணங்கள் தொடர்பான விபரங்களுக்கு எங்கள் வலைத்தளத்தின் “Consular”
மெனுவைப் பார்க்கவும்.
உங்கள் வாழ்க்கைச் சான்றிதளுக்கான விண்ணப்பங்களினை தபால் மூலம் கீழ்வரும் முகவரிக்கு அனுப்பலாம்.
Consular Section
High Commission of Sri Lanka
No 13, Hyde Park Gardens
London W2 2LU
தயவு செய்து பின்வரும் தொலைபேசி எண்களை வார நாட்களில் பிற்பகல் 2.00 மணி முதல் 5.30 மணி வரை கொன்சுலர் சேவை தொடர்பான விசாரணைகளுக்கு மட்டும் அழைக்க முடியும்.
கடவுச்சீட்டுக்கள் தொடர்பில் – 02072621841 – Ext. 0245
பிறப்புக்களை பதிவுசெய்தல்/குடியுரிமைச் சான்றிதழ்கள் தொடர்பில் – 02072621841 – Ext. 0228
இரட்டை பிரஜாவுரிமை – 02072621841 – Ext. 0251
ஓய்வூதியம்/வாழ்க்கைச் சான்றிதழ்கள் தொடர்பில் – 02072621841 – Ext. 0252
இதர கொன்சுலர் சேவைகள் தொடர்பில் – 02072621841 – Ext. 0229
Last updated on 29 March 2021
Consular Services
Submission of applications for all consular services (passports, dual citizenship, registration of births, legalisation of documents including signing of Powers of Attorney and Affidavits) at the Consular Section of the High Commission is strictly by prior appointment.
Appointments should be made online via the link https://hclappontments.embassyonline.lk. Please note that appointments cannot be made over the phone.
However, senior citizens who need to get their life certificates for pension purposes may visit the Consular Section without prior appointments. They may also send their applications for life certificates by post as well.
Please refer to the “Consular” Menu of our website for details of the necessary supporting documents and consular fees before sending the applications by post.
Please send your applications for life certificates by post to the following address:
Consular Section
High Commission of Sri Lanka
No 13, Hyde Park Gardens
London W2 2LU
Please call the following telephone numbers on weekdays between 2.00 pm to 5.30 pm only for Consular inquiries :
For Passports -02072621841 -Ext. No. 0245
For Birth Registrations/Citizenship Certificates – 02072621841 -Ext. No. 0228
For Dual Citizenship – 02072621841 -Ext. No. 0251
For Pension/Life Certificates – 02072621841 -Ext. No. 0252
For other consular matters – 02072621841 -Ext. No. 0229
Last updated on 29 March 2021
There have been recent reports on social media platforms of a “Sri Lanka Flag Non-Slip Doormat” which is being advertised for online purchase on the Amazon website.
Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage has informed the Sri Lanka Embassy in Beijing to contact the manufacturer concerned in China and also has brought to the attention of the Chinese Embassy in Colombo, the advertising of Sri Lanka’s national flag as a doormat. The Sri Lanka Embassy in Washington D.C has also been instructed to follow up on the matter with the advertising platform Amazon.
Foreign Ministry
Colombo
12 March 2021
The High Commission of Sri Lanka in the UK initiated a platform to showcase Sri Lankans who have excelled, thanks to the public goods provided by the successive Governments of Sri Lanka since independence and decades of solid investment in its people. Launching this initiative, the High Commission presented a brief video outlining the milestones of the life of Mr. Abdul Haleem, Counsellor of the High Commission. The video traces his steps and reflects Sri Lanka’s commitment to its citizens.
The documentary film “TRUTH BEHIND DARE – Unearthing systematically suppressed plight of humanity ended in 2009” produced by the independent and non-profit media initiative Lanka Courier was screened by the Sri Lanka High Commission in London on Zoom platform on 23 February 2021 for the Expatriate Sri Lankans in the UK.
The temporary travel restriction introduced by the Government on travels originating from the United Kingdom to Sri Lanka on account of the new Covid -19 Variant in the UK has been lifted with immediate effect.
At a meeting presided by H.E the President, it was decided to relax the restrictions on travels from UK subject to 14 days of quarantine and PCR tests determined by the Health Authorities.
The tourist arrivals from the UK too will resume under the guidelines introduced by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.
Foreign Ministry
Colombo
17 February 2021
His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has stated that if the ecosystem is protected, the country’s water resources will become a major source of income for the country in the future. The Cardinal stated this when addressing Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena who paid a courtesy call at his official residence today (22) to offer greetings to His Eminence for the upcoming Christmas season.
In the wake of the discovery of a fast spreading new strain of Coronavirus in certain countries, the Government of Sri Lanka has decided to continue with the existing procedure of obtaining prior approval from the Foreign Ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority for all inbound travellers to Sri Lanka.
The revised guidelines on repatriation will be issued once the situation has been reappraised.
Foreign Ministry
Colombo
22 December 2020
For the convenience of the general public and taking into consideration the social distancing requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic, all consular services of the High Commission are now provided by prior appointment. Therefore, those who wish to visit the Consular Section of the High Commission are requested to obtain a prior appointment which can be made online by clicking the ‘Appointments for Consular Services’ menu item on the home page of our website.
Appointments can only be made online and not by telephoning the High Commission. Please note that consular services would only be provided to those with prior appointments.
Please also note that a separate appointment should be made in respect of each applicant/application.
We wish to inform those who make inquiries on applying for visas for Sri Lanka that the temporary suspension of the issuance of visas put in place due to COVID-19 pandemic still continues. Accordingly, the issuance of all categories of Sri Lanka visas for all foreign nationals remains suspended until further notice. (For further details please visit:
http://www.immigration.gov.lk/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=337&lang=en
Therefore, please note that at present the High Commission of Sri Lanka in the UK does not accept applications for the issuance of any type of Sri Lanka visas for foreign nationals.
11 August 2020
The High Commission of Sri Lanka in the UK receives requests for organizing mobile Consular Services outside London for the convenience of those who live away from London.
In order to assess the number of Sri Lankans who would benefit from such mobile Consular Services outside London, we kindly request such Sri Lankans who require Consular services to complete the online form on our website at the link https://srilankahc.uk/2020/08/03/survey-for-mobile-consular-services/
The UK Home Office has published on 29 July, the latest guidance about visa extensions for persons in the UK with leave expiring between 24 January and 31 July 2020.
Accordingly, UK visa holders having a visa or leave that was due to expire between the 24 January 2020 and 31 July 2020 and unable to leave the UK prior to the expiry of their visas because of travel restrictions or self-isolation related to coronavirus (COVID-19) will be given an extra month’s grace period within the UK to 31 August 2020.
However, it has been advised that since the travel restrictions are lifting globally, such persons will no longer be able to extend their visas automatically on this basis and are advised to take all reasonable steps to leave the UK where it is possible to do so or apply to regularise their stay in the UK.
For further details please visit the link https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents#history.
ශ්රී ලංකාවේ COVID-19 වෛරසය පැතිරීම පාලනය කිරීම සඳහා 2020 මාර්තු 18 වන දින කොළඹ ජාත්යන්තර ගුවන්තොටුපළ තාවකාලිකව වසා දැමීමටත්, ශ්රී ලාංකිකයන් ඇතුළු සියලුම මගීන්ගේ පැමිණීම තාවකාලිකව අත්හිටුවීමටත් තීරණය කිරීමෙන් අනතුරුව ශ්රී ලංකාවට පෙරලා යාමේ හැකියාව සම්බන්ධයෙන් විමසීම් විශාල ප්රමාණයක් එක්සත් රාජධානියේ අධ්යාපන කටයුතු වල නිරතව සිටින ශ්රී ලාංකික සිසුන්ගෙන්, එක්සත් රාජධානියේ සංචාරයේ යෙදී සිටින ශ්රී ලාංකිකයන්ගෙන් සහ වෙනත් අයවලුන්ගෙන් මෙම මහ කොමසාරිස් කාර්යාලයට මේ දිනවල නිතිපතා ලැබේ.
