Month: December 2019
Wish you a Merry Christmas!
Sri Lanka High Commission in London hosts an inclusive Christmas celebration highlighting Christ’s Message of Peace
Acting High Commissioner of Sri Lanka High Commission to the UK Samantha Pathirana welcoming the gathering at the annual Christmas celebrations
The High Commission of Sri Lanka in the United Kingdom held its annual Christmas Celebrations at the High Commission premises on Monday 16 December 2019 with multi-faith leaders, representation from the Church of England and the British Government, and the British Sri Lankan community of all faiths. The Head of South Asia Department and India Policy Co-ordinator of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Fergus Auld attended the event as the Chief Guest.
‘Revitalized Africa Policy’ to guide Sri Lanka’s engagement with Africa
Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha has said the operationalization of the recently developed ‘RevitalizedAfrica Policy’, seeks to enhance Sri Lanka’s cooperation in the political, economic and cultural spheres across Africa. Among the envisaged measures for closer engagement are the expansion of Sri Lanka’s diplomatic presence in Africa, stronger and mutually productive economic collaboration, revitalization of the historic people to people linksand close cooperation in multilateral fora and regional organizations. The policy document aims to optimize the strategic linkages through proximity to the Indian Ocean, centrality of Sri Lanka’s location, and cooperation through the 54 member-African Union (AU), where Sri Lanka received Observer Status in 2014.
Foreign Ministers of Sri Lanka and Switzerland exchange views on arrest of Sri Lankan employee of Swiss Mission
Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena this evening (18 December) received a telephone call from the Foreign Minister of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis regarding the status of the Sri Lankan employee at the Swiss Embassy Ms. Garnier Banister Francis. She is presently in custody on reasonable suspicion of committing offenses under Sections 120 and 190 of the Penal Code, that could justify a criminal charge of disaffection towards the government, and fabricating false evidence for the purpose of being used in any stage of a judicial proceeding, in her alleged abduction claim.
Foreign Secretary Aryasinha calls for the regaining of Sri Lanka’s economic prominence in Egypt
Foreign Minister calls for concrete action on SAARC intra-regional trade
Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena requested the SAARC Member Countries to take concrete action to improve intra-trade in the region without compromising security concerns. He made this remark at an event to commemorate the 35th SAARC Charter Day at the Taj Samudra Hotel on 10 December 2019, organised by the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
Sri Lanka Elected Chair of Biological Weapons Convention Meet
Foreign Ministry Comments on the Judgement in the Case of Brigadier Priyanka Fernando
Foreign Ministry clarifies Conservative Manifesto reference to Sri Lanka
The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Relations has been drawn to remarks made by Member of Parliament Udaya Gammanpila over media on 3 December 2019 in connection with the reference to Sri Lanka in the election manifesto of the Conservative Party in the run up to the general election in the United Kingdom scheduled for 12 December 2019.