The Second Sri Lanka – UK Strategic Dialogue was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 07 May 2024. The Sri Lanka delegation at the meeting was led by Director General / Europe and North America Shobini Gunasekera and the UK side by Director / India and Indian Ocean Directorate at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Ben Mellor. Discussions were also held with Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane.
The Sri Lanka High Commission in London inaugurated the Advisory Council of Sri Lanka’s Interests (ACSLI) on 7th May 2024, under the patronage of His Excellency Rohitha Bogollagama, the High Commissioner.
The Advisory Council constitutes a diverse panel of Sri Lankan and British experts from various spheres including legal, banking, investment, tourism & hospitality, UK polity, and social and cultural engagement. » Read more
The 189th birthday commemoration of the late James Taylor, known as the Father of Ceylon Tea, unfolded with solemnity and celebration on March 29th, 2024, in his birth village of Auchenblae, Aberdeen. Led by the Sri Lanka delegation, spearheaded by High Commissioner Rohitha Bogollagama, the event garnered the participation of over 100 esteemed members of the Auchenblae Heritage Society, distinguished guests, and key figures from Scotland’s tea trade, academia, media, and communities.
The High Commission of Sri Lanka in London organized the memorable occasion, in collaboration with Miss Anne Lawson, a senior member of the Auchenblae Heritage Society and a devoted advocate of Ceylon Tea. High Commissioner Bogollagama delivered a poignant keynote address, emphasizing the historic bonds between Sri Lanka and Great Britain, particularly through Ceylon Tea. He paid tribute to James Taylor’s pioneering efforts, which transformed Sri Lanka into an export economy and elevated the quality of life for its citizens. He urged the Scottish audience to honour Taylor’s memory by increasing their consumption of Ceylon Tea, brewed in the traditional manner, as a gesture of respect and solidarity. » Read more
As part of Sri Lanka’s participation in International Food Exhibition-2024, a series of Ceylon Tea promotional programmes were conducted in Scotland, culminating in a highly successful PR event at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) on March 28th, 2024. The event, a Ceylon Tea Tasting session, saw participation from approximately 100 attendees, including graduate and postgraduate students specializing in beverages and culinary arts at the Faculty of Business Management, as well as esteemed PhD researchers and senior lecturers from the university’s departments of food, beverages, culinary, hospitality, and tourism. » Read more
The Sri Lanka High Commission played host to a vibrant Networking Dinner Reception on March 26th, 2024, graciously hosted by High Commissioner Rohitha Bogollagama. It was attended by over a hundred distinguished guests from various sectors including the UK-Sri Lanka tea and food trade, UK businesses, senior officials from the UK Department of Business and Trade, Commonwealth trade-related bodies, UK trade chambers, and other influential figures involved in Sri Lanka-UK trade, economic, and investment relations. » Read more
The Consular Division of the Sri Lanka High Commission has surpassed £100,000 in income in the month of April, marking a significant milestone in the recent past, under the leadership of His Excellency, Rohitha Bogollagama, the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the United Kingdom. This achievement owes much to the diligent efforts of Deputy High Commissioner, Mrs Manorie Mallikaratchy, Minister (Consular) Mr Aruna Fernando, and the Consular staff, whose facilitation has been instrumental in achieving this milestone. The Consular Division’s commitment to organizing mobile consular services beyond London, extending to Leeds and Liverpool, has contributed significantly to this success. With approximately 700,000 Sri Lankan diaspora in the United Kingdom, this accomplishment reaffirms the dedication of the Sri Lanka High Commission to serving this vibrant community.
Sri Lanka High Commission
London
02 May 2024
