News
Sri Lanka is deeply concerned about the growing tensions in the Middle East following the assassination of a senior Iranian leader.
Sri Lanka urges all parties to act with utmost restraint and maintain peace and security through constructive dialogue in order to de-escalate the threat to the stability of the region.
Ministry of Foreign Relations
Colombo
06 January 2020
The High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in the UK Manisha Gunasekera met with the former MP and former Minister of State for the Middle East and former Minister of State for South Asia at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office; former Minister of State at the Department of International Development; and long-standing friend of Sri Lanka, The Rt Hon Alistair Burt on Thursday 21st November 2019. The discussion involved the ways and means of promoting Sri Lanka – UK relations.
The High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in the UK Manisha Gunasekera met with the Chancellor of University of Birmingham, Vice President of CBI, Founder Chair of UK India Business Council & Entrepreneur, Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea on Monday 25th November 2019. The meeting entailed discussion on UK South Asia relations and areas of cooperation with Sri Lanka.
Honourable Speaker,
Honourable Prime Minister,
Honourable Leader of the Opposition,
Honourable Ministers, Honourable State Ministers,
Honorouble Members of Parliament,
I have this opportunity to address you as the Head of State of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka consequent to the historic victory granted to me by the people of this country on the 16th of November.
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.
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 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 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.
