Remarks Made by Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, Foreign Minister at the Inaugural Event of the 4th NSA – Level Trilateral Meeting on Maritime Cooperation on 28 November 2020 at Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo
Legatum Prosperity Index highlights the development of education and healthcare sectors in Sri Lanka during the past decade
The London-based think-tank Legatum Institute launched the 14th Legatum Prosperity Index on 17 November 2020. One of the main highlights of this year’s index was the improvement in Sri Lanka’s education and healthcare sectors over the past decade. According to the Index, these improvements were key to increase in prosperity within Sri Lanka.
Country Statement of the Honourable Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka for the 3rd Ministerial Meeting of the Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum, 25 November 2020
Excellencies,
Hon.Chairman,
Distinguished delegates,
Ayubowan.
It is my pleasure to be invited to address this august gathering, representing my country.
Let me commence my remarks by congratulating His Excellency Luhut B. Panjaitan, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs of Indonesia, UNDP and the AIS Secretariat for organizing this important event.
Foreign Ministry takes the lead in reviewing connections and opportunities in Marine Scientific Research and Maritime Safety and Security
Eminent international legal luminaries, Managing Director and Head of Projects for Morocco and Sudan at the Max Planck Foundation Prof. Rüdiger Wolfrum and member of the United Nations International Law Commission Sir Michael Wood were among the speakers at a webinar organized by the Foreign Ministry on 20 November 2020, as part of its responsibilities as the lead country for the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Working Group on Maritime Safety and security on the theme “The Nexus between Marine Scientific Research (MSR) and Maritime Safety and Security (MSS)”.
Reference made to Sri Lanka by Chair of The Elders and former Irish President Mary Robinson
The attention of the Ministry was drawn to the comments on Sri Lanka attributed to Chair of The Elders and former Irish President Mary Robinson as a part of a recent statement by The Elders titled ‘The Elders express deep concern at failure to respect US democratic transition of power’ which was contained in several newspapers in Ireland.
In this connection, the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in the United Kingdom Saroja Sirisena wrote to Mrs Robinson and the Editors of the relevant newspapers drawing attention to the inaccuracy of Mrs Robinson’s comments.
High Commissioner Saroja Sirisena explained the role played by SriLanka on women empowerment and leadership at the webinar organised by Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office of the UK to celebrate women mediators across the Commonwealth.
Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena underscores the importance of adequate funding for development initiatives enabling developing countries to overcome the multifaceted challenges hindering the achievement of SDGs
Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena reiterated the call of the Group of 77 for adequate funding for development initiatives enabling developing countries to overcome the multifaceted challenges hindering the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in the context of the exacerbated global situation due to the pandemic and its adverse effects on trade, tourism, investment and employment.
