State Minister for Regional Co-operation Tharaka Balasuriya reaffirmed President Rajapaksa’s commitment for 80% renewable energy to UK’s COP26 Regional Ambassador for Asia/Pacific and South Asia Ken O’Flaherty during a virtual discussion on 27 October 2020.Interview of the Foreign Secretary on Ada Derana
Address by Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at “Shaping our future together” the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations
Address by Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at “Shaping our future together” the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations and 65th Anniversary of the United Nations in Colombo, virtual event on 23 October 2020.
Video link at: https://youtu.be/
Go on a couch safari
Go on a couch safari to Minneriya, Kaudulla, Uduwalawe and Yala National Parks and explore Sri Lanka’s wild side” – First wildlife stream transmission starts 04th November, continuing until 13th November 2020. To register and fro more information, visit www.srilanka.travel/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzrbWjLghYM
Appeal on the LTTE proscription in the UK
The Government of Sri Lanka has been made aware of the Open Judgement by the Proscribed Organizations Appeals Commission (POAC) of the United Kingdom dated 21 October 2020.
The decision of the POAC arises from an appeal filed in May 2019 by an LTTE front organization challenging the decision of the UK Secretary of State for Home Affairs dated 8 March 2019, which refused the application by the group to de-proscribe the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) from the list of Proscribed Organizations under the UK Terrorism Act of 2000.
Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister calls for advancing e-commerce and e-governance in Commonwealth states in the COVID-19 context
Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena leading the Sri Lanka delegation to the 20th Virtual Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) in the sidelines of the 75 UN General Assembly last evening (14 October 2020), called for innovative thinking, collective and integrated strategies to address the multi-dimensional and cross cutting challenges in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
45th Session of the Human Rights Council Item 7: General Debate on the human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories, during the 45th session of the UN Human Rights Council 30 September 2020
Statement by Sri Lanka
Madam President,
Sri Lanka aligns itself with the statement delivered by the Non Aligned Movement.
Sri Lanka’s long held principled position on this matter has been clear. We recognize the legitimate and inalienable right of the people of Palestine to statehood and to the natural resources in their territory. Any form of annexation, irrespective of its size, would constitute a violation of international law, jeopardize prospects for a peaceful settlement to the issue and cause destabilization of peace and security in the Middle East region.
Address by Hon Dinesh Gunawardena, Foreign Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka at the High-Level Meeting on the 25th Anniversary of the 4th World Conference on Women 01 October 2020
We are committed to protect and sustainably manage natural resources – President tells UN Biodiversity Summit
The Government of Sri Lankan is committed to protect and sustainably manage natural resources, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said addressing the United Nations Summit on Biodiversity today (30).
“Sri Lanka is home to two UNESCO Natural Heritage Sites: the Central Highlands, and the Sinharaja Rain Forest Reserve. We are also proud of our six sites recognized under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Sri Lanka firmly stands committed to protect and sustainably manage these natural assets that contribute to our unique and rich biodiversity” President Rajapaksa told the virtual gathering held under the theme of Urgent action on biodiversity for sustainable development”.
Statement by Sri Lanka at the Interactive Dialogue with the Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights on the report of the Secretary-General on co-operation with the United Nations
45th Session of the Human Rights Council
Item 5: Interactive dialogue with the Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights on the report of the Secretary-General on co-operation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights
30 September 2020
Statement by Sri Lanka