High Commission of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in the United Kingdom

No. 10 Downing Street hosted its first-ever Vesak celebration in history on 22^nd May, 2024. This significant occasion, marking the Birth, Enlightenment, and Passing Away of Gautama Buddha, was attended by distinguished guests including His Excellency Rohitha Bogollagama, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka and Madam Deepthi Bogollagama.

The celebration was organized by Baroness Scott, Minister for Faith, and graced by the presence of Venerable Seelawimala Thero, Chief Sanganayake of Great Britain and Chief Incumbent of the London Buddhist Vihara. » Read more

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.

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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