Excellencies,

Sri Lanka and Kuwait signed the Investment Promotion & Protection Agreement (IPPA) on 05^th November 2009 marking Sri Lanka’s first such agreement with Gulf countries which includes Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain.  At a simple ceremony held at the Ministry of Finance of Kuwait. Mr. Khalifa M. Hamada, Undersecretary to the Ministry of Finance signed the agreement on behalf of Kuwait while Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Kuwait Sarath Dissanayake signed for Sri Lanka. The negotiations on the IPPA have been concluded in June 2009.

It is necessary to protect the independence of the judiciary, to build a nation that upholds the rule of law. In our country we had a glorious past which protected the rule of law, and with the past experiences we are committed to protect its autonomy and prestige, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa after laying the foundation stone for a new lawyer's office complex at Hulftsdorp, Colombo, yesterday (2).

President of the Republic of Bulgaria Georgi Parvanov called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa on November 1 during a one-day visit to Colombo. During the meeting it was acknowledged that there are possibilities for further developing bilateral political dialogue and cooperation in the economic, cultural and other spheres of mutual interest. It was pointed out that both sides enjoy excellent cooperation in the framework of the UN and other international organizations.

Students from faraway schools in Sri Lanka mesmerized the French audience at the prestigious UNESCO auditorium when they performed traditional dances at a colourful concert aptly named ‘Varna’ held on October 29 to mark the 60th anniversary of UNESCO-Sri Lanka relations.  

35 Tamil and Sinhala students from the schools in Gampaha, Kirindiwela, Vavuniya, Ingiriya and Horana kept the spectators spell-bound for nearly two and a half hours when they performed dances such as Varnam, Ves, Bharath Natyam, Kolattam, devotional songs, harvesting dances and culminated with a fantastic drum symphony.

(Colombo Lankapuvath October 30) This is the time for all expatriate Sri Lankans to use their knowledge and skills to develop the motherland, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing Sri Lankan businessmen, professionals and University students in Nepal yesterday (29).

In order to accelerate the de-mining process in the Northern region of the country, the Sri Lankan Government has purchased 05 more Bozena machines from the government of Slovakia.  

The machines cost Rs 250 Million were brought to the island today (30) where Minister of Disaster Management and Resettlement Abdul Risath Bathiyutheen handed them over to Minister of Nation Building & Estate Infrastructure Development S. M. Chandrasena at the Bandaranaika International Airport.

The United States had welcomed the Government's acceleration of the voluntary return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their villages.

We are encouraged by the Government’s announcement that it intends in the next few weeks to facilitate the voluntary return of over 40,000…. and we understand that thousands have already been released, said a statement from the US Embassy.

Mr. Michael James Zwack who recently assumed duties as the Representative for the UNHCR in Colombo called on Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 28^th October 2009 and presented his letter of appointment. 

During the call on Minister Bogollagama, Mr. Zwack reiterated the commitment of the UNHCR to work in close coordination with the Government of Sri Lanka.

Mobile family planning clinic

Press Release from the Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition on the current status of the IDP health care issue as of 15.09.2009 and its response to challenges.  

With a view of addressing all the health care needs of the IDP population, health sector plans were implemented under the guidance of the national IDP steering Committee chaired by Dr.Ajith Mendis (DGHS) which meets once fortnightly in Colombo. Against the back drop of rampant misinformation both locally and internationally it was deemed as of paramount importance that the national IDP steering Committee informs public of its activities periodically.

The Russian Federation’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Sergey V. Lavrov, who is currently on a historic one day visit to Sri Lanka held discussions with Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 26th October 2009.

The former strongholds of the LTTE -- Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi Districts -- are among the areas in which the internally displaced Tamils of Northern Sri Lanka will be resettled under the government's current IDP resettlement programme. 

The resettlement of a total 41,685 persons from 12,095 families will take place in the current phase of resettlement which began yesterday, Oct. 22.

The United States has forwarded to the Sri Lanka authorities a document captioned “Report to Congress on Incidents During the Recent Conflict in Sri Lanka”, which contains a report from the US State Department to the Appropriations Committees of the US Congress.   

Parliamentary under Secretary of State for International development, Mike Foster announced funding for three new grants to help resettle Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in northern Sri Lanka yesterday in parliament, the British High Commission said in a press release.

(Colombo-Lankapuvath-October 21) – Sri Lankan Airlines will increase flights this winter season to a dozen cities throughout Europe, the Middle East, the Subcontinent, and Far East, based on its projection that passenger numbers will definitely increase following the Dawn of Peace in Sri Lanka.

Forward booking for winter season is very encouraging and providing more flights to destination where Sri Lankan airlines experience high market growth. These increases in flights will be effective from 25th October, and the new Milan service will be launched on 16th December.

The US - Sri Lanka Trade and Investment Conference is being held with the support of Barack Obama’s administration. The US State Department, the US Trade Representative Office, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington, the Sri Lanka Commerce Department and the Investment Promotion Ministry are the organizers of the event.

Russia’s support at extremely crucial times was very important for Sri Lanka to face and overcome the challenges in meeting the threat of terrorism, and now Sri Lanka is in a position to turn the challenges into opportunities emphasised Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama during his meeting with the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexey Borodavkin on 16th October 2009. Minister Bogollagama was meeting the Russian Deputy Minister who was in Colombo to attend the 8th Ministerial Meeting of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD).

●  Defeat of terrorism mainly through Sri Lanka's own effort * Asia can rebuild through greater reliance on own  people   

●  Asian economies facing hardships caused by others who should share the burdens of recovery.

●  Speedy resettlement of IDPs highest priority of government   

The Japanese Parliamentary delegation headed by Shuji Ikeguchi, Member of Parliament representing the Democratic Party of Japan, stated that Sri Lanka has been included as a new focal point for Asia under the new government’s Foreign Policy and assured the continuation of development assistance. Hailing Sri Lanka’s victory over terrorism after more than two decades the Liberal Democratic Party pledged its support for Sri Lanka.

The 10-member Indian delegation who met the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa Tuesday afternoon expressed their satisfaction over the measures taken by the government for the welfare of the Internally Displaced persons sheltered in welfare camps in the country's North.  

While expressing their concern over the speedy resettlement of the IDPs, the delegation led by DMK MP T. R. Baalu and included MPs from DMK, Congress and VCK appreciated the actions taken by the government so far, in this direction, the government media unit reported.