(Colombo-Lankapuvath-October 06) Tourism Ministry stated that a smart tour package for tourists would be introduced for local and foreign tourists. This package would include transport to visit striking locations of the country. 

All tourist attractions would be promoted and developed with all facilities for the benefit of tourists to spend their leisure time.

"No one could charge the military for any crime as they had engaged in a humanitarian operation in a professional manner. I urge those who point their finger at us to be careful as their other fingers are pointed at themselves," President and Commander-in-Chief Mahinda Rajapaksa at the inauguration of the 60th Anniversary celebrations of the Sri Lanka Army on Saturday (Oct 03).

(Colombo-Lankapuvath-October 02) – The Island of Gems an exhibition on gems and gem industry of Sri Lanka is to be held for the 14th, successive year. This year’s exhibition will be held from the 24th and 25th October 2009 (Saturday and Sunday) at Mostyn Hotel Marble Arch, Bryanston Road London.

The exhibition will be open to the public from 10am to 7pm on both days.

(Colombo Lankapuvath October 02) Sri Lanka’s opening batsman and all-rounder, Thilakarathne Dilshan brought glory to the country when he won the award for the best Twenty20 International Performance of the Year award at the glittering LG ICC Awards ceremony held in Johannesburg yesterday (01). 

Right hand batsman Dilshan became the second-ever recipient of the honour. Dilshan took the trophy following his impressive 96 not out off 57 balls against the West Indies during the ICC World Twenty20 tournament 2009 held in England.

(Colombo - Lankapuvath - October 01) –Sri Lankan Airlines is carrying out a series of promotional activities to increase Chinese tourist arrivals into the Indian Ocean Island, and promote close ties between the two countries. 

The National Carrier has in recent months launched several tour packages tailor-made for the Chinese market. The airline’s ‘Ayubowan Sri Lanka’ and ‘Treasures of Sri Lanka’ packages were heavily marketed in China this year, with a number of key incentives being provided to the Chinese travel trade to promote them.

On a request made by Hon Basil Rajapakse, MP, Chairman of the Presidential Task Force for Resettlement, Development and Security in the Northern Province, and subsequent discussions that Hon Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister for Disaster Management & Human Rights had with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Mr.  Antonio Guterres, Hon Minister was able to secure US Dollars 5 million from the UNHCR to  enable the government to purchase 10 flailing machines in order to further accelerate the de-mining programme in the North.  This outright grant was confirmed today in Geneva at a meeting between Hon Mahinda Samarasinghe and the High Commissioner for Refugees on the sidelines of the ongoing UNHCR Executive Committee meeting, which was also addressed by Hon Mahinda Samarasinghe.

Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe, M.P, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights addressed the 60^th Session of the Executive Committee of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) at the Palais des Nations in Geneva today. Hon. Samarasinghe is among a large number of dignitaries, including Ministers, to address this forum which began its 5-day session today in Geneva. Prior to his address, Hon. Minister also met with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Mr. Antonio Guterres.

The full text of Hon. Minister’s statement is as follows:

"Multilateralism is not about the UN agenda responding only to the demands of a minority of powerful States, but also defending the interest of the powerless majority. It is also imperative that the prohibition reflected in the Article 2 (7) of the Charter that the UN should not interfere in the internal affairs of States be respected," said Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake addressing the 64th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York (Sept. 26).

Right of Reply exercised by Prof Rajiva Wijesinha Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights to issues raised under Item 4 of the Agenda of the Human Rights Council: Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention     

Sri Lanka regrets the disinformation purveyed by some Non-Governmental Organizations in the course of the debate on Item 4 of the Agenda of the Human Rights Council. Sadly we seem to have abandoned traditional values, or rather Christian values and the Ten Commandments, but the Prophet Moses would surely have spanked, if only metaphorically, those organizations that persistently bear False Witness as part of their relentlessly vindictive campaign against the Sri Lankan State.

Statement of Prof Rajiva Wijesinha Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights In the  general debate under Item 4 of the Agenda of the Human Rights Council: Human Rights Situations that require the Council’s attention  

Sri Lanka appreciates the concerns about Sri Lanka expressed by countries participating in this debate and records its appreciation, with regard to our efforts to recover from the damage caused by terrorism, of the support and assistance of our neighbours and friends who stood by us in our struggle whilst affirming their concern for an inclusive solution to our problems.

President assures parents and children at Vakarai Maha Vidyalayam grand opening:  

* Never forget this is your motherland

* Today's children would become kings tomorrow

President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his second visit to Vakarai since its liberation yesterday assured the people who had undergone many challenges and hardships due to terrorism, that they had a bright future ahead.

“We in Sri Lanka, with the dawn of peace and the improving investor-friendly policies, are experiencing a surge in the economic activities in the country”- Hon. H.R. Mithrapala, Minister of Consumer Services 

For the first time, at the annual meetings of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) member States will begin with a two-day High-Level Ministerial Segment, deliberating on the importance of Intellectual Property (IP) in policy-making and development spheres. The High-Level Segment, which began today and continues on September 23, brought together over forty Ministers and hundreds of high level delegates.

Foreign Minister Bogollagama proposed that Sri Lanka and Fiji seek wider areas for bilateral exchanges in human resources in the fields of legal and medical services and technical cooperation, in keeping with Sri Lanka’s policy of a more Asia centric focus on international cooperation, when the Foreign Minister of Fiji, Ratu Inoke Kabuabola called on him today (21/09) in New York.  The Fijian Foreign Minister was thankful for the six Sri Lankan judges who had been recruited to serve in Fiji when their Chief Justice had visited Sri Lanka.  They exchanged views with regard to the procedure of processing the Continental Shelf applications which both Sri Lanka and Fiji have filed and underlined the need to seek a fast tracking of this process.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his Eid-ul-Fitr festival message called for lasting partnership of the Muslims of Sri Lanka to forge a new Sri Lankan nation of unity, tolerance and harmony. 

Full text of Message:

“The Muslim community of Sri Lanka joins its brothers in faith the world over on this occasion to mark the completion of the period of fasting and religious practice which is the most significant tradition of the holiest month in the Islamic calendar.

Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayake will be leading the Sri Lanka delegation to the 64^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, commencing 22 September 2009. He will address the General Assembly on 26 September regarding the “Strengthening of Multilateralism and Dialogue among Civilizations for International Peace, Security and Development” and meet the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. During his visit he will also address the Asia Society in New York on the theme “Sri Lanka’s Challenges ahead: Post LTTE Scenario and Ensuring Sustainable Peace”.

"UN must understand our problems, I understand the SG's"  

"De-mining won't take 16 years as in Croatia"  

"Journalist's offences include being agent of LTTE"  

"Sri Lanka is an equal member of the UN"  

"If big countries bully us we will bring it to the UN" 

                                                                          - President Rajapaksa 

Sri Lanka has a better story than is getting out to the world on matters of concern to the United Nations such as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Human rights and Post Conflict Development was the view of B. Lynn Pascoe, United Nations Under Secretary General for Political Affairs, following his meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa earlier today(Sep 18).

Intervention of Prof Rajiva Wijesinha,Secretary to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights in discussion of the Report of the Joint Inspection Unit  

Sri Lanka welcomes the Report of the Joint Inspection Unit on the requested follow up to the management review of the Office of the High Commissioner. The Report makes it clear that follow up has in fact been minimal. Recalling that the Review took place in 2003, one is reminded of Yeats’ Wild Swans at Coole, sailing complacently in their shining white plumage across yet another lake. This Council needs therefore to work swiftly and purposefully if another generation is not to see the same swans twenty years later.

The Government of Sri Lanka welcomes the media statement issued today (17) by Prof. Philip Alston, Special Rapporteur on extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary executions, in which he now acknowledges that the report which was shared with him by the Government leads him to the conclusion that “the views expressed do indeed raise several issues which warrant further investigation before it could reasonably be concluded that the video is authentic”.

Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights addressed the Twelfth Session of the UN Human Rights Council, which began its 3-week long session today.  Hon. Minister was among the three high-level dignitaries who addressed the Council and his statement was followed by the statements made by H.E Ms. Esther Brimmer, US Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations, and Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha of Thailand.

The full statement of the Hon. Minister is as follows: