During the landmark State Visit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to India in June 2010, it was decided that the 2600^th year of the attainment of enlightenment of Prince Siddharatha as Gautama Buddha (Sambuddhatva Jayanthi) will be commemorated by India and Sri Lanka through joint activities. Following this agreement, President Rajapaksa personally requested the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, to afford Sri Lankan Buddhists an opportunity to pay homage to the sacred Kapilavastu Relics by allowing the Relics to be taken to Sri Lanka as a part of the commemoration of the 2600^th year of the Sambuddhatva Jayanthi.

These Relics of the Gautama Buddha which are known to the world as the ‘Kapilavastu Relics’ are from a site in Bihar first discovered in 1898 which is believed to be the ancient City of Kapilavastu. This epoch making discovery was at a stupa site, Piprahwa. The relic casket discovered in 1898 bore the inscription “The shrine for relics of the Buddha, the August One, is that of the Sakyas, …”.

The translation of the whole text of the LLRC Report, into Sinhala and Tamil, undertaken and completed by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, was handed over by the Governor of the Central Bank, Mr. Ajith Nivard Cabraal, to Professor G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs, and to Mr. Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the President, at the Ministry of External Affairs yesterday.

Minister Peiris and Secretary  Weeratunga, in their recent briefings to local and foreign media and to Ambassadors and High Commissioners accredited to Sri Lanka, said that the Sinhala and Tamil versions of the Report would be available shortly.  This was one of the priority steps identified by the Committee, functioning under the Presidential Secretariat and headed by Mr. Weeratunga, to co-ordinate and supervise the implementation of the LLRC Report in accordance with a decision by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, addressing the Conference on Disarmament (CD) on Tuesday (31 July 2012), has expressed Sri Lanka's "profound disappointment that the Conference has not been enabled to undertake substantive work on its agenda". He said, "it is time to avoid the temptation of subjecting the work of this Conference to the vagaries of changing international strategic landscape, and instead, to harness its potential to contribute towards enhancing cooperative security". Emphasizing the importance of the CD "as the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community", Ambassador Aryasinha said, "in order to continue to preserve the unique role of the Body, it is vital that all of us, the Member States, allow the Conference to begin its substantive work on the basis of a balanced and focussed Programme of Work, that takes into account security concerns of all its Members in an equitable manner, thereby ensuring its acceptance by consensus".   

Geneva

31 July 2012

Engaging with the relevant Interactive Dialogues with Special Procedures Mandate Holders and Working Groups since the commencement of the Human Rights Council on 18th June, the Sri Lanka delegation briefed the Council on its positions on the thematic issues of relevance. 

In the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism, Sri Lanka supported a Joint statement presented by the People’s Republic of China on behalf of 13 likeminded countries comprising the Russian Federation, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cuba, Bangladesh, Iran, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sudan, and Venezuela, which condemned terrorism in all its manifestations.  Sri Lanka also had its own statement on counter-terrorism, which welcomed the Special Rapporteur’s recognition that some of the gravest violations of human rights are committed by or on behalf of non-state actors operating in conflict situations, including by domestic or international terrorist networks.  Sri Lanka also cautioned on the many-faceted dangers of these international networks operating in foreign jurisdictions, including in the form of front organisations, while continuing to receive overt and tacit support from host societies.  The delegation noted that tolerance and accommodation of these international networks could lead to the resurfacing and rejuvenation of terrorism in countries which have suffered from it and been effectively suppressed.  Sri Lanka observed that support from overseas, whether it be by fundraising or via other logistical support, or even via civic or political manifestations that espouse terrorist causes in victim countries, must be stringently guarded against. Sri Lanka upheld that all countries have a responsibility to ensure that terrorism does not jeopardize the rights of its citizens on their own soil, and equally have a duty to ensure that activities in its jurisdiction do not pose a threat to present and potential victims of terrorism in other nations.

      Sri Lanka Participates in the 20^th Session of the Human Rights Council              Apprises the Council of Progress with regard to Reconciliation

Sri Lanka focuses on the Pivotal Role the country could play in the Maritime Security Domain

On the margins of the Shangri-La Dialogue,  Sri Lanka’s delegation to the meetings led by the Minister of External Affairs and Secretary Defence  Mr Gotabhaya Rajapaksa met with General Martin Dempsey US – Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and A K Anthony the Defence Minister of India.  Prof Peiris gave an in depth account of implementing a locally chartered course of action for national reconciliation which also included elements of rehabilitation, reconstruction and the socio-economic development of the conflict affected Northern and Eastern parts of the country.  Both USA and India commended the incremental and steady progress being made in these areas and were keen to assist Sri Lanka in all aspects of their multifaceted bilateral partnership for attaining sustainable peace.  As a coastal nation, the meetings recognized the pivotal role that Sri Lanka navy could play in strengthening the security of sea lanes in the Indian Ocean and resolved to co-operate closely in drawing on their synergies in combating international terrorism.  As two key strategic partners of Sri Lanka, both the USA and India responded positively to a request made by Secretary of Defence for enhanced training opportunities for capacity building of defence personnel in their institutes of repute.  Prof Peiris  addressed a thematic Session on “South Asia’s Growing Security Threats” in the  Asian Security Summit, in Singapore.  Among his fellow panellists was  Dr Dipu Moni, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh.

Ministry of External Affairs

Colombo.

5 June 2012

Today, the people of Sri Lanka are ready to move forward and sustain peace and achieve economic prosperity, which will be possible, only if we stand together as one country, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said. 

Addressing the 12th Doha Forum and Enriching the Middle East's Economic Future Conference at the Doha Sheraton Hotel on Sunday morning as an international Guest of Honor, the President said the Government is committed to go that extra mile to achieve permanent peace through reconciliation and economic empowerment of the people, and I am glad to say that we have already embarked on that national endeavour. 

President Rajapaksa said the government is also committed to empower the rural economy and agriculture in the island as well as the IT sector. 

The three-day international Forum will offer a sweeping overview of issues regarding Democracy, Development and Free Trade in the Middle-East, the Arab countries and the world. 

The meeting will broadly discuss critical political, economic, social, financial, strategic and human matters of pressing concern for the region. 

Over 610 participants representing 84 countries and organizations are attending the Forum. It will conclude on May 22. 

President Rajapaksa is attending the Forum as an International Guest of Honor at the invitation of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani. 

Following his address, the President paid a courtesy call on the Emir, who visited Sri Lanka with a business delegation in January this year, and discussed bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Qatar. 

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga were also present at the discussion.

Only one week after her return from the 13^th Session of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XIII) in Doha, where she was elected by acclamation as an Asian Vice-Chair of the Conference and member of the Bureau, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Tamara Kunanayakam, was unanimously re-elected, also by acclamation, and in the presence of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, for a second term as Chairperson/Rapporteur of the UN Human Rights Council Working Group on the Right to Development. The Working Group, which opened its 13^th Session today in Geneva, is composed of all UN member States, including also Political Groups (NAM, OIC, EU, African Union) and Regional Groups (Africa, Asia, Latin America/Caribbean, Western Group, and Eastern Europe) represented in the United Nations. 

First elected to that position in 2011, barely one month after assuming her duties in Geneva, Ambassador Kunanayakam was again nominated by the Non-Aligned Movement, which had played a crucial role in drafting of the Declaration on the Right to Development, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1986, but which has not been implemented due to resistance from the West.

The State Secretary (Deputy Minister) of Foreign Affairs of Austria, H.E. Mr. Wolfgang Waldner called on Hon. Neomal Perera, Deputy Minister of External Affairs today (30/04) at the Ministry of External Affairs. The Austrian State Secretary of Foreign Affairs is on a visit to Sri Lanka at present, leading a five-member delegation.

Mahinda Rajapaksa and the First Lady Madam Shiranthi Rajapaksa arrived at Seoul Air Base in South Korea this morning on a four day official visit. The President and his delegation was received on arrival by the Vice Foreign Minister South Korea Kim Sung-han.

The President was also accorded a guard of honor at the airport by the South Korean Army.

During his visit President Rajapaksa will hold bilateral discussions with his South Korean counterpart and is scheduled to address the Sri Lanka-Korean Business Forum hosted by the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He is also scheduled to sign several bilateral agreements during the visit.

The Seychelles Foreign Minister H.E. Jean-Paul Adam visited Sri Lanka at the invitation of Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs from 19th to 20th April 2012.  The Seychelles Foreign Affairs Minister called on Prof. G.L. Peiris today (19/04/2012) at the Ministry of External Affairs and had fruitful bilateral discussions.  

The External Affairs Minister Prof. Peiris welcomed the Foreign Minister Adam and said that he was so pleased to receive the Minister from a friendly island nation of Seychelles.  He noted with pleasure that it  was the first visit of  the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Seychelles.

The inventions of Dr S.J.B Lenadora and Mr Dinesh Katugampala took the forefront at the ‘Inventions Geneva’ Exhibition, winning prestigious Gold and Silver medals at the event.  ‘Inventions Geneva’ which is the 40th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, is considered to be one of the most important in the world. With 46 countries, represented by 789 exhibitors showing 1’000 inventions, it was open to visitors from all across Europe.

Participants included large corporations such as the REHAB-ROBOTICS COMPANY LTD, from Hong-Kong that was presented with the Grand Prix prize for a new system to reeducate the hand, designed for people who have suffered a cerebral attack, allowing them to recuperate the motor capacity of their hands with just the power of thought. Participating in an event such as this is big in itself but to win a medal truly brings the country to the forefront of the international scientific community.

The Seychelles Foreign Minister Hon. Jean Paul Adam is to visit Sri Lanka from 19^th-  20^th April at the invitation of the External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris.  

During the visit, the Seychelles Foreign Minister is to hold bilateral talks with the External Affairs Minister to discuss issues of mutual interest with a view to further enhancing bilateral relations between the two countries. 

The visiting Seychelles Foreign Minister would also meet Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development, Hon. Rajitha Senarathne, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development and Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen Minister of Industries and Commerce during the visit and discuss the possibilities of promoting bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade, economic and fisheries sectors.

The President of the State of Palestine His Excellency Mahmoud Abbas visited Sri Lanka from 15^th to 17^th April 2012.  He was accompanied by several senior Ministers and PLO Representatives including the Minister of Foreign Affairs His Excellency Riad Malki.

The Palestinian President called on His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa, the President and had bilateral meeting with the President.  Several Senior Ministers also took part at the bilateral discussion.

Later in the evening, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Riad Malki called on Hon. Prof Peiris, Minister of External Affairs and had detailed discussions on bilateral issues of mutual interest.  Prof Peiris reiterated Sri Lanka’s commitment and support to the Palestinian cause and also recalled the President’s message at various international fora on Palestine issue conveying Sri Lanka’s firm and unequivocal  support for the Palestinian peoples’ struggle, including the right to Statehood.Sri Lanka has supported the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and their right to an independent state based on the UN Security Council Resolution 242, 338, 1397 and 1515 and other relevant resolutions.   

The Ministry of External Affairs wishes to inform the Diplomatic Missions, the United Nations and its Specialized Agencies and other International Organizations based in Colombo of several matters relating to the sequence of events involving Mr. Premkumar Gunaratnam and Ms. Dimuthu Attygalle.

These events have been the subject of extensive media attention during the last few days. Statements with regard to the matter have captured headlines in the media and have been the subject of vigorous comment by leaders of political parties, academics and civil society activists. All these persons have united in making a variety of grave allegations, the gist of which is to impute responsibility to the Government for an alleged abduction.

You are a strong and valuable vote of confidence in Sri Lanka an expression of growing trust in the new opportunities for export trade in a country that was famous for international trade from ancient days, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

Addressing "Sri Lanka Expo 2012”, organized by the Export Development Board (EDB) at the BMICH this morning President said the presence of investors here today shows the failure of the efforts of those who still support the agenda of separatist terror that prevented development in Sri Lanka for more than three decades.

You are here today, with a measure of confidence in Sri Lanka that has not been diminished by false propaganda that is currently spread by those who are trying to prevent investment flowing to our country and the large international presence at this event is a clear indication of the growing awareness in the world of the new investment opportunities in Sri Lanka, said the President.

"Sri Lanka is in the midst of peace won at great sacrifice. We are progressing on the path of peace and reconciliation. Our government is committed to walk that extra mile to establish permanent peace through reconciliation. That is our commitment to our people and no one has to tell us what to do," President further said.

Here is the full text of the speech: