Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, To begin with, I feel so honoured and privileged to be in this wonderful capital and largest city of Switzerland on behalf of my delegation. It is a great pleasure for me to address the 148th IPU Assembly...
Sri Lanka is deeply troubled about the death of over hundred people who were waiting to receive aid in Gaza and joins the call for investigation into the incident. The latest incident underscores the immediate need to end the blockade imposed on Gaza,...
Attending the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2024 in Davos, Switzerland at the invitation of its Founder and Chairman Prof. Klaus Schwab, President Ranil Wickremesinghe interacted with world...
Eleventh Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions 11 – 14 September 2023 Statement by Sri Lanka Agenda Item 8: General Exchange of Views Thank you Mr. President, Sri Lanka joins...
General Intervention by H.E. Himalee Arunatilaka, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva, on 28 August 2023 Mr. Chair, Sri Lanka compliments the work accomplished...
Intervention by Dr. Samiddhi Samarakoon, National Coordinator, Disaster Preparedness and Response Division of the Ministry of Health on National Inventory of Dangerous Pathogens (NIDP) Thank you...
Intervention by Dr. Samiddhi Samarakoon, National Coordinator, Disaster Preparedness and Response Division of the Ministry of Health on the Implementation of Biological Weapons Convention Plan in...
NOTICE
Launching website of the new visa system from 16 April 2024.
The previous online visa website (Electronic Travel Authorization-ETA) has expired since 16 April 2024.
Please use the following link to apply for ETA from 17 April 2024 onwards.
On the invitation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, His Holiness Pope Francis will pay a State Visit to Sri Lanka from 13th to 15th January 2015. The Government and people of Sri Lanka are looking forward to warmly welcoming His Holiness and his delegation.
All arrangements for the visit are in place and the required constructions are progressing on schedule including the altar at Galle Face Green where the Special Mass and the canonization of Blessed Joseph Vaz, which will take place on Wednesday 14thJanuary.
The President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith reiterating the confirmation of the Papal visit as scheduled, has also outlined the extensive arrangements underway which will also include a liturgical ceremony at the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu and an inter-faith meeting with leaders of all major religions in Sri Lanka at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall. His Holiness will also pray at the Chapel of Our Lady of Lanka in Bolawalana, Negombo.
The Ministry of Postal Services and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka will issue a special commemorative stamp and coin on the occasion of this landmark visit.
Sri Lanka will be the second Asian country to be visited by His Holiness Pope Francis and his first destination on the forthcoming apostolic voyage to Asia.
The Vatican advance team is due to arrive in Colombo on 9th January for the final preparations prior to the arrival of His Holiness in Sri Lanka.
Ministry of External Affairs
Colombo
7th January 2015
Important Links
