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.
The visit of Your Holiness gives me an opportunity to receive your blessings as I commence my term of office, said President Maithripala Sirisena welcoming the Holy Father at Bandaranaike International Airport this morning (Jan. 13).
The President, wishing the Pope a most fruitful and memorable journey in Sri Lanka sought the blessings of the Holy Father on the people of Sri Lanka and requested his prayers for the peace progress and prosperity of the people.
Following is the full text of the welcome speech by President Sirisena;
It is a happy and joyful occasion to welcome Your Holiness on behalf of my Government and the people of Sri Lanka. It’s indeed significant that Your Holiness commences the apostolic journey to Asia with a visit to Sri Lanka. Your visit is also especially significant to me personally as I have been elected to office of President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka only a few days ago. The visit of Your Holiness gives me an opportunity to receive your blessings as I commence my term of office.
Your Holiness, my government is promoting peace and friendship among our people after overcoming a cruel terrorist conflict. We have people who believe in religious, tolerance, and co-existence based on our centuries old religious heritage.
I am extremely pleased that during this visit you will canonize Sri Lanka’s first Saint Joseph Vass, a Catholic missionary from India. He made a significant constitution to the growth of the Catholic faith in this country. Your Holiness, our two countries have played a significant role in fostering two of the world major religions; Christianity and Buddhism.
I look forward to further strengthen the bilateral relations that exist between Sri Lanka and the Holy See. On behalf of the government and the people of Sri Lanka I wish you a most fruitful and memorable journey in our beautiful country. I seek the blessings of Your Holiness on the people of Sri Lanka and request your prayers for the peace progress and prosperity of our people.
Courtesy: www.priu.gov.lk