President Mahinda Rajapaksa today called on the heads of state who are attending the fourth summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Shanghai to work collectively to create a peaceful and stable new Asia.
“Peace, security and stability are vital for progress and economic development in a nation or a region, as has been demonstrated by Sri Lanka, since eliminating terrorism. It is absolutely essential therefore, that we work collectively to create a peaceful and stable new Asia,” President Rajapaksa said addressing the Summit.
Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena has been elected as one of the Vice Presidents of the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of World Health Organisation (WHO).
Minister Sirisena is leading the Sri Lankan delegation currently attending the sixty-seventh session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) taking place in Geneva during 19–24 May 2014.
Sri Lankan society, nurtured by the teachings of the Buddha, and with expectations based in honoring his great teachings, strongly defend and respect the independence and dignity of others in the policies of State, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.
In a message to mark the Vesak, the most revered religious occasion in the country, the President citing the words from the Dhammapada, said the teaching of the Buddha is the greatest message of peace to the world.
"We considered whether the Resolution on Sri Lanka moved in the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva would help Sri Lanka. We decided it will not. That is why we abstained when the vote was taken", said Mr. Seiji Kihara, Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan when he met President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees yesterday (09). He is in the Island on an official visit.
Turning a new chapter in the history of Sri Lanka – Africa relations, the Commission of the African Union granted Sri Lanka Accreditation Status in the African Union (AU) with effect from April 2014 as a non-African State. Sri Lanka is the 3rd South Asian country along with India and Pakistan to have obtained Accreditation Status in the African Union. This new membership is a progressive reflection of the country’s new multifaceted Foreign Policy commitment of reenergizing its longstanding affinities with the African region.
A comprehensive briefing was provided for Ambassadors and High Commissioners accredited to Sri Lanka, at the Ministry of External Affairs, on Thursday, 24th April 2014 by Professor G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs, with the assistance of Major General K.H.G. Hendawitharana, representing the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development.
The principal purpose of the briefing was to give the diplomatic community authentic information regarding action taken by the government against groups and individuals involved in terrorist funding and other activity connected with plans to revive terrorism.
Counseling programmes for conflict-affected persons in the North and East have been further consolidated by adopting a coordinated and comprehensive approach.
At a meeting held on April 9 with stakeholder ministries, Secretary to the President and Chairman of the Committee Monitoring LLRC Recommendations Mr. Lalith Weeratunga emphasized the importance of adopting a holistic and coordinated approach, linking all programs currently carried out by government ministries, for creating greater efficiency in the provision of counseling and psychosocial support.
“We celebrate the Avurudda with pride in our efforts towards building a self-sufficient nation,” said President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his New Year message.
“We celebrate the dawn of this Sinhala and Tamil Aluth Avurudda with pride in our efforts towards building a nation self-sufficient in an abundant harvest of nature’s blessings, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said in his Sinhala-Hindu New Year message.
An attempt for resurgence of terrorism in Sri Lanka surfaced in general area Pallai in the Jaffna Peninsula calling for launching another phase of the LTTE struggle for a separate state. The information on several key suspects who were leading the campaign for resurgence of the LTTE also surfaced. Investigators made several arrests that led to recovery of arms, ammunitions, explosives and other material that were in their possession.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa said there are no minorities in this country and all citizens have equal rights to live as one nation and one people with same laws and facilities without any discrimination. “This is my policy, the policy enshrined in the Mahinda Chinthana. There cannot be any minorities, we all are Sri Lankans who love the Motherland and nobody can deny this reality”.
Addressing the National Unity Convention, at the BMICH this morning (April 7) the President pointed out that all people, irrespective their religion or ethnicity celebrated the victory of the Sri Lankan cricket team the previous evening. “There was no difference of being Sinhalese, Tamils or Muslims, they joined hands to celebrate displaying the proud of the achievement of the country, the Motherland Sri Lanka,” he said.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa congratulated the Sri Lanka team after winning the ICC T20 World Cup by beating India in Dhaka yesterday (6 April 2014).
The President personally telephoned the Sri Lanka team in the Bangladesh capital, immediately after the final match last night.
An order, designating persons and entities in terms of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373 which sets out strategies to combat terrorism and to control terrorist financing has been signed by Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs, and will be published in the Government Gazette shortly. This order is based on the recommendation by the Secretary, Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, as the Competent Authority regarding the identification of persons, groups and entities, believed on reasonable grounds to be committing, attempting to commit, facilitating or participating, in the commission of acts of terrorism.
Considering the massive victory gained by the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) at the Western and Southern Provincial Council Elections, it is obvious that the people have given an overwhelming mandate to the Government’s people-friendly policies. The victory is a clear message to the evil forces trying to harm the country, states President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a message.
The Second Phase of the Southern Expressway from Pinnaduwa in Galle to Godagama in Matara was declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa today (March 15).
A special ceremony to mark this occasion was held at Godagama, Matara under the patronage of the President.
”Sri Lanka is concerned about the continuation of selective adoption of country-specific actions in the HRC, driven by electoral compulsions of some Member States, as these efforts can erode the credibility and impartiality of the Council. Sri Lanka categorically rejected the previous two Resolutions adopted by the Council in March 2012 and 2013, respectively, as they were a result of a politicized and ill-conceived process, that polarized the membership of the Human Rights Council”, said Sri Lanka’s Head of Mission to the European Union, Ambassador Amza addressing the meeting of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with the Countries in the South Asia (DSAS) yesterday (19).
The UN Assistant Secretary-General and Assistant Administrator and Director, Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Mr. Haoliang Xu called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees yesterday evening (Feb 12).
Commending Sri Lanka’s achievements in obtaining high levels in human development indicators, Mr. Haoliang said the country’s success stories should be highlighted and that his organization would help do so. Other topics discussed during the meeting included development work in the North, overall provincial development, education and further strengthening the partnership between the UN system and the Sri Lankan Government.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa today called upon all countries to join hands in the path to democracy, development, national freedom and the strengthening of human rights.
Speaking at Independence Day celebrations in Kegalle this morning, President Rajapaksa said, “People in our country who belong to all religions and speak different languages are moving together in unity and strength towards reconciliation and development. With utmost goodwill I call upon all countries to join hands with us in the path to democracy, development, national freedom and the strengthening of human rights.”
Phillippe Le Houerou, World Bank Vice President for the South Asian Region, who is on a visit to the island commended Sri Lanka for its economic and other achievements when he met President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees yesterday (27).
During the discussion Sri Lanka's development process and the present and future cooperation between the World Bank and Sri Lanka were highlighted. Mr. Houerou said that after his arrival he had visited the North, the East and several other parts of the country and spoken to government officials and people of all walks of life. "The level of development I have witnessed is highly impressive", he noted.