President Mahinda Rajapaksa reminded the world of the provisions in the United Nations Charter of calling on all nations to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state in their international relations.
“Mr. James Moore who was Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy in Colombo, you would be able to see the difference between that time and now on the ground, in the war affected areas,’’ External Affairs Minister Prof G. L Peiris told Mr. Moore who is one of the members of the US high level delegation now in Colombo, when he met with the delegation last evening.
The Eighth meeting of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission was held on 22 January 2013 in New Delhi. It was co-chaired by Shri Salman Khurshid, Minister of External Affairs of India and Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs of Sri Lanka. The Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) was preceded by the Senior Officials Meeting at the level of the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries on 21 January 2013.
The Thai Pongal festival marks a renewal of the strong links between humans and nature and the unity of people and communities in worship to deities and in day-to-day life. It is a symbol of devotion to deities, gratitude for blessings, and hopeful beginnings for the future, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.
“This festival brings families together in a spirit of renewed affection and understanding and joins communities in paying tribute to the Sun God for a successful harvest and expectations of continued blessings for good harvests and success in the coming year,” President said in a message to mark the Thai Pongal festival.
It has been confirmed that Miss Rizana Nafeek was beheaded by Saudi authorities this morning at Dawadmy, Saudi Arabia.
The Sri Lankan housemaid was employed for less than 6 weeks in 2005 when she was charged by her Saudi employer for allegedly killing their infant while she was bottle feeding and thereafter sentenced to death in the year 2007.
Gaining economic momentum after the end of the terrorist conflict, Sri Lanka made another first by welcoming 1,000,000 tourist for 2012 at its Bandaranaike International Airport last night.
The year dawning today will see valuable work for the progress of democracy, equality among people and important aspects of development in our Motherland, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.
"It is my belief that all communities will join in unity with the common purpose of success towards realizing these goals," he said in a New Year message.
The Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict adopted the “Draft Conclusions on the situation of children and armed conflict in Sri Lanka” on December 19, 2012, thereby closing the dossier on Sri Lanka in the Security Council. Prior to adopting the Draft Conclusions, the Working Group has considered the report of the Secretary- General on Children and Armed Conflict in Sri Lanka, and its recommendations in accordance with Security Council resolutions 1612 (2005) and 1882 (2009). The Mission had engaged a range of entities over the months on this issue.
The teaching of love and understanding that brings the spirit of sharing, which marks the celebration of Christmas, can help in strengthening the bridges of peace, tolerance and reconciliation that are being built in our country, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said in his Christmas message.
External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, held bilateral talks with his Australian counterpart Senator Bob Carr, on the evening of 16th December at the Ministry of External Affairs prior to the inauguration of the first meeting of the Joint Working Group on People Smuggling and Transnational Crime on 17th December at the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia was on an official visit to Sri Lanka at the invitation of Prof. Peiris from 14th to 17th December 2012.
The Government of Sri Lanka and the Government of El Salvador have established diplomatic relations between the two countries with effect from 10th December 2012. This follows the signing of an agreement by Mr. Karunatilaka Amunugama, Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs of Sri Lanka and H.E. Mr. Ruben Ignacio Zamora, Ambassador of El Salvador to India. A Joint Formal Announcement to this effect was made by the Ministry of External Affairs of Sri Lanka, Colombo and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador, San Salvador on Monday, 10th December 2012.
Sri Lanka is deeply concerned and disturbed at the recent serious escalation of violence in Gaza and deeply regrets the loss of lives and the great suffering experienced by the people of Palestine.
Sri Lanka strongly believes the use of force and militaristic threats should be halted and that there is no alternative to the peaceful resolution of the conflict through peace talks.
We call upon both the Israeli and Palestinian leaders to display restraint and avoid civilian casualties. It is hoped that the parties would continue to demonstrate leadership and political courage and keep open the door to peace.
MEA Statement in PDF.
The Ministry of External Affairs refers to the “Report of the Secretary General’s Internal Review Panel on UN action in Sri Lanka” or the “Petrie Report” which was leaked to the media the day prior to its being formally handed over to the Secretary General on 14th November, and officially made public the same day. While this Report is an internal review of the UN’s action in Sri Lanka during the terrorist conflict, the Ministry’s attention has been drawn to certain issues with regard to allegations directed at the Government of Sri Lanka, which are regrettably unsubstantiated, erroneous and replete with conjecture and bias.
On an invitation extended by Hon. Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Hungary, Hon. Dr. Janos Martonyi was on a visit to Sri Lanka, with the two Ministers holding bilateral talks at the External Affairs Ministry in Colombo. The discussion between the Ministers served to underline the robust nature of the bilateral relations and the opportunities for promoting economic co-operation between the countries, as well as exchange views on the relations with the EU.
On the invitation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Janet Kataaha Museveni, First Lady & Minister for Karamoja Affairs of the Republic of Uganda concluded a three day State Visit to Sri Lanka from 12th – 15th November 2012. The delegation included members of the Ugandan Parliament Yorakamu Katwiremu, Nankabirwa Ann Maria and Chairman, Gerald Ssendawula of the Private Sector Foundation of Uganda. The Ugandan President was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Presidential Secretariat on the morning of 13th November which included a Guard of Honour and a 21 gun salute.
The Government of Sri Lanka and the Government of Burkina Faso have established diplomatic relations between the two countries with effect from 15th November 2012. This follows the signing of agreement by H.E. Mr. Prasad Kariyawasam, High Commissioner for Sri Lanka to India and H.E. Idriss Raoua Ouedraogo, Ambassador for Burkina Faso to India in New Delhi. A Joint Formal Announcement to this effect was made by the Ministry of External Affairs of Sri Lanka, Colombo and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou on 16th November 2012.
The Government of Sri Lanka and the Government of Suriname have established diplomatic relations between the two countries with effect from 16th November 2012. This follows the signing of agreement by H.E. Dr Palitha T. B. Kohona, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations and H.E. Mr. Henry Leonard Mac-Donald, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Suriname to the United Nations. A Joint Formal Announcement to this effect was made by the Ministry of External Affairs of Sri Lanka, Colombo and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Suriname, Paramaribo on 16th November 2012.
Sri Lanka’s effective efforts toward the closure of Menik Farm in September this year has been hailed by Mr. Subinay Nandy, the country’s United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator, as a ‘milestone event towards ending a chapter of displacement in Sri Lanka...’ The story, published on several National and international media sites including the United Nations News Centre website, came after Mr Nandy’s address yesterday, at an event organized to mark the 67th UN Day.
Countries must bear in mind that in search for alternative energy sources agricultural land of today and tomorrow must not be used. We must not let the hunger of alternative energy lead to an increase in hunger for food. The use of food crops for fuel production must be avoided to prevent the spread of today’s threat to food security caused by turning food crops into fuel crops.
Mr. Suleiman Jasir Al-Herbish, Director-General of the OPEC Fund for International Development, met with External Affairs Minister Professor G.L. Peiris at the Ministry on Monday.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa launched the Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) 2013 in Colombo on Thursday 11th October with a video projecting Sri Lanka’s resurgence as a regional economic and trading hub. This was preceded by a video presentation of President Rajapaksa’s keynote address to the CBF Session in Perth last year on “The Indian Ocean and the Pacific Rim: Fastest Growing Markets”. The President on that occasion noted that Asia’s fast growth track cannot be sustained unless these nations continue to take the right steps and the current political and economic leaders have a responsibility in guiding the Asian nations to prosperity. Sri Lanka, President Rajapaksa observed, has provided clarity and confidence to the stakeholders and implemented balanced policies that embraced all vital aspects of the economy
Professor G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs, had a discussion with Dr. Mohan Kaul, Chairman of the Commonwealth Business Council on arrangements for the Business Forum to be held on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit.
Appreciating the willingness on the part of the Government of Sri Lanka, to engage with the UN system as demonstrated by the invitation to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the recent visit of the technical team from her office, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon at a meeting in New York on Tuesday with External Affairs Minister Professor G.L. Peiris, stated that it would be a positive step for such engagement to continue at a senior working level in order to be updated on developments in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka believes that in the settlement of international disputes, action must be based on the fundamental principle of sovereign equality of states, a principle firmly enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, stated Professor G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs in his address yesterday to the 67th Session of the UN General Assembly. He regretted that the noticeable recent tendency to selectively and arbitrarily intervene in the internal affairs of States flies in the face of this principle, and dilutes the confidence so carefully nurtured in the UN system.
Acknowledging a firm foundation in Sri Lanka’s relations with China, External Affairs Minister Professor G.L. Peiris assured the strong resolve to expand the contours of this relationship, during his meeting yesterday with Yang JiechiForeign Minister of China on the margins of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly Session in New York. Elaborating Professor Peiris observed that the ties between the two countries have stood the test of time and are rich and multi-faceted.
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