Ministry News

I am delighted to convey my warm greetings and best wishes on the occasion of the SAARC Charter Day. 

Three decades ago, our countries established SAARC with the conviction that regional co-operation among countries of South Asia is mutually beneficial, desirable and necessary for promoting the welfare and improving the quality of life of the people of our region.  Since then, SAARC has witnessed steady progress in a wide range of areas identified for co-operation and we can take some pride on our achievements since 1985.  Nevertheless, our regular assessment of SAARC has prompted us to appreciate the need for making the organization more result oriented and people centric. The declaration “Deeper Integration for Peace and Prosperity”, of the 18^th SAARC Summit, in fact reflects this collective desire and provides a road map for our forward movement. 

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The Government of Sri Lanka commenced delivery of drinking water to the Maldivian capital Malé by the evening of 5^th December. Malé is facing a severe shortage of drinking water, following a fire on the previous day at its sole water purification plant which disrupted the water supply to the city, and prompted the authorities to declare a "disaster situation." Malé is one of the most densely populated cities in the world and is home to over 100,000 people, being approximately one third of the total population of the Maldives.  

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Sri Lanka welcomes the decision of the Council of the European Union to appeal the judgement of the General Court of the European Union of 16 October 2014, which annulled measures taken by the Council to designate the LT ...

The Government of Sri Lanka unreservedly condemns the cowardly suicide terrorist attack on the volleyball tournament in Yahyakhil district, Afghanistan yesterday, killing at least 45 people and wounding over 60 others. 

The people of Sri Lanka, who had suffered immensely under the scourge of terrorism for almost three decades, share the pain and anguish of the people of Afghanistan over this brazen terror attack targeting innocent civilians at a sporting event.  This incident once again highlights the need to take concerted action to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, in the interest of global peace and security.

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The celebration of the 60^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Thailand is being launched today, (20 November 2014). The two countries established formal diplomatic relations on 20 November 1955. Sri Lanka and Thailand have a long history of close religious, cultural and trade links fostered over several centuries.

Buddhism has played a pivotal and catalytic role over several hundred years in binding the two countries together, and relations have been further consolidated since the establishment of diplomatic relations. At present, the two countries enjoy strong and warm relations in a variety of spheres ranging from political and economic to religious and cultural, people-to-people contacts, as well as mutually beneficial cooperation in the regional and international fora.

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The Minister of External Affairs, Prof. G.L. Peiris met the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations, Mr. Subinay Nandy today  and conveyed to him, the Government’s extreme discontent regarding the unprofessional manner in which the investigation on Sri Lanka is being conducted by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

The Minister’s protest to the UN Resident Coordinator focused on the unacceptable way in which the deadline for submission of evidence to the investigation, 30 October, that had been originally set by the OHCHR had been changed unofficially and re-set once again.

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Following the News Release yesterday (7 November 2014) by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights condemning disinformation designed to discredit the UN investigation on Sri Lanka, the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva has sent the attached communication to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in this regard.

Ministry of External Affairs
Colombo
 
8 November 2014
 
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