Ministry News – Page 311 – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

EU – Sri Lanka Joint Re-admission Committee meets in Colombo

On 18th February 2013, the Joint Re-admission Committee(JRC) under the EU – Sri Lanka Readmission Agreement convened its first meeting in Colombo, since the signing of the Agreement in June 2004 and its entry into force on 1st May 2005.

The Agreement between the European Community and Sri Lanka on the re-admission of persons residing without authorization is an indication of the commitment of both parties to effectively combat illegal migration, including human trafficking and related criminal activities and to establish streamlined procedures for the safe and orderly return of persons who do not satisfy the criteria to remain on the territories of Sri Lanka or the EU member countries.

SRI LANKAN ISSUES HAVE NO PLACE IN CMAG AGENDA – GL TELLS CHAIR OF CMAG

Having regard to the substantial progress achieved by Sri Lanka in dealing with a variety of complex challenges since the advent of peace and also in view of the clearly formulated rules governing the scope of CMAG’s role, there is absolutely no justification for introducing any issues relating to Sri Lanka into the agenda of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, Professor G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs, said in Dhaka on Thursday.

Nuclear Test Conducted by the DPRK

Sri Lanka reiterates its concern about the nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 12th February 2013. Through this act the DPRK has once again violated the United Nations Security C ...

PRIME MINISTER OF BANGLADESH WISHES CHOGM SRI LANKA EVERY SUCCESS

The Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, expressing appreciation of the noteworthy progress achieved by Sri Lanka during the brief period since the eradication of terrorism, said that she is looking forward to attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka in November this year. She wished the Summit all success, adding that her government would do everything in its power to ensure an entirely positive outcome.

Attack on Bank of Ceylon Branch in Chennai

The Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission in Chennai has reported that a mob of around 15 people , carrying iron rods, wooden sticks and knives had entered the office of the Bank of Ceylon Branch at Poonamallee High Road in Chennai at 1.30 p.m. on 7^th February 2013. The mob had overpowered two police personnel and a security guard of a private company manning the gate of the premises, smashed the window panels of the security room of the Bank of Ceylon Office and the glass doors of the ATM centre and had injured a staff member of the Bank and caused cut injuries to a trainee .

Inclusion of Sri Lanka in CMAG agenda is contrary to Commonwealth rules- GL tells Secretary-General in London

Prof G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs held discussions in London on Tuesday with Mr Kamalesh Sharma, Commonwealth Secretary-General on the upcoming meeting of Commonwealth Heads of Government in Sri Lanka in November this year.

Press Statement regarding International Bar Association Issue

Following the detection of inaccurate information contained in the visa applications of the 4 member delegation representing the International Bar Association (IBA), which had unilaterally scheduled a visit to Sri Lanka, regrettably the Government of Sri Lanka was constrained to withdraw visas issued through the ETA system for 3 applicants and the other by a diplomatic mission.