The Commonwealth Day Reception was hosted on 11th March 2013 by Sri Lanka, Australia and the United Kingdom at the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York. The event was graced by the UN Secretary General, H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-Moon.
The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Honduras established formal diplomatic relations on 12th March 2013. H.E Dr. Palitha Kohona, the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, signed the joint communique on behalf of Sri Lanka, while H.E. Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Flake, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Honduras signed on behalf of Honduras.
Korean Air launched its direct flight service between Seoul and Colombo on 9th March 2013. Korean Air will fly from Seoul to Colombo three times a week on Monday, Wednesday & Saturday and will return to Seoul from Colombo on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday of each week.
Sri Lankas National Day was celebrated on 4th of February in Shanghai at the premises of the Consulate General with the participation of Sri Lankan expats in Shanghai and the SriLankan Airlines staff.
The official ceremony commenced with hoisting of the National Flag and playing the National Anthem, braving unusually cold weather.
The Minister of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities, Wimal Weerawansa and the Deputy Minister of External Affairs, Neomal Perera together with Sri Lanka`s Ambassador to Cuba (with concurrent accreditation to Venezuela), Sarath Dissanayake represented the President, the Government and people of Sri Lanka at the State Funeral of the late President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela on 8th March 2013 in Caracas. On arrival at the Caracas Airport on 7th March, they were met by Vice Foreign Minister of Venezuela, David Velasquex Caraballo.
On seeing reports in the media on 7 March 2013 on an incident of alleged firing at Indian fishermen by the Sri Lanka Navy off the Kodiakarai coast, an investigation has been carried out. It was revealed that Sri Lanka Naval vessels had not entered Indian waters at any time either on 6 or 7 March 2013, as alleged. It was further revealed that no Sri Lankan Naval craft had opened fire at any fishing vessel or any other object on 6 or 7 March 2013 in the area. Read More
Sri Lanka was awarded the prestigious “Most Potential Outbound Tourist Destination Award” at the Jinhua Travel New Model Awards Ceremony organized by the Beijing Times on 27 February 2013 in Beijing.
