Mission News – Page 757 – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Sri Lanka and Kuwait ink Investment Promotion & Protection Agreement

Sri Lanka and Kuwait signed the Investment Promotion & Protection Agreement (IPPA) on 05th November 2009 marking Sri Lanka’s first such agreement with Gulf countries which includes Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain. At a simple ceremony held at the Ministry of Finance of Kuwait. Mr. Khalifa M. Hamada, Undersecretary to the Ministry of Finance signed the agreement on behalf of Kuwait while Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Kuwait Sarath Dissanayake signed for Sri Lanka. The negotiations on the IPPA have been concluded in June 2009.

Sri Lankan, U.S. Officials Successfully Conclude Trade Talks – Reconciliation through Economic Development

U.S. and Sri Lankan trade representatives held their seventh annual meeting Thursday (15 October) to discuss a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement signed in 2002. The talks focused on a number of trade issues that are designed to increase commerce between the U.S. and Sri Lanka. The meeting included talks on intellectual property rights, food labeling, garment exports and patent and payment issues.

Commemorative ceremony celebrating 50 Years of Diplomatic Relations between Cuba and Sri Lanka

Address by Tamara Kunanayakam, Ambassador of Sri Lanka, Havana

Casa de la Amistad, Cuban Institute for Friendship with Peoples (ICAP)
29 de julio de 2009

Excellencies Vice Ministers!
Madam Vice President of ICAP!
My dear friends!

It is a great honour for me to represent my country on this historic occasion to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of friendship and cooperation between the Republic of Cuba and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. On behalf of our President Mahinda Rajapaksa, his Government, our people, and on my own behalf, I wish to reiterate our sincere friendship, solidarity, and our unconditional support for the historic and irreversible choices made by the Cuban people in favour of the Revolution!

IOM to assist Sri Lankan Embassy to resolve labour issues

A delegation from International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Kuwait led by Mr. Fawzi Al-Zioud, Chief of Mission visited the Embassy on 08th September 2009 accompanied by Ms. Iman Ereiqat, Snr. Admin/Finance and had discussions with the Ambassador and Labour section’s staff with regard to a range of labour issues. Dr. Adel Al-Damkhi, Chairman of the Kuwait Association of the Basic Evaluators for Human Rights also joined the IOM delegation at discussions.

Â‘Sri Lanka: Facets of Post-Conflict DevelopmentÂ’ Photographic Exhibition inaugurated at the European Parliament

Chairman of the Northern Task Force for Resettlement, Development and Security in the Northern Province and Senior Adviser to the President Basil Rajapaksa, MP, together with the Vice-President of the European Parliament Dr. Libor Rou?ek, inaugurated a photographic exhibition titled ‘Sri Lanka: Facets of Post-conflict Development’ at the European Parliament in Brussels on Wednesday (30 September). The exhibition was conceptualized and organized by the Sri Lanka Embassy in Brussels, with the sponsorship of Mrs. Elisabetta Gardini, MEP and the ‘Friends of Sri Lanka’ group in the European Parliament. Members of the European Parliament, members of the diplomatic corps from EU member countries and SAARC, officials of the European institutions and a representative gathering of Sri Lankans living in Belgium and friends of Sri Lanka, participated in the event.

Sri Lankan Ambassador to Cuba pays tribute to historical leader of the Cuban Revolution, Commander of the Revolution Juan Almeida Bosque

Tamara Kunanayakam, Ambassador of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in Cuba paid homage today to Commander of the Revolution Juan Almeida Bosque, Vice President of the Council of State of Cuba, Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba, emblematic leader of the Cuban Revolution, who passed away on Friday, 11 September 2009.. She placed a wreath of red roses and lilies beside a photograph of the Hero of the Republic at Havana’s Jose Marti Memorial.

Sri Lanka Embassy of Washington, D.C. host Traditional Ifthar for the fifth consecutive year

Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya and the Embassy of Sri Lanka staff celebrated the traditional Ifthar (breaking of the fast) ceremony with the Muslim community recently. Ambassador, in brief remarks, said the Muslim community had a rich heritage of noble service and contributions to Sri Lanka. He underscored its important role in the past and future of Sri Lanka, describing the Muslim community as peacemakers in a diverse country.