Ministry News – Page 290 – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Sri Lankans evacuated from Yemen

The Government of Sri Lanka has at present evacuated 54 Sri Lankans from Yemen.

43 Sri Lankans were evacuated to Djibouti by a Chinese vessel on 6 April 2015, while India and Indonesia each evacuated 3 Sri Lankans. Previously, 5 Sri Lankans who had crossed over to Oman, from Mukalla were received in Salalah by officials of the Sri Lanka Embassy in Oman, who facilitated their return to Sri Lanka.

An operational center was set-up in Djibouti by the Sri Lanka High Commissioner in Nairobi to coordinate evacuation and repatriation of Sri Lankans.

PRESIDENT MAITHRIPALA SIRISENA CONCLUDES SUCCESSFUL STATE VISIT TO PAKISTAN

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At the invitation of President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan, President Maithripala Sirisena paid a State visit to Pakistan from 5^th to 7^thApril 2015. This is the first visit by President Sirisena to Pakistan since his election in January 2015.

President Maithripala Sirisena to undertake a State visit to Pakistan

President Maithripala Sirisena will undertake a State visit to Pakistan from 05 to 07 April 2015 on an invitation extended by President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan.

During the visit, President Sirisena will meet with President Mamnoon Hussain, hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and also meet with other Pakistani dignitaries. President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will witness the signing of several bilateral instruments.

GOSL makes arrangements to evacuate Sri Lankans in Yemen

It has been reported that there are around 75-100 Sri Lankan expatriates, including students in Yemen. Due to the volatile situation in the country, the Government of Sri Lanka is making arrangements to evacuate all Sri Lankans in Yemen, who are principally residing in the capital, Sana’a and other main cities, such as Hodeida, Aden and Mukalla.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the Sri Lanka Embassy in Muscat, which is concurrently accredited to Yemen, is exploring all possible avenues to ensure the safe return of the Sri Lankans. The Sri Lanka Mission in Muscat is in contact with some Sri Lankans in Yemen, who are directly monitoring the welfare of the Sri Lankans in their present locations.

President Maithripala Sirisena Undertakes Successful State Visit to the People’s Republic of China

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H.E. Maithripala Sirisena, President of Sri Lanka paid a State Visit to the People’s Republic of China from 25 to 27 March 2015 on the invitation of H.E. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China. During the visit, President Sirisena also met with H.E. Li Keqiang, Premier, and H.E. Zhang Dejiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China. This was President Sirisena’s first visit to China as President undertaken within three months of his election.

State Visit of His Highness the Emir of the State of Qatar to Sri Lanka

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His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar arrived in Sri Lanka on a State Visit today, 24^th March 2015 at the invitation of President H.E. Maithripala Sirisena.

Swiss Foreign Minister concludes successful visit to Sri Lanka

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Dr. Didier Burkhalter, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland paid an official visit to Sri Lanka from 16 to 18 March 2015, accompanied by a high level delegation. This was the first official visit of a Swiss Foreign Minister to Sri Lanka.