The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Ha Noi celebrated the 71st Anniversary of Independence of Sri Lanka on 04 February 2019 with the Sri Lankan community. Due to the traditional Lunar New year season the ceremony was organized at the official residence of the Ambassador.
The Ceremony commenced with hoisting of the national flag of Sri Lanka and singing the of the national anthem in both Sinhala and Tamil languages, followed by lighting of the traditional oil lamp, then observing two minutes silence for those who have sacrificed their lives to safeguard independence of the country.
Due to the Lunar New Year, religious dignitaries regretted their absence at the celebrations and sent their blessings in the form of congratulatory messages and were read. Keeping in line with the tradition, the National Day Messages of the President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka were read in all 03 languages.
Addressing the gathering Ambassador highlighted Sri Lanka’s major achievements in improving economic and fiscal policies to improve exports, attract investments, status with regard to FTAs signed and being negotiated, etc. with a modest economic growth of 3.3% being recorded during first 09 months of 2018. She further highlighted Sri Lanka’s strides in tourism sector with Sri Lanka being recognized by several travel media and entities as a top destination to travel in 2019. The launch of Sri Lanka tourism branding “So Sri Lanka” too was highlighted.
Ambassador also briefed the audience on Sri Lanka – Viet Nam bilateral relations in political, economic and cultural sphere. Among those were the 02 visits by Prime Minister Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe for regional meetings, visits of the Speaker, Hon. Karu Jayasuriya and Minister of Buddhasasna, Hon. Gamini Jayawickrama Perera.
In bilateral tourism, we see a steady increase both ways. In 2018, from Viet Nam there has been a 25% increase from previous year. It was highlighted that there is much potential for Sri Lanka to attract tourists from fast growing Vietnamese market, but direct air connectivity is a must and further support from Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.
The Embassy’s success has been the number of activities it has done to make Sri Lanka known, and then better known among Vietnamese to entice the Vietnamese to visit Sri Lanka. Among most significant are cooperation with NKAR Travel & Tours (Pt) Ltd. Of Sri Lanka, an interactive tourism promotion event for outbound tour operators in Ha Noi, organizing a 3-day Cultural Fiesta in Ha Noi, facilitating the visit of Vietnamese travel writer Di Li to Sri Lanka and launch of her book with a chapter on Sri Lanka, 02 Sri Lankan fashion shows highlighting Sri Lankan handloom fabric and batik with Sri Lankan designer, Dhamique Amarasekara and Sonali Dharmawaradne, respectively, organizing “Sri Lanka – Viet Nam Friendship Concert together with sun Symphony Orchestra at the Viet Nam National Academy of Music with the participation of Mr. Rohan De Silva, Concert Pianist, Ms. Tharanga Goonetilleke, Soprano and Maestro Dr. Lalanath de Silva, Composer and Conductor. A Painting Exhibition of Mr. Vasantha Perera and supporting Sri Lanka’s participation at the Ha Noi International Film Festival with “Tree Goddess” (Vaishanavee) directed by Ms. Sumitra Peries (main role played by Thumindu Dodantenna) and “Where’s My Route” directed by Mr. Sudath Abeysiriwardena.
Ambassador also highlighted Embassy’s participation in 03 Charity Bazaars – UN International School Spring Fair, Ha Noi International Women’s Club Annual Charity Bazaar, 5th International Food Festival organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam and Viet Nam Local Specialty Fair 2018 organized by the Ha Noi People’s Committee, at which Sri Lankan handloom and handicrafts of Sunimal Handlooms, tea, cinnamon were sold as well as Sri Lankan food items such as hoppers. A visiting Sri Lankan student, Kavindu Hasaranga made performances of traditional Sri Lankan drumming at some of these events.
Ambassador noted that most important tourist promotion activity for the Embassy was to facilitation of creating a long lasting impression of Sri Lankan in the mind set of Vietnamese with the Sri Lanka Mural on Ha Noi Ceramic Mosaic Wall, in the newly constructed Nghi Tam Street on 22 January 2019.
Ambassador also highlighted several public diplomacy activities conducted by the Embassy including the Networking Reception hosted at the residence to celebrate the Viet Nam Women’s Day, Welcoming Party for Viet Nam Integrity School (VIS) of the organization ‘Towards Transparency”, Winter 2018 Group at the Residence, Friendship Concert with Christmas Carols organized with the Hope Choir, consisting of visually impaired youth at the residence, 04 Talk Shows that Ambassador joined to share her experience on various aspects of life in Viet Nam and comparing with the life Sri Lanka, in addition to many charity activities.
In cooperation in Buddhist Affairs, Ambassador noted that on 29 May, the movie “Siddhartha: The Buddha” was screened at the Quan Su Pagoda premises, Ha Noi, which was possible due to generous donation of the movie by its Producer, Mr. Navin Gooneratne, Chairman of the Light of Asia Foundation of Sri Lanka. This film has been screened in several other places as well. Further, 2018 can be considered an auspicious year in bilateral Buddhist relations as a sapling of Sri Maha Bodhi Tree was brought to Viet Nam and planted at the Tam Chuc Pagoda in July 2018, the venue for 2019 UN International Vesak Day celebrations and a grand ceremony was held to enshrine the Sacred Lord Buddha’s Relic, that was donated during the visit of Hon. Karu Jayasuriya, at the Bang pagoda (Linh Tien Tu) in August 2018 in Ha Noi.
Ambassador reiterated the signing of the “Code of Conduct on Plastic Pollution Prevention” to mark World Environment Day on 4 June 2018, an initiative of the Embassy of Canada, together with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Viet Nam and the Hanoi People’s Committee. “Respect for the well-being of the host country – Viet Nam, supporting sustainable development in Viet Nam and Viet Nam’s efforts to address an issue affecting the global environment, while showcasing Sri Lanka’s strong commitment to take responsibility for its own contribution for plastic pollution and accordingly taking affirmative action to address the problem, the Embassy of Sri Lanka signed up to the Code of Conduct” Ambassador stated.
Then Ambassador presented the statistics pertaining to activities that the Embassy was involved in since she assumed duties. All in all, the Embassy has organized or participated actively or facilitated or supported 268 activities since the Ambassador assumed duties in Ha Noi in mid-August 2015. For these activities there are 614 instances of media coverage until today, and 365 instances are media coverage for solely Embassy-initiated activities.
Meanwhile, she added that according to Performance Assessment of Sri Lankan Diplomatic missions abroad by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, this Embassy is one of the top performing Missions. Ambassador highlighted that the performance is due to the trust and extensive support from the Sri Lankan Community in Viet Nam as well as Vietnamese and other expat friends and she thanked all those who have supported the Embassy activities during her tenure.
