Ministry News

Upon the signing of a Joint Communiqué by Mr. Karunatilaka Amunugama, Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs of Sri Lanka and H.E. Ruben Ignacio Zamora, Ambassador of El Salvador to India on 10^th December 2012 in Colombo, the Government of Sri Lanka and the Government of El Salvador decided to establish Diplomatic Relations between the two countries with effect from 10^th December 2012.              

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Colombo, 7 December 2012 – President Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka and Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma today announced that the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 15 to 17 November 2013.

CHOGM is held every two years and is the Commonwealth’s highest consultative and policy-making body. Commonwealth leaders agreed on Sri Lanka as the 2013 host for the meeting when they met in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, in 2009. They reaffirmed this decision at the 2011 CHOGM in Perth, Australia.

The President said: “As a committed member of the Commonwealth family, Sri Lanka is pleased to be hosting CHOGM. The Commonwealth shares a strong commitment to the twin pillars of democracy and development. We look forward to welcoming all Commonwealth leaders and delegates to our country for what I am confident will be a successful and mutually beneficial summit in true Commonwealth spirit.”

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Message of H E the President

H.E. Dr. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of the Republic of India

Excellency,

On hearing the demise of former Prime Minister of India, Shri I.K. Gujral I, on behalf of the Government and the people of Sri Lanka, convey our deepest sympathies to the Government and people of India and the family and friends of this distinguished son of India.

Shri I.K. Gujral served his country with deep commitment and worked for the wellbeing of the  people of India and the South Asian region in different capacities for long years. A distinguished leader and an outstanding public figure, Shri Gujral was ahead of his times in a rapidly globalising world. His visionary approach on foreign policy stands as a model for strengthening South Asia's regional relations.

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Sri Lanka is deeply concerned and disturbed at the recent serious escalation of violence in Gaza and deeply regrets the loss of lives and the great suffering experienced by the people of Palestine.  

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The Ministry of External Affairs refers to the “Report of the Secretary General’s Internal Review Panel on UN action in Sri Lanka” or the “Petrie Report” which was leaked to the media the day prior to its being formally handed over to the Secretary General on 14^th November, and officially made public the same day. While this Report is an internal review of the UN’s action in Sri Lanka during the terrorist conflict, the Ministry’s attention has been drawn to certain issues with regard to allegations directed at the Government of Sri Lanka, which are regrettably unsubstantiated, erroneous and replete with conjecture and bias. The Ministry, therefore, wishes to state the following:-

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On the invitation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Janet Kataaha Museveni, First Lady &  Minister for Karamoja Affairs of the  Republic of Uganda concluded a three day State Visit to Sri Lanka from 12^th – 15^th November 2012. The delegation included members of the Ugandan Parliament Yorakamu Katwiremu, Nankabirwa Ann Maria and Chairman, Gerald Ssendawula of the Private Sector Foundation of Uganda.  The Ugandan President was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Presidential Secretariat on the morning of 13^th November which included a Guard of Honour and a 21 gun salute.

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Joint Formal Announcement by the Ministry of External Affairs of Sri Lanka/Colombo and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation of Burkina Faso/Ouagadougou on 16^th November 2012

Upon the signing of Agreement by H.E. Mr. Prasad Kariyawasam, High Commissioner for Sri Lanka to India and H.E. Idriss Raoua Ouedraogo, Ambassador for Burkina Faso to India on 15^th November 2012 at New Delhi, the Government of Sri Lanka and the Government of Burkina Faso decided to establish Diplomatic Relations between the two countries with effect from   15^th November 2012.

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