Ministry News

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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On an invitation extended by Hon. Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Hungary, Hon. Dr. Janos Martonyi is visiting Sri Lanka.

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Minister G. L. Peiris, on Friday 2 November, met the Ambassadors and High Commissioners of seventy-six countries accredited to Sri Lanka and operating from New Delhi, at a Reception hosted in his honour by High Commissioner Prasad Kariyawasam.

Interacting with the envoys, Minister Peiris briefed them at length on developments in Sri Lanka during the post-conflict phase, including resettlement of the internally displaced, demining, rehabilitation of ex-combatants, human rights and related issues, the reconciliation process, as well as rebuilding and infrastructure development.

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The new Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs, Mr. Karunatilaka Amunugama assumed office today (28th March 2011) at the Ministry at a simple ceremony. He was welcomed on his arrival by senior officials of the Min ...

The Hon. Minister of National Heritage and Cultural Affairs,
Representatives of SAARC Missions in Colombo,
Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I value this opportunity to be here today at the inaugural event of the SAARC Cultural Centre. I thank the Director of the SAARC Cultural Centre for inviting me and I also thank the staff of the Cultural Centre for their effort in organising this important event.

Ours is a region that reflects a rich and varied plurality of cultural, linguistic, philosophical and spiritual traditions. We are, heir to a common civilizational continuum of great antiquity. Our heritage is embedded in spiritual values and ethics representative of the major religions of the world. We have also given forth to the world, a large number of its greatest philosophers, political visionaries, writers, poets and artists.

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The Minister of External Affairs, Prof. G.L. Peiris is scheduled to leave for the USA on an official visit on 22nd May at the invitation of US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton. This will be the first bilateral visit undertaken by Minister Peiris since assuming duties as Minister of External Affairs. Read More