As part of the series of events to commemorate the 77th anniversary of the Independence of Sri Lanka, the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Ottawa hosted a reception for Canadian government officials, diplomats, political leaders and members of the Sri Lankan community in Ottawa. The High Commission held its first national flag hoisting ceremony on 04 February 2025 at the Ottawa City Hall preceding formal national day events.
The dignitaries who graced the occasion held on 07 February 2025 included Assistant Deputy Minister of Global Affairs Canada for the Indo-Pacific region, Weldon Epp; Member of Federal Parliament, Chandra Arya and High Commissioners and Ambassadors from SAARC, ASEAN and GCC countries.
The High Commission received congratulatory messages from the Governor General of Canada, Mary May Simon; Speaker of the Senate of Canada, Raymonde Gagne; Speaker of the House of Commons, Greg Fergus and several members of Federal Parliament on the occasion of the Independence Day.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Canada, U. L. Mohammed Jauhar highlighted key areas of bilateral ties, with a focus on strengthening economic and trade ties. He elaborated on the landmark achievements in bilateral cooperation and significant high level visits in the past that shaped the direction of the relations. The High Commissioner also briefed the gathering on Sri Lanka's new political and economic priorities, underscoring the country's commitment to stability, governance, and reforms, and the government’s Clean Sri Lanka initiative which is aimed at promoting sustainability and good governance.
Furthermore, the High Commissioner outlined the recent initiatives spearheaded by the High Commission to enhance the bilateral cooperation including the charity bicycle ride from Colombo to Jaffna to raise funds, entrepreneurship training programme to benefit Sri Lankan-origin youth in Canada as well as a culinary safari to promote tourism.
Speaking on the occasion, Member of Parliament, Chandra Arya, emphasized the importance of supporting Sri Lanka and the newly elected government. He termed it as an opportunity to strengthen inclusivity and governance while also presenting Canada with a chance to broaden and enhance its relationship with Sri Lanka.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Weldon Epp highlighted the strong and enduring relationship between Canada and Sri Lanka and echoed the High Commissioner’s call for further strengthening the bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, and development. He also reaffirmed Canada's commitment to supporting reconciliation and good governance in Sri Lanka. He acknowledged Sri Lanka's progress in economic recovery, governance, and democratic reforms, and commended the resilience of its people. Recognizing the contributions of the Sri Lankan diaspora in Canada, he stressed the need for deeper engagement in education, technology, and entrepreneurship.
The event concluded with a Sri Lankan culinary experience for the guests, featuring authentic Sri Lankan dishes prepared by a well-known Sri Lankan-origin chef, showcasing the rich cultural and gastronomic highlights of the country.
High Commission of Sri Lanka
Ottawa
04 March 2025
