The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing together with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and Sri Lankan Airlines organised a series of events to promote Sri Lanka as a tourist destination in Shanghai, Hangzhou and Chengdu in China, with a view to attracting Chinese tourists to Sri Lanka including those who will be travelling overseas during the Chinese “Spring Festival” holiday in February 2013.
The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Singapore participated at the ‘’Global Community day’’an annual event organised by Temasek Polytechnic of Singapore on the 23rd of November 2012.
The High Commission of Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of External Affairs and Export Development Board participated at the MAHA International 2012, a nine day biennial agricultural exhibition held from 24th November to 2nd December 2012 in Serdang, Malaysia. The exhibition was organized by the Malaysian Ministry of Agriculture and Agro based Industry and FAMA Consortium Sdn. Bhd. The MAHA Agricultural fair is considered as one of the biggest agro based trade fairs in the ASEAN region.
Addressing the 101st Council Session of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Geneva on Friday (30 November), Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva Ravinatha Aryasinha has observed that emphasis by the international community that Sri Lanka is now free from the dangers that constrained it during the time of the conflict, has been an important factor for those who left the country as refugees during the time of the conflict to return, with the joint assistance of the host countries, and organizations such as the IOM. However, at the same time illegal people-smuggling rings continue to rob families not only of their hard earned savings, but some times even their loved ones. Noting that the IOM, as well as a number of foreign governments, have in recent months acknowledged that the many Sri Lankans who continue to arrive on foreign soil illegally, are in fact economic migrants and not refugees, Ambassador Aryasinha said Sri Lanka remains committed to work with international partners toward raising awareness as to the dangers relating to illegal migration, with a view to end such practices.
Sri Lanka Permanent Mission
Geneva
30 November 2012
Full text of statement.
Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nickolay Mladenov proposed to focus on tourism, education and economic ties to further strengthen the bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Sri Lanka. Stating that diplomatic relations established fifty years ago in 1962 are warm and friendly Minister Mladenov stated that “it is important that we strengthen bilateral cooperation to achieve its full potential. In that way, we will better understand the challenges facing your country while Sri Lanka will understand the challenges facing Bulgaria”. These remarks were made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria when Ambassador Pamela J. Deen, Sri Lanka’s envoy concurrently accredited to Bulgaria from Warsaw called on him.
Seven world renowned Sri Lankan tea brands were represented at the Sri Lanka Pavilion at the Guangzhou Tea Expo 2012 in China from 22 – 26 November. The Sri Lanka Pavilion was organized by the Sri Lanka Embassy in Beiji ...
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.
