CHAMIKARA WEERASIGHE
External Affairs Ministry has called on the Sri Lankan High Commission in Bangladesh to submit a full report on violence triggered on Buddhist temples by some sectarian mobs in Bangladesh.
External Affairs Ministry Secretary Karunathilaka Amunugama yesterday said he has called for an urgent report on the incidents involving attacks on Buddhist temples in Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka Consulate General in partnership with Indian Merchants’ Chamber (IMC), the premier chamber of trade, commerce and industry in India jointly celebrated the World Tourism Day at the auditorium of the Chamber in Mumbai on 27th September 2012. The Consul General of Sri Lanka, Ms. Upekka Samaratunga was the Chief Guest of the event.
A three day colorful cultural presentation focusing Sri Lanka “Sri Lanka Cultural Days” kicked off on Saturday 29th of September, at the Kuwait National Museum as part of an on-going cultural extravaganza. The event, hosted by the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL), was a prelude to the upcoming First Asian Cooperation Dialogue Summit to be held in Kuwait in mid October. Number of Asian countries were invited to showcase their cultural heritage including events, products and tourism attractions.
On September 28 th , 2012, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Paris held “Sri Lanka in Bloom”, an international photographic exhibition arranged by Mr. Sudath Silva, Media Director to H.E. the President of Sri Lanka. The exhibition depicted Sri Lanka’s experience in combating terrorism, as well as the ongoing development activities in the North and East and the beauty of the island.
The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Vienna organized a Ladies Tea Morning on 27th September 2012 at the Mission premises. Spouses of Heads of Mission, international organisations and representatives of the UN Women’s Guild in Vienna attended the Tea Morning. The event showcased Sri Lanka’s famed pure Ceylon Tea and provided a glimpse of the rich and diverse culture of the island.
The Commonwealth in seeking to enhance its relevance and usefulness, needs to ensure that there is no conflict with the basic ethos of member countries, External Affairs Minister Professor G L Peiris said.
Addressing a Commonwealth Ministerial reception in New York co-hosted by the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom on Saturday, Professor Peiris said the occasion was a celebration of the Commonwealth as an institution of contemporary relevance as when it was initially established, with the pivotal values of the empowerment of people through representative institutions, maintaining due processes and social justice.
* Favourable responses from UN member countries
* Sharp increase in foreign investment expected once UPR is over
Sri Lanka's Human Rights record has been described by member countries of the UN as having reached an "ideal" position to be identified with international Rights standards, representative of Sri Lanka to the UN, former Attorney General Mohan Peiris said yesterday.
