The Assistant Director General of UNESCO in charge of Education welcomed the efforts being made by Sri Lanka to establish a Teacher Development Institute in Sri Lanka which would serve as a hub for the region in catering to national needs while reaching out to countries in the region to support their teacher networks and strengthen their professional capacity.
The Minister of Education and Representative of Sri Lanka on the Executive Board of UNESCO, Hon Bandula Gunawardhana called for an enhanced and active role for UNESCO in the sphere of education for peace and sustainable development, including in post conflict Sri Lanka.
The town of Argentan in Normandy welcomed Sri Lanka as the Guest-of-Honour for their historic Quasimodo Fair. Held for the 87th year from 29th April to 01st May 2011, the annual fair drew together several thousands and provided an opportunity to showcase Sri Lankan products, culture and cuisine among a multiplicity of other areas.
The Asia Pacific Group of UNESCO in association with UNESCO organized a round table on “The Role of the Silk Road in the Rapprochement of Cultures.”
Ambassador Admiral (Rtd.)Wasantha Karannagoda with Embassy staff and Sri Lankan community members in Japan distributed over 2 million bags of Sri Lankan tea, which is part of the consignment sent by the Government of Sri Lanka, in evacuation centres in Miyagi prefecture, located approximately 600km away from Tokyo, on Thursday, 28th April to show solidarity to the people and Government of Japan.
The Sri Lanka Welfare Association under the patronage of His Excellency Donald Perera, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Israel celebrated the Sri Lankan National festival the Sinhala and Tamil New Year on 16th April, 2011 in Jerusalem with the participation of a large number of Sri Lankans. Mr. Shimshon Harel, Honorary Consul for Sri Lanka in Haifa and the North of Israel and officials from the Jerusalem Municipality attended the festival.
Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Sri Lanka’s senior minister of international monetary cooperation, met with a group of U.S., business leaders here Monday and received an encouraging feedback on the investor interest in the Sri Lanka’s economy.
