අමාත්‍යාංශයේ මාධ්‍ය නිවේදන

Sri Lanka is deeply concerned and disturbed at the recent serious escalation of violence in Gaza and deeply regrets the loss of lives and the great suffering experienced by the people of Palestine.  

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The Ministry of External Affairs refers to the “Report of the Secretary General’s Internal Review Panel on UN action in Sri Lanka” or the “Petrie Report” which was leaked to the media the day prior to its being formally handed over to the Secretary General on 14^th November, and officially made public the same day. While this Report is an internal review of the UN’s action in Sri Lanka during the terrorist conflict, the Ministry’s attention has been drawn to certain issues with regard to allegations directed at the Government of Sri Lanka, which are regrettably unsubstantiated, erroneous and replete with conjecture and bias. The Ministry, therefore, wishes to state the following:-

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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 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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