Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Harsha de Silva visited Singapore on 9th January 2017 to address the Public Forum cum Panel Discussion on the theme “The Indian Ocean” organised by the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) of the National University of Singapore.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a special programme today, Monday 9 January 2017 to mark National Integration and Reconciliation week. The proposal by President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of National Integration and Reconciliation, to declare the week from 08 to 14 January every year, starting from 2017, as the national integration and reconciliation week, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on 21 December 2016. Under the proposal a number of events are to be held island wide to promote unity, peace, understanding and mutual trust amongst all communities in Sri Lanka.
Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera will undertake an official visit to the United Kingdom on 9-14 January 2017. This is the first high-level visit from Sri Lanka to the UK, since the appointment of the new Government of Prime Minister Theresa May following the Brexit vote in June 2016.
Sri Lanka strongly condemns the terrorist attack on a Christmas Market in Berlin on 19 December.
At a ceremony held on 20th December 2016, Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Foreign Affairs together with Hon. Thalatha Athukorala, Minister of Foreign Employment and Hon. Dr. Harsha De Silva, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs handed over compensation and salary dues to family members of deceased and injured migrant workers. Thirty Nine family members received Seventy Two million Sri Lankan rupees from the Minister at the ceremony. This was the fifth compensation awarding ceremony organized by the Ministry this year. While conveying his profound condolences to the family members of the deceased migrant workers, Minister Samaraweera appreciated their valuable contribution to the national economy by way of foreign exchange remitances from abroad.
Sri Lanka condemns, unequivocally and in the strongest terms, the assassination of the Ambassador for the Russian Federation to the Republic of Turkey, in Ankara, on 19 December. The Government of Sri Lanka extends deepest condolences to the family of Ambassador Andrey Karlov, and the Government and people of the Russian Federation.
“Sri Lanka is keen to strengthen economic relations and explore new vistas for bilateral trade engagements with Tajikistan”, stated Hon. Dr. Harsha de Silva, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, when he made the welcome remarks at the Sri Lanka- Tajikistan Business Meeting held on 14th December 2016 in Colombo.
