High Commissioner’s Response at the Australia Awards South & West Asia Scholars Forum 2018 17th October 2018 at the Old Parliament House, Canberra

October 18, 2018

High Commissioner Somasundaram Skandakumar delivered the response to the keynote address given by Mr Simon Merrifield, First Assistant Secretary, South & West Asia Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs &Trade, at the Australia Awards South and West Asian Scholars’ Forum organised by the Department at the Old Parliament House in Canberra on 17th October. Read More »

Sri Lanka successfully launches a platform to define the future of the Indian Ocean

October 15, 2018

Representatives of 40 countries were in Sri Lanka from 11-12 October 2018 to discuss the future of the Indian Ocean. “The Indian Ocean: Defining Our Future” , Track 1.5 dialogue  brought together senior representatives from the Indian Ocean littoral states and major maritime users to Colombo on an initiative by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, to increase focus on an Ocean that has the potential to become a growth pole in the world economy in the future. Representatives included, among others, key senior officials from India, South Africa, USA, China, Germany, Netherlands, Singapore, Indonesia and Japan together with key think tank representatives from the region and beyond. Read More »

Launch of the Combating Trafficking in Persons (CTIP) e-Module

October 11, 2018

 An online training module, designed to enhance capacities of officials attached to Sri Lanka Missions abroad on combating human trafficking, was launched on 9 October 2018 at the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI) in Colombo.  The module, prepared by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be a part of the BIDTI’s Electronic Learning Space. The Government of Australia has supported the initiative with financial assistance. Read More »

Business Breakfast Meeting with Sri Lankan Coconut Products Exporters

September 13, 2018

The Coconut Development Authority of Sri Lanka (CDA), in association with the Consulate General of Sri Lanka, organised a well-attended Business Breakfast Meeting on 11 September 2018 in Melbourne for Sri Lankan Coconut Products Exporters who are attending the Fine Food Australia Exhibition 2018, currently being held in Melbourne, to promote Sri Lankan coconut products and to interact with potential business partners and buyers in Australia.

The event was hosted by Mr. H K Udaya Rupasinghe, Chairman of the CDA and Mr. W G S Prasanna, Consul General of Sri Lanka for Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania in Melbourne.

Mr. Abdul Raheem, Consul (Commercial) of the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Sydney, delivered the opening remarks highlighting the importance of enhancing bilateral trade and investment between Sri Lanka and Australia and the vital role the private sector and industry partners could play in achieving mutual benefits for both countries.

Delivering his welcome speech at the event, Mr. W.G.S. Prasanna, Consul General, appreciated the initiative undertaken by the CDA to promote coconut based products in Australia. The Consul General recalled the salient aspects of the long standing and enduring partnership between Sri Lanka and Australia. He also highlighted the potential areas for business in coconut products and requested the industry partners to capitalise on this initiative so that they could establish mutually beneficial partnerships and initiatives.

Mr. Sampath Samarawickrama, Director/Marketing Development & Research of the CDA, presented to the gathering a general overview of the coconut industry of Sri Lanka, current developments, trends and potential areas for business promotion. Mr. Samarawickrama’s detailed presentation also provided an opportunity for the gathering to learn about the vast range of coconut based products originating from Sri Lanka and its worldwide expansion over the years.

Mr. Samrawickrama together with M/s Mario de Alwis, Chairman/Ma’s Tropical Food Processing (Pvt) Ltd, and Annes Junaid, Managing Director of CBL Natural Food (Pvt) Ltd, engaged with an enthusiastic audience during the Questions & Answers session.

The event provided an opportunity for over 60 participants to interact and discuss trade, business and investment opportunities.

Hon. Jude Perera and Hon. Craig Ondarchie, Members of the State Parliament of Victoria, Councillor Beverly Pinder-Mortimer of Melbourne City Council, Mr. James Edwards, Regional Trade Specialist for India & South Asia of the Victorian State Government, and Mr. Niels Strazdins, Victoria State Manager of the Export Council of Australia, were also in attendance.

Consulate General of Sri Lanka

Melbourne

11 September 2018

Ministries of Foreign and Home Affairs sign MoU to expand Electronic Document Attestation System to Divisional Secretariat level

August 20, 2018

With a view to expanding the document attestation services provided through the Electronic Document Attestation System (e-DAS) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Divisional Secretariat level, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministries of Foreign and Home Affairs on 16 August 2018.

Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Prasad Kariyawasam and Secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs S.T. Kodikara signed the MoU in the presence of Minister of Home Affairs Vajira Abeywardena, Read More »

Foreign Minister reiterates Sri Lanka’s commitment for a comprehensive regional approach to combating people smuggling

August 9, 2018

 Speaking at the 7^th Bali Process Ministerial Conference on people smuggling, human trafficking, and other international crimes on Tuesday 7 August in Bali, Indonesia, Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana reiterated Sri Lanka’s commitment for a comprehensive regional approach to combat people smuggling, and to work in partnership with governments, international organizations and civil society to prevent human smuggling, protect and support victims, and bring perpetrators to justice. Read More »

Tourism Promotional Talk Focussing on Sustainable Tourism and Sri Lankan Elephants

July 13, 2018

Environmentalist, wildlife enthusiast and expert on Sri Lankan elephants, Srilal MIththapala gave a talk on ‘Sri Lanka Wildlife and Sustainable Tourism with a special focus on elephants’ at the Sri Lanka High Commission in Canberra on 10 July.

The audience consisting travel writers, tourism industry representatives, wildlife and elephant enthusiasts enjoyed the informative and insightful presentation with video clips of elephants in Sri Lanka.

This is the second talk given by Srilal MIththapala at the High Commission and the third in the series of tourism promotional events hosted by the Read More »

Ifthar celebrated at Sri Lanka High Commission in Canberra

June 4, 2018

The Sri Lankan community in Canberra led by the Canberra Sri Lanka Muslim Association joined the High Commission staff in partaking of Ifthar on 2^nd June.

Breaking of fast in the traditional manner was followed by a call to prayers which was then observed by all members of the Muslim community who were present.  The High Commissioner in his welcome address thereafter said that   the Holy Prophet Mohamed stressed the value of humility because  it was only when one was humble could one be sensitive to the needs of others. Read More »

Proceeds from Sri Lanka Festival 2017 in Canberra handed over to the “Little Hearts” Project

May 25, 2018

Proceeds from the Sri Lanka Festival 2017 held in Canberra on 25 November 2017 amounting to A$ 5000.00 (SLRs 611,632.70) was recently handed over to the ‘Little Hearts’ Project of the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital in Sri Lanka .

The Festival was organised by the High Commission at its premises with the assistance of the Sri Lankan community. Read More »

High Commissioner Skandakumar Presents Credentials in Papua New Guinea

May 14, 2018

High Commissioner Somasundaram Skandakumar presented credentials as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the Governor General H.E. Robert Dadae of Papua New Guinea on 8 May 2018.

Following the ceremony at  Government House, the Governor General held a one to one discussion with the High Commissioner and expressed the hope that the two countries could build on the cordial relations. The Governor General noted that Sri Lanka was rich in the education sector and PNG has received a large number of Sri Lankan academics as well as teachers in the past. The Governor General also highlighted the need to build on economic relations. Read More »