Registration of Sri Lankan Expatriates, Dual Citizens and Permanent Citizens living abroad under Inland Revenue Act No. 24 of 2017 (IRA)
April 17, 2024
Registration of Sri Lankan Expatriates, Dual Citizens and Permanent Citizens living abroad under Inland Revenue Act No. 24 of 2017 (IRA)
https://www.slhcaust.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Re.-TIN-Registration.pdf
The Brad & Kiara Show – Radio Interview with the High Commissioner in Australia
April 16, 2024
The “Brad & Kiara Show” a Radio interview with the High Commissioner was on air on 23rd March 2024.
The recorded programme can be listen from the following link https://omny.fm/shows/the-brad-and-kiara-show/the-brad-kiara-show-this-weekend-an-exclusive-with
International Industry Expo 2024 – BMICH, Colombo -19-23 June 2024
April 16, 2024
International Industry Expo 2024 will be held from 19-23 June 2024 in BMICH, Colombo.
The details can be obtained from the following link;
https://www.slhcaust.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Industry-Expo-2024-Presentation.pdf
Please see the EXHIBITOR APPLICATION FORM – Foreign Exhibitors https://www.slhcaust.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Foreign-Exhibitor-Form-Industry-2024-1.pdf
Colombo International Tea Convention 2024 – 24th – 26th July 2024
April 16, 2024
Colombo International Tea Convention 2024 will be held from 24th – 26th July 2024 at Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo.
Further details on the convention please see the link below;
Ratnapura International Gem Exhibition 2024 – 29, 30 June and 1 July at the Hotel Grand Silver Ray
April 16, 2024
Ratnapura International Gem Exhibition 2024 will be held from 29th June to 1st July 2024 at the Hotel Grand Silver Ray.
The further details on the exhibition are given the below link.
President’s Message for the Sinhala Tamil New Year
April 14, 2024
https://www.slhcaust.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/New-Year-Message-English-Apr-16.pdf
“Eid Al Fitr” – Message of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
April 10, 2024
The message from the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the celebration of “Eid Al Fitr” in English, Sinhala and Tamil
English https://www.slhcaust.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Eid-Al-Fitr-English-09-04-204-1.pdf
Sinhala https://www.slhcaust.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Eid-Al-Fitr-Sinhala-09-04-2024-1.pdf
Tamil https://www.slhcaust.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Eid-Al-Fitr-Tamil-09-04-2024.pdf
Media Release – Sri Lanka Festival 2024 held in Canberra
March 11, 2024
The Sri Lanka Festival 2024 was celebrated on a grand scale at the Sri Lanka High
Commission in Canberra on Saturday, 02 March 2024. This Festival had been held in the
past from 2016-2019 annually, and after a lapse of 5 years it was timely to hold the
festival this year.
The prime objective of this festival was to introduce Sri Lanka as an attractive
destination for tourism, trade and investment. Australia is ranked as one of the top 10
tourism markets for Sri Lanka.
At the inauguration of the festival, the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Australia
Chitrangaee Wagiswara spoke of the need to highlight Sri Lanka in Australia due some
negative perceptions in the recent past. She stated that the country is moving towards
the path to the recovery and it was timely to stage this event and project the positive
aspects of Sri Lanka.
Addressing the audience, the Commissioner for the Intentional Engagement in the ACT
Government Brendan Smyth stated that in multicultural Australia, the ACT Government
is pleased to promote and support such activities with diverse communities and provide
opportunities for the people to enjoy and experience various aspects of different
cultures.
Sri Lankan community leaders and associations joined the Sub-Committee of the High
Commission and voluntarily contributed in organizing the event.
The Sri Lanka High Commission stall featured Sri Lanka tea and flavoured iced tea
which was very popular with the visitors due to the warm weather. The additional
focus was on the promotion of tourism, with tourism clips been shown throughout the
day and attractive tourism brochures were distributed to all those who visited the stall.
The Sri Lankan Airlines partnered with the High Commission by providing a return air
ticket as the first prize in the raffle draw, while Hilton Hotel, Colombo, Mountain
Heaven, Ella and Sri Lankan Restaurant in Canberra Banana Leaf offered vouchers. In
addition, the High Commission arranged five consolation prizes.
Right throughout the day, prominent dance troupes and musical groups
performed colourful and graceful dances depicting the multicultural diversity of Sri
Lanka which included low country/upcountry dances and Bharatha Natyam. The
students from prominent dance troupes, Bhagya School of Dance, Manuki Dance Troup
from Sydney, Shalani Perera and Troupe, Janaka Banagala Troup, Aksharah Troup
presented beautiful performances. In addition, music items were presented by
Canberra based music groups adding value to the cultural segment.
This event attracted over 3,000 visitors including Australians, Sri Lankans living in
Australia, diplomatic community, the business sector and the media.
High Commission of Sri Lanka
Canberra
Media Release – Foreign Minister Ali Sabry addresses the High-level Segment of the 55th Session of the UN Human Rights Council
March 3, 2024
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Sabry urged the members of the UN Human Rights Council not to allow short-term political gains or “domestic vote bank politics” to overtake the work of the Council, when addressing the High-Level segment of the 55th Session of the Council through a pre-recorded video statement on 27 February 2024.
Minister Sabry highlighted that despite the severe constraints faced by the country, Sri Lanka continued to engage actively and constructively with an extensive array of helpful working methods of the Council, that are productive and beneficial to the people.
The Foreign Minister reiterated Sri Lanka’s rejection of the HRC resolutions 46/1 and 51/1 and the external evidence gathering mechanism established by these resolutions, while emphasizing that such mechanisms are counterproductive and unhelpful and contradict the founding principles of the Council.
He also provided an overview of the tangible progress made by the country with regard to economic recovery, national unity and reconciliation and added that the cornerstone of this recovery lies in pragmatic policy decisions that prioritize the country’s welfare over short-term political gains. The significant progress achieved in this regard has been recognized and welcomed both locally and internationally, he stated.
While stating that the Council’s approach to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza will be another litmus test to its credibility, Minister Sabry urged the Council to prioritize depoliticization, constructive dialogue, and multilateral cooperation while avoiding double standards.
The 55th Session of the Council takes place in Geneva from 26 February – 5 April 2024. During this Session, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights will present an oral update on Sri Lanka on 04 March 2023, as mandated by the HRC Resolution 51/1. Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Himalee Arunatilaka will deliver Sri Lanka’s statement as the country concerned following the oral update by the High Commissioner.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Colombo
28 February 2024
Address by Hon. Ali Sabry, Minister of Foreign Affirs of Sri Lanka – 55th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council – High-level Segment https://www.slhcaust.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Statement-en.pdf
Register with the High Commission
The Sri Lankan High Commission in Canberra would like to keep in touch with Sri Lankans and persons of Sri Lankan origin living in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and other Pacific Islands as well as Sri Lankan community organisations in those countries.
If you are a current/former Sri Lankan or an office bearer of a Sri Lankan community organisation we invite you to register with the High Commission.
RegisterAddress
Sri Lanka High Commission
61, Hampton Circuit
Yarralumla
ACT 2600