Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea to visit Sri Lanka next week

January 12, 2022

Foreign Minister Professor G. L. Peiris and Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Park Byeong-Seng held discussions recently at the Speaker’s Office, National Assembly in Seoul.

Speaker Byeong-Seng showed lively interest in the Parliamentary system under Sri Lanka’s Constitution, especially such features as the mingling of the Executive Presidential system with the framework of Cabinet Government.

Minister Prof. Peiris briefed the Korean Speaker about the current electoral system in Sri Lanka, and the reforms now under discussion by a Parliamentary Committee.

The Foreign Minister and the Speaker discussed in some detail the importance of the work of Select Committees, Consultative Committees and the Standing Committees outside the floor of Parliament, and the relationship of these Committees to the Party System.

The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea accepted with pleasure the invitation extended to him by Foreign Minister Peiris to visit the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

Dates were fixed in consultation with Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena. The Speaker of the ROK National Assembly will arrive in Sri Lanka on 18 January for a 3 day visit.

This visit will be a significant event in strengthening cooperation between the Parliaments of the two countries.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

11 January, 2022

Sri Lanka and China re-affirm the special bonds of friendship between the two nations

January 11, 2022

Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris highlighted the warm and special relationship and the multi-faceted nature of the partnership between Sri Lanka and China in his opening remarks at the bilateral meeting with the State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Wang Yi held at Temple Trees on 9 January, 2022.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi is on a brief official visit to Sri Lanka to launch the celebrations marking the 70^th anniversary of the historic Rubber-Rice Pact and the 65^th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and China.

Speaking further Foreign Minister Peiris stated that whenever Sri Lanka faced difficulties, support was always forthcoming from China in the fullest measure. In this context, the Minister expressed sincere thanks and profound appreciation to Foreign Minister Wang Yi for China’s spontaneous and generous support in the national vaccination drive to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, including the donation of 3 million doses of vaccine. Moreover, the timely assistance from China during the current economic situation in the country by affording the facility of a US$ 1.5 billion currency swap with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, has helped to boost the country’s currency reserves. This has further reinforced the abiding friendship and mutual trust between the two countries.

During the bilateral talks, other matters of bilateral interest were also discussed, including further support for the ongoing vaccination programme, attracting investments from China to the Colombo Port City and the Hambantota Industrial Zone, increasing tourism from China to Sri Lanka, enhancing Sri Lankan exports to China and promoting cultural cooperation, especially in fostering Buddhist ties between the two nations.

State Councillor and Foreign Minister of China warmly reciprocated the sentiments of his Sri Lankan counterpart and stated that China regards Sri Lanka as a time-tested friend and thanked Sri Lanka for the exceptional gesture in issuing a special commemorative coin last year to mark the centenary of the Communist Party of China. He hailed the Rubber-Rice Pact signed in 1952 as a historic landmark in bilateral relations. He also highlighted the strong and consistent support by both countries for each other  at various international fora over the years.

After the discussions, the two delegations signed the following Agreements, in the presence of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and the two Foreign Ministers:

• Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation
• Letter of Exchange on the Project of Subsidized Housing for Low Income Category in Colombo
• Handover Certificate of the Technical Cooperation Project for BMICH
• Handover Certificate of the Technical Cooperation Project for the Kidney Disease Mobile Screening Ambulance Vehicles

State Minister of Regional Cooperation Tharaka Balasuriya, Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage and senior Foreign Ministry officials, as well as Vice Minister of Commerce Qian Keming, Assistant Foreign Minister Ambassador Wu Jianghao, and Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong were present in the delegations of Sri Lanka and China respectively.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

10 January, 2022

Special Investment Zone for South Korea Proposed by Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris

January 10, 2022

Trade and investment, political cooperation, defense initiatives, tourism and labour issues dominated the discussion in Seoul, Republic of Korea between Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea Chung Eui-yong.

Minister Prof. Peiris paid tribute to the multi-faceted relationship which had developed between the two countries during their 44-year relationship, and its present robust character. Read More »

Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris meets Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education of the Republic of Korea in Seoul

January 10, 2022

Assistance for Vocational Education – Main Topic of Discussion

Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris held discussions in Seoul with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education of the Republic of Korea Yoo Eun-hye.

Minister Peiris referred to extensive economic cooperation between the two countries, especially Overseas Development Assistance led by KOICA and the EXIM Bank of ROK. Minister Peiris expressed appreciation of the benefits derived by Sri Lanka from these programmes.

The Foreign Minister, referring to the 22,000 Sri Lankans employed in ROK, mentioned the popularity of teaching programmes directed at proficiency in the Korean language in Sri Lanka. He said that the Korean language had been adopted as a subject for the G.C.E. (Advanced Level) Examination in Sri Lanka in 2023.

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo Eun-hye, responding to Foreign Minister Peiris, said that the Government of ROK would consider extensive assistance for initiatives in the field of vocational education and training in Sri Lanka.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

06 January, 2022

Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka meets Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea

January 10, 2022

Increased Opportunities for Sri Lankan Workers requested by Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris in Seoul 

During his courtesy call on Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris raised the issue of increased employment opportunities in ROK for Sri Lankan workers.

Minister Peiris said that, at present, there are about 22,000 Sri Lankan workers in South Korea, sending back to our country each year approximately 520 million U.S. Dollars. While the return of Sri Lankan workers to South Korea had been suspended because of COVID 19, Minister Peiris thanked the ROK Government for permitting their return in stages, initially returning workers and, thereafter, new entrants. He said that two batches had arrived in Seoul from Sri Lanka, the first on 08 December and the second on 22 December. He requested expanded opportunities for Sri Lankan workers in terms of the EPS scheme, and pointed out that, for all record purposes, Sri Lankan Airlines is the only national carrier which operates directly to Seoul on a weekly basis out of the 16 labour sending countries.

He stressed that less than 80 Sri Lankan workers in the entire ROK had ever contracted COVID 19, thus manifesting the effectiveness of health measures adopted in Sri Lanka. He requested that the number in each batch admitted to ROK should be increased, and also the frequency of arrival of successive batches in Seoul.

Minister Prof. Peiris underscored the fact that, in 1970, the total exports out of ROK had been approximately USD 835 million, while in 2019, in less than five decades the value of ROK exports had risen to US Dollars 610 billion. This represented a phenomenal increase, with few parallels in any part of the world. Minister Prof. Peiris said that the industry, commitment and discipline of Sri Lankan workers contributed in some measure to this achievement.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea said that the South Korean Government would seriously explore avenues for further expanding employment for Sri Lankans in the Republic of Korea.

Political issues, as well as trade, investment and tourism, and cooperation in international fora were among the other topics discussed at the meeting between the Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea and the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

07 December, 2022

New Year message of H.E Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka

January 1, 2022

Click on this message…

Message of H.E Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka on the Occasion of Christmas

December 25, 2021

Christmas, signifying the Nativity of the Lord Jesus Christ, is a noble religious feast that rejoices, bringing love and peace not only for Christians in Sri Lanka and across the world, but for all mankind.

For full message : Click here….

Australian Home Minister holds wide ranging talks with the Foreign Minister Peiris

December 21, 2021

The Australian Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews met Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris on 20 December 2021 at the Foreign Ministry during her official visit to Sri Lanka and discussed avenues for enhanced cooperation on a broad spectrum of areas.

The Foreign Minister expressed satisfaction with Australia’s significant involvement in preventing people smuggling and transnational crimes in Sri Lanka as well as in the region. The Minister reiterated that the vibrant partnership between Australia and Sri Lanka exemplified the highly effective and successful collaboration between the two countries in the field of preventing people smuggling and border security matters. Read More »

Online submission of COVID – 19 Vaccination certificates and PCR test results to facilitate swift completion of arrival formalities at ports of entry into Sri Lanka

November 4, 2021

All Sri Lankans and Foreigners are requested to upload their vaccine certificates and PCR test results to the following link in order to facilitate swift completion of arrival formalities at ports of entry into Sri Lanka:

https://airport.lk/health_declaration/index

While the above documents can also be submitted on arrival in hard copy, online uploading of the certificates and carrying copies of the same with the traveller would ensure swift completion of formalities without any delays.

Speech by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the “Rediscovering Nitrogen: Solutions and Synergies for Climate Change, Health, Biodiversity and Circular Economy”, COP26 Side Event, Scotland, UK on 31 October 2021

November 2, 2021

Ayubowan,

It gives me great pleasure to address you this evening and I am very happy to see such an illustrious turnout at this event.

As we are all aware, climate change is one of the greatest crises the world currently faces. Read More »