Sri Lanka High Commissioner appreciates Australia’s continues commitment to address CKDu health issue in Sri Lanka
October 18, 2019
Professor Richard Banati, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sysdeny who also holds an ANSTO (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization) Distinguished Researcher Fellowship paid a courtesy call on High Commissioner J.C. Weliamuna on 16th October 2019.
During the meeting, Professor Richard Banati briefed on the ongoing progress in the research collaboration between ANSTO and the Sri Lankan Presidential Taskforce on the Prevention of Chronic Kidney Disease Read More »
The Sixth Meeting of Australia-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group(JWG) on Counter People Smuggling and other Transnational Crime concludes in Canberra
October 17, 2019
The Sixth Meeting of Australia-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group(JWG) on Counter People Smuggling and other Transnational Crime was successfully concluded in Canberra on 11th October 2019. The meeting was held under the co–chairmanship of General S.H.S. Kottegoda (Rtd.), Secretary Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka and Mr. Hamish Hansford, Acting Deputy Secretary, Policy Group, Department of Home Affairs, Australia. Read More »
Volunteers for Sri Lanka Festival – 2019 in Canberra
October 17, 2019
The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Canberra invites volunteers for the forthcoming “Sri Lanka Festival- 2019” scheduled for Saturday, 09th November 2019 from 11.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. at the High Commission premises at No.61, Hampton Circuit, Yarralumla.
The interested persons who wish to serve as volunteers at the above event are kindly requested to send their details to admin@slhcaust.org or contact Mr. Dharmapala Weerakoddy, Minister, High Commission of Sri Lanka in Canberra on Mobile No: 042-7114444 for necessary arrangements.
Mr. Pär Liljert, Chief of Mission – IOM Australia; Coordinator and Advisor for New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific pays a courtesy call on High Commissioner J.C. Weliamuna
October 3, 2019
Mr. Pär Liljert, Chief of Mission, International Organization for Migration (IOM) Australia; Coordinator and Advisor for New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific paid a courtesy call on High Commissioner J.C. Weliamuna on 03rd October 2019.
During the meeting, Mr. Pär elaborated on the IOM’s scope of work particularly the IOM’s Voluntary Return and Reintegration Programme Read More »
Sri Lanka Festival in Canberra – 2019
October 3, 2019
The High Commissioner and the staff of the Sri Lanka High Commission kindly request all Sri Lankans and well – wishers in Australia to save the date, Saturday, 09th November 2019 to join the upcoming “Sri Lanka Festival” to be held at the premises of the Mission in Yarralumla.
The above festival will be an exciting and fun-filled celebration of Sri Lanka, its food, culture and most importantly, its people. The visitors to the event would be able to enjoy Sri Lankan food and beverages, dance and music, art and crafts, tourism information, children’s activities and much more.
ICC T20 World Cup (Australia 2020)
September 27, 2019
ICC T20 World Cup Organizing Team comprising of Mr. Nick Hockley, General Manager, Government Relations & Host Cities of ICC T20 World Cup 2020 accompanied by Mr. Sam Watson, General Manager and Mr. Luke Wiman, Host City Manager, visited the High Commission on 24th September 2019 and paid a courtesy call on the High Commissioner J.C. Weliamuna.
The ICC T20 World Cup is scheduled to be held in Australia in 2020. The Women’s World Cup and the World Cup T20 Tournament are scheduled in mid-February 2020 and in October 2020 respectively. Read More »
Comment of the Deputy Spokesman for the UN Secretary General
September 27, 2019
Following the statement of the Deputy Spokesman for the UN Secretary General yesterday (25 September 2019) that the UN Department of Peace Operations has decided to repatriate a Sri Lankan Army unit and individual officers currently serving with UN Peacekeeping due to concerns on the appointment of Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva as the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, the Government of Sri Lanka is in discussion on this issue with the UN. Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs who is leading the Sri Lanka delegation to the 74th General Assembly Session is scheduled to discuss this matter with the Under Secretary General of the UN Department of Peace Operations, on Friday, 27 September 2019.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Colombo
26 September 2019
Bring a Friend Home to Sri Lanka | High Commission of Sri Lanka in Canberra, Australia Partnership
September 25, 2019
Sri Lanka High Commission in Canberra is pleased to inform that Cinnamon Hotel, Colombo has launched an initiative to support the recovery plan for tourism in Sri Lanka – “Bring a Friend Home Campaign”.
The Cinnamon Hotel, Colombo invites all Sri Lankans living abroad to encourage fellow Sri Lankans as well as their family and friends living overseas to visit the island over the next few months through this programmes.
With Cinnamon’s Bring a Friend Home SL programme you can invite your friends to Sri Lanka for great discounted packages and win amazing prizes for you and your friends.
This great offer is valid for travels to Sri Lanka within 1st August 2019 to 15th December 2019. Bookings can be made before 15th December 2019.
Please refer to the following weblink to see detailed Note on First-Ever Bring a Friend Home Campaign and communication materials regarding the above campaign.
For more information , please feel free to contact +94(0) 70 5956308 or e-mail: hasara @cinnamonhotels.com
High Commissioner J.C. Weliamuna presents credentials
September 25, 2019
The newly appointed High Commissioner Mr. J.C. Weliamuna PC presented Letters of Credence on 20th September 2019 to the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurly AC DSC (Retd) . The ceremony which was held at the Government House was attended by Ms. Penny Williams, Deputy Secretary of Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) representing Minister for Foreign Affairs and Women, Australia. Read More »
Sri Lanka and Australia conclude First Maritime Dialogue and Third Round of Senior Officials’ Talks in Colombo
September 23, 2019
The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Additional Secretary, Bilateral Affairs (East) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs P. Selvaraj, while the Australian Delegation was headed by First Assistant Secretary, South West Asia Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia Dr. Lachlan Strahan.
The two countries held extensive discussions on strengthening cooperation on key areas across the broad spectrum of relations, including Transnational Organized Crime, Defence, Reconciliation and Human Rights, Development Partnership, Foreign Ministry Cooperation and Regional and Multilateral issues. Both sides agreed to maintain the excellent momentum in the relationship, and underscored their commitment to a rule-based, open and inclusive regional order and to strengthening regional architecture, including the Indian Ocean Rim Association and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium.
The Third round of Senior Officials’ Talks was preceded by the inaugural session of the Strategic Maritime Dialogue held between Sri Lanka and Australia on 16 September 2019 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Additional Secretary, Multilateral Affairs of the Foreign Ministry Ahmed A. Jawad, while the Australian delegation was headed by First Assistant Secretary Dr. Lachlan Strahan. The Dialogue underlined the importance of working together on maritime safety and security in the Indian Ocean and collaborating on blue economy related initiatives.
The Joint Commission on Bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA) between the two countries was also held on 17 September 2019. The TIFA talks co-chaired by Secretary, Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade S.T. Kodikara and First Assistant Secretary Dr. Lachlan Strahan, highlighted the importance of developing stronger trade and investment links.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1947, Sri Lanka and Australia have enjoyed a longstanding bilateral relationship over seven decades, spanning diverse areas of cooperation, including political, economic, development and security spheres.
The Senior Officials’ Talks held biennially is the principal platform between Sri Lanka and Australia to take stock of the existing relations and to discuss avenues for strengthening future cooperation in keeping with policy priorities of the two countries.
The Australian Delegation included High Commissioner of Australia to Sri Lanka David Holly, Assistant Secretary Global Interests, Department of Defence Jarrod Howard, Minister-Counsellor Home Affairs, Australian High Commission in New Delhi Tara Cavanagh, Assistant Director, Sri Lanka/Maldives Section, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Dananthi Galapitage and officials of the Australian High Commission in Colombo. The Sri Lankan delegation was comprised of senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Digital Infrastructure and Information Technology, Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Christian Religious Affairs, Ministry of Health, Nutrition & Indigenous Medicine, Department of External Resources, Department of Immigration & Emigration and the Prison Headquarters.
The next round of Senior Officials’ Talks will be held in Canberra, Australia in 2021.
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