The message of H.E Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of Sri Lanka on the occasion of Thai Pongal
January 15, 2024
Thai pongal, a vibrant Hindu harvest festival celebrated by the Tamil Community worldwide, beckons us into a realm of joy and gratitude, signifying not only the bountiful harvest but also the promise of new beginnings. Embraced within the auspicious month of Thai [January) in the Tamil calendar, this celebration harmonizes with the Sun’s northward journey, marking the onset of the harvest season.
Read full message in Tamil, in Sinhala and in English…..
Message of H.E Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of Sri Lanka on the occasion of Christmas
December 25, 2023
Please click here for full message….
“Visit Sri Lanka!” Tourism Promotion networking event in Canberra
December 11, 2023
The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Canberra in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau hosted a vibrant evening reception to a selected number of outbound tour operators in Canberra on 06 December 2023 at the Sri Lanka High Commission premises. The key objective of this event was to promote Sri Lanka as a tourist destination and present Sri Lanka as an attractive and secure tourism market for Australian visitors.
Welcoming the guests, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Australia Chitranganee Wagiswara stated that tourism is a key industry in Sri Lanka due to its varied attractions, unique adventures that could be experienced including the Sri Lankan cuisine favoured by Australians. She invited the attendees to look at new destinations and promote Sri Lanka during the upcoming holiday season.
Eye-catching videos depicting the beauty of Sri Lanka were screened including “Pekoe Trail” which, at the British Guild of Travel Writers International Tourism Awards presentation won the best award for the year 2023. The event was followed by a Q & A session and the tour operators showed a keen interest in promoting Sri Lanka among Australian travellers.
Concluding the event, a Sri Lankan style dinner was served for the attendees. Giveaway packs containing tourism brochures and souvenirs provided by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau were distributed among the invitees.
Sri Lanka High Commission
Canberra
11 December 2023
Diwali Celebration at the High Commission of Sri Lanka, Canberra
November 27, 2023
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Sri Lanka High Commission together with Sri Lankan Hindu devotees and representatives of Sri Lankan Associations in Canberra celebrated Diwali, the Festival of Lights at the Sri Lanka High Commission premises on 24th November 2023.
The High Commission was decorated with Kolam and other festive decorations. Swamy Arjun conducted the auspicious religious rituals connected with the Diwali festival and invoked blessings on the participants.
High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Australia Chitranganee Wagiswara welcomed the guests and highlighting the value of celebrating Diwali stated that, as Sri Lankans the celebration demonstrates the multicultural, multi religious, multilingual nature of Sri Lankan society. , The President of Sri Lanka Senior’s Tamil Association in Canberra Maniwannan emphasized the significance of the Diwali festival and its relevance to the people’s way of life.
Cultural performances included a traditional bharatanatyam dance, instrumental music and devotional songs.
At the end of the formal programme, the guests were invited to taste the traditional food prepared by the High Commission staff.
Sri Lanka High Commission
Canberra
27 November 2023
Media Release – Meetings in Sydney to Promote Sri Lanka-Australia Links
November 16, 2023
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Sri Lanka High Commissioner in Australia Chitranganee Wagiswara paid an official call on the Minister for Multiculturalism, Small Business, Lands and Property and Sport of New South Wales (NSW) Steve Kamper on 7 November 2023 at his office.
The Minister spoke of the large number of Sri Lankan expatriates who have made their mark in NSW and noted that most of the Sri Lankans are very well educated and well integrated into the Australian Society. The minister has been closely involved with most of the activities which are organized by Sri Lankan associations in Sydney. The High Commissioner stated that she was pleased to note the encouraging sentiments expressed by the Minister.
The two sides discussed avenues for further cooperation and the need for the State government’s assistance in promoting links between Australia and Sri Lanka especially in the trade sector. It was agreed that the High Commission and the State Minister’s Office would keep in close contact to facilitate and promote further links that would be mutually beneficial.
During the visit to Sydney, the President of the Sri Lanka Australia Chamber of Commerce Kalum de Silva organised a Business Round Table on 8 November 2023. Members from the Australia-Sri Lanka Business Council also attended the Round Table.
In his introductory remarks, Kalum De Silva highlighted the ongoing activities and programmes that are in place between Sri Lanka and Australia. He also spoke of the visit to Sri Lanka by a business delegation organized in partnership with the Victoria State Government, the Aboriginal Economic Development Group (AEDG) and other stakeholders. Meetings were held in Sri Lanka with Export Development Board, National Chamber of Commerce, SLASSCom and other stakeholders as well as visits to places of interest.
In addressing the participants at the Round Table, the High Commissioner outlined the areas of cooperation and potential that could be looked into by those interested in business and the investment sectors. Some of those present at the Round Table raised issues that need to be addressed in promoting trade and investment links and made suggestions on areas that could be pursued.
The High Commissioner invited the members of the chambers and other interested parties to be in touch with the High Commission as well as the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Melbourne so that any assistance sought and networking opportunities could be arranged.
Sri Lanka High Commission
Canberra
15 November 2023
Panel Discussion in Canberra, Australia on “Pathways to Economic Recovery in Sri Lanka”
October 24, 2023
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Given the importance and interest in current developments in Sri Lanka and at the request by the University of New South Wales (UNSW) with the Institute of Global Development, the Sri Lanka High Commission collaborated with the UNSW to organize a Round Table discussion on “Pathways to Economic Recovery in Sri Lanka” on Tuesday 17th October 2023 at the UNSW Campus in Canberra. The discussion was held in hybrid mode with the virtual participation of Sri Lankan experts and professionals.
The Panellists from Sri Lanka included member of parliament and chair of public Finance & former State Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Harsha De Silva, Executive Committee Member of National People’s Power political party former Deputy Minister and former Parliamentarian, Sunil Handunetti, Executive Director of Verite Research, Sri Lanka, Dr. Nishan De Mel, CEO of Advocata Institute, Sri Lanka, Dhananath Fernando, and Advisor to the President of Sri Lanka on Strategic Trade Policy and Board Member of Geopolitical Cartographer Dr. Ganeshan Wignaraja. Prof. Satish Chand of UNSW Canberra School moderated the panel discussion and the Q & A Session.
Senior Lecturer of UNSW, Sydney Dr. Sarath Mataraarachchi welcomed the participants and gave an outline of the subject matter and the objective of conducting the panel discussion from an academic point of view.
Inaugurating the Roundtable discussion, Deputy Rector of UNSW Prof. Michael O’Donnell, welcomed the participants who joined virtually as well as the other participants who were in the audience.
High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Australia, Chitranganee Wagiswara in her introductory remarks spoke briefly on the economic crisis and the debt recovery process in Sri Lanka. While appreciating the interest of the academics and Think Tanks in Australia on Sri Lanka, she stated that Sri Lanka welcomes objective and independent views that would contribute to the deliberations on the subject.
Dr. Harsha De Silva spoke of the consequences of the present economic and debt crisis, the taxes introduced by the present government and its effects, and issues that the government of Sri Lanka could focus on to prioritize and rectify the current situation.
Mr. Handunnetti spoke of the importance of focusing on political decisions that are necessary for economic growth. The three representatives from the Think Tank highlighted the root causes that led to the economic and debt crisis and the decisions and requirements that need to be taken by the government of Sri Lanka to move forward in the recovery process.
Director of the UNSW, Global Development Institute Prof. George Varughese delivered the Vote of Thanks and stated that the Roundtable discussion brought together scholars and practitioners to an open discussion on innovative pathways to economic recovery in Sri Lanka. The audience in Canberra included Emi. Professor of Economics at the Australian National University Prof Premachandra Athukorala, officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs &Trade of Australia, Diplomatic Officers from the Sri Lanka High Commission in Canberra, among other invitees.
Sri Lanka High Commission
Canberra, Australia
20.10.2023
High Commissioner calls on Hon. Richard Marles, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence of Australia
September 14, 2023
High Commissioner Chitranganee Wagiswara paid a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence of Australia Richard Marles on 11 September 2023 at his office in the Federal Parliament. She was accompanied by Deputy High Commissioner Chamari Rodrigo and Defence Counsellor Commodore S.P. Kathriarachchi. Read More »
Press Release on “Public Complaints on Unlawful Pyramid Schemes”
August 26, 2023
National Industry Exhibition – 2023, Virtual Exhibition
July 6, 2023
The Industrial Development Board share the following link of the virtual 360 industry Exhibition has been released from 26th June to 09th July 2023 among Sri Lankan Mission/post in overseas.
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