Today, we celebrate Sri Lanka’s 65th National Day with the realization of a sustainable peace supplemented by comprehensive economic and social development programmes benefiting the people in all parts of our motherland.

The Government under the visionary leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa continues to strengthen the extensive socioeconomic development process that envisages the betterment of its peoples while achieving an 8% annual growth rate since the eradication of separatist terrorism from the island.  Large scale infrastructure projects with newly built roads, air and sea ports amply demonstrate the robust economic agenda of Sri Lanka.

Time to march towards development of the Country.

Today, we commemorate 65th anniversary of Independence to our motherland Sri Lanka. On this occasion, I would like to convey my heartfelt congratulations and warm greetings to all members of the Sri Lankan community in the State of Kuwait. I also take this opportunity to thank the Government and the people of the friendly Sate of Kuwait for their good wishes and felicitations.

The prime intention of celebrating Independence Day should be to commemorate the great heroes who sacrificed their lives to gain independence and freedom for the country with gratitude, to look back the country's to the today's generation, to pave the way to make their present and future meaningful and to realize the reality of freedom. The most important duty which should be acquired through the freedom won is the economic and spiritual development of the people. Therefore the nation’s respect and felicitations should go to all patriots who paid the supreme sacrifice, laying down their lives to overcome the nations challenges for the sake of supreme independence.

Minister of External Affairs Prof. GL Peiris who is currently in New Delhi in connection with the 8th Session of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission called on Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 23 January. Minister Peiris conveyed the greetings of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to Prime Minister Singh. Recalling President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s recent visit to India in September 2012, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh requested Minister Peiris to convey his warm personal regards to the President and assured Minister Peiris that India’s cooperation with Sri Lanka in all sectors is accorded highest priority. 

Mr. Errol Fonseka was appointed as  Sri Lanka’s new Honorary Consul in Seychelles.

H.E. Shehan Ratnavale, Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Pretoria, South Africa concurrently accredited to the Seychelles presented Mr. Fonseka on 15 January 2013 with the Commission letter  of appointment.The appointment also comes as a prelude to a planned visit by the Hon. Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris to Seychelles in the coming months.   

Deputy Minister Neomal Perera in Delhi calls upon non-Commonwealth countries

to participate in the Commonwealth Business Forum in Colombo

Deputy Minister of External Affairs, Neomal Perera, met the envoys of 79 countries accredited to Sri Lanka from New Delhi this week and briefed them about the Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) that will be held in Colombo from 12-14 November 2013 preceding the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). He explained to the envoys that CHOGM is being held in Asia which is now a region of high growth and opportunity, after a lapse of 25 years, and that the Commonwealth Business Forum 2013 would be a useful platform for all countries to forge flourishing economic links and for business persons to interact with Heads of Government and senior officials as well. Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Nivard Cabraal and High Commissioner Prasad Kariyawasam joined the Deputy Minister at the briefings.