H.E. Mohan Pieris, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the Bahamas presents Credentials (Virtual Event) – 20th April 2021
Speech by H.E. Mohan Pieris, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations at the Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebration event organized by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington, in collaboration with its ‘Overseas Sri Lankans (OSL) Network’ in the USA, on Sunday, April 18, 2021.
Entry Requirement for Sri Lankans Lifted
Under the directive of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Foreign Ministry reviewed the entry procedure today, 06 April 2021, as a measure of relief for prospective Lankan returnees.
Under the new procedure, Sri Lankans, dual citizens who travel on Sri Lankan passports, spouses and unmarried children of Sri Lankans, who are foreigners, and Sri Lankan seafarers arriving by air will be permitted to enter into Sri Lanka without prior approval of the Foreign Ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority.
The responsibility of maintaining a manageable number of passenger arrivals has however been entrusted with the Civil Aviation Authority, who will, through the respective airlines, regulate the numbers in a manner that would cope with the local capacities of quarantining and other logistics required.
All arriving passengers will be required to strictly adhere to health protocols and guidelines that are effective at the time of arrival.
Foreign Ministry
Colombo
06 April 2021
Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, called for early conclusion of the Charter of the Association of BIMSTEC Speakers and Parliamentarians, in his welcome address at the 17th Ministerial Meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), comprising of Bangladeshi, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. This event was held virtually on 1st April 2021 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Foreign Minister informed that the platform would provide Speakers and Parliamentarians space for greater understanding, trust and friendship and to exchange ideas and information on parliamentary practices and commitment on democratic principles.
Mr. President , I am most thankful to you for arranging this meeting which gives small States such as SriLanka have an opportunity to place our difficulties before this august body and the G20 with regard to maintaining financial systems stability in these difficult times.
The objectives of the G20 are clear. They are the Policy coordination between its members in order to achieve global economic stability, sustainable growth, the promotion of financial regulations that reduce risks and prevent future financial crises and to create a new international financial architecture more particularly during these difficult times.