Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage together with Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Luo Zhaohui, chaired the 11th session of the diplomatic consultations between Sri Lanka and China virtually on 23 November 2020.
Eminent international legal luminaries, Managing Director and Head of Projects for Morocco and Sudan at the Max Planck Foundation Prof. Rüdiger Wolfrum and member of the United Nations International Law Commission Sir Michael Wood were among the speakers at a webinar organized by the Foreign Ministry on 20 November 2020, as part of its responsibilities as the lead country for the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Working Group on Maritime Safety and security on the theme “The Nexus between Marine Scientific Research (MSR) and Maritime Safety and Security (MSS)”.
44th Annual Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Group of 77
Intervention by Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, Foreign Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka at the Interactive Dialogue on Major Priority Issues and the Global Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Obstacles it poses to the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda and Achievement of the SDGs
12 November 2020
Hon. Chairman
Excellencies
Distinguished delegates
As a founding member of the Group of 77, Sri Lanka is pleased to participate at the 44th Annual Meeting of Foreign Ministers. The theme of this year’s session is timely given the unprecedented challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The strong mandate given by the people of Sri Lanka to His Excellency the President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, at the presidential election in November last year and at the general election earlier this year, for his Vision for Prosperity & Splendour gives us confidence to commit ourselves further to the goals of the G-77. For over half a century the G77 has provided a platform for developing countries to articulate and promote their collective interests and negotiating capacity, on all the major international economic issues within the UN system and to promote South-South cooperation for development. It has a significant role to play in the current context, driven by the spirit of solidarity of the Global South.
Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and visiting US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo held discussions this morning (28 October 2020) at the Foreign Ministry, covering several areas of the multifaceted relationship which exists between Sri Lanka and the United States. The discussions followed those with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa earlier in the morning.
During the delegation level official talks, the two sides exchanged views on the economic, political, defence & security spheres which straddle the relationship and agreed to take measures to further invigorate the existing cooperation. It was agreed to convene the annual Partnership Dialogue at an early, mutually convenient time frame, taking into account the existing COVID-19 pandemic situation. Furthermore, steps are to be taken to progress on several economic and development related initiatives, in addition to invigorating the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) and the US GSP facility. They agreed to work in partnership to address the existing and post COVID-19 economic challenges. The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international developments of mutual interest.
Sri Lanka’s statement made by Mr. Niranga Palipana (Second Secretary) at the Financial and Social Committee (2nd Committee) - Agenda Item 26: Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition , 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on 16th October 2020.
Online Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
Statement by Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena
Foreign Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Friday, 09 October 2020
Hon. Chairman,
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Sri Lanka is pleased to participate at this meeting today. 2020 marks the 65th anniversary of the historic Bandung Conference which gave birth to the Non-Aligned Movement. As a founding Member of the NAM Sri Lanka has been honoured to see the Movement grow, participating in its deliberations over the years.
Sri Lanka reaffirms its commitments to the ten underlying principles of the Bandung Conference which serves as the foundation of the Non-Aligned Movement and reflect the common challenges and goals.
Hon. Chairman,
The Bandung Conference and successive developments, emerging through these principles, united our countries to end colonialism, Opposing foreign intervention, aggression, foreign occupation, domination and to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity, while recognizing the equality of all nations, both large and small has been our commitment.
Today, the NAM comprises a near two-thirds of the Member States of the United Nations, and over half of the world’s population being the largest group of states having a pivotal role in ensuring and safeguarding the principles of multilateralism.
