International Affairs

The United States of America stands with Sri Lanka against terrorism and supports the island nation’s counter-terrorism efforts following the horrific Easter Sunday terrorist attacks of April 21.

The U.S Department of State has announced the addition of ten more countries including Sri Lanka to the U.S Visa Waiver Program (VWP), foreign news agencies reported.

Chinese President Xi Jinping yesterday vowed to provide all possible assistance to Sri Lanka in its endeavour to strengthen national security by wiping out the scourge of terrorism.

Based on the security agreements signed between Sri Lanka and China during President Maithripala Sirisena’s recent tour to China, the Chinese Government has pledged to supply several machines to defuse bombs, according to Presidential Secretariat sources.

The United States reiterated its commitment to a sovereign Sri Lanka able to protect its security and prosperity.

The International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank has provided a loan facility of USD 70 million to strengthen the service provided by 134 Local Authorities in the Northern, Eastern, North Central and Uva Provinces under the Local Development Support Project (LDSP).

High Commissioner of India Taranjit Singh Sandhu paid respects at Sri Dalada Maligawa and received the blessings of the Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Sumangala Mahanayake Thero of Malwatte Chapter and Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Mahanayake Thero of Asgiriya Chapter in Kandy on 17 May 2019.

The Povlsen family has written an open letter thanking the people of Scotland for the words of comfort that “fortified” them after the devastating loss of three of their four children in the Sri Lanka terror attacks.

Anders Holch Povlsen and his wife Anne, who are Scotland’s largest landowners, said the many messag

Two high ranking UN officials have pointed out that the recent violence in Sri Lanka has highlighted a growing influence of nationalist and extremist views of identity in the Asia region, putting religious minorities at risk. The statement comes in the wake of riots that have resulted in at least one death so far.

The meticulous planning and coordination with which the bomb blasts were carried out suggests a global terror link to the Sri Lankan blasts on Easter Sunday,” said Col. R. Hariharan of ex-Military Intelligence who was part of the IPKF operations in the island nation.

The Sri Lanka High Commission in London hosted a reception in honour of the visiting Sri Lanka Cricket team for the ICC World Cup 2019 on Thursday at the Sri Lanka High Commission in London, in the presence of UK dignitaries, the diplomatic corps and cricketing professionals among the British Sri Lankan community. A warm welcome was extended to the team by the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in the United Kingdom Manisha Gunasekera.

In a major move of expanding diplomatic relations in Africa, Sri Lanka government has decided to establish Diplomatic Relations with Gambia last week, Foreign Ministry announced.

18 May 2019 marks the 10th anniversary of the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka. On this day, Switzerland will remember the many victims of this armed conflict. At the same time, the FDFA is deeply concerned about the recent flare-up in tensions and calls on the Sri Lankan government to do everything in its power to safeguard and strengthen peace and stability in the country.

"The massacres in Sri Lanka and New Zealand demand that we become more united, deepen dialogue and fight against extremism," says the UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay said.

Sri Lanka and Turkey to pursue shared economic interests and address common challenges such as, terrorism, at regional and multilateral platforms.

US State Secretary Michael Pompeo who met with Foreign Affairs Minister Tilak Marapana, has reiterated strong US support for Sri Lanka in its fight against terrorism, a statement said.

In a joint statement, the delegation of the European Union has expressed concern over the recent incidents of communal violence that have occurred following the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks.

President Maithripala Sirisena flew to Beijing this morning to attend an international conference titled Dialogue of Asian Civilizations to be held on 15 May.