High Commission of Sri Lanka in India

Best Wishes!

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, Dr Sarath Amunugama, stated that there have been no incidents of violence or disruption in the country following the recent developments and hence there was no justification for the Travel Advisories issued by a few countries. He has further noted that the peaceful environment continues to prevail in the country and tourists are enjoying uninterrupted access to tourist sites and facilities throughout the Island.

Media Release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in regard to this is given below; 

Media Release

Foreign Minister Amunugama says "no justification for thechanging Travel Advisories" 

Foreign Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama, said that there was no justification for the Travel Advisories issued by a few countries, since there have been no incidents of violence or disruption in the country following the recent events. The Tourism sector has not been subject to any inconvenience.

The Minister made these observations when he met with the leading inbound tour operators, Senior Officials of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), representatives of the Sri Lankan Airlines and other leading foreign carriers to discuss the Travel Advisories issued recently. He said that the Government was fully committed to safeguarding and improving of the tourism industry.

Industry leaders   briefed the   Minister that in addition to regular flights,  TUI , one  of  the   world’s   leading  tour  operators, is  now scheduled to operate  03  Charter Flights to  Colombo  on   a weekly  basis  while  the TUI   Cruise Liner  is  also scheduled  to  use Sri Lanka as a Port of Call in   the  high  season. The  industry  leaders also  informed  that   Aeroflot has  announced nonstop direct  flights  from  Moscow to Colombo  from  28 October 2018  and  SWISS will  resume  its  direct  flights  Zurich – Colombo from 04 November 2018. Meanwhile   Lonely  Planet, one  of the   leading international travel  guide   publishers,  has   recently   named  Sri  Lanka  as   the world’s top  destination. It was noted that presently there are around 4000 cricket fans from the UK in   Sri Lanka to follow the English cricket team’s current tour. This was testimony to the peaceful environment prevailing in the country and tourists are enjoying uninterrupted access to tourist sites and facilities throughout the Island.

The Minister also informed that since the assumption of his present portfolio he has instructed all Heads of Sri Lanka Missions overseas to personally make representation to the authorities concerned in their countries of accreditation in order to remove the Travel Advisories, to be in keeping with the ground realities in Sri Lanka. They will also maintain  regular interaction with the leading Travel Agents/ Outbound Tour Operators  in their  respective capitals to brief them on the peaceful situation prevailing in the island with a view to promoting arrivals. The Minister said that he planned to make Tourism Promotion a main aspect of the Foreign Ministry’s work programme.

Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha and Senior Officials of the Ministry were present at the meeting. 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Colombo 

02 November 2018

High Commissioner Austin Fernando assumed duties on 2nd November 2018 as the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in New Delhi. 

Austin Fernando was educated at Richmond College, Galle.  He completed B. A. degree from the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya and later earned an M.B.A. degree from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. 

Austin Fernando joined Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS) in 1963 and served in various capacities in the public sector and held positions as Government Agent for Polonnaruwa District and Nuwara Eliya District, Commissioner of Cooperative Development and Postmaster General, Secretary at Ministry of Rehabilitation and Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs and Provincial Councils and Indigenous Medicine and Defence.  He was the Governor of the Eastern Province since 2015.  He has also held consultative positions at the United Nations and similar institutions at various points of his illustrious career.  

Prior to his assignment as the High Commissioner to India, he was the Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka since 2017.      

High Commission of Sri Lanka

New Delhi 

02nd November 2018

Foreign Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama met the Ambassadors and High Commissioners of SAARC countries and their representatives at his office today (31). Heads of Mission and their representatives of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Maldives and Pakistan were present on this occasion to discuss matters of mutual interest. The Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ravinatha Aryasinha was also present at this meeting. 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Colombo

31 October 2018