High Commission of Sri Lanka in India

High Commissioner Moragoda interacts with Defence Advisers concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka PDF Print option in slimbox / lytebox? (info) E-mail
Thursday, 09 February 2023 13:15
Continuing his efforts to further expand engagement with the concurrently accredited Missions in New Delhi, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India, Milinda Moragoda had an interactive session with the New Delhi based Defence Advisers and Attachés concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka yesterday (09) at the High Commission premises. 

The Defence Advisers of Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, DPR Korea, Mexico, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, Senegal, Sudan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, and Zambia took part in this interactive session. 

High Commissioner Moragoda warmly welcomed the Defence Advisers and Attachés, and briefed the salient pillars of the ‘Integrated Country Strategy,’ which has laid the strategic working framework for Sri Lanka Diplomatic Missions in India. He then appraised them of the present economic and political situation in Sri Lanka and thanked the international community for the assistance rendered in overcoming the economic challenges. The High Commissioner also emphasized the need to engage with friendly foreign countries to promote trade, investment, and tourism as a means to revive the Sri Lankan economy. 

Highlighting the vibrant Indo-Lanka relations, High Commissioner Moragoda elaborated the key role played by India by way of extending much-needed financial assistance worth of nearly USD 4 billion, which served as the lifeline that rescued Sri Lanka’s economy from a total collapse. He also deliberated upon the strong defence cooperation that exists between the two countries and the continued training assistance extended to the members of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces by India, which includes over 400 monthly training opportunities.  

The High Commissioner also recalled the recently signed agreements between the two countries on the Colombo MRCC, Floating Dock and the Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft that are considered as important capacity and capability initiatives.   

High Commissioner Moragoda briefed the Defence Advisers on the strategic significance Sri Lanka holds in the Indian Ocean and highlighted some of the unique maritime security threats and challenges that Sri Lanka encounters in the Indian Ocean, and stressed the importance of having a collaborative approach towards addressing a wider spectrum of issues, especially in the maritime domain. 

Recalling the already-established defence cooperation arrangements with some of the other friendly foreign countries, the High Commissioner noted the importance of identifying newfangled areas of cooperation with the assistance of the accredited Defence Advisers in sectors such as capacity and capability building as a means of expanding defence cooperation with Sri Lanka.

This event is a continuation of a series of engagements that the High Commissioner has had with the envoys of the New Delhi-based diplomatic Missions who are concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka. 

The Office of the Defence Adviser of the High Commission of Sri Lanka acts as the nodal point in coordinating all matters pertaining to defence cooperation among the concurrently accredited Defence Advisers of 24 countries who are based in New Delhi. 

High Commission of Sri Lanka   
New Delhi 
09 February 2023
 
High Commissioner of Sri Lanka Milinda Moragoda meets the Indian Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya; seeks to deepen health sector cooperation PDF Print option in slimbox / lytebox? (info) E-mail
Wednesday, 08 February 2023 12:23
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High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India Milinda Moragoda met the Minister of Health & Family Welfare of India Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya today (08) in New Delhi. Minister Mandaviya holds the portfolio of Chemicals & Fertilizers as well.

Minister Mandaviya warmly welcomed High Commissioner Moragoda. During the discussion that followed, the Minister and the High Commissioner focused on a range of issues pertaining to health sector, including the ways and means through which the existing cooperation between Sri Lanka and India in the health sector could be broadened and deepened.

The issues discussed included obtaining assistance in expediting the process for Sri Lankan importers procuring medicines from India, effective and efficient utilization of the existing Indian line of credit to purchase essential medicines, and a possible government to government mechanism to procure medicines from India. High

Commissioner Moragoda also requested the Indian Health Minister to explore the possibility of providing post-doctoral training opportunities for Sri Lankan medical professionals in Indian medical institutions.

Further, potential opportunities for Indian companies to establish Joint Ventures and bring in investments for establishing pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities in designated zones in Sri Lanka were also discussed.

High Commissioner Moragoda also thanked Minister Mandaviya for the assistance extended by his Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers to materialize a line of credit of USD 55 million last year to purchase Sri Lanka’s requirement of urea for the Yala paddy cultivation season.

A Rajya Sabha MP from the State of Gujarat, Minister Mandaviya took charge as the Minister of Health & Family Welfare in July 2021 with the additional charge of the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers. Previously, he had served as the Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways and Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

High Commission of Sri Lanka
New Delhi

08 February 2023

 
High Commissioner Moragoda meets State Minister of External Affairs and Culture of India to discuss Geoffrey Bawa Exhibition in Delhi PDF Print option in slimbox / lytebox? (info) E-mail
Wednesday, 08 February 2023 12:13
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Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda met with the State Minister of External Affairs and Culture Meenakshi Lekhi yesterday (7) and briefed her on the activities lined up for the celebration of the 75 th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and India.

The meeting was held at the Minister’s office at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in New Delhi.

During the meeting, High Commissioner Moragoda briefed her on the activities the High Commission is planning to carry out this year to celebrate this important anniversary, in particular the exhibition titled ‘It is Essential to be There’ that features the works of Sri Lanka’s premier architect, the late Geoffrey Bawa. The High Commission is planning to hold this Exhibition at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in New Delhi next month.

High Commissioner Moragoda thanked Minister Lekhi for making available theNGMA, which comes under her charge as the Minister of State of Culture, to hold theExhibition. Minister Meenakshi Lekhi pledged all possible support to make theExhibition a success.

The High Commission has planned a series of activities to celebrate the 75 thanniversary of Sri Lanka-India diplomatic relations. As the first of these activities, itreleased the Sinhala translation of renowned Indian author Jairam Ramesh's book"The Light of Asia; the poem that defined the Buddha", at the Independence Day flaghoisting ceremony held at the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi on 04 February.

High Commission of Sri Lanka
New Delhi

08 February 2023

 
New Zealand Foreign Minister and Sri Lankan High Commissioner in New Delhi meet to discuss further cooperation PDF Print option in slimbox / lytebox? (info) E-mail
Wednesday, 08 February 2023 11:30
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Sri Lanka and New Zealand today (7) explored ways and means to further strengthen and deepen cooperation between the two countries. The discussions took place when Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in New Delhi Milinda Moragoda met with the Foreign Minister of New Zealand Nanaia Mahuta who is on an official bilateral visit to India.

The meeting between the visiting Foreign Minister of New Zealand and the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India was held today at the High Commission of New Zealand in New Delhi.

The discussion focussed on conceptual contours for a cooperation model for smaller countries in the Indian Ocean region. Further, collaboration in the dairy sector was discussed, including possible trilateral arrangements involving Indian investors. Foreign Minister Mahuta and High Commissioner Moragoda also discussed as to how New Zealand’s experience in public financial management and public sector reform could be shared with Sri Lanka. High Commissioner of New Zealand to Sri Lanka Michael Appleton, senior officials of the New Zealand Foreign Ministry and Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in New Delhi Niluka Kadurugamuwa also attended these discussions. 

Minister Nanaia Mahuta is a tribal member of Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Maniapoto andNgāti Manu and her parliamentary experience has enabled her to contribute to thecollective aspirations of Māori and all New Zealanders. In 2020, she became the firstwoman to hold the Foreign Affairs portfolio in New Zealand. Previously, she had alsobeen Minister of Local Government, and Associate Minister for Māori Development.

High Commission of Sri Lanka
New Delhi
07 February 2023
 
High Commission in New Delhi launches a Sinhala translation of Jairam Ramesh’s ‘The Light of Asia’ as it celebrates the 75th Independence Day PDF Print option in slimbox / lytebox? (info) E-mail
Monday, 06 February 2023 12:56

The Sinhala translation of renowned Indian author Jairam Ramesh's book "The Light of Asia; the poem that defined the Buddha", Budusiritha Lowata Genagiya Maha Kavyaya; Asiyawe Alokaya, published to coincide with the 75th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s Independence and the 75th anniversary of Sri Lanka- India diplomatic relations was presented to its author and the Maha Sangha at the Independence Day flag hoisting ceremony held at the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi today (4). 

The Sinhala translation, published by the Pathfinder Foundation, was presented to the author of the original work, Rajya Sabha MP and former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh and the Maha Sangha led by the General Secretary of the Mahabodhi Society of India Venerable Pelawatte Seewalee Nayaka Thero, by the translator Niluka Kadurugamuwa. 

"The Light of Asia; the poem that defined the Buddha" is a work of deep scholarship based on extensive research and serves as a biography of both the epic poem The Light of Asia and its author Sir Edwin Arnold. The book describes how the poem The Light of Asia, which is based on the life of the Buddha, captivated and inspired many iconic personalities both in India and Sri Lanka. The book is also a testimony to the strong relations between Sri Lanka and India, reinforced by the pillar of Buddhism.  

The solemn event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Independence of Sri Lanka commenced with the hoisting of the National Flag by Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda, followed by the rendering of the National Anthem. A special feature of the event was that the National Anthem of Sri Lanka was sung by staff members of the High Commission, including six Indian nationals. 

High Commissioner Moragoda also garlanded the bronze bust of Sir Don Baron Jayatilaka, the first Representative of Sri Lanka to India, which was installed in the High Commission premises last November to mark the 80th anniversary of Sri Lanka sending her first diplomatic representative to India.

Multi religious observances, representing four major religions in Sri Lanka were conducted and Independence Day messages by the President, Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs were read in all three languages at the ceremony.

At the end of the ceremony, President of Indo-Sri Lanka International Buddhist Association in Sarnath, Varanasi Venerable Dr. K. Siri Sumedha Thero, on behalf of the Buddhist societies, temples, monasteries, and institutions situated in sacred Buddhist sites in India and the Sri Lankan Dharmaduta monks presented a memento to High Commissioner Moragoda marking the 75th anniversary of Independence.

High Commission of Sri Lanka 
New Delhi
04 February 2023
 


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