High Commission of Sri Lanka in India

The Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka Chamal Rajapaksa, visiting India with a delegation of Parliamentarians at the invitation of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Meira Kumar, called on the President of India, Her Excellency Smt. Pratibha Patil, on 2 August at the Rashtrapathi Bhavan. The Speaker was accompanied by Ministers Dinesh Gunawardena, W.D.J. Senewiratne, Risad Badhiutheen, Deputy Minister Muthu Sivalingam, MPs Rajiva Wijesinha, Malani Fonseka and Selvam Adaikkalanathan, Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Kitulgoda and High Commissioner Prasad Kariyawasam.

The Official Visit commenced on 1 August with the delegation paying respects to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. This was followed by visits to the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on the first day of the Monsoon Session of the Indian Parliament. Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa and the delegation were received by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha with official announcements in both Houses.

The delegation called on the Speaker of the Lok Sabha Meira Kumar, Vice President of India and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Hamid Ansari, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Water Resources Pawan Kumar Bansal and the Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj.

The delegation met and interacted with the President and members of the India-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Indian Parliament, several other MPs and Indian and foreign media personnel, at the Residence of the High Commissioner.

The visit, manifesting the strengthening of relations between the two countries at all levels, provided an opportunity for the delegation to brief their counterparts and the media on progress in resettlement, rehabilitation and restoration of livelihoods in the post conflict phase. The delegation discussed with their counterparts, the importance of regular interactions and visits to each other’s countries to share best practices and learn from each other.

The formation of the India-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group in the 15^th Lok Sabha has been announced. The announcement coincides with the bilateral visit to India by the Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament, Hon. Chamal Rajapaksa, with a group of Parliamentarians comprising Ministers Dinesh Gunawardena, W.D.J. Senewiratne and Risad Badhiutheen and MPs Muthu Sivalingam, Rajiva Wijesinha, Malani Fonseka, Selvam Adaikkalanathan and D.M. Swaminandan.

The India-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Indian Parliament comprises Members from both Houses, the Lok Sabha (the House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (the Council of States) representing a cross-section of political parties. Following established practice in the Indian Parliament, the group comprises exclusively of Members of Parliament who do not hold cabinet portfolios.

Shri Kumar Deepak Das, a Rajya Sabha MP representing the Asom Gono Parishad, serves as the President of the 22 member Group. The Group comprises MPs from the Indian National Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party, Biju Janata Dal, Bahujan Samaj Party, Janata Dal (United), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Telugu Desam Party, All India Democratic United Front, Bahujan Vikas Aaghadi, Shiromani Akali Dal, All India Trinamool Congress as well as one Independent MP.

The Members of the Group are scheduled to meet the Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament and delegation on 2 August in the Parliament House of India. High Commissioner Prasad Kariyawasam will host a Reception at the Sri Lanka High Commission to celebrate the formation of the Group and to welcome Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa and the delegation. Several Members of the Indian Parliament, especially from Tamil Nadu, and local and international media personnel will attend the Reception.

The formation of this Group in the Indian Parliament is an important step in forging stronger ties between the Indian Parliamentarians and their Sri Lankan counterparts. This will provide an opportunity for greater interaction between the Parliamentarians of the two countries and for visits leading to better understanding and appreciation of prospects, challenges and opportunities for exploring solutions to common problems.

High Commissioner for Sri Lanka to India, H.E. Prasad Kariyawsam, called on the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu the Hon. J. Jayalalithaa, at the Office of the Chief Minister in Chennai on 21 July 2011. The High Commissioner was accompanied by the Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Chennai, V. Krishnamoorthy. The Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu Debendranath Sarangi and other senior officials were also present at the meeting. 

The Ministry of External Affairs and Bandaranaike Center for International Studies (BCIS) of Sri Lanka celebrated the 50th Anniversary Non-Aligned Movement held in Colombo at the BCIS auditorium on 21st of July 2011.

A special Commemorative Stamp and First Day Cover was issued to mark this special occasion with the presence of President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Temple Trees, Colombo.

The commemorative event under the theme “NAM – Half a Century of Achievement: Our Common Vision for the future” began with welcome speech by External Affairs Minister, Prof. G. L. Peiris with the presence of Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne as the Chief Guest. A host of distinguished guests including parliamentarians, members of the diplomatic corps, academics, media were presented in this event.

The programme also featured screening of a documentary film on “Celebrating 50 years of the NAM”, a keynote addressed by Mr. Nihal Rodrigo former Foreign Secretary and former SAARC Secretary General under the theme “Sri Lanka and 50 years of the NAM: Change & Continuity, as well as a mini exhibition of photographs illustrating Sri Lanka’s contribution to the NAM.

Those who wish to obtain the Commemorative Stamp and First Day Cover, may contact Director, Postal Bureau, Postal Headquarters Colombo 01000. Tel: 011 4927248, 011 2326163, 011 2328301.