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Saturday, 05 June 2010 01:34 |
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“Those of you who are keen to explore, will find abundant opportunities for investment in Sri Lanka. The scope is immense: from infrastructure, to agri-business, to manufacturing and to a range of services. You will also find that our country offers a rare package of skills, capacity, and a willingness to learn and adapt. Our policy is vibrant, our package is enticing and exciting, and you would do well to join us in our forward march. I earnestly invite you to do so,” said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the Business Forum organized jointly by the Indian and Sri Lankan Chambers of Commerce in Colombo today, to coincide with the IIFA Awards Weekend.
Among the highlights of the President’s address to a large gathering of leading investors from India and Sri Lanka were :
• The world business community is now slowly but surely, acknowledging and appreciating Sri Lanka’s major successes in the economic sphere, though not much reported in the media.
• The relationship between Sri Lanka and India has been anchored in a rich heritage and is irreversible… we are now adding new spice to our relations with India and the world, with new and varied business opportunities.
• We strongly believe that to bring permanent peace there must be development. As I have often said, “there is no peace without development, and no development without peace.”
• We faced the global economic crisis bravely, and with certainty; our currency did not fluctuate unduly, and absorbed the shock of the massive global capital flight… Not a single bank or regulated financial institutions collapsed during the crisis, due to quick and well planned interventions, which built confidence. We faced all these successfully, while fighting terrorism.
• What we have achieved in terms of rehabilitation of those misled youth, and the resettlement of the IDPs, is far superior to any such exercise anywhere in the world.
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Tuesday, 01 June 2010 14:05 |
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The Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris addressing a media briefing held today (1st June 2010) on the outcome of his recent visit to the United States stated that he was very much encouraged by the US leadership’s extremely positive response towards Sri Lanka government’s initiatives since the end of the war. When Minister Peiris had expressed appreciations for the recent removal of the US travel warning on Sri Lanka, Secretary Clinton had observed that it was a vote of confidence in Sri Lanka as well as a reflection on the safe and secure environment.
The Minister stated that following the two national elections which produced resounding electoral mandates for the government, the US has expressed confidence about the democratic process and the political leadership of Sri Lanka. The Minister pointed out that the US political culture is characterised by respect for democratic electoral processes. The Minister had also briefed Secretary Clinton about the revival of the democratic process that was interrupted due to terrorism in the North and the East, including holding of island wide elections. He also briefed the US side about the removal of the majority of the Emergency Regulations that were enacted during the conflict. The US side had also appreciated President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s consultations with the Tamil leadership during the ongoing political consultations.
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Friday, 28 May 2010 06:30 |
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This year’s Vesak was celebrated at the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi by the staff of the High Commission with the members of the Sri Lankan community in New Delhi, on 27 May 2010. The religious ceremony consisted of a Bodhi Puja and sermons, conducted by members of Sri Lankan and Indian Monks and Bhikkunis.
After the conclusion of the religious events, members of the High Commission staff and the members of Sri Lankan community lighted Vesak lanterns in and around the High Commission premises. The three best creations of Vesak lanterns were awarded gifts.
Earlier in the day, High Commissioner Prasad Kariyawasam participated as the Chief Guest of the Vesak Celebrations organized by the Young Men’s Bhuddhist Association of India at the Auditorium of the National Museum in New Delhi. He stressed the importance of adhering to the principles of Metta, Karuna, Muditha and Upeksha for a contended life. His address outlined the fact that Buddhism was a faith that respects and tolerates all other religions and it focuses on the human mind which is responsible for everything including making war and peace. The Lord Buddha was the greatest liberal and humanitarian who more than two thousand years ago pioneered a social revolution stating that it was action and not birth that determined one's status in life.
The High Commission staff and the members of the Sri Lankan community will participate at the Sila Programme being organized at the New Delhi Buddha Vihar, Maha Bodhi Society of India on 30 May 2010. |
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Thursday, 27 May 2010 08:30 |
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President 's message for Vesak.
Vesak Full Moon Day which marks the birth of prince Siddhartha, His Enlightenment and Parinibbana is the noblest religious event for all Buddhists. We can spend this day meaningfully by engaging in Buddhist ritual and practice.
We who observe the five precepts do not approve killing, bloodshed and torture. It brings joy to celebrate this Vesak after closing the sorrowful chapter of thirty years of bloodshed and destruction of life. It is fortunate that Buddhists now enjoy the freedom and a secure atmosphere necessary for that purpose. We must enter a
spiritual and virtuous way of life in order to sustain that joy.
A path of love (metta), compassion (karuna), sympathetic joy (muditha) and equanimity (upekkha) should be followed. Ours should be a nation which is not shortsighted but farsighted and committed to achieve consolation through patience as taught by Buddha. If delays in the past obstructed our path to Nibbana, we should learn to avoid such delay.
Yo cha pubbe pamajjithva – paccha so nappamajjathi So imang lokang pabhasethi- abha muththova chandima
- Dhammapada
“If one was heedless in the beginning but is not so afterwards, he will illuminate this world as the moon emerges through the cloud”, thus Buddha taught.
Those who live virtuous lives will not see the faults of the past and grieve in the present. Let us resolve during this Vesak Day to follow the wholesome path of Buddha with determination and relentless efforts to build a virtuous nation.
May the Triple Gem bless you! |
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Wednesday, 26 May 2010 16:55 |
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During the 16th SAARC Summit in Thimphu, Bhutan in April 2010, President Mahinda Rajapksa toured the construction site of Buddha Dordenma Statue at Kuenselphodrang in Thimphu. Pleased with the ongoing progress of the construction of the statue, and as a manifestation of Sri Lanka’s support for this project in the context of the spiritual bonds between the two countries, President Rajapaksa offered a token financial contribution towards the successful completion of the project.
The Buddha Dordenma is a 169 ft tall statue of the Shakyamuni Buddha under construction in a mountain top of Bhutan, overlooking the southern approach to Thimphu. It is situated amidst the ruins of Kuensel Phodrang, the palace of Sherab Wangchuk, the 13th Desi Druk, a former statesman of Bhutan of the 18th century. The statue, which symbolizes indestructibility, when completed is expected to house over one hundred thousand smaller Buddha Statues.
On behalf of the President of Sri Lanka, Prasad Kariyawasam, non-resident envoy of Sri Lanka to Bhutan handed over a cheque of USD 10,000/- to Ambassador of Bhutan in New Delhi. |
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