Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama indicated that Sri Lanka encourages the international community, including the UK, to channel development assistance through the Sri Lanka Government at this decisive phase in the country’s development process following the end of the conflict. The Foreign Minister made these observations during his meeting with Sir Peter Ricketts, the Permanent Under Secretary of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office at the Ministry on Wednesday 10th March. The Foreign Minister further noted that international agencies. INGOs and NGOs should be subject to a process of accountability in their disbursement of funds, and the projects carried out by these agencies should be in conformity with the genuine needs of the Sri Lankan people.

Mr. Hiroshi Inomata, Director General of the South East and South West Asian Affairs Department of the Japanese Foreign Office, paid a courtesy called on Hon. Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Foreign Affairs today (10th March 2010) at the Foreign Ministry.

I wish to share perceptions with distinguished Members of the House concerning three developments pertaining to our foreign relations that have received a fair share of media coverage. First, there was the announcement at the middle of last month that the European Union has decided to operationalize by next August the withdrawal of its GSP+ tariff concession, unless a determination to the contrary is taken within the next six months.

The Chinese Government through its funding arm the Exim Bank, concluded with Sri Lanka a Concessional Funding arrangement to construct the island’s second airport in Mattala at a cost of US $ 190 million while also pledging Concessional financing of US $ 100 million to augment the capacity of the Sri Lankan railway. Two Consessional Loan agreements were signed during a three day visit by Dr P B Jayasundera, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance of Sri Lanka and a delegation from the External Resources Department and Attorney General’s Department to Beijing from 3rd – 5th March 2010.

Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao during her official visit to Sri Lanka, called on Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama on 8th March, 2010. Mrs. Rao who is the first senior Indian official to come to Colombo after the conclusion of the Presidential Election of last January, has used her visit to reiterate the felicitations of Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh concerning President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s re-election by a decisive majority.

Sri Lanka – the Wonder of Asia, a promotional event organized in Beijing, with a rich ambiance of her culture, heritage & cuisine very confidently placed this exquisite island in the Indian Ocean, as a truly miracle destination in Asia. Spearheaded by the Embassy of Sri Lanka, this event was staged on 5th March 2010 in the prestigious China World Hotel. The tag-line for the evening was aptly introduced in keeping with the vision of President Rajapaksa, to place Sri Lanka as “the emerging wonder of Asia”. Flowing from this vision and understanding the very need to establish an iconic image to introduce Sri Lanka to the Chinese people, the event portrayed the mystique Sigiriya with its frescos as its theme.

The Indian Foreign Secretary Shrimathi Nirupama Rao who met President Mahinda Rajapaksa today congratulated the President for his resounding victory in the recent Presidential Election, said she observed that so much had taken place for the better in Sri Lanka since she was last here as High Commissioner.

“Act in keeping with principles of UN Charter on non-interference”

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has pointed out that the intention of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to appoint a panel of experts to advice him (i.e. the SG) on Sri Lanka is totally uncalled for and unwarranted.

Taking prompt action on the directive of Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama on the hijacking by Somali pirates of a Saudi Arabian vessel, ‘MV Al Nasr Al Saudi’ along with its crew members, with a majority of them reportedly being of Sri Lankan nationality, the Sri Lanka Consulate General in Jeddah has informed the Foreign Ministry that the Consulate has been assured by the shipping company of the vessel that every effort was being taken to secure the release of crew members in the hijacked ship, including thirteen crew members of Sri Lankan nationality.

Tuesday, 2nd March, the iconic Time Warner Center in New York witnessed a rare opportunity, where a spicy Sri Lankan feast enticing a large gathering of top executives from the American corporate world. The unique culinary evening, staged by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington D.C. follows a week-long Sri Lanka food promotions held at the World Bank. Joined with the Embassy in hosting this unprecedented event were Restaurant Associates (RA), a leading caterer with operations over hundreds of prestigious locations across the United States and the national carrier, Sri Lankan Airlines.