Category Press Release

Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission celebrated the 75th Anniversary of Independence of Sri Lanka on 04^th February, 2023 at the Chancery premises. The event commenced with the hoisting of the national flag. National anthem was sung in Sinhala as well as Tamil language. Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Islam religious observances were made during the event. The Sri Lankan community living in South India participated at the event.

Pongal, the four days long harvesting festival is celebrated as a thanksgiving event to thank the Sun God (Surya), Lord Indra, mother nature and farm animals that help in the harvest. It is celebrated in the month of January (Thai) during the solar equinox. It is widely celebrated in Tamil Nadu and by Tamil people across the globe, during which the Sun is worshipped as the source of life, allowing for the growth of good harvest that provides food, prosperity, wealth & happiness. The Deputy High Commission organised the Pongal celebration on January 13, 2023 (Friday) at the Chancery premises with boiling of milk in a clay pot, preparation of sweet Pongal and performed pooja to invoke happiness, prosperity in abundance for the people of Sri Lanka. Mission staff and their family members participated at the event.

The Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission in Chennai officially commenced work for the year 2023 on 02 January 2023. Accordingly, the programme commenced at 9.00 am with hoisting of the National Flag by Dr. D. Venkateshwaran, Deputy High Commissioner followed by singing of the National Anthem of Sri Lanka. Two minutes silence was observed to commemorate the war heroes and all others who sacrificed their lives on behalf of our motherland. Thereafter, all staff members jointly recited the ‘Oath/Affirmation of Public Servants’ in Sinhala, Tamil and English languages. The Deputy High Commissioner while addressing the staff of the Mission reiterated the sentiments expressed by H. E. the President on his New Year Message on overcoming present challenges and the contribution of the public servants in achieving objectives. The Deputy High Commissioner also highlighted the importance of government service in nation building and working together as a team to produce better outcomes.

The Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka for Southern India celebrated Christmas on December 16, 2022 at the Chancery premises. The Christmas message and the prayers were delivered by Rev. V. S. Vijayakumar. Mr. B. H. Abdul Hameed, world famous Tamil anchor was invited as a Special Guest by the Deputy High Commissioner Dr. D. Venkateshwaran. Lutheran Men’s Voice, an all male choir was invited as the Chief Guest for the event. The Mission invited teachers & students of C.S.I. Puthuir Special School in Chennai to share the joy of Christmas. Christmas Carols by invited students, Lutheran Men’s Voice, Mission staff and their family members were performed at the event.

The Deputy High Commission conducted its 20th Consular Camp on 14 December 2022. Hon. Piyal Nishantha de Silva, State Minister of Fisheries handed over the Consular Birth Certificates and Citizenship Certificates to the beneficiaries. Sri Lankan expatriates from 18 Rehabilitation Camps across Tamil Nadu attended the event.

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Dr. D. Venkateshwaran, the Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Chennai had organized a get-together at his official residences on 11^th November, 2022 for all heads of Diplomatic Mission based in Chennai, with the intention to share the joy and happiness of Diwali among the Diplomatic Corps. Apart from the heads of Diplomatic Mission, the Head of the Branch Secretariat, Ministry of External Affairs, Chennai, Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, Chennai and Head of the Field office – Chennai, UNHCR were also invited for the event. Deputy High Commissioner welcomed all the guests with a special thank for participation, under the critical weather condition prevailing in Chennai these days. Further, he marked this as an opportunity for participants to have an idea on the Sri Lankan culture. A cocktail followed by a dinner comprised of Sri Lankan delicacies was also served at the event.

Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a festival celebrated throughout India and worldwide by Hindu communities as well as by Jain and Sikh communities. During this festival, homes, temples and work spaces are illuminated with oil lamps, candles and lanterns. Diwali is also marked with fireworks and the decoration of floors with Kolam designs. Food is a major focus with families partaking in feasts and sharing sweets (mithai). The festival is an annual bonding period not only for families, but also for communities and associations. Marking this, Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka in Southern India had organized a Diwali Night on 28.10.2022 at the Chancery Premises. Staff and the family members of the Deputy High Commission, Bank of Ceylon, Srilankan Airlines in Chennai, Sri Lanka Friendship Association in Southern India, well-wishers, leading business figures and celibrities in Southern India participated this event. As this is the first public event organized by the Mission after the Covid-19 outbreak in Tamil Nadu, Dr. D. Venkateshwaran, the Deputy High Commissioner, delivered a brief account on the progress that Mission has achieved since 2021. Additionally, he accepted a donation of books from S. Ve. Shekher, a South Indian actor, director, screenwriter and politician. Cultural events were performed by the staff and family members of Deputy High Commission and Bank of Ceylon. Event concluded with a dinner which included Sri Lankan and South Indian delicacies.

Ayudha Pooja is a Hindu festival that is traditionally celebrated in India. It may be translated to “worship of Instruments”. In this festival, various types of equipment and tools including vehicles are revered by the people. This Puja is considered a meaningful custom, which focuses specific attention to one’s profession and its related tools and connotes that a divine force is working behind it to perform well and for getting the proper reward. Saraswati (the Goddess of wisdom, arts and literature), Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth) and Parvati (the divine mother), are also being worshipped in this pooja. Marking a blend between Sri Lankan and Indian cultures, Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission in Chennai celebrated Ayudha Pooja on 07th October, 2022. In this Pooja, all vehicles and equipment used by the staff of the Deputy High Commission were revered.

On the invitation of Ven. Nugagolle Chandraratne Thera, the Chief Incumbent of the Chennai Mahabodhi Centre, Dr. D. Venkateshwaran, the Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Southern India and Mr. Arjuna Ranatunga, former Minister and the Chairman of Sri Lanka National Sports Council, participated the reopening of Mahabodhi Centre in Chennai on Saturday, 24th September. Mahabodhi Centre, the old Sanghavasa and the Buddha Mandiraya, which was closed for nearly three years due to Covid 19 pandemic situation, is now reopen for the convenience and services of the Sri Lankan pilgrims. Venerable mahasanga from Sanchi, Lumbini as well as from Southern India, Buddhist devotees and Sri Lankan community around Chennai also participated in this event.

The Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment has issued Circular No.02/2022 of 31 August 2022 on the scheme to grant permits to import electric vehicles by the Sri Lankans working abroad . The circular outlines the conditions, criteria, and operational procedures with respect to the scheme.

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Press Release – LankaRemit(E) revised

Common Eligibility Requirements 

• Candidates with results at a foreign examination held outside Sri Lanka, deemed equivalent to G.C.E (Advanced Level) Examination of Sri Lanka or qualifications required for admission to a university in an applicant’s own country to follow an undergraduate course of study leading to a Bachelor’s Degree.

Closing date 31^st October 2022

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A familiarization program for South Indian media, to promote ‘The Murugan Trail’ in Sri Lanka,  has been organized and facilitated by Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission in Chennai in collaboration with Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, from 03^rd to 11^th August 2022.

The utmost objective of this program is to promote and publicize mainly Katharagama Esala Festival among the south Indian tourists which is being held in this auspicious month. In parallel to this event other elegance cultural events such as Esala Perahera in Kandy and Nallur Festival in Jaffna, which is held in the same month, will also be promoted.

Kataragama Esala Festival is held annually in July or August at the Kataragama Ancient Temple, to pay homage to Lord Murugan. Kataragama Esala Perehera (Procession) held at the nights of the festive season with traditional dancers, kawadi dancers, drummers, fire walkers, elephants, and many other religious rituals, is known as one of the most elegant & spectacular historical-cultural pageants in Sri Lanka.

For the first time, six renowned media houses in south India, both print and electronic, including ‘The Hindu’, ‘Behindwoods’, ‘News 07 Tamil’, ‘Vikatan’, ‘News 18’, ‘TV 09’ and ‘Madhura Digital Media’ departed to Sri Lanka on 03^rd August for a 09 days visit. During the visit, the delegation is travelling to cover historically and culturally important destinations and events in all around the country especially in Colombo, Jaffna, Anuradhapura, Dambulla, Kandy and Katharagama. Moreover, Kataharagama Esala festival is being scheduled to be broadcast live by a few of them.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry assumed duties at the Ministry today (25 July, 2022) at a simple ceremony. Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane and the senior officials were present.  Addressing the officials, Minister Ali Sabry stated that he looked forward to delivering on the mandate of the Ministry to steer forward Sri Lanka’s foreign relations, taking the domestic compulsions too into consideration. He commended the outgoing Minister Prof G L Peiris for his leadership provided to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Minister Sabry was appointed a Member of Parliament in 2020. Minister Ali Sabry served as the Minister of Justice since 12 August 2020, until he was appointed the Finance Minister on 4 April, 2022. As the Minister of Justice he launched many new initiatives including the wide-ranging reforms into the Sri Lankan justice sector with the justice sector reform programme to amend over hundred laws, some of which have not been changed in over a century. Minister Ali Sabry also initiated the digitization drive of the justice sector, the expansion of courthouses across the country and the introduction of specialized courthouses to address the issue of delays.

As the Finance Minister he led the Sri Lankan delegation for the recent negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington D.C. Prior to his entry into politics Minister Ali Sabry was a practicing lawyer with many of the cases he handled appearing in law reports and publications. He was appointed a President’s Counsel in 2012 and was awarded the Outstanding Young Person of The Year for Achievement in Law in 2009. He has also served as Sri Lanka’s Consul General in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 1997.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Colombo

25 July, 2022

Full Media Release 

The High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi together with the Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka in Chennai and the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Mumbai intend to collect information pertaining to Sri Lankan students who are currently studying in India in order to update the relevant databases. This would enable the Sri Lankan Missions/Posts to reach out to Sri Lankan students and provide assistance whenever necessary.The Sri Lankan Missions/Posts in India request the Sri Lankan students to register themselves using the following links as per the State/Union Territory where they are currently studying/living:

1. Eastern, Northern and Central States of India (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal) and Union Territories of Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Andaman and Nicobar Islands – Fill the Form 
2. Southern States of India (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana) and Union Territory of Pondicherry – Fill the Form 
3. Western States of India (Goa, Gujarat, and Maharashtra) – Fill the Form 

Sri Lankan Missions/Posts in India kindly invite all Sri Lankan students studying in India to register themselves on these digital platforms.

Dr. D. Venkateshwaran, the Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Chennai met Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan, Hon. Chief Minister of Kerala and Mr. Arif Mohammad Khan, the Governor of Kerala on 30.06.2022 at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. In the meeting with the Chief Minister, held at Kerala Legislative Assembly building, Deputy High Commissioner stressed the historical cultural bond, biogeographic similarity between Sri Lanka & Kerala, while highlighting the assistance given by the India to Sri Lanka in hard times. Further, Deputy High Commissioner requested the Chief Minister to ‘Support Sri Lanka’ in this critical juncture which the Chief Minister acknowledged and agreed to seek the possibility to assist Sri Lanka. The Meeting with the Governor was held at Raj Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram. As the Governor is, by virtue, the Chancellor of all Universities in State of Kerala, discussions were focused on possible education, technical & scientific collaborations between Kerala and Sri Lankan Universities as well as scholarships for Sri Lankan Students in Kerala Universities.

A special consular camp was conducted on 21.06.2022 at the Chancery Premises, Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission in Chennai and issued 262 Citizenship Certificates and 26 Birth Certificates for Sri Lankans in Thoppukkollai in Pudukkottai District, Moongilurani in Sivagangai District, Chinnar Dam in Dharmapuri District, Enjampalli & Arachalur in Erode District.

Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission accepted 1000 vials of IV Fluconazole on 13.06.2022, donated by a group of Sri Lankans living in Canada, United States and Australia. Funds for this donation has been raised through a private fundraiser event conducted in Canada. Considering the close proximity to Sri Lanka, funds have been transferred to Chennai, India, to buy the medicine and dispatch it to Sri Lanka. It is scheduled to be transported to Colombo via Srilankan Airlines and will be handed over to the Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama. In connection, Deputy High Commission expresses its gratitude for all the donors who contributed in this regard, Abans Facility Management India Pvt. Ltd, for assistance in coordination, Health Ministry – Sri Lanka for necessary clearances and Srilankan Airlines, Chennai Office, for undertaking the delivery of cargo to Colombo, free of charge.