Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka Akira Sujiama called on Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and expressed his gratitude for the solidarity shown by Sri Lanka by participating in this year’s Olympic Game s in Tokyo, Japan. The meeting took place at the Foreign Ministry on 9th August.
State Minister of Regional Cooperation Tharaka Balasuriya, speaking at the 28th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) held virtually on 6 August 2021, emphasised Sri Lanka’s commitment for enhanced cooperation with the ARF. The State Minister Balasuriya appreciated the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) for the initiatives to empower youth, sustainable use of ocean resources and promoting successful ocean based trading system, as well as combating and preventing cybercrime in the context of developing a digital economy through a collective mechanism. Sri Lanka further expressed its commitment to work in tandem with ARF and contribute, with a focused effort, to promote ideas and best practices. State Minister of Regional Cooperation Tharaka Balasuriya represented Sri Lanka at the meeting which was chaired by the Foreign Minister of Brunei Darussalam Dato Erywan Yusof.
The Government of New Zealand with the concurrence of the Government of Sri Lanka has appointed Mr. Michael Edward Appleton as the first High Commissioner of New Zealand to Sri Lanka based in Colombo. He has presented credentials to H.E. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President of
Sri Lanka on 22 July 2021 at 10.30 a.m. at President’s House, Colombo 01.
Foreign Ministry, Colombo. 22 July, 2021
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has extended the validity period Special Deposit Accounts (SDA) until 07 April 2022. SDAs can be opened as fixed deposits with Licensed Commercial Banks and National Savings Bank of Sri Lanka, by any Sri Lankan individual resident in or outside Sri Lanka, dual citizens, citizens of other states with Sri Lankan origin, non-nationals resident in or outside Sri Lanka, funds, corporate bodies, and associations incorporated/registered outside Sri Lanka and any other persons as permitted by Foreign Exchange Regulations. Banks offer SDAs attractive interest rates with additional 2 percentage points over normal foreign currency fixed deposits.
The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Alaina Teplitz, called on Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena 13 July. Foreign Minister Gunawardena thanked the government and people of the United States for the assistance extended to combat COVID-19 pandemic and to mitigate the environmental and socio-economic impact of the MV X-Press Pearl disaster. He particularly appreciated U.S. government for sending emergency medical supplies such as PPEs and oximeters through the USAID as well as vaccines through the COVAX programme.