High Commission of Sri Lanka in India

On the invitation of Indian Minister of Environment & Forests Jairam Ramesh, Minister of Environment Anura Priyadarshana Yapa participated at the Elephant – 8 Ministerial Meet held in New Delhi on 24th May 2011.

Elephant – 8 Ministerial Meeting was an initiative of the Government of India and Ministerial and senior government level representatives from 8 major elephant range countries namely, Botswana, Congo, Indonesia, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Thailand besides the host country participated. It is a precursor to a larger International Forum India intends to host in 2013.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Yapa said that the elephant was intrinsic to the Sri Lanka’s culture, religious beliefs, history, mythology and politics as well. The elephant is of special importance to both Buddhists and Hindus in Sri Lanka. The Island has a sizeable population of 6000 elephants. As of present the Government of Sri Lanka has set aside 14% of the land of the Island as Protected Areas for the conservation of wildlife.

The Government of Sri Lanka, mindful of the need to ensure the long term survival of the elephant had prepared a “National Policy for the Conservation and Management of Wild Elephants in Sri Lanka” in 2006 that would facilitate the co-existence of both man and elephant. Through this policy, it introduced the establishment of Elephant Conservation Areas (ECA) and Managed Elephant Reserves (MER), where elephant conservation need not come into conflict with human activities. In 2009, the Government of Sri Lanka introduced the “Gaja Mithuro” (Friends of Elephants) programme mainly to mitigate the human – elephant conflict. Sri Lanka has established an Elephant Orphanage – the only one of its kind in the world – where current over 80 elephants rescued from the wild are being cared for. In addition, Sri Lanka has also established the Elephants Transit Home – another unique initiative that is found nowhere else in the Range States – where abandoned or orphaned elephant calves are rescued, rehabilitated and re-introduced back to their habitat in the wild.

The Minister also attended the launch of the UN Decade on Biodiversity for Asia & Pacific which was held in New Delhi, during his visit to India.

The Minister was accompanied by High Commissioner Prasad Kariyawasam, Mr. B.K.U.A. Wickramasinghe, Secretary, Ministry of Agrarian Services and Wildlife and other senior officials from the Ministry of Economic Development and the Wildlife Department of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka celebrated the 150th　Birth Anniversary celebrations of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore with a series of events. The Government of Sri Lanka released a special postal stamp in the denomination of Rupees 5 and a First Day Cover commemorating Rabindranath Tagore, which was a befitting homage to the towering personality who straddled the world of literature, art, music and intellectual discourse　and contributed in a very meaningful manner to the cultural renaissance of India, Sri Lanka and other countries of Asia.　

On this occasion, a commemorative volume "Remembering Rabindranath Tagore", containing a compilation of articles in English, Sinhala and Tamil written by Sri Lankan and Indian writers, which highlight the poetic, philosophical and cultural expressions of Gurudev Tagore and their relevance in　the contemporary world was also released. It was published by University of Colombo with the support of India-Sri Lanka Foundation.　

President Mahinda Rajapaksa contributed towards the celebrations by sending a special message for the commemorative volume. Gurudev Tagore enjoyed a strong association with Sri Lanka and he had visited the Island-nation thrice in 1922, 1928 and 1934. During his third visit, Tagore laid the foundation stone for the Sri Palee University on similar lines with the Santhiniketha in India founded by philanthropist Wilmat A Perera.

Hemasiri Fernando, Secretary, Ministry of Postal Services of the Government of Sri Lanka released the special postal stamp in the denomination of Rupees 5 and the First Day Cover commemorating Rabindranath Tagore.

The Amar-Daya Foundation featured a classical musical extravaganza on Rabindra Sangeeth the same day. Sri Palee students performed several cultural activities in honour of the university's founding father.

The other events scheduled to mark the Tagore Anniversary include staging of the play "Shap Mochan", which was staged by Tagore during his 1934 visit, in Sri Lanka in November this year by famous Manipuri dancer Bimbavati Devi and her 21 member troupe sponsored by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.

Exchange of visits between Sri Palee and Santiniketan and an exhibition of Tagore’s paintings will also be organized in Sri Lanka later this year along with a photo exhibition on the life and travels of Tagore.　

To pay homage to Tagore, the Sri Palee campus will organise screening of documentaries on Tagore made by the students of Sri Palee and talks on Tagore will be delivered by Prof. Walter Marasinghe and Dr.　 Premadasa Mudunkotuwa.

Other events planned during the year to commemorate 150th　Birth Anniversary of Tagore in Sri Lanka include a festival of films based on the novels and stories of Tagore such as ‘Agantuk’, ‘Pather Panchali’, ‘Charulatha’, ‘Ghare Baire’ and ‘Teen Kanya’ and　 an essay competition in Sinhala, English and Tamil on Tagore for 　undergraduate students in the universities in Sri Lanka.

A research by scholars on the three visits of Tagore to Sri Lanka in 1922, 1928 and 1934 and the impact of Tagore’s visit in the cultural renaissance within Sri Lanka will also be undertaken later this year.

Earlier this year a debate on "In Tagore’s philosophy of education aesthetic development is as important as the intellectual" between the University of Delhi and Colombo University was held at the International Relations Department of the University of Delhi. High Commissioner Prasad Kariyawasam was the Chief Guest at the Debate.

Minister Peiris explained that publication of this report, which is not an official U.N. document, will inflict great damage on the reconciliation process in Sri Lanka, especially at a time when the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission of Sri Lanka is continuing with its work and has not yet submitted its report.

Prof. Peiris also informed Oman’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, of the reasons why any action based on the panel report, which was described as being entirely advisory, is demonstrably contrary to principle, and therefore unacceptable.

Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, responding to his Sri Lankan counterpart, expressed the view that it is inappropriate to embark on any course of action which would have the effect of impeding the healing of wounds and the forging of a national consciousness of unity and solidarity, soon after Sri Lanka had emerged from a painful conflict.　 He said that it is important to await the report of the local mechanism which Sri Lanka had set up, and consider the report objectively.　 He told Minister Peiris that the Sultanate of Oman would request the U.N Secretariat not to proceed to publication of the panel report at this time.

The Foreign Minister of Oman agreed that this had resulted in considerable benefits not only for Sri Lanka but for peace and stability in the region, as a whole.

Prof. Peiris requested Minister Alawi bin Abdullah to bring Sri Lanka’s views to the attention of the other countries comprising the　Gulf Co-operation Council.

Embassy of Sri Lanka
Muscat
24 April 2011

From ancient days the great cultural festival of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year has brought satisfaction and joy to the vast majority of our people. It is a festival that pays homage to the Sun for the strength given to the land and people and is also the annual harvest festival that echoes the achievements of the rural people.

We celebrate this New Year at a time when production is progressing rapidly in agriculture and all other areas of development. It is also a time when all enjoy the freedom achieved in our motherland. Therefore, this New Year will help bring a renewal in spirit and new expectations to the people about future progress.

The New Year traditions coming down through centuries add to the joy of celebration. We can give this joy to future generations by making our children aware of its importance in our way of life.

We must create every opportunity for our children who cherish the New Year festivities to join in observing the many rituals and traditions that are associated with it. Therefore, to ensure the safety and joy of our children in celebrating this event, I appeal to you all to keep away from all intoxicants during this festive season. I trust this will contribute to bringing its joy closer the children and women of our country.

I extend my deep gratitude to the members of the Armed Forces, Police and Civil Defence Corps, as well as all employees of the State and Private Sector who have made a commitment to be at their posts during the festive season.

I wish you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year!