News
Moragodage Christopher Walter Pinto passes away
The Foreign Ministry announces with deep sorrow the passing away of Mr. Moragodage Christopher Walter Pinto, famously known as Mr. Chris Pinto, on 21 July, 2022, in the Hague, Netherlands. Mr. Pinto was the first Legal Advisor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who established the Legal Division of the Ministry in 1967.
Mr. Pinto was a legal scholar recognized both locally and internationally. He read law at the University of Sri Lanka, Peradeniya, and the Sri Lanka Law College, and passed out as an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka and specialized in international law at Magdalene College, Cambridge University.
Some of the key posts he held were: 1967-76 Legal Adviser and Head of the Legal Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1976-80 Sri Lanka Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Austria, 1968-69 Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN Conference on the Law of Treaties, Vienna, 1967-80 Representative of Sri Lanka in the Sixth (Legal) Committee of the UN General Assembly, 1968-82 Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN Sea-bed Committee and to the Third UN Conference on the Law of the Sea and was the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Delegation 1980-81, 1971-75 Chairman of the Conference’s Negotiating Group of the Whole on the international regime for the seabed beyond national jurisdiction, 1973-81 Member of the UN International Law Commission and Chairman of the Commission 1980.
Secretary-General of the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal, 1982 – 2011.
An Arbitrator, appointed by the Government of Sri Lanka to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, to the List of Arbitrators and the List of Conciliators maintained by the International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (World Bank), as well as to the List of Arbitrators maintained pursuant to Annex VII, and the List of Conciliators maintained pursuant to Annex V, of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.Member of the CIETAC (China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission) Panel of Arbitrators.
Served as international arbitrator under the auspices of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, and as president in an arbitration between two Asian countries under Annex VII to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.Member of the Institute de Droit International (since 1989) Member of the International Law Association (since 1994)Member of the Board of Trustees of the International Ocean Institute (Halifax, Canada/Malta), Visiting Professor at the World Maritime University, Malmö, Sweden, directed for several years the general course on the Law of the Sea.
Co-founder of the Foundation for the Development of International Law in Asia.Founding Co-Editor of the Asian Yearbook of International Law.Member of the Advisory Councils of the Asian Yearbook of International Law, the Asian Journal of International Law, the Korean Journal of International and Comparative Law, and the Sri Lanka Journal of International Law.Mr. Pinto’s demise is a great loss to Sri Lanka as a nation and also to the international legal field in which Mr. Pinto distinguished himself both as a Member and Chairman of the International law Commission of the United Nations.
May Mr. Pinto’s soul rest in peace!
The second day of the “Vesak Bhakti Gee Saraniya”, held in parallel with the “Buddha Rashmi Vesak Kalapaya” jointly organized by the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple, the Presidential Secretariat and the Prime Minister’s Office, commenced on Tuesday (13) at 6:30 p.m. under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, at the Presidential Secretariat premises.
The evening featured musical performances by renowned vocalist Ilyas Beg and the Sri Lanka Air Force Bhakti Gee Troup, accompanied by the Air Force Band. A Vesak lantern exhibition was also held at the venue. The event was attended by the Chief Incumbent of Gangaramaya Temple Venerable Dr. Kirinde Assaji Thero, along with several senior officials of the Presidential Secretariat.
This Bhakthi Gee programme will continue today [May 14] and tomorrow at the same location. Additionally, a short-eats dansala is being held near the Presidential Secretariat for the benefit of the public visiting Colombo for Vesak, and will continue until May 16.
Meanwhile, a ‘Buth Dansala’ organized jointly by the Presidential Secretariat and the Sri Lanka Army was inaugurated yesterday near the Presidential Secretariat, with the participation of senior military officers. A large number of devotees from across the country attended the event.
In line with the ‘Buddha Rashmi’ and ‘Bauddhaloka Vesak Kalapya’, several Vesak programmes have been organized in the vicinity with the support of the Presidential Secretariat. These include the illumination of nearby government buildings and roads with decorative lights, and the display of Vesak lanterns, with the active participation of the Presidential Secretariat staff.
[PMD]
The French Navy Ship ‘BEAUTEMPS BEAUPRE’ which arrived in Sri Lanka on a goodwill visit (09 May 25), departed the island on Tuesday (13 May).
The Sri Lanka Navy bade customary farewell to the departing ship at the Port of Colombo, following naval traditions.
During the ship’s stay in Colombo, crew members of ‘BEAUTEMPS BEAUPRE’ visited some tourist attractions in the country. In addition, the Commanding Officer and a group of
crew members of the ship called on senior officers of the Sri Lanka National Hydrographic Office (SLNHO) to discuss key hydrographic matters of bilateral importance.
News
“Clean Sri Lanka” joins hands to Improve facilities and sanitation at Kotmale Regional Hospital
Following the bus accident in the Garandiella area of Kotmale, a large number of injured individuals were admitted to the Kotmale Regional Hospital for treatment. In response, the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme has collaborated to improve the facilities and sanitation of the hospital.
Accordingly, the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme actively worked to clean the hospital ward complex and the hospital premises, aiming to create a comfortable environment for the patients’ treatment and to enhance other facilities.
A notable aspect was the voluntary participation of the local community in this effort. The “Clean Sri Lanka” secretariat appreciates the dedication shown by the doctors and hospital staff of the Kotmale Regional Hospital, who provided emergency treatment to those injured in this unexpected incident despite having access to limited resources.
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