News
SL Ambassador to the Netherlands assumes duties
The newly-appointed Ambassador-designate of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Rekha Gunasekera assumed duties at the Embassy of Sri Lanka in the Netherlands last Friday (10). Her assumption of duties was marked by a simple ceremony organised by the embassy staff.
In her address to the staff, the Ambassador-designate referred to the longstanding, historical and vibrant bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the need to further elevate trade, investment, and tourism ties, as well as cultural cooperation. On the multilateral aspect, she stressed the need to increase cooperation with the OPCW as well as other international organizations in The Hague.
Ambassador-designate Rekha Gunasekera, an officer of the Sri Lanka Foreign Service, has served in various portfolios during her career spanning 21 years. She most recently served as the Director General, United Nations and Human Rights of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She has experience in both bilateral and multilateral affairs having served at the country’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, the Lankan Embassy in Beijing and our High Commission in London.
Ambassador-designate Gunasekera has a Bachelor of Science (First Class, Honours) from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, and a Master’s degree in International Relations (Peace and Conflict Studies) from the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Japan. She is the winner of the prestigious Professor Stanley Wijesundera Memorial Gold Medal for Bio- Chemistry & Molecular Biology in 1999.
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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