Sri Lanka widens diplomatic ties
The Government has taken steps to
establish diplomatic relations with a number of
countries including Suriname and Burkina Faso. The
establishment of friendly relations with these countries
will greatly improve the existing ties and enhance
cooperation with friendly countries. Agreements in this
regard were signed by the Sri Lanka government with the
two countries that are mutually beneficial to all. A new
honourary consul has also been appointed in Durban,
South Africa.
Honourary Consul in South Africa
 Mr. Harish Mehta has been appointed as
Sri Lanka's first Honorary Consul in Durban by the
Ministry of External Affairs. His new appointment will
give him responsibilities covering the provinces KwaZulu
- Natal and Eastern Cape. Sri Lanka High Commissioner in
Pretoria Shehan Ratnavale presented the commission
letter and exequatur on behalf of the Ministry to Mr.
Mehta on November 08.
Mr. Mehta, a Chairman of a large
conglomerate will assist the High Commission in Pretoria
to establish links with the city and provinces under his
purview.
Durban is situated 636km from the
capital Pretoria, and is the 3rd largest city in South
Africa and has the busiest container port. Some Sri
Lankan companies are already engaged in business
ventures in Durban.
The appointment of a new consul will
help to further enhance the existing ties between the
two countries and also open up new avenues of business
and trade.
Diplomatic relations with Suriname
established
 Sri Lanka has established diplomatic
ties with the Republic of Suriname with effect from
November 16.
Suriname is a country in northern
South America. It has as its neighbors French Guiana,
Guyana and Brazil. It faces the Atlantic Ocean to the
north. Suriname achieved independence from the Kingdom
of the Netherlands on 25 November 1975. The coastal city
Paramaribo is the capital of this South American nation.
An agreement into this effect was
signed between Sri Lanka's Permanent epresentative to
the UN Ambassador Dr. Palitha Kohona and Ambassador and
Permanent Representative of Suriname to the United
Nations Henry Leonard Mac-Donald recently.
Sri Lanka and Suriname Share many
common goals at the United Nations. The establishment of
diplomatic ties between the two countries will assist to
enhance the friendly relations and cooperation for
mutual benefit.
The two Ambassadors agreed to
facilitate high level visits between the two countries
in the near future.
Diplomatic ties with
Burkina Faso
 A decision has been reached between
Sri Lanka and Burkina Faso to establish diplomatic ties.
A Joint Formal Announcement was made into this regard by
the Ministry of External Affairs of Sri Lanka and the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation of
Burkina Faso on 16th November 2012.
An agreement in this regard was signed
between Mr. Prasad Kariyawasam, High Commissioner for
Sri Lanka to India and H.E. Idriss Raoua Ouedraogo,
Ambassador for Burkina Faso to India on 15th November
2012 at New Delhi. According to the agreement diplomatic
relations between the two nations will come into effect
from effect from 15th November 2012.
Burkina Faso is a country in West
Africa with its capital at Ouagadougou. The landlocked
country is surrounded by six countries that includes
Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Cte d'Ivoire. The
African Union member state is has a population of about
17 million and is 274,200 square kilometers (105,900 sq
mi) in size. The country was populated between 14,000
and 5000 BC by hunter-gatherers in the country's
northwestern region. Farm settlements appeared between
3600 and 2600 BC. At present the country is a
parliamentary republic.
The establishment of diplomatic ties
between Sri Lanka and Burkina Faso would enhance the
existing friendly relations and cooperation in the
political, socio-economic and cultural fields for the
mutual benefit of the two countries.
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