HC Chitranganee Wagiswara calls on Canadian FM
High Commissioner Chitranganee Wagiswara called on Canadian Foreign
Minister John Baird on September 14, 2011 at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs.
As this was the first meeting the High Commissioner had with the new
Foreign Minister, she thanked the minister for providing the opportunity
to discuss important issues of interest to both countries.
High Commissioner Chitranganee Wagiswara Chitranganee Wagiswara
with Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird |
While acknowledging the longstanding links between Sri Lanka and
Canada, the High Commissioner briefed the Foreign Minister on the post
conflict development activities being undertaken in Sri Lanka, following
the defeat of terrorism in May 2009.
The High Commissioner also explained the initiatives taken by Sri
Lanka on issues pertaining to consolidating peace and reconciliation and
outlined the government's plans for the future.
In this context, High Commissioner Wagiswara discussed the activities
of the Sri Lankan Diaspora in Canada with the focus on the promotion of
multiculturalism and integration. High Commissioner Wagiswara also
referred to the recent statement made by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen
Harper on the next Commonwealth Summit to be hosted in Sri Lanka in
2013.
Clarifying Sri Lanka's position, she stated that the Commonwealth
member states in 2009, at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting [CHOGM]
held in Trinidad and Tobago had decided to hold the 2013 Summit in Sri
Lanka and therefore it would be unfair to reopen the issue and that the
arrangements for hosting the summit in 2013 were already under way.
The possibility of arranging for a visit to Sri Lanka by a group of
Canadian Members of Parliament was also discussed among other matters.
Kenneth Macartney, Director General South East Asia & Ocenia (GSD) of
the Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade was also
associated with the Foreign Minister at the discussion. |