The Consulate General of Sri Lanka has organized a number of events in this year with the support and the contribution of the Sri Lankan Community. The Sri Lankan Day 2018 is ready to unfold in Zabeel Park on Friday, 9th of February 2018 from 10.00 am to 11 pm. This family-oriented event, which is open to Sri Lankans, Emiratis and the other nationals, will consist of a number of events such as UAE-Sri Lanka friendship walk, a Sri Lankan Cultural show, the food stalls serving authentic Sri Lankan food, free spectacle donations, a blood donation camp, a mega musical show and much more. I wish to extend an invitation to this esteemed audience to grace this unique event” said Charitha Yattogoda, the Consul General of Sri Lanka at the Independence Day Reception held in Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa, to mark the 70th Anniversary of Independence of Sri Lanka and the 25th Anniversary of the establishment of the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
“The Emirate of Dubai, which had a skyrocketing development and economic growth under the vision and excellent leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has always set a model for cities across the globe on the ideal of development. The UAE has always been an inspiration for Sri Lanka to sketch its own ambitions in its trajectory to becoming a metropolitan hub. Over the decades, Sri Lanka has been enjoying friendly relations with the UAE in the fields of trade, investment, Tourism and economic cooperation. The cordial relations between Sri Lanka and the UAE are based on trust, mutual understanding and friendship. The UAE is the largest export market for the Sri Lankan products and the largest source of imports to Sri Lanka in the GCC Region. The total bilateral trade turnover between the countries has now reached over US$ 1.34 billion”, said the Consul General, speaking on the bilateral relations between the countries.
Speaking on the developments in Sri Lanka, the Consul General further added “today, Sri Lanka is celebrating its 70th anniversary of independence at a significant time when the development process spearheaded by His Excellency the President and the Honourable Prime Minister of Sri Lanka is gaining its momentum in both local and international spheres. Along with such positive developments in the context of economy, the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation launched
the National Policy on Reconciliation and Co-Existence in 2017, fulfilling the timely need for an expressly stated and comprehensive National Policy on Reconciliation. This policy aims to ensure the notion of nationhood to foster a stronger sense of togetherness of all Sri Lankans through dialogue, arbitration and activities to prevent reoccurrences of marginalization and conflicts.”
The Independence Day reception held to mark the 70th Anniversary of the Diplomatic Relations and the 25th Anniversary of the establishment of the Consulate General was colorfully concluded on 4th February 2018 with a number of dancing items portraying the traditional Sri Lankan culture, by the leading Sri Lankan dancing group of Mr. Chandana Wickramasinghe. Representing the Government of the United Arab Emirates H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, participated at the event in addition to more than 40 Consuls General representing their respective Consulates General in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.