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Thursday, 30 September 2010 12:09 |
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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama pose for a photo during a reception at the Natural History Museum in New York with H.E.Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Madam Rajapaksa,Sept.23,2010 |
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Monday, 27 September 2010 16:36 |
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H.E.Dr. Palitha Kohona ,High Commissioner to Jamaica Presents credentials to the Governor General of Jamaica. 
H.E.Dr. Palitha Kohona ,High Commissioner to Jamaica with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica |
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Tuesday, 14 September 2010 09:04 |
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Buddhist-Jewish Inter-Cultural Discussion & Community Gathering on our shared culture of kindness and tolerance 13th September 2010 The Sri Lanka Mission to the United Nations in New York along with the Jewish Children’s Museum of Brooklyn organized a Buddhist-Jewish inter-cultural discussion and community gathering on our shared culture of kindness and tolerance. The gathering was attended by members of the Sri Lankan Buddhist clergy, Jewish Rabbis and members of the two communities.
Speakers included the Most Ven. Kurunegoda Piyatissa Maha Nayaka Thero of the New York Buddhist Vihara, Ven. Heenbunne Konndagna Thero, Chief Incumbent of the Staten Island Temple, Rabbi Simon Jacobson, Dean of the Meaningful Life Center, Rabbi Yerachmiel Benjaminson, Executive Director of the Jewish Children’s Museum, Mr. Mendel Spalter, Director/Outreach Development of the Jewish Children’s Museum, Dr. Wije Kottachchi and His Excellency Dr. Palitha Kohona, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York. Speakers touched upon the common themes of the two religions and the need for greater understanding and tolerance among all communities. Before the beginning of the meeting all visitors were taken on a guided tour of the Museum which had been built with voluntary contributions exceeding 25 million Dollars. All speakers agreed that this was a pioneering initiative and expressed the hope that the contacts that were established will be developed in the future.  Please see the photos of Buddhist-Jewish Inter -Cultural Discussion & Community gathering More photos of the event
Buddhist-Jewish Inter-Cultural Discussion & Community Gathering on our shared culture of kindness and tolerance Address by Dr. Palitha T.B. Kohona, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations 13th September 2010
Venerable Monks, Distinguished Rabbis, Ladies & Gentlemen, I am delighted to have the opportunity to inaugurate this first meeting between the Buddhists in New York and the Jewish community. I thank my friend Mr. Mendel Spalter, Director/Outreach and Development of the Jewish Children’s Museum, for taking the initiative in organizing this meeting. I also appreciate the gesture of the venerable monks and the learned rabbis in agreeing to be present today, despite their heavy commitments. I hope that this meeting will lay the foundation for a friendship and an understanding that will continue into the future between the two communities. It is also significant that we are in this impressive museum, built almost entirely through voluntary contributions. |
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Wednesday, 25 August 2010 15:53 |
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A Reception was held in hohour of the delegation of Sri Lanka to the Sixty-Fifth Session of the UNGA on Friday 24th September 2010 from 19.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs at the Empire Room, Waldrof Astoria Hotel, 301 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022. 
More photos of the Reception |
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Friday, 20 August 2010 16:02 |
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Statement by H.E. Dr. Palitha Kohona Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations At the Plenary Meeting of the UN General Assembly on the Humanitarian Situation resulting from the floods in Pakistan 19th August, 2010 Mr. President, My delegation wishes to express its appreciation to the President for initiating the Resolution on “Floods in Pakistan” which we have unanimously adopted and for convening this plenary meeting. We also thank the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, Mr. Qureshi, for his presence at this meeting and for his detailed briefing. The updated information on the ground situation provided by the Secretary-General, including on the relief effort, is greatly appreciated. |
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Tuesday, 28 September 2010 10:18 |
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PRESIDENT HELD BILATERAL TALKS WITH HEADS OF FRIENDLY NATIONS President held bilateral talks with Heads of States attending the UN GA summit. These bilateral discussions with heads of friendly nations held in the side line of the special UN Summit on Millennium Development Goals convened by the UN Secretary General. President Mahinda Rajapaksa met several other heads of States where he apprised them of the post conflict development and peace situation in the country. Sri Lanka has accorded highest priority to obtain Foreign Direct Investment to boost its economy in the country in addition to its all out efforts to promote economy by way of enhanced productivity in the fields of fishery, agriculture and the tourism sectors. 
President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was in New York to attend the 65th UNGA summit met Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani Emir of the State of Qatar.  President Mahinda Rajapaksa met Ms.Angela Merkel Chacellor of Germany at the reception hosted by German Chancellor in New York on 20th. Iranian President Mohamoud Ahmadinejad and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa held bi-lateral discussions at the United Nations on 21st September 2010 in New York 
Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa held bilateral discussions at the United Nations on 22nd September 2010 in New York. 
The Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Gelding and Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse held bilateral discussions at the United Nations on 22nd September 2010 in New York. 
The Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenburg and Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse held bilateral discussions at the United Nations on 21st September 2010 in New York. |
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Monday, 27 September 2010 13:02 |
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"H.E. the President,Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse,addressed the 65th Session of the UN General Assembly"
Mr. President Excellencies I have great pleasure in congratulating Your Excellency Joseph Deiss, on your assumption of the Chair of the sixty fifth Session of the General Assembly. I also take this opportunity to extend our appreciation to the President of the sixty fourth Session, His Excellency Dr. Ali Abdussalam Treki, for his effective stewardship of the General Assembly. Mr. President, Excellencies, That the United Nations is now in its sixty fifth year serves to underline the durability of this organisation. It is an important mechanism in ensuring co-operation between States and a forum for discussion between sovereign nations. We must never under-estimate the importance of this organisation based as it is, on the principle of equal treatment of countries big and small. |
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Wednesday, 08 September 2010 13:30 |
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Speech by Hon. Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs at the Asia Society, New York 26th September, 2010 |
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Tuesday, 24 August 2010 16:49 |
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Hambantota Harbor Declared opened by H.E. the President on 15th of August 2010 
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Thursday, 19 August 2010 10:01 |
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SRI LANKA RANKED 66TH IN WORLD'S BEST COUNTRIES August 19, 2010: According to a study carried out by Newsweek magazine Sri Lanka has been ranked 66th in the world's best countries. The study was conducted by the internationally acclaimed magazine on 100 of the world's best countries.
The study focused on five main aspects which included health, quality of life and the political environment.
Finland was ranked No. 1 in the study while Switzerland, Sweden, Australia and Luxembourg were ranked 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th respectively.
Burkina Faso was ranked 100th while Nigeria, Cameron, Zambia, Uganda and Mozambique were the other countries that made the bottom five.
Japan, in the meantime, was ranked 9th in the world's best countries while the United States ranked 11th according to the Newsweek study.
Sri Lanka was ranked above its neighbors with India ranked at No 78, Bangladesh at No 88, and Pakistan at No. 89.
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