úfoaY lghq;= wud;HdxYh ntspehl;L mYty;fs; mikr;R MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS jd¾Isl ld¾hidOk jd¾;dj tUlhe;j Kd;Ndw;w mwpf;if 2018 ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SRI LANKA ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT 2018 MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS Contents Page No 1. Vision, Mission, Subjects and Functions of the Ministry of 01 Foreign Affairs 2. Executive Summary 03 -05 3. Organizational Chart of the Ministry 06 - 07 4. Progress Report of the Divisions - Africa Affairs Division 09 - 26 - Consular Affairs Division 27 - 36 - East Asia and Pacific Division 37 - 101 - Economic Affairs Division 103 - 113 - Europe and Central Asia Division 115 - 147 - European Union, Multilateral Treaties and Commonwealth 149 - 158 Division - Finance Division 159 - 163 - General Administration Division 165 - 169 - Latin America and Caribbean Division 171 - 177 - Legal Division 179 -184 - Middle East Division 185 - 213 - Ocean Affairsand Climate Change Division 215 - 223 - Overseas Administration Division 225 -232 - Human Resources Development unit 232- 234 - Protocol Division 237 - 249 - Public Communications Division & Overseas Sri Lankans 251 -257 and Cultural Diplomacy Division - South Asia and SAARC Division 259 - 271 - United Nations and Human Rights Division 273 - 280 - United States of America and Canada Division 281 -295 5. Network of Diplomatic Missions Abroad 297 6. Revenue collected by Sri Lanka Missions Abroad in 2018 298 -299 7. Consular activities carried out by Sri Lanka Missions Abroad - 300 - 304 2018 8. Auditor General’s Summary Report 307 - 315 Vision To be a responsible nation within the international community and to maintain friendly relations with all countries. Mission The Promotion, Projection and Protection of Sri Lanka’s national interests internationally, in accordance with the foreign policy of the Government and to advise the Government on managing foreign relations in keeping with Sri Lanka’s national interests. Subjects and Functions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Implementation of political plans and programmes in respect of Foreign Affairs; Representation of Sri Lanka abroad; International Agreements and Treaties; Foreign Government and international organization’s representation in Sri Lanka; External publicity; Diplomatic immunities and privileges and Consular functions. 01 Executive Summary The Mission of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to promote, project and protect Sri Lanka’s national interests overseas, in accordance with the foreign policy of the Government of Sri Lanka. In 2018 it, has continued to enhance Sri Lanka’s engagement in the political, economic, social and cultural spheres, strengthening the concept of ‘friendship with all and enmity towards none.’ Whilst ensuring its commitments to promote Democracy, Good Governance, Human Rights, the Rule of Law, and Sustainable Development, Sri Lanka has endeavoured to reaffirm its global position. Sri Lanka’s foreign policy, guided by the above principles, has been formulated by His Excellency the President, the Hon. Prime Minister, and the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Our engagement with regional and international fora, including the United Nations, the European Union, SAARC, BIMSTEC and ARF has demonstrated the transparent and constructive engagement of the Government through its foreign relations at all levels. The continued strengthening of friendship with our closest neighbour, India, has been nurtured through various tracks of diplomatic engagement. Similar significant improvement can be seen in Sri Lanka’s engagement with its South Asian friends of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan and the Maldives, ensuring mutual trust and cooperation in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), hosting High level meetings on a wide range of issues. Our historical relations with China have been further consolidated with increased mutual cooperation in the political, economic and cultural spheres. Sri Lanka’s engagement with Russia has further expanded with several projects initiated for economic cooperation. Sri Lanka obtained full membership of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in August 2018. Sri Lanka - US relations have furthered with greater cooperation and understanding in many areas including reconciliation, peace and socio-economic relations through high level visits and dialogues. President, H.E. Maithripala Sirisena undertook a State visit to Japan on the invitation of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in the first quarter of the year. Relations with Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Republic of Korea have continued to expand in various areas of interests. The Ministry has been involved in the implementation and compliance process with regard to receiving EU GSP Plus Concession through the EU Sri Lanka Joint Commission, annual dialogue on the partnership process with the EU carried forward. Multifaceted partnership entails trade facilitation, development assistance apart from good governance, rule of law and human rights dialogues that have been initiated with the EU. Sri Lanka has also engaged with the EU in maintaining the listing of the LTTE two consecutive years as a terrorist organization. Sri Lanka continued its close collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat, and its member States, by its active engagement in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in London in April 2018. Sri Lanka has continued to expand her ties with many countries in the European region, especially with the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey and countries in the Eastern Europe. The Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Cyprus was opened, further strengthening our engagement with Cyprus. Sri Lanka’s outreach to its friends in Europe and Central Asia in promoting and diversifying political, economic, social, security and cultural cooperation, through high level visits and dialogue has witnessed an upward trend. Sri Lanka-German trade cooperation is expected to strengthen and further advance bilateral trade and investment. Hon. Tilak Marapana, Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Germany to participate at the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue (BETD) held on 17 April 2018. 02 Executive Summary The Mission of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to promote, project and protect Sri Lanka’s national interests overseas, in accordance with the foreign policy of the Government of Sri Lanka. In 2018 it, has continued to enhance Sri Lanka’s engagement in the political, economic, social and cultural spheres, strengthening the concept of ‘friendship with all and enmity towards none.’ Whilst ensuring its commitments to promote Democracy, Good Governance, Human Rights, the Rule of Law, and Sustainable Development, Sri Lanka has endeavoured to reaffirm its global position. Sri Lanka’s foreign policy, guided by the above principles, has been formulated by His Excellency the President, the Hon. Prime Minister, and the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Our engagement with regional and international fora, including the United Nations, the European Union, SAARC, BIMSTEC and ARF has demonstrated the transparent and constructive engagement of the Government through its foreign relations at all levels. The continued strengthening of friendship with our closest neighbour, India, has been nurtured through various tracks of diplomatic engagement. Similar significant improvement can be seen in Sri Lanka’s engagement with its South Asian friends of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan and the Maldives, ensuring mutual trust and cooperation in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), hosting High level meetings on a wide range of issues. Our historical relations with China have been further consolidated with increased mutual cooperation in the political, economic and cultural spheres. Sri Lanka’s engagement with Russia has further expanded with several projects initiated for economic cooperation. Sri Lanka obtained full membership of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in August 2018. Sri Lanka - US relations have furthered with greater cooperation and understanding in many areas including reconciliation, peace and socio-economic relations through high level visits and dialogues. President, H.E. Maithripala Sirisena undertook a State visit to Japan on the invitation of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in the first quarter of the year. Relations with Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Republic of Korea have continued to expand in various areas of interests. The Ministry has been involved in the implementation and compliance process with regard to receiving EU GSP Plus Concession through the EU Sri Lanka Joint Commission, annual dialogue on the partnership process with the EU carried forward. Multifaceted partnership entails trade facilitation, development assistance apart from good governance, rule of law and human rights dialogues that have been initiated with the EU. Sri Lanka has also engaged with the EU in maintaining the listing of the LTTE two consecutive years as a terrorist organization. Sri Lanka continued its close collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat, and its member States, by its active engagement in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in London in April 2018. Sri Lanka has continued