ADVERTISER’S SUPPLEMENT Sunday Observer December 1, 2019 79 GENERAL FACTS Official name: Romania Capital city: Bucharest (2,064 million inhabitants). Full of history and culture, Bucharest, is even called “Little Paris’’ Area: 238,391 sq km H. E. Klaus Werner Iohannis H. E. Ludovic Orban H. E. Bogdan Lucian Aurescu Land use: 61.7% (of which 39.5 % President of Romania Prime Minister of Romania Minister of Foreign Affairs arable land) Forest: 28% Other: 10.3% Border length: 3,150 km Neighboring countries: Bulgaria, THE ROMANIAN STATE Hungary, Republic of Moldavia, Serbia, Ukraine * According to the Constitution, Romania is Romania, since 22 nd December 2014 and Judiciary: Independence guaranteed by the Romanian Presidency was the informal European Population: 22,171 million a sovereign and independent, unitary and reelected on 24 th November 2019. Superior Council of the Magistracy; judges are Council that brought together EU heads of state inhabitants with the indivisible national state. The Legislative power: The Parliament of irremovable. or government in historical city of Sibiu, on 9 permanent residence in * Form of government: Republic. Romania, (588 members), divided into two Today, Romania is a modern European Union May 2019. EU leaders focused on strategic plans Romania (January 2019). * The state is organized according to the chambers: the Senate of Romania (176 members) Country with a dynamic economy and excellent for the Union in the coming years. principle of separation and balance of the and the Chamber of Deputies (412 members). human potential, a country fully engaged in the The diplomatic relations between Romania Ethnic structure: Romanians: powers – the Legislative, the Executive and Next Parliamentary election will be held in European Union and the Euro-Atlantic and Sri Lanka date back to the 15th of September 88.9%, Hungarian the Judiciary, in the framework of 2020. community. Romania has been a member of 1957. Over these 62 years, Romania and Sri (including Szecklers): constitutional democracy, guaranteed by The Executive power: The Government of NATO since 2004, and as of 1st January 2007 a Lanka have faced complex historical challenges 6.5%, other: 4.6%. the political pluralism. Romania, headed by the Prime Minister, full member of the European Union. and now enjoy the valuable benefits of democratic Our country's authorities entrusted by the President of Romania with On 1st January this year Romania assumed development. Relations between Romania and strongly value the The President of Romania represents the forming the Cabinet and with a Governance for six months, its first mandate to the Presidency Sri Lanka have always been warm and friendly. contribution of the Romanian state and guarantees the national Program endorsed by Parliament through a vote of the Council of the European Union. Presiding Romania and Sri Lanka have built a solid persons belonging to independence, unity and territorial integrity of of confidence. over the Council was the maturity test for friendship based on mutual understanding and national minorities to the country (5 year term). Since 4 th November 2019 H. E. Ludovic Romania and a means to reconfirm its attachment respect, as well as on their joint will to collaborate the development of the H. E. Klaus - Werner Iohannis, President of Orban has been the Prime Minister of Romania. to the European project. The main event of and assist each other as equal partners. society. With almost 20 national minorities living in Romania, the intercultural dialogue and education are, in our tradition, key features to achieving a peaceful and Message of the Chargé d'Affairs a.i. inclusive society. Religious denominations: Christian Orthodox - on the occasion of the National Day of Romania 86.7%; Roman - Catholic - 4.7%; Protestant - 3.2%; Greek - Catholic - 0.9%, Evangelical - 0.1%; On 1st December every year, Presiding over the Council was the maturity test importance of education for young people. There Unitarian - 0.3%; other Romanians around the world celebrate for Romania and a means to reconfirm its has been an increase in Sri Lankan undergraduate religions - 0.4%. their National Day, also called the Great attachment to the European project. The success and postgraduate students entering Romanian of the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council universities through scholarships offered by my At present, there are 18 Union Day. On the 1st of December confirmed the endeavor of Romania to act country's government or through grants from the recognized religious 1918 over one hundred thousand beyond its national interest and to deliver results EU Erasmus + programme. Several Sri Lankan denominations, and representatives of Romanians living in for the benefit of all EU citizens. specialists attended training courses in the laser several religious Transylvania, Banat and Maramures The main event of the Romanian Presidency and nuclear field in Romania, courses financed associations functioning in Romania. gathered together in the historical city was the informal European Council that brought by The International Atomic Energy Agency. I together EU heads of state or government in the want to mention the excellent collaboration of Alba Iulia, to solemnly proclaim their Administrative organization: 42 historical city of Sibiu, on 9th May 2019. EU between the University of Peradeniya and counties, including will to be reunited with Romanians leaders focused on strategic plans for the Union Universities from Romania, especially with Bucharest Municipality living in the Kingdom of Romania. This in the coming years. Speaking after the summit, Transylvania University in Brasov, Universities (320 towns, 103 momentous event took place three European Commission president Jean Claude from Cluj Napoca, Oradea, Iasi and Baia Mare. municipalities, 2,860 weeks after Armistice Day which ended Juncker emphasized the message of unity, which The Embassy of Romania in Colombo fully communes) is also outlined in the Sibiu Declaration, by supports the excellent collaboration between the First World War, during which the saying, “This European Council showed us that Costache Negruzzi National College from Iasi Form of government : Republic Romanian nation suffered 535,000 we can stand united, not just as a façade, but for Victor Chiujdea and Vishaka College in Colombo, especially the Legislative body : Parliament casualties fighting on the side of the real, just as in the past five years we succeeded in Ambassador/ Chargé d'Affairs a. i. annual exchange of students. (Senate and Chamber of Embassy of Romania in Colombo Allies. 1st December 1918 marked the acting together”. The Embassy of Romania in Colombo is happy Deputies) completion of historical aspirations of The diplomatic relations between Romania to provide information and support for young Executive body : Government and Sri Lanka dates back to the 15th of September Tourist arrivals from Romania to this very Romanians and Sri Lankans to meet and discover headed by Prime- national unity that spanned nearly two 1957. Relations between Romania and Sri Lanka beautiful country have increased considerably each other’s their countries, their cultural thousand years. The Romanian state Minister (appointed by have always been warm and friendly. Over these last year and in the first quarter of this year, until heritages, and to develop people-to-people the President) was founded on the democratic 62 years, Romania and Sri Lanka have built a the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks. For contacts. Sri Lanka has always had a friend in principles of liberty, equality, solid friendship based on mutual understanding Romanian tourists, Sri Lanka is one of the best Romania and I am confident that our bilateral Currency : Romanian Leu (RON); fractional coin: ban; full democracy, and human rights. The and respect, as well as on their joint will to destinations in this part of the world. relations will develop well into the future. collaborate and assist each other as equal Romania offers well-paid jobs to Sri Lankan I avail myself on this happy occasion to extend convertibility National Day is a special occasion to partners. skilled workers and this year more than 2,100 Sri to the friendly people of the Democratic Socialist Local time : Eastern European celebrate the memory of events and Romania firmly condemned the brutal Easter Lankan workers were offered employment in my Republic of Sri Lanka my cordial wishes of peace, Time, GMT+2 hours personalities that contributed to the Sunday terrorist attacks that resulted in hundreds country. stability, reconciliation, economic development National day : 1st December achievement of national unity and the of deaths and injuries among both Sri Lankan Romania and Sri Lanka have always valued the and prosperity. creation of modern Romania. The people and foreign tourists. In the message addressed to the President of Sri Lanka, the Anniversary is about freedom, about President of Romania, H. E. Klaus Verner how an ideal can be fulfilled if the Iohannis reiterated Romania's determination to whole energy of a nation is channeled cooperate with Sri Lanka in the fight against towards a common goal. terrorism. As recognized by the European Union's Message from Honorary Consul for National Day 2019 The fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 Election Observation Mission, the 16th was the start of a new chapter in the history of November 2019 presidential elections in Sri On the National Day of Romania, it is my take this opportunity to wish them continued the whole of Europe, including Central and Lanka took place in a peaceful and calm honor and privilege to convey my best wishes success. Eastern Europe. A new chapter that finally environment. The presidential elections were and greetings to His Excellency Klaus Werner During this year, the Honorary Consulate of witnessed a unified Europe, ready to decidedly free, transparent and fair and confirmed the Iohannis, the President of Romania, the Romania, continued its support by providing step into an age of harmony and prosperity, after stability of the democratic institutions, the Government and the people of Romania.