Indonesia,officially the Republic of Indonesia is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia comprises 13,466 islands and 33 provinces. With over 238 million people, it is the world's fourth most populous country, and has the world's largest population of Muslims. Indonesia is a republic, with an elected legislature and President. 

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

Born on 9 September 1949 is an Indonesian politician and retired Army general officer who has been President of Indonesia since 2004.

The nation's capital city is Jakarta. The country shares land borders with Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Malaysia. Other neighboring countries include Singapore, Philippines, Australia, and the Indian territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Indonesia is a founding member of ASEAN and a member of the G-20 major economies. The Indonesian economy is the world's eighteenth largest economy by nominal GDP and fifteenth largest by purchasing power parity.

Capital Jakarta

Official language(s) Indonesian
Demonym     Indonesian

Government Unitary presidential constitutional republic
      President    Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
      Vice President    Boediono

Legislature     People's Consultative Assembly
     Upper House    Regional Representative Council
      Lower House    People's Representative Council

Independence     
following Dutch colonial rule and Japanese occupation
    Declared    17 August 1945
    Acknowledged    27 December 1949

Area
     Land    1,919,440 km2 (15th)
735,355 sq mi
      Water (%)    4.85

Population
      2010 census    237,556,363[3]
      Density    123.76/km2 (84th) 323.05/sq mi

Message of the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia - Djafar Husein

Dear fellow Indonesians and friends of Indonesia all over Sri Lanka;

I have an honor to send this message on the auspicious occasion of the Indonesian National Day. Today, we, Indonesians all over the world, commemorate the 66th Anniversary of Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia. All Indonesians, whether they are living in Indonesia or outside Indonesia, including those living in Sri Lanka, celebrating their independence with joy and happiness.
As the Indonesian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, this is the fourth time I send my message on the occasion of Indonesian National Day. Having been in Sri Lanka for almost four years, I have experienced so many things as lessons to learn. I have witnessed how the Government of Sri Lanka defeating the most ruthless terrorism; and at the same time I have also witnessed the gradual process of peace developing in the Island. I am of the opinion that, for the last two years, Sri Lanka has achieved a significant progress in bringing prosperity of the Sri Lankan people. This can only be achieved because of the excellent leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Dearest friends,

Indonesia is a pluralistic nation. It consists of about 17 thousand islands, six major religions, 300 ethnic groups and 750 local languages and dialects, spread across the Archipelago. Considering these facts, the history of Indonesia, since its independence proclamation in 1945, to 2000, has always been characterized by so many local conflicts related to ethnic, religion and cultural groups. Only after the year of 2000, when my Government decided to embark on a “full flag” democracy, we can achieve stability and peaceful situation. This decision had caused positive changes in our political life. We then reformed our political institutions; we restored the fundamental freedom of speech, of the press, and of association. We removed our Military from politics; and we made the Police a civilian force. We also decentralized our system of Government, and embark on a policy of devolution which allows the local governments to manage their own autonomy. We also established a system of check and balance among our branches of Government. And, last but not least, the promotion and protection of human rights become top priority in our political life.

Indonesia is the world’s third most populous democracy. At the same time, it is also the home of the world’s largest muslim population. In Indonesia, we believe that Islam and democracy can live side by side. This circumstance is built on the basis of the Islamic concept that Islam is “rahmatan lil ‘alamin”, or Islam is blessing for all creation. It is the concept that promotes every muslim to be tolerant, to honor different ideas, to resort to peaceful consensus, to avoid conflicts, and to treat minorities as equals. Democracy is actually also more or less corresponding to this concept.

Dear fellow and friends,

Nowadays, all nations have been severely affected by the global economic trend. Some of them, including a few developed ones, are staring at the grim prospect of negative growth. But, we in Indonesia are confident that we are still in the position to achieve at least six percent economic growth this year, in spite of the bleak trend of the global economy. This is because we are gaining the international trust. More foreign direct investment is pouring to my Country. We can maintain more stable currency; and we have no barriers in our export and import. And we have a huge domestic market brimming with consumer confidence. That is why Indonesia is the only member of ASEAN joining the most powerful economies in the G-20. This is because we implement consistently our democratic system. And we believe that democracy has brought the progress of economic development. And at all cost, Indonesia will maintain this democratic system. We cannot turn back the clock.

Dear fellows and friends,

For the last three years, the bilateral relation between Indonesia and Sri Lanka is going from strength to strength. I am happy to see that the exchange of visits of the high ranking officials from both sides has increased significantly. To sample a few are the second visit of the Sri Lankan Secretary Minister of Defense to Indonesia last year; the visit of the Sri Lankan Army Chief of Staff to Indonesia early this year; the visit of the Sri Lankan Minister of Justice to Indonesia on May this year; the visit of the Indonesian Minister of Fisheries to Sri Lanka early this year; and last and but not least, two bilateral meetings between the Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Sri Lankan Minister of External Affairs within these couple of months in Bali this year. In the international fora like in UN agencies, Indonesia and Sri Lanka continue their close cooperation by lending each other mutual support.

In terms of economy, the relation between Sri Lanka and Indonesia has also increased substanstially. One significant example is shown in the total bilateral trade in 2010. The value of total bilateral trade increased to US$ 375.98 million, or 19.58 %, compared to the previous year which was stood at US$ 314.45 million. This achievement brought Indonesia to be the 27th biggest exporting country in the world in 2010, moving up three places from a year before. Currently, Indonesian products imported by Sri Lanka among others are furniture, paper product, plastic product, tires, car battery, apparel and garment, steel products, palm oil, chemical products, fish products. Sri Lankan products imported by Indonesia among others are tea, yarn and fabrics, printed items, textile and woven fabrics, clothing accessories, and gems.

I am happy to note that people-to-people contact between Indonesia and Sri Lanka has also increased, especially after the end of conflict two years ago. The improved visa application service in the Embassy has played an important role in this achievement. Moreover, it is supported by the opening of Mihin Lanka direct flight from Colombo to Jakarta in November 2011. Those two factors have contributed to the facts that more Sri Lankans have visited Indonesia these couple of years.

Therefore, I am very optimistic that the prospect of bilateral relation between Sri Lanka and Indonesia will be flourishing well in the near future.

Dear fellows and friends,

Finally, please accept my personal best wishes to the President, the Government and the people of Sri Lanka for the continuity of progress and prosperity in the near future. I am sure that we share a fervent hope for a far stronger relationship between Indonesia and Sri Lanka in the years to come.

France

The French Republic is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean. It is often referred to as l’Hexagone ("The Hexagon") because of the geometric shape of its territory.

It is bordered (clockwise starting from the northeast) by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Monaco; with Spain and Andorra to the south. France is linked to the United Kingdom by the Channel Tunnel, which passes underneath the English Channel. In addition to these borders on the European continent France has land borders with Suriname and Brazil through French Guiana, as well as with the Netherlands through the Collectivity of Saint Martin. It is the largest west-European country and it possesses the second-largest Exclusive Economic Zone in the world, covering 11,035,000 km2 (4,260,000 sq mi), just behind that of the United States (11,351,000 km2 / 4,383,000 sq mi).

Over the past 500 years, France has been a major power with strong cultural, economic, military and political influence in Europe and in the world. During the 17th and 18th centuries, France colonised great parts of North America and South Asia; during the 19th and early 20th centuries, France built the second largest empire of the time, including large portions of North, West and Central Africa, Southeast Asia, and many Caribbean and Pacific Islands.

Capital (and largest city)     Paris
Official language(s)              French
Demonym                             French
Government                          Unitary semi-presidential republic
President                              Nicolas Sarkozy (UMP)
Prime Minister                      François Fillon (UMP)
Legislature                            Parliament
Upper House                        Senate
Lower House                        National Assembly
Area Total                             674,843 km2 (41st)
260,558 sq mi
Population (2011 estimate)    65,821,885 (20th)
GDP (2010 estimate) Total    $2.145 trillion
                    Per capita    $34,077[9]
GDP (nominal)Total        $2.582 trillion[9]
       Per capita        $41,018[9]
Currency            Euro, CFP franc


President - Nicolas Sarkozy

Nicolas Paul Stéphane Sarközy de Nagy-Bocsa, was born on 28 January 1955 is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier.


 

Prime Minister - François Fillon

François Charles Armand Fillon was born on 04 March 1954 in Le Mans, Sarthe is the Prime Minister of France. He was appointed to that office by President Nicolas Sarkozy on 17 May 2007. He served initially until 13 November 2010 when he resigned from being Prime Minister before a planned cabinet reshuffle.

Message from the Ambassador of France

On 14 July 1789, the people of France stormed the Bastille, a prison seen as a symbol of oppression and tyranny. On the same day, one year later, a huge festival - called Festival of the Federation - took place in Paris. It was prepared and conducted with such a great popular enthusiasm that it became a symbol of unity for the Nation. In 1880, after ups and downs in the progress of France towards reconciliation and democracy, the French Parliament passed a bill granting a national holiday on 14 July, in memory of both the storming of the Bastille and the Festival of the Federation. Since then, the celebration of the 14 July gives rise to popular festivities with music and dance in the streets and fireworks in all villages and cities of France.

Abroad, the celebration of "Bastille Day" provides an opportunity to gather the French citizens and their friends around the motto of the French revolution "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity", to recall the attachment of France to democracy, human rights and the rule of law and to praise the bonds of friendship and solidarity between France and other Nations.

Throughout my visits to the different provinces of Sri Lanka, I had the pleasure to find traces of ancient and recent actions conducted by French citizens to serve people of Sri Lanka. In the 19th Century, French educationists founded colleges in Colombo, Trincomalee and Batticaloa. After the tragedy of the tsunami, French people generously expressed their solidarity to the victims. Recently, I was warmly welcomed by the inhabitants of two villages built in the Hambantota District thanks to donations from France. I was very happy to observe that long-lasting friendly relations have been established between these people and some of my fellow citizens, who came to help them after the disaster and who continue to visit and support them. I have also seen the good work done by French NGOs in the North and the East, in the framework of the large efforts conducted by the Sri Lankan Government to provide assistance for the communities who suffered from the war and to reconstruct their regions.

During the past years, the Government of France contributed significantly, through different ways, to the reconstruction and development agenda of Sri Lanka and is ready to continue to play its part in this challenging process. French concessional loans will enable 600 000 people in the two Districts of Trincomalee and Jaffna to enjoy a basic human right, which is access to good quality water. The population of the Eastern Province will soon see the benefit of the French cooperation for development, when the reconstruction of the A15 road and the building of 5 bridges along it will be completed and will ease transportation, favor trade and link communities.

Trade between France and Sri Lanka is growing remarkably and bilateral exchanges are in favor of Sri Lanka. A delegation representing French companies, who recently visited Sri Lanka, showed the interest of the French business community for further increase in trade and investments. The number of French tourists visiting the beautiful historical and natural sites of the island is also increasing.
                                               
The defeat of terrorism and the end of the war have created a lot of aspirations among the Sri Lankan public and a renewed interest for culture and arts. Many friends in the Government and in civil society of Sri Lanka have expressed the wish to see the French Embassy and the network of Alliance Française increasing their offer of cultural activities, particularly towards the youth. The Embassy is happy to respond and to provide opportunities for young French and Sri Lankan people from different communities to get together to discover the wealth of their respective cultural heritages and to share their creativity.

Finally, on behalf of the French people and Government, I take the opportunity of this message to share the hopes of the people and Government of Sri Lanka that the wounds of the past will soon be healed, enabling the Sri Lankan Nation to enjoy a long lasting peace, security, reconciliation and prosperity.

Christine ROBICHON
Ambassador of France to Sri Lanka and the Maldives

Tourism in France and French tourists in Sri Lanka

France is the most visited country in the world and has so much to offer to tourists of all tastes, from cities of high cultural interest, lovely countryside, beautiful beaches, incredible mountain scenery, to family fun at Disneyland Paris, which is indeed Europe’s most popular theme park.

Paris, the city of light, features fascinating monuments, such as the cathedral Notre Dame de Paris on the Ile de la Cité, the Napoleonic Arc of Triumph and the Eiffel Tower, as well as interesting museums, housing well-known works of art, such as the Mona Lisa at the Louvre. The different areas of the capital cater to the expectations of all tourists: a charming tour of the Latin Quarter to visit the University of La Sorbonne and experience the café life, a walk in the trendy district le Marais to go in a wine bar, a slow climb up to the Butte Montmartre to admire the view from the Basilique du Sacré Coeur, shopping in luxury boutiques on Champs-Elysées or enjoying the nightlife in Bastille. Taking a day trip to the Palace of Versailles and its gorgeous gardens is also very popular.

The countryside is also very rich and diversified, as each region has its own history, traditions and gastronomy. Normandy and Brittany are known for their rolling hills, sandy beaches and quiet little harbour towns. Mont Saint-Michel is one of the most famous landmarks in France. The Loire Valley and its splendid castles, such as Chambord and Chenonceau, illustrate the ideals of the French Renaissance. The Alps and the Pyrenees are great for skiing in winter and hiking in summer, and offer the opportunity to taste different kinds of cheese, charcuterie and wine. The South East of France is the second destination for tourists, who enjoy visiting Provence and its pleasant small villages, the calanques of Cassis, the medieval town of Carcassonne, as well as Corsica and the Côte d’Azur, famous for its lovely beaches, good food and nightlife. In the South West, Bordeaux and its vineyards, as well as the charming Basque country, are also must-sees.

However, French people also enjoy travelling and visiting foreign countries. They are seduced by the incredible richness of Sri Lanka’s natural and historical heritage. In 2010, Sri Lanka welcomed more than 30.000 French tourists, twice the number of the year before. And since January, more than 20.000 French tourists have already visited the country, a figure that keeps increasing.

In Sri Lanka, French tourists are particularly attracted by cultural discovery and contact with the local population. They mostly visit the Cultural Triangle and its archaeological heritage sites, the Hill country and the tea plantations. They often enjoy a few days at the beach in the South to chill out at the end of their stay. They also appreciate the experience of the train.

French tourists visiting Sri Lanka request from their travel agency pleasant and comfortable accommodation in hotels and guest houses offering a good value for money and transparency in prices. Two travel agencies are particularly working with French tourists, as they employ French people and French speaking tour guides: the long-established “Connaissance de Ceylan” and the brand new “Shanti Travel”.

Sri Lanka- France Trade Relations

The development of economic and commercial ties between France and Sri Lanka is facilitated by the Economic Services Section of the French Embassy and local organisations such as the SLFBC (Sri Lanka France Business Council) and AFCT (Association of Franco Ceylonese Technologists).

Trade between the two countries had witnessed a sturdy growth over the past couple of years and has always concerned a diversified range of products. French imports to Sri Lanka grew at the impressive level of 113 % and recorded 127 million Euros in 2010. This growth can be largely attributed to the increase in telecommunication products and chemicals as well as perfumes and cosmetics, which accounted respectively for 42.9 % and 7.5 % of imports. In the meantime, Sri Lankan exports to France recorded a more moderate increase, growing by 5.3 % with mainly textiles (46.4 %), food products (24.7 %) and rubber based products (13.7 %). This evolution permitted to reduce trade imbalances between the two countries to the mere deficit figure of 59 million Euros (for France). France claims a substantial portion in the Sri Lankan market in recording, reproduction and transmission apparatus, deriving impetus from the recent mega expansions in the telecommunication sector. France has made a significant contribution to the development of Sri Lanka in the sphere of telecommunication, through world famous French trade names such as Alcatel-Lucent.

In total, French investments in Sri Lanka add up to around 20 million Euros. Flagship among them is Noyon Lanka Limited, a joint venture started in 2004 between MAS Holding and Noyon Dentelles de Calais. French interests are also mainly represented by the two cement giants, Lafarge and Ciment Français, whose investments total up to 6.9 million Euros. The most recent French investment is Phytosynthèse, a leading manufacturer of natural medical products for animal health care. Many blue-chip French Companies are present in Sri Lanka, such as Alstom, Sanofi-Aventis, Schneider Electric, CMA-CGM, Degrémont, Société du Canal de Provence (SCP), VINCI Construction Grands Projets and Egis International, etc.
After the Tsunami, the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry of France has undertaken to finance projects amounting to 24 million Euros and is currently evaluating others.

Two years after the end of the war and the subsequent improvement of the economic and commercial environment in Sri Lanka, several important French companies have expressed their interest in strengthening their presence in the country or in investing in the local market. In March 2011, for the first time since the defeat of terrorism and the end of the war, a high level delegation comprised of representatives of French companies based in the South Asian region visited Colombo – a clear indication of the increasing interest of French business community in the Sri Lankan market.

France’s cultural cooperation and the network of Alliances Françaises

Building on a strong network all over the world, France's cultural action is based on two pillars: promoting the French language and fostering exchanges between countries in various artistic and scientific fields, such as performing arts, visual arts, literature, cinema, research and science. The main purpose of the French cultural cooperation is to bring together international and local artists in order to promote their work, to create discussions and debates and to encourage intellectual exchanges.
In Sri Lanka, as elsewhere in the world, the Alliance Française network has been a key operator in the organization of France’s educational and cultural programs. The Alliances Françaises of Kotte, Jaffna, Kandy and Matara/Galle are Sri Lankan organizations operating under local law. In coordination with the Embassy of France, they conduct cultural activities, involving young creators and artists.
These activities became more lively and visible this year thanks to the creation, in Colombo, of the new Alliance Française de Kotte in April 2010. Thereby, the former Alliance Française de Colombo lost its label and its recognition from French authorities. Alliance Française de Kotte took the head of the 5 Alliances in Sri Lanka and the Maldives. It has been able to organize successful cultural events, thanks to the support of the Embassy of France and of local and European partners and sponsors.
Alliance française de Kotte has identified and supported local artists, organized film festivals (francophone film festival and European film festival) and concerts, such as those of Blick Bassy at the Jazz Festival of Mount Lavinia, Céline Caussimon in Colombo and in IDP camps near Vavuniya, as well as an electronic music project with the Goethe Institut and the DJ Academy. Last month, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and the Arts of Sri Lanka and the BMICH/BCIS and thanks to the sponsoring of two French companies, Alcatel Lucent and Alstom, the Fête de la Musique was organized in Colombo. 50 fabulous Sri Lankan musicians took part in this well attended event, together with the French Celtic rock band Merzhin. Also, Alliance Française recently contributed to a scientific symposium on biodiversity organized by the University of Kelaniya.
There is more to come in 2011: a classical concert next September, renewed participation to the Mount Lavinia International Jazz Festival in October, as well as to the European Film Festival.
Thanks to boosted cooperation ties between the Ministry of Culture and the Arts and the Embassy of France, a special festival, called “Un printemps français à Sri Lanka” (a French Spring in Sri Lanka) will be organized in June 2012 with the support of national and local authorities. In this framework, a variety of events will take place in Colombo and in other main cities such as Jaffna, permitting people to get together and to experience and enjoy various aspects of contemporary French and Sri Lankan cultures.








 

USA:
The United States of America (also referred to as the United States, the U.S., the USA, or America) is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its forty-eight contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the capital district, lie between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. The state of Alaska is in the northwest of the continent, with Canada to the east and Russia to the west across the Bering Strait. The state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific. The country also possesses several territories in the Caribbean and Pacific.

At 3.79 million square miles (9.83 million km2) and with over 310 million people, the United States is the third or fourth largest country by total area, and the third largest both by land area and population. It is one of the world's most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large-scale immigration from many countries.The U.S. economy is the world's largest national economy, with an estimated 2010 GDP of $14.780 trillion (23% of nominal global GDP and 20% of global GDP at purchasing power parity).


Barack Hussein Obama II, born August 4, 1961 is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.


 

Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. born November 20, 1942 is the 47th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President Barack Obama. He was a United States Senator from Delaware from January 3, 1973 until his resignation on January 15, 2009, following his election to the Vice Presidency.


 

Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton, born October 26, 1947 is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001. In the 2008 election, Clinton was a leading candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Facts and Figures:

OFFICIAL NAME: United States of America
CAPITAL CITY: Washington, D.C.
TOTAL AREA: 9,826,630 sq km (3rd largest in the world, behind Russia (1st) and Canada (2nd))
BIRTH RATE: 13.82 births/1,000 population
OVERALL LIFE EXPECTANCY: 78.11 years (75.65 years for men, 80.69 years for women)
POPULATION SIZE: 307,212,123 (3rd largest in the world, behind China (1st) and India (2nd))
URBANIZATION: 82% of total population
LITERACY RATE: 99% of total population
RELIGIONS: Protestant 51.3%, Roman Catholic 23.9%, Mormon 1.7%, other Christian 1.6%, Jewish 1.7%, Buddhist 0.7%, Muslim 0.6%, other or unspecified 2.5%, unaffiliated 12.1%, none 4% (2007 est.)


FLAG DESCRIPTION / SIGNIFICANCE: 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico

Message from the U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives

This July 4 – celebrated as Independence Day in the United States – we recall our American beginnings.  Here in Sri Lanka, we also recall with pride that the relationship between our two countries also dates back to the earliest days of the United States.  Our relationship is broad, dynamic, mutually beneficial, and ever expanding.

On this 235th anniversary of American independence, our celebration focuses on youth.  The United Nations has designated 2011 as the International Year of Youth.  This year also marks the 50th anniversary of two initiatives, launched by our youngest-ever President, John F. Kennedy, to improve the lives of people around the world, especially young people -- the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Peace Corps.  

The focus on youth is timely and appropriate.  Roughly half of Sri Lankans are under the age of thirty.   That means that half of the country lacks a memory of pre-war Sri Lanka.  In so many ways, it will be up to this half of the population to define a new peaceful, united and democratic Sri Lanka.  

They are already beginning to make their mark.  Sri Lanka has too many youth organizations to name, but Sri Lanka Unites, Rotaract, the Weeramantry Center and Stitch have won praise, for their national conferences with youth from all regions; donation drives following the floods earlier this year; and exchange programs that bring young people from one region to another for community service projects.  The American Embassy has supported some of their efforts, but it’s their commitment, ideas, and dedication that make them the leaders of today.  

I’m gratified that much of USAID’s work focuses on youth, working closely with government, civil society, and youth leaders to help Sri Lanka’s young people open the doors to tomorrow.  Recently, for example, USAID organized a job fair in Vavuniya.  More than 3,200 young people received job offers with apparel manufacturers, produce suppliers, private banks, insurance agencies, and other employers.  

In another example, after the devastating floods earlier this year, USAID brought together young people from southern Sri Lanka to help their peers in the North.  Working hand-in-hand around Kilinochchi, it was the first time that most of the youth from the South had travelled to the North

At the American Center in Colombo and at the American Corners in Jaffna, Oluvil and Kandy, we organize essay contests, reading clubs, art workshops, and film screenings for young people.  We continue to support English language learning.  Last year, a young women’s rugby team from the United States visited Sri Lanka -- and was handily defeated by the Sri Lankan teams I might add.  This year, students from Elon University in North Carolina and Vanderbilt University in Tennessee traveled to Sri Lanka to work on environmental projects and to teach English classes in rural schools.

America’s relationship with Sri Lanka has a past, a present, and a future.  Those of us who are older can recall the many roads we have travelled together.  We older Americans can take pride in how our nation has helped Sri Lanka reach its dynamic present, even as the young join us with new expectations.  And it will not be long, though, before they take our place.

In his inaugural address in 1961, John Kennedy said “the torch has been passed to a new generation.”  Those of us who directly heard, and were inspired by, his words know that he spoke of a timeless process.  I use this occasion, which marks a milestone of the past, to look forward and to salute the young people of Sri Lanka who are working for a better future.

 Patricia A. Butenis

USAID activities in Sri Lanka

Declaration of Independence

Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, and issued from the U.S. Congress on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence is America’s most cherished symbol of liberty.  Over 75% of the American public consider it to be the most influential document in American history.  Here, in exalted and unforgettable phrases, Jefferson, who would later become President, expressed the convictions in the minds and hearts of the American people.  The political philosophy of the Declaration was not new; its ideals of individual liberty had already been expressed by philosophers, such as John Locke.  What Jefferson did was to summarize this philosophy into “self-evident truths” and set forth a list of grievances against the British King in order to justify before the world the breaking of ties between the colonies and the mother country.  

“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.”

The Declaration of Independence is currently displayed in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building in Washingon, DC, alongside the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.

NEW YEAR’S DAY:

Like many countries around the world, America celebrates the new year on January 1st, the first day on the American calendar. Americans celebrate New Year’s eve, the night leading into the first day of the new year, in many different ways - the most famous of which is the lowering of a large illuminated ball on top of a skyscraper in New York City’s Times Square. Although many Americans celebrate New Year’s eve by attending such displays, most Americans spend the evening with family and friends, usually at celebratory parties, and often watch the public displays on television instead. Both public and private New Year’s eve celebrations last until midnight, when the new year begins.
Many adults celebrate the beginning of the new year with a glass of champagne, and couples often exchange a kiss at the stroke of midnight. Many championship, or “bowl,” games for college-level American football take place later on New Year’s Day, making it an especially important occasion for sports fans.

Martin Luther King Day:

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day marks the birthday of the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. In the 1950’s and 1960’s, Dr. King was the chief spokesman of the nonviolent civil rights movement, which successfully opposed racial discrimination in American federal and state laws. Although he was assassinated in 1968, Dr. King’s legacy continues to have a strong impact on American politics and social life.  The holiday is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which always falls close to Dr. King's actual birthday of January 15. It is one of three United States federal holidays to commemorate an individual person. today.

 

WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY:

Washington's Birthday is celebrated on the third Monday of February. It is also commonly known as Presidents Day. Although schools and businesses previously were closed during the holiday, its proximity to Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, another holiday, led the Federal Government to honor both presidents on the same day. When Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was created as an additional day off of work, many employers stopped closing shop on Presidents’ Day to compensate for the new day off. Because many businesses now stay open during Washington’s Birthday, it has lost much of its luster in recent years. Today, Washington’s Birthday is most familiar to Americans as an occasion for special sales at retail outlets, particularly car dealerships.

 

MEMORIAL DAY:

Memorial Day is a national holiday that is observed on the last Monday of May. It commemorates U.S. men and women who died while serving in the military. Although the holiday was first enacted to honor veterans of the American Civil War, it was expanded after World War I to honor American casualties from any war or military action. Because the holiday falls on a Monday, many American families take advantage of the extended weekend to travel. Additionally, many Americans also hold “Memorial Day Barbeques,” outdoor cookouts where they gather with friends and family to enjoy grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, and other snacks.


 

INDEPENDENCE DAY:

American Independence Day is celebrated every year on July 4th. Commonly referred to as the Fourth of July, it commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The Declaration officially severed ties between the United States and the British Monarchy, and is the formal beginning of the American Revolution. A little known fact about the holiday is that the Declaration of Independence was actually signed on July 2, but the public did not know that it had been signed until two days later, at which point until the Declaration had been edited into its final form and was widely distributed. Americans commemorate the Fourth of July with outdoor picnics and barbeques, and sit down to enjoy elaborate fireworks displays at night.

 

LABOR DAY:

Labor Day is observed every year on the first Monday in September. The holiday originated in 1882 as the Central Labor Union of New York City sought to create "a day off for the working citizens," and the American Congress declared it a federal holiday on 1894. Traditionally, Labor Day is celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer. Today, Labor Day is often regarded as a day of rest and parades, and an occasion for picnics, barbecues, water sports, and a last chance for travel before the end of summer. Labor Day marks the beginning of the American football season at both the professional and university level.


COLUMBUS DAY:

Columbus Day commemorates Christopher Columbus’s discovery of America, and is celebrated on the second Monday in October. Many schools and businesses around the country close in recognition of the holiday, although many choose to stay open as well. Schools often have special lesson plans in the days leading up to the holiday that teach students about Columbus’s voyage and the importance of his arrival in the New World. Many members of the Italian-American community consider the holiday a celebration of their heritage.

 

VETERANS DAY:

Veterans Day is an annual American holiday honoring military veterans, and is celebrated on November 11. If November 11th falls on a weekend during a particular year, then the nearest weekday is designated for holiday leave. It was originally called Armistice Day, marking the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. In 1954 the name of the holiday was officially changed to Veterans Day, in order to recognize the sacrifices of American soldiers in subsequent military conflicts. Veterans Day is marked with parades and ceremonies to honor American servicemen and women around the country.

 

THANKSGIVING DAY:

Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. Although it was historically a religious observation to give thanks to God, it is now considered a secular holiday. Thanksgiving commemorates early English settlers’ success and gratitude after surviving an especially brutal first winter in America. Most Americans celebrate by gathering at home with family or friends for a holiday feast. The feast reflects the food eaten by American colonists, traditionally featuring dishes like mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, sweet corn, other fall vegetables, and pumpkin pie. A full turkey (often baked or fried) serves as the meal’s centerpiece, and has become so symbolically linked with the holiday that Thanksgiving is often referred to as “Turkey Day.” Although the Thanksgiving feast may appear to be an unnecessary indulgence, Thanksgiving is also an occasion for community service. Many Americans help to feed the needy at Thanksgiving time, and most communities have annual food drives that collect packaged and canned foods for this purpose.

 

CHRISTMAS DAY:

Like in many countries around the world, Christmas Day is a cause for celebration in the United States. Celebrated on December 25th, Christmas gives Americans of all religions time away from work and school that they can spend with friends and family. Although many Christian Americans commemorate the holiday by exchanging presents, many Americans of other faiths engage in holiday gift giving as well. Although the holiday has a strong religious foundation that is a key part of many Americans’ Christmas experience, for other Americans the holiday’s festivities take on a more secular role of setting the mood at the beginning of the winter season. Many neighborhoods and public areas are illuminated with strings of lights to give a festive mood, with many of these displays installed shortly after Thanksgiving. Some of the more famous Christmas displays include an enormous Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center in New York City, and Washington D.C.’s impressive National Christmas Tree that is displayed across the street from the White House.

Other celebrations in US:  

 

HALLOWEEN:

Halloween is a non-Federal holiday celebrated on October 31. The day is often associated with the colors orange and black, and is strongly associated with symbols such as the jack-o'-lantern, a hollowed-out pumpkin whose sides are carved to create small openings that become illuminated when a lit candle is placed inside it. Halloween activities include bonfires, costume parties, visiting seasonal attractions, carving jack-o'-lanterns, reading scary stories, and watching horror movies. Perhaps the most notable Halloween activity, however, is called “trick-or-treating.”

 

VALENTINE’S DAY:

Americans celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 14th. Although Valentine’s Day is not a Federal Holiday, it is nonetheless an important holiday for many Americans. The day is most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of "valentines". Valentine’s Day symbols include the heart-shaped outlines, doves, and images of the winged Cupid.


         

Basic facts about Russia

Russia is the largest country on earth, covering 17,075,000 square kilometers. Occupying the eastern part of Europe and the northern part of Asia, Russia is washed by the Arctic Ocean on the north and the Pacific Ocean on the east. To the west and south-west the country has exits to the Atlantic Ocean through Baltic and Black seas. Russia spreads over nine time zones.

The Russian plain extend throughout the western part of the country as far as the Urals, which run from the Arctic Ocean to the steppes of Kazakhstan. Beyond the Ural Mountains stretches the West Siberian plain. More to the east, between the River Lena and River Yenisei, is the Central Siberian Plateau. The Russian plain is bordered on the south by the Caucasian mountain range. Extremely wide rivers Ob, Lena and Yenisei flow into the Arctic Ocean from the Altai and Sayan Mountains.  The Sayan Range is bordered on the east by the mountains of the Baikal region. Lake Baikal is the world's oldest and deepest lake with average depth of 744.4 metres. In the Far East, the Sikhote-Alin Range runs parallel to the shore of the Pacific Ocean. The Kamchatka peninsula is also mountainous.

According to the population census of October 2010 Russia is inhabited by 142,9 million people of 130 nationalities. 78.5% of the population live in the European half of the country. The overwhelming majority of citizens are Russians.

The State structure of the Russian Federation is defined by the Constitution passed on 12 December 1993. The Head of State of Russia and the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces is the President, who is elected for a six-year term by secret ballot based on general egalitarian and direct voting law.

Russian political system is a multi-party one with the ruling United Russia party being a dominant force. Presently four parties are represented in the federal parliament (the State Duma) – "United Russia", Communist Party, Liberal Democratic Party, "Just Russia" Party.

Russia is rich in natural resources, with large reserves of iron, nickel, aluminium and other metal ores, coal, oil, natural gas, tungsten, molybdenum, mercury and gold.

Russian industry is world-famous for its high technological level and science-intensive products. Heavy machine construction is currently the leader, producing steam and gas equipment, turbines, large motors and current isolators, boilers, steam generators and petroleum chemicals.

Russia is famous for its scientific achievements. The first ever launch of a rocket with "sputnik" (satellite) to outerspace and then the  first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, space stations, the first nuclear-powered ice-breaker reaching North Pole, modern nuclear power stations, Nobel prize winners in biology, mathematics, physics and other spheres – are only few to mention. Young Russian computer specialists are winners of many international competitions, including the World championship – 2011, and are welcomed throughout the world.

Culture and arts of the multinational Russian Federation have won hearts of people all round the globe. Many foreign tourists come to Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities of Russia to visit world famous museums, ancient palaces, theaters and art galleries, to hear opera singers, classical and modern music, to watch  world number one Russian classical ballet or modern performances. Russian literature needs no advertisement: names of Pushkin, Gogol, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Yesenin, Sholokhov, Gorky, Chekhov, Pasternak, Bunin and many other poets and writers are well known to any man of culture. Music of such composers as Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, Rakhmaninov, Shostakovich, Prokofiev rank among the finest world achievements in this sphere. Russian films are always among highest prize winners at various international film festivals.

Russia
Official Name:             Russian Federation
Capital:                        Moscow
(and largest city)
Official language(s)    Russian official throughout the country
Ethnic groups:             Russians 79.8%, Tatars 3.8%, Ukrainians 2%,

                                      Bashkirs 1.2%,  Chuvashes 1.1%, Chechens 0.9%,                                                      Armenians 0.8%, other 10.4%
Demonym:                    Russian
Government:                Federal semi-presidential republic  -  

President:                     Dmitry Medvedev  
Prime Minister:            Vladimir Putin
Chairman of the Federation Council:    Alexander Torshin (acting)  
Chairman of the State Duma:                 Boris Gryzlov
Legislature:                                               Federal Assembly   
Upper House - Federation Council  -
Lower House -  State Duma
Area :                     Total 17,075,400 km2 (1st) 6,592,800 sq mi   
Water (%) 13[2] (including swamps)
Population:              2010 census 142,905,
GDP (PPP):            2010 estimate   
Total $2.219 trillion
Per capita $15,807
GDP (nominal):      2010 estimate - Total $1.477 trillion
Per capita $10,522
Currency:                Ruble (RUB)
Time zone:              UTC+2 to +11 (exc. +4) -  
Summer:                 (DST)  (UTC+3 to +12 (exc. +5)  



 

Message of His Excellency Mr. Vladimir P. Mikhaylov,

Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka

Dear Sri Lankan friends!

It gives me great pleasure to address friendly people of Sri Lanka on the occasion of the Day of Russia that is celebrated on June 12. This day the Russian people at home and around the globe rejoice with strong patriotic sentiments in their hearts and honour our Motherland, a country with more than thousand-year-long history, unique legacy and culture, which has united on a vast expanse a multitude of peoples, religions and languages.

The National Day of the Russian Federation was established in 1990 to mark the beginning of a new era in its history – foundation of a new, democratic state. Present-time Russia is a strong nation with stable political, economic and social structure which provides necessary foundation for its successful development in all spheres and most efficient use of our rich human and natural resources.

Absolute priority for the Russian Government is to fulfill its social commitments for the welfare of its citizens. Today Russia is engaged in modernization of its economy based on innovations, investments, infrastructure development and strengthening of contemporary state and public institutions.

Russia believes that its successful development needs democratic and just international relations both in political and economic spheres. One of the main goals of the Russian foreign policy is the establishment of a new, multipolar global architecture of international relations based upon international law and principles of the UN Charter.

As it was stated by H.E. President of the Russian Federation Dmitry A. Medvedev, the central aim of the Russian foreign policy is to create favourable conditions for the comprehensive development of the country, high-grade modernization of its economy and thereupon – securing the deserved place for the Russian Federation in the international relations system. Russian foreign policy maintains multiple-vector character, it is open for cooperation on the principles of equality and respect of mutual interests with all those ready for that.

Russia is not only European but also an Asian country, not just because of its geographic location but due to its history, culture and religions. Russian people have the unique experience to live peacefully together with many ethnicities. It gives our country the opportunity to become a strong bridge between the East and the West.

Relations of the Russian Federation with the states and organizations of the Asia – Pacific region are developing especially active. Russia joined the East Asian Summits, "Asia – Europe" forum, Bali democratic forum. Activity to establish new security and cooperation architecture in the region, including promotion of the respective Russia – China initiative gained new momentum.   Participation of Russia in G-8, Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS is another important resource of its activity in the "multipolar dimension".

H.E. Dmitry Medvedev in his recent speech at the BRICS summit in Sanya stressed that Russia’s future is inseparably tied with Asia-Pacific region just because Russia itself is a part of it and interested in its quickest progress. High-tech economy, modern energetics, transport and logistics are the areas that could give a powerful incentive for regional collaboration. More and more regional partners see Russia as factor of stability and steady development.

It is obvious, that only by joint efforts, acting on the basis of common principles and avoiding double standards we can face the modern challenges such as terrorism, religious and national extremism, drug crimes, sea piracy, climate changes, natural hazards, epidemics, financial crises, energy and food shortages.

The friendly relations between Russia and Sri Lanka are time-tested, strong and sincere. Russia supported struggle of the legitimate government of Sri Lanka against terrorists and separatists and welcomed its efforts to make  the island "the oasis of prosperity in Asia”. We are sure that nobody in the world is more interested in the earliest complete reconciliation, then the people of Sri Lanka, and hope that they will make this dream true in near future with support of friendly nations.

Moscow and Colombo have similar views on almost every aspect of the international agenda and support each other's initiatives at various organizations and fora. The exchange of delegations and opinions on further strengthening of bilateral ties intensifies. The past year was marked with significant achievements in bilateral cooperation. The Sri Lanka – Russia Parliamentary Friendship Association was created under patronage of Hon. Chamal Rajapaksa, Speaker of Parliament with Hon. Susil Premajayantha being its President, with Hon. D.E.W.Gunasekera, Hon. Basil Rajapaksa and Hon. Ponnambalam Selvarasa elected as Vice-Presidents and Hon. Wimal Weerawansa – as its Secretary. I am sure that active collaboration of this Association with the similar Russian one can greatly contribute to strengthening the bilateral ties.

I hope many Sri Lankans remember friendly visit to Colombo of the Flag Ship of the Russian Navy Black Sea Fleet missile cruiser “Moskva” in August 2010 and participation of the major anti-submarine ship of the Russian Pacific Fleet "Admiral Vinogradov" in the 60th Jubilee of the Sri Lanka Navy.

Colombo became even more beautiful when last August the sculptural portrait of the great Russian writer Anton Chekhov was unveiled in Grand Oriental Hotel and the plaque dedicated to his 150th birth anniversary and 120 years since he visited Ceylon was unveiled in the Galle Face Hotel in December.

In April 2011 Sri Lanka and Russia jointly celebrated the 50th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin flight to outer space. The bust of the first cosmonaut was unveiled in the Galle Face Hotel by Hon. D.M.Jayarathne, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, and Russian cosmonaut V.A.Lyakhov. A special mail stamp was issued and solemnly cancelled at the presence of H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka, in commemoration of the flight and the 50th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin visit to Ceylon.

Russian businessmen expressed their readiness to participate in house construction and other economic projects in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is a magnet for many Russians who want to explore the magic and hospitality of this beautiful island. The forthcoming start of direct flights between Moscow and Colombo will make their journeys easier.

The Government of the Russian Federation sent one more aircraft with 30 tons of humanitarian aid to Colombo to assist floods victims and recently $ 3,4 mln. were transferred to the Fund of the International Civil Defence Organization specifically to finance the costs of the humanitarian demining in Sri Lanka.

There is no doubt that friendly relations between Russia and Sri Lanka will further strengthen and develop for the benefit of the peoples of our countries. The forthcoming visit of H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka, to Russia to participate in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum will certainly give new impetus to our cooperation and deepen mutual understanding.

Finally, I’d like to extend to the friendly people of Sri Lanka, H.E. President M. Rajapaksa   and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka my cordial wishes of prosperity, continued progress and peace and thank all those who have sent congratulations with the Day of Russia and expressed warm feelings toward the Russian Federation.

Russian traditions

In ancient times, the territory of Russia was inhabited by Eastern Slavic tribes. The modern population of Russia is mostly descended from these tall, handsome, strapping men and women. Much has been passed down through the ages and generations, retained in our physical appearances, characters, habits and customs. The ancestors tilled the soul (bread was their main food), bred cattle, hunted, fished and kept bees. They were pagans and worshipped the gods of the sun (known as Dazbog or Jarilo), wind (Stribog) and thinder (Perun). The end of the frosts signaled widespread festivities, seeing of the winter and greeting the spring. People baked round pancakes symbolizing the sun and burnt straw effigies of winter.

A special atmosphere of cordiality arises whenever close friends and relatives gather for refreshments or conversation. Drinking tea with spice cakes, ginger-bread, biscuits, pies and pancakes is a Russian national custom. There is something magically enchanting about sitting around the samovar with a steaming cup of tea. The character of the Russian people is reflected in its love of festivities, accompanied by mass gatherings, traditional games, singing, dancing and other forms of entertainment.

The Christmas Eve is celebrated on the 6th of January, modern calendar, which is 24th of December by Orthodox calendar. Carol-singers dress up and go round all the houses in the village, praising the birth of the Saviour.

Fishing is one of the most popular pastimes of the Russian people. Fishing under the ice is as important as summer angling in a country with such long and arduous winters as Russia. Hunting was both a necessity of life and a popular pastime in Russia.

For Russians there is nothing healthier and better than native Russian food, to which they are accustomed, derived from the experience of the centuries, handed down from fathers to children and justified by geographical location, climate and lifestyle. One of the staple Russian fares has always been "kasha", or porridge, which also has a ritual significance. It was eaten to celebrate the birth of a new baby or to remember the dead. The bride and groom cooked porridge at their wedding, leading to the popular expression "you won't cook porridge with him or her". Bread and grain are the two main foodstuffs in Russia, reflected in such national adages as "buckwheat porridge is our mother and rye bread is our father".

Special attention was paid to the construction and decoration of houses. As forests grew everywhere, the most accessible building material was wood. Clay and the potter's wheel were another traditional medium and technique in Russia. Clay vessels were fired in kilns and decorated with simple ornamentation. There are two wooden souvenirs that can be found in almost every American, British, German, French or other tourist's suitcase returning home from Russia: one is a "Matryoshka" doll, the other – apiece of "Khokhloma".

Russia is a multi-religious state

Russia is a multi-confessional country, inhabited by Orthodox Christians, Muslims, Catholics, Buddhists, Jews and representatives of other religions.

The acceptance of Orthodox (Eastern) Christianity in 998 marked the start of a new historical period, linking Russia to Christian culture and making Orthodox Christianity the basis of the way of life of its people.

There are at least fifteen million adherents of Islam in Russia. They are mostly concentrated in the Volga region of central Russia, Western Siberia, the Caucasus, Moscow Region. St. Petersburg Mosque, when built, was the largest in Europe and the most northern in the world. Recently the newly constructed mosque in the capital of Chechnya – Grozny city has become the biggest.

In 1841, Buddhism – in the form of Lamaism or Tibetan Buddhism – was recognized as one of the official religions of the Russian Empire. The first Buddhist university monastery – Tamchinsky Datsan – was founded in Buryatia. A datsan was even opened in St. Petersburg, the capital of the Russian Empire. A Buddhist temple continues its functioning in St. Petersburg now. Some societies even invite monks from foreign countries, including Sri Lanka, to improve their knowledge of Buddhism and to practice meditation.

Relations between the Buddhists of Sri Lanka and Russia started to strengthen in 1958 when the two countries established diplomatic relations. The most important event in bilateral relations was the awarding of the Lenin Peace Prize to Rev. Udukandawala Siri Saranankara in February 1958 for his campaign against nuclear tests on the Christmas Islands in the Pacific. Exchanges of religious delegations increased during the sixties, and a representative delegation led by the chief priests of Asgiriya and Malwatta temples visited the Soviet Union in the eighties. On almost every occasion Sri Lankan monks have visited the Ivolginsky temple in Buryatia.

The recent visit of the former president of Kalmikia Mr. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov to Sri Lanka and his meetings with President of Sri Lanka Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka D.M.Jayarathne gave impetus to the development and strengthening of ties between the Buddhists of the two countries.

Judaism is also a traditional confession in Russia. Our country has the world's third largest number of Jewish religious communities after Israel and the United States. More than a hundred years ago, large synagogues were built in both Moscow and St. Petersburg. Synagogues also function in many other towns.


RUSSIAN BALLET

In Russia, ballet is passion shared by most people there. Most girls in Russia dream of becoming a ballerina. Becoming a ballerina requires eight years of study.

The most prestigious academy is the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, located in St. Petersburg, Russia. The Vaganova Academy was established in 1738.

The most prestigious dance company is known as the Mariinsky Theatre. The Mariinsky is housed in Russia's most prestigious ballet theatre. In order to be selected by The Mariinsky Theatre, a ballerina has to be the best of the best.  The Ballet Theatre has one hundred and twenty female dancers and one hundred male dancers.

There are some very dedicated artists, these individuals are so dedicated to their craft, that they even come to the theatre to practice on their day of. The main objective of most dancers is to become, a prima ballerina. In Russia prima ballerinas are treated with great respect, they have a prestigious standing in Russian Society.

Russian Ballet is considered more extreme, than how it is practiced in the rest of the planet. To the Russian people, ballet is considered an art to be revered, at the end of each performance, many of the admirers gather at the back of the theatre to greet the performers and to give them gifts. The exchange between the admirers and the cherished performers is very emotional and full of love.

Russian Ballerinas are in a class all by themselves. With their rigorous training and their selfless devotion to the art of ballet, they have taken the dance to new heights. These stars of today and tomorrow are honored in the ballet documentary Ballerina.


Russia and Sri Lanka:
Close Friends and Equal Partners

The first visit of Russians to Ceylon was registered in 1799, when Navy officer Yuri Lisiansky and his friends came ashore in Galle. Then count Saltykov came to Ceylon twice – in 1841 and 1845-46 and later published a book of his impressions of the beautiful and exotic country, its people and their culture, religion and traditions.

Early in the 90-s of 19th century Anton Chekhov and Ivan Bunin – two prominent Russian writers – traveled around Ceylon. A.Chekhov went to Kandy and described the island as a "paradise". I.Bunin visited Anuradhapura – the ancient capital of the country, both of them reminisced the sojourn in "God blessed land" in their stories, verses and letters that are still popular among the audience.

The first official representative of the Russian Empire – honourary consul in Galle – was appointed in 1882, and vice-consul in Colombo – in 1887. Diplomatic relations between the USSR and Ceylon were established on February 19, 1957.

The Soviet Union strongly supported anti-colonial struggle of the people of Ceylon. The Agreement on cooperation in economic and technical spheres between the Soviet Union and Ceylon signed on February 25, 1958 laid basis for steady and progressive development of bilateral ties. The USSR assisted Ceylon in construction of Oruwala Steel and Modera Flour Mills, Kelaniya Tyre Factory,  Samanala Weva hydro-energetic project and others. Due assistance was given by Soviet experts in defence and education. In 1961 Yury Gagarin – the first cosmonaut – visited Ceylon with his wife, where they received extremely warm welcome.

After disintegration of the Soviet Union some decline in bilateral contacts and cooperation was seen, though mutual friendly feelings remained strong. Gradually, with the Russian Federation gaining its proper place and role on the international arena, relations between our two states, official and public contacts in all spheres became more intensive.

At present the ties between Moscow and Colombo based on mutual respect, understanding and cooperation continue to strengthen. Our two countries enjoyed intensive and fruitful political dialogue. In October 2009 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov paid a visit to Colombo, was received by H.E. the President of Sri Lanka M.Rajapaksa and held talks with his counterpart. Both heads of the foreign ministries confirmed traditionally friendly nature of bilateral relations and close approaches to key international issues. In February 2010 H.E. the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa made his first landmark working visit to the Russian Federation and received warm welcome from the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. During the talks the two sides reiterated their positions on counter-terrorism efforts, signed an agreement in the sphere of military-technical assistance and MoU on cooperation in mass communications. At the meeting with academia in the Moscow Peoples’ Friendship University M.Rajapaksa was awarded honourary title of the Doctor of Sciences.

The Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Russia and Sri Lanka hold regular ministerial level consultations. Moscow and Colombo reiterated their similar approaches to the key international issues such as fair world order, the UN central role on the international arena, non-militarization of outer space, peaceful settlement of regional conflicts, etc.

The peoples of Russia and Sri Lanka are well aware of the atrocious and devastating essence of terrorism. Having suffered itself from separatism and international terrorism Russia unflinchingly supported the efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka to eradicate these evils, welcomed post-war reconciliation and development.

Nowadays Russian and Sri Lankan business communities show keen and growing interest for widening the scope of bilateral economic and commercial cooperation into new fields. More Russian tourists visit Sri Lanka and enjoy the hospitality and natural beauties of the "Pearl of the Indian Ocean". Both sides attach great significance to the speediest completion of deliberations on bilateral draft Agreements, which can facilitate process of fostering our links. It is also worth mentioning that Russian and Sri Lankan Sides are closely working on possible participation of the Russian companies in a number of projects concerning modernization and uplifting of certain industrial facilities of Sri Lanka with active involvement of the Sri Lanka – Russia Business Council.

In March 2011 the Sri Lanka – Russia Parliamentary Friendship Association was established with the aim to strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation.

Russia has also helped the people of Sri Lanka to cope with natural disasters and humanitarian problems. After heavy rains and floods in the east of the island  the Government of the Russian Federation in March 2011 sent a special aircraft  with 30 tons of humanitarian aid. The Russian Federation continues to assist Sri Lankan Government in landmine clearance of the liberated territories by providing necessary financial assistance.

Taking into consideration time-tested nature of the Russia – Sri Lanka bonds of friendship and cooperation, we are confident that there are bright  opportunities for their even more fruitful development in the future.


 

ITALY

Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a unitary parliamentary republic in south-central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia along the Alps. To the south it consists of the entirety of the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Sardinia—the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea—and many other smaller islands. The independent states of San Marino and the Vatican City are enclaves within Italy, whilst Campione d'Italia is an Italian exclave in Switzerland. The territory of Italy covers some 301,338 km2 (116,347 sq mi) and is influenced by a temperate seasonal climate. With 60.6 million inhabitants, it is the fifth most populous country in Europe, and the 23rd most populous in the world.

  President - Giorgio Napolitano, born 29 June 1925 is an Italian politician and former lifetime senator, the 11th and current President of the Italian Republic. His election took place on 10 May 2006, and his term started with the swearing-in ceremony held on 15 May 2006. He is the first President of Italy to have been a member of the Italian Communist Party.

Prime Minister - Silvio Berlusconi, born 29 September 1936) is an Italian politician, the current Prime Minister of Italy, as well as an entrepreneur. He is also known under the nickname Il Cavaliere (literally, The Knight), due to the knighthood Order of Merit for Labour which he received in 1977.
He is the second longest-serving Prime Minister of Italy, after Benito Mussolini. He held this position on three separate occasions: from 1994 to 1995, from 2001 to 2006 and currently since 2008.

Capital                            Rome
(and largest city)     41°54′N 12°29′E
Official language(s)     Italian
Demonym     Italian
Government     Unitary parliamentary republic
President     Giorgio Napolitano
Prime Minister     Silvio Berlusconi (PdL)
Legislature     Parliament
Upper House     Senate of the Republic
Lower House     Chamber of Deputies
Formation
Unification     17 March 1861
Republic     2 June 1946
Area
Total     301,338 km2 (71st)
116,346 sq mi
Water (%)     2.4
Population
2010 estimate     60,605,053[2] (23rd)
2001 census     56,995,744
Density     201.1/km2 (61st)
520.9/sq mi
Currency     Euro (€)  (EUR)

MESSAGE FROM THE AMBASSADOR OF ITALY, FABRIZIO PIO ARPEA

As Ambassador of Italy in Sri Lanka, on the occasion of the celebration of the Italian National day, I am pleased to acknowledge the excellent status of the bilateral relations between our two Countries.

Trade has constantly increased, with the commercial balance largely in favour of Sri Lanka. Even during the difficult years of the conflict, Italian investors have not turned away, but have kept their confidence in the long-term possibilities of the Srilankan economy. Now, with the achievement of peace and stability, as well as with the ongoing process of national reconciliation, investors from Italy show a growing interest in the potential of sectors such as tourism or textile manufacturing.

Although the relations between our two Countries date back to the Roman Empire, they were enhanced tremendously as a consequence of Italy’s participation in the post-tsunami reconstruction. Almost 100 million EUROS of Italian public and private funds have been spent for the implementation of over 100 projects. To this respect I wish to highlight how more than half of this amount was the direct contribution of the Italian people, who gave spontaneously and generously to help the reconstruction of a Friend Country dramatically hit by unpredictable forces of nature.

Also during the recent floods which have heavily affected large areas of the North and East of the Country, the Government of Italy was able to promptly organize a flight of humanitarian goods for the benefit of the local population.

This year Italy celebrates the 150th anniversary of Unity, a process which took time, will, commitment and a large share of suffering for the families of all those who sacrificed their lives while fighting for freedom and independence. The Embassy of Italy will organize a series of events to celebrate this important moment of our national history, starting from a concert of classical music. I will continue the commitment to spread among our Srilankan friends the knowledge of the Italian culture in all its aspects: music, opera, cinema, visual art, fashion, design.

The links between our two Governments have been strenghtened by the confirmation, year after year, of the provision of a quota for working visas, both seasonal and non seasonal, in favour of Srilankan citizens. The presence of a peaceful, hard-working and increasingly integrated srilankan community in Italy is the best example of the closeness of people. In order to further enhance the integration of Srilankan citizens in Italy, we have recently signed a bilateral agreement on the recognition of driving licences, so that Srilankans residents in Italy will be able to drive without the need of an exam.

The cooperation between the two Countries continues in different areas: an Italian expert in frescos and mural paintings, Fabrizio Bandini from the Opificio delle Pietre Dure in Florence, a world famous Italian institute specialized in the restoration of artworks, has just spent three weeks in Sri Lanka to provide his assistance and advice for the conservation of the numerous archaeological sites of the Country. He has visited the major historic sites, like Sigiryia, Dambulla, Kandy, Polonnaruwa, and has conducted workshops with srilankan experts in the field. This is the follow-up of a long-established collaboration between Italy and Sri Lanka, which started in the 60s with the visits of Professor Luciano Maranzi from Rome, who helped the Srilankan experts to restore the Sigiriya frescos after they were vandalised.

Sri Lanka is now facing a new beginning, and Italy hopes that the political institutions and the different communities of the Country will approach the challenges ahead with mutual understanding, pragmatism, fairness and generosity. The stable political framework which the Country enjoys will facilitate the shaping of a Sri Lanka in which every individual will be able to express the pride to be member of a just and equal society.

On behalf of the Italian people and Governement, I avail myself of this opportunity to wish peace, stability and prosperity to Sri Lanka and all Srilankans, as well as a long and strong friendship between our two Countries.

Sri Lanka-Italy Friendship Society

Founded by a group of Italians and their Srilankan friends under the patronage of the Italian Embassy, the Sri Lanka Italy Friendship Society has been promoting the development of ties and friendship since its inception in the early seventies.

In the year 2000 the activities start to intensify and many cultural and social events were organised.

Under the presidencies of Dr. Sebastian Pillai and Dr. Carlo Andrenelli the charity activities start to develop with targeted events.

Proceeds from these events have supported different charities in Sri Lanka.
Last year’s beneficiaries were the Centre for Performing Arts under Father Saveri and a home for elders, as well as Shanti Community Animation Movement, established by Father Catalano.

This year the society has enhanced the charity activity and extended its support to The Daughters of Providence for the Deaf & Dumb under Mather Chidinma Onyeozin and Rekawa Foundation - Protection For The Unprotected.

NORWAY

Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe occupying the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, as well as Jan Mayen, the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island . Norway has a total area of 385,252 square kilometres (148,747 sq mi) and a population of about 4.9 million. It is the second least densely populated country in Europe. The majority of the country shares a border to the east with Sweden; its northernmost region is bordered by Finland to the south and Russia to the east; in its south Norway borders the Skagerrak Strait, across which Denmark is situated. The capital city of Norway is Oslo. Norway's extensive coastline, facing the North Atlantic Ocean and the Barents Sea, is home to its famous fjords.

Facts & Figures

Norway is a constitutional democracy in Northern Europe with a population of 4.8 million inhabitants.

Head of State:                His Majesty King Harald V of Norway
Head of Government:            Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg
Area:                    385 199 km²
Population (2009):            4 799 252
Population per km² land area:     16
Capital city:                 Oslo
Language:                 Norwegian (Bokmål and Nynorsk)                                 (In some districts, Sámi is also an official language)
State Church:                 Church of Norway (Evangelical Lutheran)
GDP (2008):                 NOK 2 548 billion (€ 295,2 billion)
GDP (per capita, 2008):         NOK 534 440 (€ 61 915)
Currency:                 Norwegian kroner (NOK) 1 krone = 100 øre
Constitution Day:             17 May
Population growth (2008):         1.3
Average life expectancy (2008):     Female: 83 years Male:  78 years


King : Harald V of Norway

Harald V (born 21 February 1937) is the king of Norway. He succeeded to the throne of Norway upon the death of his father Olav V on 17 January 1991. The son of the then-Crown Prince Olav and of Princess Märtha of Sweden, Harald was born at the Crown Prince Residence at Skaugum, Akershus, Norway.
A member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, originally from Northern Germany, Harald became the first Norwegian-born prince since Olav IV, who was born in 1370. Harald V is the formal head of the Church of Norway and the Norwegian Armed Forces. He has two children, Crown Prince Haakon and Princess Märtha Louise. His grandchildren are Maud Angelica (2003), Leah Isadora (2005), Emma Tallulah (2008), Princess Ingrid Alexandra (2004), and Prince Sverre Magnus (2005).

Prime Minister: Jens Stoltenberg

Jens Stoltenberg (born 16 March 1959) is a Norwegian politician, leader of the Norwegian Labour Party and the current Prime Minister of Norway. Having assumed office on 17 October 2005, Stoltenberg previously served as Prime Minister from 2000 to 2001.


President of the Storting: Dag Terje Andersen

Dag Terje Andersen (born 27 May 1957 in Frogn, Akershus) is a Norwegian politician for the Norwegian Labour Party. In addition to professional politics he has been working at a steel mill and as a lumberjack, something that has given him a reputation for representing the average guy in politics.

Sri Lankan-Norwegian relations
Message from Ambassador Hilde Haraldstad
 
The 17th of May is the National Day of Norway. Norwegians celebrate the day to honour the Norwegian Constitution of 17th of May 1814, which later paved the way for our independence. The day is marked in Norway and by Norwegians all over the world, to celebrate freedom, democracy, peace and, after a cold winter, the coming of spring.
 
Norway has been a partner and a friend of Sri Lanka for many decades, starting with development cooperation forty-five years ago. We have been involved in numerous programmes and fields over the years, ranging from Rural Development in Hambantota and Moneragela, to fisheries in Jaffna and many parts of the country. We have been supporting the Chambers of Commerce, funded vocational training for plantation workers and others; rebuilt religious sites after the tsunami; funded Buddhist peace studies Academy in Kandy and given humanitarian assistance to the people of the east and north after the war. Our total investment in the country amounts more than USD 800 million, which with today’s exchange rates is equal to some Rs 90 billian.
 
As a result of the strong and solid nature of our relationship, Norway was asked to assist in the peace process at that time, an intense and challenging time in our bilateral relationship. To this day, the friendships and relations between our two countries remains strong, close, and many faceted. The positive meeting that took place in New York last fall between my Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapakse is a prime example of that.
 
Norway still enjoys extensive development cooperation with Sri Lanka. In addition to many ongoing projects in the south, support to demining, resettlement and livelihood in the north have also been given priority over the last few years. Gender balance and womens rights are high priority and important in all that we do. These days we are also exploring an exciting possible future cooperation on climate change with the Ministry of Environment.
 
The business ties and private sector cooperation between Sri Lanka and Norway are strong and increasingly important in our relationship. The Embassy is pleased to actively promote such a development. In under a year, a business delegation from Sri Lanka has visited Norway, similarly a group of some 25 representatives from the Norwegian fisheries sectors visited Sri Lanka in order to explore possibilities for joint ventures. It all took part under the much acclaimed Norwegian Matchmaking program, where the goal is to facilitate cooperation between private sectors in our two countries.
 
I am also indeed  pleased with the way cultural relations between our two countries have developed, in particular the music cooperation. Several concerts and workshops with Norwegian and Sri Lankan musician have been held over the last year, all over the country. Several Sri Lankan musicians have also visited Norway as part of the program. In March of this year Jaffna Music Festival was a unique event with its special focus on folk music and with participants from all over the country and from abroad. Norway is also supporting other cultural expressions in Sri Lanka, like literature, drama, art and dance, and we are working with Ministry of Culture on preservation of folk music and organizing workshops on copyright. A particular pet project of mine is the undertaking where libraries all over the country have been upgraded. A key component is mobile units; trishaws loaded with books bringing literature to the most remote parts of the island.
 
Let me just also mention the exciting student exchange program that is going on. Last week we had 30 students from Norway, Sri Lanka and other countries at the Norwegian Embassy, visiting Sri Lanka under the cooperation at master level between Ruhuna University and Agder University in Norway on development studies.  This week the students are enjoying the hospitality of host families in Hambantota.  We are currently planning the establishment of an alumni forum, inviting all Sri Lankans who have studied in Norway over the years to attend – realising they are quite a few, several hundreds actually. I have already met many during my travels - some of them even speak Norwegian.
 
On this occasion of my country’s national day celebration, and this year’s special and important Vesak celebration in Sri Lanka, let me emphasize my sincere and best wishes for Sri Lanka’s future and our bilateral relations. It is a privilege to celebrate this day in Sri Lanka, my first as Ambassador. It is a crucial time and a time of great opportunities for this country, to secure peace, reconciliation, development and future stability. Norway remains committed to support Sri Lanka in its endeavor to prosper and develop in the future.


Business Match-Making Programme

As Sri Lanka strengthens its position as a middle-income country, the content of the relationship between Sri Lanka and Norway is changing. Traditional elements such as development cooperation will gradually be reduced, whereas cooperation between equal footed institutional partners and business is increasing. Commercial ties are and will be increasingly important in the future.

Beatrix of the Netherlands – The Head of State

Beatrix (Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard; born 31 January 1938) is the queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands comprising the Netherlands, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Aruba. She is the first daughter of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. She studied law at Leiden University. In 1966, she married Claus von Amsberg, with whom she had three children: Prince Willem-Alexander (born 1967), Prince Friso (born 1968), and Prince Constantijn (born 1969). When her mother Juliana abdicated on 30 April 1980, Beatrix succeeded her as Queen of the Netherlands. She was widowed in 2002.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte (VVD) 

Mark Rutte born 14 February 1967) is a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). He has been the Prime Minister of the Netherlands since 14 October 2010.

The Netherlands

The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with parts in the Caribbean. It is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders with Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom. The capital is Amsterdam and the seat of government is The Hague.

The Netherlands in its entirety is often referred to as Holland, although North and South Holland are actually only two of its twelve provinces. The word Dutch is used to refer to the people, the language, and anything pertaining to the Netherlands.

The Netherlands is a geographically low-lying country, with about 25% of its area and 21% of its population located below sea level, and 50% of its land lying less than one metre above sea level. Significant land area has been gained through land reclamation and preserved through an elaborate system of polders and dikes. Much of the Netherlands is formed by the estuary of three important European rivers, which together with their distributaries form the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta. Most of the country is very flat, with the exception of foothills in the far southeast and several low-hill ranges in the central parts. The BES islands, or Caribbean Netherlands, became part of the Netherlands proper after the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles on 10 October 2010.

Capital and largest city                         Amsterdam
Official language                                    Dutch
Recognised regional languages          Frisian (in Friesland),
                                                                 Papiamento (in Bonaire),                                                                    English (in Saint Eustatius,Saba)

Ethnic groups                      Dutch80.7%,
                                              EU 5%,
                                              Indonesian 2.4%
                                              Turkish2.2%,
                                             Surinamese2%,    
                                             Moroccan 2%,
                                             Dutch Caribbean 0.8%,
                                             other 4.8%

Demonym Dutch
Government Parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch  -  

Monarch – Queen Beatrix  

Prime Minister Mark Rutte (VVD)  


Deputy Prime Minister      Maxime Verhagen (CDA)
Legislature States-            General  -  
Upper House                      Senate  -  
Lower House                    House of Representatives
Independence                   As result of the Eighty Years' Warfrom the Spanish Empire  -  
Declared                            26 July 1581   -  
Recognized                       30 January 1648  
EU accession                   25 March 1957
Area  -                              Total 41,848 km2 (135th) 16,158 sq mi   -
                                           Water (%) 18.41
Population  -                  2011 estimate 16,665,000[3] (61st)  -  
Density                           401.3/km2 (28th)1,039.4/sq mi
Currency                         Euro (€)

Message from the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands HE Mrs Leoni Cuelenaere in Colombo

On the occasion of our Queen's Day, April 30, when Her Majesty Queen Beatrix officially celebrates her birthday, I am happy to pen these few lines to supplement this Royal celebration.  In the Netherlands festive events are organised throughout the country and Netherlands diplomatic missions throughout the world organise receptions and special events to honour Her Majesty the Queen on this day.

Here in Sri Lanka the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands also takes an active part to mark this as a very special and significant day.  Since four hundred years, the relations between the Netherlands and Sri Lanka have grown remarkably.  Trade has been the forte in the Dutch history and it is the very thing that brought our ancestors to explore Sri Lanka.  The Dutch traders were immensely attracted to trading spices from Sri Lanka.  Although more than four hundred years have since gone by, we greatly value the mutual heritage that we share with this beautiful island.  The two nations have remained friends since then and the Netherlands has happily extended its co-operation towards the development of Sri Lanka.  

With the assistance of the Netherlands Government we have completed the projects undertaken with the Southern Cultural Triangle Concept.  In Galle, the conservation of the Old Dutch warehouse and rehabilitation of the maritime museum and the conservation of the ancient ramparts of the Fort can be highlighted as the key projects that are now being concluded.  The Construction of the museum cum visitor’s centre in Kataragama foremost benefit the local population in the Southern region and as well as others from various parts of the country to promote mutual understanding among different cultures.  The restoration and conservation work of the ancient Dutch Naval Commissioner’s House in Trincomalee has been completed and it will be ceremonially opened to the public shortly. The Jaffna Fort is also being conserved with the assistance of the Netherlands Government.

Trade receives the top most priority as it is the defining factor in the Dutch history.  In the current context, although trading has changed its outfit since ancient times, the Netherlands markets many of its products and services throughout the world.  A number of Dutch companies are represented in Sri Lanka and I am happy to mention here that bilateral trade between our two countries is growing remarkably.  The Netherlands also contributes its assistance to the environment and water sectors, good governance and human rights as these are highlighted areas of the Dutch policy.

I am also happy to mention here that the political interests of the Sri Lankan Parliamentarians in the democratic parliamentary system in the Netherlands have pursued them to revive the Netherlands Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Association recently.  This will no doubt give more opportunities for political co-operation between the two nations.

Finally in conclusion, I would like to reiterate that the Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands in Colombo is firmly committed to further strengthen the cordial and friendly bilateral relations that happily exist between our two nations.

Holland or the Netherlands?

The Netherlands is often called Holland, because of the role the two western provinces North and South Holland played in its history. This region encompasses Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and other well-known Dutch cities such as Delft, Leiden and Haarlem. However, officially, it is the Kingdom of the Netherlands, consisting of three parts: the Netherlands itself in Western Europe, the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba in the Caribbean.

The country and its people

More than 16 million people call the Netherlands home. It is the most densely populated country in Europe and one of the most densely populated countries in the world. More than forty percent of the total population lives in the urban agglomeration area called the Randstad.

Rulers
50 BC - 400 AD The Romans
400-800 AD - The Franks
800-1200 AD - German Rule
1300-1600 - Various Rulers
1500-1700 - The Battle against the Spaniards
1600-1800 - The Golden Age
1790-1932 - The Independent Kingdom
1940-1945 - World War II

Queen's Day

Queen’s Day, 30 April, is a national holiday in the Netherlands. On this day, the entire country is coloured in orange. Events and celebrations are held throughout the country, including the popular ‘Queen’s Night’ celebration in The Hague on the eve before Queen’s Day and the public street market in Amsterdam on the holiday itself - regardless of the weather. The Royal family visits one to two towns each year. The current queen, Queen Beatrix, was actually born on 31 January, but the tradition of celebrating the birthday of her mother, the former Queen Juliana (1909-2004), has been upheld.

Embassy of Russian Federation in Colombo

Office Address     :     No:62, Sir Ernest de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 07
Office Days     :     Monday to Friday
Office Hours     :     8:00:00 AM to 2:30:00 PM
Monday     :     8.00 a.m. - 7.30 p.m.
National Day     :     June , 12
Telephone     :     2573555/2574959
      :    2685440
Fax     :     2574957
Email     :      This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website     :     http://www.sri-lanka.mid.ru

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Embassy of Royal of Saudi Arabia in Colombo

Office Address     :     No:39, Sir Ernest de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 07
Office Days     :     Monday to Friday
Office Hours     :     9:00:00 AM to 4:00:00 PM
Friday     :     9.00 a.m. - 1.00p.m. 9.00 a.m. 1.00 p.m.
National Day     :     September , 23
Telephone     :     2682087/2682089
      :    5333827/5333238
Fax     :     2682088/2682090
Email     :      This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Embassy of Sweden in Colombo

Office Address     :     No:49, Bullers Lane, P.O. Box : 1072, Colombo 07
Office Days     :     Monday to Friday
Office Hours     :     7:30:00 AM to 4:15:00 PM
Monday to Thursday     :     8.00 am. - 10:00 a.m. .8:00 am to 12:00 am
National Day     :     June , 6
Subcriber Dial No.
(from abroad)     :     0094
Telephone     :     4795400
Fax     :     4795400
Email     :      This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Embassy of Switzerland in Colombo

Office Address     :     No:63, Gregory's Road, P.O. Box 342, Colombo 07
Office Days     :     Monday to Friday
Office Hours     :     7:30:00 AM to 4:00:00 PM
National Day     :     August , 1
Telephone     :     2695117
Fax     :     2695176
Email     :      This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Embassy of Royal Thai of Thailand in Colombo

Office Address     :     9th Floor, Greenlanka Towers, 46.46, Nawam Mawatha, Colombo 02
Office Days     :     Monday to Friday
Office Hours     :     8:30:00 AM to 4:30:00 PM
Visa application     :     8.30 a.m. - 11.30 a.m. .8:00 am to 12:00 am
National Day     :     December , 5
Telephone     :     2302500/3
Fax     :     2304511
Email     :      This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Colombo

Office Address     :     44, Ernest de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 07
Office Days     :     Monday to Friday
Office Hours     :     9:00:00 AM to 3:30:00 PM
Visa application     :     8.30 a.m. - 11.30 a.m. .8:00 am to 12:00 am
National Day     :     December , 2
Telephone     :     2565052/3
Fax     :     2564104

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High Commission of United Kingdom in Colombo

Office Address     :    389 Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7
Office Days     :    Monday to Friday
Office Hours     :    8:00:00 AM to 4:30:00 PM
National Day     :    June , 8
Telephone     :    +94 115 390639
Fax     :    +94 115 390694
Email     :     This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Embassy of the United States of America in Colombo

Office Address     :     210, Galle Road, Colombo 03
Office Days     :     Monday to Friday
Office Hours     :     8:00:00 AM to 5:30:00 PM
National Day     :     July , 4
Telephone     :     2448007
      :    2421270/2422121
Fax     :     2437345

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High Commission of the Republic of Maldives in Colombo

Office Address     : No:23, Kavirathne Place, Colombo 08
Office Days     :     Monday to Friday
Office Hours     :     8:30:00 AM to 3:30:00 PM
National Day     :     July , 26
Telephone     :     5516302
      :    5516303
      :    2500943
Fax     :     2581200
Email     :      This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website     :     http:// www.maldiveshighcom.lk

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Embassy of the Union of Myanmar in Colombo

Office Address     :     4A, Rosmead Avenue, Rosmead Place, Colombo 07
Office Days     :     Monday to Friday
Office Hours     :     9:30:00 AM to 4:30:00 PM
National Day     :     January , 4
Telephone     :     2696440
Fax     :     2682052
Email     :      This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Embassy of Nepal in Colombo

Office Address     :    No:153, Kynsey Road, Colombo 08
Office Days     :    Monday to Friday
Office Hours     :    9:00:00 AM to 5:00:00 PM
Visa Hours     :    9.30 a.m. - 12.30 p.m
       
Telephone     :    2689656
     :    2689657
Fax     :    2689655
Email     :     This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Embassy of Royal Norwegian in Colombo

Office Address     :     No:34, Ward Place, Colombo 07
Office Days     :     Monday to Friday
Office Hours     :     8:30:00 AM to 4:30:00 PM
National Day     :     May , 17
Telephone     :     2469611
Fax     :     2695009
Email     :      This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website     :     http://www.norway.lk

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High Commission of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Colombo

Office Address     :     No: 53/6, Gregory's Road, Colombo 7
Office Days     :     Monday to Friday
Office Hours     :     9:00:00 AM to 5:00:00 PM
National Day     :     March , 23
Telephone     :     2696301/2
      :    2697392
Fax     :     2695780
Email     :      This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it - (Chancery)

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Embassy of the State of Palestine in Colombo
Office Address     : No:110/10, Wijerama Mawatha, P.O. Box 204, Colombo 07
Office Days     :     Monday to Friday
Office Hours     :     8:30:00 AM to 2:30:00 PM
National Day     :     November , 15
Telephone     :     2695991
Fax     :     2695992
Email     :      This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Embassy of the State of Qatar in Colombo

Office Address     :     No:11, Rajakeeya Mawatha, Old Race Course Avenue, Colombo 07
Office Days     :     Monday to Friday
Office Hours     :     9:00:00 AM to 5:00:00 PM
National Day     :     September , 3
Telephone     :     2690440-1
Fax     :     2690443

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Embassy of Romania in Colombo
Office Address     :     No: 14 A, Cambridge Terrace, Colombo - 07
Office Days     :     Monday to Friday
Office Hours     :     9:00:00 AM to 5:30:00 PM
National Day     :     December , 1
Telephone     :     2683421
Fax     :     2683422
Email     :      This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Embassy of Royal Netherlands in Colombo

Office Address     :     No:25, Torrington Avenue, Colombo 07
Office Days     :     Monday to Friday
Office Hours     :     8:30:00 AM to 4:00:00 PM
National Day     :     April , 30
Telephone     :     2596914
Fax     :     2502855
Email     :      This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website     :     http://www.netherlands.lk

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Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Colombo

Office Address     :     No: 400/50, Sarana Road, Off Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07
Office Days     :     Monday to Friday
Office Hours     :     9:00:00 AM to 5:00:00 PM
Consular     :     1.00 p.m. - 4.35 p.m. 9.30 a.m. - 12.30 p.m.
National Day     :     August , 17
Telephone     :     2674337
      :    2685042
Fax     :     2678668
Email     :      This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website     :     http://www.indonesianembassylanka.org

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Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Colombo

Office Address     :     No:5, Independence Avenue, Colombo 07
Office Days     :     Monday to Friday
Office Hours     :     9:00:00 AM to 5:00:00 PM
National Day     :     February , 11
Telephone     :     2681018
      :    2681019
Fax     :     2681017
Email     :      This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Colombo

Office Address     :     19, Barnes Place, P.O. Box : 79, Colombo 07
Office Days     :     Monday to Friday
Office Hours     :     8:30:00 AM to 3:30:00 PM
National Day     :     July , 17
Telephone     :     2698733
Fax     :     2697676

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Apostolic Nunciature of The Holy See in Colombo

Office Address     :    220, Bauddhaloka Mawata, Colombo 7
Office Days     :    Monday to Friday
Office Hours     :    8:30:00 AM to 5:00:00 PM
National Day     :    April , 19
Subcriber Dial No.
(from abroad)     :    0094
Telephone     :    2582554
     :    2597685
     :    2580906

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Embassy of the Republic of Italy in Colombo

Office Address     :     No:55, Jawatte Road, Colombo 05
Office Days     :     Monday to Friday
Office Hours     :     8:00:00 AM to 4:00:00 PM
National Day     :     June , 2
Telephone     :     2588388
Fax     :     4712272
Email     :      This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it - (General)
Website     :     http://sedi.esteri.it/colombo
Note     :      This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Embassy of Japan in Colombo

Office Address     :     No:20, Gregory's Road, Colombo 07
Office Days     :     Monday to Friday
Office Hours     :     9:00:00 AM to 5:00:00 PM
National Day     :     December , 23
Telephone     :     2693831/3
Fax     :     2698629
Email     :      This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Colombo

Office Address     :     No:98, Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 07
Office Days     :     Monday to Friday
Office Hours     :     8:30:00 AM to 4:30:00 PM
National Day     :     October , 3
Telephone     :     2699036/8
Fax     :     2696699
Email     :      This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Embassy of the State of Kuwait in Colombo

Office Address     :     No:292, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07
Office Days     :     Monday to Friday
Office Hours     :     8:30:00 AM to 3:30:00 PM
National Day     :     February , 25
Telephone     :     2597958
      :    2597959
      :    2597960
Fax     :     2597954
Email     :      This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Embassy of The People's Bureau of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in Colombo

Office Address     :     120, Hortan Place, P.O. Box 155, Colombo 07
Office Days     :     Monday to Friday
Office Hours     :     9:00:00 AM to 3:00:00 PM
National Day     :     September , 1
Telephone     :     2697300
      :    2697311
      :    2691549
Fax     :     5338881

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High Commission of Malaysia in Colombo

Office Address     :     No: 33, Bagatalle Road, Colombo 03
Office Days     :     Monday to Friday
Office Hours     :     8:15:00 AM to 4:15:00 PM
National Day     :     August , 31
Telephone     :     2554681
      :    2554682
      :    2554683
Fax     :     2554684
Email     :      This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it - (Administraiton & Consular)

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