Hon. Daya Weththasinghe, Chairman of the Organising Committee of FICAC’s 2nd South Asia Regional Conference It is my distinct honour and pleasure to welcome you all to this assembly today.
It is abundantly clear that we who constitute the consular representation of this entire region play a predominantly vital role in the international sphere to which we belong. It gives us a sense of belonging to direct the affairs within the ambit of our own representation.
Primarily, we concern ourselves with the focus on our individual national characteristics based on multilateral trades and our cultural traditions.
As we all know, in accordance with the Vienna Convention, career consuls are state officials, and honorary consuls who represent a foreign country in their native country, they are handpicked individuals of high reputation and are called upon to perform various duties entrusted to them in promoting commercial and cultural activities and, more importantly, looking after the interests and welfare of the citizens from the country you are representing during their visits to your country when they are subjected to face unforeseen difficulties in instances like loss of travel documents, accidents and even sudden demise.
Unfortunately, there are instances where citizens from the country you are representing are getting involved in illegal activities and are being subjected to legal action and punishment thereafter. We cannot turn a blind eye to such incidents, but have to extend our services and resources in helping to resolve such problems in the fastest possible time without interfering the legal system of the country.
We, as Consuls-General, should take pride in having been chosen to represent the foreign states in our countries and should make every effort to serve the state we are representing with utmost efficiency and ensure the cordial relationship between your native country and the country one represents.
In the course of our programme for the next few days, we shall have a mutual exchange of thoughts and ideas which will help the progress and development of our activities.
We are Ambassadors of Goodwill who represent many nations and are quite often placed in situations where we have to carry out our duties under difficult conditions, all of which we have overcome and performed well, mainly due to the co-operation and support extended to us by the officials of the countries we represent. I would also like to bring to your notice that the idea of holding this prestigious event in Sri Lanka was a suggestion put forward by the late Honorary Consul General of Czech Republic, Mr. Jayantha Fernando, to Honorary Consul General of Nauru in India, Mr. K.S. Bhalla, Chairman of the World Federation of Consuls South Asia Regional Committee and Vice President Emeritus – Hony. Consular Corps Diplomatique-India, with whom the Organising Committee has worked very closely to make this event a reality. Let me also, on behalf of the Organising Committee, extend my special thanks to Hon. Arnold Foote, the President of FICAC, who has been in constant touch and advising me and the Organising Committee, whether it is day or night, for the smooth and successful preparations of this event. Myself and the Organising Committee whilst appreciating your support, let me thank both of you.
At this moment, we also must appreciate the Honourable Prime Minister’s presence here with us as the chief guest to grace this occasion with all his busy schedule of work. Thank you, sir, for being with us this morning. Today, we too have Honourable Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Senior Minister of International Monetary Co-operation & Deputy Minister of Finance & Planning as the guest of honour. Sir, you have been always accommodating and helping our Association, whatever the time we need you. Thank you for being present here today.
I must thank His Excellency, the President of Sri Lanka, Honourable Mahinda Rajapaksa, for accommodating our request for our delegation to visit him this evening at the President’s Official Residence. Your Excellency, let me thank you and your staff, on behalf of my Organising Committee, for this gesture.
I am failing in my duties if I am not mentioning about the support we received from the External Affairs Ministry of Sri Lanka, especially the advice and guidelines offered to our Consular Association by Honourable Sajin Vass Gunawardane, Monitoring Member of Parliament, Ministry of External Affairs and his dedicated Ministry staff. If not for their support we would not have organised this event so well. It is my duty to thank him and his staff on behalf of the Organising Committee for co-coordinating this event so efficiently.
Let me also request from all of you present here today to bear with us for any shortcomings you may experience during the proceedings of this event as it would be due to reasons beyond the control of the Organising Committee and officials who have worked tirelessly to stage this 2nd FICAC South Asia Regional Conference in Colombo Sri Lanka.
While taking this opportunity to request all members present here in Sri Lanka to make this event a memorable one, I, as Chairman, and members of the Organising Committee wish you all a pleasant stay in Sri Lanka.
It is also my privilege and pleasure to accord a warm welcome specially to FICAC President, the Honourable Arnold Foote, and his charming wife, who are here with us this morning.
Thank you all.
