Covid-19: Switzerland sends humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka

08.06.2021 — Press release Sri Lanka
Switzerland expresses solidarity with Sri Lanka in its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. On Tuesday morning, 8 June 2021, over half a million antigen tests, 50 ventilators, 150 oxygen concentrators as well as other medical examination materials worth of LKR 800 million will arrive in Colombo. The Swiss aid is intended to benefit the population throughout the country, while witnessing the concrete sign of friendship and longer term collaboration between the two countries. 

Francophonie week from 13th- 25th March 2021

15.03.2021 — Local news Sri Lanka

Dear Fellow Swiss Citizens and Friends of Switzerland,

The Francophonie Sri Lanka 2021 festival will be celebrated from 13^th to 25^th  March 2021 and all the events can be followed on the official Facebook page.

The Swiss Embassy will present two events during this festival.

Diplomatic note

30.12.2019 — Position Sri Lanka

High-level contact between Switzerland and Sri Lanka: Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis calls Sri Lankan foreign minister and sends diplomats to maintain dialogue

19.12.2019 — Press release EDA
Switzerland is continuing high-level talks with Sri Lanka to resolve the current crisis. Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis phoned his Sri Lankan counterpart, Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, on 18 December 2019 to inform him that Switzerland was sending former ambassador Jörg Frieden to Sri Lanka. Under the lead of this experienced diplomat, possibilities for clarifying the security incident at the Swiss embassy in Colombo are to be explored. Mr Cassis also emphasised that the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) considers the health and safety of its staff to be paramount, and that it is the responsibility of the Sri Lankan authorities to ensure that these are protected in the further proceedings.

FDFA criticises lack of due process in the case against a local employee of the Swiss Embassy in Sri Lanka

16.12.2019 — Press release EDA
An employee of the Swiss Embassy in Colombo has today been detained on the grounds that she allegedly made false statements. The FDFA is concerned about this development and calls on the Sri Lankan judicial authorities to ensure better protection of its employee's personal rights in any further proceedings and compliance with national law and international standards. The FDFA and the Swiss Embassy in Colombo will continue to meet their responsibilities as an employer and do everything in their power to assist the member of staff concerned.

Official Statement by the Embassy of Switzerland

29.11.2019 — Position Sri Lanka

Joint statement

21.08.2019 — Position Sri Lanka
Joint statement by the Delegation of the European Union (EU) with the Embassies of Germany, Italy, Netherlands, the UK High Commission, the Embassies of Norway and Switzerland. 

National Day 2019 Greetings for the Swiss Abroard

16.07.2019 — Local news Sri Lanka

Joint Statement

12.06.2019 — Position Sri Lanka

Joint Statement

08.04.2019 — Position Sri Lanka
The Delegation of the European Union (EU) issues the following statement in agreement with the Embassies of France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Romania and the UK High Commission, the Embassies of Norway and Switzerland, as well as the High Commissions of Canada and Australia.

Swiss movie -Sister

26.02.2019 — Local news Sri Lanka
Don't forget to watch the Swiss movie screened on the 2 March 2019, Saturday 6:15pm at the National Film Corporation Cinema.

Colombo International Women’s Film Festival 2019

26.02.2019 — Press release Sri Lanka
Colombo International Women’s Film Festival

Covid-19: Switzerland sends humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka

08.06.2021 — Press release Sri Lanka
Switzerland expresses solidarity with Sri Lanka in its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. On Tuesday morning, 8 June 2021, over half a million antigen tests, 50 ventilators, 150 oxygen concentrators as well as other medical examination materials worth of LKR 800 million will arrive in Colombo. The Swiss aid is intended to benefit the population throughout the country, while witnessing the concrete sign of friendship and longer term collaboration between the two countries. 

High-level contact between Switzerland and Sri Lanka: Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis calls Sri Lankan foreign minister and sends diplomats to maintain dialogue

19.12.2019 — Press release EDA
Switzerland is continuing high-level talks with Sri Lanka to resolve the current crisis. Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis phoned his Sri Lankan counterpart, Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, on 18 December 2019 to inform him that Switzerland was sending former ambassador Jörg Frieden to Sri Lanka. Under the lead of this experienced diplomat, possibilities for clarifying the security incident at the Swiss embassy in Colombo are to be explored. Mr Cassis also emphasised that the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) considers the health and safety of its staff to be paramount, and that it is the responsibility of the Sri Lankan authorities to ensure that these are protected in the further proceedings.

FDFA criticises lack of due process in the case against a local employee of the Swiss Embassy in Sri Lanka

16.12.2019 — Press release EDA
An employee of the Swiss Embassy in Colombo has today been detained on the grounds that she allegedly made false statements. The FDFA is concerned about this development and calls on the Sri Lankan judicial authorities to ensure better protection of its employee's personal rights in any further proceedings and compliance with national law and international standards. The FDFA and the Swiss Embassy in Colombo will continue to meet their responsibilities as an employer and do everything in their power to assist the member of staff concerned.

Colombo International Women’s Film Festival 2019

26.02.2019 — Press release Sri Lanka
Colombo International Women’s Film Festival

National media campaign for safe labour migration

31.01.2019 — Press release Sri Lanka
The Ministry of Telecommunication, Foreign Employment and Sports, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment and the Embassy of Switzerland in Sri Lanka initiated a program in Colombo on 28th January 2019 to support Sri Lankan migrant workers and those who are aspiring to take up foreign employments.

Federal elections 2019 – your vote matters!

04.12.2018 — Press release Sri Lanka
The votes of the Swiss abroad matter.

Homes destroyed by the tsunami and war: Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter visits Swiss reconstruction project in Sri Lanka

18.03.2015 — Press release EDA
In Sri Lanka, Switzerland is supporting the reconstruction of homes and villages that were destroyed by the tsunami in 2004 and the civil war that ended in 2009. Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter has visited Akkarai, a village in Jaffna in the north of the country.

Fresh impetus in bilateral relationship: Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter holds political talks in Sri Lanka (last modification, the 17.03.2015)

17.03.2015 — Press release EDA
Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter has held talks with representatives of the new government and of the Tamil population in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo. The talks focused on the national reconciliation process and dealing with the past as well as on ways in which bilateral cooperation can be stepped up in areas such as the economy.

Switzerland to take part in the memorial ceremony for the victims of the 2004 tsunami

19.12.2014 — Press release EDA
Ten years after the devastating tsunami in the Indian Ocean that killed more than 225,000 people, rendered millions homeless and caused massive destruction in 13 countries, various events will take place to remember the disaster of 26 December 2004. Switzerland will take part in memorial ceremonies in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and India. The 2004 tsunami claimed the lives of 113 Swiss nationals. Switzerland supported the emergency aid and reconstruction efforts within the framework of the Swiss Confederation's Humanitarian Aid.

Topical politics and historical events: President Burkhalter meets representatives of the Belgian government in Brussels, and attends commemoration of First World War casualties in Ypres

14.11.2014 — Press release EDA
Today's visit of President of the Swiss Confederation Didier Burkhalter to Belgium has two distinct parts. This morning he was received by Philippe, King of the Belgians, and held political talks with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders. The afternoon is dedicated to commemorating the suffering and the victims of the First World War, when President Burkhalter will visit a trench system from that time in Ypres, and take part in a ceremony of remembrance with three classes of Swiss schoolchildren. For President Burkhalter, visiting the former battlefields in West Flanders is symbolic of the ongoing need to do everything possible to secure peace.

UN Human Rights Council adopts Swiss resolution on peaceful protests

28.03.2014 — Press release EDA
The 25th session of the UN Human Rights Council, which was opened on 3 March 2014 by the President of the Swiss Confederation, Mr Didier Burkhalter, has ended today. The council adopted a resolution put forward by Switzerland regarding the protection of human rights during peaceful protest. It also discussed the human rights situation in Syria, North Korea, Myanmar, the Central African Republic, Sri Lanka, Iran, Mali and the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory.

Swiss government names new Ambassadors

13.11.2013 — Press release EDA
The Swiss government (Federal Council) has approved the list of diplomatic staff transfers scheduled for 2014 submitted by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. The changes will be made in accordance with the normal rate of transfers, to be communicated at the time of the decision by the Federal Council. The appointments of Heads of Mission take effect as soon as the authorities in the host country communicate their approval. The Federal Council takes this opportunity to express its gratitude to the Ambassadors due to retire for the services rendered.

Francophonie week from 13th- 25th March 2021

15.03.2021 — Local news Sri Lanka

Dear Fellow Swiss Citizens and Friends of Switzerland,

The Francophonie Sri Lanka 2021 festival will be celebrated from 13^th to 25^th  March 2021 and all the events can be followed on the official Facebook page.

The Swiss Embassy will present two events during this festival.

Diplomatic note

30.12.2019 — Position Sri Lanka

Official Statement by the Embassy of Switzerland

29.11.2019 — Position Sri Lanka

Joint statement

21.08.2019 — Position Sri Lanka
Joint statement by the Delegation of the European Union (EU) with the Embassies of Germany, Italy, Netherlands, the UK High Commission, the Embassies of Norway and Switzerland. 

National Day 2019 Greetings for the Swiss Abroard

16.07.2019 — Local news Sri Lanka

Joint Statement

12.06.2019 — Position Sri Lanka

Joint Statement

08.04.2019 — Position Sri Lanka
The Delegation of the European Union (EU) issues the following statement in agreement with the Embassies of France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Romania and the UK High Commission, the Embassies of Norway and Switzerland, as well as the High Commissions of Canada and Australia.

Swiss movie -Sister

26.02.2019 — Local news Sri Lanka
Don't forget to watch the Swiss movie screened on the 2 March 2019, Saturday 6:15pm at the National Film Corporation Cinema.

Robin Meier

21.01.2019 — Local news Sri Lanka
Collective feeding music performance by  Mr. Robin Meier.

Galle Literary Festival 2019

11.01.2019 — Local news Sri Lanka

The Swiss Embassy is happy to be a part of the Galle Literary Festival 2019

Colomboscope

10.01.2019 — Local news Sri Lanka
The Swiss Embassy is happy to be a part of the sixth edition of interdisciplinary arts festival COLOMBOSCOPE.

Statement by the Embassy of Switzerland

17.12.2018 — Position Sri Lanka
The Embassy of Switzerland expresses its respect to the institutions of Sri Lanka, their representatives and civil society for peacefully and democratically resolving the institutional tensions that affected the country during the last few weeks. While many challenges remain, we encourage all parties to continue on the path of dialogue. We look forward to pursue our long lasting cooperation on important issues such as national reconciliation, consolidation of democracy and human rights.