H.E. Isabelle Catherine Martin, the newly appointed High Commissioner of Canada to Sri Lanka, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on 15 December 2025 at Temple Trees.
The High Commissioner conveyed Canada’s condolences over the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah and reaffirmed Canada’s readiness to extend further support to Sri Lanka during the recovery process. The Prime Minister expressed her appreciation for the assistance extended by the international community, including Canada, noting that Sri Lanka has now entered the second phase of post-disaster recovery following the completion of rescue and immediate relief operations.
The Prime Minister further noted that schools are scheduled to reopen from the following day, with the majority able to resume normal operations. She emphasised the importance of returning to normalcy and gradually scaling down relief centres where appropriate.
The High Commissioner reaffirmed Canada’s focus on supporting the agricultural sector, recognizing its importance to livelihoods and economic stability. In response, the Prime Minister informed that the Government has advised farmers to recommence cultivation and has already initiated support measures to assist them.
The High Commissioner also highlighted the importance of effective implementation of official language policies to ensure inclusivity and equal opportunities for all citizens, noting the potential use of artificial intelligence tools to support translation and communication. The Prime Minister expressed interest in expanding cooperation in the education sector, particularly in teacher exchange programmes alongside existing student collaboration initiatives, and noted Sri Lanka’s ongoing engagement with the Commonwealth of Learning.
Attending the meeting on behalf of the High Commission of Canada were Mr. Patrick Pickering, Acting Counsellor (Political and Trade), and Mr. Kiril Iordanov, Head of Cooperation. Representing Sri Lanka were Mr. Pradeep Saputhanthri, Secretary to the Prime Minister; Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatta, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister; and Ms. Pramuditha Manusinghe, Director (Europe & North America), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism.
Prime Minister’s Media Division