IOM lauds SL for leadership in migration issues

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has commended the Sri Lankan Government for its leadership in migration issues, the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva said.

In a statement, it said IOM Director-General Ambassador William Lacy Swing has expressed these views while addressing the 108th Session of the IOM Council in Geneva on Wednesday.

Mr. Swing said bilateral cooperation between Sri Lanka and the IOM has grown exponentially over the last few years, especially this year .

He thanked Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha for his leadership in steering a number of activities that has strengthened the relationship between the Mission in Geneva and the IOM.

Ambassador Swing expressed hope that IOM and Sri Lanka would continue to build on these excellent relationships and congratulated Sri Lanka on launching a comprehensive National Economic Development Programme.

He further expressed IOM’s appreciation for Sri Lanka’s co-sponsorship and for its contribution towards hosting the ‘Second Global Consultation on Migrant Health’ in Colombo in February 2017 and in actively supporting the efforts at securing the global attention on migrant health.

The Director-General of IOM made these comments in response to the statement made by Ambassador Aryasinha earlier in the day joining the General Debate of the IOM Council, where he had underlined that Sri Lanka was deeply committed to ensuring that tangible benefits accrue to labour migrants from Sri Lanka and the region.

The Ambassador stressed the need to pursue the migration agenda based on ground realities and not driven by perceptions.

Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Mrs. Samantha Jayasuriya, and Mr. W.M.V. Wansekara, Additional General Manager (International Affairs), Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau were associated with the Ambassador at the session.