Association of Consuls to host 2nd FICAC Conference in Sri Lanka from 11-13 Aug.
Friday, 9 August 2013 00:00
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The Association of Consuls of Sri Lankan was started in 1997 with a few office bearers in view of further strengthening international relations for Sri Lanka. The association is also an affiliated member of The Federation Des Crops Et Association Consulaires (F.I.C.A.C.) (http://www.ficacworld.org/) as per the Copenhagen Consular Declaration of 2 October 1982.
The present committee comprises: President Daya Wettasinghe (Honorary Consul General For Ukraine), Treasurer Mahen Kariyawasan (Honorary Consul For Slovak Republic) and Secretary Dudley Thambinayagam (Honorary Consul For Estonia).
The Committee Members are: Manik Pereira (Honorary Consul for Ireland/Past President), Senaka Amarasinghe (Honorary Consul for Austria), B.A. Mahipala (Honorary Consul for Madagascar), Priyadarshani Jayawardene (Honorary Consul for Spain), Senaka De Silva (Honorary Consul for New Zealand) and Mohan Pandithage (Honorary Consul for Mexico).
The association, after 16 years of collaborative services to Sri Lanka strengthening bilateral international relations, is hosting the second FICAC international conference at the Cinnamon Grand from 11-13 August 2013 with a large attendance. The conference, with its host of expert speakers, will place a forum in Sri Lanka for an international debate on consular services, global scenarios, changes, etc. A collective effort to further strengthen services will also be looked at.
The program will start from the evening of 11 August and the formal sessions will begin from morning on 12 August at the Oak Room of the Cinnamon Grand. Welcome cocktails featuring the Sri Lankan identity themed ‘Sri Lanka Night’ is scheduled to be held on 12 August evening at Waters Edge. This unique event will portray traditional entertainment and Sri Lanka cuisine for the delegates promoting Sri Lankan values and traditions.
The closed door sessions will continue on 13 August while a sit down ‘Black Tie’ dinner has also been scheduled at the Cinnamon Grand as a grand finale to this prestigious event.
Additionally three special excursion programs have been also introduced in facilitating extended stays of the guests and will cover Sri Lanka’s historical and natural attractions.
FICAC was established in Copenhagen in October 1982. It was born of the necessity to bring together Consular Associations or Corps from all over the world and to share experience, and co-ordinate efforts to enhance the status and effectiveness of the Consul, the oldest institution serving International bilateral relations.
FICAC is a global network of Consular Associations created to support and improve the status, legitimacy and effectiveness of all consular officers in all receiving States. FICAC’s aims are to promote and strengthen mutual understanding between Honorary Consuls and Career Consuls worldwide; develop a framework and basis for exchange of current information, ideas and suggestions regarding matters related to the office of Honorary Consuls and Career Consuls; promote at national level and international for a better understanding of duties and responsibilities, rights and privileges of Honorary Consuls and Career Consuls. New Member Associations will always be welcome. FICAC enjoys since 1993 the status of a United Nations NGO(Ecosoc Observer Status). FICAC has been accredited by the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States on 13 March 2002 as a Civil Society.
