Activities at the 2013 CHOGM

Ambassador Celestine Mushy (3rd right), explains about one of the CHOGM programs during the meeting break. From left is Prof. Severine Rugumamu, Mr. Ben Kaijage (2nd left), Cabinet Under-secretary (President's Office) and Mr. Baraka Luvanda (right), Coordinator in the office of Chief Secretary.  Others are Mr. Amos Msanjila, Minister Counselor in the Tanzania High Commission in London and Ms. Eva Ng'itu(left), Foreign Service Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation.

Sri Lankan traditional dancers getting ready to welcome World leaders as they arrive in Colombo City to participate in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).  The drums they are holding are knowing as a Kandyan drum and the the drum used in Kandyan dancing is known as the Geta Bera.  H.E. President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete will be welcomed by similar traditional dancers tomorrow (November 14, 2013) when he arrives in Colombo, Sri Lanka ready to attend the 2013 CHOGM.

All photos by Tagie Daisy Mwakawago

CHOGM 2013 in Brief

The Commonwealth Youth Forum:

President Mahinda Rajapaksa of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka officially inaugurated the Commonwealth Youth Forum on November 10, 2013 promising to stand by them all step of the way during his tenure as a Chairperson-in-office for the CHOGM.

“…I believe there must be a protection, safeguarding of young adults from the evils of society.  Some of these evils are associated with modern technology. . . .The long term goal is to engage youth who are in pursuit of higher education and others who are not, equally contributing to the development process of the country…,” stated President Rajapaksa during his speech.

The Sri Lankan President further stated that his Government has initiated youth development programmes for the purpose “to engage young grass roots level activists in policy formulation and to expose them to the values and norms of the Commonwealth.” 

Sri Lanka is the host of this year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, replacing Australia’s 2011 biennial Chairmanship.

Prince Charles to arrive Thursday November 14, 2013:

The Prince of Wales and Duchess Camilla are expected to arrive in Colombo, Sri Lanka this Thursday in time to participate in this year’s CHOGM, hosted by Sri Lanka. 

The two will be in the country from November 14-16 and are scheduled to open the Commonwealth Summit and host a customary dinner for the Commonwealth Leaders.  This will be the Duchess of Cornwall’s first official visit to Sri Lanka.

Commonwealth Business Forum:

The Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) has official opened on November 12, 2013 with aim at bridging together Heads of Government, Ministers and top business leaders from around the world.

The CBF will provide a valuable opportunity for high level dialogue on trade and investment between business and government leaders from the Commonwealth and beyond.  It is in essence a major global business event, coming at a critical time as the developed world continues its efforts to secure recovery from recession, tackle the challenges of maintaining open markets, and when emerging markets are enjoying a greater prominence on the world stage than ever before.

Tanzania is also participating the CBF.

CHOGM to focus on economic and social issues, says Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister:

The Minister for External Affairs in Sri Lanka, Hon. Prof. G.L. Peiris says that “the political issues must not crowd out economic and social issues that are at the very heart of the relevance of the Commonwealth.  If the Commonwealth is to flourish as a vibrant institution it should first build the confidence of the people and there must be proper focuses in finding the solutions to the social issues.”

Source by the Department of Government Information in Sri Lanka

Membe lauds Sri Lanka for her remarkable transformation

Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP), Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation holds a press conference with Tanzania press yesterday at the Hilton Colombo Hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka.  

Ms. Upendo Wella, Reporter from the Tanzania Broadcasting Company (TBC) records Minister's Membe interview. 

Mr. Mwondosha Mfanga (left) and Mr. Said Mihiko (right) reporters from Tanzania media houses. 

Hon. Minister Bernard K. Membe (MP) continues with his interview with Tanzania press, held yesterday at Hilton Colombo Hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka.  Minister Membe is in Sri Lanka attending the Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting.  Also in the photo is Mr. Thobias Makoba (2nd right), Personal Assistant to Hon. Minister Membe.

Membe lauds Sri Lanka for her remarkable transformation 

By TAGIE DAISY MWAKAWAGO 

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has been praised for her remarkable transformation that is projected to open new ventures with Tanzania.  Those remarks were lauded yesterday by the Tanzania Foreign Minister Bernard K. Membe, who spoke with the Tanzania press in Colombo, Sri Lanka. 

  

Minister Membe said that Sri Lanka's quick transformation since the country's troubled conflict in 2009, overshadows any hesitancy or cloudy feelings towards this developing country.  

"This transformation certainly lauds a milestone of achievement for Sri Lanka," said Minister Membe, adding that Tanzania is keen to strengthen the solid foundation laid by the Tanzania's Late Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere and the Late Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike, Sri Lankan former Prime Minister. 

President Mahinda Rajapaksa (left), walks along with his host H.E. President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, upon his arrival end of June 2013 at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam.  President Rajapaksa is the first Sri Lankan President to visit the United Republic of Tanzania.   (photo file)

Just this past June 2013, the incumbent Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Tanzania on the margins of the 2013 Global Smart Partnership Dialogue held in Dar es Salaam.  During his two-days State Visit, President Rajapaksa and his host President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete pledged to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries, exploring areas of investment, trade and business, technology and tourism.

During that State Visit, President Kikwete further reaffirmed Tanzania's support for Sri Lanka's endeavors as a country host for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).  Sri Lanka is replacing Australia's 2011 biennial Chairperson-in-office. 

President Kikwete is leading the Tanzania delegation and expected to participate in the CHOGM from the 15th-17th of November 2013, while the two-days Senior level official meetings led by Chief Secretary Ambassador Ombeni Y. Sefue is geared for completion later today.  Tanzania is also participating in the Commonwealth Business Forum and the Commonwealth Youth Forum, explained Minister Membe, who has joined today his counterparts in participation of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG).

Other notable Tanzania delegates to participate in this year’s CHOGM are Hon. William Mgimwa (MP), Minister for Finance, Hon. Abdallah Kigoda (MP), Minister for Industry and Trade, Hon. Mwinyihaji Makame (MP), Minister of State – Zanzibar, and other Senior Government Officials.

End. 

ZIARA YA KAMATI YA BUNGE YA KATIBA, SHERIA NA UTAWALA NCHINI KENYA

Mhe. Batilda S. Birian, Balozi wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania nchini Kenya akitoa taarifa fupi kwa wajumbe wa Kamati ya Katiba, Sheria na Utawala kuhusu majukumu ya Ubalozi, utendaji na changamoto tunazokumbana nazo katika kufanikisha majukumu ya kila siku.

Mhe. Balozi Batilda S. Burian akiwa katika picha ya pamoja na Waheshimiwa Wabunge mara baada ya kupata taarifa ya utendaji wa ubalozi.

ZIARA YA KAMATI YA BUNGE YA KATIBA, SHERIA NA UTAWALA NCHINI KENYA

Kamati ya Bingr ya Katiba, Sheria na Utawala iko nchini Kenya kwa ajili ya ziara maalum ya kimafunzo katika Bunge la Jamhuri ya Kenya.  Ziara hiyo ya kimafunzo imejikita katika maeneo yafuatayo

(i)                  Namna Bunge la Kenya linavyofanya kazi katika mchakato wakatiba mpya na utungaji wa katiba

(ii)                Ushiriki wa Wananchi katika utungaji wa katiba

(iii)               Utaratibu uliyotumika katika kupitisha katiba; na

(iv)               Utaratibu wa kura ya maoni ( Referundum)

Ujumbe huo mzito ambao una jumla ua wajumbe 20 unaongozwa na Mh. Pindi Hazara Chana (Mb), ambaye ni Mwenyekiti wa Kamati ya Katiba. Wakiwa katika ziara hiyo, wajumbe walipata fursa ya kutembelea ubalozi leo asubuhi na kuonana na Mhe. Balozi Batilda S. Burian.

Activities at the CHOGM 2013 in Sri Lanka

Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP), Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation in a discussion with Ambassador Peter Kallaghe (left), High Commissioner of the United Republic of Tanzania in London with accreditation to the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and the Commonwealth, and High Commissioner of the United Republic of Tanzania in India with accreditation to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka at Hilton Hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka.  Minister Membe is in Sri Lanka attending the Commonwealth Ministerial level meeting scheduled for the 13th to the 14th November 2013.  (Photo by Tagie Daisy Mwakawago)

Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP) (3rd left) holds a brief meeting with Tanzania delegation today in Colombo, Sri Lanka.  In the photo are Ambassador Peter Kallaghe (2nd left), Prof. Severine Rugumamu (4th left), Ambassador Celestine Mushy (3rd right), Director of the Department of Multilateral Cooperation and Ambassador Mbelwa Kairuki (2nd right), Director of the Department of Asia and Australasia.  Others are Mr. Cosato Chumi (right), Foreign Service Officer and Mr. Thobias Makoba (left), Private Assistant to Hon. Minister Membe. (Photo by Tagie Daisy Mwakawago)

The Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) 2013 was launched this morning by President Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka.  The CBF is scheduled to continue until the 14th November, 2013.  (Photo by the Commonwealth Secretariat).

This is a site where the opening ceremony of CHOGM 2013 will take place.  It is called the Nelum Pokuna (Lotus Pond) Mahinda Rajapakse Theatre, located in Colombo, Sri Lanka.  (Photo by the Commonwealth Secretariat).