COLOMBOCONSULTATION 2016

Fifth Ministerial Consultation

Sri Lanka assumed the Chairmanship of the Colombo Process the second time in October 2013. Soon after taking over the Chairmanship, Sri Lanka set out the Strategic Vision for the Colombo Process as a road map for the Sri Lanka’s Chairmanship, and convened a total of four Senior Officials’ Meetings in order to make tangible progress and achievements in line with the road map. The Government of Sri Lanka hosted the Fifth Ministerial Consultation of the Colombo Process on 25 August 2016 as the culmination of their Chairmanship in the last three years.

The one-day Ministerial Consultation was participated by Ministerial-level delegations from all 11 CP Member States. Convened under the theme of “Migration for Prosperity: Adding Value by Working Together”, the Member States reviewed and affirmed the concrete accomplishments reached by the Member States as the collective efforts under the leadership of Sri Lanka as the Chair through the Chair’s statement as well as statements from Honorable Ministers and Distinguished Heads of Delegations from 11 Member States.

The Consultation concluded with the adoption of the Colombo Ministerial Declaration which included a number of key recommendations and decisions to further advance the collaborative actions of the CP at thematic, institutional and inter-regional levels. The Declaration included the recommendations on new thematic areas related to Migrant Health, SDGs, Gender and Consulate support for migrant workers.

The Member States also adopted the updated CP Operating Modalities including a self-funding mechanism and approved the establishment of CP Technical Support Unit in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Fifth Ministerial Consultation was also marked by the Members State’s unanimous welcome of Cambodia as the 12th Member State of the CP.

The closing ceremony of the Ministerial Consultation was enriched by a number of statements from partners and observers.

Senior Officials' Meeting

Ministrial Consultation Documents

Agenda of the 5th Ministerial Consultation Adopted Colombo Ministerial Declaration List of Participants of the 5th Ministerial Consultation Statement of Hon. Thalatha Atukorale, Minister of Foreign Employment, Sri Lanka Statement by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Foreign Affairs Statement by IOM Director General H.E. William Lacy Swing Concluding Statement by Hon. Minister of Foreign Employment Statement from the Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, Sri Lanka, as the Host of the 2nd Global Consultation on Migration Health Statement by UN Women as the Chair of the Global Migration Group Summary Report of the Fourth Senior Officials’ Meeting and the Fifth Ministerial Consultation

4th SOM
3rd SOM
2nd SOM
1st SOM

Senior Officials' Meeting

The 4th Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) of the Colombo Process was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 24 August 2016 with the participation of Senior Officials from all 11 Member States. Convened prior to the 5th Ministerial Consultation on 25 August 2016, the 4th SOM served as a lead-up to the Ministerial Consultation and provided an avenue for the Senior Officials to review the progress and achievements made by the Member States as the collective efforts at thematic, institutional and inter-regional levels under the leadership of Sri Lanka as the Chair.

During the 4th SOM, the respective Chairs of the CP Thematic Area Working Groups (TAWG) presented the goals and key tasks agreed for each of the TAWGs as well as progress made through national and regional level initiatives. The progress in cooperation with other Dialogue Forums was also discussed, in particular in relation to the Abu Dhabi Dialogue, GFMD and SAARC. The Senior Officials also engaged in active discussions on CP Organizational Matters, including the amendments made to the CP Operating Modalities. The final session of the 4th SOM was dedicated to the discussions on the draft Ministerial Declaration as the preparation for the 5th Ministerial Consultation.

The meeting was hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Employment of Sri Lanka with technical and financial assistance from IOM.

Senior Officials' Meeting Documents

Agenda for the 4th SOM List of participants of the 4th SOM Welcome Address and Report on Progress on the Colombo Process by Mr. G.S. Withanage, Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Employment, Sri Lanka Progress on the PR Meetings under the Chairmanship of Sri Lanka by H.E. Ravinatha Aryasinha, Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva and the Chair of the Geneva- Based Colombo Process Member States Background Paper of the 4th SOM Progress of TAWG on Skills and Qualification Recognition Progress of TAWG on Promoting Ethical Recruitment Progress of TAWG on Pre-Departure Orientation and Empowerment Progress of TAWG on Remittances Progress of TAWG on Labour Market Analysis

Senior Officials' Meeting

The 3rd Senior Officials’ Meeting of the Colombo Process (CP SOM) was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on the 4 – 5 November 2015, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Employment of Sri Lanka with technical and financial assistance from IOM. This was the first SOM where both the capital-based and Geneva-based senior officials from the CP Member States participated and engaged in interactive discussions regarding the CP thematic priorities, CP Operating Modalities and cooperation with other dialogues and forums.

The 3rd SOM concluded with remarkable success, marked by the adoption of the Concluding Statement by the Member States, which sets out concrete decisions and recommendations aimed at advancing collective efforts for safe and skilled labour migration by sending countries in Asia.

Senior Officials' Meeting Documents

Final Report Of The 3rd SOM

Senior Officials' Meeting

The 2nd Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) of the Colombo Process was held on 14 October 2014 in Colombo, Sri Lanka with the participation of all 11 CP member states. It focused on the five thrusts and five thematic areas of the Strategic Vision for the Colombo Process, pursued under Sri Lanka’s Chairmanship. The Member States engaged in lively and in-depth discussions to arrive at an action-oriented programme for the benefit of migrant workers of the Colombo Process countries and also to forge healthy relationships with the receiving countries.

The meeting was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare of Sri Lanka with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Senior Officials' Meeting Documents

Agenda Of The 2nd SOM Summary Report of the 2nd SOM

Senior Officials' Meeting

The first Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) of the Colombo Process under Sri Lanka's chairmanship was held on 6 - 7 May 2014 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The meeting was attended by representatives from the 11 CP member states. The keynote address at the event was delivered by Hon. Dilan Perera, Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare of Sri Lanka.

At the onset of the meeting, the Sri Lanka Chair presented the Strategic Vision of the Colombo Process to guide the actions and collaboration of the Colombo Process under the Sri Lanka’s Chairmanship. The delegates at the SOM reached agreements on several key labour migration principles, including the promotion of cheaper, faster and safer transfer of remittances; standard employment contracts; ethical labour recruitment; cooperation and dialogue with the Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD); better integration of migration into national policies; and study and discussion of a common procedure in recognizing qualifications among COD and COO to generate transparency and common understanding of standards.

Senior Officials' Meeting Documents

Concluding Statement of Colombo Consultaion 1st SOM Minister Dilan Perera's Statement At The SOM At Colombo 1st SOM Presentation On CP Coordination Meeting Statement On Foreign Employment Summary Report of Colombo Consultation 1st SOM