Lankapuvath

Indonesia,officially the Republic of Indonesia is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia comprises 13,466 islands and 33 provinces. With over 238 million people, it is the world's fourth most populous country, and has the world's largest population of Muslims. Indonesia is a republic, with an elected legislature and President. 

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

Born on 9 September 1949 is an Indonesian politician and retired Army general officer who has been President of Indonesia since 2004.

The nation's capital city is Jakarta. The country shares land borders with Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Malaysia. Other neighboring countries include Singapore, Philippines, Australia, and the Indian territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Indonesia is a founding member of ASEAN and a member of the G-20 major economies. The Indonesian economy is the world's eighteenth largest economy by nominal GDP and fifteenth largest by purchasing power parity.

Capital Jakarta

Official language(s) Indonesian
Demonym     Indonesian

Government Unitary presidential constitutional republic
      President    Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
      Vice President    Boediono

Legislature     People's Consultative Assembly
     Upper House    Regional Representative Council
      Lower House    People's Representative Council

Independence     
following Dutch colonial rule and Japanese occupation
    Declared    17 August 1945
    Acknowledged    27 December 1949

Area
     Land    1,919,440 km2 (15th)
735,355 sq mi
      Water (%)    4.85

Population
      2010 census    237,556,363[3]
      Density    123.76/km2 (84th) 323.05/sq mi

Message of the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia - Djafar Husein

Dear fellow Indonesians and friends of Indonesia all over Sri Lanka;

I have an honor to send this message on the auspicious occasion of the Indonesian National Day. Today, we, Indonesians all over the world, commemorate the 66th Anniversary of Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia. All Indonesians, whether they are living in Indonesia or outside Indonesia, including those living in Sri Lanka, celebrating their independence with joy and happiness.
As the Indonesian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, this is the fourth time I send my message on the occasion of Indonesian National Day. Having been in Sri Lanka for almost four years, I have experienced so many things as lessons to learn. I have witnessed how the Government of Sri Lanka defeating the most ruthless terrorism; and at the same time I have also witnessed the gradual process of peace developing in the Island. I am of the opinion that, for the last two years, Sri Lanka has achieved a significant progress in bringing prosperity of the Sri Lankan people. This can only be achieved because of the excellent leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Dearest friends,

Indonesia is a pluralistic nation. It consists of about 17 thousand islands, six major religions, 300 ethnic groups and 750 local languages and dialects, spread across the Archipelago. Considering these facts, the history of Indonesia, since its independence proclamation in 1945, to 2000, has always been characterized by so many local conflicts related to ethnic, religion and cultural groups. Only after the year of 2000, when my Government decided to embark on a “full flag” democracy, we can achieve stability and peaceful situation. This decision had caused positive changes in our political life. We then reformed our political institutions; we restored the fundamental freedom of speech, of the press, and of association. We removed our Military from politics; and we made the Police a civilian force. We also decentralized our system of Government, and embark on a policy of devolution which allows the local governments to manage their own autonomy. We also established a system of check and balance among our branches of Government. And, last but not least, the promotion and protection of human rights become top priority in our political life.

Indonesia is the world’s third most populous democracy. At the same time, it is also the home of the world’s largest muslim population. In Indonesia, we believe that Islam and democracy can live side by side. This circumstance is built on the basis of the Islamic concept that Islam is “rahmatan lil ‘alamin”, or Islam is blessing for all creation. It is the concept that promotes every muslim to be tolerant, to honor different ideas, to resort to peaceful consensus, to avoid conflicts, and to treat minorities as equals. Democracy is actually also more or less corresponding to this concept.

Dear fellow and friends,

Nowadays, all nations have been severely affected by the global economic trend. Some of them, including a few developed ones, are staring at the grim prospect of negative growth. But, we in Indonesia are confident that we are still in the position to achieve at least six percent economic growth this year, in spite of the bleak trend of the global economy. This is because we are gaining the international trust. More foreign direct investment is pouring to my Country. We can maintain more stable currency; and we have no barriers in our export and import. And we have a huge domestic market brimming with consumer confidence. That is why Indonesia is the only member of ASEAN joining the most powerful economies in the G-20. This is because we implement consistently our democratic system. And we believe that democracy has brought the progress of economic development. And at all cost, Indonesia will maintain this democratic system. We cannot turn back the clock.

Dear fellows and friends,

For the last three years, the bilateral relation between Indonesia and Sri Lanka is going from strength to strength. I am happy to see that the exchange of visits of the high ranking officials from both sides has increased significantly. To sample a few are the second visit of the Sri Lankan Secretary Minister of Defense to Indonesia last year; the visit of the Sri Lankan Army Chief of Staff to Indonesia early this year; the visit of the Sri Lankan Minister of Justice to Indonesia on May this year; the visit of the Indonesian Minister of Fisheries to Sri Lanka early this year; and last and but not least, two bilateral meetings between the Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Sri Lankan Minister of External Affairs within these couple of months in Bali this year. In the international fora like in UN agencies, Indonesia and Sri Lanka continue their close cooperation by lending each other mutual support.

In terms of economy, the relation between Sri Lanka and Indonesia has also increased substanstially. One significant example is shown in the total bilateral trade in 2010. The value of total bilateral trade increased to US$ 375.98 million, or 19.58 %, compared to the previous year which was stood at US$ 314.45 million. This achievement brought Indonesia to be the 27th biggest exporting country in the world in 2010, moving up three places from a year before. Currently, Indonesian products imported by Sri Lanka among others are furniture, paper product, plastic product, tires, car battery, apparel and garment, steel products, palm oil, chemical products, fish products. Sri Lankan products imported by Indonesia among others are tea, yarn and fabrics, printed items, textile and woven fabrics, clothing accessories, and gems.

I am happy to note that people-to-people contact between Indonesia and Sri Lanka has also increased, especially after the end of conflict two years ago. The improved visa application service in the Embassy has played an important role in this achievement. Moreover, it is supported by the opening of Mihin Lanka direct flight from Colombo to Jakarta in November 2011. Those two factors have contributed to the facts that more Sri Lankans have visited Indonesia these couple of years.

Therefore, I am very optimistic that the prospect of bilateral relation between Sri Lanka and Indonesia will be flourishing well in the near future.

Dear fellows and friends,

Finally, please accept my personal best wishes to the President, the Government and the people of Sri Lanka for the continuity of progress and prosperity in the near future. I am sure that we share a fervent hope for a far stronger relationship between Indonesia and Sri Lanka in the years to come.