The High Commissioner of Pakistan to Sri Lanka, Major General Nayyar Naseer, HI (M), (Retd), has paid a courtesy call on Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), at the Ministry of Defence.

Upon arrival, the Defence Secretary welcomed the High Commissioner and extended his best wishes for the commencement of his diplomatic tenure in Sri Lanka.

Discussions focused on further strengthening the longstanding bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, particularly in the areas of defence cooperation, training, and regional security, according to a statement by the Ministry of Defence.

Both parties exchanged views on matters of mutual interest and reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing collaboration between the two nations, the Ministry added.

The meeting was also attended by the Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan to Sri Lanka, Ms. Zunaira Latif, and the Defence Attaché of Pakistan to Sri Lanka.

Public meeting for the 40th remembrance of TELO Leader Sri Sabaratnam

Telo leader srisabaratnam 40th Remembrance public meeting
Place : 219 Station Road Vavuniya Vorse hall
06-05-2026 Wednesday
Time: 2:30 PM

Srisaba’s 40th Remembrance Day – 06/05/2026

We’ll NEVER FORGET THE FORGOTTEN Two hundred of our fellow members were killed or wounded we will never, ever forget them or the sacrifices they made.

TAMILS DAY OF CONFLUENCE

“Tamil National Unity Week- (29 April- 06 May)”

China overtook India to become Sri Lanka’s largest trading partner in 2025, driven by a sharp rise in imports, particularly vehicles, following the easing of restrictions, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) said.

In its Annual Economic Review 2025, the CBSL said total trade with China reached about $ 5.5 billion, narrowly surpassing India at $ 5.4 billion, reversing India’s lead held from 2021 to 2024. The US remained the third largest partner at $ 3.5 billion, with the three accounting for 41.1% of total merchandise trade.

The shift reflects a broader recovery in trade, with exports growing steadily while imports accelerated as economic conditions stabilised. Vehicle imports, including electric and hybrid models, were a key contributor to higher trade values. The movement in trade flows over the past five years has been largely shaped by import controls during the external crisis and their subsequent relaxation.

Trade with both China and India contracted in 2022 and 2023 as restrictions tightened, but the decline was sharper with China, reflecting its export mix to Sri Lanka, which is weighted towards machinery, construction materials, and other non-essential or investment-linked goods that were curtailed first.

By contrast, trade with India proved more resilient, underpinned by essential and short-cycle imports such as fuel, pharmaceuticals, and intermediate goods, which continued even during the period of tight restrictions.

The rebound from 2024 onwards has been import-led, with the faster recovery in trade with China reflecting the return of high-value imports, particularly vehicles. The resumption of electric and hybrid vehicle imports, where China is a key source, contributed to a sharper increase in total trade values relative to India.

“However, Sri Lanka recorded its highest trade deficit with China, which widened significantly to $ 4.9 billion in 2025 from $ 4.1 billion recorded in 2024. The expansion of the deficit with China was primarily driven by increased imports of electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as construction materials such as iron and steel, while exports remained relatively low,” the CBSL said.

“The trade deficit with India also widened in 2025, largely due to the increase in motor vehicle imports. Meanwhile, the US remained a vital trading partner, with total bilateral trade amounting to about $ 3.5 billion in 2025,” it added.

Sri Lanka continued to record a trade surplus of $ 2.5 billion with the US, largely supported by apparel exports.

Source:FT.LK

Sri Lanka and Russia have agreed to deepen cooperation in healthcare, with a focus on modernising primary health services and expanding the use of artificial intelligence in the sector.

Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko held talks with Sri Lanka’s Health and Mass Media Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa in Colombo, following Murashko’s arrival in the country on Sunday for a three-day official visit.

Deputy Health Minister Dr Hansaka Wijemuni and Russian Ambassador Levan Dzhagaryan also attended the discussions.

The two sides exchanged views on developing primary healthcare, advancing medical education, improving pharmaceutical production and supply chains, and deploying modern medical equipment.

A key focus of the talks was AI-based systems, with the Russian delegation briefing Sri Lankan officials on a technology platform developed to identify and diagnose 42 diseases across agricultural and urban populations, including through laboratory services and paediatrics.

Murashko said Russia had prioritised primary healthcare and had adopted a range of measures to deliver effective health services to its people.

He expressed Russia’s readiness to support the further development of Sri Lanka’s health system and to deepen bilateral ties.

He also invited Minister Jayatissa and Sri Lankan health officials to visit Russia to observe its healthcare system, modern medical equipment and AI-supported treatment services first hand.

Murashko said Russia was prepared to offer additional medical education opportunities for Sri Lankan doctors and expressed interest in strengthening cooperation in pharmaceutical production and supply chains.

He added that a Memorandum of Understanding between the two health ministries would help both countries move forward through closer coordination.

Russia was also ready to extend support to Sri Lanka in addressing challenges in areas including energy, he said.

Minister Jayatissa thanked his counterpart for the visit and for Russia’s expressed interest in supporting Sri Lanka’s health sector.

He outlined the country’s new programme to strengthen primary healthcare and stressed the importance of integrating modern technology and advanced medical equipment into the system.

Deputy Health Minister Dr Hansaka Wijemuni and Russian Ambassador Levan Dzhagaryan also attended the discussions.

The Economic Times – Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in New Delhi on Monday as counting trends showed the party surging past the majority mark in West Bengal and retaining power in Assam.

Addressing jubilant party workers, Modi opened with characteristic humility, “As a karyakarta, I join other BJP workers on this occasion,” before declaring that the lotus had finally bloomed in Bengal.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is set to form the government in West Bengal for the first time, as counting trends on Monday showed the party surging past the majority mark in the 294-seat assembly, ending over a decade of Trinamool Congress rule under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the verdict as a triumph of people’s power. “The 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections will be remembered forever. People’s power has prevailed and BJP’s politics of good governance has triumphed,” he said in a post on social media. He credited the result to grassroots workers across the state. “BJP’s record win in West Bengal would not be possible without the efforts and struggles of countless karyakartas over generations. I salute them all,” he added.