Category: Breaking News

Sri Lanka needs Indian consensus to disclose the contents of the Defence Cooperation pact signed during the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Cabinet Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa said.

Sri Lanka signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India on Defence Cooperation, but President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s government has yet to disclose the content of the pact.

The Defence pact was signed amid continuous Indian pressure to stop Chinese research vessels coming to Sri Lanka citing they are a threat to the security of the Indian Ocean region.

“On certain contents, we need mutual agreement to disclose the information,” Cabinet Spokesman Jayatissa, also the Minister of Media and Health, told reporters at the post-Cabinet media briefing on Tuesday, responding to a query on whether the defence pact had banned Chinese research vessels coming to Sri Lankan waters.

“In future, we will be submitting them to the parliament. It will take some time. Definitely in the future.”

“These are only Memorandum of Understanding. We will disclose about them to the parliament in the future. If it is difficult to wait, some of the information could be requested through the Right to Information (RTI) Act.”

When requested information by EconomyNext from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the designated RTI officer said the information about the Defence Cooperation “does not fall under the purview” of the Ministry.

Minister Jayatissa said the government has signed the MoUs with responsibility.

“They are not decisions taken by politicians collectively. Respective ministries, AG Departments, all the related institutions are consulted and discussed in length for months and some were amended some new clauses were added. Based on consensus after all these we have arrived at these MoUs,” he said.

“Next steps are going to be taken based on these MoUs. For some we need to establish mechanisms to implement the MoUs.”

The Election Commission has issued a brief notice to all electors and postal voters eligible to vote in the Local Authorities Election scheduled to be held on May 6, 2025.

Accordingly, the Election Commission stated that each elector is entitled to one vote, meaning each elector will receive only one ballot paper.

The ballot papers issued to voters at polling stations will contain only the names and symbols of the contesting parties, along with the words “Independent Group,” and the identification number and symbols of Independent Groups. The name or numbers of candidates or wards will not appear on the ballot paper, the statement added.

Furthermore, the Election Commission said in the statement that all voters are instructed to cast their vote by only marking a cross (X).

“You are kindly requested to mark only one cross (X) in the space provided to the right of the name and symbol of the party, or the number and symbol of the independent group, for which you wish to cast your vote,” it said.

The Election Commission further emphasized that voters must refrain from entering, drawing, or writing any mark other than the cross (X) on the ballot paper, as any other mark may be construed as an attempt to disclose the identity of the voter.

The Sri Lanka-China Friendship Association (SLCFA) in a statement said it is deeply concerned about the heavy tariffs recently introduced by the US on Chinese goods.

One of the most worrying actions is the US decision to charge a fee of $ 50 per net ton on ships built in China, starting from mid-October. These steps, which are said to support the US shipbuilding industry, will create serious problems for global trade and the world economy.

“These actions do not only affect China—they impact the entire world. They will increase the cost of shipping, disturb the flow of goods between countries, and make inflation worse. This will hurt both consumers and businesses in the US and many other nations,” the SLCFA said.

“Sri Lanka is still recovering after a difficult financial crisis. We are slowly rebuilding our economy with great care. But when large countries take sudden economic decisions like this, they create uncertainty and difficulty for smaller and developing nations like ours. These pressures can make our recovery even harder,” it said.

“We agree with the recent remarks made by People’s Republic of China President Xi Jinping during his visit to Malaysia. He said that Asian countries should stand together against geopolitical conflicts, unfair trade practices, and protectionism. We believe his message is important for this moment in time. The region must work together to stay peaceful, strong, and independent. China’s efforts to support global cooperation – through projects like the Belt and Road Initiative, Global Development Initiative, and Global Security Initiative – are a sign of true leadership. These ideas bring hope at a time when many international relationships are under stress,” the SLCFA added.

It stressed that it is important for all countries to work together, talk openly, and support fair trade. Big nations must not use their power to harm others. Instead, they should help build a global economy that is stable and fair for everyone – especially for smaller countries like Sri Lanka.

“We stand with China and with all nations that support peace, fairness, and cooperation. Let us work together to protect the future of our global economy and the well-being of people everywhere,” the statement added.

(Daily FT)

Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith accuses that elements of the previous political leadership are continuing efforts to suppress the truth surrounding the deadly Easter Sunday terror attacks, through certain government institutions even today.

The Cardinal made these remarks during the main memorial service held this morning (April 21) at St. Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade, marking the sixth anniversary of the coordinated bombings that claimed over 250 lives in 2019.

He alleged that a ‘para-state’ is operating within the country, controlled by various government entities influenced by politically defeated forces. He emphasized that this structure continues to obstruct the path to justice.

Cardinal Ranjith reaffirmed his hope that those responsible for the attacks would be brought to justice without delay and made a series of direct appeals to the President, outlining the following seven key requests:

1. Presenting the full report pertaining to the Easter Sunday terror attacks to the Parliament and make it public.

2. Establish an independent prosecutor’s office to oversee investigations and prosecutions related to the attacks.

3. Identify all forces behind the attacks, reveal the full truth to the public, and prosecute those responsible regardless of their rank or position.

4. Fully implement the recommendations of the report provided by the Presidential Commission appointed to investigate the attacks dated September 21, 2019.

5. Investigate the alleged ties between the Military Intelligence Unit and alleged terrorist leader Zahran Hashim, and thoroughly examine the claims made in the UK’s Channel 4 program, including statements from key witness Asad Maulana.

6. Enact new laws to dismantle the lawlessness and para-political structures that enabled the conspiracy behind the attacks.

7. Foster a new political culture where those in power serve the people, rather than ruling over them.

The Cardinal strongly criticized the former Attorney General Dappula de Liverra for failing to act on indications of a grand conspiracy behind the bombings, and accused subsequent legal authorities of displaying deference toward those in power while undermining public accountability.

Despite President’s sincere commitment to justice and the appointment of a team of high-ranking officials to lead the effort, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith expressed concern that the prevailing legal framework and the inertia of certain officials have created serious obstacles to progress.

He noted that the public had granted the current government a two-thirds majority in the hope that it would initiate the constitutional and legal reforms necessary to identify and prosecute those responsible for dark chapters in Sri Lanka’s history — including human rights violations, enforced disappearances, ‘white van’ abductions, torture chambers, underworld violence, and the rise of private armed groups.

Cardinal Ranjith emphasized that the Easter Sunday terror attacks remain a painful and unresolved tragedy. He stressed that if the existing laws are insufficient to ensure justice, it is the government’s duty to change them — boldly and decisively.

He further urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to take firm action to eradicate all forms of anti-democratic and politically motivated activity, and to honour the promise he made in Katuwapitiya, Negombo on October 6, 2024 — to ensure that the blood of the innocent would not be forgotten, and to uncover the full truth behind the attacks.

‘It is our sincere hope, Mr. President, that you will not allow this national tragedy to be buried by time,’ Cardinal Ranjith said. ‘Justice must prevail, and all those involved must be held accountable.’

Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Monday (Apr 21) at the age of 88.

The Vatican announced his death on Monday, stating that the pope had died at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta.

“Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced on the Vatican’s TV channel.

“At 7.35am this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.”

The Argentine pontiff had been recovering at the Santa Marta guesthouse. He was hospitalised for five weeks earlier this year with life-threatening pneumonia. While in hospital, he almost died twice.

The double pneumonia damaged his lungs and strained his respiratory muscles, doctors said. After being discharged on Mar 23, he returned to the Vatican for a convalescence of at least two months.

In early April, the Vatican said a chest X-ray confirmed a “slight improvement” in Pope Francis’ lungs and improvements were also reported in his motor skills, voice and breathing.

Although he had continued to use oxygen through a cannula, the pope had been able to remove it for short periods.

The pope had issued statements, including one on Mar 16, acknowledging his fragile health.

“I am sharing these thoughts with you while I am facing a period of trial, and I join with so many brothers and sisters who are sick: Fragile, at this time, like me,” he wrote.

“Our bodies are weak but, even like this, nothing can prevent us from loving, praying, giving ourselves, being for each other, in faith, shining signs of hope.”

On the day he left the Gemelli, he appeared in a wheelchair on a hospital balcony, waving his hands from his lap to the hundreds of pilgrims gathered below to greet him.

He spoke a few words in a weak voice, saying through a microphone: “Thank you, everyone.”

Pope Francis became head of the Catholic Church in March 2013. He is the spiritual leader of 1.3 billion Roman Catholics worldwide.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in 1936 to Italian immigrants from Argentina, he was the first Latin American to lead the Catholic Church.

Despite several health troubles, he remained an active pontiff, with a busy weekly schedule and regular overseas trips.

In September 2024, he completed a four-nation Asia-Pacific tour, including Singapore, the longest of his papacy by duration and distance.

The Elections Commission (EC) has sent a letter to the President’s Secretary, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, requesting him to inform President Anura Kumara Dissanayake not to make statements that could hinder a free and fair election process during the campaign for the Local Government (LG) Elections.

Opposition MPs had alleged that during several campaign rallies for the LG Elections, the President indicated that if National People’s Power (NPP) representatives were not in control of LG bodies, their financial requirements could be hampered. Following this, several parties, including the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV), urged the EC to look into the matter and take appropriate action.

When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (20), EC Chairperson R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said that the Commission had written to the President’s Secretary regarding the matter, following several complaints. “We received many complaints about the President’s statement. Through such remarks, one group of candidates is subjected to prejudice while another gains an unfair advantage. We wrote to the President’s Secretary and asked him to inform the President not to make such statements again.”

Speaking at political rallies organised by the NPP, President Dissanayake had claimed that the Government could not ensure funding for LG bodies controlled by other parties, as it did not trust their representatives. He had said the Central Government would have to scrutinise non-NPP proposals up to ten times, whereas proposals from NPP-led bodies would be approved and funded “even with their eyes closed”. The statements in question were reportedly made by the President during rallies held in Tissamaharama, Buttala, Kandy, Akkaraipattu, and Sammanthurai.

The LG Elections are to be held on 6 May. The LG institutions for which representatives are to be elected on that day include 28 municipal councils, 36 urban councils and 272 pradeshiya sabhas.