Category: Breaking News

Sri Lanka reiterated its support for the Global Governance Initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping, during talks held between Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and President Xi Jinping.

Amarasuriya who is on a visit to China held wide-ranging discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

The discussion focused on further deepening Sri Lanka’s engagement with China, further consolidating the longstanding friendship and multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries. Prime Minister Dr. Amarasuriya is visiting China on an invitation extended by President Xi Jinping to attend the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women.

The discussions in Beijing progressed on the outcomes of the State Visit of the President Anura Kumara Disanayaka, to China earlier this year.

Referring to the centuries old friendship between the two nations, the Prime Minister commented that President Xi’s vision on China’s modernization is not only for China but also for other nations emphasizing the importance of building up a shared future for mankind.

China as one of Sri Lanka’s important development partners, Prime Minister Dr. Amarasuriya stressed the continued assistance of the Chinese Government in the high quality Belt and Road Initiative highlighting the steadfast progress achieved in the flagship projects in Sri Lanka.

President Xi conveyed his sincere wishes to the President and the Government of Sri Lanka on the recent achievements in economic revival and assured continued support to Sri Lanka in the sectors of trade, tourism, education and people to people cooperation emphasizing the importance of carrying forward the momentum of the cooperation between the two countries.

Prime Minister Dr. Amarasuriya reiterated Sri Lanka’s support for the Global Governance Initiative of President Xi which plays a pivotal role in the contemporary Global Governance.

The Kopai Police Station has been temporarily removed from its current location, police sources confirmed.

The station had been operating from eight houses belonging to private civilians.

The Jaffna District Court, has ordered that seven of these houses be returned to their rightful owners.

The fiscal officer has returned the relevant properties to their owners yesterday (15).

The Jaffna Police Station will continue to accept complaints from residents in the affected area. For security reasons, the Kopai Police Station’s armoury has been transferred to the Jaffna Police Station.

A senior police officer stated that measures are underway to re-establish the Kopai Police Station within approximately two months.

The Court of Appeal today (15) dismissed the writ application filed in 2018 by Nagananda Kodituwakku and Malinda Seneviratne concerning the resettlement of Muslims in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province.

The matter, which had been pending for nearly seven years, saw repeated delays in conclusion despite several directives from the court.

Counsel for MP Rishad Bathiudeen, Attorney-at-Law Hejaaz Hizbullah argued that the case lacked merit and had been pursued primarily for media publicity rather than legal grounds.

He requested the court to dismiss the application due to the petitioner’s continuous failure to proceed.

Agreeing with this submission, the Court of Appeal dismissed the writ petition today.

While reiterating government’s assurance to hold the Provincial Council elections next year, Minister Lal Kantha said the election will be held next year either under the old system or after enacting a new electoral system.

He told the media that the government can hold the elections under the old system after amending the previous Bill passed in Parliament.

“We have a two-thirds majority and can pass a legislation to hold the PC elections under the old system,” he said.

Responding to a question whether the opposition alliance would be a challenge to the government at the elections, the Minister said the opposition alliance will never be an issue or challenge to the government.

“We have the Executive Presidency which is running smoothly and 159 MPs who are functioning properly. A new political culture has been established. People have a good understanding about the National People’s Power (NPP) government and the NPP administered local bodies. So, we have no challenge at the upcoming PC elections,” he added.

The United National Party says it is of the view that all political parties must be brought together on to one platform to protect the democratic multi-party system in Sri Lanka.

Issuing a statement, the UNP noted that in protecting the multi-party system, it is important to protect the integrity and policies of different political parties.

Therefore, the UNP urged all opposition parties to support the effort.

The UNP also has stated that the party is committed to working together to bridge the gap between the United National Party and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) to achieve the common objectives including the protection of the multi-party system in the country.

The UNP also noted that it will participate in the discussions that are to be held at the office of the Opposition Leader under the chairmanship of Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa.

The Reserve Bank of India has issued a Gazette Notification regarding the amendment to the Foreign Exchange Management (Borrowing and Lending) Regulations, 2018 which permits Indian Banks to lend in Indian Rupees to a bank or individual resident in Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal.

After the current amendment, Indian banks (as well as their overseas branches) can now lend in Indian Rupees to a bank or a person, resident in Bhutan, Nepal, or Sri Lanka.

“This development will make credit more accessible for businesses in Sri Lanka. The provision allowing such loans to be denominated in Indian Rupees will be particularly beneficial for Sri Lankan businesses, reducing exchange rate risks and strengthening cross-border trade and financial linkages between the two countries,” High Commission of India in Colombo said.