Category: Featured Headlines

India’s Adani Green Energy and the government authorities are poised to be involved in a legal wrangle over the reimbursement of initial expenses made by the company before it withdrew from the renewable energy projects in Sri Lanka.

The company withdrew from the project after the Sri Lankan government ,led by the National People’s Power (NPP) was unprepared to press ahead with it according to terms agreed upon by the previous government which struck the agreement.

The company took that decision after Sri Lanka, under the new government led by the National People’s Power ( NPP), sought to lower the cost of the power generated. The NPP government disagreed with the cost agreed upon by the last government which struck the project with Adani. The company was to build a wind power plant project in the Mannar and Pooneryn towns in the northern province, investing $442 million.

The project was expected to add at least 350 MW to the national grid by 2025.The company authorities sent a letter to the government authorities in May this year asking for reimbursement of expenses it made initially for research and investigation along with the Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA) in Sri Lanka.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Sri Lanka is currently in the process of seeking legal advice about reimbursements sought by the company for some expenses. The Authority is adamant that it cannot reimburse payment made for the energy permit. It is, however, prepared to consider reimbursement of other expenses depending on legal advice.

An informed source said that legal cases might entail due to differences over reimbursements following legal advice.

Health Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa has revealed that 33 regional hospitals in the Northern Province are currently operating without a single nurse.

He made this disclosure while attending the opening ceremony of the new Outpatient Department (OPD) building at the Nainativu Divisional Hospital, which was officially handed over to the public on 12 July.

The Health Minister assured that these vacancies will be filled with upcoming nursing appointments, adding that steps will be taken to address these critical staff shortages.

The newly inaugurated OPD facility includes an emergency treatment unit, dispensary, vaccination room, dental unit, nurses’ rest area, ECG unit, minor surgery unit, primary care unit, and sanitation facilities.

Commenting during the ceremony, Health Minister Jayathissa noted that this was his first official visit to the Jaffna Peninsula in his capacity as Health Minister and that Nainativu Hospital was the first medical institution he visited there.

He further stated that a detailed plan has been developed over the past few months to establish similar regional health centres across the country.

Highlighting the need for transformation in the country’s healthcare system, the minister said that while global health services have evolved to be more patient-centric, Sri Lanka still largely operates on a doctor-centric model. He stressed that the public is accustomed to travelling long distances to receive medical care, leading to overcrowding at larger hospitals like the Jaffna Teaching Hospital.

He pointed out that properly functioning primary care units in island regions can significantly improve service quality. He also praised the Navy for completing the new OPD building within a short period—a task that, in many cases, would otherwise take over a decade.

Looking ahead, Jayathissa said that patients should not have to wait in queues, and that the ministry intends to introduce appointment systems using modern technology to streamline care delivery.

He also acknowledged weaknesses in the Ministry’s repair and maintenance division, particularly in relation to medical equipment and ambulances. Moving forward, he said, the Ministry will partner with institutions capable of maintaining expensive medical equipment and vehicles to ensure sustainability. He added that arrangements will be made to provide the hospital with the ambulance it requires.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake says that discussions are ongoing with the aim of securing further reductions in the U.S. reciprocal tariff rate on Sri Lankan exports.

He made these remarks while participating in a discussion held this morning at the Presidential Secretariat with all stakeholders connected to the export industry.

The President noted that, as a result of previous negotiations between the two countries, Sri Lanka was able to secure a reduction in the U.S. reciprocal tariff rate from 44% to 30%.

He added that the government remains committed to pushing for further adjustments to ensure the tariff structure is more favourable to the national economy, businesses, the entrepreneurial community, and the general public.

During the discussion, attention was also drawn to the progress made in talks regarding the United States’ proposed new reciprocal tariff policy, the current status of those negotiations, and the economic challenges Sri Lanka may face once the policy is implemented.

Russia reiterated support for Sri Lanka in BRICS, an intergovernmental organization comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Hon. Vijitha Herath met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of ministerial events under the auspices of ASEAN in Kuala Lumpur.

During the conversation, the parties discussed pressing issues on Lankan–Russian relations and collaboration on international platforms.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov expressed his gratitude for Sri Lanka’s communication sent in October of last year, which articulated Sri Lanka’s interest in closer alignment with BRICS. Russia welcomes this step and stands ready to support a consensus on the matter unequivocally.

Further, Minister Lavrov noted that Sri Lanka has long been a trusted partner of Russia in South Asia. He acknowledged the deep and positive historical trajectory of bilateral relations and expressed a commitment to advance the relationship further as a model for future collaboration.

Minister Vijitha Herath thanked the Russian Federation for its longstanding friendship and consistent support for Sri Lanka, especially during critical times of need. He appreciated Russia’s historical ties with Sri Lanka and affirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to deepening cooperation across multiple sectors.

Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir plans to visit Sri Lanka and Indonesia later this month, according to media reports.

Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir is likely to visit Colombo on July 21.

Reports added that Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir will also visit Indonesia after the Sri Lanka visit.

During the two visits, matters of bilateral interest would be discussed, according to the media reports.

Talking to The News, Indonesia’s Charge d’affaires in Pakistan Rahmat Hindiarta Kusuma talked about lack of frequent high echelon contacts between Pakistan and his country. The visit would, therefore, boost bilateral ties.

Source: The News International

The White House has announced the nomination of Eric Meyer, a career diplomat from California, as the next Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

U.S. President Donald Trump has formally submitted Meyer’s name to the United States Senate for confirmation.

Eric Meyer, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, is the Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs.

He is responsible for overseeing the bureau and coordinating the Administration’s policy priorities throughout South and Central Asia, including in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Meyer’s most recent assignments include serving as Chargé d’Affaires, ad interim, at the U.S. Mission to Norway, and as Chargé d’Affaires, ad interim, and Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Skopje, North Macedonia—one of NATO’s newest member states.

He previously served as U.S. Consul General in Almaty, Kazakhstan, leading interagency operations and representing U.S. interests in southern Kazakhstan at the only U.S. Consulate in Central Asia. In Washington, Eric served as Special Assistant and Senior Advisor in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs coordinating policy across all South and Central Asia countries.

Prior to that, he was Consul General in Phnom Penh, Cambodia where he frequently served as Acting Deputy Chief of Mission. Eric was previously Consul at the U.S. Embassy in Helsinki, Finland where he also served on the board of the Fulbright Commission. His first diplomatic overseas assignment was as Vice Consul in Buenos Aires, Argentina followed by an assignment as a Cultural Affairs Officer in Cairo, Egypt.

In Washington, Eric also served as an advisor in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environment and Scientific Affairs during the U.S. Chairmanship of the Arctic Council. Prior to joining the U.S. Department of State, Eric worked in corporate sales and government relations in the airline industry.

He graduated from the University of California Berkeley with a degree in Political Science and has an MBA from Georgetown University. He is the recipient of several State Department Superior and Meritorious Honor awards and speaks Danish, French, Khmer, Russian and Spanish.