Category: Featured Headlines

An investigation into the recovery of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in Sri Lankan waters, believed to be a high-speed target drone belonging to the Indian Air Force, has revealed that the drone was not operated within Sri Lankan airspace, the Daily Mirror learns.

The Sri Lanka Air Force has appointed a three-member special committee following the recovery of the drone by a group of fishermen approximately 35 nautical miles off the Trincomalee coast on December 27, 2024.

It was earlier revealed that the drone is a target drone typically used by defence forces during training exercises.

Air Force spokesman Group Captain Eranda Geeganage said that the committee had submitted an initial report to the Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force after completing the investigation.

The committee reported that the drone posed no threat, as it contained no explosives, cameras, or GPS.

According to the committee, the drone may have drifted into Sri Lankan waters and could have been there for at least two weeks.

“We believe the drone was not operated in our air defence zone. If any country uses our air defence zone, they usually inform us. However, neither any defence forces nor we detected this type of drone operating in our airspace. Therefore, we think the training may have occurred far from our zone,” Group Captain Geeganage said.

The spokesman also said that they are in the process of verifying the country of origin of the drone.

However, it is questionable why no country or company has come forward to claim ownership of the drone.

The words Shikra and Target can be seen on the wings of the drone, while Anadrone appears on the tail fin.

Anadrone Systems Pvt Ltd is a defence company based in India, specializing in the design, development, and deployment of advanced unmanned aerial systems and defence technologies.

A similar type of aircraft was found by a group of fishermen near the Talapada estuary in August 2020, which was likely tested at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur.

Group Captain Geeganage said that the committee had recommended that relevant counterparts work on gathering additional information to facilitate the transfer of the drone.

It has been reported that once the final report is completed, local authorities will inform the Indian High Commission about the drone.

If the drone is confirmed to belong to India, the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) will hand it over to Indian authorities, the spokesman said.

The Defence Ministry has announced the appointment of Major General (Retired) Ruwan Wanigasooriya as the Chief of National Intelligence, effective from yesterday (January 1).

He received his letter of appointment from Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), yesterday (Jan 01).

Subsequently Maj. Gen. Wanigasooriya (Retd) has assumed duties in his new position at his office at the Defence Ministry in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.

Maj. Gen. Wanigasooriya (Retd) has been appointed to the position of Chief of National Intelligence, which fell vacant following the retirement of Major General Ruwan Kulatunga, who served as the Chief of National Intelligence.

Emirates will increase flight frequencies on its Dubai-Colombo route in 2025, increasing passenger capacity on the Sri Lanka service by 30 percent.

Emirates Airlines is expanding its Dubai-Colombo, Sri Lanka route with a new daily flight starting January 2, 2025.

This strategic addition will increase passenger capacity by 30 percent, supporting Sri Lanka’s ambitious tourism goals for the coming year and strengthening the vital air connection between the two destinations.

New Service Dubai-Colombo in 2025

The new service, operating as EK654/655, will initially run six times weekly through March 31, 2025. Passengers can board flight EK654 from Dubai International Airport at 10:05 AM (except Wednesdays). The flight lands at Bandaranaike International Airport at 4:00 PM local time.

The return flight departs Colombo at 10:05 PM, reaching Dubai at 1:05 AM the next day. This carefully planned schedule allows for convenient connections to Emirates’ extensive global network.

Starting April 1, 2025, the schedule expands to include Wednesdays, with adjusted timings to better serve traveler needs.

The Wednesday flight will leave Colombo at 10:05 PM, touching down in Dubai at 12:55 AM. The return service departs Dubai at 1:20 PM. It then arrives in Colombo at 7:15 PM, providing passengers with additional flexibility in their travel plans.

Travelers on the new route will enjoy Emirates’ signature luxury experience aboard its Boeing 777 aircraft. The aircraft features eight First Class suites offering unparalleled privacy and comfort.

This is complemented by 42 Business Class seats equipped with state-of-the-art amenities. A further 310 Economy Class seats are supports, with all designed for optimal comfort during long-haul flights.

This addition complements Emirates’ existing services – two direct Dubai-Colombo flights and one daily route via Male, bringing the total daily service to four flights.

Collaboration with Sri Lanka Tourism

The expansion significantly strengthens Emirates’ longstanding partnership with Sri Lanka Tourism. Together, they actively promote Sri Lanka’s diverse attractions across Emirates’ global network, showcasing the island nation’s rich heritage and natural wonders.

This collaboration aligns perfectly with Sri Lanka’s new focus on attracting eco-conscious travelers and their ambitious goal of welcoming 3 million visitors by 2025.

Emirates’ relationship with Sri Lanka spans nearly four decades, beginning in April 1986. Throughout this period, the airline has consistently supported the country’s tourism and trade sectors, carrying over 12 million passengers to and from Colombo.

The enhanced schedule now offers more than 2,800 daily seats between the two cities and can transport up to 160 tonnes of cargo per day, providing crucial support for both tourism and trade connections.

This capacity increase demonstrates Emirates’ continued commitment to Sri Lanka’s economic growth and tourism development, while offering travelers more choices and improved connectivity to destinations worldwide through its Dubai hub.

Source: Aviation Source News

Armed forces protection won’t be available for any politician

In line with the NPP government’s policy in respect of provision of security to those who faced threats, only the President and Prime Minister will be given STF security, authoritative sources say.Over the years successive governments assigned the STF for the protection of various political leaders.

Sources said that having considered threat assessments, a decision had been made to cease deployment of armed forces for the protection of politicians, regardless of their status.

The armed forces defeated the LTTE in 2009 and since then there have not been attempts to target any politician or retired and serving armed forces officers.

During the war, armed forces developed their own VIP security units in support of the Presidential Security Division (PSD) and the Ministerial Security Division (MSD). Some of those high on the LTTE hit list such as late Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and TULF Leader V. Anandasangaree received protection from Army Commandos.

The former Army Commander and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Shavendra Silva, has officially retired from the service today (31), concluding a remarkable 41-year career dedicated to safeguarding Sri Lanka’s security and sovereignty.

A formal ceremony marking his retirement was held this afternoon (31) at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH).

In a detailed statement issued ahead of his retirement, General Silva reflected on certain significant events that transpired during his tenure, including the civil unrest of 2022, also known as the ‘Aragalaya’ protest movement.

“The civil unrest in the country in 2022 was a complex process in my military career that revealed who my true friends and true enemies are. The state army is an official armed force that stands ready to protect the people in the event of a threat to the state, whether external or internal,” he stated.

“The 2022 uprising was an internal civil unrest. I ordered the army to use only minimal force to control the protesters. I did not want any ordinary innocent citizen to die from a military bullet.”

“I was not eager to become a fanatical mass murderer wielding official authority against an unarmed population. The result is that the country did not descend into anarchy. An example of this is the negative consequences of military operations currently being carried out to suppress popular protests in neighboring states,” he said.

Addressing accusations leveled against him, General Silva rejected claims of personal ambitions. “As power-hungry rulers claim, I did not have the obscene and evil purpose of overthrowing the state. Nor did I have the lowly desire to become a pawn of a foreign country or a pet of a foreign embassy. If that were the case, why would I have used the Air Force to rescue the Prime Minister, who was also the fifth Executive President of the country at the time, by dispersing protesters and saving his life?”

“Why would I have driven away the majority of protesters who came to burn down the houses of politicians and saved those houses? Yet, the state rulers’ interpretation of my tactical strategies during the struggle was unfavorable to me,” he noted.

Reflecting on the latter part of his career, he explained, “While serving as only the second Army Commander to hold the rank of four-star General in the history of the Sri Lankan military, I was seven months away from retiring from service on May 31, 2022, when the authorities officially transferred me from the post of Army Commander to Chief of Defence Staff.”

“Shortly thereafter, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had to flee the country while I was attending a national security conference abroad with state permission, having resigned as Army Commander and serving as the Chief of Defence Staff,” he added.

In a landmark development for Sri Lanka’s renewable energy sector, Liege Capital Holdings successfully concluded the second wind power securitisation for the Ceylex Renewables Mannar project, for Rs. 6.5 billion branded as “Windscape Mannar.”

This groundbreaking transaction was led by the National Savings Bank (NSB) as the Lead Banker and Trustee, with Commercial Bank of Ceylon as the co-investing bank.

The securitisation raises significant capital for Windscape Mannar, a project poised to harness Mannar’s wind potential to meet Sri Lanka’s growing energy needs sustainably.

NSB CEO Shashi Kandamby said: “As the Lead Banker and Trustee of this transaction, we are proud to support a pioneering project that aligns with Sri Lanka’s renewable energy goals. National Savings Bank remains committed to facilitating sustainable financing solutions that contribute to our nation’s energy independence and environmental preservation.”

Commercial Bank Managing Director/CEO Sanath Manatunge said: “This collaboration demonstrates the strength and benefits of banking partnerships in addressing the financing needs of Sri Lanka’s energy transition. Commercial Bank is honoured to play a critical role in co-investing in a project that sets benchmarks for future renewable energy financing.”

Ceylex Renewables CEO Sameera Ganegoda said: “Windscape Mannar is a testament to our commitment to innovation and sustainability. With the support of NSB, Commercial Bank, and Liege Capital Holdings, we are proud to lead Sri Lanka toward a greener energy future.”

Liege Capital Holdings CEO Maduranga Jayasundara said: “This transaction exemplifies how innovative financing can unlock the potential of renewable energy projects in Sri Lanka. By structuring scalable solutions like securitisations, we’re paving the way for future growth in the sector.”

The successful securitisation of Windscape Mannar marks a milestone in Sri Lanka’s renewable energy landscape. It sets a strong precedent for innovative financing, driving investments in clean energy projects and showcasing the potential of structured solutions in advancing the country’s sustainability goals.