Page 2 - Ranil Wickremesinghe

Sri Lanka Navy ready to send ship to Red Sea to protect merchant vessels

The Sri Lanka Navy on Monday said it is ready to send a naval ship to the Red Sea to combat the threat to merchant vessel lines by Houthi rebels, joining countries such as India, in protecting the key waterway for global trade. The announcement comes following last week's orders of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who had declared the cost as Rs 250 million every fortnight. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have launched more than 20 attacks on merchant ships in recent weeks, claiming to take revenge against Israel for its military campaign against Palestinian terror group Hamas in Gaza. These attacks have sharply raised goods' transportation costs between Asia and Europe. Newswire Lanka quoted Navy spokesman Captain Gayan Wickramasuriya as saying that but the exact date of deployment is yet to be confirmed. The vessels would be covering the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and connected sea lanes. Captain Wickramasuriya went on to say that initially one ship would be deployed as pa

Will deploy naval vessel in Red Sea to fight Houthi attacks: Sri Lanka Prez

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has announced that Sri Lanka will provide a Navy vessel to fight attacks by Houthi rebels on merchant ships in the Red Sea, joining countries like India in protecting the key waterway for global trade. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have launched more than 20 attacks on merchant ships in recent weeks, claiming to take revenge against Israel for its military campaign against Palestinian terror group Hamas in Gaza. These attacks have sharply raised goods costs between Asia and Europe. Addressing an award ceremony here on Wednesday, Wickremesinghe, who holds the defence ministry portfolio, noted that merchant shipping was hit by Houthi attacks at the Red Sea and said if the ships were to be diverted and re-routed around South Africa, the voyages would become much more expensive. This could create (an) escalation of the cost of goods. "So we have agreed to send a Naval vessel to combat Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, he said. The Houthis, who control most

Sri Lankan President presents budget, says economy not out of crisis yet

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday presented his government's 2024 budget, emphasising the need for tough reforms until the full recovery of the cash-strapped island nation's economy. Although Sri Lanka has managed to control its hyperinflation in the ongoing economic crisis, its economy is far from being fully recovered. We have been able to put back on the rails the derailed economy. Still, people undergo suffering," Wickremesinghe, who is also the Finance Minister, said. The inflation which was 70 per cent in September 2022 has been reduced to 1.5 per cent in October this year," the minister said. He said in order for the island nation to prevent another bankruptcy, hard reforms are a must. The state banks were made to fund the losses of state enterprises. He proposed that two state banks' shares be issued to the public and investors while the government would inject cash into the state banks to maintain their stability. Wickremesinghe said the cost of living

S Lankan Prez effects 1st Cabinet reshuffle; changes health min's portfolio

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday effected the first reshuffle of his Cabinet, changing the portfolios of two ministers, amidst criticism from the opposition that he was planning to postpone elections that are due in the cash-strapped country next year. Significantly, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was moved to the Environment Ministry following weeks of public dissatisfaction with his handling of the ministry. Rambukwella, 69, survived a motion of no confidence in Parliament moved against him by the opposition to highlight inefficiency, corruption and mismanagement in the ministry's conduct. Rambukwella a fortnight back had ordered a police investigation into an Indian company's alleged supply of a substandard drug. The Indian company had however denied such a supply to a Sri Lankan importer. The Environment Ministry was held by Wickremesinghe himself when the incumbent came to be disqualified as a member of parliament through a court order. The health ...

Sri Lankan Prez calls for stability amid ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has called for a fresh approach from the world to maintain a stable geopolitical system in the wake of the escalating conflict involving Israel and Hamas. Speaking at a dinner hosted by the Geopolitical Cartographer, an international research foundation specialising in the Indian Ocean, under the theme Emerging New Order in the Indian Ocean Region', Wickremesinghe on Friday night talked about the importance of the current situation in West Asia and its potential impact on the global order. The 74-year-old leader expressed concerns about the global geopolitical implications of the conflict, particularly the challenges for the United States in managing multiple international issues simultaneously. Can the US manage Ukraine, Taiwan and the Middle East, Gaza? I don't think so. If you are going to have two aircraft carrier groups in the Mediterranean, that's serious. Can you manage it? It's going to be difficult because many issues are going to .

Lanka-India ferry service will help develop trade, culture: Wickremesinghe

Welcoming the resumption of ferry services between Sri Lanka and India after a gap of 41 years, President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Saturday said it will help improve the connectivity, trade and cultural links between the two countries. India and Sri Lanka on Saturday launched ferry services between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai in Jaffna, the capital city of the Northern Province. Ferry service is an important step in increasing the connectivity between India and Sri Lanka. For thousands of years, people have traversed the Palk Strait to travel from the Indian subcontinent to this island and from Sri Lanka back to the Indian subcontinent. This is how our cultures have developed. This is how our trade developed, Wickremesinghe said in a recorded video message at the inauguration of the ferry service. Stating that the connectivity between our two countries was disrupted due to the war in the north, the President said, Now peace has returned and we can re-establish the s

Mamata meets Sri Lankan prez at Dubai airport, invites him to WB biz summit

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday met Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe at Dubai airport and invited him to the state business summit in November. Banerjee is on a 12-day trip to Dubai and Spain. The chief minister said that Wickremesinghe, seeing her at the airport lounge, called her to join for some discussion. His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe saw me at the Dubai International Airport Lounge and called me to join for some discussion. I have been humbled by his greetings and (have) invited him to the Bengal Global Business Summit 2023 in Kolkata, she posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. Banerjee also said Wickremesinghe has invited her to visit the island country. HE the President of Sri Lanka extended cordial invitation to me to visit Sri Lanka. It was a pleasant interaction with deep implications, she added. Banerjee reached Dubai on Tuesday evening and was at the airport there this morning to board her flight to .

Macron becomes 1st French president to visit Sri Lanka, pledges assistance

During the visit, Wickremesinghe and Macron held friendly and productive bilateral discussions which lasted for an hour and fifteen minutes, the Sri Lankan President's office said

Sri Lanka releases 15 Indian fishermen days after Wickremesinghe's visit

As many as 15 Tamil Nadu fishermen released by Sri Lanka arrived here on Thursday from Colombo, officials said. The fishermen were arrested recently by the neighbouring country for alleged poaching and they were lodged in a prison. Transport arrangements were made and the fishermen were sent home on their arrival at the airport here, officials added. The release of the fishermen comes days after Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe's official visit to India.

Sri Lankan Prez to call all-party meet on implementation of 13A: Minister

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe will convene an all-party meeting next week on the implementation of the contentious 13th Amendment to the country's Constitution, a long-pending demand of the minority Tamil community, a minister said on Saturday. The announcement came a day after the issue figured prominently in the wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Wickremesinghe, with the Indian prime minister highlighting the need for the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution. Prime Minister Modi conveyed to Sri Lankan President Wickremesinghe, who arrived in New Delhi on Thursday on a two-day visit, India's expectations from Colombo to fulfil the aspirations of the Tamil community in the island nation. The Tamil community in Sri Lanka has been demanding the implementation of the 13th Amendment that provides for devolution of power to it. The 13th Amendment (13A) was brought in after the Indo-Sri Lankan agreement of 1987. It creat

Expecting Sri Lankan prez's visit to impart momentum to bilateral ties: MEA

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday kicked off a two-day visit to India that is expected to impart a new momentum in bilateral ties, especially in the economic and trade sphere. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Wickremesinghe will hold wide-ranging talks on Friday covering all key aspects of relations between the two countries. It is the first visit to India by a Sri Lankan leader since the island nation reeled under a severe economic crises last year. "We Look forward to the visit to impart a new momentum to the relationship," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at his weekly media briefing. India extended financial assistance worth around USD 4 billion to Sri Lanka including lines of credit for purchases of food and fuel last year when it was hit by the economic crisis. New Delhi also provided guarantees to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help the country secure a USD 2.9 billion bailout package. In the evening, External Affairs

Stalin urges PM Modi to take up fishermen issue with visiting Lankan Prez

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the issue of protection of the traditional fishing rights of Indian fishermen. Pointing to Wickremesinghe's two-day official visit to the country this week, Stalin outlined 'retrieval' of Katchatheevu island and addressing the genuine aspirations of the Tamil-speaking people in Sri Lanka as matters of great concern to the people of Tamil Nadu. At the invitation of Prime Minister Modi, Wickremesinghe is set to visit India on an official visit on July 21. This will be his first visit to the country since assuming the 'current responsibilities,' according to the External Affairs Ministry. Stalin, writing to Modi, said it is imperative to protect the social, political, cultural and economic rights of the Tamils in Sri Lanka so that they could lead dignified lives as equal citizens. "For this purpose, there must be adequate and meaningful devolution of

Sri Lankan President Wickremesinghe to visit India to further cement ties

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe will embark on a two-day official visit to India on Thursday for talks with the country's top leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to further advance and consolidate the bilateral relations. This will be Wickremesinghe's first visit to India after being appointed President of the cash-strapped country last year following the ouster of Gotabaya Rajapaksa in a people's uprising in July. President Wickremesinghe is undertaking the official visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sri Lanka's foreign ministry said in a statement this week. The visit takes place as both countries celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year. During the visit, President Wickremesinghe would meet his counterpart Droupadi Murmu and hold bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishanakar and other Indian dignitaries on a range of issues of mutual ...

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe to visit India this week

The visit will reinforce the longstanding friendship between the two countries and explore avenues for enhanced connectivity and mutually beneficial cooperation across sectors

Foreign Secy Kwatra meets Sri Lankan FM; discusses Prez's India visit

Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on Tuesday met Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Ali Sabry and discussed bilateral ties and the upcoming state visit of President Ranil Wickremesinghe to India. Kwatra arrived here on Monday night on a two-day official visit to take stock of several Indian projects and prepare the ground for Sri Lankan President Wickremesinghe's trip to India next week. The Sri Lankan foreign minister in a tweet said he discussed with the Indian foreign secretary the upcoming state visit of Wickremesinghe to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Our discussion also centred around strengthening the bilateral relationship between our two countries for the mutual benefit of our people," the tweet said. Earlier, Kwatra met his Sri Lankan counterpart Aruni Wijewardena for talks. Officials said Kwatra would assess several Indian projects in multiple sectors which are in the pipeline and prepare the ground for Wickremesinghe's visit to India. Wickremes

Foreign Secy arrives in Colombo ahead of Sri Lankan Prez's India visit

Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra has arrived here on a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka to take stock of several Indian projects and make arrangements for Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe's upcoming trip to India. Kwatra landed at Bandaranaike International Airport here on Monday night. Officials said Kwatra would assess several Indian projects in multiple sectors which are in the pipeline and prepare the ground for Wickremesinghe's visit to India. Wickremesinghe will embark on a two-day visit to India on July 21 during which he is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, officials here said on Sunday. They said Wickremesinghe will finalise the implementation of several Indian projects related to power and energy, agriculture, and maritime issues in the island nation ahead of his departure for New Delhi. This will be Wickremesinghe's first visit to India after being appointed President of the cash-strapped country last year following the ouster of Gotabaya ...

SL's domestic debt restructuring plan approved by special cabinet meeting

Sri Lanka's special cabinet meeting on Wednesday unanimously approved the government's Domestic Debt Restructuring (DDR) plan under which the cash-strapped government aims to restructure USD 17 billion out of the total USD 41.5 billion external debt over five years. The proposed Domestic Debt Restructuring programme proposed by the Finance Ministry has been approved by the special cabinet meeting, a statement by the President's Office said. "All government MPs were notified a short while ago at the presidential secretariat. Next, the proposal will be submitted at the next parliament session for discussion, the statement said. The plan will now be referred to the public finance committee in Parliament ahead of Saturday's parliamentary session. Earlier, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is also the minister of finance, explaining the DDR programme said the government aims to restructure USD 17 billion out of the total USD 41.5 billion external debt over five years. Today's meeting

Govt to not allow SL to be used as base for any threats against India: Prez

Assuring that Sri Lanka will not be utilised as a base for any threats against India, Wickremesinghe emphasised that his nation is a neutral one

Change in China's stance on debt restructuring for SL in 2023 unlikely

The official statement released after the meeting only mentioned that China will give maximum support to Sri Lanka to recover from the economic crisis

Wickremesinghe orders fast-tracking of policy on reconciliation with Tamils

Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed relevant government departments to expedite the drafting of legislation necessary for the implementation of the Action Plan for Reconciliation that seeks to address the thorny issue of ethnic reconciliation of Tamilians in the island nation. Sri Lanka has endured a three-decade conflict including a protracted and brutal armed conflict, between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the country's armed forces. On May 18, 2009, the separatist campaign led by the LTTE to establish a separate Tamil homeland in the northern and eastern province of the island nation came to an end with the killing of the LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabakaran by the Sri Lankan Army. In 2015, the Sri Lankan government renewed its commitment to reconciliation and thereafter embarked on several initiatives for national reconciliation. The Action Plan for Reconciliation was part of the government's need for a comprehensive national policy to resolv