Page 45 - Sri Lanka

India slams China, says Sri Lanka needs support, not 'unwanted pressure'

India on Saturday hit back at China for alleging that it was "interfering" in Sri Lanka's internal affairs, firmly telling Beijing that what Colombo needs now was "support, not unwanted pressure or unnecessary controversies" to serve another country's agenda. Hinting at India's objection to the docking of Chinese ballistic missile and satellite tracking ship 'Yuan Wang 5' at the Hambantota port, Chinese ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhongon in a statement on Friday said that "external obstruction" based on so-called security concerns without any evidence is a "thorough interference" into the island nation's sovereignty and independence. "We have noted the remarks of the Chinese Ambassador. His violation of basic diplomatic etiquette may be a personal trait or reflecting a larger national attitude," the High Commission of India in Sri Lankan tweeted. It said Qi's view of India may be coloured by how his own country behaves. "India, we assure him, is very different," the Indian miss

Indian Coast Guard's presence ensures there is no influx from Sri Lanka: DG

He also lauded the Indian Coast Guard's effort in rescuing 32 Bangladesh fishermen and said the increase in presence in the sea has reduced the time to respond to a distress call.

Asia Cup 2022: SL vs AFG: Predicted XI, Time, Pitch Report and Toss

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan: Sri Lanka will face Afghanistan in the first match of the Asia Cup 2022. Who will be the playing XI? Who can win the match? How's the pitch? Read to know more

WHO pledges to provide $4 mn worth of medical supplies to Sri Lanka

WHO Director-General also said that they have recognised the ongoing economic crisis in Sri Lanka and the impact Covid-19 was having on the health system

India urges citizens to examine relevant factors before visiting Sri Lanka

India on Thursday urged its nationals planning to visit Sri Lanka to exercise caution and especially called on them to consider factors like currency convertibility and the fuel situation in that country before undertaking any essential travel. Sri Lanka has been reeling under severe shortage of fuel and food in the last few months and the economic crisis has triggered massive protests in Colombo last month. India has extended assistance worth over USD 3.8 billion to Sri Lanka this year to help it deal with the economic crisis. "We have been following the developments there. Our understanding is that Indians are still the largest source of tourists for Sri Lanka," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said. "As regards to the travel of Indians to Sri lanka in the current situation, let me emphasise that safety and well being of Indian nationals during their stay outside India including in Sri Lanka in this particular case, is always of prime interest to us," he ...

Sri Lankan President Wickremesinghe to present interim budget on Aug 30

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe who is also the finance minister will present an interim budget on August 30, seeking enhanced expenditure and borrowing limits for his cash-strapped government. The interim budget comes amidst the government's ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a possible bailout package. The Sri Lankan Parliament's communications office said President Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the finance minister will present the interim budget on August 30 and the lawmakers will debate the budget from Tuesday to Friday that week. The budget will seek an additional sum of LKR 929.4 billion to the originally approved figure of LKR 2,796.4 billion for 2021 as the increased government expenditure, it said. The budget will also seek an increase to the government's borrowing limit with an additional sum of LKR 892 billion -- up from the originally approved LKR 3,200 billion. Wickremesinghe has said he was keen to provide relief throug

Amid soft-peg crisis, Sri Lanka suspends imports of over 300 items from Wed

The list also included bags, bottle cases, jewellery boxes, powder-boxes, cutlery cases, toilet or facial tissue stock, towel or napkin stock

Lanka's human rights commission directs prez to ensure Rajapaksa's return

Writing to Ranil Wickremesinghe, the HRCSL stated that Rajapaksa is entitled to certain privileges and benefits under law and government should take necessary steps to ensure his security to return

Lanka aims to lower fiscal deficit to 6.8% in budget 2023: Senior minister

Sri Lanka's 2023 budget would aim to reduce the fiscal deficit to 6.8 per cent in 2023 from the projected 9.9 per cent in 2022, a senior Cabinet Minister said on Tuesday, ahead of the visit by the IMF delegation for a bailout package to the crisis-hit island nation. Sri Lanka is in the midst of an unprecedented economic crisis that has led to severe shortages of fuel and other essentials, leading to long serpentine queues in front of filling stations. The island nation of 22 million also witnessed a significant political churn following massive mass protests that forced former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country and resign from his post. "Sri Lanka is planning to cut the budget deficit to 6.8 per cent of gross domestic product in 2023 from an expected 9.9 per cent in 2022," Bandula Gunawardena, the Cabinet spokesman and Minister of Information said on Tuesday. The Cabinet of ministers has approved a fiscal framework for 2023-2025. Sri Lanka is facing the worst fiscal .

US, EU concerned over SL protesters' detention under counter-terrorism law

US and Canada along with the EU have expressed concern over Sri Lanka's use of Prevention of Terrorism Act on protestors who participated in the agitation that led to Gotabaya Rajapaksa stepping down

Chinese tracking ship leaves Sri Lanka after controversial 6-day visit

The ballistic missile and satellite tracking ship 'Yuan Wang 5' ship was originally scheduled to arrive at the Chinese-run port on August 11 but it was delayed

Sri Lanka President calls Rajapaksa to facilitate his return: Report

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has reached out to his predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa to finalise arrangements and facilitate his return to the crisis-hit country, a media report said on Monday. Rajapaksa, 73, fled the country and resigned last month in the face of a popular uprising against his government for mismanaging the island nation's economy. He is currently staying in a hotel in Bangkok with his wife Loma Rajapaksa. The Daily Mirror newspaper, citing highly-placed sources, claimed Wickremesinghe is reported to have contacted Rajapaksa to discuss arrangements for his return to the country. The move comes after the ruling party, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa met Wickremesinghe recently and called for the former president's early return to the country, the report said. The date of Rajapaksa's return has still not been finalised, it said, amid reports that he may arrive here this week from Bangkok. Last week, the main Opposition pa

India hands over 21,000 tonnes of urea to economic crisis-hit Sri Lanka

India on Monday handed over 21,000 tonnes of fertiliser to Sri Lanka under a special support programme which will help farmers in this country and help bolster bilateral cooperation for food security, the second such assistance in recent months to the crisis-hit island nation. "Adding to the fragrance of friendship and cooperation. High Commissioner (Gopal Baglay) formally handed over 21,000 tonnes of fertiliser supplied under India's special support to the people of Sri Lanka," the Indian High Commission said in a tweet. This follows 44,000 tonnes supplied last month under Indian support totalling about USD 4bn in 2022," it said. "The fertiliser will contribute to food security and support the farmers of Sri Lanka. It demonstrates benefits to the people from close ties with #India and mutual trust and goodwill between #India and #lanka," the mission tweeted. In May, India assured Sri Lanka to immediately supply 65,000 metric tonnes of urea to avoid any disruption to the current Y

Chinese satellite tracking ship leaves Sri Lanka after controversial visit

A high-tech Chinese research ship docked at the strategically important Hambantota port departed from Sri Lankan waters on Monday after a controversial six-day visit. The ballistic missile and satellite tracking ship 'Yuan Wang 5' ship was originally scheduled to arrive at the Chinese-run port on August 11 but it was delayed in absence of permission by Sri Lankan authorities following security concerns raised by India. The Chinese ship arrived in the southern Sri Lankan port of Hambantota on August 16 at 8:20 am local time. It was docked there for replenishment. The ship left the port at 4 pm local time, harbour master Nirmal Silva told reporters here. Its next port call is at China's Jiang Yin port, officials said. The Hambantota port officials said as agreed there was no rotation of personnel during the call. Sri Lanka provided the necessary assistance sought by the Chinese embassy here during the ship's visit. Sri Lanka had asked China to defer the visit amid India's concerns

Sri Lanka's CPC hikes kerosene prices by 253 LKR in a bid to cut losses

Amid the continuing economic crisis, Sri Lanka's state-owned fuel distributor Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has hiked the price of kerosene to cut losses

Sri Lanka's Oppn party demands Rajapaksa must be tried for misusing funds

Sri Lanka's former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has the right to return to the country, but he must be tried for allegations of misuse of funds since he does not enjoy legal immunity, main Opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya has said. Rajapaksa, 73, fled the country and resigned last month in the face of a popular uprising against his government for mismanaging the island nation's economy. Gotabaya Rajapaksa is a citizen of this country and he has the right to return to his motherland. No one can deny this right. However, he should be tried for the allegations of misuse of funds, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) CEO Ajith P Perera was quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror newspaper. The Sri Lanka's Constitution allows privileges to former presidents, including personal security and an office with staff. There was a case against him for allegedly spending state funds for his parent's monument. It is possible to make him face the trials and penalise him if is found guilty, as he does

Sri Lanka aiming 1 mn tourists this year, especially from India: Minister

Sri Lanka's Tourism Minister Harin Fernando on Saturday said as things get back to normal after the recent political crisis in the island nation, the government aims to receive at least 10 lakh tourists this year, mostly from India. Fernando, who was in Ahmedabad to promote tourism in the island nation, said religious and cultural tourism between Sri Lanka and India "will make a lot of sense". "There are a lot of commonalities we can find with India, and we think the next year will be mostly dedicated to India," Fernando told reporters. Sri Lanka has already logged five lakh tourists for the current year, and hopes to end the year with 10 lakh tourists, mostly from India, the minister said. He further said 2018 was the best for the country when around 23 lakh tourists visited and generated a revenue of $4-5 billion for the country, he said. "We have $900 million coming from the tourism sector (so far this year), and are hoping that by the end of the year we might reach about $2 ..

Sri Lanka ruling party urges Wickremesinghe to ease Rajapaksa's return

The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party has asked President Ranil Wickremesinghe to facilitate the safety of his predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa so that he can return to the crisis-hit island nation. The SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam told reporters that the request was made at a meeting held with President Wickremesinghe on Thursday, amid reports that Rajapaksa, who fled the country last month following unprecedented anti-government protests, may return to Sri Lanka next week. Rajapaksa, 73, fled the country on July 13 after tens of thousands of people stormed into his official residence on July 9. We asked the president to facilitate his return and ensure security and necessary facilities," Kariyawasam said. The Sri Lanka's Constitution allows privileges to former presidents, including personal security and an office with staff. Having gone to the Maldives on a Sri Lanka Airforce plane, the former president proceeded to Singapore from where he sent in his .

Crisis-hit Sri Lanka to ask Japan to open talks on debt restructuring

Economy may see recovery in the second half of 2023, says president

Gotabaya Rajapaksa applies for Green Card to settle in US: Report

Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled the country last month amidst massive anti-government protests calling for his resignation, is awaiting to obtain a US Green Card to return to America and settle there with his wife and son, a media report said on Thursday. Sri Lankan newspaper Daily Mirror, citing highly-placed sources, claimed that Rajapaksa's lawyers in the United States had already begun the procedure last month for his application to obtain the Green Card as he was eligible to apply due to his wife Loma Rajapaksa being a US citizen. In 2019, Rajapaksa renounced his US citizenship to contest the 2019 presidential polls. Rajapaksa took early retirement from the Sri Lanka Army and moved into the field of information technology, before immigrating to the United States in 1998. He returned to Sri Lanka in 2005, The procedure will also now involve his lawyers in Colombo submitting the additional documents here in order to go ahead with the procedure, the daily