Page 46 - Sri Lanka

IMF delegation to visit Sri Lanka this month: Central Bank Governor

The Sri Lankan government's negotiations with the IMF for a bailout package have made "good progress," the Central Bank Governor said on Thursday, indicating that a top delegation of the Washington-based lender is expected to arrive here at the end of this month to chalk out a staff-level agreement. Sri Lanka is in the midst of an unprecedented economic crisis that has led to severe shortages of fuel and other essentials. The island nation of 22 million also witnessed a major political churn in recent times following massive mass protests that forced former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country and resign from his post. "The IMF programme is making a good progress, and an IMF mission is planning to visit Sri Lanka towards the end of this month to reach a staff-level agreement on a policy package, news portal newsfirst.lk quoted Sri Lanka's Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe as saying. Weerasinghe said that after Sri Lanka reached a staff-level agreement with the

Amid political crisis, Gotabaya to return to Sri Lanka next week: Report

Sri Lanka has been facing its worst economic-political crisis, which led to massive protests in the country that forced Rajapaksa to flee abroad and also hand in his resignation last month

Adani group gets provisional approvals for renewable energy projects in SL

Adani Green Energy was issued provisional approvals for two wind power projects in northern province for an investment of over $ 500 million, Sri Lanka's Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara announced

Gotabaya Rajapaksa to return to Sri Lanka on August 24, says his cousin

Gotabaya Rajapaksa will return to Sri Lanka on August 24, his cousin Udayanga Weeratunga said on Wednesday, over a month after the former president fled the country amid mass anti-government protests over an unprecedented economic crisis. Sri Lanka, a country of 22 million people, is grappling with its worst economic turmoil in seven decades, leaving millions struggling to buy food, medicine, fuel and other essentials. The massive protests that began in March culminated with Rajapaksa's resignation. "He talked to me on the phone, I can tell you he will return to the country next week, said Weeratunga, who was Sri Lanka's ambassador to Russia from 2006 to 2015. Rajapaksa could return on August 24, he said, adding that the ousted president should not be re-elected for political positions. But he can still do some service to the country as he had done previously, Weeratunga said of the 73-year-old former Sri Lankan president. Rajapaksa is currently staying at a hotel in Bangkok in th

Rajapaksa not using state funds for expenses abroad: Sri Lankan govt

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is not using state funds for any expenses he makes abroad: Sri Lanka

China not allowed to use Hambantota Port for military purposes: Lanka Prez

China will not be allowed to use the southern port of Hambantota for military purposes, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has said, apparently attempting to allay fears in India and the US about China's increasing maritime presence in the strategic Indo-Pacific region. Wickremesinghe said this ahead of the arrival of a high-tech Chinese research ship, which on Tuesday docked at the Hambantota Port, which Beijing took over on a 99-year-lease as a debt swap in 2017. We do not want Hambantota to be used for military purposes, Wickremesinghe said on Sunday in an interview with the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper at the President's House in Colombo. His statement to the Japanese newspaper was apparently aimed at allaying fears in India and the United States about China's increasing maritime presence in the Indo-Pacific. The port was developed as part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, but Colombo leased the port to Beijing in 2017 because it became unable to pay back the ...

Chinese 'spy' ship docks at Sri Lanka's Hambantota port, says report

A high-tech Chinese research ship docked at Sri Lanka's southern port of Hambantota today, days after Colombo asked Beijing to defer the port call amidst India's concern over the vessel's presence.

While high-tech ship berths at SL, China says it doesn't affect any country

They do not affect the security and the economic interests of any country and should not be obstructed by any third party," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said.

India gifts Dornier aircraft to strengthen maritime security of Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe was present at the impressive handover ceremony which took place on a day when India celebrated its 76th Independence Day

Vice Chief of Indian Navy begins visit to SL; to hand over Dornier aircraft

Days before a Chinese missile and satellite tracking ship docks in Sri Lanka's Hambantota port, Vice Chief of Indian Navy Vice Admiral S N Ghormade began a two-day visit to the island nation on Sunday

Lanka allows docking of Chinese research ship at Hambantota port: Report

The Chinese ballistic missile and satellite tracking ship, 'Yuan Wang 5', was earlier scheduled to arrive on Thursday and remain at the port until August 17 for replenishment.

Chinese research ship steers clear of Sri Lanka's port, for now: Report

Chinese ballistic missile and satellite tracking ship 'Yuan Wang 5' was to arrive on Thursday and remain at the port until August 17 for replenishment

Ex-Sri Lankan President Gotabaya arrives in Thailand from Singapore

The Thailand Foreign Ministry said it received a request from Rajapaksa to visit the country with no intention of seeking political asylum.

'Gotabaya leaves Singapore for Thailand as short-term visit pass expires'

Sri Lanka's ousted president Gotabaya Rajapaksa left Singapore for Thailand after his short-term visit pass expired on Thursday, according to a media report. Rajapaksa boarded a flight from Singapore to Bangkok, after Thailand confirmed a day before that it had received a request from the current Sri Lankan government for him to visit the country. Responding to media queries, Singapore's Immigration & Checkpoints Authority said that Rajapaksa left Singapore on Thursday, The Straits Times newspaper reported. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Wednesday confirmed a temporary visit to Thailand by the 73-year-old embattled Sri Lankan leader for humanitarian reasons, and said he promised not to conduct political activities in the kingdom during his search for permanent asylum in another country. Rajapaksa, who is currently in Singapore after fleeing Sri Lanka in July amid mass anti-government protests, is seeking refuge in Thailand as his Singapore visa runs out on Thursday. After ...

Ex-Sri Lankan Prez Gotabaya to stay temporarily in Thailand: PM Prayut

Thailand has agreed to allow Gotabaya Rajapaksa to stay in the country temporarily during which the ousted Sri Lankan president will search for a third nation that will offer him permanent refuge

Four months on, anti-govt protests over crisis in Sri Lanka fizzle out

Demonstrations planned by Sri Lankan opposition parties and trade unions have fizzled out, with smaller crowds turning up to mark the fourth month of an anti-government protest campaign

Prabath Jayasuriya and Emma Lamb win ICC Player of the Month Awards

The International Cricket Council has announced Sri Lankan spin sensation Prabath Jayasuriya and England batting all-rounder Emma Lamb as the winners of its Player of the Month awards for July 2022.

Indian Oil to open 50 fuel stations in Sri Lanka to help alleviate crisis

Sri Lanka has given approval for India's Lanka Indian Oil Corporation to open 50 new fuel stations, as part of efforts to reduce severe shortages that have crippled the island nation.

Over 5.5 mn vehicles registered with Sri Lanka's fuel quota system

Over 5.5 million vehicles have been registered with Sri Lanka's national fuel pass or QR code system, Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said

China seeks urgent meet with Sri Lankan authorities over ship's visit

On July 12, amid the political turmoil in Sri Lanka, the then government approved the Chinese vessel's docking at the Hambantota port