Page 7 - Sri Lanka

Mahinda Rajapaksa's elder son indicted for alleged misappropriation

Former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa's elder son has been indicted in the High Court here for alleged misappropriation from an Indian investment prior to 2015. Namal Rajapaksa, 38, had been arrested in June 2016 for the alleged misuse of 70 million Sri Lankan rupees from the Krish hotel project money to develop the game of rugby, for which he had been a Sri Lanka international player. The Krish hotel project located in the heart of Colombo commercial district was aborted and the unfinished construction remains. Recently its unsafe status was questioned in another court for the danger posed to passersby. Namal Rajapaksa was quizzed recently by the police after the Anura Kumara Dissanayake-led National People's Power (NPP) government revived the Krish case stalled since 2016. A week later, his younger brother Yoshitha was arrested in the revival of a similar questionable property case. He was released on bail on Monday. Namal Rajapaksa having learnt of his indictment poste

Sri Lanka lifts ban on vehicle import placed in 2020 due to pandemic

Cash-strapped Sri Lanka has officially lifted the ban on the vehicle import which was put in place in 2020 to ease the pressure on foreign exchange reserves due to the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities said on Tuesday. This will be with effect from February 1. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has issued a gazette dated January 24 which ended the ban on vehicle imports imposed in early 2020 with the COVID outbreak. The ban was continued when Sri Lanka suffered its economic crisis triggered by forex shortage. In April 2022, Sri Lanka declared its first-ever debt default. Commenting on the lifting of the import ban the Cabinet spokesman and minister Nalinda Jayathissa said only trucks, buses and double cabs would be allowed in the first phase. President Dissanayake said last week that the government would allocate USD 1.2 billion for vehicle imports for the first phase. In 2019, before the ban came into force the island had spent USD 1.4 billion for vehicle imports. We will be wary

5 Indian fishermen injured in firing by Sri Lankan Navy, MEA summons envoy

Five Indian fishermen sustained injuries, including two seriously, in an incident of firing by the Sri Lankan Navy in the proximity of Delft Island early Tuesday, triggering a strong reaction by India. The acting high commissioner of the island nation in New Delhi was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and a strong protest was lodged with the top diplomat. In its reaction, India said use of force is not "acceptable" under any circumstances whatsoever. "An incident of firing by the Sri Lankan Navy during the apprehension of 13 Indian fishermen in the proximity of Delft Island was reported in the early hours of this morning," it said. "Out of the 13 fishermen who were on board the fishing vessel, two have sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Jaffna Teaching hospital," it said. Three other fishermen received minor injuries and have been treated for the same, it added. Indian Consulate officials in Jaffna have visited the injured ...

Ex-president Rajapaksa's son arrested by Lanka police on corruption charges

Former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa's son Yoshitha Rajapaksa was arrested by police on Saturday on corruption charges in a property purchase case. Ex-navy officer Yoshitha was arrested from their home territory of Beliatta over the investigation of alleged misconduct in the purchase of the property during the term of his father's presidency prior to 2015. Yoshitha is the second among Mahinda Rajapaksa's three sons. His uncle and former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa was also quizzed by the police last week on the same property - a holiday home in the southern religious resort of Kataragama. The arrest came as Mahinda Rajapaksa filed a fundamental rights petition on Friday in the Supreme Court seeking its intervention to reinstate his security, which was significantly reduced by the government last month. Since the formation of a new government led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in November last year, Mahinda Rajapaksa's eldest son and legislator Namal Rajapaksa was

Sri Lanka power project not cancelled, tariff is being re-evaluated: Adani

"Reports that Adani's 484 megawatt (MW) wind power projects in Mannar and Pooneryn have been cancelled are false and misleading," Adani Group spokesperson said

Adani Power down 2% as Sri Lanka revokes power purchase pact with Group

Adani Power shares fell after reports suggested that Sri Lanka has cancelled a power purchase agreement with the Adani Group amid corruption allegations from the US

Sri Lanka revokes Adani wind power deal; Group denies cancellation claims

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake began investigations into Adani's local projects after founder Gautam Adani faced bribery allegations from the United States last year

Sri Lanka government announces new rules, limits ministerial privileges

The Sri Lankan government has announced stringent new regulations limiting the benefits afforded to its ministers, a move aimed at addressing public concerns over political privilege and accountability. A circular issued by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Thursday restricted Cabinet and deputy ministers to two official vehicles. New caps have been placed on their fuel allowances and monthly payments for office, residential, and mobile phone expenses. The support staff for a Cabinet minister is limited to 15 and a deputy minister is limited to 12. Family members or close relatives cannot be appointed as Private Secretary, Coordinating Secretary, Media Secretary, or Public Relations Secretary. The regulations come amidst the ongoing debate over the pressure put on former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to leave his official residence and forego personal security. Rajapaksa's security was slashed from 300 plus personnel to just 60 in December. Dissanayake at a public rally held e

41 Indian fishermen arrested by Sri Lankan Navy return to Chennai Airport

Earlier this month, on January 16, 15 Indian fishermen, also detained by the Sri Lankan Navy, were released and returned to Chennai

Colombo Stock Exchange to get NCDEX help in commodity derivatives trading

The agreement will enable knowledge transfer between the two exchanges where they will share expertise in product designing and development, trading systems and regulatory framework, sources said

ED attaches assets worth over Rs 200 crore in Sri Lanka under PMLA probe

The Enforcement Directorate Thursday said it has attached an under-construction luxury hotel in Colombo's prime area and some other assets worth more than Rs 200 crore as part of a money laundering probe linked to a Gurugram-based realty company which is alleged to have duped homebuyers. The company named Krrish Realtech Private Limited is promoted by businessman Amit Katyal, who is believed to be a close associate of the family of RJD chief Lalu Prasad. Katyal was arrested by the central agency in 2023 in a separate money laundering case related to the railways alleged land-for-jobs scam involving Prasad and his family. The ED said in a statement that it has issued an order to provisionally attach an under-construction luxury hotel and leasehold rights over 4 acres of land in the "Colombo 1" area of Sri Lanka apart from land rights for about 2.82 acres of Vicinity Hotels Pvt. Ltd., in the name of Good Earth Business Park Pvt. Ltd. located at Sector-66 in Gurugram. The money ...

China offers $3.7 bn for SL's refinery as Dissanayake seeks more investment

China has offered to invest USD 3.7 billion in Sri Lanka, stated to be the biggest-ever foreign investment in the island nation, to build a state-of-the-art oil refinery as the two countries signed a new plan to upgrade BRI cooperation during Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's state visit here. On Thursday, Dissanayake met Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Zhao Leji and pitched for more Chinese investment in his address to Chinese firms. A day earlier, Dissanayake held talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping following which the two sides signed 15 agreements. According to a press release by the Sri Lankan President's media division, his visit marked a significant milestone by securing the largest foreign direct investment to date of USD 3.7 billion Chinese investment to build a state-of-the-art oil refinery at Hambantota. This significant achievement was formalised this morning with the signing of an

China places SL on top of its neighbourhood diplomacy: Xi tells Dissanayake

China places Sri Lanka on top of its neighbourhood diplomacy and supports it in safeguarding its sovereignty, President Xi Jinping told his Sri Lankan counterpart Anura Kumara Dissanayake during their meeting here on Wednesday. After their meeting, the two countries signed several agreements to boost bilateral ties, an official statement here said. Xi expressed China's readiness to usher in a new era of development in bilateral ties and called on the two countries to have a keen grasp of their relations from a strategic perspective and jointly build a China-Sri Lanka community with a shared future, it said. Dissanayake, who arrived here on Tuesday on a four-day visit a month after travelling to India on his first overseas trip since assuming office in September, was given a ceremonial welcome at the Great Hall of People, following which both the Presidents held talks. After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of several bilateral documents on the cooperation plan for .

India to provide grant for supplying police vehicles to Sri Lanka

India would supply vehicles to be used by the Sri Lankan police under a grant, the Indian High Commission here said on Wednesday. Indian High Commissioner in Colombo Santosh Jha and the top bureaucrat in the public security ministry DWRB Seneviratne have signed the MoU for the grant assistance worth Sri Lankan rupees 300 million The project entails supply of at least 80 single cabs, spare parts and accessories to the police stations in Northern Province of Sri Lanka, which will address a vital requirement of Sri Lankan Police related to enhancing safety of citizens and maintenance of law and order, a release said. India's people-centric development cooperation initiatives based on the needs of the people of Sri Lanka and the priorities of the Sri Lanka government are making a tangible difference to the daily lives of the people in all the 25 districts of the country across sectors such as housing, health, education, fisheries, transport, renewable energy, livelihood sustenance, ...

Xi Jinping talks with Dissanayake, pledges new era in China-Sri Lanka ties

President Xi Jinping Wednesday expressed Beijing's readiness to usher in a new era of development in China-Sri Lanka ties as he met Sri Lankan counterpart Anura Kumara Dissanayake here following which both countries signed several agreements to boost bilateral relations. Dissanayake, who arrived here on Tuesday on a four-day visit a month after travelling to India on his first overseas trip since assuming office in September, was given a ceremonial welcome at the Great Hall of People following which both the Presidents held talks. Xi emphasised China's readiness to work closely with Sri Lanka in ushering in a new era of development, a press release issued by the Sri Lankan President's Media Division in Colombo said. Xi also recalled the longstanding relationship between the two countries, highlighting the close friendship that has existed for decades. President Xi reiterated China's commitment to continuing its cooperation with Sri Lanka in the future, the release said. Following

Sri Lankan Navy arrests 8 Indian fishermen for poaching, seizes 2 trawlers

The Sri Lankan Navy on Sunday said it has arrested eight Indian fishermen for allegedly fishing in the island nation's territorial waters and seized two fishing trawlers. The arrests took place on Saturday night "during a special operation conducted in the sea area north of Mannar", it said in a press statement. With this arrest, so far this year 18 Indian fishermen have been arrested and three trawlers confiscated, the statement said. The Navy said "in the dark hours of 11th January", the North Central Naval Command spotted a cluster of Indian fishing boats "engaging in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters. In response, the Northern Naval Command deployed its Fast Attack Craft and North Central Naval Command its Inshore Patrol Craft to drive away those Indian fishing boats poaching in the sea area north of Mannar". "The operation resulted in the seizure of 2 Indian fishing boats and apprehension of 8 Indian fishermen who continued to remain in Sri Lankan waters," it said. The sei

'Return to Sri Lanka': A lyrical journey through its history and politics

It is difficult to stop reading the book

Govt approves Rs 29 cr grant to develop Sri Lanka's north boatyard

India will provide Sri Lankan Rupees 290 million to develop the Karainagar Boatyard in the Northern Province of the island nation, the Indian High Commission said here on Thursday. The project envisages rehabilitation of Karainagar Boatyard of the Cey-Nor Foundation Ltd, incorporated under the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and operating under the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources. An MoU was signed and exchanged by High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha and the then High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India Kshenuka Dhireni Senewiratne on December 16, the High Commission said in a release. The project will cover civil works and procurement, including installation of plant, machinery, equipment, material, services etc. Once fully operational, the rehabilitated boatyard will augment livelihood opportunities of local fishermen, create more job opportunities in the area, including through small establishments around the boatyard, and

From UK to US and India: World politics took a Left-Right-Left turn in 2024

The 2024 elections were a rollercoaster. Labour roared back in the UK, Trump staged a dramatic return in the US, and PM Modi retained power in India though with a lower mandate

India to fund projects worth Rs 237.1 cr in Sri Lanka's eastern province

India is to provide Rs 2,371 million to Sri Lanka for 33 development projects in education, health and agriculture sectors in the eastern province, it was announced on Tuesday. The cabinet has approved a proposal to sign an MoU to boost socio-economic development and bilateral ties between the two countries, cabinet spokesman and the Health Minister Nalinda Jayathissa told reporters here. India is to provide Rs 315 million for education, Rs 780 million for health and Rs 620 million for agriculture under the arrangement. These projects, among the slew of others, are aimed at enhancing infrastructure, growth and empowering local communities.