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First Japanese ministerial level visit since cancellation of LRT project

Sri Lanka believes the forthcoming Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi’s visit will help improve relations undermined due to the cancellation of the USD 1.5 bn Japanese-funded Light Rail Transit Project by the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s government in October 2020.
There hadn’t been a single visit at ministerial level since then. The then Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera was here in late 2018 during the Yahapalana administration.
Sources said that Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi would undertake a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka on the 28th and 29th of July. Sources said that the senior politician was expected to engage in detailed discussions on the ongoing debt restructuring process, which is co-chaired by the Japanese government, and several areas of bilateral cooperation, as a follow-up to the visit of President Ranil Wickramasinghe to Tokyo two months earlier.
President Wickremesinghe, several months ago, explained in Parliament how short-sighted policies caused irreparable damage to Sri Lanka-Japan relations.
Maintaining the momentum of the President’s visit to Japan, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Japan, Rodney Perera, engaged Hayashi pursuant to a personal invitation extended by the Japanese Foreign Minister to visit Akita Prefecture. In interactions held with the Minister, as well as senior officials of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Perera convinced the Japanese side of the importance of a high level visit from Japan to Sri Lanka in order to explore potential projects under the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) signed between the two countries several months ago, renewable energy, maritime cooperation and mutual efforts to heighten private sector tie ups as important areas under the growing bilateral agenda.
The Japanese Foreign Minister’s visit here, with a delegation of more than 20 members, is also the first high-level visit from a country outside the South Asian region since last year. It is expected to enhance the scope of relations between Sri Lanka and Japan.Discussions with the President and the Prime Minister and bilateral consultations with the Foreign Minister are scheduled to take place.
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Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 26 April 2025, valid for 27 April 2025.
The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
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Minister of Foreign Affairs pays his last respects to Pope Francis

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath represented Sri Lanka at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday [26]
News
RW to visit CIABOC on Monday

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) tomorrow (28) over the statement he had made on MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, his lawyers have informed the Commission.
Accordingly, the former President will appear before the commission at 9.30am on Monday.
Wickremesinghe was initially summoned by the Commission to CIABOC on April 17 in relation to a statement he had made about the corruption case filed against NDF (gas cylinder) MP Dassanayake.
In response to the previous summons, Wickremesinghe had indicated that he is prepared to appear before the commission but requested a different date citing that his lawyers will not be available in Colombo during the New Year holiday period.
Accordingly, a new was provided and Wickremesinghe requested to appear before the commission at 09.30 a.m. on Thursday (April 25).On April 7, Wickremesinghe had said that MP Dassanayake withdrew the fixed deposits belonging to the Uva Provincial Council, over which he is now facing corruption charges, in accordance with a circular issued during Wickremesingher’s tenure as Prime Minister.
The former President questioned whether the MP’s arrest over the matter was in response to Dassanayake’s vocal criticism of the government in parliament.
The sitting MP is currently in remand custody for allegedly misappropriating a sum of Rs. 1 million of the Uva Provincial Council in 2016.
He was taken into custody on March 27, over three separate corruption-related cases.
The Colombo Magistrate’s Court previously granted bail in the cases filed against him but he remains in remand custody due to an order issued by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court.
According to the CIABOC, Dassanayake had solicited funds from three state banks, claiming they were intended to provide bags for preschool children in the province.
Two banks complied, granting him Rs. 1 million and Rs. 2.5 million, which were later transferred to his foundation account.
However, when a third bank refused to provide funds, Dassanayake reportedly retaliated by withdrawing the Uva Provincial Council’s fixed deposits from that institution.The CIABOC filed a case against the MP, citing the government incurred a financial loss of Rs. 17.3 million due to his actions.
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