News
Speaker thanks India for giving govt. three more years to settle INR 550 mn loan
Indian VP calls for lenient policy towards poaching
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has thanked Indian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar for giving Sri Lanka two more years to pay back INR 550 mn loan given at the onset of the economic crisis that was to be paid in three years.
A statement issued by Parliament quoted Speaker Abeywardena as having told the Indian Minister that India provided assistance to Sri Lanka like a ‘true relative’ more than any other country.
The Parliament issued the statement regarding the just concluded parliamentary delegation visit to India.
Among the issues taken up during the discussion was the Indian fishing fleet poaching in Sri Lankan waters. The issue has been raised by Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar. The Rajya Sabha Chairman pointed out the need for both countries to follow a lenient policy when arresting fishermen, as the crossing of the sea border by the fishermen of the two countries could be accidental.
A delegation from Sri Lanka, led by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, on an official visit to India, recently, met the Speaker of the Indian Lok Sabha Om Birla. The close relations between the two countries in many aspects, including culture, were discussed at these discussions. The Indian Speaker pointed out that the close relationship between Sri Lanka and India, which has existed for thousands of years, should be maintained strongly in the future. Furthermore, the Speaker of the Indian Lok Sabha assured that India will be a strength to Sri Lanka during this economic crisis.
A meeting was also held between the Sri Lanka Speaker and the Indian Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. The Indian Foreign Minister stated that he will provide all support to overcome the economic challenge that Sri Lanka has to face. He also mentioned that steps will be taken to increase the number of Indian tourists visiting Sri Lanka. Discussions were also held regarding expediting of visa facilities for Sri Lankans visiting India and providing free visa facilities to Indian tourists visiting Sri Lanka. Attention was also paid to the need to provide a solution for the large increase in onion prices in this country.
The Speaker also invited Indian investors to invest in Sri Lanka. The Indian Foreign Minister stated that many Indian investors are willing to invest in Sri Lanka and they are encouraged to do so.
Furthermore, the Speaker expressed his gratitude to the Indian Foreign Minister for standing up for Sri Lanka’s democracy when the country’s democracy was threatened during the previous crisis.
The situation report issued by the Disaster Management Centre at 1800hrs today (5th December) confirms that 607 persons have died due to the adverse weather conditions while the number of missing persons has reduced to 214.
The number of persons affected topped the 2 million mark (2,082,195).
The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) formally took delivery of the EX- United States Coast Guard Cutter, USCGC DECISIVE, provided by the United States to SLN, at a ceremony held at the United
States Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore on 02 Dec 25. The event was also attended by the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda.
The ship formally joined the SLN fleet on 02 December under the pennant number P 628 and the main mast of the ship will fly the National Flag effective from that date.
Aiming to strengthen and develop partnerships to overcome common challenges in the maritime domain, the U.S. Coast Guard has previously provided 03 ships to SLN and they are currently patrolling island waters under the names of ‘Samudura’ (P 621), ‘Gajabahu’(P 626), and ‘Vijayabahu’ (P 627).
As an extension of partnership ties that bring value to each other’s services, Ex-USCGC DECISIVE was transferred as the fourth ship to be handed to SLN.
Ex-USCGC DECISIVE, a ‘B-Type Reliance Class 210-foot Cutter’, measures 64m in length, and having endurance of 6000 NM at cruising speed. Further, she has been designed for a
crew of 100 and is equipped with weapons and machinery.
The ship which was used by the U.S. Coast Guard has rendered exceptional service during her tenure by curbing illegal activities, including smuggling of narcotics in U.S. waters.
Sri Lanka inherits an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) that is seven times larger than the landmass. In such a backdrop, the Navy is determined to deploy this vessel in wide-ranging
operations that include the conservation of marine resources in the region and the search and rescue of naval and fishing communities in distress. Thereby, the Navy will be able to utilize
this vessel efficiently in the future to achieve the national aspiration, while ensuring safe and secure seas for all economic affairs.
The formal handing over – taking over ceremony was also distinguished by the presence of the Deputy Chief Acquisition Officer and Director of Domain & Integration Services U.S. Coast
Guard, James L. Knight, Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for South and Southeast Asia, Dr. Andrew Byers, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the United States, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Commanding Officer designate of P 628, Captain Gayan Wickramasuriya as well as a group of officials from the Embassy of Sri Lanka in United States and the State Department
of the United State
The situation report issued by the Disaster Management Center at 0600hrs today [5th December] confirms that 486 persons have died and another 341 persons are missing after the devastating weather conditions in the past week.
171,778 persons have been displaced and have taken refuge at 1,231 safety centers established by the government.
Death toll rises to 607, missing persons reduce to 214 at 1800hrs today (5)
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486 dead, 341 missing, 171,778 displaced as at 0600hrs today [05]
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