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Lanka should consider India’s concerns too: Former Indian External Affairs min
By NETHMI RAJAWASAM
ECONOMYNEXT –A former Indian External Affairs Minister has said that Sri Lanka should heed India’s concerns about foreign vessels.
“India and China are still, in real terms, engaged in a military conflict – which has not been resolved, because the border has not been resolved. So we have special concerns,” M J Akbar, Former Indian Minister of State External Affairs said an interview.
Akbar was speaking with Chairman Bernard Goonetileka of the Pathfinder Foundation, an independent think tank based in Wattala.
India’s geopolitical interests in the Indian Ocean have recently come into focus due to escalating tensions surrounding the presence of Chinese vessels in Sri Lankan waters, and the ongoing territorial disputes involving China and the Philippines.
“You know, they’re not really holiday cruise ships. These Chinese vessels. We’re back to electronic equipment, which is picking up a fundamental requirement of strategic interest, which is knowledge. Knowledge from below, knowledge from above.”
In a move that raised alarm in India, on October 10, an inbound Chinese survey vessel which intended to conduct research activities in Sri Lanka’s maritime territory had entered Sri Lanka’s waters.
India promptly red-flagged both Colombo and Male over the perceived security risks associated with the vessel. The gesture reflects India’s growing unease over Chinese naval presence and potential intelligence-gathering in the Indian Ocean.
Sri Lanka, while asserting that the Chinese vessel’s activities were scientific and conducted in collaboration with its authorities, faced heightened scrutiny from India.
India claims its interest in these developments stems from its commitment to upholding the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region. “To the North in the Himalayas, where our conflicts with China really take on a very harsh reality, we are still honouring an agreement made in the late 80s, which is peace and stability,” said Akbar.
“There has been tension on the border, but yet there has not been gun fire. There are elements in Beijing who do not believe in the axiom, upon which we agreed, which is, ‘Let sleeping borders lie.’
“You had special concerns about the sanctuary that was provided for people who waged war against the Sri Lankan state. Just as you would expect us, legitimately, to show concern for your concerns, similarly, we would expect you to show concern for our concerns,” Akbar said.
Simultaneously, tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea have escalated. The disputed territories in the region have been a longstanding point of contention, with both nations asserting sovereignty over certain islands and waters. Recent rhetoric and actions have exacerbated the situation, raising concerns over potential military confrontations and destabilisation in the area.
Chinese warships in Sri Lankan waters and the ongoing disputes in the South China Sea are perceived as factors affecting maritime security and stability in the area, which are critical issues for India’s strategic objectives. The developments highlight the intricate dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region, where economic interests and geopolitical rivalries converge to increase the stakes for participating nations.
A commemorative service was held in memory of Rasaiah Parthipan commonly known by the nom de guerre ‘Thileepan’ in Nallur Jaffna this morning (26).
Parthipan a revolutionary member of the LTTE and a student of the University of Jaffna, commenced a hunger strike on 15th September 1987 untill his death on 26th September 1987. He was 23 years old at the time of his demise.
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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura
The National Building Research Institute has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura from 16:00 hrs on 25.09.2026 To 16:00 hrs on 26.09.2026
Accordingly,
LEVEL III [RED] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Neluwa, Nagoda, Niyagama and Thawalama inthe Galle district, Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa and Pasbage Korale in the Kandy district, and Kothmale West, Ambagamuwa, Kotmale East and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district.
LEVEL II [AMBER] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Elpitiya, Baddegama and Karandeniya in the Galle district, Walallawita in the Kalutara district, Deltota, Udunuwara, Gangawata Korale, Yatinuwara and Panvila in the Kandy district, Aranayake, Dehiowita, Mawanella, Deraniyagala and Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district, Thalawakelle in the Nuwara Eliya district and Ratnapura and Pelmadulla in the Ratnapura district.
LEVEL I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka and Padukka in the Colombo district, Attanagalla and Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Katuwana and Walasmulla in the Hambanthota district, Ingiriya and Bulathsinhala in the Kalutara district, Hatharaliyadda, Poojapitiya, Medadumbara, Kundasale, Ududumbara, Thumpane, Akurana, Pathadumbara, Harispattuwa and Pathahewaheta in the Kandy district, Warakapola, Bulathkohupitiya, Galigamuwa, Kegalle and Ruwanwella in the Kegalle district, Mallawapitiya, Alawwa, Polgahawela and Mawathagama in the Kegalle district, Pitabeddara, Kotapola and Pasgoda in the Matara district, Nuwara Eliya in the Nuwara Eliya district and Elapatha, Ayagama, Nivithigala, Kuruwita and Kalawana in the Ratnapura district
Parliament yesterday passed the Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution Bill and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill with two-thirds majorities, with 158 MPs voting in favour and 63 against each Bill.
The Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) voted with the SJB against the Bills.
NDF MPs Ravi Karunanayake and Faizer Musthapha and SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilaka were not present when the votes were taken.
The final vote on the Judicature (Amendment) Bill was announced at around 8.08 p.m. after Opposition MPs called for divisions on its clauses during the Committee Stage.
The votes followed a two-day debate which commenced on Thursday (24), after Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara presented the Bills for their Second Reading.
The Supreme Court’s determination on the Bills was presented to Parliament on Tuesday (22) by Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne. The Court determined that the 22nd Amendment Bill did not require approval at a referendum and could be passed by a special two-thirds majority in Parliament.
The amendment provides for raising the mandatory retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and that of Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65. It also provides for the Chief Justice to retire at 67 or after completing six years in office, whichever comes earlier.
The Speaker informed Parliament that the Judicature (Amendment) Bill could be passed by a simple majority.
The SJB opposed the legislation and its MPs attended Parliament dressed in black yesterday. The party also staged a protest at Polduwa Junction, Battaramulla, under the theme “No to 22, which destroys democracy”, with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and several SJB politicians participating.
Thileepan rembered on 39th death anniversary
Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura
Showers in the Western, Uva and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Batticaloa and Ampara districts.
22A, Judicature Amendment Bills passed with 2/3 majority
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