News
Central Asia Forum 2024: Prioritizing connectivity and economic engagement
The Central Asia Forum 2024 organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, together with the Geopolitical Cartographer held at the Granbell Hotel in Colombo last week (21), explored the potential for future cooperation between Sri Lanka and Central Asia, a region with increasing geopolitical and geo-economic significance, Foreign Ministry said.
Sri Lanka’s engagements with countries in the Central Asian region has achieved considerable progress in recent times with the conclusion of Foreign Office consultations with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan and the decision to establish reciprocal resident diplomatic Missions in Astana, Kazakhstan and Colombo.
The Forum explored emerging opportunities for Sri Lanka in the Central Asia region with a specific focus on economic diplomacy. The outcomes of the discussion are expected to enrich future engagements with the region.
The importance of developing better connectivity between Sri Lanka and Central Asia, expanding and diversifying trade, tapping on synergies in areas such as the environment, tourism and sports, and building on the people-to-people contacts that have already started, were identified as elements for strengthened cooperation between Sri Lanka and the Central Asian region.
The potential to expand economic and trade ties with Central Asian countries in several areas ranging from textiles, energy, tourism, agriculture, IT sector, education, food and beverages, tea, gems and jewellery, transport and logistics and Ayurveda and wellness products was discussed. The success story of Sri Lanka’s pioneering investment by LOLC in Central Asia, in the financial services sector, provided useful insights into entering the Central Asian market and building a competitive business in a hitherto unexplored region.
The Forum also focused on Sri Lanka’s role in the Conference on Interactions and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) which is Central Asia’s own initiative towards peace, security, stability and cooperation in Asia.
Panellists, Moderators and Participants included Aruni Wijewardane, Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Senior Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Colombo based Heads of diplomatic Missions and members of the diplomatic corps, experts from the Central Asia region, academia, think tanks and from Geopolitical Cartographer as well as business leaders. Valuable insights were shared on the potential of the region and collaboration with Sri Lanka.
The outcomes of this Forum are expected to guide future initiatives that Sri Lanka envisages in deepening engagement with the Central Asia region.
The High Court has convicted 14 of the 24 men accused of being directly involved in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people.
The three-judge bench read out its decision on Tuesday after a five-year trial and said sentencing would take place later, the AFP news agency reported.
The charges included murder and conspiracy to commit terrorism.
Nine others were acquitted, while another defendant was found guilty of only some of the charges, the court said.
[Aljazeera]
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The ruling NPP yesterday (21) dismissed claims of a widening rift, within the government, over the proposed 22nd Amendment. Asked whether the NPP was concerned over a section of the Opposition alleging Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and two dozen MPs taking a view contrary to that of the party in this regard, authoritative party sources said some persons were propagating speculation for their own interest.
Declaring that there was absolutely no issue regarding the controversial Amendment, sources emphasised once it was tabled in Parliament, it would be passed with 2/3 majority.
Sources dismissed claims that out of its 159-member parliamentary group a section of NPPers was opposed to the government move. According to an influential Opposition activist, there are 57 JVPers and 66 NPPers in the government group and the rest contested the last parliamentary polls, having aligned with the JVP.
Ministerial sources told The Island that the government was confident of going ahead with the 22nd Amendment and Judicature (Amendment) Bills. Sources said that the NPP was not bothered about the Opposition protests in and outside Parliament.
Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne is expected to disclose the confidential ruling that he received from the Supreme Court in respect of more than 65 petitions for and against the 22nd Amendment and Judicial Amendment Bills. The enactment of the 22nd Amendment would pave the way for extending the retirement age of Supreme Court judges, from 65 to 67 years, and Court of Appeal judges, from 63 to 65 years.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Court of Appeal Judge Mayadunna Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal.
The appointment has been made as President’s Counsel Nalin Rohantha Abeysuriya, who currently serves as President of the Court of Appeal, will be overseas until the 24th.
Accordingly Justice Mayadunna Corea was sworn in as Acting President of the Court of Appeal before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential secretariat last morning (21).
Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was also present at the occasion.
High Court convicts 14 over deadly Easter bombings
Mandhana, Shafali and Ghosh lead dominant India to Asian Games gold
Fatima Sana and Umm-e-Hani secure bronze for Pakistan in Asian Games
India bat first in Asian games womens cricket final
Showers about 100mm will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara Districts
Govt. confident of 2/3 majority despite NPP split speculation
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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