News
RW in India for Vajpayee lecture pays warm tribute to Manmohan Singh
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday remembered the late Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as a leader who “changed India and the region.”Wickremesinghe was in New Delhi to pay his respects to the former Prime Minister, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 92.
During his visit, Wickremesinghe also expressed condolences to Singh’s wife, Gursharan Kaur Kohli.
After offering his respects, Wickremesinghe briefly spoke with Indian Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi, who was also present at Singh’s residence.
Speaking to reporters, Wickremesinghe reflected on Singh’s major contributions, particularly the Civil Nuclear Deal with the United States and his economic reforms during his tenure as Finance Minister.
“I remember him as the person who changed India and the region,” Wickremesinghe said, emphasizing the lasting impact of Singh’s leadership. “My message to his family: Thank you for what PM Manmohan Singh did,” he added.
Wickremesinghe, who has known Singh since 1992, called him a good friend and a leader who played a key role in shaping modern India. “He was a good leader, one of those who made modern India,” Wickremesinghe told ANI.
Currently in India for the 7th Atal Bihari Vajpayee Memorial Lecture, Wickremesinghe will deliver a keynote address at the event on December 27 at the Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. Former Indian Minister Shri Suresh Prabhu will join Wickremesinghe in delivering the keynote speeches.
Singh, an economist-turned-politician who served as India’s Prime Minister for two terms and played a pivotal role in the country’s economic liberalization, was ailing and had been admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi prior to his passing.
The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dr. Harini Amarasuriya is on an official visit to Paris, France to participate in the high-level segment of the International Expert Conference on ’An Integrated and Sustainable Approach to Safeguarding the World Heritage Property of the Sacred City of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka and Associated Living Heritage’ which was to be held at UNESCO Headquarters today [Tuesday 1 April], with the participation of the Director-General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay.
The Conference, organized by UNESCO in partnership with Sri Lanka, brings together leading international experts to discuss sustainable strategies for the conservation of Anuradhapura, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of immense cultural and historical significance.
On the sidelines of the Conference, the Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet senior interlocutors of the French Government to discuss bilateral cooperation and areas of mutual interest.
The Delegation of the Prime Minister includes the Minister of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) BUNGO and ETAJIMA arrived at the port of Colombo on a goodwill visit this morning (01 Apr 25).
The visiting ships were welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with naval traditions.
The 141m long JMSDF BUNGO is an Uraga-Class Minesweeper Tender commanded by Commander TANAKA Koji and the ship is manned by a crew of 125.
Meanwhile, JMSDF Etajima, a 65-meter-long Minesweeper, is under the command of Commander Oda Takayuki and operates with a crew of 54 personnel.
During the stay in the island, crew members of the ships will explore some tourist attractions within the city of Colombo. The ships are scheduled to set sail from Colombo on 04 Apr.
“You and your families will be eliminated”
By Norman Palihawadane and Hemantha Randun
A full-scale investigation has been launched to track down an underworld character, ‘Navy Dinesh,’ a key accomplice of Ganemulle Sanjeewa, for issuing death threats over the phone to three police officers, including the Gampaha HQI, Crime Branch OIC, of the same police station, and others.
Navy Dinesh is believed to have fled the country.
According to police sources, threats were issued following the arrest of Navy Dinesh’s father and brother in connection with a drug trafficking case.
Phone analysis reports have confirmed that the calls originated from Dubai and France.
Following the murder of Ganemulle Sanjeewa, Navy Dinesh assumed leadership of the underworld gang he had previously been involved with.
Navy Dinesh contacted the Gampaha HQI, the OIC of the Crime Branch, and the investigating police constable, and threatened to kill them and their family members. “You and your families will be eliminated,” he said.
A special police team had been assigned to investigate the matter, and a report has been submitted to the courts, police sources said.
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