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Between the lines in Indo-Lanka relations

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By Rathindra Kuruwita

The idea that only a certain group of Sri Lankan leaders could address the international community was dispelled by president Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s Indian visit, Ramindu Perera, senior lecturer at the Open University Law Faculty and a member of the Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA) said.

Perera told the Sunday Island the shattering of this idea is not only good for the National People’s Power (NPP), but also for other political leaders who were not a part of a very small clique that dominated the positions that needed interaction with foreign governments.

“Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the main constituent of the NPP had an antagonistic relationship with India in the 1980s and a lot of people were curious how the NPP would interact with India and vice versa. However, now it’s obvious that states look beyond these things to further national interests,” he said.

Perera said that India is facing diplomatic challenges in the region. India’s relationship with Maldives, Bangladesh and Nepal are tense these days. “Thus, India also needs

Sri Lanka. India needs to be sure that Sri Lanka too will not go against its geopolitical objectives,” he said. This might also be a reason why there was more openness to discuss the fishermen’s issue during the president’ s visit, he said.

President Dissanayake also paid a lot of attention in securing Indian guarantees that they will support Sri Lanka joining BRICS. Sri Lanka has formally begun the application process to join BRICS and the New Development Bank in October 2024.

“India has the power to influence international opinion. BRICS has currently stopped accepting new members. India has said they will support Sri Lanka’s membership when BRICS starts accepting new members again,” he said.

Commenting on the fact that the joint statement which followed President Dissanayake’s visit to India didn’t specifically mention the 13th amendment to the constitution, Perera said Prime Minister Modi didn’t raise the issue when Dissanayake visited India earlier this year as well.

“It is also obvious that India can’t use the same methods that they used in the past to influence Sri Lankan governments with regards to the 13th amendment to the constitution. Unlike previous governments, the NPP has also won the Tamil vote,” he said.

However, Sri Lanka needs to understand that India’s priority is its national interests and that the government must be careful in avoiding some proposals that will be detrimental to Sri Lanka’s national interest.

“For most of the proposals to have physical connectivity with India, the Sri Lankans have only agreed to ‘continue consideration. When we read between the lines it is obvious that the government’s strategy is to buy time with regards to Indian proposals that are detrimental to us,” he said.



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Level III landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale extended

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The landslide early warning center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has extended the  Level III RED landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale until 1600hrs on 11th December 2025.

Accordingly,
The LEVEL III RED landslide warnings issued to the the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Kundasale, Pasbage Korale, Medadumbara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Hatharaliyadda, Pathadumbara, Doluwa, Panvila, Gangawata Korale, Ududumbara, Akurana, Yatinuwara, Harispattuwa, Deltota, Thumpane, Poojapitiya, Udapalatha, Udunuwara, Minipe and Pathahewaheta in the Kandy district, Aranayaka, Yatiyanthota, Rambukkana, Bulathkohupitiya and Mawanella in the Kegalle district, Mallawapitiya, Mawathagama and Rideegama in the Kurunegala district, and Rattota, Laggala Pallegama, Ukuwela, Matale, Wilgamuwa, Pallepola, Naula, Yatawatta and Ambanganga Korale in the Matale district have been extended.

LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have been  issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Hali_Ela, Meegahakivula, Badulla, Kandeketiya, Bandarawela, Soranathota, Ella, Haputhale, Lunugala, Welimada, Haldummulla and Passara in the Badulla district, Warakapola, Galigamuwa, Kegalle, Dehiowita, Ruwanwella and Deraniyagala in the Kegalle district, Polgahawela and Alawwa in the Kurunegala district, Kothmale East, Walapane, Thalawakele, Nuwara Eliya, Kothmale West, Nildandahinna, Mathurata, Ambagamuwa Korale, Hanguranketha and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district. and Kolonna, Godakawela and Kahawaththa in the Ratnapura district.

LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been  issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Divulapitiya, Attanagalla and Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Narammala in the Kurunegala district, and Kiriella, Eheliyagoda, Balangoda, Kaltota, Openayake, Nivithigala, Imbulpe, Ayagama, Kuruwita, Kalawana, Elapatha, Pelmadulla and Ratnapura in the Ratnapura district.

 

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“We cannot allow flooding to become a part of the daily lives of the people in the Colombo District” – PM

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Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that unauthorized constructions within the Colombo District, nor any form of residential developments that endanger the public carried out under the guise of development agenda will not be allowed.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the media at the conclusion of the Colombo District Disaster Management Committee meeting held on Tuesday [December 09] at the Colombo District Secretariat.

Addressing further, the Prime Minister stated:

“The Colombo District has become vulnerable to this extent due to the constructions carried out without any proper planning or understanding of regulations, along with personal and politically motivated decisions that have placed both the district and its people at risk.

Compared to the districts that suffered severe loss of life and property due to the recent cyclone, the damage to the Colombo District has been relatively lower. However, special intervention is being carried out together with the relevant institutions to manage the potential future flood risks in the district.

This matter was also given special attention during today’s District Disaster Management Committee meeting. We cannot allow the flooding to become a regular part of the lives of the people in Colombo. All relevant institutions will come together to put forward a common plan for flood control in the district.”

The Prime Minister further stated that discussions are already underway to provide sustainable solutions for the people living in high-risk areas within the Colombo District.

The discussion was attended by the Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara, Deputy Minister of Mass Media Kaushalya Ariyaratne, and Colombo District Members of Parliament Aruna Panagoda and Chandana Suriyarachchi.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

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Russia gifts 35 tonnes of Humanitarian Aid to Sri Lanka

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The handover of 35 tonnes of Russian Humanitarian Aid to Sri Lanka, recently affected by the cyclone «Ditwah», took place at  Katunayake today (10th December)

The shipment was welcomed at the Katunayake airport by Ambassador of Russia Levan Dzhagaryan, Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation  Anura Karunathilaka and Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd).

Ambassador Levan Dzhagaryan: said “This delivery is a reflection of long-term friendly relations between Russia and Sri Lanka and reaffirms Moscow’s commitment to support countries in a difficult humanitarian situation.”

The supplies brought by the EMERCOM (Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations) aircraft comprised a movable 60 kW electric power station,  Pumping equipment for water drainage, Summer tents (10-person capacity) and  Food supplies (sugar, vegetable oil, rice)

The total cargo weight is 35 metric tonnes. The aid will be distributed among the most affected regions.

 

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