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Bangladesh asks Sri Lanka to streamline registration process of pharmaceuticals products
SL appreciates USD 200 mn loan extended during economic crisis
Bangladesh has requested Sri Lanka to streamline the pharmaceuticals products registration process. The two sides have agreed to work for trade facilitation and the early convening of the meetings of the Trade Negotiating Committee, Joint Working Group on Trade and Shipping, the Foreign Ministry here said, adding that both sides emphasised the importance of enhanced engagement of the private sectors and their chambers.
Sri Lanka appreciated the support extended by Bangladesh during the economic challenges in 2022 by extending assistance amounting to USD 200 million.
The Foreign Ministry issued the following statement at the conclusion of the recent fourth round of Foreign Office Consultations between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, led by the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries: “Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism of Sri Lanka, Aruni Ranaraja co-chaired the consultations with Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh Asad Alam Siam. This round of Consultations marked a continuation of Foreign Office Consultations between the two countries, with the third round having been held in Dhaka in 2017.
The Sri Lanka- Bangladesh Foreign Office consultations served as a vital platform to review all aspects of bilateral cooperation and matters of mutual interest, while also exploring new avenues for collaboration across diverse sectors. Discussions covered bilateral, regional, and multilateral issues, encompassing areas including agriculture, education, health, trade, investment, digital economy, defence, connectivity, tourism, fisheries, youth affairs, culture, and people-to-people contacts.
Highlighting Sri Lanka’s substantial investments and diaspora presence in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka invited Bangladeshi investors to invest in development projects, logistics services, cultivation, and tourism-related businesses in Sri Lanka. Opportunities to expand collaboration in banking services were also discussed to contribute to financial stability and economic well-being. Appreciating the existing Sri Lankan investments, Bangladesh invited further investments from Sri Lanka in its EPZs, SEZs, and API Industrial Parks, especially in high-potential sectors including pharmaceuticals, hospitality, tourism, automobiles and light engineering, ICT, renewable energy, agro-processing, leather, and footwear.
To boost bilateral trade, investments and connectivity, both sides emphasised the need for early finalisation of all the pending legal instruments.
Emphasising the importance of connectivity, both sides explored the need to strengthen the shipping sector, with the potential to establish port connectivity between Chattogram and Colombo. Recognizing the significant role that tourism plays in economies of the two countries, Sri Lanka expressed its interest in collaborating with Bangladesh on developing Green Tourism. Bangladesh welcomed Sri Lanka’s proposal and also proposed to develop joint tourism initiatives, including Tea and Buddhist tourism circuits and to finalize the MoU on Tourism Cooperation.”
The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Gampaha, Kalutara and Ratnapura valid untill 0300 hrs on 23rd May 2026.
Accordingly,
Level II landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Attanagalla in the Gampaha district and Ratnapura and Kuruvita in the Ratnapura district.
Level I landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Bulathsinghala in the Kalutara district and Eheliyagoda in the Ratnapura district.
The President’s Fund has expressed its attention towards providing a monthly scholarship allowance for school-going children of low-income lottery sellers, as a means of supporting their educational needs.
This was revealed during a discussion held om Wednesday (20) at the Presidential Secretariat between the Secretary to the President’s Fund and Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Roshan Gamage and officials of the National Lotteries Board and the Development Lotteries Board.
The President’s Fund currently provides financial assistance across a wide range of sectors to support low-income groups, while also implementing various scholarship schemes for schoolchildren. As an additional step, approval has reportedly been granted by the governing board of the President’s Fund to extend scholarships to children of low-income lottery sellers.
It was noted that the National Lotteries Board and Development Lotteries Board make a significant contribution to the President’s Fund. However, discussions also highlighted the fact that the living conditions of lottery sellers, who play a key role in generating revenue for these institutions, have remained largely unchanged. Accordingly, attention has been directed towards recognising their contribution and providing relief to ease their financial burden.
The proposal to introduce scholarships for school-going children of low-income lottery sellers through the President’s Fund was discussed in detail. Officials of both the National Lotteries Board and the Development Lotteries Board expressed their willingness to support the initiative. It was also decided that the programme would be implemented expeditiously through Divisional Secretariats.
Among those present were Chairman of the National Lotteries Board M. D. C. Anton Perera, General Manager of the National Lotteries Board A. M. Arif, and General Manager of the Development Lotteries Board W. K. A. A. Jayarathne, along with other officials.
(PMD)
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Showers above 200 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts.
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 22 MAY 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 22 May 2026 by the Department of Meteorology
The South-West monsoon is gradually getting established over the island and the current rainy conditions over the south-western parts of the island are expected to continue further for the next few hours.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts. Very heavy showers above 200 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces. Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts. Several spells of showers will occur in the Northern province and in Anuradhapura district while showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 2.00 pm.
Fairly strong winds about (35-45) kmph can be expected at times over the Western slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers
Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Gampaha, Kalutara and Ratnapura
President’s Fund to consider scholarships for children of low-income lottery sellers
Showers above 200 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts.
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