News
Kashmir Black Day to be observed in Sri Lanka
The High Commission of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Colombo organized a seminar/photo exhibition to mark the ‘Kashmir Black Day’ on Oct 27 at the BMICH.A press release issued by the Pakistan High Commission said: The event was attended by people from different walks of life including opinion makers, professional, journalists, writers, and local friends of Kashmir as well as the Pakistani community. Documentaries and photos depicting atrocities committed by the Indian forces in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu Kashmir were also shown to the participants. The messages from President and Prime Minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan were also readout for the audience.
The seminar was addressed by Shiraz Yoonus, political activist and National Coordinator of Muslim Affairs and Suriya Rizwi a Pakistani Alumni. The panel of speakers highlighted Indian atrocities in the State of Jammu and Kashmir and inhumane treatment of innocent Kashmiris at the hands of Indian occupation forces, which originated when the people of Jammu and Kashmir were denied the right of self-determination in 1947. On Oct 27, 1947 the land was acceded to India through an improper and illegal Instrument of Kashmir Accession. Ever since, Indian Illegally occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJ&K) has been the largest prison on the planet. Referring to the United Nations Security Council’s special sessions on the Kashmir issue, the speakers noted that the international community is no more a silent spectator to the Indian atrocities.
High Commissioner of Pakistan, Major General (Retd) Umar Farooq Burki HI (M), while thanking the guest speakers and attendees, paid homage to the people of Jammu & Kashmir for their just struggle against decades long Indian illegal occupation of Jammu & Kashmir and reiterated Pakistan’s moral, political and diplomatic support for the Kashmiris in their right to self-determination. Explaining the purpose of the exhibition and seminar, Major General (Retd) Umar Farooq Burki HI (M) said that Pakistan and its people are united in their hearts and minds with our Kashmiri brothers and sisters. We have always stood for a peaceful resolution of Kashmir dispute according to the aspirations of the people of Kashmir and in keeping with the principles of UNSC resolutions. Despite the ebb and flow of global politics, Pakistan has and will always continue to remain committed to the cause of Kashmir until the Kashmiris are given their right to self-determination and therefore, their freedom.
The book “Rathuwewi Mihimadala”, written based on the life story of Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Leader of the Democratic Left Front, was launched on Friday [August 28] at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo, with the participation of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.
Speaking to the media afterwards about Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated:
“Vasudeva Nanayakkara is a prominent figure in Sri Lankan politics, particularly within the left-wing political movement. There were several influential figures within the left movement, and that left-wing influence also contributed to bringing the country to where it is today. Politically, there were areas where we agreed and areas where we did not. However, I have great respect for the contribution made by Vasudeva Nanayakkara to left-wing politics. When I entered Parliament in 2020, Vasudeva Nanayakkara was also in Parliament. We sat in the same row, and we spoke about many important as well as interesting moments in his political career. I believe some of these experiences have also been included in this book.”
The event was attended by members of the Maha Sangha, Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara, former President Maithripala Sirisena, former Speakers Karu Jayasuriya and Chamal Rajapaksa, as well as party members, family members and friends.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Latest News
Sun directly overhead Mannar, Periyamadu, Puliyankulam, Welioya and Pulmoddai about 12.11 noon today (30)
The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.
The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (30) are Mannar, Periyamadu, Puliyankulam, Welioya and
Pulmoddai about 12.11 noon.
(AFP) Sri Lanka’s maritime authorities were monitoring a fleet of 11 US-sanctioned Iranian oil tankers just off the island’s southern coast, the foreign minister said Wednesday.
The tankers were spotted close to the Galle harbour where an Iranian frigate, IRIS Dena, was sunk by a US submarine in March, killing 104 sailors. Sri Lanka’s navy rescued 32 Iranian sailors from that frigate.
Iranian vessels have been in limbo, unable to return to their home port because of a US blockade.
Sri Lanka’s Foreign minister Vijitha Herath said the tankers were in international waters where they had freedom of navigation.
“These ships are away from our territorial waters… we have no hold on them, nor have we facilitated them,” Herath told AFP.
The military deployed reconnaissance aircraft and patrol boats to monitor the vessels outside Sri Lanka’s 12-nautical-mile territorial waters, a military official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
“There is no indication of any ship-to-ship transfer of oil or illegal discharge of pollutants, so there is no basis for Sri Lankan authorities to take action against them,” the official said.
Many Iranian merchant vessels moved east towards the Strait of Malacca and Singapore due to US sanctions, while several remained near Sri Lankan waters, authorities said.
Sri Lankan officials said Washington had not formally notified Colombo about sanctioned Iranian-flagged vessels
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