News
Australia-Sri Lanka fuel deal keeps patrol boats going after illegal migrants
The Sri Lanka Navy has been receiving a steady supply of fuel through an agreement with Australia.
According to a report in The Australian, Sri Lankan Navy patrol boats are regularly being refuelled, in India, at Canberra’s expense.
“Due to the secrecy of Operation Sovereign Borders activities, the Minister’s office has declined to comment on the agreement, which was put into action about a fortnight ago,” said The Australian.
The report states that the deal was made during Australian Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil’s visit to Colombo, in late June, where she met with ‘several accused Sri Lankan war criminals’ at the helm of military and doubled down on her government’s much-criticised border policy.
Alongside the secret deal, the Sri Lankan Navy openly admitted that the Australian government openly handed over tens of thousands of litres of fuel to the military.
Over 450 tonnes of fuel were reportedly supplied to the Navy recently whilst 27,000 litres of fuel were given to the Air Force.
Sri Lanka is currently in the midst of its worst-ever economic crisis, which has seen severe shortages in basic necessities in essential goods, such as food, medicine and fuel. Last week, Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera declared that fuel distribution across the island would be restricted for 12 months because of Sri Lanka’s scant foreign exchange reserves.
Australia’s deal and donations come as part of growing ties with the war crimes accused Sri Lankan military. Last week, an Australian vessel, docked in Colombo, as it forcibly sent back 46 asylum seekers who were looking to flee Sri Lanka. This is the first time that asylum seekers, fleeing Sri Lanka, are forcibly brought to the island on board an Australian Border Force ship.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) relating to the project to provide technological solutions to prevent wild elephants from being hit by trains was signed yesterday (01) afternoon at the President’s Media Centre, under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Coordinated through the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, the project is being implemented as a public-private partnership, with the Railway Department, the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Forest Conservation Department working together, with full financial support from People’s Bank.
The system consists of three-beam detection, passive infrared (PIR) sensors, automatic temperature sensors and a tamper alarm system to detect animals weighing more than 20 kilogrammes and unauthorised interference. Signal lights (red/yellow/green) installed on either side of the railway tracks, together with a special screen installed inside the locomotive cab, will alert the driver in advance to the exact location of an elephant.
A demonstration test of the system was successfully conducted at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage premises in the presence of the relevant officials, following which a report on the system was prepared.
The system will be implemented as a pilot project from next month at 13 locations where wild elephant accidents are frequent. A newly developed website is also scheduled to be launched to enable the progress of the project to be viewed live.
Additional General Manager of Railways P.D.S.B. Chandrasena, Director General of Wildlife Conservation M.S.L.R.P. Marasinghe, Conservator General of Forests S.C. Palamakuumbura and Chairman of People’s Bank Chandana Guniyangoda signed the relevant MoU. Officials from the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, including Presidential Additional Secretary (Clean Sri Lanka) Engineer S.P.C. Sugeeshwara, as well as senior officials from the Railway Department, Department of Wildlife Conservation, Forest Conservation Department and People’s Bank, were also present.
[President’s Media Division]
The Commissioner General of Examinations has announced that the results of the 2026 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination have been released online, and can be viewed on the department’s official website: www.doenets.lk
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya departed Sri Lanka on Monday, 31 August, to undertake an official visit to Bhutan to participate in the Global Conscious Food Systems Summit, scheduled to be held in Bhutan.
During her visit, Prime Minister Dr Amarasuriya participated in the opening plenary of the Summit on 1 September, where she delivered a keynote address under the theme “Rising to the Moment: Igniting Consciousness to Address the Polycrisis.”
The Prime Minister will also engage in discussions with international leaders and representatives on strengthening cooperation towards sustainable food systems, food security and resilient communities.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
MoU signed for technology to prevent wild elephant-train collisions
Grade 5 scholarship exam results released
Prime Minister participates in Global Conscious Food Systems Summit in Bhutan
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Muneeba, Pakistan’s spinners knock Thailand out of Asia Cup
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