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Bangladesh asks Sri Lanka to streamline registration process of pharmaceuticals products

Published

6 months ago

2025/11/11

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.”

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President and Exco of Sri Lanka Cricket step down

Published

2 hours ago

2026/04/29

Priyan

Sri Lanka Cricket has announced today (29) that the President of Sri Lanka Cricket and members of the Executive Committee have tendered their resignations.

The decision has been formaly communicated to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports.

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Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Kegalle, Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts during the day time

Published

9 hours ago

2026/04/29

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 28 April 2026, valid for 29 April 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Kegalle,
Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts during the day time.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

News

Treasury chief’s citizenship details sought from Australia

Published

11 hours ago

2026/04/29

Sahan Weerasooriya

Nagananda / Harshana

New controversy erupts over missing USD 2.5 mn:

Public interest activist Nagananda Kodituwakku has sought citizenship details of Finance Ministry Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma from the Department of Home Affairs, Australia.

According to a letter dated 28 April, addressed to the relevant department, Solicitor England and Wales Kodituwakku sought the required information in terms of Section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act No 3 of 1982 of Australia. Suriyapperuma is also the Secretary to the Treasury.

The former Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Suriyapperuma (from November 2024 to June 2025) is embroiled in a deepening controversy over the theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury.

The leader of the Vinivida Foundation said that he intended to move court against Suriyapperuma for entering Parliament through the NPP National List in violation of the country’s Constitution (Article 91(1)(d)(xiiii).

Kodituwakku said: “This is clearly an accountability and integrity issue and violation of the Constitution of Sri Lanka and also this act contravenes the law of a member in the Commonwealth.”

USD 2.5 mn paid to a third party was meant to be an instalment of a loan taken from Australia. Suriyapperuma neither responded to an SMS nor answered his hand phone.

Geetha Kumarasinghe (UPFA/Galle District) and Diana Gamage (SJB National List) lost their seats in 2017 and 2024, respectively, over citizenship issues.

Meanwhile, public interest group ‘Free Lawyers’ that exposed the theft of Treasury funds questioned the failure on the part of Dr. Harsha de Silva, Chairman of Committee on Public Finance (CoPF), to pressure President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to temporarily remove Suriyapperuma to facilitate unhindered investigations.

On behalf of ‘Free Lawyers’, Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon yesterday expressed concern over the way the CoPF, under SJBer de Silva’s leadership, handled the issue at hand. Issuing an open letter, Tennakoon, urged the CoPF chief to explain his stand on a spate of vital issues which needed to be addressed without any further delay.

By Shamindra Ferdinando