News

China, India call for negotiated way out of Ukraine war

Published

4 years ago

2022/09/26

Chinese FM Wang Yi calls on Russia and Ukraine to ‘keep the crisis from spilling over’ and from affecting developing countries.

(Al Jazeera) China and India have called for a negotiated end to the Ukraine war at the United Nations, stopping well short of robust support for traditional ally Russia.After a week of pressure at the UN General Assembly, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov delivered a fiery rebuke at Western nations on Saturday for what he called a “grotesque” campaign against Russians.

But no major nation has rallied behind Russia, including China, which just days before the February invasion of Ukraine pledged an “unbreakable” bond with President Vladimir Putin.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on Russia and Ukraine to “keep the crisis from spilling over” and from affecting developing countries.

“China supports all efforts conducive to the peaceful resolution of the Ukraine crisis.

The pressing priority is to facilitate talks for peace,” Wang said. “The fundamental solution is to address the legitimate security concerns of all parties and build a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture.”

During his visit to the UN, Wang met Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in their first talks since the war began.Earlier this month, Putin acknowledged Chinese “concerns” about Ukraine during a meeting with his counterpart Xi Jinping.India, unlike China, has a warm relationship with the United States but it has historic ties with Russia, its traditional defence supplier.

“As the Ukraine conflict continues to rage, we are often asked whose side we are on,” said India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

“Our answer, each time, is straight and honest – India is on the side of peace and will remain firmly there,” he said. “We are on the side that calls for dialogue and diplomacy as the only way out.”

US officials have been heartened by what they see as China’s lack of concrete backing for the war and say Beijing has declined requests to send military equipment, forcing Russia to rely on North Korea and Iran as its own supplies dwindle.China’s reaction to Russia is being closely watched for clues on its approach to Taiwan, a self-governing democracy that Beijing claims as its territory.

Wang held firm that China would take “forceful steps” against any interference, insisting efforts to prevent “reunification” with Taiwan would be “crushed by the wheels of history”.

Lavrov at a news conference declined to answer whether there has been any pressure from China. In his speech, he sought to cast blame squarely on the West.

“The official Russophobia in the West is unprecedented. Now the scope is grotesque,” Lavrov told the UNGA. “They are not shying away from declaring the intent to inflict not only military defeat on our country but also to destroy and fracture Russia.”

The US, he said, since the end of the Cold War has acted as if it is “an envoy of God on Earth, with the sacred right to act with impunity wherever and whenever they want”.

He also blasted the European Union as an “authoritarian, harsh, dictatorial entity” and said the bloc’s leadership forced one member state’s leader – Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades – to cancel a planned meeting with him.

Lavrov criticised the West for not engaging with Russia saying, “We have never stepped away from maintaining contact.”

Western powers are looking at further sanctions after Putin called up reservists and made a veiled threat to use nuclear weapons, and have promised not to recognise the results of referendums on Russian annexation being held in occupied territories. They have welcomed Lavrov’s isolation, noting how he showed up at a Security Council session on Thursday only to deliver remarks and not to listen to others.

Russia enjoyed one rare voice of support on Saturday at the UNGA. Mali’s interim Prime Minister Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga, appointed by coup leaders, hailed the “exemplary and fruitful cooperation” with Moscow. The military government has welcomed Russia’s Wagner Group security firm, despite Western allegations of rights abuses, as France pulled out troops who had been struggling to contain a religious armed uprising.

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USS Canberra makes port call in Colombo

Published

10 hours ago

2026/06/12

Priyan

The United States Navy’s USS Canberra (LCS 30) arrived at the port of Colombo for replenishment purposes on 12 Jun 26.

The visiting ship was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy
in compliance of naval traditions.

USS Canberra, a Littoral Combat Ship, is commanded by Commander J McLaughlin.

News

Complete the Proposed Education Reform Policy Framework Within One Month – President

Published

11 hours ago

2026/06/12

Priyan

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed officials to complete work on the proposed Education Reform Policy Framework within one month.

The President issued these instructions during a discussion held on Wednesday (10 June) at the Presidential Secretariat on the education policy concept paper presented by the National Education Commission.

At the meeting, the Chairman of the National Education Commission stated that the current education reforms are being undertaken across several pillars: early childhood education, general education (primary, secondary and tertiary), higher education, vocational education, technological education, digital education and non-formal education.

Attention was also given to Sri Lanka’s education system to date, the various education reforms implemented over the years, and the social changes brought about by those reforms. The President instructed officials to review previous education reforms and to take into account the key lessons emerging from them when formulating the new education policy framework.

Members of the Education Commission noted that, since the establishment of the National Education Commission in 1991, education policies have been formulated from time to time. They pointed out that a significant portion of the 1997 policy had been applied to primary education.

It was further observed that although a policy was formulated in 2016 for general education, it was not implemented accordingly. Likewise, while an education policy was prepared in 2023, it was not adopted as the national education policy. Attention was also drawn to the fact that previous education reform efforts had often been based on programmes developed according to the functions of education-related institutions, rather than on a clearly established policy framework guiding educational change.

Describing the present moment as a significant opportunity, the President emphasised that education reforms should be implemented in a manner that does not disrupt the continuity of the existing education process. Rather than creating a separate policy framework and attempting to operate independently through it, reforms should be integrated carefully into the functioning education system.

The President stated that this represents a considerable challenge for the National Education Commission. He also noted that it would be inaccurate to conclude that either the previous education system or the current one is entirely successful or entirely unsuccessful.

He stressed the importance of carefully identifying both the strengths and weaknesses of the existing system. He further observed that it is not possible to determine in the short term whether an education reform is successful or unsuccessful, as its impact must be assessed over the long term through the changes it brings about in society. For this reason, he emphasised that education reforms require greater caution and consideration than many other types of reforms.

Discussions also focused on the need to conduct an in-depth review of anticipated future social challenges and to incorporate into the new policy framework the elements necessary for developing citizens suited to a changing society.

Special attention was given to the need for a policy framework to regulate all sectors of education that are currently not subject to proper regulation, as well as to the adverse consequences arising from the lack of regulation of private education.

The importance of conducting research into university education reform and the regulation of private universities was also discussed.

Among those present were Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya, Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Madhura Seneviratne, Deputy Minister of Vocational Education Nalin Hewage, Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Kapila Janaka Bandara, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Nalaka Kaluwewa, Chairman of the National Education Commission Professor A. Sarath Ananda, and other members of the National Education Commission.

(PMD)

Business

Committee appointed for restructuring SriLankan Airlines

Published

11 hours ago

2026/06/12

Priyan

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the appointment of a Committee, chaired by Senior Presidential Advisor on Digital Economy Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, to conduct a strategic review and restructuring of SriLankan Airlines.

The other members of the committee are as follows:

• Senior Presidential Economic Advisor Duminda Hulangamuwa

• Financial and corporate strategy expert Deshal De Mel

• Transaction and investment banking, mergers and acquisitions expert Dumith Fernando

• The Secretary to the Ministry of Finance or his Representative

• The Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development / a representative of the Civil Aviation Authority

• The Chairman of SriLankan Airlines

• Legal experts with specialised knowledge in corporate, aviation and public law

• Aviation industry experts to be appointed

The Government has recognised the urgent priority of undertaking a comprehensive strategic review of SriLankan Airlines, taking into account the broader macroeconomic context.

The main objective of this exercise is to establish a financially sustainable and commercially efficient national carrier, while reducing the long-term fiscal burden on the Government.

Accordingly, it has been deemed appropriate to establish a dedicated committee to carry out the strategic review and restructuring process in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which is serving as the Transaction Advisor.

The committee will be responsible for:

• Conducting an independent review and assessment of the airline’s strategic direction and future course of action

• Recommending restructuring requirements and possible restructuring models

• Evaluating specific strategic options and identifying the most suitable course of action aligned with the Government’s overall objectives

• Providing oversight, guidance and support for the implementation of the selected strategy and execution framework determined by the Government

The committee will function for the duration of the strategic review and restructuring process, or until it is formally dissolved by the Government of Sri Lanka.

(PMD)