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‘China is our friend and will work with them, Indian interest won’t be undermined’: Minister Ali Sabry in Kochi

Published

4 years ago

2023/02/13

Lankan Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry on Saturday said that China is a friend of his nation and the two countries will continue to work arm in arm, said a report published by the Times of India yesterday.The ToI report filed from Kochi said: “However, there is no need for India to be concerned as at no point will the island nation let the Indian interests be undermined, Ali Sabry said. Sri Lanka’s strong relationship is part of its civilization and will not permit any activity that poses a threat to India’s internal security to happen on its soil, he added.

MFA Ali Sabry was speaking to the media in Kerala’s Kochi after attending a private function. His comments come at a time when the Sino-Indian relationship remains tense over conflicts in the Himalayan region.

“India need not worry… The Srilankan relationship with India is very strong, it is a part of civilization. We will not allow anything that will harm India’s internal security in our region. China is also our friend, we need to deal with them and work with them. However, Indian interests will not be undermined. We have made it very clear to the Indian government,” he said.

Ali Sabry further said that the two countries are like a family and when issues arise, they will be sorted out like in a family. “You will always have issues like in a family. We will talk to each other and resolve them. Your honourable fisheries minister is in Colombo right now. Our minister would have met him for dinner yesterday. We will look into it and try to come to a permanent solution. You shouldn’t worry about it,” he said.

The statement can also be read in the context of the Sri Lankan Navy being often accused of assaulting and even arresting Indian fishermen, especially from Tamil Nadu.

Ali Sabry further said that Sri Lanka is happy with the fast-paced development that India is achieving. “It is the entire region that develops along with India. So as neighbours, we are watching India’s progress with great pride and a sense of honour. Sri Lanka is looking forward to India’s growth and will try to be a part of that growth,” the island nation’s MFA added.

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“Rathuwewi Mihimadala” Book Launched with the Participation of the Prime Minister

Published

2 hours ago

2026/08/30

Priyan

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]

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Sun directly overhead Mannar, Periyamadu, Puliyankulam, Welioya and Pulmoddai about 12.11 noon today (30)

Published

12 hours ago

2026/08/30

Priyan

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.

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Lanka tracks 11 US-sanctioned Iranian tankers off coast

Published

14 hours ago

2026/08/30

Thilina Walpola

(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