News
China sends letter of assurance needed by IMF
President issues strict warning against another July 09, assures polls after country stabilises
President Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday that on Monday night, the government had received China’s Exim Bank’s assurance needed to secure the financial arrangement from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The President said the letter of intent, signed by him and the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, had been sent to the IMF on the same night.
President Wickremesinghe assured the Parliament that once the IMF agreement was reached, it would be tabled in Parliament, along with the draft of the Government’s future plans, and the road map.
President Wickremesinghe made this statement while delivering a special address in Parliament on the current state of the economy and the status of the IMF programme.
The President, in his address to Parliament, said that with the provision of fertiliser, the country had achieved a successful harvest during the Yala and Maha seasons, and the export of agricultural products had gained a fair degree of normalcy, and economic problems, since June 2022, had been resolved to some extent.
Inviting the Opposition to join the government’s efforts to stabilise the country’s economy, the President assured that an election would be held once the country had stabilized.
Acknowledging people’s right to freedom of speech, the President said tough measures would be adopted in dealing with any form of sabotage and urged not to allow another July 09 to happen again.
A discussion with the Catholic Council was held on Thursday (21) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat under the co-chairmanship of Minister of Science and Technology, Chrishantha Abeysena and Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Discussions focused on administrative issues relating to Catholic schools taken over by the Government, the formulation of a structured teacher cadre system for Catholic religious education, the need to recruit Catholic nuns and priests into the teaching profession and the establishment of a mechanism to obtain the support of the Ministry of Education for the administration of Government-acquired Catholic schools.
It was also decided that discussions with the Catholic Council would be held three times annually, while Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage would serve as Secretary to the forum.
Expressing appreciation on behalf of the Catholic Council, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith thanked President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Government for facilitating the discussion.
His Eminence further stated that the expectation was to ensure every student, without discrimination, is given the opportunity to learn his or her own religion and stressed the importance of resolving the prevailing issues within the education sector.
Also present at the occasion were Most Rev. Bishop Harold Anthony Perera, Most Rev. Bishop Christy Noel Emmanuel, Most Rev. Bishop Anton Ranjith, Most Rev. Bishop Wimal Siri Jayasuriya, other clergy representing the Catholic Council, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Nalaka Kaluwewa and senior officials of the Ministry of Education.
(PMD)
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to broaden the Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy, which was launched last year. Unlike the inaugural edition held in November 2025 that featured eight Associate teams, the second edition will comprise 10 teams, including five Test-playing nations. The tournament is scheduled to be held in November this year.
Italian Navy’s ITS GIOVANNI DELLE BANDE NERE, which arrived in Colombo (21 May 2026) on a replenishment visit, departed the island today (22 May).
The Sri Lanka Navy bade a customary farewell to the departing ship in compliance with naval traditions at the port of Colombo.
During her brief stay in Colombo, the Commanding Officer of the ship, Commander Antonio BUFIS called on the Commander Western Naval Area at the Western Naval Command Headquarters.
Catholic Council reconvenes after nine years
ICC to widen Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy
Italian Navy’s ITS GIOVANNI DELLE BANDE NERE departs following replenishment visit
PM meets Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations
Tennessee execution called off after failed lethal injection
Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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