News
Chinese Ambassador: ‘Promises must be kept’
Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong has declared that in spite of major changes in the political scene here and elsewhere, the overall China-Sri Lanka foreing releations remain the same.Ambassador Zhenhong said so in the East during a two-day visit (Sept 5 and 6), his second to the region within 3 months. The top Chinese envoy was accompanied by his wife Jin Qian.
The Chinese Embassy quoted Ambassador Zhenhong as having said: “Over the past three months, there have been many major changes in Sri Lanka and the world. But we are pleased to see that the overall situation of China-Sri Lanka traditional friendship and the momentum of common development have not changed. The mutual understanding, mutual respect and mutual support between our two countries and the two peoples have not changed either. The main reason is because our bilateral friendship is deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples.”
Ambassador Qi Zhenhong met with Governor of Eastern Province Anuradha Yahampath at the latter’s secretariat in Trincomalee on the afternoon of 5th Sept. The embassy quoted the envoy as having told Yahampath: “Promises must be kept, and action must be resolute”.
The Ambassador has updated the officials on the progress of China’s assistance following his previous visit 3 months ago. The Ambassador also highlighted that encouraged by the embassy and invited by the EP government together with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, some Chinese enterprises had visited Trincomalee Port recently to explore future cooperation.
Following the meeting, Ambassador Qi handed over 22 Smart Boards (75-inch & 65-in, worth LKR 21 million) for distance education to the principals of 20 schools across the Eastern Province. The program was funded by China’s Yunnan Provincial Government as a follow-up of its food packages donation (worth LKR 55 million) to 10,000 needy families from EP in May. Witnessed by the Ambassador and Governor Yahampath, Chief Secretary of Eastern Province Mr. Thusitha Wanigasinghe and Director of Yunnan Commercial Office in Sri Lanka Mr. Hu Kai signed a MOU to provide 70 sets of solar streetlight systems (worth LKR 13 million) to schools in the Eastern Province by Yunnan.
On the morning of 6th, Ambassador Qi Zhenhong and Madam Jin Qian visited the Faculty of Health Care Sciences, Eastern University in Batticaloa and handed over Chinese Ambassador’s Scholarship (a total of LKR 4.3 million) to 150 students (mainly girls) from underprivileged families of all ethnicities in the University to help their study and daily life for up to 7 months. Professor Vallipuram Kanagasingam, Vice Chancellor of Eastern University and Dr. K.E. Karunakaran, Deputy Vice Chancellor together with deans, teachers, students and their parents attended the event.
In his keynote speech, the Chinese Envoy talked to the Sri Lankan youth.
As a conclusion, Ambassador Qi pointed out that “Youth is the future of a country and the future of the friendship between two countries. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and Sri Lanka, and the 70th anniversary of the Rubber-Rice Pact. I sincerely wish all the students to study hard, grow strong, and become new backbone of Sri Lanka and China-Sri Lanka friendship as soon as possible.”
On the afternoon of 6th, Ambassador Qi and the delegates from the Chinese embassy were invited by the Batticaloa District Civil Society to visit Kaluwankerni, an underdeveloped Tamil fishing village in Batticaloa which has been suffering from domestic conflicts, natural disasters, Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing economic crisis. After laying a foundation stone for a housing scheme funded by the embassy for 10 most needy families in Kaluwankerni, the Chinese Ambassador talked to about 50 villagers representatives gathering at the ceremony and stressed it is his duty as Chinese ambassador to Sri Lanka to strengthen friendly cooperation with all ethnic groups in the Eastern Province. “China will, as always, provide all-out help for Sri Lanka to get out of current difficulties.” said Qi.
The government has chosen not to respond to questions raised by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the detention of retired Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay in connection with the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the ex-official in late February this year. The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers have jointly raised the issue on 20 July, 2026.
Drawing attention of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to what they called alleged arbitrary detention of Sallay, former Director General of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and former Director of Military Intelligence (DMI), under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), as well as allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment while in custody, resulting in the grave deterioration of his health, and imminent risks of retaliation through further torture and ill-treatment resulting in irreparable harm, should he be released from hospital and returned to custody, the UN sought the government explanation with a 60-day period.
The UN has stated: “This communication, and any response received from your Excellency’s Government, will be made public via the communications reporting website at the 60 days mark. Should your Excellency’s Government respond within 60 days, both the communication and the response, may be published before the 60 days mark. The communications and responses
will also be made available in the subsequent periodic report to be presented to the Human Rights Council.”
In the absence of the government’s response, the UN posted the letter, dated 20 July, 2026, addressed to President Dissanayake. The full letter can be accessed https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=31125
News
Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area
The Army, last week, vacated an area, within the wartime high security zone in the Jaffna peninsula. The Defence Ministry said that an extent of 187.56 acres of land, belonging to the Cement Corporation in Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, has been released by the military. The released land, located in Grama Niladhari Division J/233, Kankesanthurai West, within the Valikamam North (Tellippalai) Divisional Secretariat Division, had been utilised by the Sri Lanka Army since the middle of 1997.
The release of the 187.56-acre extent forms part of the initiative to make State land available for the proposed investment zone in Kankesanthurai, thereby facilitating future investment and economic development in the area.
A complaint has been lodged with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau against the Government Printer and the Secretary to the Ministry of Media regarding the online release of falsified documents bearing a forged Speaker’s certificate.
Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri has lodged a complaint with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau requesting legal action against the Government Printer of the Department of Government Printing (No. 118, Dr. Danister de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 08), Prasanna Jayaratne, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media (Asidisi Medura, 163, Kirulapone Mawatha, Polhengoda, Colombo 05), Dr. Anil Jasinghe.
The complaint alleges the commission of offences by forging and uploading falsified documents online using a forged Speaker’s certification, failure to perform statutory duties, and misappropriation of public property.
The complaint states that a copy of the English translation of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was downloaded and printed from the official website of the Government Printing Department (www.documents.gov.lk), which operates under the Ministry of Mass Media. On its outer cover and on page 1, the text “certified on 25th of September, 2026” is inscribed inside brackets.
The complaint pointed out that the Speaker has certified an English translation. Under Articles 23, 79, 83, and 80 of the Constitution, Parliament enacts laws and the Speaker certifies bills strictly in the Sinhala and Tamil languages; under the Constitution, therefore the Speaker cannot apply such certification to an English translation.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the most part of the island after 1.00 p.m
GS1 Lanka drives Sri Lanka’s shift to 2D barcodes
Geneva takes up Sallay’s case and govt. ignores opportunity to answer accusations
Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area
Lawyer lodges complaint against Govt. Printer, Media Ministry Secy.
Sri Lankan troops in joint anti-terrorist exercise in Russia
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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