Indonesia has pledged support for Clean Sri Lanka programme, the President’s Media Division said.

The assistance in this regard was assured by Indonesian Ambassador Dewi Gustina Tobing when she called on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat on Tuesday, the PMD said.

During the discussion, Ambassador Tobing extended Indonesia’s well wishes to the new government and reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to strengthening the 70-year-long friendship between the two nations. She said that Indonesia’s current administration would support the Clean Sri Lanka programme, noting that measures have been taken to implement a similar initiative in Indonesia.

The discussions also focused on establishing vibrant trade agreements and free trade arrangements between the two nations. Additionally, both parties explored opportunities to expand markets in a mutually beneficial manner while further strengthening economic, social and cultural ties. Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Roshan Gamage and Indonesian Deputy Ambassador, Fiki Oktanio, were also present at the meeting, the release said.

The first batch of vehicles imported for private use arrived at the Colombo Port on Tuesday (25) afternoon, following the government’s decision to end a five-year suspension on vehicle imports to conserve meagre foreign reserves.

Speaking to journalists in Colombo on Wednesday morning, Vehicle Importers’ Association of Sri Lanka (VIASL) President Prasad Manage said the first shipment arrived from Thailand, and another shipment from Japan is scheduled to arrive at the Hambantota International Port on Thursday (27).

The Sri Lankan government officially lifted the temporary ban on vehicle imports, which had been in place since early 2020, on January 31, 2025.

One of the primary reasons for lifting the suspension is to boost state revenue and meet the tax target of 15 percent of gross domestic product, a requirement under Sri Lanka’s bailout agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

 During his recent Budget speech in Parliament, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the liberalization of motor vehicle imports is expected to generate a significant portion of the government’s revenue targets.

 However, he emphasized that vehicle imports will be closely monitored to prevent any adverse effects on the country’s external sector stability.

by Ifham Nizam 

A groundbreaking study has revealed that a population of bats in Sri Lanka, previously thought to belong to an existing species, is actually a distinct species altogether. Scientists have officially named it Hipposideros srilankaensis, marking a significant discovery in South Asian mammalogy.

The study was conducted by a team of researchers from India, Sri Lanka, and other international institutions. Their findings suggest that what was once considered a South Asian subspecies of Hipposideros galeritus, a leaf-nosed bat species first described in 1846, is actually two separate species: H. brachyotus in India and the newly identified H. srilankaensis in Sri Lanka.

The researchers used a combination of morphological comparisons, DNA analysis, and echolocation studies to distinguish the species. They found significant differences in noseleaf structure, ear shape, and skull features between the Sri Lankan, Indian, and Southeast Asian bat populations.

“Our results show that these bats have been misclassified for years,” said Dr. Bhargavi Srinivasulu, one of the lead researchers. “This discovery highlights the need for further taxonomic revisions in South Asian bat species.”

The study also revealed substantial genetic differences between the bat populations, suggesting that even more cryptic species may exist in the region. This discovery is particularly important for conservation efforts, as recognizing H. srilankaensis as a unique species allows for targeted conservation strategies in Sri Lanka.

With deforestation and habitat loss threatening bat populations worldwide, the identification of new species like H. srilankaensis underscores the urgent need for biodiversity protection. The researchers hope their work will encourage further exploration into the rich, yet often overlooked, diversity of South Asian bats.