News

India underscores security and defence in overall partnership with SL

Published

1 month ago

2026/09/10

Santosh Jha

Indian High Commissioner in Colombo Santosh Jha has said that security and defence were significant aspects in the Indo-Lanka partnership.

Speaking to ANI in Colombo in the wake of Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit, Jha said: “If you look at the last 2-3 years, the engagement between India and Sri Lanka has acquired a new intensity. There is a regular exchange of ministerial-level visits from India to Sri Lanka and from Sri Lanka to India. We need to see this as part of that. As you know, we have several different aspects of our partnership. Security and defense are very significant aspects of that. The visit of the Defence Minister is in the context that we will be taking forward some of the ongoing initiatives. We’ll exchange notes on how far we have come so far on various defense cooperation issues. I must also request that people see it in the larger context. He’s a very senior leader from India, a person who has been at the helm for many years, and so we are looking at this as part of the larger political-level exchanges between India and Sri Lanka.”

Building upon this strategic framework, the Indian High Commissioner underscored the sweeping, multi-sectoral scale of bilateral cooperation extending far beyond security ties. HC Jha added: “We have a large developing partnership. When the Indian Prime Minister was here, we had a number of MoUs signed between India and Sri Lanka. He had also described our relationship as very expansive and across several sectors, like connectivity, energy, development, security, and defence, there are people-to-people exchanges. There is a population-level scale rollout of a unique digital identity platform that will be happening in Sri Lanka very soon. So there is this entire spectrum of relationships that is growing a bit by bit. Of course, it can’t be a dramatic growth suddenly, but one by one, we are handling these issues, and they are developing…”

Commenting further on the robust economic and commercial dimensions driving this evolving partnership, Jha pointed to surging trade, investment inflows, and tourism metrics that anchor bilateral prosperity.

Jha said: “India is now once again the largest trade partner of Sri Lanka, and more importantly, India has become the second largest destination for Sri Lankan exports. Which, if you would recall, is the original intent of the free trade agreement that India and Sri Lanka signed, because the idea is that there should be greater access for our neighbours to the Indian market, and they should benefit through access to the Indian market, and that was the intent of the free trade agreement. This is really showing up in figures as well. India is also the largest source of investment in Sri Lanka. In 2025, more than 50% of the investment into Sri Lanka came from India, including those that came from Indian companies in third countries. But I would regard them as investments from India because they’re coming from Indian companies, and India has always been the biggest source of tourism traffic, which is a major source of prosperity in Sri Lanka.” Aligning with these extensive diplomatic exchanges, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh touched down in Colombo today to commence a three-day official visit centred on augmenting bilateral maritime and security cooperation.

All News Advertisement

News

Record 1,600 students take Russian Classical Ballet examination in Sri Lanka

Published

14 hours ago

2026/10/18

Priyan

More than 1,600 students sat this year’s Russian Classical Ballet Examination, the largest number ever to take part in the examination in Sri Lanka. Exams were held in Colombo from 5, to 18, October and in Galle on 10 October.

Students aged four and above came from across the island, including Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Negombo, Matara, Kelaniya, Panadura, Wattala, Kiribathgoda, Ratnapura, Kandy, Kurunegala, Bandarawela and Badulla. They are taught by 15 dedicated teachers trained in the Vaganova method, the renowned Russian system of classical ballet training.

They were examined by Dr. Oxana Karnovich of the Moscow State Academy of Choreography, a distinguished academic and curator.

The Russian School of Ballet and Dancing was established in 2001 by Michael Ustinov, Buddhapriya Ramanayake and Mrs Chandi Aluvihare, with Mrs Galina Pleshakova as its founding instructor. Today the School is led by Director Madam Maria Popova, Counsellor of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka.

News

Buddhist hierarchy demands prison perks for monk convicts

Published

19 hours ago

2026/10/18

Thilina Walpola

MONETABRIEF– Sri Lanka’s two most senior Buddhist chapters, Malwatte and Asgiriya, demanded special concessions for monks serving prison sentences, following the disrobing of convicted monk Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara in line with established procedures.

The chief prelate of the Asgiriya chapter, Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana, told Prisons Commissioner Senaka Palletenna that Ven. Gnanasara, who is serving a six-year sentence for contempt of court, must be released immediately.

Prison authorities have no power to release or pardon convicts, but Palletenna told the monk in Kandy on Friday that he would convey his request to the relevant government authorities.

“There is no point in talking about this and that… The entire country has been shaken (??????? ) . He must be released,” the Asgiriya chief prelate said.

The Malwatte chief prelate, Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala, appeared to accept the court verdict against Ven. Gnanasara, but asked the prisons chief whether a separate section could be established for convicted monks.

Palletenna noted that a special ward for the clergy already existed at Welikada Prison.

At least 63 convicted Buddhist monks are currently incarcerated within Sri Lanka’s criminal justice system.

Meanwhile, a group of 34 Buddhist monks named in a Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court order to vacate the vicinity of the Presidential Secretariat ended their protest and dispersed after lunch on Friday.The monks are demanding an unconditional pardon for Ven. Gnanasara, who has previously been imprisoned, making him a reconvicted prisoner.

News

Debate on NCM against Speaker postponed indefinitely

Published

19 hours ago

2026/10/18

Thilina Walpola

The debate on the no-confidence motion against Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, submitted by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has been postponed indefinitely pending the Attorney General’s opinion on certain technical issues in the motion.

Government representatives raised the matter at a meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business, pointing out that several provisions of the motion required clarification and that the Attorney General’s advice should be obtained.

As obtaining the opinion would take time, the debate could not be scheduled for the next parliamentary week, parliamentary sources said.

Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunatilaka said a date for the debate would be decided after the Attorney General’s advice was received.

Meanwhile, Parliament is scheduled to meet from October 20 to 23, Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera announced.

The parliamentary business for the week was finalised at a meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business held on Friday (16) under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih.

On each sitting day, the period from 9.30 a.m. to 10 a.m. will be allocated for parliamentary business under Items 1 to 6 of Standing Order 22. Questions for Oral Answers will be taken up from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by questions under Standing Order 27(2) from 11 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.

On Tuesday, October 20, an Opposition-sponsored Adjournment Motion will be debated from 11.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.

On Wednesday, October 21, a resolution under the Public Debt Management Act and a Supplementary Estimate will be taken up for debate and approval from 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The annual reports of five statutory institutions will subsequently be presented for approval without debate, while questions at the Adjournment Time will be taken up from 5 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

On Thursday, October 22, the Second Reading debates on two Bills to amend the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Bills Nos. 79 and 80) will be held from 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The annual reports of five statutory institutions will then be taken up for approval without debate, followed by an Opposition-sponsored Adjournment Motion from 5 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

On Friday, October 23, the Second Reading debate on the Elimination of Rabies and Registration of Dogs Bill will be held from 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. A Government-sponsored Adjournment Motion will be debated during the final half-hour of the sitting.