News
Indonesia to strengthen relations with Lanka
Indonesia will move forward to strengthen relations with Sri Lanka as a genuine partner, Indonesia’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Dewi Gustina Tobing said during a ceremony to mark the 78th Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia at the Indonesian Embassy in Colombo.
The Indonesian Embassy in Colombo quoted the Ambassador as saying that the spirit of unity of the Indonesian people was the key to gaining independence on 17 August 1945.
Lankan students from the Colombo Royal College and Samudhi’s Dancing Group enthusiastically observed the Indonesian flag hoisting ceremony. They attended the ceremony, together with the Indonesian community in Sri Lanka.
Some Religious leaders, representatives from the Sri Lanka-Indonesia Friendship Association (SLIFA), Sri Lankan Malay Communities, business people, travel agents, and journalists were also among 250 people present at the Embassy.
Indonesian Ambassador in Sri Lanka, Dewi Gustina Tobing, said that 17 August was a special day for all Indonesian people, including those who stay in Sri Lanka and Maladewa, because they were celebrating the Independence Day of Indonesia.
On 17 August 1945, the first President of Indonesia, Soekarno, and the Vice President, Mohammad Hatta, declared the proclamation of Independence of Indonesia. “More than 300 ethnic groups in Indonesia participated in forming a newly independent country named the Republic of Indonesia,” said Ambassador Dewi.
The Ambassador further said that the spirit of unity of the Indonesian people was the key to gaining independence on 17 August 1945.
“Our national motto Bhinneka Tunggal Ika or unity in diversity becomes a unifier that moves all Indonesian ethnic groups to fight for independence. From the era of Pergerakan Nasional or National Awakening in 1908 until the Sumpah Pemuda or Youth Pledge in 1928, the national motto remains persistent and relevant today,” Ambassador Dewi said, adding “Indonesia will always move forward to strengthen relations with Sri Lanka as a genuine partner.”
The series of activities for commemorating the 78th Indonesian Independence Day consisted of hoisting the Indonesian flag, reading the text of the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, the text of Pancasila, the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution, and prayers. Before the ceremony, Ambassador Dewi inaugurated the member of Pasukan Pengibar Bendera or flag hoisters consisting of Zakat P. Siregar, Nisa Nurfitriyani, and Achmad Dita Setiawan.
The commemoration ceremony for the 78th Indonesian Independence Day was closed by cutting the Nasi Tumpeng (the cone-shaped rice dish), taking a photo with all ceremony participants, and an announcement that the Embassy of Indonesia, in collaboration with SLIFA, would organize a Cultural and Charity Bazaar on 2 September 2023 at the Indonesian Embassy premises.
Advisory for strong winds and rough seas for Multi-day boats in the Bay of Bengal deep sea areas
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 05.00 p.m. 18 September 2026, valid for the next 24 hours.
PLEASE BE AWARE!
The atmospheric disturbance to the North of the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal, is likely to develop into a low pressure area within the next 24 hours.
Due to its influence, wind speed over the Bay of Bengal sea areas will increase during the next few days starting from
tomorrow (19th).
The wind speed in the sea areas marked under the “Advisory” category on the map below will increase to 55-65 kmph at times and those sea areas will be rough or very rough at times.
Navel and fishing communities engaging the activities over this sea area are advised to be vigilant and be attentive to the future forecasts and bulletins issued by the department of Meteorology in this regards.
Text and Pic by Priyan de Silva
Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) Ranga Dissanayake has questioned whether some promises contained in the National People’s Power (NPP) manifesto, A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life, could be fulfilled even if the government wanted to implement them.
Dissanayake raised the issue during a discussion following the release of the third biannual report on manifesto monitoring by the March 12 Movement, at the BMICH, on Wednesday.
He questioned whether the report had taken into account legal and institutional constraints affecting the implementation of certain pledges.
Citing the proposal to establish Anti-Corruption Investigation Offices in each district, Dissanayake said such offices could be established only with the agreement of CIABOC and that amendments to the Anti-Corruption Act would be necessary.
He also referred to the pledge to abolish the Executive Presidency, noting that successive governments had made similar commitments since 1994. He questioned whether there had been adequate consideration of where the powers vested in the Executive President would be transferred if the system were abolished.
On the proposal to establish a Public Prosecutor, Dissanayake questioned whether the Government intended to maintain the office alongside the Attorney General, who currently performs prosecution-related functions.
Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) Manjula Gajanayake said Dissanayake’s remarks should be regarded as his personal views and not as Government policy.
Monitoring and Evaluation Consultants M. Thilakarajah and D.D. Mataharaarachchi presented the third-phase findings, covering January to June 2026.
The corruption case filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) against former Navy Commander, Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, and Yoshitha Rajapaksa was set for a pre-trial conference by the Colombo High Court.
The case was taken up before the Colombo High Court on Thursday (17), when the accused, who are currently out on bail, appeared before the court. After considering the submissions made, the court ordered that the case be called for a pre-trial conference.
The CIABOC had filed the case against the accused, alleging that a corruption offence was committed by sending Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, for training at the Royal Naval College in the United Kingdom despite him not having the required qualifications.
Advisory for strong winds and rough seas for Multi-day boats in the Bay of Bengal
Showers in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya Districts
Some NPP manifesto promises may be difficult to fulfil – CIABOC DG
Yoshitha and ex-Navy chief Karannagoda’s case fixed for PTC
Court orders probe into Wimal’s rally speech
Court to rule on Dilith’s writ petition on September 30
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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