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JVP questions govt.’s wisdom of closing consulate in Cyprus
The JVP has questioned the government’s wisdom of closing down the Sri Lankan Consulate in Cyprus while keeping diplomatic relations with Liechtenstein.
Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Pelawatte, the former MP and Secretary of the JVP-affiliated Ethera Api Organisation Lankshman Nipunarachchi said that the government had taken steps to shut down several Lankan consulates on the pretext of cost-cutting. “Among them is the Lankan consulate in Cyprus. The consulate was opened there following numerous demands from our organisation because there are many Sri Lankans working there.
“There are around 15,000 Sri Lankans working in Cyprus. That country has a social security fund for foreign workers. It amounts to 16 percent of the salary of the worker. There are 100,000 Lankans who have not yet been able to withdraw their funds. The Lankan government had done nothing to help them. Instead it is in the process of shutting down our consulate there.”
Treasurer of the Ethera Api organisation, Attorney-at-Law, Janaka Adhikari said the cost cutting could not be accepted as a valid reason for the closure of the consulate. “How could they speak of cost cutting while maintaining so many presidential palaces in all main cities when the President could visit any place in the country within 45 minutes by helicopter? The state of Liechtenstein has hardly any Sri Lankans. The government is shutting down the Cyprus consulate serving around 15,000 Lankans. Liechtenstein is a notorious place for tax relief like Swaziland and attracting ill-gotten funds of the foreign political leaders. That is why our rulers continue ties with Liechtenstein.”
Convener of the Lanka Cyprus Workers’ Collective Rohitha Perera and Ex-co member of the Ethera Api Nisansala Silva also addressed the media.
Following the conclusion of bilateral discussions between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, official-level talks between the delegations of Sri Lanka and India commenced this morning (05) at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.
Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath; Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Anil Jayantha; Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake; Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, along with other senior officials.
The Indian delegation included Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and His Excellency Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, along with several other senior officials of the Government of India.
Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who arrived in Sri Lanka on the invitation of President Anura Kumara Disanayake on Friday [04] night, visited the Presidential Secretariat this morning (05).
The Indian Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by President Anura Kumara Disanayake upon his arrival at the Presidential Secretariat.
Prime Minister Modi is currently on a state visit to Sri Lanka, reaffirming the theme “Friendship of Centuries — Commitment to a Prosperous Future” which symbolises the longstanding ties between Sri Lanka and India. The Indian Premier is scheduled to remain in the country until tomorrow (06).
[PMD]
The official welcoming ceremony for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was held this morning (05) at the Independence Square in Colombo.
On arrival at the Independence Square the Indian Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by President Anura Kumara Disanayake.
Discussions between Sri Lankan and Indian delegations at the presidential secretariat
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Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi arrives at the presidential secretariat
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