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Modi’s visit: TN poaching issue on the agenda

Published

1 year ago

2025/03/31

Modi

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has said that the arrest of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy would be taken up at the forthcoming Indian Premier Narendra Modi’s visit to Colombo.Responding to a query posed at a special media briefing held in New Delhi on March 28 on Modi’s visits to Thailand and Sri Lanka in the first week of April, Misri said: We have throughout been in very close contact with Sri Lankan authorities at all levels and in practically every meeting with Sri Lanka, this issue is taken up very, very forcefully by our side. And our central message has always been that these are issues that should really be seen from the humanitarian and the livelihood concerns lens.”

Misri said: “On the fishermen’s issue, this is something that is a long-standing issue. It is also something whose origin lies in certain arrangements that were arrived at many years ago, in the mid-70s when the international maritime boundary line between India and Sri Lanka was agreed by the then authorities, both at the central and the state level. And, there were formal agreements that were signed with regard to respective rights in this particular area.

Since then, of course, on grounds of alleged crossing of this line by fishermen from our side, there are arrests on the Sri Lankan side and then a process has to be gone through.

We have throughout been in very close contact with Sri Lankan authorities at all levels and in practically every meeting with Sri Lanka, this issue is taken up very, very forcefully by our side. And our central message has always been that these are issues that should really be seen from the humanitarian and the livelihood concerns lens.

There are agreements that have been arrived at from time to time between Indian and Sri Lankan authorities on how to handle this issue. There is a formal mechanism as well of a joint working group on fisheries between the two sides. I think the most recent meeting was held in October last year. There is also a mechanism for fishermen’s associations from the two sides to work.

Our effort is to continue to resolve these issues, find mutual agreement on these issues. Of course, our Mission in Colombo and our Consulate in Jaffna remain very closely involved with these issues. Anytime there are people who are affected, we extend legal as well as other kinds of assistance to them. Sometimes there is medical assistance that is required. We also facilitate the repatriation as early as possible of released fishermen from Sri Lanka to India.

One other thing that we have always focused on with regard to this issue in our discussions with Sri Lanka is the need to avoid the use of force under all circumstances. Therefore, we feel that both sides understand the need to continue our ongoing dialogue, our constructive engagement to eventually achieve long lasting and mutually acceptable solutions to the issue. I have no doubt that the Prime Minister will raise issues related to the welfare of our fishermen during his meeting with the Sri Lankan President.”

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PM on inspection tour of newly renovated Colombo Central Bus Stand

Published

14 hours ago

2026/04/10

Priyan

The Colombo Central Bus Stand, which has a history of over six decades and had remained without a proper maintenance for many years, has now been renovated under the current government’s development programme and vested to the public. Following that, the Prime Minister undertook an inspection tour of the newly renovated Colombo Central Bus Stand.

Originally constructed in 1964, the bus stand was refurbished with modern facilities to meet current needs and was officially reopened to the public on April 8. The primary objective of this initiative is to provide passengers with a higher-quality and more comfortable transportation service.

During the renovation process, special attention has been given to the comfort and safety of women, which was commended by the Prime Minister. In particular, a modern rest area designed to ensure privacy for nursing mothers travelling from distant areas received special praise.

The Prime Minister also reviewed the newly introduced passenger seat reservation system and information services established to assist commuters. In addition, the modern surveillance unit and other security measures installed within the premises to ensure passenger safety were also inspected.

During the visit, the Prime Minister engaged in conversations with passengers at the bus stand and inquired about their views on the newly renovated facilities and the quality of transport services.

It was emphasized that the government’s objective is to transform public transportation into a safe, technologically advanced service that can be used with convenience by all citizens.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

Latest News

Sun directly overhead Nagawilluwa, Galgamuwa, Sigiriya, Palugasdamana and Mankerni about 12:11 noon today (10)

Published

14 hours ago

2026/04/10

Priyan

On the apparent northward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from the 05th to 15th of April in this year.

The nearest areas of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (10th) are Nagawilluwa, Galgamuwa, Sigiriya, Palugasdamana and Mankerni about 12:11 noon.

News

Opposition tells Minister Kumara Jayakody to resign

Published

15 hours ago

2026/04/10

Thilina Walpola

Prof. Peiris

No-faith motion to be taken up today

Former Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris yesterday (9) said that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake should remove Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody unless the minister stepped down on his own.Prof. Peiris, addressing a press conference called by the Opposition, said that Jayakody couldn’t under any circumstance continue to serve as a minister after the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) moved the Colombo High Court against the government member over a previous financial scandal.

Pointing out that Minister Jayakody had been indicted of a corrupt deal struck during the yahapalana regime, Prof. Peiris said it was wrong for the NPP to retain him as a minister, claiming that the offence was not committed during his tenure as a Cabinet minister in the current government.

Prof. Peiris and several other Opposition members dealt with the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against Jayakody that would be taken up today (10) with the academic calling the vote an acid test for the NPP. Having campaigned on an anti-corruption platform at presidential and parliamentary polls, the NPP couldn’t protect Jayakody though he was widely believed to be close to President Dissanayake.

As the Manager of the Procurement and Import Division of the Ceylon Fertilizer Company, Jayakody is alleged to have committed the offence of corruption, according to CIABOC.

Jayakody has been accused of causing a loss of Rs. 8,859,708 to the State by influencing and exploiting the procurement process.

Following the serving of indictments on 27 March, the judge ordered Jayakody’s release on two personal bail bonds of Rs. 1 million each. The court directed that the defendant’s fingerprints be obtained and a formal report be submitted. The case has been scheduled for a pre-trial conference on 6 May.

Prof. Peiris stressed that the CIABOC action against Jayakody is central to the NCM primarily moved over the irregularities ridden coal procurement process launched in 2025 that caused severe disruption to the power generation. Responding to The Island query after the media briefing, Prof Peiris expressed surprise that the JVP/NPP accommodated a person under investigation by the CIABOC. Having taken an utterly irresponsible decision, the JVP/NPP were now playing down the developing issue, prof. Peiris said.

The entire government parliamentary group faced the prospect of having its image tarnished by defending Jayakody, the former lawmaker said.

Prof. Peiris said that they intended to build a campaign around the issues involving the energy minister to expose the government. With yet another electricity tariff hike in the offing due to the growing demand for thermal generation as a result of coal-fired Lakvijaya power plant’s failure to meet the requirement[RA1] , the energy minister and ministry’s performances have to be examined, Prof. Peiris said.The timely release of the Auditor General’s report on controversial coal procurement should compel the government to decide on the energy minister’s fate or be prepared to face the fallout.

By Shamindra Ferdinando