News
Over 300 Lankans rescued from sinking vessel off Spratly Islands
…vessel on its way to Canada
More than 300 Sri Lankans were rescued at sea off the Spratly Islands after their fishing vessel was damaged and found adrift, Vietnam media reported yesterday (08)
A spokesperson for the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center said Tuesday the agency received news that the Myanmar-flagged Lady R3 with 303 Sri Lankans, suspected to be headed for Canada, was in trouble.
On November 5, when it was around 258 nautical miles off Vung Tau in the southern coast, its engine room flooded and the vessel began to drift. There were rough seas at the time.
The centre then tried to contact the ship and also broadcast emergency signals to other ships in the vicinity.
At 3 p.m. Monday it found that the Japanese-flagged Helios Leader was in the area, and requested it to make a detour and rescue the people aboard Lady R3.
The Japanese vessel was able to reach the distressed boat, whose crew members were in a state of panic.
It then rescued the passengers and provided medical assistance to whoever needed it.
The centre also mobilized five other ships and told them to circle the area to provide support, if needed.
The 264 men, 19 women and 20 children are safe and expected to reach Vung Tau by Tuesday.
The Cabinet of Ministers granted their concurrence to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Youth Affairs to appoint S. Achchudan of Special Grade of Sri Lanka Administrative Service, who is currently serving as an Additional Commissioner of Elections at the Elections Commission who is
recommended by the panel of interviewers to the post of Director General of the Sports Development Department with effect form 01.01.2026.
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal furnished by the Minister of Environment to publish the draft bill of the National Environment (Amended) Act in the government gazette notification and subsequently to submit the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Buddhism, Religious, and Cultural Affairs to provide tax relief on imported dates received as donations or gift for Ramadan.
This year’s Ramadan fasting season is scheduled to begin on 19-02-2026 and end on 21-03-2026.
Shafali, Renuka close in on top five in ICC T20I rankings
S. Achchudan appointed as Director General of the Sports Development Department.
Amendment of the National Environment Act No. 47 of 1980
Tax relief for Dates received as donations or gifts for Ramadan
Cabinet nod to establish the Sri Lanka Industrial Transformation and innovation Authority
Temporary employment of Sri Lankan labour in the State of Israel
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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