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President wants Lanka to be first in South Asia to join RCEP, largest trade bloc in history
Sri Lanka wanted to become the first South Asian country to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the largest trade bloc in history, following the completion of debt restructuring, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said recently taking part in events to celebrate the ASEAN Day in Colombo.
RCEP is a free trade agreement among the Asia-Pacific nations of Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
“We must join the RCEP.There is no reason not to join it,” he said.
The country will also enter into Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries after debt restructuring is complete, the President’s Media Division (PMD) announced on Thursday (10).
President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that he agrees with ASEAN’s vision for the Indo-Pacific region.Wickremesinghe said that Sri Lanka will work closely with the ASEAN nations in the coming years.
Sri Lanka has an FTA with Singapore and is holding discussions to sign one with Thailand next year, the President said.Sri Lanka also plans to sign trade agreements with India and Bangladesh, he said.Wickremesinghe said Sri Lanka wants the Indian Ocean to be demilitarized, and thus its goals align with ASEAN.
Lakbima Rice Mills (Pvt) Ltd, based in Polonnaruwa, has contributed Rs. 100 million to the Government’s ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, established to provide relief to communities affected by Cyclone Ditwa.
The donation cheque was handed over this morning (13) at the Presidential Secretariat to Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President, by Dudley Sirisena, Chairman of the Araliya Group of Companies.
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Advisory for severe lightning issued to the Districts of Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara
Advisory for Severe Lightning
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
at 12.30 p.m. 13 December 2025 valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 13 December 2025 for Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara Districts
The public are warned that thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur at some places in the Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara Districts.
There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.
ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
Based on the prevailing disaster situation and the upcoming festive season, arrangements have been made to provide a nutrition allowance worth Rs. 5,000 to pregnant mothers.
This allowance, which will be provided only once, will be given to pregnant mothers who were registered at maternal clinics on or before 30 November 2025.
The distribution will take place through the Divisional Secretariat offices from 16 December, as a program of the National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.
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