News
SL scientists clueless about mission of Chinese research ship, says expert
There should be bilateral discussions and agreements on itineraries when foreign research vessels sail to foreign countries, says Prof. Emeritus Ruchira Kumaratunga, who established the country’s first university Oceanography Department at the University of Ruhuna. She said so commenting on the Chinese research vessel Shi Yan 6, which has sought permission to dock and resupply in Sri Lanka.
“There must be a discussion between the Chinese and Sri Lankan scientists and researchers involved. For example, what will be done, what kind of information will be gathered and where the collected information will be stored. This is not the first time that a research ship has arrived in Sri Lanka. I have even been involved in discussions when Norwegian marine research vessel, Fridtjof Nansen arrived,” she said.
Prof. Kumaratunga said that Ruhuna University had engaged with Chinese research vessels in the past. Prior to her retirement from the university, she was involved with the discussions with Chinese scientists, she said.
“However, the manner in which the collected data is stored is problematic. There is no report on the previous Chinese engagement with the university on the university website. On the other hand, Fridtjof Nansen data can be accessed by anyone,” she said.
Kumaratunga said she had written to the Minister of Justice before the approval for the ship was granted, asking him a few questions on the Chinese research vessel.
“The VC who held the discussions with the Chinese is now sick. The main geologist involved in the discussion is now a resident of the US. The university itself is not sure who will engage with the Chinese. The current VC also has no idea. I wasn’t involved in the discussions. I think academics of the Oceanography Department must be informed when such discussions are taking place,” she said.
The emeritus professor said that the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) said the Chinese vessel would work with the University of Ruhuna. However, given that the academics at the university seem to be clueless about the research vessel, Kumaratunga said she was apprehensive about the Chinese vessel.
“Not a single permanent academic at the university is aware of who will be involved in the research. Who will take part in the research, and where will the data repository be? Sri Lanka needs to have access to the data,” she said.
Prof. Kumaratunga said Shi Yan 6 would study the ocean floor owned by Sri Lanka and information on the ocean floor must be closely guarded. There can be many resources that Sri Lanka can extract, she said.
“Are there Sri Lankans who know what equipment that the Chinese will bring? First of all, we need to train our scientists. They need to know what equipment the foreign scientists will use. The data must be shared with us,” she said.
Payment made to new account number outside agreement
Civil society group ‘Free Lawyers’, which exposed the payment of USD 2.5 mn loan instalment by the Treasury to a third party instead of Australia, yesterday (23) said that in spite of the Treasury having the legitimate bank account mentioned in the relevant agreement, the payment had been made to another account subsequently received from a person who had been in contact with some senior officials.
Civil society activist Keerthi Tennakoon on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers’ emphasised that the account number mentioned in the agreement couldn’t be changed without approval of the Secretary to the Treasury Harshana Suriyapperuma, who is also the Secretary to the Finance Ministry. Suriyapperuma, who quit his National List seat to receive the top appointment, should be held responsible for the unprecedented development, Tennakoon said.
If the Treasury had followed the time-tested procedures in place, a new bank account couldn’t have been introduced, and therefore a thorough investigation was required to reveal the truth.According to Free Lawyers, the scam had been detected by relatively junior officer and not those higher ups.
Free Lawyers’ would continue to follow the developments to ensure transparency in the investigations, Tennakoon said, noting that Suriyapperuma should step down as he was aware of a third party securing root access to the system in September 2025 but failed to take action to prevent the scam. Tennakoon said that the NPPer hadn’t informed relevant authorities, and altogether 16 officials were involved in the scam.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Hambantota International Port (HIP) successfully handled container vessel MSC Marie Leslie, marking one of its highest-volume vessel calls to date. The achievement further strengthens the port’s position as an emerging hub for containerised cargo in the region, according to HIP press release.
The vessel, operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), was berthed at HIP from 11 to 15 April 2026. The port achieved 7,968 container moves during this period, translating to a total volume of 13,260 TEUs; the highest single-vessel throughput recorded by HIP to date.
This latest milestone surpasses previous records, including 12,957 TEUs handled on MSC Ilenia and 11,369 TEUs on MSC Ruby in March this year, reflecting a steady upward trend in the port’s container handling performance.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has told his Sri Lankan counterpart Vijitha Herath that US sinking of Iranian frigate IRIS Dena off Sri Lankan waters was an unprecedented war crime.
Of some 180 crew only 30 odd personnel survived.
While referring to crimes committed by the United States and Israel against Iran, Araghchi has stressed that they would never forget this crime, which constitutes a grave violation of the fundamental rules of international humanitarian law and the 1949 Geneva Conventions, and would employ all legal and political means to hold the perpetrators and those responsible accountable and bring them to justice.
Araghchi has said so during a telephone conversation with Herath regarding the ongoing West Asia conflict and related developments.
During the phone call, Araghchi expressed appreciation for the Sri Lankan government’s efforts in the rescue operation for the sailors of the IRIS Dena and for assisting in the transfer of the bodies of the crew of the vessel and other Iranian naval personnel back to Iran, according to the Iranian Embassy in Sri Lanka.
US sank Dena as it along with two other Iranian vessels awaited Sri Lanka approval to enter the Colombo port. Iranian ambassador in Colombo Dr. Alireza Delkhosh is on record as having said that the Commander of Sri Lanka Navy invited the Iranian ships to visit Colombo following their participation in International Fleet review and Milan 2026 held in India in late Feb. All Iranian vessels had been unarmed at that time in keeping with protocols regarding the participation in such events.
LA 2028 Olympic cricket stadium in IPL proposal
Oil rises above $106 per barrel as US, Iran deadlocked in Strait of Hormuz
UAE captain Waseem fined and handed demerit point for criticising umpiring
Shanto century, Mustafizur five-for seals series win for Bangladesh
Showers above 75 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western and Southern provinces
Samson century, Hosein four-for hand Mumbai Indians their biggest defeat
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
News3 days agoRs 13 bn NDB fraud: Int’l forensic audit ordered
-
Business6 days agoHarnessing nature’s wisdom: Experts highlight “Resist–Align” path to resilience
-
Opinion4 days agoShutting roof top solar panels – a crime
-
News6 days agoGratiaen Trust announces longlist for the 33rd Annual Gratiaen Prize
-
News5 days agoFrom Nuwara Eliya to Dubai: Isha Holdings markets Agri products abroad
-
News4 days agoChurch calls for Deputy Defence Minister’s removal, establishment of Independent Prosecutor’s Office
-
News6 days agoHeroin haul transported on 50-million-rupee contract
-
News1 day agoLanka faces crisis of conscience over fate of animals: Call for compassion, law reform, and ethical responsibility