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Sri Lanka unveils Climate Prosperity Plan and Climate Justice Forum to tackle climate challenges globally

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President Ranil Wickremesinghe speaking at the Climate Ambition Summit in New York

President Ranil Wickremesinghe, speaking at the Climate Ambition Summit on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday (20), affirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to the Secretary General’s accelerated climate agenda. He highlighted the importance of tangible climate actions and commended the delegates for their valuable suggestions.

President Wickremesinghe drew attention to the significant economic consequences of climate-related issues, with experts predicting a 1.5% GDP loss for Sri Lanka by 2050. In response, Sri Lanka has adopted a dual approach to climate ambition. At COP 27, the President launched the Climate Prosperity Plan, a strategy for green growth centered on renewable energy generation, leveraging the nation’s natural advantages in wind and solar power. This initiative aligns with Sri Lanka’s economic restructuring following the 2022 financial crisis, as the country aims to transition towards a green economy.

The second facet of Sri Lanka’s climate ambition involves supporting the establishment of a climate justice forum. This forum aims to foster international collaboration to address various climate challenges, including loss and damage adaptation and mitigation.

In addition to these efforts, Sri Lanka is proposing two critical measures on the global stage. First, the President suggested the creation of an international climate change university, designed as a global platform for research and development focused on climate mitigation actions.

Second, recognizing the need for responsible resource management, Sri Lanka is concentrating on areas where maximum impact can be achieved. The President introduced the Tropical Belt Climate Ambition Project, targeting the highly bio diverse tropical belt region.

Vulnerable communities in this area are disproportionately affected by climate change. “The tropical belt is the most tropically diverse region on earth. Typically, biodiversity increases as the latitude decreases. The biodiversity increases as we get closer to the equator. Vulnerable communities in the tropical belt are the worst impacted by climate change,” he added.

Investments in renewable energy, nature-based solutions and pollution control within the tropical belt have the potential to yield transformative results, benefiting not only the region but also temperate areas worldwide. Furthermore, the project aligns with the goals of climate change mitigation and adaptation, offering an opportunity for debt relief to low-income countries within the belt. “Not only in the tropical belt, but will also impact on the temperate areas outside. The nature based solutions could contribute substantially to climate change mitigation and adaptation. There are also a number of low-income countries within the belt who will be able to benefit from the debt relief that is being proposed.”

These initiatives, the Tropical Belt Climate Ambition Plan and the proposed debt relief for low-income economies within the belt, are poised to make a substantial contribution to advancing the Secretary General’s accelerated climate agenda. President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s statement underscores Sri Lanka’s dedication to addressing the pressing challenges of climate change on both the national and global fronts.

(PMD)



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Advisory for strong winds and rough seas for the sea areas extending from Kankasanthurai to Chilaw via Mannar and from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota

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Advisory for Strong Winds and Rough Seas
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 04.30 p.m. 28 May 2026 For the period from 04.30 p.m. 28 May 2026 to 04.30 p.m. 29 May 2026.

Please be prepared as the sea areas extending from Kankasanthurai to Chilaw via Mannar and from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota will be rough at times with strong gusty winds up to (60-65) kmph.

The naval and fishing communities who are engaged in fishing and naval activities in the above sea areas are requested to be vigilant in this regard

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West Indies to host Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Pakistan in 2026 home season

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West Indies are currently placed last after seven losses in eight games in the ongoing 2025-27 cycle of the WTC [Cricinfo]

The West Indies men’s side will play home series against Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Pakistan during the 2026 season, with the tours of Sri Lanka and Pakistan including Test matches, Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced on Thursday.

Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, will host the white-ball matches against Sri Lanka between June 3 and 14, with the Test matches, which will start on June 25 and July 3, to be played at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium at North Sound in Antigua.

The New Zealand tour will only feature five ODIs, to be played at Guyana’s National Stadium (first three) and Kensington Oval in Barbados (last two) between July 11 and 21.

Pakistan will then visit the Caribbean for two Tests, to be played from July 25 to 29 and August 2 to 6, both in Trinidad and Tobago, but at different venues: the first at Brian Lara Cricket Academy, which will be the ground’s inaugural Test, and the second at Queen’s Park Oval.

The Test matches against Sri Lanka and Pakistan will be part of the ICC World Tet Championship. where West Indies are currently placed last (ninth) after seven losses in eight games in the ongoing 2025-27 cycle.

Guyana was originally due to host all five ODIs against New Zealand, but “logistical challenges” forced a change.

“Cricket West Indies engaged in discussions with the government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana regarding logistical challenges associated with hosting the five ODIs. Subsequently, the governments of Guyana and Barbados proposed a collaborative arrangement to share the matches and associated operational costs between the two territories,” CWI chief executive Chris Dehring said in a statement.

“Following consultation with New Zealand Cricket, Cricket West Indies approved the arrangement as part of its continued commitment to delivering a successful and memorable series for players, fans, and the wider Caribbean community.”

Sri Lanka tour

June 3 – 1st ODI at Sabina Park, Jamaica
June 6 – 2nd ODI at Sabina Park, Jamaica
June 9 – 3rd ODI at Sabina Park, Jamaica
June 11 – 1st T20I at Sabina Park, Jamaica
June 13 – 2nd T20I at Sabina Park, Jamaica
June 14 – 3rd T20I at Sabina Park, Jamaica
June 25-29 – 1st Test at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua & Barbuda
July 3-7 – 2nd Test at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua & Barbuda

New Zealand tour

July 11 – 1st ODI at Guyana National Stadium, Guyana
July 13 – 2nd ODI at Guyana National Stadium, Guyana
July 16 – 3rd ODI at Guyana National Stadium, Guyana
July 19 – 4th ODI at Kensington Oval, Barbados
July 21 – 5th ODI at Kensington Oval, Barbados

Pakistan tour

July 25-29 – 1st Test at Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago
August 2-6 – 2nd Test at Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago
[Cricinfo]
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Iran says it targeted American base after fresh US strikes

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The strikes come amid a fragile ceasefire and protracted negotiations to end the war, which began with the US and Israel striking Iran on 28 Feb

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says it has targeted an American air base in the region, after fresh US strikes on southern Iran.

The IRGC did not say where the base was, but Kuwait, which hosts a US base, said it had intercepted “hostile missile and drone threats”, without specifying where they were coming from.

Earlier the US military said it had shot down Iranian drones over the Strait of Hormuz and struck a military site in Bandar Abbas, a strategic port city.

The renewed hostilities threaten a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran.

It is the second time in three days that the US has attacked targets in Iran – saying that the strikes were conducted in self defence.

The site in Bandar Abbas was struck as it was about to launch a fifth drone, US Central Command (Centcom) said. Iranian media reported that explosions were heard to the east of the city.

Centcom described its actions as “measured, purely defensive, and intended to maintain the ceasefire”.

It also said its forces shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones “that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz”.

The IRGC said it had targeted an American air base “that served as the source of the attack” on Bandar Abbas, according to state broadcaster IRIB.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai condemned the US strikes and said they constituted a violation of the ceasefire.

He added that the Islamic republic would “take all necessary measures to defend its national sovereignty”, according to quotes cited by IRIB.

A BBC map of the Strait of Hormuz region, showing the narrow strait between The Gulf to the west and the Gulf of Oman to the east. The north of the strait is the coast of Iran and the United Arab Emirates and Oman are to the south. Bandar Abbas is highlighted in red on the Iranian coast at the narrowest point of the strait. The map also labels Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE on The Gulf coast. A small inset map shows the location of the region within the Middle East and between Africa and Asia.

Earlier this week, the US confirmed a previous round of “self-defence” strikes on southern Iran on Monday in which they targeted Iranian missile sites and boats attempting to lay mines in the Strait, where thousands of commercial tanker ships are stranded as a result of the conflict.

Centcom said those strikes were designed “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces”.

The US also imposed sanctions on the “Persian Gulf Strait Authority” – the Iranian body tasked with collecting payments from ships travelling through the Strait of Hormuz.

Any ships that pay the authority could also be “exposed to the risk of sanctions”, the US Treasury Department said in a statement.

One-fifth of the world’s liquefied natural gas and oil normally pass through the shipping channel, and its closure has impacted global fuel trade.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on Monday that Tehran was collecting fees for “navigational services” and it would continue to manage traffic through the waterway.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described it as the “Iranian military’s latest attempt to extort global maritime trade” and “proof” Iran is “desperate for cash”.

The IRGC also said on Tuesday that it had downed a US drone and fired at a fighter jet and another drone that entered Iranian airspace, but did not specify when.

[BBC]

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