News
USAID funds two battery swapping stations for electric two-wheelers
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Sri Lanka Energy Programme and Sling Mobility (Pvt.) Ltd. signed a grant agreement on April 18 to develop and operate two battery swapping stations for electric two-wheelers, according to a US embassy press release issued yesterday (19).
This grant, the first of its kind for the programme, will fund construction of the stations, also known as battery switching stations, in Colombo. The stations allow E-vehicle owners to quickly exchange empty batteries for fully charged ones and avoid the waiting time for charging.
The project also will recruit 20 new riders to pilot the deployment of E-bikes for delivery services in a timely, cost-saving, and environmentally safer manner. This one grant activity, within a larger group of grants, will assist in catalysing the development of EV charging stations in the country.
“The United States and the American people are proud of our enduring and robust 75-year partnership with the people of Sri Lanka,” said USAID Mission Director Gabriel Grau. “We remain fully committed to support locally led initiatives to advance E-technologies that are critical to promote the progress of a nation in an environmentally friendly and cost-effective way.”
“Sling Mobility is a technology solutions company focused on electric vehicles, and its demand driven approach is key to future of EVs in Sri Lanka and beyond,” said Love Yadav, general partner for Sling Mobility. “Its business model is stitched around improving EV affordability and faster adoption, reducing rider downtime, and building a platform for sustainable charging. The USAID grant is an important validation for Sling Mobility’s operating model, and we are extremely happy to be a part of this journey.”
The results of the pilot program will show the energy project and Sling Mobility the feasibility of promoting E-battery swapping stations in the country.
The USAID Sri Lanka Energy Program is one component of the United States’ long-standing partnership with the Sri Lankan people to promote a healthy, educated, and employed population. The programme supports transforming Sri Lanka’s power sector into a market-based, secure, reliable, and sustainable system by mobilising investment to deploy advanced technologies, increase flexibility, and enhance competitiveness. To find out more about USAID’s work, please see usaid.gov/sri-lanka and follow us on Twitter @USAIDSriLanka and Facebook @USAIDSriLankaMaldives.
News
Cabinet aporives recruitment of Nursing Instructors for Nursing Schools under the Ministry of Health and Mass Media on Contract Basis
There are 17 nursing schools under the Ministry of Health and Mass Media including the postgraduate primary nursing school.
There are 142 vacancies in the posts of Grade I / Special Grade Nursing Officer (Education) as on 31.03.2026 in those schools while 24 officers are to be promoted to the special grade on 31.12.2025 owing to the vacancies existing in the post of Special
Grade Nursing Officer (Education). Therefore, the number of vacancies is to be 166.
In addition, there are 24 vacancies in the post of Special Grade Nursing Officer (Education).
Although at present action has been taken to upgrade the nursing schools to nursing colleges and upgrade the nursing diploma course to nursing degree course, no action has been taken so far to carry out recruitment for the training relevant to the appointment for the post of Grade I / Special Grade Nursing Officer (Education).
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to recruit retired nursing instructors and nursing instructors who served in the nursing schools belonging to the three armed forces and are retired or have resigned legitimately from service to the post of Grade I / Special Grade Nursing Officer (Education) on contract basis.
Latest News
Signing agreement for the establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility in Sri Lanka
It has been decided to establish a BIMSTEC technology transfer facility in Sri Lanka by entering into a Host Country Agreement at the second leaders’ summit of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal
Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) held in New Delhi, India, in 2008, with the objective of enhancing regional cooperation.
The relevant cooperation agreement was signed by the member countries at the 5th BIMSTEC summit on 30-03-2022 in Colombo.
The prime objective of this technology transfer facility is to provide technology, capacity building, and management of intellectual property for the micro, small, and medium-scale
enterprises of the BIMSTEC member countries.
According to the cooperation agreement, an agreement should be entered into between Sri Lanka, as the host country, and BIMSTEC Secretariat for formalizing the legal status, privileges, and immunities of the technology transfer facility.
The drafted agreement has received the relevant institutional approval and legal clearance.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Science and Technology to sign the proposed agreement.
News
The cabinet approves agreement on mutual legal cooperation in criminal matters between the Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Korea
Approval has been granted at the cabinet meeting held on 11-12-2023 to sign an agreement between the Republic of Korea and the Government of Sri Lanka regarding mutual cooperation
in criminal matters.
However, according to the aforementioned approval, the relevant agreement could not be signed between both parties.
Through this agreement, opportunities will be provided
for mutual assistance to other countries in handing over judicial documents and collecting evidence for the use of criminal case matters.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution provided by the Minister of Justice and National Integration to sign an agreement between the Republic of Korea and the Government of Sri Lanka to cooperate in criminal matters.
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