News
Chinese Embassy Deputy Chief visits Eastern Province to follow up on Beijing’s donations
Deputy Chief of the Chinese Embassy, Hu Wei visited the Eastern Province recently and told various stakeholders there that China will continue to assist Sri Lankan people of all communities in the coming months to overcome current challenges, the Chinese Embassy said in a press release yesterday.
Given below are excerpts of the press release: “Hu wei paid a visit to the Eastern Province from 8 to 10 December, to follow up the distribution of China’s recent donations to the country, including 10.6 million litres of diesel to farmers and fishermen, 9,000 metric tonnes of rice to students from underprivileged families and 100 sets of solar streetlights donated by China’s Yunnan Province to 38 schools across the Eastern Province
“On the afternoon of 8th December, DCM Hu Wei met with Governor of Eastern Province Anuradha Yahampath at the latter’s secretariat in Trincomalee. Both sides exchanged ideas on further promoting cooperation between China and the Eastern Province and other topics of mutual interests. They also joined local principals in a hand-over ceremony of the donated 100 sets of solar street lights.
“DCM Hu Wei visited Abhayapura Primary School in Trincomalee and Korakallimadu Sri Ramana Maharishi School in Batticaloa, interacted with teachers and students and gifted rice packs and panda backpacks to the pupils. The diplomat also visited the paddy field at Nochchikulam, Trincomalee and the beach in Kaluwankerney, met with local farmers and fishermen, and handed over a consignment of diesel to them. It was highlighted that the 10.6 million litres of diesel provided by China to Sri Lanka free of cost will benefit 232,749 farmers for harvesting 342,266 hectares paddy fields in Maha season 2022/23 and all the 3,796 fishing vessels below 40 feet in the island.
“On the afternoon of 9th, the Chinese Embassy delegation were invited by the Batticaloa District Civil Society to Kaluwankerni, an underdeveloped Tamil fishing village in Batticaloa, where a first phase of 10 houses had already been built to help most needy families by the Embassy. DCM Hu had a discussion with the villagers and Batticaloa District Civil Society representatives and officially launched Housing Project Phase II for the villagers.
During the visit, DCM Hu Wei broadly met with local government officials, civil society representatives, farmers, fishermen, housewives, teachers, students and deeply encouraged by their high praise and friendship towards China, especially for the support of PPEs, vaccines, housing, education, rice, medicines, and fuel donation in the past year. Hu reassured them China’s continued assistance to Sri Lankan people of all communities in the coming months to overcome current challenges.”
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Showery condition over the island is expected to reduce from tomorrow (15th)
USA’s Ali Khan claims having been ‘denied’ India visa ahead of T20 World Cup
At least 28 dead as crane collapses onto train in Thailand
Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
Trump cancels US-Iran meetings, urges protesters to take over institutions
Govt. bows to pressure, shelves Grade 6 reforms
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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