Deputy Defence Minister Maj. Gen. (Retd) Aruna Jayasekera, on Tuesday (25), said that Air Force investigation into the 21 March K-8 advanced jet crash had not been concluded.

Jayasekera was responding to a media query. The media sought the Maj. Gen’s comments in the wake of Transport Minister and Leader of the House Bimal Ratnayake’s declaration that the crash had been caused by pilot error.

The Air Force Headquarters has already contradicted Minister Ratnayake’s unsubstantiated claim. The qualified instructor and the trainee ejected before the ill-fated aircraft, attached to the Katunayake-based No 05 squadron, crashed at Wariyapola.

FM Herath visiting Washington now may be wishful thinking?

Democratic People’s Front and Tamil Progressive Alliance leader Mano Ganesan, MP, said that new Trump administration may expect Sri Lanka to increase imports from the US and US cotton fabric raw material could be one such possible import.

MP Ganesan said so after meeting US Ambassador Julie Chung on Tuesday (25). Ganesan represents the main Opposition SJB in the current Parliament.

Claiming that he had a productive meeting with Ambassador Chung, Ganesan said that the US accounted for 23% of Sri Lanka’s annual exports, valued at $16 bn but Sri Lanka only imported $370 M worth of goods from the US.

The MP said that they were told that the Trump administration might expect Sri Lanka to increase imports from the US in order to reduce the trade imbalance. “We were also informed that US cotton fabric raw material for the Lankan apparel industry is one such possible import that could be increased.”

According to MP Ganesan the post-Aragalaya economic rebuilding process, the reconciliation, and the aspirations of marginalised upcountry Tamil community were discussed. The former Minister also said that they were told there was no basis for reports of Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath visiting the US soon.

The English Speaking Union (ESU) Sri Lanka Chapter conferred 17-year-old student Sashane Dassanayake from Lyceum International School – Colombo as the Winner of the National Public Speaking Competition 2025, held on 01st March. The distinguished panel of Adjudicators for the Grand final selection of the winner, and the runners-up were, former Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Ms. Nihara Nanayakkara (former COO, International Chamber of Commerce, Sri Lanka and Keerthi Jayasuriya (Chairman/CEO of International Scholar Group of Companies). The official awards ceremony was held on 15th March 2025 in Colombo at which event, the Chief Guest was Elinor Galapitage, Head of English at Elizabeth Moir School – Colombo. The Chief Guest had the honou of awarding the Dr. T.P. Amerasinghe Challenge Trophy to Sashane Dassanayake. Contestants Omar Hazari from Royal College, Colombo and Thahira Saheed from Ladies College, Colombo were adjudged the 1st and 2nd Runners-up respectively.

Ms. Galapitage in her speech thanked the ESU for inviting her and said that she was honoured to be present and congratulated the Winner and the runners-up and wished the winner the best of luck for the International Contest to be held in London from 12th to 16th May 2025. Over 55 Countries worldwide are expected to take part at this Competition.

The English Speaking Union of Sri Lanka which was founded in 1981 by the Late Dr. T.P. Amerasinghe is affiliated with the English Speaking Union International, a Royal Charter based in Dartmouth House, London. Its Patron is King Charles III, and the President is Princess Anne.