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India aims for enhanced trilateral cooperation with Japan and Lanka
India is hoping to strengthen trilateral cooperation with Japan and Sri Lanka, focusing on new avenues of collaboration while jointly working on debt restructuring for Colombo.
Speaking at the India-Sri Lanka-Japan Trilateral Cooperation Event, co-hosted by NatStrat, VIF, Pathfinder, and CII, Puneet Agrawal in New Delhi, Joint Secretary of the Indian Ocean Region in the Ministry of External Affairs, highlighted the shared interests and potential for synergistic partnerships among the three nations.
Agrawal, who is the key person in handling all matters relating to Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Indian Ocean Region in India’s foreign ministry, expressed optimism about the prospects of joint endeavours despite past challenges.
“Some projects in Sri Lanka which were to be executed jointly by India and Japan did not progress due to several reasons, but that should not deter us in exploring new cooperation,” he affirmed. In the past, both Delhi and Tokyo burnt fingers after a tripartite deal with Colombo was scrapped for the development of Colombo Port’s eastern container terminal in 2021.
The diplomat emphasised that India and Japan, as reliable partners, could collectively contribute more than the sum of their parts, leveraging their strengths in areas such as locational advantage, economic opportunities, technical advancement, manufacturing, and industrial expansion.
The trilateral cooperation, aimed at enhancing the Indo-Pacific region’s development, has become increasingly relevant as all three countries share a vision of an open, free, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
Addressing Sri Lanka’s need for trustworthy partners to support its economic revival, Agrawal stated, “India and Japan bring in investments that are transparent and process-oriented.”
He underscored the importance of connectivity in this process, encompassing maritime connectivity, energy and power trade, financial and digital connectivity, and people engagement.
Regarding digital connectivity, India’s advanced IT sector is set to foster economic growth in Sri Lanka, he said.
“This will not only boost e-commerce and financial inclusion but also empower Sri Lanka’s youth with skills for the Digital Age,” Agrawal added.
An agreement between NPCI International and Lanka Pay on UPI-based digital payments is poised to revolutionise the financial landscape, enhancing tourism and public infrastructure.
In addition to economic collaboration, cultural ties between India and Sri Lanka were highlighted as pivotal in fostering regional solidarity.
“Promotion of the Buddhist circuit and the Ramayana trail, exchange programs between educational institutions, scholarships, and cultural events have not only strengthened the bonds between our nations but also promoted a sense of regional solidarity,” the Indian diplomat noted. (WION)
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Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 26 April 2025, valid for 27 April 2025.
The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath represented Sri Lanka at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday [26]
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) tomorrow (28) over the statement he had made on MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, his lawyers have informed the Commission.
Accordingly, the former President will appear before the commission at 9.30am on Monday.
Wickremesinghe was initially summoned by the Commission to CIABOC on April 17 in relation to a statement he had made about the corruption case filed against NDF (gas cylinder) MP Dassanayake.
In response to the previous summons, Wickremesinghe had indicated that he is prepared to appear before the commission but requested a different date citing that his lawyers will not be available in Colombo during the New Year holiday period.
Accordingly, a new was provided and Wickremesinghe requested to appear before the commission at 09.30 a.m. on Thursday (April 25).On April 7, Wickremesinghe had said that MP Dassanayake withdrew the fixed deposits belonging to the Uva Provincial Council, over which he is now facing corruption charges, in accordance with a circular issued during Wickremesingher’s tenure as Prime Minister.
The former President questioned whether the MP’s arrest over the matter was in response to Dassanayake’s vocal criticism of the government in parliament.
The sitting MP is currently in remand custody for allegedly misappropriating a sum of Rs. 1 million of the Uva Provincial Council in 2016.
He was taken into custody on March 27, over three separate corruption-related cases.
The Colombo Magistrate’s Court previously granted bail in the cases filed against him but he remains in remand custody due to an order issued by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court.
According to the CIABOC, Dassanayake had solicited funds from three state banks, claiming they were intended to provide bags for preschool children in the province.
Two banks complied, granting him Rs. 1 million and Rs. 2.5 million, which were later transferred to his foundation account.
However, when a third bank refused to provide funds, Dassanayake reportedly retaliated by withdrawing the Uva Provincial Council’s fixed deposits from that institution.The CIABOC filed a case against the MP, citing the government incurred a financial loss of Rs. 17.3 million due to his actions.
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