News
Israel-Hamas war: JVP backs UN Chief’s stand
By Saman Indrajith
The JVP yesterday said that it would stand by the position taken by the UN General Secretary António Guterres’ on the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine and the need of the hour was not to ascertain who started the latest round of atrocities but to find means to end the war immediately.
Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Pelawatte, former JVP MP Dr Nalinda Jayatissa lauded the Foreign Ministry of taking a similar stand on the matter and insisted that Sri Lanka should not take sides in the conflict, which had already claimed more than 8,000 lives of men, women and children on both sides.
“Sri Lanka has always been a nation that stood by just and fair principles whenever there was a war of this nature. Despite the fact that we have become one of the poorest nations, we as a nation still command respect from others, thanks to principle of not taking sides. It is for this very same reason of preventing wars the United Nations was formed. We as a party stand by the UN’s
decision and UN Secretary General Guterres’ statement that rather than finding out the names of the belligerents who commenced this round of atrocities, the urgent need is to put an immediate end to violence and atrocities. The need of the hour is nothing but an immediate ceasefire,” Dr Jayatissa said.
Former MP Bimal Ratnayake said: “We believe that there should be free Israel as well as free Palestine. Brazil, who is currently holding the UN Security Council’s presidency, should intervene more meaningfully to bring about an immediate ceasefire. Both Israel and Palestine should be compelled to stop the war and commence exchanging prisoners. We may be a small nation but our standpoint pertaining to conflicts of this nature has always been lauded by the civilized nations around the world. Our position is that a solution accepted by both Israel and Palestine should be evolved for this crisis. We also express our condolences to the family members of Lankans serving in the war zone and also those of Anula Ratnayake, who was a victim of this war,” former MP Ratnayake said.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated in a high-level dialogue titled “Tourism as Soft Power and Diplomatic Capital” held at the Euronews Hub, Piz Buin Davos, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum on January 20.
The session explored how tourism functions as a strategic instrument of diplomacy by strengthening international trust, cultural exchange, and regional cooperation through mobility and people-to-people engagement. The Prime Minister shared the panel with Mr. Kuban Omiraliyev, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States and Mr. Meshari Alnahar – CEO Aseer Investment Company, Saudi Arabia.
Addressing global trends, the Prime Minister emphasized that Sri Lanka is an example of hope, recovery and resilience in a world of conflict demonstrating how tourism can play a critical role in a changing global environment particularly amid climate shocks, geopolitical instability, and uneven economic recovery. She noted that tourism is not only an economic sector but also a vital diplomatic bridge that supports livelihoods, builds relationships and connects people.
Drawing on Sri Lanka’s recent experience, she highlighted the country’s strong tourism recovery despite multiple crises, including the impact of Cyclone Ditwah. Transparent crisis management and strategic engagement with international partners helped sustain visitor confidence, resulting in record tourist arrivals even in challenging circumstances.
The Prime Minister also underscored the importance of green and climate friendly tourism infrastructure and underlined that Sri Lanka welcomes long term investment in tourism. She pointed out that tourism supports millions of jobs worldwide and that inclusive policies are essential to ensure fair opportunities, particularly for women and vulnerable communities.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
During an operation conducted in the dark hours of 20 Jan 26, the Sri Lanka Navy seized two (02) Indian fishing boats and apprehended seven (07) Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, off Kovilan, Jaffna.
The seized boats and Indian fishermen was to be handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Myliddy, Jaffna for onward legal proceedings.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated in a series of high-level bilateral meetings on January 20 on the sidelines of the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland.
The Prime Minister attended a productive bilateral meeting with Mr. Jozef Síkela, European Commissioner for International Partnerships. During the discussion, both sides focused on strengthening Sri Lanka–EU cooperation and advancing mutual interests.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya also met with Mr. Masato Kanda, President and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), at the WEF Congress Centre. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss ongoing engagement and future collaboration between Sri Lanka and the ADB.
In addition, the Prime Minister held discussions with Mr. Hassan El Houry, Chairman of Menzies Aviation, where opportunities for collaboration in aviation services and connectivity were explored.
The Prime Minister also participated in a high-level dialogue at the Global Tourism Forum held at the Euronews Hub, Piz Buin, Davos, as part of the World Economic Forum engagements.
Dr. Anil Jayantha, Minister of Labour, and the Deputy Minister of Finance were also present at these meetings.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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