News

Japan wants to build on Comprehensive Partnership

Published

2 years ago

2021/11/11

Sahan Weerasooriya

Prof. Peiris with Ambassador Sugiyama

Ranil and Abe inked Oct 2015 agreement in Tokyo

Outgoing Japanese Ambassador Akira Sugiyama has called for further expansion of Japan – Sri Lanka ties beyond ‘Comprehensive Partnership Agreement’ (CPA) between the two countries.

Sri Lanka entered into the CPA in early Oct 2015. The then PM Wickremesinghe and Japanese Premier Abe inked it.

Ambassador Sugiyama has said that next year’s celebrations for 70th anniversary of Japan-Sri Lanka diplomatic relations, would be a fitting occasion to enhance existing Sri Lanka -Japan comprehensive partnership to a further height. Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris bid farewell to the outgoing Ambassador of Japan, Akira Sugiyama yesterday at the Foreign Ministry.

Foreign Minister, while recalling the strong and multifaceted relations between the two countries which built upon the solid historical legacy, expressed his appreciation to the outgoing envoy for his unwavering support and cooperation exerted in enhancing the relations between Sri Lanka and Japan.

Minister Peiris observed that Japan has been a true friend of Sri Lanka throughout its difficult times, and commended Ambassador Sugiyama’s dedicated efforts in providing support to Sri Lanka to overcome the challenges posed by the Covid -19 pandemic. The people of Sri Lanka will never forget the contribution of Japan in upgrading the livelihoods of people in this country under the Japanese development assistance, especially in the areas of agriculture, irrigation, drinking water, road development, etc. He also noted that Japanese assistance has always been based on the true needs of the country and never came with attached preconditions.

Commenting on the human rights issues, Foreign Minister thanked the government of Japan for their consistency in understanding the ground realities in Sri Lanka and constructive engagements with Sri Lanka and the international partners in finding amicable solutions to the prevailing issues. He acknowledged Ambassador Sugiyama’s active partnership in this regard during his tenure in Sri Lanka.

Ambassador Sugiyama thanked the Foreign Minister and the government of Sri Lanka for providing unconditional and unrestricted access to all stakeholders in Sri Lanka in delivering his official mandate to his highest satisfaction.

Minister Peiris congratulated and extended his best wishes to Ambassador Sugiyama who will be taking up a senior position in the Foreign Ministry of Japan.

Ambassador Sugiyama has served as the Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka for three years since November 2018.

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Foreign News

Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger dies aged 100

Published

1 hour ago

2023/11/30

Priyan

Henry Kissinger at the State Department's 230th anniversary celebrations in 2019

Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger has died at the age 100.

He served as America’s top diplomat and national security adviser during the Nixon and Ford administrations.

In a statement, Kissinger Associates, a political consulting firm he founded, said the German-born former diplomat died at his home in Connecticut but did not give a cause of death.

During his decades long career, Mr Kissinger played a key, and sometimes controversial, role in US foreign and security policy.

Born in Germany in 1973, Kissinger first came to the US in 1938 when his family fled Nazi Germany. He became a US citizen in 1943 and went on to serve three years in the US Army and later in the Counter Intelligence Corps. After earning bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees, he taught international relations at Harvard.

In 1969, then-President Richard Nixon appointed him National Security Adviser, a position which gave him enormous influence over US foreign policy in two administrations.

(BBC)

News

Rupees 1,500 million allocated for ‘Greater Kandy Urban Development Program’ – State Minister for Provincial Councils and Local Government

Published

2 hours ago

2023/11/30

Priyan

State Minister for Provincial Council and Local Government Janaka Wakkambura participating in a Press Briefing held at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) on Wednesday (29) under the theme ‘Collective Path to a Stable Country’, announced that President Ranil Wickremesinghe has allocated Rs. 1,500 million for the “Greater Kandy Urban Development Program” in this year’s budget and that part of the allocation would to be utilized to develop the approach roads to Kandy City.

He also announced that the President had allocated Rs. 1,000 million to develop tourism by enhancing facilities through the involvement of local government bodies.

News

DMT unable to print nearly one million driving licences for want of blank cards

Published

4 hours ago

2023/11/30

Sahan Weerasooriya

Racketeers thrive on illegal printing of DLs

By Shiran Ranasinghe

The Department of Motor Traffic was unable to print about 900,000 driving licences due for want of blank plastic cards, Commissioner General of the Department of Motor Traffic Nishantha Weerasinghe told The Island.

He said his Department was doing its best to solve the problem, which could be sorted out in six months or so.

A senior official on condition of anonymity said the Department now printed about 200 driving licences for those who were going abroad or engaged in essential services.

However, some racketeers were printing about 700 licences illegally, he said.

Rs 5,000 each was charged for issuing illegally printed licences, the official said.

Commenting on the allegations, the Commissioner General of the Department of Motor Traffic said he will investigate the matter if he receives a complaint officially.