News

Lankan Hospitals in crisis: Indonesia throws a lifeline

Published

2 years ago

2022/04/29

First consignment of 3.1 tonnes of medical supplies due yesterday

Faced with an unprecedented shortage of medicine and medical equipment amidst the worst ever forex crisis, Sri Lanka has sought assistance from friendly countries. In response to Sri Lanka’s request, Indonesia has assured 3.1 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka.

The Foreign Ministry disclosed that the Indonesian assistance came close on the heels of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) declaring its readiness to provide humanitarian aid, in addition to medicine and medical equipment.

Foreign Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris on Wednesday (27) received Indonesian Ambassador Dewi Gustina Tobing at the Foreign Ministry where he received a briefing regarding the assistance.

Ambassador Tobing briefed the Foreign Minister that pursuant to a request for essential medicines and medical equipment from the Ministry of Health of Sri Lanka, the Government of Indonesia in consultation with the Ministry of Health of Sri Lanka and the representative Office of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Indonesia, worked with Health officials and the pharmaceutical industry of Indonesia, to facilitate the provision of 3.1 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka, consisting of essential medicines and medical equipment valued at SL Rs. 517.5 million (approx. US $ 1.6 million).

The Ambassador said that the humanitarian aid would reach Sri Lanka in two batches, with the first shipment was to arrive yesterday (28) on SriLankan Airlines flight from Jakarta. The balance would arrive on Sunday, 8 May, 2022. The Ambassador informed the Minister that following the appeal from the Ministry of Health, Indonesian officials and pharmaceutical and health care industry marshalled together in ten days to donate items to ensure the speedy dispatch of aid and in view of its long standing close friendship, were pleased to support Sri Lanka at its time of need.

Foreign Minister Peiris conveyed to the Ambassador the deep appreciation of the Government of Sri Lanka to the generous donation of humanitarian aid from the Government of Indonesia, and highlighted that it was a clear manifestation of the close ties of friendship between the two countries. The Foreign Minister noted the close relations between Indonesia and Sri Lanka and collaboration in ocean issues and processes in the international arena, as well as working closely in the Non-Aligned Movement to address issues objectively on the global stage. Foreign Minister Peiris also recalled the close interactions with Foreign Minister of Indonesia Retno Marsudi, who he had met in Glasgow at the UN Climate Change conference and more recently at the Doha Forum in Qatar, where the two Ministers discussed bilateral relations. The Minister also noted he looked forward to welcoming his counterpart later in the year to commemorate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

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Foreign News

Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger dies aged 100

Published

2 hours 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.