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Rejuvenation of SL-US dialogue initiated by Lankan expatriates; Amb counters US resolution
With the active participation of the new Sri Lanka ambassador to Washington Mahinda Samasasinghe and the United States Congresswoman Susie Lee, a group of Sri Lankan expatriates in the U.S. activated a zoom meeting on December 14 which proved effective toward the rejuvenation of relations between the two nations.
The Sri Lankan expatriates who were conscious of the importance of the two nations establishing a greater understanding of issues initiated this dialogue bringing socio-economic diplomacy as the basis of the discourse among the US-based Sri Lankan diplomatic leader, American lawmakers and expatriate activists whose professionalism in recent times saw the establishment of a Chamber of Commerce on the American soil in this hour-long zoom meeting.
Ambassador Mahinda Samarasinghe cogently explained the misinformation that has gone into the text of the Sri Lankan Resolution now before the House Foreign Affairs Committee to urge US Congresswoman Susie Lee to be cautious if it comes her way for her endorsement. He reminded that despite the progress much had to be achieved, since the end of the separatist war in 2009 Sri Lanka has undertaken progressive steps toward reconciliation and to consolidate harmony among all ethnic communities. He thanked the United States for its assistance in providing 2.7 million vaccines and 17 million dollars to ease the situation created following the outbreak of the Covid pandemic. He reminded that the U.S. had always come forward to assist Sri Lanka at times of need such as in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami disaster.
Ambassador Samarasinghe noted that his task was to bring the two nations closer, and toward that he had already met with State Department officials and lawmakers in the US Congress.
Congresswoman Susie Lee was invited to join the US Congress Sri Lanka-America Caucus to which she sounded favorable. Ambassador Samarasinghe said he would have a further dialogue with Ms. Susie Lee regarding the matter.
In response, U.S. Congresswoman Susie Lee, a friend of many expatriates who attended the zoom meeting, declared the importance of strengthening the bonds between the two nations and said she was prepared to work with the Congress to assist Sri Lanka in whatever manner. She patiently listened to the contributions of the expatriates the importance of the two nations working together.
The zoom meeting was initiated by the president of the newly inaugurated Sri Lanka-America Chamber of Commerce Sanje Sedera who was joined by the Chamber’s president-elect for the Years 2023-2025 Aruna Abeyakoon. Establishing close discourses between the Sri Lankan expatriates and American lawmakers become possible due to the close rapport Mr. Sadera had developed with Members of the Senate and the House over two decades.
The principal administrative official of the California-based Sri Lanka Foundation Kashini Wijegooneratne apprised how the expatriates coordinated with medical personnel in Sri Lanka with the assistance of the American side to provide emergency medical equipment to needy districts in Sri Lanka.
One of the issues that emerged at the December 14 Zoom Meeting was the importance of Sri Lanka and the United States working together to settle the misunderstanding of issues such as human rights and national ethnicity. It was brought to the attention of the zoom meeting that there were longstanding misinterpretations of national issues that need to be corrected to have a stronger bond between the two nations. In fact, Ambassador Samarasinghe at the outset said that the Resolution on Sri Lanka before the House Foreign Affairs Committee was not a balanced one.
Since the arrival of Sri Lanka’s new diplomatic envoy Mahinda Samarassinghe to Washington two weeks ago the Sri Lankan expatriates have been exploring avenues to have a better diplomatic rapport between the two nations. The expatriates who established the Sri Lanka-America Chamber of Commerce on December 9 with the blessings of many American lawmakers – both Senate and House – were targeting the enhancement of trade, commerce and investment cooperation between the two nations. It is with these twin objectives – economic and diplomatic cooperation – that the Sri Lankan expatriates held the Zoom Meeting, one of a series of discourses among expatriates, Sri Lankan diplomats and American lawmakers and policymakers.
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Flood warning issued to the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa, Udunuwara, Yatinuwara, Gangawata Korale, Harispattuwa, and Pathadumbara
Due to heavy rainfall received in the upper catchment areas of the Mahaweli River over the past few hours, there is a risk of minor flooding in the low-lying areas surrounding the Mahaweli River within the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa, Udunuwara, Yatinuwara, Gangawata Korale, Harispattuwa, and Pathadumbara.Residents living in the above mentioned areas and motorists using roads passing through these areas are urged to exercise extreme caution and remain highly vigilant regarding the prevailing situation.
Furthermore, residents living in close proximity to the Mahaweli River in these areas are advised to remain highly alert to the situation and take all necessary precautions to protect themselves from any potential flooding.The relevant disaster management authorities are requested to take all necessary measures in response to this situation.
The National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide Red Alerts to the districts of Kandy, Kegalle and Nuwara Eliya effective from 14:00 hrs on 20.09.2026 To 14:00 hrs on 21.09.2026
Accordingly,
LEVEL III [RED] Land Slide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Pasbage Korale in the Kandy district, Dehiowita, Aranayake, Deraniyagala, Mawanella and Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district and Kothmale West, Kotmale East, Ambagamuwa and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district
LEVEL II [AMBER] Land Slide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Padukka in the Colombo district, Nagoda, Thawalama and Neluwa in the Galle district, Bulathsinhala, Palindanuwara, Walallawita and Agalawatta in the Kalutara district, Ganga Ihala Korale in the Kandy district, Bulathkohupitiya and Kegalle in the Kegalle district, Akuressa and Pitabeddara in the Matara district, Thalawakele in the Nuwara Eliya district and Pelmadulla, Ratnapura, Ayagama, Kuruwita and Ratnapura in the Ratnapura district.
LEVEL I [YELLOW] Land Slide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka in the Colombo district, Niyagama and Baddegama in the Galle district, Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Ingiriya in the Kalutara district, Udapalatha and Yatinuwara in the Kandy district, Galigamuwa, Warakapola and Ruwanwella in the Kegalle district, Kotapola, Pasgoda and Athuraliya in the Matara district, and Eheliyagoda, Kalawana and Elapatha in the Ratnapura district.
News
Development projects can deliver results to the people more quickly when the political authority and the public service work together towards a common goal – PM
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that development projects can deliver results to the people more quickly when the political authority and the public service work together towards a common, people-oriented objective.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while participating in a discussion held on Friday [September 18] at the Western Province Council Auditorium to review the progress of the development project to rehabilitate Rathmalana Kandawala Road and the drainage system on either side of the road, within the Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia Municipal Council limits in the Colombo District.
The project, which commenced on September 10, 2026, is scheduled to be completed before June 30, 2027. Implemented by the Provincial Road Development Authority (PRDA), the project includes the construction of a bridge at a cost of Rs. 64 million, the rehabilitation of the drainage system at a cost of Rs. 930 million, and the rehabilitation of the road at a cost of Rs. 115 million.
The Prime Minister also paid special attention to the progress of the responsibilities assigned to the Western Province Council, the Irrigation Department and the Ratmalana Divisional Secretariat in accordance with decisions taken at the previous committee meeting. Attention was also given to the current status of the plans being carried out by the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation (SLLRDC), as well as the construction and maintenance activities being undertaken by the Provincial Road Development Authority (PRDA).
Commending the expedite and commendable progress of the project, the Prime Minister particularly appreciated the commitment demonstrated by officials of the relevant government institutions to work in close coordination with one another and in collaboration with the political authority.
The Prime Minister also emphasised the importance of taking measures well in advance to control flooding and minimise its impact on Colombo and several other districts in view of the rainy weather that may affect the Western Province during the latter part of this year.
The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Colombo District Coordinating Committee and Member of Parliament Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi, Chairperson of the Ratmalana Divisional Coordinating Committee and Member of Parliament Samanmalee Gunasinghe, Chairman of the Roads Sub-Committee of the Colombo District Coordinating Committee Dewananda Suraweera, Mayor of the Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia Municipal Council Parakum Shantha, Chief Secretary of the Western Province K.G. Pradeep Pushpakumara, along with a number of government officials.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Flood warning issued to the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa, Udunuwara, Yatinuwara, Gangawata Korale, Harispattuwa, and Pathadumbara
Landslide Red Alerts issued to the districts of Kandy, Kegalle and Nuwara Eliya
Shafali dazzles with 49-ball unbeaten 100 and India march into Asian Games final
Development projects can deliver results to the people more quickly when the political authority and the public service work together towards a common goal – PM
Landslide Early Warnings issued to the Districts of Colombo, Galle, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura
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