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Saudi Arabia assures support to Sri Lanka’s recovery efforts
Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation, Nimal Siripala de Silva recently received an assurance from Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Khalid Hamoud Nasser Alkahtani, that KSA would support ongoing economic recovery efforts.
They met on Nov 6. During the meeting, the Saudi Arabian Ambassador expressed appreciation for the rapid progress achieved by Sri Lanka’s shipping and aviation sectors in a relatively short time following the country’s efforts to recover from the recent economic recession. The Ambassador pledged unconditional support through the Paris Club to aid Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring process, which is being carried out by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at present.
Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva conveyed the Sri Lankan Government’s gratitude to the Ambassador, emphasizing the historically close bilateral and diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka. He acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s significant contribution to the generation of foreign exchange for Sri Lanka through the employment opportunities provided to a substantial number of Sri Lankans in the kingdom.
The Minister and the Ambassador also discussed the resumption of “Saudi Air” flights, which were temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They also explored the possibility of recruiting and deploying trained Sri Lankan seafarers to the shipping lines under the Saudi Arabian government. An agreement was reached to promptly sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Sri Lanka and the Saudi government on this matter.
Furthermore, the Minister extended an invitation to the Saudi Arabian Ambassador for a group of academics from Saudi Arabia to visit Sri Lanka. The visit aims to gain a comprehensive understanding and evaluation of the courses offered by the Mahapola Ports and Maritime Academy (MPMA) of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and other private sector universities in providing training and courses within the shipping and naval sectors.
At the meeting the Minister assured the Ambassador of Sri Lanka’s readiness to collaborate closely with Saudi Arabia in the fields of shipping, aviation, and foreign employment. The Minister also commended the support extended by Saudi Arabia towards Sri Lanka’s socio-economic development.
Mrs. Nayana Somaratne, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation, also participated in the discussions.
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri which arrived at the Port of Colombo on a formal visit on 04 Apr 25, departed the island today (07 Apr). The Sri Lanka Navy bade customary farewell to the departing ship at the Port of Colombo, following naval traditions.
During the ship’s stay in Colombo, crew members of INS Sahyadri took part in several programmes organized by the Sri Lanka Navy, aimed at enhancing mutual cooperation. In addition, they also explored some tourist attractions in the country. Further, personnel of Sri Lanka Navy had the opportunity to visit INS Sahyadri, gaining insights into her operational capabilities.
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Advisory for severe lightning issued for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district
The Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre has issued an Advisory for Severe Lightning for the Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district.
The advisory issued at 02.00 p.m. today [07 April 2025] is valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 07 April 2025
The public are warned that thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning are likely to occur at several places in for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambantota district. There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.
ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
• Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
• Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
• For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
The report of the “Census of Population and Housing 2024,” conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics, was officially handed over to President Anura Kumara Disanayake this morning (07) at the Presidential Secretariat.
This preliminary report has been prepared based on island wide data collected between October and December 2024.
The report provides details on Sri Lanka’s population, its growth and the distribution of the population across districts.
The information gathered through the census is vital not only for the government but also for other institutions in formulating policies and development plans essential for the country’s progress. Significantly, for the first time in the history of census-collecting in Sri Lanka, data collection was carried out using tablet computers and user-friendly mobile devices.
The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Finance & Planning, Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwardana, Director General of the Department of Census and Statistics D.D.G.A. Senevirathne and several other officials.
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Advisory for severe lightning issued for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district
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