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Saudi-Sri Lanka Business Council to be set up soon
Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka are in the process of setting up a Saudi-Sri Lanka Business Council. The Foreign Ministry in Riyadh said that Sri Lankan Ambassador in SA Ameer Ajwad recently met the members of the proposed Saudi – Sri Lanka Business Council to finalise arrangements in this regard.
Ambassador and the members of the Council nominated by the Federation of Saudi Chambers (FSC) held extensive discussions on the procedures for the establishment of the Saudi – Sri Lanka Business Council, the ministry said. They agreed to finalise the MoU between the Federation of Saudi Chambers (FSC) and their Sri Lankan counterpart, the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL).
Saudi side of the Council members including Chairman, Abdulhadi Al-Qarni and Vice Chairmen Faisal Al-Dakhil and Ayman Al-Sohayan, Executive members namely Mohammed Al-Abbasi, Anas Al-Manea, Fahad Al-Mubarak, Mohsen Al-Otaibi, Saud Al-Sharif as well as Secretary to the Council Shehana Al-Muqati, participated during the discussion with Ambassador.
The ministry said: “The establishment of a Business Council between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia is a long-awaited initiative and will serve as a catalyst to further consolidate private sector collaboration in trade, investment and other areas of commercial interest when established formally following the signing of MoU between the FSC and FCCISL.”
The Indian Navy Ship (INS) NIREEKSHAK arrived in Sri Lanka for Operational Turnaround (OTR) and a training visit on 21 Apr 26.
The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship at the port of Colombo in accordance with time-honoured naval traditions.
Commanded by, Commander Sailesh Kumar Tyagi, this Diving Support Vessel is set to conduct a training programme with the diving professionals of the Sri Lanka Navy.
The crew is also scheduled to participate in several activities organized by the Sri Lanka Navy and visit some tourist attractions within the country.
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Advisory for Severe Lightning issued to the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, North-central, Southern, Uva provinces, and Mannar, Vavuniya, Ampara, Batticaloa districts
Advisory for Severe Lightning
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 12.00 noon 21 April 2026 valid for the period until 11.30 p.m. 21 April 2026
Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, Northcentral, Southern, Uva provinces, and in Mannar, Vavuniya, Ampara, Batticaloa districts after 1.00 p.m.
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
Two High Commissioners, three Ambassadors and an Apostolic Nuncio-designate of the Holy See presented their credentials to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (20).
The ceremony, held at 10.00 a.m., followed the formal order of precedence, with the envoys representing Papua New Guinea, Somalia, Luxembourg, the Holy See, Pakistan and Kuwait.
Accordingly, diplomats who presented their credentials were:
01. Vincent Sumale, High Commissioner-designate of Papua New Guinea (Based in New Delhi)
02. Abdullahi Mohammed Odowa, Ambassador-designate of Somalia (Based in New Delhi)
03. Christian Biever, Ambassador-designate of Luxembourg (Based in New Delhi)
04. Monsignor Andrzej Józwowicz, Apostolic Nuncio-designate of the Holy See
05. Major General (Retd) Nayyar Naseer, High Commissioner-designate of Pakistan
06. Saleh Mubarak Al-Sarawi, Ambassador-designate of Kuwait
Following the presentation of credentials, the President engaged in a cordial discussion with them. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, and the Secretary to the President, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, were also in attendance.
INS NIREEKSHAK makes port call in Colombo
Advisory for Severe Lightning issued to the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, North-central, Southern, Uva provinces, and Mannar, Vavuniya, Ampara, Batticaloa districts
US, Iran exchange threats as fragile ceasefire set to expire
Six Foreign Envoys Present Credentials to President Dissanayake
Tilak ends Mumbai Indian’s losing streak with 45-ball century
Showers or thundershowers will occur at most places of the island after 1.00 pm
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