News
SL envoy meets Turkish Defence Minister over FETO links with Easter Sunday carnage

Following a revelation by the the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) which probed the Easter Sunday attacks that extremist Turkish terror organization FETO (Fetullah Terrorist Organization aka the Gulen movement) provided funds to some of those involved in the Easter carnage, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Turkey M. Rizvi Hassen, called on the Minister of National Defence of Turkey Hulusi Akar on April 14, 2021 in Ankara.
A Sri Lanka Foreign Ministry communique said: “The meeting was constructive and focused on further enhancing defence cooperation between Sri Lanka and Turkey. During the meeting, the Minister expressed Turkey’s willingness to strengthen cooperation in the defence sector with Sri Lanka and shared with the Ambassador the developments of the Turkish defence manufacturing industry and Turkey’s success in counter terrorism operations against listed terror outfits.
Recently SLPP Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris said that as part of the overall investigations, law enforcement authorities had been instructed to probe the alleged FETO links to the Easter Sunday carnage. Prof. Peiris explained that the proscribed Turkish organisation had provided funding to some persons named in the report and a thorough inquiry was called into foreign involvement in the attacks.
The PCoI revealed that the previous government had turned a blind eye to information provided by Turkey regarding FETO activities in Sri Lanka. FETO leader Gulen has secured US protection (SF)
News
Major May Day rallies in Colombo and Talawakelle

NPP, SJB and SLPP won’t have parades
The ruling party National People’s Power (NPP) will celebrate May Day at Galle Face Green in Colombo. However, the NPP wouldn’t have a parade, party sources said.
The Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government in 2023 made Galle Face Green off limits for political rallies. But the incumbent government lifted the restrictions in November 2024.
The main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will have its May Day rally at Talawakelle town. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 2 pm with the participation of SJB’s coalition partners, including Digambaram, Mano Ganesan.
The SLPP, too, decided against having a parade this time though it will hold a rally at the Ananda Samarakoon Open Air Theatre in Nugegoda.
The SLFP will hold its May Day event at its headquarters on Darley Road.
News
Navy cleans up Kandy Lake

The Navy on April 28 carried out post-event maintenance efforts at Kandy Lake, following the Siri Dalada Vandanawa.
The collaborative efforts of the officials from the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, the Department of Irrigation, the Department of Archaeology and the Navy ensured the preservation of the lake’s natural beauty.
(Pic courtesy Navy media)
News
EU delegation positive about extending GSP+ concessions

The Presidential Media Division (PMD) said yesterday that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had received an assurance from the head of the South Asia Division of the European Union (EU), Charles Whiteley during a meeting that the European Union would positively consider extending the GSP+ trade concession to Sri Lanka in its review.
The EU delegation, which arrived on Monday (28)., will be here till May 7. The EU delegation said the team would take stock of progress on the fulfilment of conditions linked to the granting of GSP+ trade preferences.
Political, Press, and Information Section of the Delegation said: “This is part of the regular biannual monitoring to which the Government of Sri Lanka has committed in order to benefit from GSP+. The Mission will meet government officials, relevant institutions, politicians, civil society, business associations, trade unions and will also make site visits.
Sri Lanka is one among eight low- or lower-middle income countries benefiting from the GSP+. This is a special incentive arrangement for Sustainable Development and Good Governance that is open for vulnerable developing countries that have ratified 27 international conventions on human rights, labour rights, environmental protection and climate change, and good governance. The effective implementation of these 27 conventions is monitored with biannual missions and reports.”
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