News

SL, UAE aiming for boosting economic and trade relations

Published

3 months ago

2025/11/6

Deputy Minister Hemachandra (right) with UAE State Minister Al Hajeri (pic courtesy FM)

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra on Tuesday (04) highlighted the importance of consolidating economic and trade relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Deputy Minister said so at the second session of the Joint Commission meeting between SL and UAE, in Colombo.

Deputy Minister Hemachandra pointed out that the two countries had, during the year, concluded two landmark agreements — the Agreement on the Promotion and Protection of Investments (IPPA) and the Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of the UAE–Sri Lanka Joint Business Council.

The UAE delegation was led by the Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates Saeed bin Mubarak Al Hajeri.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister Hemachandra observed that the establishment of the Sri Lanka–UAE Joint Commission marks a significant milestone in the partnership between the two countries. He emphasised that the mechanism serves as an effective platform for advancing comprehensive cooperation, both at the bilateral level and within international fora.

The first session had been held way back in 2014.

The discussions during the Second Session provided a valuable opportunity to review ongoing cooperation and explore new avenues in key areas, such as trade, investment, labour, and other fields of mutual interest.

The UAE State Minister welcomed the elevation of the bilateral relationship in the past few months and expressed keen interest in focusing on enhanced trade and tourism cooperation, including infrastructure development targeting high-end tourism from the UAE. He conveyed willingness to further step up cooperation in energy, investments, financial services and textiles, and noted the importance of economic cooperation diversification.

At the conclusion of the deliberations, the Co-Chairs-Deputy Minister Hemachandra and State Minister Al Hajeri signed the Agreed Minutes of the Second Session. The discussions encompassed a wide range of areas of cooperation, including political, economic, financial, transport, sports, health, customs, energy, labour, defence, science and technology, education, culture, agriculture, food, and postal sectors.

The Third Session of the Sri Lanka–UAE Joint Commission is scheduled to be held in Abu Dhabi.

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Civil Security Department Members Contribute a Day’s Salary to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund

Published

10 mins ago

2026/01/25

Priyan

Members of the Civil Security Department have donated a day’s salary to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund, which was established to restore livelihoods and rebuild the country following the devastation caused by cyclone Ditwah.

Accordingly, a cheque amounting to Rs. 40,870,686 was handed over on Thursday (22) at the Presidential Secretariat by the District Officer of the Civil Security Department G.Y.B. Perera to Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security Ravi Seneviratne and Director General of the Civil Security Department, Major General Palitha Fernando (Retired), were also present on the occasion.

News

Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) donates LKR 25 million to the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” Fund

Published

13 hours ago

2026/01/24

Priyan

The Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) has contributed LKR 25 million to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund.

The cheque was handed over to the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake by the Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange, Dimuthu Abeyesekera, the Chief Executive Officer Rajeeva Bandaranaike and Senior Vice Chairman Kusal Nissanka at the Presidential Secretariat.

News

Karu argues against scrapping MPs’ pension as many less fortunate members entered Parliament after ’56

Published

21 hours ago

2026/01/24

Thilina Walpola

Karu Jayasuriya

Former Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressing concerns over the proposed abolition of MPs’ pensions.The letter was sent in his capacity as Patron of the Former Parliamentarians’ Caucus.

In his letter, Jayasuriya noted that at the time of Sri Lanka’s independence, political participation was largely limited to an educated, affluent land-owning elite. However, he said a significant social transformation took place after 1956, enabling ordinary citizens to enter politics.

He warned that under current conditions, removing parliamentary pensions would effectively confine politics to the wealthy, business interests, individuals engaged in illicit income-generating activities, and well-funded political parties. Such a move, he said, would discourage honest social workers and individuals of modest means from entering public life.

Jayasuriya also pointed out that while a small number of former MPs, including himself, use their pensions for social and charitable purposes, the majority rely on the pension as a primary source of income.

He urged the President to give due consideration to the matter and take appropriate action, particularly as the government prepares to draft a new constitution.The Bill seeking to abolish pensions for Members of Parliament was presented to Parliament on 07 January by Minister of Justice and National Integration Dr. Harshana Nanayakkara.