News
Sri Lankan expatriates seek US support
Sri Lankan expatriates – most of whom are professionals in the fields of investment, technology, global entertainment, gaming industry, public diplomacy and foreign affairs – in the State of Nevada, in the US continued their discourses with U.S. Senator Catherine Cotez Masto to facilitate Sri Lanka to move out of the current economic crisis.
Masto is one of the Washington lawmakers who is on pivotal Financial and Banking Committees which are entrusted with international trade, finance and economic policies, US-based sources said.
A two-hour dialogue, on October 8, between the officials of the State of Nevada-based Sri Lanka-America Association and Senator Cotez-Masto covered the areas of foreign affairs between the two nations, trade and economic issues among many other topics that concerned the Senator’s portfolio of economic policies.
Less than one year old, the Sri Lanka-America Chamber of Commerce, a nationally-focused organization, founded by the Sri Lankan expatriates, in the State of Nevada, to promote trade, commerce and investment between the two nations, attended the discourse with its Executive President Sanje Sedera.
Both the Association and the Chamber are constantly in contact with lawmakers and policymakers in Washington to bring a closer understanding between the two nations, to identify issues related to trade and investment.
The meeting that took place last week, with the U.S. Senator Cotez-Masto, was one such discourse.
The officials of the Association and the Chamber brought to the attention of Sri Lanka’s economic and humanitarian calamity focusing on better trade, commerce and investments between the two countries. The Senator explained the portfolio she has at two committees in the Senate. The Sri Lankan expatriates were aware of the Senator’s role in the two Banking and Financial Committees that could bring some opening for enhanced trade, commerce and investments in both nations.
The Chamber officials, a couple of months ago, met with two senior U.S. Treasury Department officials to discuss possible American investments in the newly emerging Colombo Port City-Economic Zone, and the discussion turned toward streamlining certain Sri Lankan Government regulations to remove some impediments the American investors face in their trade and investment attempts.
The officials of the Sri Lanka-America Association, in the State of Nevada, and the Sri Lanka-America Chamber of Commerce, had been discussing these issues with Washington lawmakers and policymakers one of whom was Senator Catherine Cotez-Masto, that the Sri Lankan expatriates met last week.
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
At least 28 dead as crane collapses onto train in Thailand
Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
Trump cancels US-Iran meetings, urges protesters to take over institutions
Govt. bows to pressure, shelves Grade 6 reforms
AKD: Govt. agenda on track despite Ditwah disaster
SL to receive 10 helicopters from US
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Business3 days agoDialog and UnionPay International Join Forces to Elevate Sri Lanka’s Digital Payment Landscape
-
News3 days agoSajith: Ashoka Chakra replaces Dharmachakra in Buddhism textbook
-
Features3 days agoThe Paradox of Trump Power: Contested Authoritarian at Home, Uncontested Bully Abroad
-
Features3 days agoSubject:Whatever happened to (my) three million dollars?
-
News3 days agoLevel I landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya extended
-
News3 days ago65 withdrawn cases re-filed by Govt, PM tells Parliament
-
News3 days agoNational Communication Programme for Child Health Promotion (SBCC) has been launched. – PM
-
Opinion5 days agoThe minstrel monk and Rafiki, the old mandrill in The Lion King – II