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Two state ministers explore employment opportunities in Qatar post-World Cup
A Sri Lankan delegation headed by State Minister of Regional Cooperation Tharaka Balasooriya and State Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Market Diversification Priyankara Jayarathna recently visited the State of Qatar to explore employment opportunities there for Lankans.
The following is the text of a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry: “The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Doha organised a series of meetings for the Sri Lankan delegation headed by two State Ministers. The delegation met with the Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs of Qatar Yousuf Mohamed Al Othman Fakhroo. During the meeting, the parties discussed the potential employment opportunities after 2022 FIFA World Cup and beyond that.
The Sri Lankan delegation had a meeting with Director of the International Co-operation Department and the Chairman of National Anti-Terrorism Committee Maj. General Abdulaziz A. Alansari, and Director General of the Department of Passport and Expatriates Affairs of the Ministry of Interior Brigadier Mohamed Ahamed Al-Ateeq. The discussion focused on reviving the operations of the Qatar Visa Centre (QVC) located in Colombo and the pragmatic approaches to enhance the service provided by QVC. During the discussions, the MoI outlined the scheduled official visit of the delegation consisting officials from the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs of the State of Qatar (MADLSA) and the Ministry of Interior to Colombo in order to evaluate the QVC operational module with a view to enhance the same.
The Lankan delegation also had a fruitful discussion with Director of LULU Group in Qatar Dr. Mohamed Althaf Musliam Veetil. During the discussions, the necessity to boost long-standing trade relations between Lulu Group and Sri Lanka was highlighted.
The Embassy arranged productive meetings with a number of major recruitment agencies in the State of Qatar and the Sri Lankan Bank representatives based in Doha. During the meeting with the Sri Lankan Bank representatives, it was discussed the methodologies to overcome the current challenges encountered with the unauthorised remittance transactions being channeled through informal means.
SriLanka’s Ambassador in Quatar, M. Mafaz Mohideen took part in the meetings with the delegation headed by State Minister Regional Cooperation Tharaka Balasooriya and State Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Market Diversification Priyankara Jayarathna. Director General of the State Ministry of Regional Cooperation Savitri Panabokke, Assistant Director of the State Ministry of Regional Cooperation W.W.C.S. Perera, Chairman of Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) Mahinda Hathurusinghe, Deputy General Manager of SLBFE Priyantha Senanayake, and Directors of the Board of the SLBFE Buddhi Pradeep Niyadandupola, Hematha Sapumohotti, and Mohamed Arshad formed the rest of the delegation.”
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Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 26 April 2025, valid for 27 April 2025.
The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath represented Sri Lanka at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday [26]
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) tomorrow (28) over the statement he had made on MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, his lawyers have informed the Commission.
Accordingly, the former President will appear before the commission at 9.30am on Monday.
Wickremesinghe was initially summoned by the Commission to CIABOC on April 17 in relation to a statement he had made about the corruption case filed against NDF (gas cylinder) MP Dassanayake.
In response to the previous summons, Wickremesinghe had indicated that he is prepared to appear before the commission but requested a different date citing that his lawyers will not be available in Colombo during the New Year holiday period.
Accordingly, a new was provided and Wickremesinghe requested to appear before the commission at 09.30 a.m. on Thursday (April 25).On April 7, Wickremesinghe had said that MP Dassanayake withdrew the fixed deposits belonging to the Uva Provincial Council, over which he is now facing corruption charges, in accordance with a circular issued during Wickremesingher’s tenure as Prime Minister.
The former President questioned whether the MP’s arrest over the matter was in response to Dassanayake’s vocal criticism of the government in parliament.
The sitting MP is currently in remand custody for allegedly misappropriating a sum of Rs. 1 million of the Uva Provincial Council in 2016.
He was taken into custody on March 27, over three separate corruption-related cases.
The Colombo Magistrate’s Court previously granted bail in the cases filed against him but he remains in remand custody due to an order issued by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court.
According to the CIABOC, Dassanayake had solicited funds from three state banks, claiming they were intended to provide bags for preschool children in the province.
Two banks complied, granting him Rs. 1 million and Rs. 2.5 million, which were later transferred to his foundation account.
However, when a third bank refused to provide funds, Dassanayake reportedly retaliated by withdrawing the Uva Provincial Council’s fixed deposits from that institution.The CIABOC filed a case against the MP, citing the government incurred a financial loss of Rs. 17.3 million due to his actions.
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