News

President addresses NAM Head of State Session

Published

1 year ago

January 19, 2024

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President Ranil Wickremesinghe commended President Yoweri Museveni for assuming leadership at the 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Kampala, Uganda and expressed gratitude to President Museveni and Uganda for hosting the summit.

He highlighted the current global challenges, including the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the shift in the post-Cold War order, and emerging multipolar dynamics.

President Wickremesinghe emphasized the need for NAM to reinvent itself, transforming into the largest bloc representing the Global South.

Proposing the recognition of Palestine and addressing various geopolitical, economic, and technological issues, he called for a united NAM with updated objectives to build a multipolar world.

The President urged for a dynamic bloc capable of shaping the new global order, emphasizing that the future lies in their hands.

President Wickremesinghe further said that Sri Lanka also proposes that the State of Palestine be established within 5 years. “There cannot be a two state solution based on one state – Israel. No resolution is possible without a state of Palestine. Therefore, in line with multiple UN Resolutions, and the Declaration of this Summit, the international community must recognise the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem as territories coming within the State of Palestine and in addition there should be no change in the ethnic composition of Gaza. Sri Lanka also proposes that the State of Palestine be established within 5 years and no more,” he said.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ali Sabry PC, Minister of State Mr. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, Members of Parliament Mr. Kings Nelson, Mr. Nimal Piyatissa, Mr. Kumarasiri Ratnayake, Mr. Udayakantha Gunathilake, President’s Secretary Mr. Saman Ekanayake, President’s Senior Adviser on Climate Change Mr. Ruwan Wijewardene were also present on this occasion.

News

Govt. instructs to facilitate Bora Conference

Published

9 hours ago

June 12, 2025

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Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake has instructed relevant officials to provide the maximum support necessary to successfully hold the Global Bora Community’s Spiritual Assembly and Convention scheduled to take place in Sri Lanka.

The Secretary to the President issued these instructions during discussions held today (12) at the Presidential Secretariat regarding the Global Bora Conference and Convention.

The Bora Conference and Convention will be held from 27 June to 05 July, coinciding with the Bora Community’s Spiritual Assembly, centred on the Bambalapitiya Bora Mosque and the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre, with the participation of the community’s Spiritual Leader His Holiness Dr Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin Sahib.

Approximately fifteen thousand members of the Bora Community from India and numerous other countries are expected to arrive in Sri Lanka for this Convention and Conference. Extensive discussions were held regarding the provision of all infrastructure facilities, including airport arrangements, for them.

A group of the Bora Community’s religious leaders, along with officials including the Secretary to the Foreign Ministry, Aruni Ranaraja and Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, participated in this occasion.

(President’s Media Division)

BIZ

CBSL advises banks to further assist affected SMEs

Published

9 hours ago

June 12, 2025

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The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), with a view to facilitating sustainable revival of businesses that were adversely affected during the recent past has advised the licensed commercial banks and licensed specialised banks (hereinafter referred to as licensed banks) to provide further concessions to those SME borrowers who commenced discussions for business revival with the respective banks by 31.03.2025.

These relief measures are in line with Circular No. 04 of 2024 dated 19.12.2024 on Relief Measures to Assist the affected SMEs and the Addendum Circular No. 01 of 2025 dated 01.01.2025.

Accordingly, licensed banks have been advised to provide further concessions including interest reliefs and new lending to affected borrowers while the timeline given to the licensed banks in Circular No. 04 of 2024 to enter into reschedulement agreements with eligible SME borrowers has been extended from 15.06.2025 to 30.06.2025.

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News

Student killed & 16 Injured after tree branch falls on school building

Published

9 hours ago

June 12, 2025

editor

A tragic incident occurred in the Balangoda area this afternoon (June 12), where

A large tree branch had fallen on a school building in Balangoda today (June 12) afternoon, resulting in the death of a student and causing injuries to 16 others.

According to Balangoda Police, the deceased was a 17-year-old student.

The injured have been hospitalised for treatment.