In a formal ceremony held at the Presidential Secretariat today (23), two newly appointed Ambassadors and a High Commissioner to Sri Lanka presented their credentials to President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The appointments of two distinguished Ambassadors for the Republic of Italy and the Federal Republic of Germany, along with the designation of a new High Commissioner for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, assumed their roles as representatives of their respective countries and had the honour of formally introducing themselves to President Wickremesinghe.
The diplomats who formally presented their credentials are : • Mr. Damiano Francovigh – Ambassador of the Republic of Italy in Colombo. • Mr. Andrew Patrick – High Commissioner of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland. • Dr. Felix Neumann – Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany.
The ceremony was attended by Mr. Sagala Ratnayake, Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff, who warmly received the envoys upon their arrival.
After the presentation of their credentials, President Wickremesinghe engaged in a friendly exchange with the newly appointed diplomats, reflecting the spirit of mutual respect and cooperation that underpins diplomatic relations.
Among those present during this significant event were State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Tharaka Balasooriya, Secretary to the President, Mr Saman Ekanayake, and Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Aruni Wijewardena.
Kotmale Police have stated that luggage, mobile phones and other belongings of the passengers on the bus that met with a tragic accident at Gerandi Ella are safe with them/
Kotmale Police OIC Chief Inspector Vajira Ratnayake stated that the villagers who assisted authorities at the time of the accident handed over the passengers’ belongings to the Police.
The OIC also stated that 35 mobile phones, luggage and other valuables have been kept safe at the police station and can be obtained after the identities of the claimants are verified.
Meanwhile, it is reported that the bus conductor’s ticket book and the money he had collected could not be found.
The OIC had also stated that the exact number of passengers on the bus could not be ascertained due to the death of the driver and the fact that the conductor was receiving treatment in hospital.
PSL 2025 will resume on May 17, with the final on May 25. The announcement confirms the league will end a week after it was originally scheduled to conclude.
The four remaining group games will take place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Ground, with the playoffs and final in Lahore. Aside from one afternoon game in Rawalpindi – between Multan Sultans and Quetta Gladiators on 18 May, all fixtures take place at night, with evening games starting at 7:30pm local time.
“HBL PSL X picks up from where it left off,” he wrote in the post,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced on X (formerly Twitter). “6 teams, 0 fear. Get ready for 8 thrilling matches starting 17th May, leading up to the Grand Final on 25th May. Best of luck to all the teams!”
The league, which was postponed due to increasing cross-border tensions with India, has eight games left.