M.A. Sumanthiran, PC, and MP from the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi, has expressed support for Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s commitment to eradicating corruption.

MP Sumanthiran emphasized that their call for change is rooted in a long-standing demand for a corruption-free government, reflecting over 70 years of public desire for a more equitable governance structure.

Sumanthiran reassured that while they may support another presidential candidate, their partnership with Dissanayake in fighting corruption remains firm.

He highlighted that true change involves ensuring equal access to governmental powers for all communities, regardless of their size or language.

Addressing concerns about potential racial implications, Sumanthiran defended Dissanayake, stating that he has consistently worked to combat racism and is committed to inclusive governance.

The ITAK MP affirmed that their support for Dissanayake is steadfast in their shared goal of eliminating misrule and promoting a fairer political system.

(News1st)

(This story, originally published by News1st has not been edited by SLM staff)

Tanzania has lifted visa restrictions for Sri Lanka, marking the end of more than 20-year restrictions.

During the announcement, the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka, Kana Kananathan, emphasized that Sri Lanka is no longer on Tanzania’s visa referral list,VisaGuide.World reports.

Sri Lankan Businessmen & Travelers Can Now Apply for Standard Visas Online to Tanzania

As Kananathan revealed, around 450 Sri Lankan businessmen, along with other travelers, including gem and stone traders, can now apply for standard visas online.

Extensive high-level negotiations with the Tanzanian government led to Sri Lanka’s removal from the referral visa list, facilitating smoother travel for both business and personal purposes.

The High Commission appreciated the Government of Tanzania for this positive change, which underlines the strong bilateral relations between the two countries. He also encouraged Sri Lankans to take advantage of this new opportunity while maintaining high standards of conduct abroad.

As of September 2024, the Tanzanian passport ranks 140th globally according to the VisaGuide Passport Index. Tanzanian passport holders can now travel visa-free to 49 countries and territories. To take advantage of visa-free travel, travelers must ensure their passport is valid for at least six months beyond their departure date and obtain travel health insurance as required by their destination.

Sri Lanka Has Also Facilitated Entry Rules for Some Travelers

Sri Lanka has announced an immediate visa-free policy for travelers from 38 countries, effective September 3, 2024. This decision comes after a month-long period during which Sri Lanka issued visas on arrival due to issues with its e-Visa system, previously managed by a foreign consortium.

With the suspension of the e-Visa system, the country is streamlining its new visa-free process and eliminating the previously available e-visa options, including double-entry visas for up to 30 days (extendable to 60 days) and transit visas for up to two days.

Originally scheduled for October 1, the removal of visa requirements has been expedited to start immediately, simplifying entry for travelers from the designated countries. On the other hand, countries such as Afghanistan, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, North Korea, Ghana, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Syria are not eligible for visa-on-arrival in Sri Lanka.

Source: VisaGuide

Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara is reportedly in advanced talks to join Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as a mentor for IPL 2025, filling the vacancy left by Gautam Gambhir. 

Sangakkara is expected to part ways with Rajasthan Royals (RR), where he served as Director of Cricket.

KKR’s coaching unit, led by head coach Chandrakant Pandit and bowling coach Bharat Arun, requires additional coaches after the departure of Gambhir, Abhishek Nayar, and Ryan ten Doeschate, who joined the Indian team’s coaching staff.

Meanwhile, Rahul Dravid is tipped to take Sangakkara’s role at RR, with Vikram Rathour rejoining him in the coaching setup following India’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph.

The BCCI is expected to announce the number of retentions ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, with many franchises undergoing major changes.