Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MPs Dr. Kavinda Jayawardana and Hector Appuhamy had recently visited the Vatican to pay their final respects to the late His Holiness Pope Francis.

They have visited the Vatican, representing the Catholic political authority in Sri Lanka.

The funeral of Pope Francis will be held today (April 26) with Sri Lanka declaring it a national day of mourning.

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It’s reported that 201 key underworld figures are reportedly coordinating crimes in Sri Lanka, including murders and drug trafficking, while residing abroad, mainly in countries like Dubai.

Police sources say all relevant details about these individuals have been shared with INTERPOL.

Following discussions with authorities in host countries, legal steps are underway to extradite these underworld members. Accordingly, 19 have already been brought back to Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, police have received information that around 65 major organized crime leaders are still residing abroad.

A monitoring mission from the European Union (EU) will visit Sri Lanka from April 28 to May 7, 2025, to assess the country’s progress in meeting the conditions required for continued access to GSP+ trade preferences. This visit is part of the EU’s regular biannual review process.

During the mission, EU representatives will engage with government officials, institutions, politicians, civil society, trade unions, and business associations, and will also conduct site visits across the country.

Sri Lanka is one of eight low- or lower-middle income countries benefiting from the GSP+ scheme, a special incentive arrangement for Sustainable Development and Good Governance. Eligibility requires the ratification and effective implementation of 27 international conventions related to human rights, labor standards, environmental protection, climate change, and good governance.

The EU, comprising 27 member states with a population of 450 million, is Sri Lanka’s second-largest export market. In 2024, Sri Lanka exported goods worth €2.7 billion to the EU, with 85% of these exports enjoying duty-free access under GSP+.

(News 1st)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by News 1st has not been edited by SLM staff)