Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defense welcomed a significant shipment of specialized Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Equipment under the Chinese Military Grant scheme.
The formal handover ceremony took place at the Army Headquarters, presided over by Qi Zhenhong, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in Sri Lanka, and General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence.
The event included the official signing of documents pertaining to the grant of equipment between Ambassador Qi Zhenhong and Kamal Gunaratne.
A video documentary showcasing the enduring bonds of goodwill and understanding between the two countries’ militaries was also presented during the ceremony.
As part of the consignment, Sri Lanka received eighteen REOD 4000 Explosive Ordnance Disposal medium robots, eighteen REOD 400 Explosive Ordnance Disposal robots, ten Anti-Explosive Blankets, and ten Explosion Protection Tanks and Vehicles.
Ambassador Qi Zhenhong symbolically handed over this equipment to Defense Secretary Kamal Gunaratne, who then presented it to the Commander of the Army.
The gathered senior officers and invitees had the opportunity to closely inspect the new equipment, which is expected to significantly enhance the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Sri Lanka.
Among the distinguished attendees were Army Commander Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, Major General W.H.K.S. Peiris, the Chief of Staff of the Army, and Colonel Gao Bin, Deputy Defense Advisor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Sri Lanka, along with other senior officers, officers, and personnel.
The Department of Meteorology says that showers will occur at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern, and North-western provinces today (June 14).
Heavy rains of about 100 mm are likely in some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in the Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Galle, Matara, and Puttalam districts.
Several spells of showers will occur in the Northern Province and in the Anuradhapura district.
Strong winds of about 50–60 km/h can be expected at times over the western slopes of the central hills and in the Northern, North-central, Sabaragamuwa, North-western, and Southern provinces, and in the Trincomalee district.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake, currently on an official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany, met this afternoon (June 13) with the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Ms. Reem Alabali-Radovan, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Berlin.
The discussion focused on the shared economic challenges both countries face in the context of emerging global economic trends. The two sides engaged in a comprehensive dialogue on potential areas for further strengthening economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and Germany.
The President acknowledged the longstanding history of bilateral cooperation between Sri Lanka and Germany, highlighting Germany’s significant contributions to vocational training institutions such as the Ceylon German Technical Training Institute (CGTTI), as well as to sectors like healthcare. The President conveyed his profound gratitude for this assistance. The discussion also focused on the importance of enhancing such contributions into mutually beneficial partnerships in the future.
Joining the meeting were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Germany Varuni Muthukumarana and Director General for Europe and North America at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sugeeshwara Gunaratna along with other officials..
A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism in Sri Lanka has urged both Israel and Iran to ‘exercise restraint, engage in dialogue and pursue diplomatic initiatives to de-escalate the tense situation.’
“Sri Lanka is deeply concerned by the recent developments between Israel and Iran. We urge both countries to exercise restraint, engage in dialogue and pursue diplomatic initiatives to de-escalate the tense situation,” the statement notes.
“The Sri Lanka Missions in both countries are closely monitoring the situation and remain in contact with the Sri Lankan nationals in the respective countries. They are advised to exercise utmost caution and remain vigilant, the statement adds.