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China willing to continue helping SL to ease debt burden

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China has said that they will jointly play a positive role in helping Sri Lanka navigate the situation, ease its debt burden and achieve sustainable development.

Speaking at the regular media briefing in Beijing yesterday (28) Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson – Ms. Mao Ning has said this while responding to Bloomberg.

Bloomberg: Is China willing to make any adjustments to fall in line with the assurances required to finalize Sri Lanka’s IMF program? If not, are there other steps that have been taken to overcome Chinese concerns on Sri Lanka’s recast and the overall debt restructuring landscape?

Mao Ning: “We have shared with you the information on multiple occasions. The Export-Import Bank of China provided a financing support document to the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies of Sri Lanka, saying the Bank is going to provide an extension on the debt service due in 2022 and 2023 to help relieve Sri Lanka’s short-term debt repayment pressure. The Bank also noted that it will support Sri Lanka in its loan application to the IMF and continuously call on commercial creditors (including the International Sovereign Bondholders) to provide debt treatment in an equally comparable manner, and encourage multilateral creditors to do their utmost to make corresponding contributions.”

“What China did is first based on China’s existing policy and position on debt issue. At the same time, as a special arrangement, it also reflects the traditional friendship between China and Sri Lanka. China’s action fully demonstrates its sincerity and efforts to support Sri Lanka in achieving debt sustainability. China will continue to support relevant financial institutions in actively working out the debt treatment. We will work with relevant countries and international financial institutions to jointly play a positive role in helping Sri Lanka navigate the situation, ease its debt burden and achieve sustainable development.”

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Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery exhibition held in Shanghai

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A Sri Lankan Gem and Jewellery Exhibition was held at The St. Regis Hotel in Shanghai between 22 to 23 March 2023 with the participation of Zam Gems Sri Lanka under the patronage of Sri Lanka Consulate General in Shanghai.

At the exhibition, Sri Lankan gems which included blue sapphires, pink sapphires (rubies), Alexandrite and Cat’s-eye Chrysoberyl were displayed. In addition, a variety of jewellery including necklaces, rings, earrings, bracelets which were crafted using above mentioned Sri Lankan gems and stones were also exhibited.

The Chairman of Shanghai Jade and Gem Exchange Simon Chan participated in the event with his team of officials and reputed Chinese buyers.  In addition, many other buyers across China, Gem and Jewellery traders, gem collectors, members of Shanghai Diplomatic Corp,  expatriates as well as other interested parties and visitors were present at the event.

Further, the Consulate used this opportunity to promote Sri Lanka tourism by displaying and distributing Sri Lanka tourism brochures among prospective gem buyers, members of Diplomatic Corp and visitors while responding to tourism related queries.

This event, which was the 01st Gem and Jewellery exhibition held in Shanghai in the aftermath of the opening up of Chinese borders (ending months long Covid-19 restrictions), proved to be a huge success.

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Dept of Wildlife steps into restore coral reefs in Hikkaduwa

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The Wildlife Conservation Department has focused on restoring the Hikkaduwa Coral Reef, which is 90 percent dead.

Under the programme live coral parts washed ashore with the waves are planted on coconut shell-shaped cement blocks and nursed in the shallow and medium-deep seabed of Hikkaduwa Marine National Park.

These coral nurseries are constantly monitored by wildlife officers. It is expected that this project will continue for the next five years. It is hoped to replace the well-grown corals in the coral reef in due course.

The Department of Wildlife Conservation is making preliminary plans to carry out a similar coral restoration project at the Kalpitiya Coral Reef Sanctuary.

For this motive, the Department of Wildlife Conservation is supported by the Ocean Resource Conservation Agency (ORCA) and the Boat Owners Association.

(report and pics : sundaytimes.lk)

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10-hr water cut tomorrow for Colombo & suburbs

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A 10- water cut will be imposed in several parts of Colombo tomorrow (March 25), the National Water Supply & Drainage Board (NWSDB) says.

The water supply will be halted from 11.00 am – 09.00 pm for an essential maintenance work done by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB).

Thereby, water supply will be disrupted for the Colombo, Dehiwala, Mount Lavinia and Kaduwela municipal council areas and the Maharagama, Boralesgamuwa and Kolonnawa urban council areas.

Water supply will also be interrupted for the Kotikawatta and Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha areas and the Ratmalana and Katubedda areas.

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