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Chinese enterprises keen to invest in the North – ambassador

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Chinese ambassador in Colombo – Mr. Qi Zhenhong has stated that Chinese enterprises are interested in investing in the Northern Province.

He has said this during a visit to the Northern Province from Nov. 05 – 07, to donate 5,000 boxes of dry rations worth Rs. 37.5 million under the “Faxian Charity Project” to needy families in Jaffna, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, and Mannar. 

Ten donation ceremonies were held in district secretariats, Buddhist temples, Hindu  Kovils and churches, benefiting a large number of local people.

This was the ambassador’s second visit to the province.

Referring to a report recently released by Trincomalee Center for Strategic Studies, which raised concerns after claiming that China is selling seafood to Sri Lanka, the ambassador said, “Last month, President Wickremesinghe paid a successful visit to China, reaching an agreement with President Xi Jinping to facilitate the export of Sri Lankan seafood to China. China is the second largest economy with a huge market. We look forward to importing more seafood from Sri Lanka instead of exporting them to you. Chinese enterprises are interested in investing in the Northern Province and I hope you will welcome and support them.”

By emphasizing the friendly relations of the two countries, Ambassador Qi further mentioned that the Chinese government has promised to donate Rs. 150 million to the Northern Province to buy food rations, fishing nets, and to build housing units.

Ambassador Qi Zhenhong stated, “China and Sri Lanka enjoy a longstanding traditional friendship which has withstood the test of the time. No matter what difficulty and challenge our Sri Lankan friends encounter, China has stood and will always stand firmly with you and provide assistance to the best of our capability.” 

“Love rises above differences in race and belief, and kindness transcends boundaries and borders. China’s friendly policy to Sri Lanka treats all people equally regardless of their ethnicity, faith, or region. Whether you are Sinhalese, Tamil, Buddhist or Muslim, China is always your good brother, good partner, and good friend,” he added.

Ambassador was warmly welcomed by the locals with traditional dancing and ceremonies. Local authorities, officials, red cross society, fishermen society, and people from all walks of life provided important assistance to ensure the success of the visit. 

(X handle of Chinese embassy in Colombo)

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Tanzania lifts visa restrictions for Sri Lanka

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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

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Sangakkara in talks to join KKR as mentor ahead of IPL 2025

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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.

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India has granted USD 65 Mn to expand KKS port – Minister

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India has granted US dollars 65 million to expand the Kankesanthurai (KKS) port,” Minister of Aviation and Shipping Nimal Siripala de Silva told a rally in Jaffna a short while ago. 

“The port will soon cater to cruise lines,” he added.

(Daily Mirror)

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

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