The Chinese navy’s first sailing training ship Po Lang on Tuesday set sail for ocean-going training sessions and friendly visits to countries including Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Singapore.
Setting off from a military harbor in Dalian, northeast China’s Liaoning Province, Po Lang carried midshipmen and military personnel from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Dalian Naval Academy, who will undergo a series of skills training activities.
Po Lang will make a technical stop in Hong Kong, where activities such as a vessel open-day and deck reception will be held.
“This mission aims to enhance the professional competence of growing naval officer cadets, strengthen exchanges, cooperation and mutual trust with the navies of the visited countries, and contribute to the building of a maritime community of shared future,” said Ma Wenyong, a crew member of the ship.
Po Lang is a three-masted full-rigged sailing ship with a length of 86 meters, a width of 11 meters, a standard displacement of over 1,200 tons, a maximum sail range of over 2,600 square meters, and a maximum sailing speed of about 18 knots (about 33.3 km/h).
Po Lang is mainly used to cultivate the basic seamanship skills and traditional navigation skills of naval cadets. It also shoulders the tasks of carrying out military exchanges with foreign countries and promoting the unique culture of the navy.
“Po Lang is an important carrier for naval college students to understand and get close to the ocean. It focuses on exercises to enhance the students’ unwavering spirit, fearlessness of hardship, and determination to win. It is also to build team awareness among the trainees so that they can join efforts, collaborate, and proactively take their responsibilities in times of trouble,” said Wang Xiao, another crew member of the ship.
The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reviewed non complying purchases made by Sri Lanka under the 2023 Extended Arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) as well as inaccuracies of information reported to the IMF.
However, the IMF has decided to grant waivers and not pursue further action, citing corrective measures and a commitment to reform by Sri Lankan authorities.
Following the Executive Board’s discussion, Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair – Mr. Kenji Okamura, has issued the following statement:
“The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reviewed non complying purchases made by Sri Lanka under the 2023 Extended Arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (“EFF”), as well as a breach of obligations under Article VIII, Section 5. The noncomplying purchases arose as a result of the provision of inaccurate information by the authorities on the stock of expenditure arrears at the first, second, and third reviews under the EFF.
“The inaccuracies in information provided to the IMF were inadvertent and arose because of weaknesses in the timely reporting of arrears by line ministries to the Ministry of Finance, as well as a misunderstanding by the authorities of the definition of “arrears” under the Technical Memorandum of Understanding.
“The Executive Board positively considered the authorities’ corrective actions, the fact that arrears repayments will be accommodated within the existing fiscal envelope, and the authorities’ commitment to improving public financial management procedures in line with the new PFM law, to reduce the risk of accruing arrears or inaccurate reporting of information going forward. In view of the above, the Executive Board agreed to grant waivers for the nonobservances of the quantitative performance criterion that gave rise to the noncomplying purchases and decided not to require further action in connection with the breach of obligations under Article VIII, Section 5.”
Abdul Wazeeth of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has been appointed as a Member of Parliament, the National Election Commission has announced.
His appointment comes following the resignation of former MP M. S. Naleem, who had entered Parliament through the SLMC National List after the 2024 parliamentary election.
Police had been compelled to use tear gas to control a tense situation that erupted between residents and police in Kahawatta following the funeral of a youth who was shot dead recently.
The funeral was held today (July 03) and the clash had broken out shortly afterwards.
Residents had expressed anger over the handling of the and had hurled stones at the police, reports say.
