News

EU election observers call on SL Prime Minister

Published

5 months ago

August 28, 2024

editor

A group of European Union (EU) election observers have arrived in Sri Lanka to oversee the upcoming presidential election.

The team, together with the EU Ambassador have called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple Trees in Colombo yesterday (Aug. 27).

The Head of the EU Election Observer Team, Jose Ignacio Sanchez Amor thanked the government for the support extended to the mission to carry out its monitoring mission and said the forthcoming presidential election will give a new impetus to democracy following the 2022 political and economic crisis. “This election is important for Sri Lanka to continue making progress on its path of reforms and lasting recovery, in full respect of democratic values,” he has said.

The Prime Minister expressed the government’s total commitment to free and fair elections and pointed out that the Election Commission is an independent institution and all the decisions pertaining to the elections are taken by the Commission. “The government has made the allocation of budgetary requirements and the rest is for the Commission to carry out”.

The EU has previously conducted election monitoring in Sri Lanka six times with the last being at the presidential election of 2019. “The deployment of the Election Observation Mission in Sri Lanka this year confirms our long-standing commitment to supporting credible, transparent, inclusive and peaceful elections in the country,” EU Ambassador Carmen Morena said.

The EU will deploy 26 observers across the country to follow the election campaign. An interim report will be issued immediately after the election and the full report will follow thereafter.

They also discussed the economic situation and the Prime Minister said Sri Lanka took lessons from the experiences faced by Spain, Greece and other European countries during the economic crisis. Head of the EU Mission Ambassador Sachez Amor, who hails from Spain said he was highly impressed with Premier Gunawardena’s political career and made a special reference to the most distinguished award given by his country, the Orden de Isabel which was awarded by the King of Spain in 2012 to the then Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

The delegation included Deputy Chief Observer Inta Lase, Political Analyst, Ralph-Michael Peters and Press Officer, Marek Mracka. Secretary to the Prime Minister, Anura Dissanayake, Additional Secrretary Mahinda Gunaratne, Advisor Sugeeswara Senadhira and Coordinating Secretary Kalana Gamage also took part in the discussion.

(Source : Prime Minister’s Media)

News

Sri Lanka signs agreement for Hajj – 2025

Published

2 hours ago

January 15, 2025

editor

Sri Lanka signed the agreement for the Hajj pilgrimage – 2025 on 11 January 2025, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The agreement was signed by the Sri Lankan delegation headed by the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs of Sri Lanka, Dr. Sunil Senevi, and the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Abdulfattah Bin Sulaiman Mashat.

This agreement demonstrates the commitment of both governments to enhancing the pilgrimage experience for Sri Lankan Muslims. Minister Senevi is visiting Saudi Arabia at the invitation of the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah.

During the bilateral meeting which preceded the signing of the agreement, Minister Senevi emphasized the focus of the Government of Sri Lanka on improving the Hajj experience for its citizens, and shared plans for streamlining Hajj operations in the future, aiming for a smoother and more efficient pilgrimage process.

Minister Senevi is also scheduled to meet with the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Fawzan Alrabiah and engage with Hajj service providers. The delegation will also visit Madinah, holy Prophet’s city, as well as important cultural sites in Jeddah and Madinah. Further, the Minister engaged in interactions with the Sri Lankan community in Jeddah.

The Sri Lankan delegation includes Deputy Minister of National Integration, Muneer Mulaffar, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Saudi Arabia, Ameer Ajwad, Director of the Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs, M.R.M. Nawas, Acting Consul General of Sri Lanka in Jeddah, Mafusa Lafir and Hajj Coordinator, Dr. M.N.M. Ahsraff.

News

Talks between Xi – AKD commences (Video / Pics)

Published

3 hours ago

January 15, 2025

editor

The official meeting between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and Chinese President Xi Jinping commenced a short while ago at at 05.00 pm Chinese time at the Great Hall of the People.

It is also expected that several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) will be signed following bilateral discussions between the two Presidents.

Previously, preparations made for a special welcome ceremony for visiting Sri Lankan President, the official meeting and signing ceremony are as follows :

(Video : CCTV +)

News

Photo of illuminated Sigiriya, fake – Ministry

Published

4 hours ago

January 15, 2025

editor

The Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs has refuted reports of opening the historic Sigiriya rock fortress for tourists for night visits.

In a statement, the ministry has said that no decision has been taken to open the Sigiriya rock fortress for foreigners during night time.

The statement further noted that an image of an illuminated Sigiriya rock during night time, which has been making rounds on social media, is also fake.

The statement comes after it was previously reported that the Ministry of Tourism had decided to open the historic Sigiriya rock fortress for tourists on moonlit nights.

It was reported that the programme called ‘Sigiriya in Moon’ will be implemented for five days a month ; two days prior to the full moon day, on the full moon day, and two days after.