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Indian Coast Guard ships to visit Colombo & Galle

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Indian Coast Guard Ships Vaibhav and Abhiraj, an Offshore Patrol Vessel and Fast Patrol Vessel are scheduled to visit Colombo from Dec. 23-27, 2024 and Galle from Dec. 29, 2024  – Jan. 02, 2025. 

The Commanding Officers of the Indian Coast Guard Ships, Commandant Navtej Singh Sohal and Commandant (JG) S Sujith will be calling on Director General Sri Lanka Coast Guard and other Senior Officers. 

Further, joint training on VBSS, Fire Fighting and Damage Control, Maritime Pollution Response and various professional interactions will be conducted during the visit.

A statement issued by the Indian High Commission in this regard, further notes :
The ships would host reception onboard for guests from Sri Lanka including senior officials from defence hierarchy and civil administration. The ship will organise yoga event to showcase Yoga demonstration for achieving physical, mental and spiritual well being.The ships will also carry out social interactions like Beach Cleaning and Walkathon during the visit towards awareness against marine plastic pollution under “Puneet Sagar Abhiyan”. In addition, Post departure a SAGAREX with Sri Lanka Coast Guard Ship off Colombo is also planned on 27 December 2024.

In order to further the people to people connect and enhance awareness about the Indian Coast Guard and its capability, the ships will be open for a visit by Sri Lanka Coast Guard personnel.

The visit of the Indian Coast Guard Ships is also significant in view of the potential for cooperation between India and Sri Lanka for augmenting capabilities of Sri Lanka Coast Guard for efficiently addressing shared challenges for maritime security in the region.

It may be recalled that Indian Naval Submarine Vela had earlier visited Colombo from 10-13 November 2024. Visits by Indian Navy and Coast Guardvessels to Sri Lanka aim to consolidate camaraderie and interoperability between the two neighbouring friendly Navies, which is in keeping with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine and ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.

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Adani denies cancellation of power purchase deal with SL

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India’s Adani Group has denied the cancellation of its $440 million power purchase deal with Sri Lanka, terming the reports as “false and misleading”.
The media statement notes that “the Sri Lankan Cabinet’s decision of 2 Jan 2025 to reevaluate the tariff approved in May 2024 is part of a standard review process, particularly with a new government, to ensure that the terms align with their current priorities and energy policies.”

“Adani remains committed to investing $1 billion in Sri Lanka’s green energy sector, driving renewable energy and economic growth,” it adds.

The media statement comes after the AFP reported that the new Sri Lankan government has revoked a power purchase agreement with Indian conglomerate Adani Group following allegations of corruption.

The deal had initially approved to purchase electricity at US$0.0826 per kilowatt hour from the proposed Adani wind power plant, which is to be built in the Northern region of Sri Lanka. 

Several activists had challenged the agreement, arguing that smaller renewable projects were selling electricity at two-thirds the price of Adani, the AFP had further reported.
In addition, the project is also facing separate environmental concerns.

While President Dissanayake’s cabinet has revoked the 20-year deal power purchase deal signed in May 2024, it has not cancelled the project and has appointed a committee to review the project, the AFP reported, citing an official document and an energy ministry official.

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Swiss govt. pledges support to reclaim SL assets held abroad

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The Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka and Ambassador designate to the Maldives, Dr. Siri Walt, has assured Switzerland’s support in recovering assets that have been moved out of Sri Lanka.  

During discussions, Ambassador Walt provided guidance on the international measures required for reclaiming such assets and expressed Switzerland’s readiness to extend support whenever necessary by providing essential resources and assistance.

Ambassador Walt made these remarks during a meeting held today (Jan. 24) at the Presidential Secretariat with the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

The discussion also focused on utilizing Switzerland’s expertise and technical knowledge to assist Sri Lanka’s on-going anti-corruption initiatives. The Swiss government reiterated its commitment to providing technical and financial support for Sri Lanka’s priority programs, including the “Clean Sri Lanka” program.  

The Ambassador additionally expressed Switzerland’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka in addressing social challenges, promoting national reconciliation, and assisting with the development of the Northern region through necessary aid and resources.  

The meeting was attended by Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Roshan Gamage.  

(President’s Media Division)

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Fmr. President MR files FR petition

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Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has filed a fundamental rights (FR) petition in the Supreme Court seeking an order to re-deploy his security.

In the petition, Mr. Rajapaksa has said that his security has been reduced without a proper assessment of his security.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and the Cabinet of Ministers are among the respondents.

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