On 13 July 2023, Mr. Katsuki Kotaro, Minister/ Deputy Head of Mission, attended the Project Closure Event of the Supporting the Socioeconomic Reintegration of Sri Lankan Migrant Workers Repatriated due to the COVID-19 Outbreak funded by Japan at the Mövenpick Hotel, Colombo.
The Project for Supporting the Socioeconomic Reintegration of Sri Lankan Migrant Workers Repatriated due to the COVID-19 Outbreak was funded by Japan and successfully executed by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with International Labor Organization (ILO) and the Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment. The project filled a crucial gap by restoring livelihoods of migrant returnees impacted by COVID-19, through community infrastructure and providing access to employment opportunities while reducing their vulnerability through enhanced skills development for future employment opportunities as well as by improving capacity of government institutions in facilitating consistent economic participation of migrant returnees.
Japan has been continuously supporting the peace and socioeconomic development of Sri Lanka and the joint collaboration of IOM, ILO and Sri Lankan Government under this project was conducted in order to ensure targeted beneficiaries a sustainable livelihood through viable income generation activities.
The Japanese embassy in Colombo reiterates that the Government of Japan remains firmly committed to continuous support to assist the people of Sri Lanka and hopes this project will remain another significant milestone honoring the seven decades friendship between Japan and Sri Lanka.
The Meteorology Department says that several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts today (July 07).
A few showers may occur in the North-western province.
Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the afternoon or night.
Strong winds of about 40-50 kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Trincomalee and Hambantota districts.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Ampara District Organizer of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal party and former member of the Eastern Provincial Council K. Pushpakumar alias Iniya Bharathi has been arrested.
He was arrested over the abduction and disappearance of the former Vice Chancellor of the Eastern University Prof. Subramaniyam Ravindranath.
Sivanathurai Chandrakanthan, alias Pillayan, the leader of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) and former State Minister, was arrested by the Colombo Criminal Investigation Department at his office in Batticaloa on April 8, over this incident.
He was later detained for 3 months under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
Iniya Bharathi, also known as Kumaraswamy Pushpakumar, was arrested based on information revealed during the interrogation of Pillayan.
The Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) said the electronic Revenue Licence system (eRL 2.0) is currently unavailable due to a critical technical infrastructure issue.
According to the ICTA, the disruption began on July 3, 2025, and has made vehicle revenue licence issuing services inaccessible.
The unavailability is expected to continue until July 9, 2025.
The ICTA expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to the public and assured that technical teams are working urgently to resolve the issue.
The agency also said that further updates will be shared as work progresses, with an official notice to be issued once services are restored.