Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka – Mr. Mizukoshi Hideaki, attended the handing over ceremony of the Night Navigation System of the Port of Trincomalee supported by the Government of Japan under the Trincomalee development Programme in the Eastern Province today (17).
Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation – Nimal Siripala de Silva, along with other officials of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority joined to grace this occasion.
The Government of Japan assisted the Night Navigation System of the Port of Trincomalee in Eastern Province with Rs. 2.63 Billion under the Trincomalee Port Development Programme of the Economic and Social Development Project.
The agreement was signed in April 2017, as a result of the Japan – Sri Lanka summit held in 2016, which recognized the port development in Sri Lanka as a significant hub in the Indian Ocean. The main aim of this project is to ensure smooth port management enhancing safety for night-time navigation and 24-hour operation of the Port of Trincomalee.
Previously, the port of Trincomalee was unable to navigate in the night, as lighthouses and other navigational aids were destroyed during the civil war. Mooring buoys, Navigation signs, Automatic Identification System (AIS) and other port equipment, manufactured by Japanese companies, were handed over under this programme.
The Government of Japan hopes that the significant outcome of this project will enhance the growth of the regional connectivity and rehabilitation of conflict-affected areas will improve the overall Socio- economic development in Sri Lanka while enabling it to become economic, trade and logistics hub for the South Asian region, utilizing its geographical advantage.
The government has decided to construct a new President’s Official Residence and the Presidential Secretariat on the site of the National ‘Sandun Uyana’ (Sandalwood Garden) built at a cost of Rs.300 million.
Since it has been decided to use the President’s House premises in Colombo Fort for a development project under the Colombo Port City Project, it has been decided to build a new President’s House and the Secretariat at the Sandun Uyana.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana Wickramaratne has also recommended that the Sandun Uyana prepared in nine acres near the Parliament premises is suitable for that purpose.
Accordingly, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has informed the Urban Development Authority (UDA) to prepare future plans and submit a report.
The President’s Office said that it has also been decided to relocate the Prime Minister’s office and the Prime Minister’s official residence on another plot of land located near the Sandun Uyana.
The President has informed the UDA to look into the possibility of moving the Cabinet office to another plot of land nearby, and the President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake to study the space required for this construction and submit a report.
The Sandun Uyana project was built and opened during the tenure of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
A total of 300 red sandalwood plants and 900 white sandalwood plants were planted in the garden at a cost of Rs.300 million by the UDA.
Although this garden was planned to be opened by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on July 20, 2021, it was opened by Minister Namal Rajapaksa.
Sri Lanka will commence the operations of the passenger ferry service between Kankesanthurai and Pondicherry on April 29, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation said.
It said a passenger terminal is currently being constructed at the Kankesanthurai Port to facilitate the ferry service by the Sri Lanka Navy.
Ferry owners have mentioned during a recent discussion that they will be charging 50 US Dollars per passenger for a one-way trip, while allowing a passenger to carry baggage weighing 100kg.
A ferry is expected to carry 150 passengers at a time and will take around 4 hours to travel from Karaikal Port in Pondicherry to Kankesanthurai.
Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that any businessman in India and Sri Lanka can join this passenger ferry service.
It has been revealed that Zimbabwean pastor Uebert Angel, who was brought to Sri Lanka by ‘Born-Again’ religious sect leader Pastor Jerome Fernando, is involved in large-scale gold smuggling.
This was revealed during an investigation conducted by Al Jazeera News.
This pastor has also worked as a Zimbabwean diplomat.
The Zimbabwean pastor has participated in the services held at the Katunayake ‘Miracle Dome’ hall owned by Pastor Jerome Fernando on several occasions.
During his visit to Sri Lanka, the Zimbabwean pastor had met former presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa as well.
According to Al Jazeera, Uebert Angel has laundered millions of US dollars through gold smuggling.
Angel, appointed ambassador-at-large and a presidential envoy by Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa in March 2021, has told reporters he would be able to carry large volumes of dirty cash into the country using his diplomatic status.
The 44-year-old, who claims to be a prophet and heads a congregation — the Good News Church — with branches in 15 countries, said he would facilitate a scheme through which unaccounted cash could be exchanged for Zimbabwe’s gold.