News

No communal approach in supporting Sri Lanka: India

Published

2 years ago

December 8, 2022

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Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar justified his government’s support to Sri Lanka, saying India would be shirking its responsibility if it did not step forward to support a crisis-hit neighbour.

According to PTI, the Minister expressed these views in Parliament yesterday (7) in response to MDMK member Vaiko who sought explanation as to why India abstained from voting on a draft resolution of the UN Human Rights Council on Sri Lanka in Geneva.

Mr. Jaishankar said the economic support that India offered to Sri Lanka during its worst post-independence economic crisis was for the entire country and not based on any communal approach.

Replying to clarifications sought by MPs on his suo motu statement on foreign policy in Rajya Sabha, the minister said India absenting from a vote against Sri Lanka in the UN Human Rights Commission was in accordance with the long-standing position — which was also followed by previous governments — that it “is the most constructive way of addressing, advancing the interest of Tamil community in Sri Lanka.” “That continues to be our approach,” he said.

On the support to Sri Lanka, he said, “We have given support to the entire Sri Lanka which also includes the Tamil community.” “We have not taken the communal approach in giving support,” he said.

“To have a neighbour in this kind of a serious economic situation, we would be shirking our responsibilities if we did not step forward at that moment and that is exactly what we have done.”

News

CBSL presents Financial Statements and Operations Report 2024 to President

Published

1 hour ago

April 29, 2025

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The Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) – Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, officially handed over the Financial Statements and Operations Report 2024 of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to President Anura Kumara Disanayake at the Presidential Secretariat today (April 29).

A copy of the report was also presented to Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

Several senior officials from the Central Bank were present at the occasion.

(President’s Media Division)

News

30 injured in a bus accident in Beliatta

Published

2 hours ago

April 29, 2025

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30 persons have been injured in a head-on collision between a private bus and a SLTB bus near the Hettiarachchi bend in the Beliatta police division today (April 29).

Police said that the injured have been admitted to the Tangalle and Beliatta hospitals.

Further investigations are underway.

News

Millions lost due to Kompanna Veediya flyover construction delay

Published

2 hours ago

April 29, 2025

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Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation – Bimal Rathnayake yesterday (April 28) visited construction site of the flyover being built from Baladaksha Mawatha near the Kompanna Veediya Police Station to Chittampalam A. Gardiner Mawatha, in Colombo, to inquire about the cause of its delay.

He pointed out that the government has been compelled to pay over Rs.400 million to contractors as delay charges and a significant daily loss of Rs. 500,000 is being incurred.

The flyover has been planned to be built from Baladaksha Mawatha near the Slave Island Police Station to Chittampalam A. Gardiner Mawatha, in Colombo.

Accordingly, 06 police residential quarters had to be removed, and as a result, the project was delayed for about 02 years.

According to the Transport Ministry, it was informed during the inspection tour that steps will be taken to promptly remove the police residential quarters, which have caused the delay.

Stating that the matter must be resolved immediately, the minister has instructed the relevant officials to ensure that the construction of the flyover is completed by the end of this year under any circumstances.