The official meeting between UN Secretary General António Guterres and President Ranil Wickremesinghe has taken place at the UN headquarters in New York.
President calls on US President
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden and President Ranil Wickremesinghe engaged in a cordial meeting on Wednesday (20) in New York.
This high-profile meeting took place amidst a dinner hosted by President Biden, gathering all the Heads of State who had participated in the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The encounter began with a warm welcome from President Biden, who extended his hospitality to President Wickremesinghe.
The leaders engaged in a cordial and insightful conversation, touching upon various topics of global importance.
Following their discussions, they joined their fellow Heads of State for a group photograph, symbolising the spirit of international cooperation.
President Wickremesinghe, Professor Maithri Wickramasinghe and Mr. and Mrs. Biden posed for a photograph.
Minister of Justice and National Integration – Attorney-at-Law Harshana Nanayakkara has stated that the recent local government (LG) election results clearly delivered a public message : the need to swiftly implement real change instead of mere flaunts.
He stated that the government has understood the message of the public.
According to him, of the 267 LG bodies contested by the NPP, they secured a clear majority in 120, while 32 councils are tied where establishing power still remains possible.
Noting that the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) previously held power in 126 local bodies, with 28 tied, the minister points out that the NPP has achieved the largest victory in history.
Five military personnel have been confirmed dead in the crash of a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Bell 212 helicopter into the Maduru Oya Reservoir earlier this morning (May 09. According to the SLAF Spokesperson Group Captain Eranda Geeganage, the deceased include three members of the Sri Lanka Army’s Special Forces and two Air Force personnel.
The aircraft was carrying a total of 12 individuals, including six Army Special Forces members, two Air Force Regiment Special Forces personnel, two other Air Force members, and two pilots.
Following a 02-day papal conclave, American Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected as the new Pope yesterday (May 08) evening, Vatican time.
At 69, Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as the 267th Pope, taking the name Pope Leo XIV.
He becomes the first American to ascend to the papacy in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.
Pope Leo XIV now assumes spiritual leadership of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
The election follows the death of His Holiness Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88 at his residence in Casa Santa Marta, Vatican City, a day after participating in Easter Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.