News

SL Premier meets Chinese President

Published

1 month ago

March 27, 2024

editor

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in Beijing today (March 27).

Noting that the friendship between China and Sri Lanka enjoys a long history and the two peoples share a natural affinity, Xi said consolidating and promoting China-Sri Lanka relations serves the fundamental interests and reflects the common expectations of the two peoples.

China is willing to work with Sri Lanka to carry forward the spirit of the Rubber-Rice Pact, which is characterized by “independence, self-reliance, unity and mutual support,” to consolidate political mutual trust, enhance exchanges of experience in governance, expand practical cooperation, and advance the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, Xi said.

He noted that China and Sri Lanka should join hands to advance their strategic cooperative partnership featuring sincere mutual assistance and ever-lasting friendship.

China firmly supports Sri Lanka in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and national dignity, and in exploring a modernization path suited to its national conditions, Xi said, adding that China will continue to provide due assistance within its capacity for Sri Lanka’s economic and social development.

He said that both sides should make joint efforts to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, especially that of the two flagship projects, the Colombo Port City and the Hambantota Port. China and Sri Lanka should also work together to enhance logistics, energy and industrial cooperation, and promote exchanges and cooperation in digital economy, green economy, clean energy, culture-oriented tourism and marine economy.

China will continue to import more high-quality specialty products from Sri Lanka, encourage Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in the country, and hopes that the business environment in Sri Lanka will be fair and transparent, Xi said.

He added that China is willing to advance cooperation with Sri Lanka on rural poverty reduction, to help the country with economic transformation and upgrading, and with sustainable development.

The two sides should continue to maintain the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, enhance coordination on international and regional affairs, safeguard the common interests of both sides, uphold international fairness and justice, and promote the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity, Xi stressed.

Noting that Sri Lanka and China enjoy a traditional friendship, Gunawardena said that Sri Lanka adheres unswervingly to the one-China principle, unequivocally follows the policy of friendly cooperation with China, and gives China priority on its diplomatic agenda.

He expressed appreciation for China’s assistance to Sri Lanka in times of difficulty, saying that projects such as the Colombo Port City and the Hambantota Port have boosted Sri Lanka’s economic and social development, as well as the overall development of the region.

Sri Lanka will take part in the China-proposed Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative, said Gunawardena, adding that the country will work with China to promote bilateral friendship, expand cooperation on trade and economy, education, tourism, poverty reduction and other fields, and improve international and multilateral communication and coordination.

(Xinhua)

News

Basil meets Indian High Commissioner

Published

2 hours ago

April 27, 2024

editor

Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa met Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha yesterday (27) and discussed.

The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka conveyed a X message regarding the meeting, highlighting discussions on matters of mutual interest, including the political situation.

This meeting between Basil and the Indian High Commissioner occurred after his departure from the position of National Organizer of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, adding a significant dimension to the encounter.

Before Basil met the Indian High Commissioner, President Ranil Wickremesinghe had also met earlier this week.

In a separate development, the Indian High Commissioner also held a meeting with Minister of Power and Energy, Mr. Kanchana Wijesekera.

The Indian High Commission issued a statement regarding this meeting as well, although specific details were not provided.

News

Sri Lanka allows German research vessel’s port call amidst diplomatic clarification

Published

3 hours ago

April 27, 2024

editor

Sri Lanka has allowed a German research vessel for replenishment in Colombo port for the second time following the clarification from the island nation’s Foreign Ministry after Chinese protest.

“It’s the same German research vessel came last month. It came around New Year time when it was returning and the ship was allowed,” a top Foreign Ministry official told Economy Next referring to Sri Lanka’s traditional New Year celebrated on April 14.

Another Foreign Ministry official confirmed the German research vessel’s Colombo port call.

The Foreign Ministry last month clarified a confusion related to ban on foreign research vessels.

It said Sri Lanka will allow offshore research ships for replenishment at the island nation ports despite the one-year ban on such vessels.

The clarification came after strong protest by China over Sri Lanka allowing the same German research vessel last month.

Chinese Embassy in Colombo raised strong protest against the move to allow a German research vessel early in March following the island nation’s authorities turned down a Beijing request for a research vessel in February.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government has temporarily halted foreign research ships after strong security concerns raised by neighbour India and the United States following the visit of two Chinese research vessels in 14 months.

When the ban was announced, the government failed to specifically reveal its stance on requests for replenishment or crew change for foreign research vessels.

Sri Lanka is in the process of introducing a SOP (Standard Operation Procedure) for handling foreign research vessels and to improve the capacity of relevant officials in handling foreign research ships.

Two Chinese research ships were allowed to dock in Sri Lanka ports within 14 months through November 2023 with one called for replenishment and the other for research.

Chinese research ship Shi Yan 6 arrived in Sri Lanka in October 2023 and docked in Colombo port, for what Beijing citing was for “geophysical scientific research” in collaboration with the island nation’s National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA).

In August 2022, Chinese navy vessel Yuan Wang 5 docked at Hambantota in southern Sri Lanka for replenishment.

Both drew strong Indian protests citing security concerns in the Indian Ocean.

India uses the Colombo port as its main transshipment hub and accounts for around 70 percent of the total transshipment volume of the port.

(economynext.com)
(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by economynext.com has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

Complaint filed alleging assets being misused for President’s political activities

Published

16 hours ago

April 26, 2024

editor

Today (26) the Socialist Youth Union (SYU) filed a complaint with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) calling for a probe into the alleged misuse of assets owned by the National Youth Services Council (NYSC) for the political activities of current President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The SYU submitted a formal complaint to the CIABOC today (26) afternoon.

The complaint is filed against Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports – Harin Fernando, Ministry Secretary – Dr. Kanapathipillai Mahesan, and Chairman of the NYSC – Pasindu Gunaratne.

Speaking before the media, Eranga Gunasekara, the national organizer of the SYU said, NYSC vehicles bearing the numbers NA 9099, NB 1389, NB 3384, NB 3383 had been misused for the UNP rally held in Kuliyapitiya on March 10.

He has also said a dance troupe of the NYSC, used for the rally, is yet to be paid.