Connect with us

News

SL’s first resident High Commissioner to New Zealand presents credentials

Published

on

Sri Lanka’s first resident High Commissioner to New Zealand, Prasanna Gamage presented his Letter of Credence to the Governor-General of New Zealand, Dame Cindy Kiro at the ceremony of presentation of credentials held at the Government House in Auckland, New Zealand on 31 January 2025. 

This event marks a significant milestone for Sri Lanka – New Zealand bilateral relations, further strengthening diplomatic, trade, sport, education, tourism, and people-to-people ties between the two countries.
High Commissioner Gamage conveyed warm greetings from the President of Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Government of Sri Lanka, and expressed Sri Lanka’s commitment to furthering cooperation with New Zealand. He emphasized Sri Lanka’s keenness to work closely with New Zealand in collaborating in multilateral forums and addressing global challenges. High Commissioner Gamage also briefed the Governor-General on the recent political and economic developments of Sri Lanka.

Governor-General Dame Kiro extended her best wishes to High Commissioner Gamage and reaffirmed New Zealand’s commitment to fortifying bilateral relations with Sri Lanka. She underscored the significant contribution of the Sri Lankan community in New Zealand and welcomed the establishment of the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Wellington.

The Sri Lankan Government is in the process of finalizing logistical arrangements in establishing the High Commission in Wellington, which will soon be open to the public. This Mission will serve as the diplomatic representation of Sri Lanka in New Zealand, facilitating enhanced bilateral economic engagement with New Zealand and providing essential consular services to Sri Lankan nationals. The Government of Sri Lanka is committed to ensuring the smooth functioning of the mission and developing closer ties between the two countries.

This milestone highlights Sri Lanka’s commitment to expanding its diplomatic outreach in the Asia-Pacific region and enhancing partnership with New Zealand. The High Commission’s establishment will open new avenues for collaboration, bringing mutual benefits to both countries and their people.

High Commissioner Prasanna Gamage is a member of the Sri Lanka Foreign Service. He joined the Foreign Service in 1998 and served as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to VietNam from 2019 to 2022.

News

STF arrests two in Gampaha with T-56 weapons; Plot to kill ‘Gampaha Osman’ uncovered

Published

on

By

The Special Task Force (STF) today (19) arrested two suspects in Gampaha in possession of two T-56 firearms.  

During interrogations, the suspects revealed information leading to the arrest of five additional individuals connected to the case.  

Furthermore, during the interrogation, it was revealed that they were planning to assassinate an individual known as ‘Gampaha Osman’.

Authorities are conducting further inquiries into the matter.  

Continue Reading

News

Probe launched into tuition teacher’s police escort

Published

on

By

Sri Lanka Police have launched an investigation into a video going viral on social media, which depicts a female tuition teacher being escorted by police motorcycles and vehicles to an event organized by her.

Police Media Spokesperson SSP Buddhika Manathunga confirmed that the individual in question is a private tuition teacher who conducts classes for students preparing for the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination.

Addressing the controversy, SSP Manathunga explained that the Sri Lanka Police may provide officers and vehicles for specific public affairs — such as for filming a movie — but only after a thorough intelligence review of the request and its context, including the script.

He further clarified that police officers may also be deployed for public events such as musical shows or ticketed functions, but this is permitted only upon payment of a required fee.

In this particular case, the teacher is reported to have requested police support, claiming it was needed for a ceremony honoring students who had successfully passed the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination. The event was said to involve nearly 8,000 students and 35,000 parents.

However, preliminary investigations have revealed that the teacher may have used the police escort to boost her personal image, raising serious concerns about the misuse of state resources.

Police have since launched an inquiry into how the vehicles and officers were allocated for the event, and whether any police personnel were complicit in the unauthorized use of official resources, SSP Manathunga said.

(Source : adaderena.lk)

Continue Reading

BIZ

SriLankan retired cabin crew amid ‘work to rule’ campaign

Published

on

By

According to reports, the SriLankan Airlines’ management has decided to immediately call up retired cabin crew members to service, following the ‘work to rule’ campaign launched by the Cabin Crew Members Association.

The SriLankan Airlines Cabin Crew Members Association launched a ‘work to rule’ campaign in April, citing several demands, including the reallocation of their onboard meal allowance.

In this backdrop, the national carrier is said to be operating with a reduced number of cabin crew which was further affected by the recent retirement of a significant number of experienced senior staff.

The staff were retired stating that individuals over the age of 60 would no longer be retained.

Efforts to extend the retirement age had been unsuccessful. 

Even though they had directed a formal request to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Dec. 12, 2024, no response was received, reports add.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 Sri Lanka Mirror. All Rights Reserved