News

Warm welcome awaits President Ranil in India – Kwatra

Published

2 months ago

July 12, 2023

editor

Visiting Indian Foreign Secretary – Mr. Vinay Kwatra has yesterday (11) said that the purpose of his visit was essentially to prepare for the upcoming visit of the Sri Lankan President to India and was focused on ensuring the upcoming visit is “actually a point of positive transformation in the relationship.”

“My discussions earlier today with the Sri Lankan leadership as also with the Foreign Ministry were essentially focused on trying to ensure that the upcoming visit of Hon. President of Sri Lanka is actually a point of positive transformation in the relationship. We also discussed the key areas of partnership that we could progress ahead of the visit, going into the visit, priorities of the Sri Lankan leadership, as also shared with this the perspective of our leadership on the relationship, the strength of the relationship, different elements of cooperation in the relationship, elements of our partnership in years ahead across the entire matrix of economic partnership that India and Sri Lanka enjoy,” he has added.

The following is the transcript of media remarks made by Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra yesterday, as issued by the Indian High Commission in Colombo.

………I just wanted to share with you what we have been able to achieve in this very short duration visit of mine. I arrived last night and this morning, I have had the privilege of calling on His Excellency the Foreign Minister, His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka, and also had discussions with my counterpart the Foreign Secretary of Sri Lanka. We also had a chance to meet with a few ministers on the sidelines of the lunch.

The purpose of my visit is essentially to prepare for the upcoming visit of Hon. President of Sri Lanka to India. My discussions earlier today with the Sri Lankan leadership as also with the Foreign Ministry were essentially focused on trying to ensure that the upcoming visit of Hon. President of Sri Lanka is actually a point of positive transformation in the relationship. We also discussed the key areas of partnership that we could progress ahead of the visit, going into the visit, priorities of the Sri Lankan leadership, as also shared with this the perspective of our leadership on the relationship, the strength of the relationship, different elements of cooperation in the relationship, elements of our partnership in years ahead across the entire matrix of economic partnership that India and Sri Lanka enjoy.

As I said, our objective is to ensure that the visit of Hon. President of Sri Lanka to India is a huge success. He is a well known leader and a very strong supporter of the relationship. We have worked and cooperated very well in the last 14-16 months of various challenges that Sri Lanka went through and I can assure that a very warm welcome awaits him in India.

We eagerly look forward to Excellency the President’s visit to India and make it a success both of his visit but also a similar success of our relationship.

Thank you very much!

News

Excise officials kidnap beedi businessman & forcefully take Rs.1mn

Published

8 mins ago

September 22, 2023

editor

The Walasmulla Police have launched an investigation into an incident where a Beedi businessman was kidnapped and assaulted before forcefully taking Rs.1 million from him.

The business license of the businessman residing in Maraketiya, Rajapuragoda in Walasmulla expired on June 26. A team of excise officials including the OIC of the Tangalle Excise Unit had arrived at his house on September 18 and seized the Beedi leaves.

Excise officials had demanded Rs.1.4 million from the businessman not to take legal action in this regard.

They had taken the businessman away in a three-wheeler, beaten him up, and then had taken an amount of Rs.1 million by force.

News

Test kits ordered to detect ‘Nipah’ virus

Published

1 hour ago

September 22, 2023

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Steps have been taken to import special test kits needed for the detection of ‘Nipah’ virus, the Health Ministry said.

Special test kits recommended by the World Health Organization have been ordered to detect the virus and they are expected to arrive in Sri Lanka in a few days.

Commenting further, Virologist Dr. Janaki Abeynayake said that no specific treatment or vaccine has been developed globally for patients infected with Nipah virus.

However, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Samitha Ginige said that there is no high risk of the virus spreading among countries since the virus spreading pace is slower.

The Ministry requested the public not panic over the virus that has been reported in several countries including India.

News

Keheliya & ministry officials undertake 50 foreign tours

Published

2 hours ago

September 22, 2023

editor

Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and the officials of his Ministry had undertaken 50 foreign tours in one year, a report prepared by the International Health Division of the Ministry revealed.

These reports have been compiled by Deputy Director General (Planning) of the Health Ministry Dr. S. Sri Dharan.

It was prepared following a Right to Information (RTI) request made by an organisation called ‘Citizens Power Against Bribery and Corruption.’

Accordingly, Health Minister Rambukwella has made five foreign trips, Health Secretary Janaka Sri Chandragupta has made two foreign trips and Health Services Director General Asela Gunawardena has made four foreign trips.

These foreign trips have taken place as per the invitations made by representative organizations including the World Health Organization, and those organizations have provided expenses for air tickets, food and accommodation facilities.

Furthermore, the International Health Division of the Ministry of Health has approved foreign duty leave for these doctors and has also given them a casual allowance.

Interestingly, the deputy director general who prepared the report has engaged in the highest number of foreign trips.

Source – Aruna