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We are opposed to bifurcation of Asia – President

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President Ranil Wickremesinghe took the stage at the ‘Nikkei Forum: Future of Asia’ held in Tokyo, Japan today (25).

Addressing the Forum, President Wickremesinghe highlighted Asia’s significance as the world’s largest economy, home to 60% of the global population, and a major contributor to global growth.

He emphasized the region’s potential for continued growth, supported by China’s recovery, India’s domestic demand, and the contributions of advanced economies like Japan and South Korea.

3 key challenges

President Wickremesinghe also highlighted three major challenges facing Asia during his address.

He said democratic values and human rights, climate change and trade integration are key challenges and emphasized the importance of respecting the diverse political systems and definitions of human rights across Asian countries.

Stressing on climate change, which poses significant threats to Asia, the President added that rising temperatures in the region, leading to severe weather events & rising sea levels, are impacting the livelihoods, food security, & exports of Asian countries.

Noting that by mid-century, rising waters will impact nearly a billion people in the Asia-Pacific region, the President told the Nikkei Forum, “It is regrettable that as many as eight of the fifteen countries affected by climate change are from Asia.”

Economic powerhouse & most dynamic region

President Wickremesinghe emphasized that Asia has become the global economic powerhouse and the most dynamic region, with its economy already comparable in size to Europe and North America’s economies.

We are opposed to bifurcation of Asia

In his address, President Wickremesinghe also focused on trade integration and debt sustainability and highlighted the risks faced by Asian countries, emphasizing the importance of upholding the rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, rejecting economic coercion and decoupling

President Wickremesinghe further emphasized that Asian countries do not want to be forced to choose between global powers & highlighted the economic interdependence between ASEAN countries and China and expressed opposition to the bifurcation of Asia.

“Consequently, the pressure on Asian countries to choose between the US and China is being resisted by many. We are opposed to what my friend Vivian Balakrishnan, the Foreign Minister of Singapore, calls the bifurcation of Asia. We in Asia don’t want to choose between U.S. and China. Many of us cannot make that choice because we have already made our choice, and that choice is Asia. We want an Asia that can accommodate the Indo-Pacific, the BRI, as well as the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.  The BRI is a strategy to increase China’s influence in Asia and Africa through economic means. We, the members of the BRI, have no security arrangements with China, nor do we intend to enter into any security agreements with China,” the President said.

Open ended dialogues

President Wickremesinghe also supported a cooperative approach by Japan and called for open-ended dialogues among Japan, China, India, and ASEAN, adding that it is crucial for the emergence of a peaceful and prosperous Asian region.

A unified, Asian voice
“A single Asian voice devoid of disharmony needs to be present at COP 28. The success of this conference will depend on the ability of the key Asian nations to come to an agreement,” he added.

“Sri Lanka welcomes the pledge made at the G7 Hiroshima Leader’s Communique to reject decoupling and its strategies in favour of economic resilience and economic security. To this end, the G7 has undertaken to engage in dialogue and follow a cooperative approach within the group as well as with global partners – including developing countries,” the President further added.

He also pointed out that it is appropriate that the rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core be upheld.

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08 Dansals suspended over health concerns

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Steps have been taken to suspend eight ‘Dansal’ that failed to meet with proper health and safety procedures, the Public Health Inspectors’ (PHI) Union said.

PHI Union Secretary Chamil Muthukuda stated that permission was granted for another 17 Dansals to operate after complying with guidelines.

The union says that Dansal inspections will continue today (May 13) as well.

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Teen found dead in house fire

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A 19-year-old female has been found dead under suspicious circumstances at a house on Vihara Mawatha in Kottawa.


According to police, the body of the young woman was found burnt beyond recognition while the roof of the house had sustained significant damage from the fire.

The girl’s mother and two brothers were away from home at the time of the incident, police said.

Firefighters from the Kotte Sri Jayewardenepura Fire Department, assisted by local residents had attempted to douse the flames but the girl had already died by the time they arrived.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined. 

The Nugegoda Crime Scene Investigation Unit is conducting further inquiries.

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3 police teams deployed to arrest ‘Teacher Amma’

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Three police teams have been deployed to arrest Hayeshika Fernando, a popular private tutor known as “Teacher Amma,” over allegedly kicking a young man in the lower abdomen and groin.

According to police sources, the suspect is in hiding with her daughter and has switched off her phone.

Investigations have revealed that the assault was in retaliation over a Facebook post by the victim’s sister about Hayeshika. She, along with her husband and her institute’s manager, had allegedly assaulted the youth.

Katana police have already arrested two said to be Hayeshika’s husband and the institute’s manager.  They were produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court and remanded until May 14.

The assaulted youth has been admitted to the Negombo hospital for treatment.

Reportedly, Hayeshika had instructed the youth to train a female employee in computer use. During the session, he allegedly behaved inappropriately, prompting Hayeshika’s husband, and the institute manager to accompany the female employee to file a complaint with the Katana Police.

Following statements from both parties, it was revealed that Hayeshika, her husband, and the manager had physically assaulted the youth.

Although her husband and the manager were taken into custody, Hayeshika Fernando fled with her daughter when police attempted to arrest her at her residence.

Under the instructions of Senior DIG Sanjeewa Dharmaratne and the supervision of SSP Ashoka Dharmasena, Chief Inspector Wasantha Sudasinghe and other officers from Katana Police are conducting further investigations.

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