Connect with us

News

Indian response on debt structuring, favourable – PMD (Pics)

Published

on

A meeting was held between President Ranil Wickremesinghe and visiting Indian  Minister of External Affairs – Dr. S. Jaishankar today, where it was agreed upon to implement a joint program between Sri Lanka and India.

During the meeting, many political, economic and social issues as well as investment matters between the two countries had been discussed at length.

During this discussion, special attention was paid to the debt-restructuring program in Sri Lanka which had received a positive response from the Indian government, the Presidential Media Division (PMD) says.

India and Sri Lanka signed bilateral documents for the upward revision of ceilings prescribed in the High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) framework agreement today. The agreement, first signed in May 2005, has doubled the individual project limit from Rs 300 to 600 million. The total HICDP funds will be doubled from Rs 5 billion 10 billion.

The President and Dr. Jaishankar also virtually declared open the Academy for Kandyan dancing in close proximity to the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy today, for which Indian PM – Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone during his visit in 2017. Further, 300 completed houses in Galle, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya (100 each) under Indian assistance were also declared open virtually.

The complete media release by the PMD is as follows :

During a meeting held between President Ranil Wickremesinghe and India’s Minister of External Affairs Dr S. Jaishankar, it was agreed upon to implement a joint program between Sri Lanka and India.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe warmly welcomed the Indian External Affairs Minister at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (20) where the duo engaged in cordial discussions.

Prior to the official meeting, President Wickremesinghe hosted the visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar for breakfast and tea at his official residence at Paget Road, Colombo.

In addition, in the official meeting held between the President and Indian Foreign Minister Dr S. Jaishankar, many political, economic and social issues as well as investment matters between the two countries were discussed at length.

During this discussion, special attention was paid to the debt-restructuring program in Sri Lanka which had received a positive response from the Indian government.

The Indian External Affairs Minister recalled that in 1991, during the tenure of former Indian Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, India had to face an economic crisis similar to what Sri Lanka is currently facing. He added that the Indian Government overcame the crisis by pledging the government’s gold reserves.

Therefore, Dr Jaishankar said that India has a good understanding of the situation Sri Lanka is currently facing and said that the Indian government will provide all possible support to solve the current economic problems faced by Sri Lanka.

The bilateral agreement related to raising the limit of the High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) implemented in Sri Lanka with the support of the Government of India was also signed during the meeting.

The Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Mr Mahinda Siriwardena, signed the agreement on behalf of Sri Lanka and the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka HE Gopal Baglay  signed on behalf of India.

 This agreement guides many community development projects in Sri Lanka with the support of the Government of India.

This agreement related to community development projects in Sri Lanka was signed in May 2005. Its project limit was Rs. 300 million, which will now be doubled to Rs. 600 million by the agreement signed today.

Meanwhile, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka in 2017, the foundation stone was laid for the construction of an Academy for Kandyan dancing as a gift given to Sri Lanka by the Indian Government and its people. The Indian Foreign Minister also virtually declared open the academy, which was built near the historical Dalada Maligawa in Kandy.

The handing over of 300 completed houses in Galle, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya – (100 houses each) under the housing project implemented in Sri Lanka with the support of the Indian Government, was also done virtually by the President and the Indian External Affairs Minister. 

In this project of 60,000 houses, 50,000 houses have been completed. The third phase of the project of 400 houses for the people of the upcountry estate sector is currently underway and over 3,300 houses built under it have already been completed and are ready to be handed over to the beneficiaries.

The handing over of houses built in Anuradhapura and Badulla districts under the “Model Village Housing Program” implemented with the support of the Government of India for low-income families in Sri Lanka, were also symbolically handed over to the beneficiaries.

Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Presidential Chief of Staff Mr Sagala Ratnayake, President’s Secretary Mr Saman Ekanayake and other officials and a special Indian delegation attended the discussion.

News

Joe Biden diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer

Published

on

By

Former US President Joe Biden, 82, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, a statement from his office said on Sunday.

Biden, who left office in January, was diagnosed on Friday after he saw a doctor last week for urinary symptoms.

The cancer is a more aggressive form of the disease, characterised by a Gleason score of 9 out of 10. This means his illness is classified as “high-grade” and the cancer cells could spread quickly, according to Cancer Research UK.

Biden and his family are said to be reviewing treatment options. His office added that the cancer was hormone-sensitive, meaning it could likely be managed.

In Sunday’s statement, Biden’s office said: “Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms.

“On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterised by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone.

“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management.”

After news broke of his diagnosis, the former president received support from both sides of the aisle.

President Donald Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social that he and First Lady Melania Trump were “saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis”.

“We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family,” he said, referring to former First Lady Jill Biden. “We wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”

Former Vice-President Kamala Harris, who served under Biden, wrote on X that she and her husband Doug Emhoff are keeping the Biden family in their prayers.

“Joe is a fighter – and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership,” Harris said.

In a post on X, Barack Obama – who served as president from 2009 to 2017 with Joe Biden as his deputy – said that he and his wife Michelle were “thinking of the entire Biden family”.

“Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe, and I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace. We pray for a fast and full recovery,” Obama said. In 2016, Obama tasked Biden with leading a “cancer moonshot” government-wide research programme.

(BBC News)

Continue Reading

News

Special traffic plan during 16th War Heroes’ Commemoration today 

Published

on

By

The 16th National War Heroes’ commemoration ceremony will be held today (May 19) at the National War Hero Cenotaph in Sri Jayawardhanapura under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The commemoration event is scheduled to begin at 4.00 pm.

Parallel to the event, a special traffic plan will be implemented in and around the Battaramulla area, according to the Sri Lanka Police.

Authorities have emphasized that no road closures will be enforced.

However, in the event of traffic congestion, movement along Parliament Road – from Polduwa Junction to Kiyayam Junction via Jayanthipura – may be restricted for vehicles traveling to and from Colombo.

To minimize inconvenience, the police have issued the following alternative routes:

For vehicles exiting Colombo: Travel from Polduwa Junction to Battaramulla Junction, then proceed from Palam Thuna Junction to Kiyayam Junction.

For vehicles entering Colombo: Travel from Kiyayam Junction to Palam Thuna Junction, then proceed to Battaramulla Junction and continue to Colombo via Polduwa Junction.

Motorists are advised to follow police instructions and use the designated alternative routes to avoid delays during the commemorative events.

Continue Reading

News

Nalinda departs for Switzerland to attend WHO assembly

Published

on

By

Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa left for Switzerland yesterday (May 18) to attend the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) organized by the World Health Organization (WHO).  

The assembly will be held in Geneva, Switzerland from May 19 – 27 under the theme – “One World for Health”.

Health ministers from all WHO member states, along with over 5,000 delegates representing global health sectors, are expected to attend the assembly.

It’s reported that this will feature wide-ranging discussions with representatives from various countries, during which proposals, ideas, and research data will be reviewed to make key decisions and formulate plans to improve global health conditions in the coming year.

In addition to the Minister of Health, the Sri Lankan delegation to the WHA78 includes the Health Ministry Secretary – Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva – Himali Arunathilaka, and the mission’s First Secretary – Nishanthini Victor.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 Sri Lanka Mirror. All Rights Reserved