President Anura Kumara Disanayake held discussions with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence of Australia Richard Marles at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (June 03).

The meeting focused on further strengthening the historic ties between Sri Lanka and Australia, with a particular emphasis on enhancing bilateral cooperation.

President Disanayake highlighted Sri Lanka’s progress towards economic stability and briefed Deputy Prime Minister Marles on the government’s ongoing efforts to combat corruption and fraud. He also expressed appreciation for the Australian Government’s support in recent maritime security operations and its assistance in addressing illegal trade, human trafficking, terrorism and arms smuggling. The President further reaffirmed that Sri Lanka remains a secure destination for tourism and investment.

Deputy Prime Minister Marles, reflecting on the 70-year economic and political relationship between the two countries, conveyed Australia’s commitment to working closely with Sri Lanka’s new administration.

He praised the government’s anti-corruption initiatives and emphasized that enhancing trade, economic, political, tourism and investment relations was a central objective of his visit.

The Australian delegation included Mr Paul Stephens, Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka; Mr Gregory Laurence Moriarty, Secretary of the Department of Defence; Mr Simon Eric O’Connor, Senior Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister; and Ms Lalita Kapur, Australian Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka. Representing Sri Lanka were Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President and Mr Roshan Gamage, Additional Secretary to the President.

(President’s Media Division)

A private medical laboratory in Malwana has been fined Rs. 500,000 by the Mahara Magistrate’s Court for charging more than the approved rate for a Full Blood Count (FBC) test.

The fine was issued after the lab admitted to overcharging a patient, in violation of Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) regulations. According to

The gazetted maximum charge for an FBC test is Rs. 400.
The case is part of ongoing enforcement efforts targeting pricing violations in the healthcare sector. (Newswire)

The government has decided to remove the existing legal barriers for individuals who fled the country during the conflict with the LTTE and have been residing in India as refugees, in order to facilitate their return to Sri Lanka.

Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala has said steps have already been taken to amend the existing immigration and emigration laws to facilitate the process.

During the conflict with the LTTE, a large number of people residing in the Northern Province fled to Tamil Nadu in India, and are residing in refugee camps.

Minister Wijepala noted that the existing immigration and emigration laws have become an obstacle for their return, and therefore attention has been drawn to amending those laws.

A Cabinet paper in this regard is expected to be submitted shortly to obtain approval for the initiative.

Meanwhile, three individuals, including a toddler, who arrived in the country from India via sea, have been taken into custody in Talaimannar.

According to Police, they had traveled to Sri Lanka from Rameswaram.

Police stated that the group consisted of a 24-year-old couple and their toddler.

Preliminary investigations revealed that they had fled to India by boat in May 2023.

(adaderana.lk)

(This story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)