Page 8 - Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka govt drafting new anti-terror law to replace controversial law

The Sri Lankan government is drafting a new counter-terrorism law to replace the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said on Sunday. The PTA was introduced as a temporary arrangement to counter the campaign of separatist violence by the Tamil minority militant groups in 1979. Addressing reporters in the central district of Kandy, Rajapakshe said: The drafting of a new act is currently in the process after careful examination by a group of experts." International rights groups and Tamil parties dubbed it a draconian law that held Tamils in detention over decades without charges being filed in courts. We are keen to bring in an anti-terrorism law so as to ensure the protection of national security," the minister stressed. The government had also come under pressure from the European Union (EU) to repeal the PTA. The EU parliament in mid-2021 resolved that the preferential trade facility of (Generalised System of Preferences) GSP+

Sri Lanka must use its ports for economic growth: President Wickremesinghe

Sri Lanka must use its ports and strategic location for its economic growth, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Friday while expressing regret over scrapping of the country's trilateral deal with India and Japan to develop the Colombo Port's Eastern Container Terminal. Former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's office said on February 1 last year that his government has decided to run the Colombo Port's Eastern Container Terminal (ECT) as a fully-owned operation of the state-run ports authority. India, Japan and Sri Lanka inked an agreement in 2019 on the development of the Eastern Container Terminal project. Our strategic location is also a means of enhancing our economic prospects. Firstly, our location says we should be a logistics centre with three good harbours, he said. Wickremesinghe said it was regrettable that the trilateral agreement with India and Japan to develop the ECT was scrapped. Last time when I was the Prime Minister, I wanted to push it forward. We had an ..

Sri Lanka's Budget for 2023 aims a way out of current economic crisis

In September, Sri Lanka clinched a deal with the IMF for a 4-year $2.9 billion

Coast Guard apprehends 2 Sri Lankan boats for fishing in Indian waters

The Coast Guard has apprehended two Sri Lankan fishing boats with 11 crew onboard for fishing in Indian exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and escorted them to Kakinada for further investigation. The fishing boats from the neighbouring country were apprehended by ICGS Vigraha, about 175 nautical miles from Kalingapatnam, on November 10 and brought to the shore on Saturday for interrogation. The Lankan vessels were engaged in fishing in Indian EEZ without valid licences and documents, according to an official release. As per the Maritime Zones of India Act 1981, fishing and poaching by foreign vessels in Indian EEZ is an offence and the Lankan vessels violated the Act along with provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Joint investigation and rummaging is being carried out with Marine Police, Fisheries Department, Customs and Intelligence Bureau at Kakinada. Subsequently, the fishing boats and crew will be handed over to Marine Fisheries Department and

Top headlines: Adani to build plants in SL, active Indian firms near 1.5 mn

Business Standard brings you the top headlines this hour

Adani to build power plants in SL, challenge China in support for Modi

Adani has been accused by some Lankan lawmakers of signing opaque port, energy deals closely tied to India's interests, something his group has always denied, saying investments meet Sri Lanka's needs

Adani Group enters Sri Lanka's port industry as the first Indian operator

The group will have the majority stake in the West Container International Terminal Joint Venture (JV) which is valued at $700 million.

Jubilant FoodWorks net rises 10% in July-Sept quarter on high demand

This was owing to uptick in demand across all formats

UN ramps up humanitarian appeal for life-saving assistance to Sri Lankans

The United Nations team in Sri Lanka and non-governmental organisations on Tuesday revised and extended their joint Humanitarian Needs and Priorities (HNP) plan, which aims to provide life-saving assistance to 3.4 million people amid Sri Lanka's worst economic crisis since independence. During the ongoing crisis since June, the HNP plan has been responding to the Sri Lankan government's request for UN-backed multi-sector support for the island nation's debt and food and medicine shortages. Governments and donor agencies have helped the humanitarian community reach over 1 million of the country's most vulnerable people with cash, food, school meals, medicine, protection, and livelihood support, according to a release. The HNP - aligned with appeals from other UN agencies - had raised USD 79 million for Sri Lanka thanks to support from multiple donors like the US and USAID, Australia, Japan including JICA, the UN Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF), Canada, Denmark, Norway, New ...

Three-member committee to probe alleged sexual assault by Gunathilaka

A three-member panel will probe the alleged sexual assault by Sri Lankan batter Danushka Gunathilaka during the T20 World Cup in Australia, the country's cricket board said on Tuesday. The probe panel comprising retired High Court judge Justice Sisira Ratnayake, attorney Niroshana Perera and attorney Asela Rekawa will also investigate various other alleged incidents involving the reigning Asia Cup winners during their stay in Australia, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) stated. "Upon submission of the said report by the panel, the Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket will take stern disciplinary action against the players and or officials if proved guilty of any wrongdoing or negligence when carrying out official duties," SLC said. The panel will seek an immediate explanation from the team manager pertaining to Gunathilaka's conduct and other incidents, it added. There are also reports of "a fight involving another player in a Brisbane casino". The 31-year-old left-hander, who was arres

CM Stalin writes to Centre for release of 15 fishermen arrested by SL navy

In his letter, he asked Union Minister to take action to release fishermen and 2 boats which have been seized by Srilankan Navy

T20 WC: SL batter Danushka Gunathilaka arrested on rape charges in Sydney

In a shocking turn of events, Sri Lanka batter Danushka Gunathilaka was arrested in Sydney over alleged charges of rape on Sunday morning.

SL navy arrests 15 Indian fishermen for alleged poaching in northern waters

The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) stated that the arrests were made during 'a special operation in seas north of Talaimannar to chase away Indian poaching trawlers from Sri Lanka's waters'

Deal with fishermen in more humane way: Indian Navy to Lankan peers

The Indian Navy has urged its Sri Lankan counterpart to adopt a more humane approach towards Indian fishermen. This was discussed during the Indian Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) meeting held aboard a Lankan ship in the Bay of Bengal on November 4. Flag officer commanding (Tamil Nadu and Puducherry-naval area) S Venkat Raman spoke to Lankan Navy commander (northern naval area) Tennekoon during the 32nd edition of the meeting, a defence press release said on Saturday. The meeting onboard 'Sayura' saw a discussion on maritime security and safety of Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait. "The Indian delegation urged the Sri Lankan security agencies to show a more humane approach towards the Indian fishermen. Both delegations reiterated the need for expeditious information-sharing, especially on issues that require immediate action", the release said. The interaction between the two officers acted as a forum to the Navy and Coast Guards of the two countries to further enhance ties and ..

Sri Lanka's tourism earnings surpass $1 billion-mark, shows data

The data showed that the monthly tourism earnings stood at $75.6 million in October, reports Xinhua news agency

68 Indian fishermen apprehended by Lanka released, repatriated: Govt to SC

The Centre told the Supreme Court on Friday that 68 Indian fishermen who were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy have been released and repatriated. A bench of justices Aniruddha Bose and Vikram Nath took note of the status report filed by the government and disposed of a plea seeking their release. "We have perused the status report filed on behalf of the Union of India supported by an affidavit. It has been stated in this report that all the 68 Indian fishermen who were apprehended between December 18 and 20, 2021 by Sri Lankan Navy, have been released and repatriated to this country. "In such circumstances, we do not find any reason to keep the present petition pending. Accordingly, the same is disposed of. Pending application, if any, shall also stand disposed of," the bench said. The top court was hearing a plea seeking directions to the Centre to negotiate with the Sri Lankan government to secure release of arrested Indian fishermen. The petition, filed by Tamil Nadu residen

First case of monkeypox reported in the country: Sri Lankan health minister

The Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry said that the 20-year old patient arrived in the island nation on Tuesday, Rambukwella told the media

Sri Lanka starts second round of debt restructuring talks with creditors

Sri Lanka on Thursday held a second round of crucial talks with its bilateral creditors, state minister of finance Shehan Semasinghe said as the crisis-hit island nation attempts to get assurances of debt restructuring from them to close a deal with the IMF. Sri Lanka held talks with the International Monetary Fund on October 16 on the release of a USD 2.9 billion rescue package by the Fund, the completion of which hinged on assurances from the country's creditors on debt restructuring. The first round was in Washington. We scheduled another meeting to ensure that all matters will be clarified, Semasinghe told a meeting of Inland Revenue officers here. All bilateral creditors would be participating to review the progress of the debt restructuring talks, in addition to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the IMF, and financial and legal advisers, the minister said. Financial assurances from our bilateral creditors would be important for us to obtain the approval of the IMF board of ...

Desi swing songs that became global protest anthems long before 'Jimmy'

While Faiz's verses fuelled Shaheen Bagh protests and solidarity marches for Kanhaiya Kumar, 'Give me some sunshine' from 3 Idiots was used effectively by anti-DACA agitators on the US-Mexico border

T20 World Cup: Afghanistan wins toss, opts to bat against Sri Lanka

Afghanistan skipper Mohammad Nabi won the toss and opted to bat against Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup here on Tuesday. Both teams have made one change each. While Gulbadin Naib comes in place of Hazratullah Zazai for Afghanistan, Chamika Karunaratne makes way for Pramod Madushan in the Sri Lankan playing xi. Teams: Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (w), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Pramod Madushan, Lahiru Kumara and Kasun Rajitha. Afghanistan: Mohammad Nabi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (w), Ibrahim Zadran, Usman Ghani, Najibullah Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fareed Ahmad Malik and Fazalhaq Farooqi.