Fisheries Minister assures freedom for all Lankans in Indian custody

COLOMBO (News 1st) –  Sri Lanka's State Finance Minister says that the IMF is committed to working with Sri Lanka.Sri Lanka's State Minister for Finance Shehan Semasinghe tweeted that he, and the delegation concluded their visit to the IMF annual meeting with a bilateral discussion with Kristalina Georgieva, the Managing Director of the IMF.He said the IMF Managing Director commended the government on the difficult, yet essential, reforms that it had undertaken to restore economic stability,He also said that Kristalina Georgieva assured the IMF’s commitment to  work with Sri Lanka to place the country on a stable and sustained growth path as early as possible.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – First Reading of the Appropriation Bill for the year 2023 is scheduled to be presented on Tuesday (18).This was decided at the Committee on Parliamentary Business held previously (07) under the chairmanship of Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, Speaker of Parliament.From 18th to 21st time is allotted from 9.30 am to 10.30 for Questions for Oral Answers.It was decided to hold the debate on the Second Reading of the Petroleum Products (Special Provisions) (Amendment) Bill from 10.30 am to 5.00 pm on the 18th of October.Thereafter, time has been allotted from 5.00 pm to 5.30 pm for the Motion at the Adjournment Time brought in by the Government, the Secretary General said.The Committee also decided to take into debate 6 Bills presented by the Ministry of Justice on October 19th from 10.30 am to 5.00 pm. Accordingly, Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs’ (Amendment) Bill, Notaries Ordinance (Amendment) Bill, Powers of Attorney Ordinance (Amendment) Bill, Wills Ordinance (Amendment) Bill, Registration of Documents (Amendment) Bill, Prevention of Frauds Ordinance (Amendment) bill are scheduled to be taken up for debate.From 5.00 pm to 5.30 pm time has been set aside for Questions at the Adjournment Time.On October 20th and 21st from 10.30 am to 5.00 pm, the Second Reading debate on the Twenty- Second Amendment to the Constitution Bill is scheduled to be held.

States have been asked to continue monitoring incoming international travelers, undertake constant genome sequencing and step-up vaccination. NEW DELHI: Over the past 24 hours, India reported 1,542 new covid cases, the lowest single-day rise, the Union health ministry said in an update on Tuesday. Active cases are now at 26,449, with total reported cases since the pandemic hit in early 2020 at 4.46 crore.

WEST ALLIS, Wis. - A mother and father in West Allis are both charged in connection with the death of their toddler. Court records say the 17-month-old had enough fentanyl in her system to kill an adult.A neighbor said the child, identified by the medical examiner as Alieonni Lane, was a beautiful little girl and was heartbroken to learn the child died Oct. 2.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Indian High Commissioner called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardana recently.Discussions were carried out regarding broad bilateral issues of common interest including investments, shared heritage, and capacity building.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's proposal for Debt Restructuring will be discussed online on Friday (23).Finance Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena told News 1st that all creditor nations will join the discussion, and the plan is to provide them a better understanding on Sri Lanka's Debt Restructuring process.Sri Lanka will be represented by the Finace Ministry Officials and personnel from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.On Thursday (22) foreign diplomats in Sri Lanka assured President Ranil Wickremesinghe of their support to get the assistance of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to Sri Lanka to recover from the economic crisis, said the President's Media Division.They made this assurance on Thursday (22) at the Ambassadors’ Forum on Debt Restructuring and IMF Program held at the President’s Office chaired by the President.Ambassadors from 23 countries, both members and non-members of Paris Club participated at the Forum.The foreign ambassadors expressed their confidence that Sri Lanka would be able to get out of this situation.President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that it was the government’s expectation to overcome the economic challenge that the country is facing and assured that all possible measures would be taken in the endeavour.Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe and Finance Ministry Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana explained the progress of the discussions held with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the current economic situation in Sri Lanka.President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that it was a challenge the country had to face to ensure a better future for the next generation.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The foreign diplomats in Sri Lanka have assured President Ranil Wickremesinghe of their support to get the assistance of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to Sri Lanka to recover from the economic crisis, said the President's Media Division.They made this assurance on Thursday (22) at the Ambassadors’ Forum on Debt Restructuring and IMF Program held at the President’s Office chaired by the President.Ambassadors from 23 countries, both members and non-members of Paris Club participated at the Forum.The foreign ambassadors expressed their confidence that Sri Lanka would be able to get out of this situation.President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that it was the government’s expectation to overcome the economic challenge that the country is facing and assured that all possible measures would be taken in the endeavour.Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe and Finance Ministry Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana explained the progress of the discussions held with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the current economic situation in Sri Lanka.President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that it was a challenge the country had to face to ensure a better future for the next generation.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka is currently facing its worse economic crisis, and people who cannot afford to pay a high cost for fuel have been forced to use public transport, especially the jam-packed trains.News 1st's Teena Marian filed this report during her early morning commute to work.The Colombo-bound train from Polgahawela was already packed like cans of sardines when it reached one of the busiest train stations on the coastal route this morning.As the train reached the platform, commuters rushed to the doors trying to creep inside the already packed compartments to make their way to Colombo for school and work.The train on its journey to Colombo passed many other stations, and some passengers waiting to board the train simply had to look on as the packed train passed by with no room for more passengers.For many, this has been the case for decades and more additional compartments is a paramount need.News 1st's inquiries from authorities at Sri Lanka Railways on why this perennial issue has gone unresolved despite footage and images of packed trains going viral for decades went unanswered.Overcrowded public transport is now the norm, as many hang off footboards for their lives and livelihoods.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India Milinda Moragoda had separate interactions with the members of the Indian Women’s Press Corps (IWPC) and the students of the IAAN School of Mass Communication recently.The formal interaction with the members of the Indian Women’s Press Corps was held at the organization’s headquarters in New Delhi. A large number of Delhi-based journalists, mostly women journalists, representing prominent media outlets in India attended this interaction.The members of the IWPC posed several questions to High Commissioner Moragoda, ranging from Sri Lanka’s present economic and political developments to Indo-Sri Lanka relations at large. The session was moderated by the President of the IWPC, Shobhna Jain. Several leading newspapers and news sites in India carried the contents of this interaction in their editions yesterday (22).Founded in 1994, the IWPC is one of the premier journalists’ organizations in India and has a membership of about 900 women journalists.Earlier in the day, High Commissioner Moragoda interacted with the students of the ‘IAAN School of Mass Communication’ on Indo-Lanka relations in line with India’s 75th Independence anniversary. The interaction was held at the recently opened High Commissioners’ Gallery at the Sri Lanka High Commission.High Commissioner Moragoda engaged with the students during an informal question and answer session followed by a formal interview that focused on Indo-Lanka relations.The students of the IAAN School of Mass Communication interviewed the High Commissioner for a special audio-visual book titled ‘Foreign Relations’ to mark the 75th anniversary of the Independence of  India.

INDIANAPOLIS - After an Indiana judge on Thursday blocked the state's abortion ban from being enforced, phones starting ringing across Indiana abortion clinics, which are preparing to resume the procedure a week after the ban had gone into effect."People are getting the word that abortion is now legal again, and people are ready to get their health care that they deserve and that they desire," Dr. Katie McHugh, an abortion provider at Women's Med in Indianapolis, told The Associated Press.Owen County Judge Kelsey Hanlon issued a preliminary injunction against the ban, putting the new law on hold as abortion clinic operators argue in a lawsuit that it violates the state constitution.Indiana's seven abortion clinics were to lose their state licenses under the ban — which only permits abortions within its narrow exceptions to take place in hospitals or outpatient surgical centers.The ban was approved by the state’s Republican-dominated Legislature on Aug.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Under Secretary for Political Affairs of the U.S.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilization of reservists in Russia, in a measure that appeared to be an admission that Moscow’s war against Ukraine isn’t going according to plan after nearly seven months of fighting.

(THE HINDU) – China has offered Pakistan’s visiting Army Chief technical help as the country deals with record floods but did not announce any substantial financial assistance that its “all-weather” ally has been seeking.Both Pakistan and Sri Lanka, facing financial stress, have been engaged in long-running talks with Beijing for assistance, but with negotiations in both cases having made little headway, both countries have turned to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Their new IMF commitments are now likely to impact their owed payments to China, which has lent the two countries more than $26 billion in the past five years.Following talks in Xi’an between Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa and China’s Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe, the Chinese side expressed willingness to provide technical assistance for flood relief work, Pakistan’s official Inter-Services Public Relations said.Chinese State media quoted Gen.

Several days of protests have erupted in Iran following the death of a 22-year-old woman who was arrested and in police custody for allegedly breaking hijab rules.

An exterior view of a Family Dollar store near Bloomsburg. (Photo by Paul Weaver/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Dozens of items have been recalled by Family Dollar because they were stored outside of temperature requirements. The items included are various over-the-counter medical products, such as condoms, pregnancy tests, toothpastes, and denture cleaners.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Minister of Agriculture, Mahinda Amaraweera showed by example on how to maintain a successful home garden and a harvest with the use of organic fertilizer.The Minister said that his Angunakolapelessa garden with a variety of upcountry and other vegetables is being maintaned fully with the use of organic fertilizer. He said that people too should learn to embrace organic homegrown fertilizer instead of complaining about the prices of food. His garden is being maintained without the influence of any kind of chemical fertilizer as well, he added. Meanwhile, farmers continued to lament about the loss of their harvests due to the decisions of the Government imposed recently, and according to Anuradhapura farmers, they cannot afford to have a large harvest, therefore only grow what they are able to eat. However, they continued demands for fertilizer and other necessities to continue farming, as the agricultural economy of the island has turned into a catastrophe, and a majority of farmers would end up in poverty.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka Navy conducted a special operation to chase away Indian poaching trawlers from Sri Lanka’s waters on the night of yesterday (19). The operation led to the seizure of an Indian trawler with 08 Indian nationals poaching in the island’s waters off Kovilan Lighthouse, Kankasanthurai.Sri Lanka Navy continues to conduct regular patrols and operations in Sri Lanka’s waters to curb illegal fishing practices of foreign fishing trawlers.In a similar operation conducted in the dark hours of 19th September, the Northern Naval Command deployed a Fast Attack Craft of the 04th Fast Attack Flotilla to chase away a cluster of Indian poaching trawlers, after having spotted them engaged in illegal fishing in Sri Lanka’s waters off Kovilan Lighthouse, through the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). Thus, the Navy held an Indian poaching trawler and continued to remain in the island’s waters, with 08 Indian fishers and fishing gear.The seized trawler together with 08 Indian fishermen was brought to the Kankesanthurai Harbour and they will be handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for onward legal proceedings.Meanwhile, the Navy has seized 25 Indian poaching trawlers and nabbed 189 Indian fishermen in Sri Lanka’s waters, during operations conducted thus far in 2022 and produced them to authorities for legal proceedings.Taking into account the consequences of illegal fishing practices by foreign fishermen in Sri Lanka’s waters on the livelihood of local fishermen and ocean resources of the country, Sri Lanka Navy continues to remain vigilant and conduct its operations to prevent such practices. 

COLOMBO (News 1st) – On 17th September, the Ukrainian President Voldomyr Zelenskyy in his briefing noted that seven Sri Lankan students were found in 'torture chambers' where civilians were abused by Russian soldiers in areas of the Kharkiv region in Ukraine. The Russian InvasionOn 24th of February, Russian forces initiated what they dubbed as a 'special operation', which was later declared by Russia as an operation for the “liberation of Donbas” – broadly referring to Ukraine’s regions of Luhansk and Donetsk.More than a third of this area was already seized by Russian proxy forces in a war that began in 2014.The liberation of IziumIzium was subject to intense Russian artillery attacks in April.

festivals of Durga Puja and Diwali between September and November. E-commerce majors Amazon and Walmart's Flipkart have already announced deeply discounted sales.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A Ukraining Journalist has released the first details about the insane story from Kharkiv region’s police about the 7 Sri Lankans, who were in Ukraine for work and studies, and were kidnapped by Russians, beaten, and had their nails torn off, and forced to work for free (clean).The 6 men and 1 woman, all aged 20-40, arrived in Ukraine around 3 weeks before the all-out invasion and rented a house in Kupiansk (which was occupied until a few days ago). They were hiding in their house for some time until they decided to try and flee into Kharkiv, she tweeted.However, they were stopped at the first Russian checkpoint that they tried to cross.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry PC, who is due to leave for New York for the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, is scheduled to address several international conferences which run in parallel with the UNGA session.Accordingly, Minister Sabry will be participating in the Ministerial Session of the Non-Aligned States, the Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia and the Ministerial Meeting of the Alliance for Global Development Initiative.The Foreign Minister is scheduled to present Sri Lanka's statement at the United Nations General Assembly on 24th September.The 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly will be held from September 20th to October 26th.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena says that State Ministers and Ministers will be appointed in the future under strict financial control.The Prime Minister visited Anuradhapura to engage in religious activities on Sunday (18).He further stated that a large cost is not incurred in the activities of Ministers, and himself as the Prime Minister. However, he emphasized that State institutions cannot continue their functions without appointing relevant authorities to oversee them.However, they will be subject to strict financial control in the future, he said. Moreover, the Prime Minister commented on the IMF staff level agreement with the Government, said that the proposal of the program is due to be presented before the IMF board in the near future. Many countries continue to assist Sri Lanka to their capacity to come out of its current crisis, he added.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Several ministries which were under the purview of President Ranil Wickremesinghe have been assigned to five acting Ministers.The relevant ministries have been reassigned for the period during which the President will remain away from the island for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.Accordingly, Pramita Bandara Tennakoon has been appointed as Acting Minister of Defense, Ranjith Siambalapitiya as Acting Minister of Finance, and Geeta Kumarasinghe as Acting Minister of Women and Children Affairs.Moreover, Kanaka Herath will  function as the Acting Minister of Technology while Dilum Amunugama will be functioning as the Acting Minister of Investment Promotion.

Joe Biden urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to not use tactical nuclear or chemical weapons in the wake of setbacks in Ukraine, in a CBS News interview to air on Sunday.Ukraine’s military drove back Russian forces in a lightning rout in the northeast of the country this week, putting Putin under pressure from nationalists at home to regain the initiative. UN to allow Ukraine’s Zelenskyy to virtually address next week’s world leaders summit Putin has warned that Moscow would respond more forcefully if its troops were put under further pressure, raising concerns that he could at some point use unconventional means like small nuclear or chemical weaponsAsked by a “60 Minutes” reporter what he would say to Putin if he was considering using such weapons, Biden said: “Don’t.

WILMINGTON, Del. - Wilmington police say they are investigating a shooting that left a teenager dead on Wednesday, while a man and woman are charged in connection with the teen's death.At around 5:38 p.m., police say they responded to the 900 block of North Spruce Street for reports of a shooting. Sky FOX was over the scene of a shooting in Wilmington that left a teenager dead.  Responding officers say they found a 19-year-old, identified as Za’Quan Blackwell, of Chester, Pa., suffering a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to a local hospital where officials say he succumbed to his injuries and died.According to Wilmington Police officials, 18-year-old Armani Rogers and 19-year-old Ah’kee Flonnory are both in custody.Flonnory is facing murder charges and is being held on more than $1 million cash-only bail.Rogers is facing second degree assault charges.Police are actively investigating this incident and they are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Kevin Nolan at 302-576-3962.

GERMANTOWN - Friends, family and fans all gathered in Germantown to honor PnB Rock, in a celebration of his life, by the people who knew him from the start. "I love you Rock," yelled the crowd. Balloons released in Germantown in memory of Philly's own PnB Rock. Hundreds gathered to celebrate his life after it was tragically taken, police say, during a robbery in Los Angeles earlier this week."Rock was my little guy," said Raymond Hunter.

dog biscuits while attending a lunch at Windsor Castle.Alan Johnson, who was a Labour MP from 1997 to 2017, was seated next to Her Majesty during the lunch in 2008, when he tucked into cheese on "unusual dark biscuits". It wasn't until he had finished the biscuit that his colleague Paul Murphy let him know that they had been laid out by the Queen for her dogs.READ MORE: Most baffling Queen’s funeral – ‘Guinea pig week’ to sex club gatheringMr Johnson kept quiet about his blunder for 14 years, despite Royal biographer Robert Hardman recalling the anecdote in his book Queen of Our Times.

...#JusticeWorldTourIndia #JusticeWorldTourIndiaUpdate pic.twitter.com/I3MmNgSfxe Justin Bieber's shows in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Bahrain, the UAE and Israel were also cancelled along with that in India. Earlier this year in June, the 28-year-old shared with the world that he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

has voluntarily recalled Starbucks Vanilla Espresso Triple Shot over concerns the product may contain metal fragments. The recall affects over 200 cases of the 15 oz, 12 bottles per case, packages. According to the FDA's report, the recall started on August 15 but was made public on September 8. The product was sold in seven states: Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Oklahoma and Texas.RELATED: Starbucks to spend nearly half a billion dollars to revamp image, make stores more efficientCustomers are urged to stop using the product and return it to its place of purchase. FOX Television Stations has reached out to Pepsico for comment. This story was reported from Los Angeles. 

BELFAST, Northern Ireland - Cheering crowds greeted King Charles III on Tuesday in Northern Ireland on his tour of the four parts of the United Kingdom, where the visit drew a rare moment of unity from politicians in a region with a contested British and Irish identity that is deeply divided over the monarchy.Hundreds of people lined the street leading to Hillsborough Castle near Belfast, the royal family’s official residence in Northern Ireland, in the latest outpouring of affection following Queen Elizabeth II's death on Sept. 8.

The National List of Essential Medicines plays an important role in ensuring accessibility of affordable quality medicines at all levels of healthcare. This will give boost to cost-effective, quality medicines and contribute towards reduction in out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare for citizens NEW DELHI: Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday released the National List of Essential Medicines 2022, comprising 384 medicines across 27 categories, the ministry of health and family welfare said in a statement.

NEW YORK - A mother of three young children was being questioned by police on Monday after the kids were found unconscious along the Coney Island shoreline in New York and later died in an apparent drowning.The children were a 3-month-old baby, a 4-year-old girl, and a 7-year-old boy, FOX 5 New York reported, citing police officials. New York Police Department officers responded to an apartment at around 1:40 a.m. local time after family members called 911 from a different location with concerns that their relative may have harmed her three young children.Officers went to the apartment but no one answered the door, according to the news outlet.

PHILADELPHIA - Police are investigating after Sunday morning began with a shooting in Center City.A man was reportedly shot on the 1300 block of Locust Street around 3:30 a.m.He was rushed to the hospital, but his condition is not known at this time.MORE HEADLINES:Several cops were on scene, as well as onlookers in the area.Police say a suspect has been taken into custody, but no other information has been released.

Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya has assured full support to Nagaland in strengthening the healthcare infrastructure of the northeastern state Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya has assured full support to Nagaland in strengthening the healthcare infrastructure of the northeastern state. Mandaviya held a meeting with the health minister of Nagaland S Pangnyu Phom on Friday in New Delhi.

MILL CREEK - A woman has died after she was shot in Philadelphia's Mill Creek section, at the rec center, and a 14-year-old is in custody.Officials say 16th District officers were called to the 4700 block of Brown Street Friday afternoon, around 1:30, on the report of a shooting.A 41-year-old woman was found shot twice in Mill Creek. Police say an arrest has been made.