Kanchana needs top US Treasury official

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Sri Lanka Freedom Party has decided to make several major changes.The party's Central Committee met on Monday (21) and unanimously decided to take away the party membership of all those who left the party, including Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.In addition, the SLFP Central Committee has decided to appoint Thilanga Sumathipala as the General Secretary of the United People's Freedom Alliance, replacing Mahinda Amaraweera.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Third Secretary of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman E. Kushan is alleged to have committed sexual abuse, and engaged in the trafficking of Sri Lankan women for sex. However, he denies these claims and told EXCLUSIVELY to News 1st that these allegations are fabricated and have no ground. On Sunday (21) several former expats visited News 1st and expose startling details, and the said Third Secretary of the Sri Lankan Embassy rejected all the allegations as baseless. "While talking he put his arms around me, and I tried to push him away. I told him that that was not what I came for and I came to speak.

Sharon Stone, 64, admitted in a candid Instagram video from her home, after enduring more than two weeks with no social contact at all, that she is trying to remain upbeat.She detailed the health scare that has kept her home-bound in an Instagram video shared with no fewer than 3.5 million followers.Despite dodging Covid for more than two years, the former Basic Instinct star has finally succumbed to the virus, which she claims she caught in a doctor's surgery."Okay I'm on day 16, testing positive for Covid," she told the world as she sat snugly wrapped up in a baggy grey sweatshirt with the hood around her head."Now I'm a positive person, but that's a lot of positivity, even for me," she chuckled."You know, the scrambled brain, the isolation - it's a lot, and I managed not to get Covid for so long, travelling intercontinentally, doing everything."Do you know where I got Covid? In the doctor's office," she explained."Do you know how? They stopped wearing masks. You know where I got Covid? From a nurse!" she confided, before laughing heartily at the irony.She maintained she was remaining positive in more ways than one after finding the dreaded double line on her test 16 days in a row."Okay so day 16 still testing positive.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A drug trafficker was injured in a shooting in Meetiyagoda on Monday (21) afternoon, and was admitted to the Balapitiya Hospital.Sri Lanka Police said that a weapon discharged when a team from the Meetiyagoda Police attempted to arrest a drug trafficker.The suspect will be transferred to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, later in the day.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Sri Lankan Government’s intention was to resume the negotiations on free trade agreements said Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake.It is the vision of the President that Sri Lanka will integrate with the global value chains and with the largest economies in South Asia and East Asia and then expand to the east region linking to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).Further, the Secretary to the President invited private sector stakeholders to creatively engage in this development initiative as they are the ultimate beneficiaries.He made these observations during an awareness session on the resumption of negotiations of free trade agreements held for Trade Chambers and Industry Advisory Committees at the Finance Ministry on November (16).Secretary to the Treasury, Secretaries of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Industries, and the members of the National Trade Negotiation Committee also participated.The contours of Global trade have been significantly changed in recent years by bringing regional and global production networks as driving factors of international trade where Sri Lanka has not yet been engaged to tap the potential.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Overall rate of inflation as measured by the National Consumer Price Index on a Year-On-Year basis was 70.6% in October 2022, compared to 73.7% in September 2022.Food Inflation dropped to 80.9% in October 2022, compared to 85.8% in September 2022, said the Department of Census and Statistics on Monday (21). 

Senior NHS bosses have reportedly discussed making wealthier Scots pay for treatment as the health service struggles to meet demand.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lankan Wildlife Officials managed to save a Wild Elephant that had its trunk stuck inside a barrel of moonshine in Minneriya.This operation lasted around 5-hours.According to the locals, the wild elephant with its trunk stuck inside the barrel was located close to the Minneriya Army Camp, and after alerting the officials a rescue operation was launched.Wildlife personnel from the Girithale, Moragahakanda, and Anuradhapura offices were rushed to the scene.The elephant was first tranquillized and then after a five-hour operation was set free.The wild elephant was released back to the Minneriya Forest Reservation after administering treatment to its wounds.Note: Archive images used for this report.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Speaker of Parliament announce to the house on Monday (21) that the Annual Reports and Performance Reports to be submitted to Parliament are currently being submitted in soft copies.The speaker said that measures will be taken to keep a limited number of hard copies of the said reports in the Chamber and Library for the use of the Members of Parliament as required.The Speaker further announced that this is carried out in accordance with the decision taken at the meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business held on 02.06.2022.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Concerns were raised in Parliament on Monday (21) regarding the participation of the Police Commission Chief at the welcome ceremony for Basil Rajapaksa at the BIA.Opposition Lawmakers questioned the reasons for the Chairman of the National Police Commission, and member P. P.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – More than five thousand Sri Lankans have travelled to Dubai on visit visa for exmployment, revealed Sri Lanka's State Tourism Minister Tharaka Balasuriya on Monday (21).The State Minister also said that 19 Sri Lankans who had travelled to Abu Dhavi have also refused to return to Sri Lanka.'These groups are trying to travel to Oman for employment,' said the State Minister adding that most people are interested in overseas employment opportunities given the current situation in the country, however, stressed that it is important use official channels to travel overseas for employment.The State Minister also said that a proper study will be conducted to control the use of visit visa for employment overseas.The situation surrounding overseas employment in the Middle East reached national level condemnation after reports surfaced that Sri Lankan women were being auctioned and sold as sex slaves in Oman.Suspects Arrested:On Saturday 19th October 2022, Sri Lanka's Immigration and Emigration Department arrested a 40-year-old man at the Katunayake Airport for engaging in human smuggling.He was arrested when returning to Sri Lanka from Dubai, and was identified as a resudent from Wattala who was operating a Foreign Employment Agency in Maradana, Colombo 10.Thereafter, on Sunday (20) another suspect connected to the human trafficking ring was arrested from Avissawella.He was identified as a broker who sends Sri Lankan women to the Middle Easter, where they are smuggled from Abu Dhabi to Oman to be sold as sex slaves.The suspect was arrested based on the complaints made filed by Sri Lankan women stranded in the Middle East.Foreign Employment Agencies in hot water:The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment over

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigations Department arrested a woman linked to trafficking women to Oman, where they are auctioned and sold to the highest bidder.The CID told News 1st on Monday (21) that the woman was operating the sex trafficking ring from Oman and was arrested after she surrendered to the Criminal Investigations Department.The CID said that it had been investigating her for several weeks, and she was not living at any of the four registered addresses.However, on Monday (21) morning, she surrendered to detectives and following her arrest three in total have been apprehended for their links to trafficking women to Oman.On Saturday 19th October 2022, Sri Lanka's Immigration and Emigration Department arrested a 40-year-old man at the Katunayake Airport for engaging in human smuggling.He was arrested when returning to Sri Lanka from Dubai and was identified as a resident of Wattala who was operating a Foreign Employment Agency in Maradana, Colombo 10.Thereafter, on Sunday (20) another suspect connected to the human trafficking ring was arrested from Avissawella.He was identified as a broker who sends Sri Lankan women to the Middle Easter, where they are smuggled from Abu Dhabi to Oman to be sold as sex slaves.The suspect was arrested based on the complaints made filed by Sri Lankan women stranded in the Middle East.Safe-House Abuse: Around 90 women who were subject to multiple forms of physical and mental abuse are currently given shelter at a safe house operated by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman.However, this safe house lacks the most basic facilities to accommodate a single woman, let alone 90 of them.These Sri Lankan women, some of who were auctioned for sex, are at this safe house

COLOMBO (News 1st) – 32 percent of Sri Lankan households are now food insecure, and 68 percent of households are turning to food based coping strategies such as eating less preferred food or reducing the number of meals and portion-sizes, revealed the latest World Food Program figures.UNICEF estimates that approximately 2.3 million children are in need of humanitarian assistance, including 56,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM).In late October, the Humanitarian Needs and Priorities plan (HNP) was extended until the end of 2022, with the aim of providing life-saving humanitarian assistance to 3.4 million of the most vulnerable people in Sri Lanka. United Nations agencies, funds and programmes and implementing partners have stepped up their interventions recently and the number of people reached, currently at around 1.2 million, is expected to further pick up speed in the next few weeks. In November alone, WFP aims to distribute 7,398 MT of food to approximately 400,000 people in five districts.

A newly launched online consultation platform could provide huge benefits for the NHS and cut down the amount of time patients spend in GP practices.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Yet another suspect connected to the shocking revelations of a major sex slave trade in which Sri Lankan women are being sold into slavery in Oman has been arrested. News 1st has been closely following this story for over a week and exclusively revealing the sordid facts surrounding this shame on our nation.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – MTV Channel (Pvt) Ltd, the network that owns and operates Sirasa TV, Shakthi TV, TV-1, News 1st and Stein Studios, has been appointed as the Official Television Rights Holders in Sri Lanka for the FIFA World Cup, which is expected to be the most-watched sporting event in world history. The 64 matches in 29 days between 32 nations will air primarily LIVE on TV-1, the network’s islandwide sports and infotaiment channel, whilst also being selectively simulcast and re-aired on Shakthi TV and Sirasa TV.  Viewers can tune in to TV-1 on the following UHF frequencies: Colombo 58Nuwara Eliya 59Nuwara Eliya Town 29Matale 53Kandy 51Deniyaya 53Ratnapura 54Jaffna 34Badulla 58Matugama 53 The dazzling opening ceremony is scheduled to commence at 8:00 p.m. Sri Lanka time on Sunday, 20th November, followed immediately by the first match between hosts Qatar and Ecuador at 9:30 p.m.

As fresh restrictions are imposed in parts of China against the new outbreaks of the Covid-19 virus, the country has reported its first death in nearly half a year. China saw the death of an 87-year-old man from Beijing, bringing the death count to 5,227. His death was first reported by the National Health Commission.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A suspect involved in the Human trafficking ring involving Sri Lankan women in Oman has been arrested by officers of the Criminal Investigations Department in Avissawella.This arrest was made following a complaint made by musician Dushanth Weeraman. It was revealed that the suspect has operated as a middleman in the human trafficking ring.The suspect is to be produced before the Hulftsdorp Magistrate Court today.

Two MSPs have accused the Scottish Government’s Health Secretary of ‘failing to get a grip’ on NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s A&E waiting times.

People in Ayrshire are being encouraged to take advantage of a number of drop-in centres where they can receive Covid-19 boosters and flu vaccines, starting this weekend.

Billy Dodds has branded the SPFL's refusal to allow his side to recall on-loan players "embarrassing" after the Inverness Caledonian Thistle boss was forced to field players who shouldn't have played as he continues to deal with a lengthy injury list in the Highlands.

Colombo (News 1st) – The Immigration and Emigration Unit at the Bandaranaike International Airport arrested the main suspect linked to trafficking Sri Lankan women to Oman, upon his return to the country from Dubai on Friday night (Nov. 18). The 40-year-old suspect is a resident of Wattala, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) told News 1st. According to the SLBFE, the suspect is believed to have trafficked women for sex through an office set up in Maradana.The 40-year-old man was handed over to the Katunayake Police for further investigations and he will be produced at the Negombo Magistrate's Court on Saturday (Nov.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka’s government promised parliament on Saturday that it would investigate revelations by News 1st of a major sex slave trade in which Sri Lankan women are being sold into slavery in Oman.Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told the house that a special team was dispatched to look into the complaints of the sex slave ring in Oman, in order to take swift action. "The President has paid special attention to this situation.

Colombo (News 1st): The law will be strictly enforced against anyone who has trafficked Sri Lankan women to countries such as Oman, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told Parliament on Saturday (Nov. 19)."With the special attention of the President, a team was sent to take necessary legal action pertaining to such complaints from countries such as Oman, for one-and-a-half-months.

 

COLOMBO (News 1st) – In recent days, News 1st exposed the plight of Sri Lankan women taken to Oman on visit visas and being auctioned for sex in the Middle East.Around 90 women who were subject to multiple forms of physical and mental abuse are currently given shelter at a safe house operated by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman.However, this safe house lacks the most basic facilities to accommodate a single woman, let alone 90 of them.These Sri Lankan women, some of who were auctioned for sex, are at this safe house because of the excessive trauma that they experienced, and sadly it has now been revealed that they repeatedly exploited the safe house in Oman."It's been three years since I arrived in Oman. I came here last month, but they are not allowing me to leave. The officer has my passport and documents.

Colombo (News 1st) – The Anti Leprosy Campaign at the Health Ministry on Saturday (Nov. 19) warned of an alarming rate in the spread of Hansen's Disease (most commonly known as Leprosy) among school children in Sri Lanka. Around 15 percent of the cases reported this year were among school children, Dr.

carries two copies of a gene linked to an increased risk of , reported on November 18. The middle Hemsworth brother, 39, made the discovery while filming Limitless, his forthcoming National Geographic docuseries about “pushing back on the natural decline that comes with time and aging,” per VF.On the show, Hemsworth called the discovery “my biggest fear." Though the results are not a guarantee of an Alzheimer's diagnosis, Hemsworth says they make him “8-10” times more likely to develop the disease. “It really triggered something in me to want to take some time off,” Hemsworth told VF in an interview. “And since we finished the show, I've been completing the things I was already contracted to do.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Inter-University Students Federation protested at multiple locations in Colombo on Friday (18) demanding the immediate release of student leaders Wasantha Mudalige, and Venerable Galwewa Siridhamma Thero.A large police force had gathered at the Cinnamon Gardens Police ahead of the protests, and the Riot Police and Water Cannons were also stationed.The protest march was to start from opposite the Nelum Pokuna.

An Ayrshire politician has blasted what he's described as an 'undemocratic money grab' from the Scottish Government.

Annual growth of USD 3 billion from new export from 2023 to 2032. Foreign Direct Investment of more than 3 billion USD in the next ten years. Creating an internationally competitive workforce with high skills in the next ten years.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The earthquake that was reported off the coast of Indonesia on Friday (18) poses NO Tsunami threat to Sri Lanka, confirmed the Met Department of Sri Lanka.Sri Lankan authorities said that there is no threat to the people living in the coastal areas of Sri Lanka.A 6.9 Magnitude Earthquake reported 212 km close to Bengkulu, Indonesia, confirmed the United States Geological Survey.

CORONATION Street bombshell Beverley Callard has taken to social media to candidly talk about her battle with her mental health. The soap star, best known for her role as Liz Mcdonald in Coronation Street, opened up in a post to her Instagram where she admitted she was battling "demons of depression".

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The National Council Sub-Committee for Identifying Short- and Medium-Term Programs related to Economic Stabilization said that proposals for the reform of laws related to the economic stabilization of the country will be presented to the country at the end of December.MP Patali Champika Ranawaka, who is also the Chairman of the Sub-Committee said that it is important to discuss whether there are shortcomings in the law among the reasons that led to the country's economic bankruptcy and to discuss the next steps to be taken.The experts who participated in the committee expressed their views on the reforms that should be made in the country's legal system to obtain local and international support to create economic stability in the country, said the Parliament Media Division.The role of the Central Bank, the role and accountability of the Treasury, the role and accountability of the government, and the accountability of government officials, politicians and the business community dealing with them were discussed at the committee. Also, proposals were presented on the need for a large-scale anti-corruption process and the importance of implementing the law on assets and liabilities.Officials of the Ministry of Justice said that 55 new laws and amendments to existing laws are currently underway.The senior lawyers pointed out that due to the Covid pandemic situation, the number of cases pending in the courts is high, so the trials should be managed efficiently.

(Reuters) – Sri Lanka has postponed a round of debt restructuring talks initially expected to be held on Thursday to allow central bank and treasury officials to provide clarifications sought by the country's creditors, its state minister of finance said.The island nation formally kicked off the talks in September after securing a preliminary $2.9 billion bailout with the International Monetary Fund, a step on a path out of the country's worst financial crisis in a decade.But it needs to secure financing assurances from key creditors including China, Japan and India before the funds can be disbursed."There are different concerns that different creditors want cleared so it was decided that these clarifications would be communicated first and then new dates would be set for another round of talks," state minister Shehan Semasinghe Semasinghe told Reuters on Thursday."The dates are yet to be decided."Semasinghe did not provide details on the creditors' concerns or what exactly was being discussed between them and Sri Lanka's central bank and treasury officials.Sri Lanka had earlier set a target of getting board level IMF approval in December for the planned four-year programme."We are focusing on financing assurances. As of now no bilateral creditor has informed us that they are not going to support us," Semasinghe added."We have a target and we are pushing hard to meet it in December."Sri Lankan officials have also had talks with representatives from China EXIM Bank and China Development Bank which together hold about $4.3 billion in loans given to fund large infrastructure projects over the last 20 years.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka states that the Police Chief take the necessary steps to maintain discipline in Sri Lanka Police to uphold the rule of law and maintain the peace.It has also requested the Inspector General of Police to justify the reasons for restricting a protest march in Panadura last weekend.The HRCSL said it is conducting a suo-moto investigation on the incident where the Chief Inspector of Kalutara pushed and shoved two female police officers and a female, and the orders to stop the peaceful march unlawfully and arrest the participants.A peaceful march originating from Kalutara was stopped by the police in Panadura as admitted by the Chief Inspector of Panadura police before the Commission on 18th November 2022, reported the HRCSL.The Police Chief was directed to forward to the Commission via an affidavit the reason for restricting the march and on whose command or orders the police stopped the march, who carried those commands or orders, and the action initiated by the police against the officers responsible.The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka also observed that the Senior Superintendent of Police for the Panadura Police division had failed to protect the march participants by giving the necessary orders. The HRCSL stressed that the inappropriate behaviour of the police, as seen in the recent past, has already destroyed the confidence of the people and is rapidly destroying the country's good image internationally.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Countries with large debt burdens are losing even more capital due to climate shocks, and shrinking their fiscal space, and these countries are now looking for other options to ease their burden.Some of these countries are now opting to switch to a debt-for-nature swap deal, which is an arrangement whereby a foreign debt owed by a developing country is transferred to a particular organization, typically in return for the country's committing itself to specified conservation measures.These can be trumped up countries, including Sri Lanka, which has been discussing a deal of up to $1 billion according to people familiar with those talks.Cape Verde, an archipelago nation off West Africa, is meanwhile close to a nature swap that could be worth up to $200 million, said Jean-Paul Adam, a former Seychelles government official who now works for the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), providing financing advice to governments.The potential deals for Ecuador, Sri Lanka and Cape Verde, reported here in detail for the first time, point to a jump in interest for this form of financial alchemy, which was conceived decades ago but has remained something of a niche area until recently.Only three of over 140 or so swaps struck over the past 35 years – the first in 1987 – had a value of more than a quarter of a billion dollars, according to global data published by the African Development Bank.

With an international reputation for tranquillity and its approach to health and wellbeing, Scotland’s Stobo Castle Health Spa offers an indulgent haven to relax.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A Sri Lanka Army Major and two others died in a tragic motor accident in Gamgaluwa on Thursday (17) night.Sri Lanka Police said the car in which they were travelling veered off the road and crashed into a tree.The deceased were a Sri Lanka Army Major attached to the Saliyapura Military Camp, and two of his relatives.Two others who were injured were admitted to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A writ application filed seeking a ruling that State Minister Diana Gamage is unfit to become a Member of the Sri Lankan Parliament and that she should be prevented from serving as an MP will be taken up for consideration on the 28th of November, by the Court of Appeal.The writ application was filed by civil activist Osanda Lakmal Anil Herath, and it was called up in the presence of Justices Sobitha Rajakaruna and Dhammika Ganepola.The bench ordered for notice to be sent to all the respondents including State Minister Diana Gamage.The court noted that it is appropriate to issue relevant orders and relief sought by the petitioners in the presence of all mentioned parties.State Minister Diana Gamage, the Public Security Minister, the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration, and the Chairman of the National Election Commission among 15 others were named as respondents in the case.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka Police raided a gambling den operated by a ruling party member of the Medagama Pradeshiya Sabha, and arrested eight people. The police noted that the suspect local government member was operating the gambling den in a car park owned by him.

Covid-19: The death toll climbed to 5,30,553 with seven fatalities which includes two deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated. India logged 656 new coronavirus infections taking the tally of Covid-19 cases to 4,46,67,967, while the active cases declined to 7,034, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. The death toll climbed to 5,30,553 with seven fatalities which includes two deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Dr. P.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Two underworld criminal gangsters were killed in a shootout with the Police Special Task Force on Friday (18) morning, in Polwatte Minuwangoda.The Police Special Task Force said that the two men were close associates of wanter criminal and drug trafficker 'Uragaha Indika'.The STF had launched an investigation to trace and arrest the motorcycle gunmen responsible for shooting dead a man on the 24th of August 2022 in Urgaha and also shooting dead a 4-year-old boy and his father on the 19th of October 2022 in Yakkalamulla.According to the STF, a shootout took place when the STF personnel were attempting to arrest the shooter and the motorcyclist.The suspects were seriously injured in the shootout, and the Police Special Task Force said they were dead upon admission to the hospital.One STF officer was admitted to the Minuwangoda Hospital for treatment as he suffered minor injuries.The Police Special Task Force said that the deceased suspects were residents of Poddala.A T-56 Assault Rifle, A 12-bore shotgun, and a Rambo Knife were discovered in the possession of the slain criminals.The Minuwangoda Police is conducting further investigations.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The government is collaborating with the Californian university system to obtain assistance to modernize agriculture in Sri Lanka and to set up a new agro-technology university, said Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe.He was addressing the 70th anniversary of the United States-Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission Program in Colombo on Wednesday (16).He said that the government discussed with a group of Singaporean investors on Tuesday (15) the supply of food for island nations and Middle East countries which lack their food resources. He said that this was only the start and he issued instructions to find the land for it and modernize agriculture. He said that Fulbright alumni such as Prof Pradeepa Bandaranaike are vital assets in modernizing agriculture. He added that the new agro-technology university will be combined with the Tea Research Institute (TRI), among others, to work with some of the American institutions on how to upgrade research in Sri Lanka.President Ranil Wickremesinghe also said that the government is focusing on improving English language education within the next ten years.

 COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Sri Lankan mission in Oman has made it clear that if people are entering the Sultanate of Oman for employment, they must enter through the proper channels.The announcement came following multiple News 1st revelations about Sri Lankan women being trafficked to Oman using visit visa, and sold for sex.Earlier this week, News 1st revealed that 12 Sri Lankan women who were taken against their will to Oman after flying to Abu Dhabi on a visit visa, remain unaccounted for, and an extensive investigation is underway locally and overseas.An investigation by Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigations Department revealed that traffickers were taking away Sri Lankan women to Oman on visit vias, and they auctioned them to the highest bidder for sex.Following News 1st revelations, reports have emerged of several other women who remain missing after being taken to Oman. Some reports claim these women have been detained against their will.Fathima Hameedia is one Sri Lankan woman who remains unaccounted for in Oman.A 22-year-old mother of one, Fathima Hameedia is a resident of Palakkadu, Batticaloa and she left for Oman on the 6th of March on a visit visa.She had travelled overseas via a Foreign Employment Agency, however, several days after leaving the country she went missing."It's been nine months since my daughter went missing.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Minister of Power & Energy has met the Treasury Department in USA Robert Kaproth and the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung and other officials of the USAID.Productive discussions were carried out considering the reforms in the Power & Energy Sector, policies, debt restructuring, fuel management system & Petroleum products procurement.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Department in the USA, Robert Kaproth is in Sri Lanka. He is here to meet with government & economic leaders to discuss the way forward on economic recovery for Sri Lanka, tweeted the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka.Robert Kaproth met with the USA Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung on Tuesday (25).