Sri Lankans: Latest News

COLOMBO (News 1st); When a Sri Lankan Minister who is a US citizen, negotiates with the United States on behalf of Sri Lanka, it goes beyond reasonable doubt that he will stand for the United States than Sri Lanka, as his property and family are in America, and he can easily return back without consequences after his tenure ends, says former Minister Udaya Gammanpila.Participating in the News 1st ’10 questions’ program, the former Minister alleged that although he did not protest against the 20th amendment when it was introduced, he stated that he fought for the East Terminal of the Colombo Port not to be handed over to foreign investors in the Cabinet.He said that the solutions presented by him to address the crises in Sri Lanka were disregarded as well.He further alleged that Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, who he dubbed as ‘The Ugly American’ was behind the New Fortress LNG deal, as well as the investments behind the East Container Terminal.The former Minister also said that the Finance Minister wants to take the country to a point where the economy is collapsed, food shortage is imminent alonfg wiith medicine and fuel.He warned that due to these actions at a certain point national assets must be sold to the United States to feed Sri Lankans.Watch the Full Program Here ;

COLOMBO (News 1st); 32 Sri Lankans who were in Ukraine, have been moved out of the country via four separate borders.This was confirmed to News 1st by the Sri Lankan Ambassador accredited to Ukraine.Earlier, the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry said that it continues to closely monitor developments in Ukraine.On Monday (28) the Ministry said it was engaged in the evacuation of approximately forty (40) Sri Lankan nationals, including two (02) students in Ukraine via the Ukraine – Polish border.The process is facilitated by the Sri Lanka Embassies in Warsaw and Ankara, the latter being concurrently accredited to Ukraine.The Ministry has strengthened the provision of resources to the Sri Lanka Embassy in Warsaw in order to ensure the effective facilitation of the evacuation process.The Ambassadors of Sri Lanka in Ankara and Warsaw continue to maintain close contact with the Sri Lankan nationals leaving Ukraine, in order to enable their safe passage and return to Sri Lanka.The Foreign Ministry is also engaged in monitoring the status of Sri Lankan nationals in countries which share land borders with Ukraine.Sri Lanka’s accredited missions are in contact with the relevant Honorary Consuls and Sri Lankan nationals in the respective countries.The Sri Lanka Embassy in Moscow which is concurrently accredited to Belarus continues to be in close communication with the approximately 1,600 Sri Lankan nationals, including 1,556 students studying in over eight (08) universities / higher education institutes in Belarus.Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Moscow is in direct contact with the relevant university authorities, student and parent groups, as well as other concerned institutions in Belarus, with regard to the safety and welfare of the Sri

COLOMBO (News 1st); A worsening shortage of fuel has brought Sri Lankans of all walks of life to mile-long ques across the island, with little hope for a solution over the coming days.“We have never experienced anything like this in our lifetime. It is a disaster”, noted a senior citizen, forced to queue up for hours for a few liters of fuel.The situation has worsened with farmers, already struck by the fertilizer crisis, left with no fuel for machinery used to harvest crops.

COLOMBO (News 1st); A worsening shortage of fuel has brought Sri Lankans of all walks of life to mile-long ques across the island, with little hope for a solution over the coming days.“We have never experienced anything like this in our lifetime. It is a disaster”, noted a senior citizen, forced to queue up for hours for a few liters of fuel.The situation has worsened with farmers, already struck by the fertilizer crisis, left with no fuel for machinery used to harvest crops.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The global digital platform (GDP) prepared by the National Science Foundation for Sri Lankan expatriates and emigrants in the world was launched on Monday (21) at the BMICH.The National Science Foundation (NSF) embarked upon constructing an instrument with technical support from the SLASSCOM to harness this potential, and a state-of-the-art global digital platform with the requisite capabilities and features to mobilise the expatriates for national development has now been developed.More than 950 Sri Lankans around the world are currently connected to this network.The GDP of the NSF will facilitate effective harnessing, mobilising, and channeling intellectual assets at home and abroad ― the most precious and treasured resource in a knowledge economy –– for development.This will enable Sri Lanka to address and resolve high-priority national needs and concerns while making the most of the opportunities and natural resources available in order to transform Sri Lanka into a developed nation.A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was also signed between the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Sri Lanka Association of Software and Service Companies (SLASSCOM) for a broader purpose, including enhancing higher education and its capacity building, enhancing educational collaboration and research collaboration.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Director-General of Health Services, Dr. Asela Gunawardena said the directive to stop wearing the face mask would be considered as the final decision regarding the easing of existing COVID-19 restrictions.Before removing the mask people should get the booster Jab, the target group is 14.1 million Sri Lankans, he said.Furthermore, he stated that giving the Booster dose to 14.1 million people would confirm that people have some form of immunity against COVID-19.However, he said the final decision on doing away with the face mask will be made based on the recommendation of the World Health Organization, measures adopted overseas, and the scientific evidence.If the immunization of all the people in the country reaches the desired level following adequate administration of the COVID-19 booster dose, authorities are prepared to do away with the current health regulations including the face mask rule, Health Services Director General Dr.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka is planning on administering a fourth dose for people who are traveling overseas, given the fact that some vaccines used in Sri Lanka are not accepted in certain countries.Director-General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena told reporters on Thursday (17) that some countries do not accept the Sinopharm vaccine as a vaccine against COVID-19.“At times likes that, for Sri Lankans who have obtained two doses of the Sinopharm Vaccine, and the Pfizer booster dose, we will administer another dose of the vaccine to enable them to travel overseas,” he elaborated.Dr.

Seoul (News 1st); Former Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has called on the world to pledge to not be warmongers and war criminals but peacemakers and sacrifice in whatever way required to benefit humanity forever with bestowed peace.Sirisena was speaking at the World Summit 2022 (Summit for Peace on the Korean Peninsula) in Seoul, South Korea.World Summit 2022 (Summit for Peace on the Korean Peninsula) gathered world leaders and a worldwide virtual audience around topics related to peaceful reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula.It featured keynote speakers from around the world on a range of topics related to the peaceful reconciliation of the Korean Peninsula. Many speakers are from the 157 countries that have diplomatic ties with both North and South Korea.“The experiences in the unification of Germany and Vietnam show how two contrasting political ideologies could positively merge.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka has recorded a 35% spike in COVID-19 cases compared to the first week of February 2022.Dr. Anwar Hamdani, attached to the Ministry of Health speaking to News 1st said that COVID-19 fatalities have also spiked by 15 %.He urged the general public to immediately obtain the booster dose against COVID-19 if they are yet to do so.He further noted that a mobile vaccination drive is in effect to vaccinate some 1.1 million Sri Lankans who remain unvaccinated.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Approximately 1.17 million Sri Lankans over the age of 20 are yet to obtain the first dose of the vaccine against COVID-19, revealed the State Ministry of Home Affairs.N.H.M. Chithrananda, the Secretary to the State Ministry of Home Affairs told News 1st that this number of ascertained following a recent study in Sri Lanka.He said that 719,000 Sri Lankans between the ages of 20 – 29 have not obtained the vaccine.386,408 Sri Lankans between the ages of 30 – 60 are yet to obtain the first dose, he added while noting that 64,234 Senior Citizens (over 60) are yet to obtain the vaccine.N.H.M.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila had announced a 5-point proposal to overcome the economic crisis that has plagued the island nation for over a year.“The only way we can overcome this situation is if the whole of Sri Lanka decided to make purchases locally as true Sri Lankans,” said the Minister on Sunday (6).The 5-point process mentioned by the Minister is as follows.1. Accept there is an issue.2.

COLOMBO (News 1st); President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has requested all MPs, Ministers and politicians to conduct themselves in an exemplary manner.The President made this request during his address to the nation at the 74th Independence Day celebrations in Colombo.Furthermore, the President requested Sri Lankans living overseas to take the opportunity to invest in their motherland.The President also noted that Sri Lanka as a country that respects the Rule of Law and International Conventions will never allow for human rights to be violated and the government has never permitted such act and will never do so in the future.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Colombo Additional Magistrate Chandima Liyanage on Wednesday (26) authorized the Police Narcotic Bureau to detain and interrogate 17 suspects who were arrested in connection to the seizure of more than 300 kg of heroin in international waters.Among the suspects are the owners of the two trawlers that were seized.In a successful operation carried out in international waters south of Sri Lanka, the Navy managed to seize a haul of heroin, with 11 suspects and 02 local fishing vessels on 17th and 22nd January 2022 and they were brought to the port of Colombo this morning (25th January).The consignment of heroin in 309 packages, which had been stuffed in 13 sacks, weighed approx. 343kg 456g (including packages).The street value of the seized consignment of illegal drugs is believed to be over Rs.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has emphasized that all efforts must be made to increase bilateral trade relations through making optimal use of the Pakistan-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement.He was talking to Minister of Trade of Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana and State Minister for Regional Cooperation, Tharaka Balasuriya, who paid a courtesy call on him in Islamabad on Tuesday (25).Fondly recalling his visit to Sri Lanka last year, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the strong fraternal relations that exist between the two countries.Stressing on the importance of regular high-level exchanges in strengthening bilateral cooperation the Prime Minister appreciated the initiative of Dr.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal on Friday (7) in a series of tweets has clarified the position on remittances.He said that remittances by Sri Lankan expats are NOT subject to the rule on the conversion of export proceeds, as those are not considered “services exports”.Hence, those can’t & won’t be converted into Sri Lankan Rupees without the consent of the recipient, he said.However, the Governor said that in the case of merchandise or services exports by resident Sri Lankans, residual earnings have to be converted into Sri Lankan Rupees after deducting the permitted payments, he added.The deductions permitted are:Outward remittances in respect of current transactionsWithdrawal in forex as permittedDebt servicing expenses, Purchases of goods and serviceInvestments in SLDBs. #Remittances by Sri Lankan #expats are NOT subject to rule on conversion of #export proceeds, as those are not considered “services exports”. Hence, those can’t & won’t be converted into LKR without the #consent of the recipient.

COLOMBO (News 1st); According to the latest SARS-CoV-2 variant report issued by the Allergy Immunology and Cell Biology Unit of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, 160 new cases of Omicron and 22 new cases of Delta were detected from 182 samples.“These 182 samples were sequenced from the last week of December and the first week of January from the community and arrival and departure samples from the airport.” said Dr. Chandima Jeewandara, Director of the Allergy, Immunology and Cell Biology Unit of the Faculty of Medicine.The 160 Omicron cases include a mix of the two main Omicron lineages BA.1 and BA.2. BA.1 is detected in at least 113 countries and whereas BA.2 is directed in at least 3o countries.

COLOMBO (News 1s): A two-minute silence will be observed all over Sri Lanka on Sunday (26) to commemorate 17 years of Tsunami disaster that devastated the island nation in 2004.The Disaster Management Center requested to observe silence between 9.25am and 9.27am as a mark of respect to those who perished in the disaster.Remembering the victims of the disaster, National safety day is also being observed for educating people on the measures of disaster mitigation.Boxing day or the 26th of December is a grim reminder to all Sri Lankans as we remember the countless lives lost during the tsunami that struck the island in 2004.Since 2005 the Government of Sri Lanka has commemorated this day as National Safety Day.Every year the disaster

COLOMBO – Authorities in Sri Lanka closed key government offices and further expanded a curfew Thursday to contain a surging coronavirus outbreak.The foreign ministry closed the consular affairs office for the week and suspended all services to prevent the public from congregating. The ministry said it would only accept queries and documentation assistance related to deaths of Sri Lankans overseas, strictly by appointment.Other departments providing services related to revenue, immigration, pensions, vehicle license and registrations also closed for the week, and a state-sponsored exhibition was canceled.The outbreak that surfaced this week has grown to 1,034 cases with more than 2,000 others asked to quarantine at home.