Free Trade Agreement with China will not affect local industries says Minister

Sri Lanka's Minister for Industry and Commerce, Rishad Bathiudeen on Monday reassured local industries they would not be affected by the proposed Free Trade Agreement with china. "The FTA with China will be designed keeping the local industry concerns in mind," Mr Bathiudeen was quoted as saying by Colombo Gazette as saying. “We will not allow local industries and employment to be hit by any Free Trade Agreements,” he said, added that discussions would be held with local industry leaders before any FTA was signed.

38 acres released by military in Kilinochchi

The Sri Lankan military has released 38 acres of private land in Kilinochchi back to the GA on Tuesday. The land in Karaichchi and Kandaavalai was illegally acquired by the military many years ago. Local officials are attempting to identify the rightful owners of the land, the Uthayan reports.

Customs office in North re-opened

Sri Lanka re-opened its customs office in the Northern Province this month, after 34 years of closure. The office was closed in 1983 due to the ethnic conflict. The opening ceremony at Kankasanthurai was attended by the Northern Province governor, Reginald Cooray, and the Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera, reported the Daily Mirror .

President agrees no need for new constitution claim Buddhist clergy

The chief Buddhist monk of the Asgiriya Chapter said Sri Lanka’s president had agreed there was no need for the island to have a new constitution, according to a report in the Daily Mirror. Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana met with former Sri Lankan Minister and National Freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa and told him that Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena shared his views on a new constitution. “Although the President said so, the government is apparently in the process of promulgating a new constitution,” said the Buddhist monk. “However, we told him that we would not agree to a...

UN collaboration must not manipulate North-East says Wigneswaran

The Chief Minister of the Northern Provincial Council called on the United Nations to have closer collaboration with the North-East, but stated that it could not come about “at the expense of being manipulated by the Central Government”. In a meeting with the United Nations Country Team, C V Wigneswaran lamented how there were “differences of opinion” with the previous UNDP Resident Representative in Sri Lanka Subinay Nandy. Though the people of the North-East had rejected the government of Mahinda Rajapaksa, and were the “dominant force” in bringing about the current government in January...

Sri Lanka announces controversial new foreign minister

The Sri Lankan government has announced that the former minister for law and order, who was forced to resign amidst investigations into an arms scandal, has now been appointed the new foreign minister. Tilak Marapana served as Sri Lanka’s Minister of Law and Order and Prison Reforms before resigning from the position on November 9, 2015. He was forced to quit over his involvement in an investigation into Sri Lankan security firm Avant Garde Maritime Services (AGMS) which was accused of operating a “floating armoury”. He has since held the post of Minister of Development Assignments before...

TNPF call for justice for Sencholai Massacre at Batticaloa remembrance

Tamils in Batticaloa marked 11 years since the Sencholai Massacre on Monday, at an event remembering the victims and calling for justice.

TNPF hold Sencholai Massacre remembrance in Mullaitivu

53 Tamil schoolgirls and 3 teachers killed by Sri Lankan Air Force bombs in the Sencholai Massacre of 2006 were remembered today in Vallipunam at an event organised by the Tamil National People’s Front.

Sencholai massacre victims remembered by families and TNA

Sencholai Massacre victims were remembered this morning at the site of the original Sencholai school in Vallipunam, Mullaitivu.

Sri Lankan government to refurbish golden roof of Buddhist vihara

Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremeisnghe pledged that his government would bear the costs for the renovation of the golden roof for a Buddhist vihara in Kandy, after meeting with monks during a ceremony held in his honour today.

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