Category: South Asia
WHO asks countries to be vigilant as cases surge globally & new Variant of Concern is detected
In view of surge in COVID-19 cases elsewhere globally and detection of new variant of concern Omicron, the World Health Organization today appealed to countries in South-East Asia Region to scale up surveillance, strengthen public health and social measures, and enhance vaccination coverage. “Though COVID-19 cases have been declining in most countries of our Region, […]
Foreign Minister calls on Bangladesh PM; progress reviewed towards Preferential Trade Agreement
Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Prof. G. L. Peiris called on Prime Minister Shaika Hasina at her office in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Minister Prof. Peiris briefed the Prime Minister of Bangladesh on Sri Lanka’s success in containing the COVID 19 pandemic and on a wide range of current issues. Particular attention was paid to progress towards […]
SL Ambassador to China visits Sinopharm head office; repeats request for vaccine refilling plant
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to China Dr. Palitha Kohona, together with Embassy officials, were invited to visit Sinopharm’s Beijing Institute of Biological Products Co., Ltd. (CNBG) on 23 September 2021. The Vice President of the Sinopharm HQ Shi Shengyi, the President of the Biological Products Division Zhu Jingjin, and the Vice President of the International […]
Milinda Moragoda assumes duties; announces Integrated Country Strategy for Diplomatic Missions in India
The new High Commissioner-designate of Sri Lanka to India Milinda Moragoda, appointed with the cabinet rank assumed duties at a simple ceremony held at the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi on 30 August, 2021. The staff of the High Commission received High Commissioner-designate Moragoda and spouse Jennifer Moragoda, presenting the traditional sheaf […]
Japan Gifts 1.45 million Astra Zeneca Vaccines; expected to arrive in Sri Lanka soon
The Government of Japan has decided to provide 1.45 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured in Japan to Sri Lanka through the COVAX Facility of the World Health Organization (WHO) to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka. The vaccines are expected to arrive in Sri Lanka from Japan during the coming weeks. […]
South Asia Must Reform State-Owned Banks & Enterprises to Avert Next Financial Crisis: WB
South Asia’s heavy reliance on state-owned commercial banks, state-owned enterprises, public-private partnerships and other national and sub-national public entities conceals its vulnerability to accumulating unsustainable levels of debt, according to a new World Bank report, Hidden Debt: Solutions to Avert the Next Financial Crisis in South Asia, released today. South Asia is more exposed to the risk […]
Palitha Kohona formally presents Credentials to Chinese President
Ambassador Dr. Palitha Kohona presented Letters of Credence to President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping on 14 April 2021 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.He also formally handed over the letter of recall of the former Ambassador. By the presentation of the credentials, Dr. Kohona has been formally recognised […]
Sri Lanka is not renegotiating Hambantota port lease deal with China: report
Sri Lanka’s ambassador to China Palitha Kohona has dismissed suggestions that the country is planning to extend a 99-year lease it granted to Beijing to run Hambantota port. Palitha Kohona said in an interview with the South China Morning Post that his country would “never be an unsinkable aircraft carrier posing a threat to anyone […]
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to undertake state visit to Bangladesh
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa will make a state visit to Bangladesh from March 19-20, 2021, on an invitation extended by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina. The visit will coincide with the celebration of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of the Independence […]
Smarter food policy could boost health and economic recovery of Asian cities
Across the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical importance of reliable food systems that provide healthy and affordable diets to all. That is true also in Asia where cities, large and small, contend with a wide range of food-related issues on a daily basis but often lack a dedicated or coherent set of […]
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to visit Sri Lanka next week
Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan is scheduled to undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka on 23-24 February 2021 on the invitation of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. During his visit, Prime Minister Imran Khan will attend bilateral meetings with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, while several other high-level engagements are planned, […]
“India will always be a dependable partner and reliable friend to Sri Lanka” says EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar
Visiting Minister of External Affairs of India Dr. S.Jaishankar held bilateral talks with Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday and discussed multiple areas of bilateral cooperation was taken up, including economic, financial, trade and investment cooperation, cultural exchanges, defence and security, development cooperation as well as Covid 19 pandemic response. Both sides agreed to continue the […]