Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan Gov’t To Absorb National Airlines’ 510 Million USD Debt

COLOMBO, Mac 5 (NNN-XINHUA) – Sri Lanka’s cabinet, approved a proposal to absorb SriLankan Airlines’ outstanding debt of 510 million U.S. dollars, by the government, a minister said, today.

Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation, Nimal Siripala de Silva, told the media that, the cabinet approval was also given to allocate funds to maintain services of the national carrier for another six months.

Sri Lankan Navy Apprehended 12 Indian Fishermen For Poaching

COLOMBO, Jan 14 (NNN-XINHUA) – The Sri Lankan navy apprehended 12 Indian fishermen, and seized three trawlers last night, while they were poaching in the country’s territorial waters, the navy said in a statement, today.

The arrests were made in the seas off the Kovilan Point Lighthouse, in the northern city of Jaffna, during the navy’s special operation, to chase away Indian poaching trawlers from Sri Lankan waters, the navy said.

Sri Lankan police arrest 217 drug suspects

COLOMBO, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan police have arrested 217 suspects with narcotics within 500 meters of selected schools in a special operation, police said in a press release on Saturday.

Police said that between Dec. 18 and Dec. 25, they educated workers and owners of business establishments where students congregate about the importance of creating a drug-free environment for children.

The establishments were located in 45 police divisions where drug use is prevalent, with 30,000 workers and owners having been educated, police said.

Sri Lanka: Air Arabia Operates Direct Flights Between Colombo, Abu Dhabi

COLOMBO, Dec 16 (NNN-XINHUA) – Air Arabia has been operating direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Colombo, every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry said, yesterday.

The ministry said, Air Arabia launched its first direct flight from Abu Dhabi to Colombo on Dec 8, this year, from the Abu Dhabi International Airport.

The first flight from Abu Dhabi to Colombo was welcomed by a water cannon salute, upon arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).

Sri Lanka experiences countrywide power failure

COLOMBO, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka experienced a countrywide power failure due to a breakdown in the transmission line on Saturday, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) said.

The CEB, the country's power supplier, said it would take a few hours to restore power supply throughout the country, adding that it regretted the inconvenience caused to consumers.

Local media said the widespread power failure occurred at around 5 p.m. on Saturday, and power supply has been restored to several areas.

Saudi Arabia's national carrier to recommence flights to Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia's national carrier would recommence flights to Sri Lanka very soon, said the Sri Lankan foreign ministry here on Wednesday.

Minister of Economy and Planning of Saudi Arabia Faisal bin Alibrahim made the announcement during his visit to Sri Lanka, and the move will contribute to capturing a sizable market of Saudi travelers to Sri Lanka, said the foreign ministry in a press release.

Sri Lanka achieves 1.8 bln USD in total investments by November

COLOMBO, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Board of Investment (BOI) has achieved 1.8 billion U.S. dollars in investments by Thursday, the BOI said in its latest press release.

The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) stands at 1.5 billion dollars, which is a 122 percent increase compared to the same period in 2022, while local investments stand at 258 million dollars, the BOI said.

This is due to large investments in the energy sector, and tourism and manufacturing are the sectors getting more investments, the BOI said.

Maldives formally asks India to withdraw military personnel

COLOMBO, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Maldives government Saturday formally requested India to withdraw its military personnel from the Island nation, according to information from Male.

The request was made by the new President of Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, during his meeting with a representative of the Indian government.

"At the meeting, President Muizzu had formally requested Government of India to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives," a statement issued by the office of the Maldives President said.

Sri Lanka: Maldives will return Indian military as soon as possible, says incoming president

COLOMBO, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Maldives will work to return Indian military personnel from its shores "as soon as possible," President-elect Mohamed Muizzu told Reuters on Sunday, insisting it was the top foreign policy priority for the tiny Indian Ocean island chain.

Muizzu won Maldives' presidential election last month, beating incumbent President Ibrahim Solih in a second-round runoff.

Solih had followed an "India first" policy but Muizzu in his election campaign promised to remove a small Indian military presence of some 75 personnel in Maldives.

Sri Lanka’s president will appoint a committee to probe allegations of complicity in 2019 bombings

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka’s president said Sunday he will appoint a committee chaired by a retired Supreme Court judge to investigate allegations made in a British television report that the South Asian country’s intelligence was complicit in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed 269 people.

The attacks, which included simultaneous suicide bombings, targeted three churches and three tourist hotels. The dead included 42 foreigners from 14 countries.

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