International Affairs

The European Union Election Observer Mission (EU EOM) to Sri Lanka began its observation work in Colombo today (Tuesday 21) and they will monitor the election campaign in the run up to November 16 Presidential election.

President Maithripala Sirisena has assured a peaceful and democratic election as he will be taking a neutral stand at the polls next month.

Sri Lanka has been removed from the “Grey List” by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global policy setter on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT).

The UAE Embassy in Colombo has issued a fresh alert to travellers, warning them not to visit the South Asian country of Sri Lanka, Gulf News reported.

The European Union is deploying short-term and long term observers to Sri Lanka for the November 16 Presidential election.

Australia has reiterated to Sri Lanka the need to maintain the momentum to combat human smuggling.

Sri Lanka has been removed from the "Grey List" of the international terror financing watchdog FATF, according to a media report.

Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Russia Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka accompanied by Sanja Jayatilleka attended the joint discussion on the pressing topic of multilateral security models in the new power struggle. The meeting was co-organised by the Trialogue Club International and the Embassy of Switzerland to Russia and was held in the Residence of the Ambassador of Switzerland in Moscow.

Outgoing Ambassador to European Union (EU) to Sri Lanka Tung-Lai Margue paid a courtesy call on Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday at the Parliament.

President Maithripala Sirisena arrived at the Narita International Airport, Tokyo yesterday to attend the Enthronement ceremony of His Majesty Emperor Naruhito. The President was received by Sri Lankan Ambassador to Tokyo Prof. Ganganath Dissanayake, Embassy officials and a special Japanese delegation. President Sirisena will join several world leaders for the ceremony to be held at the State Hall of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

Asserting that despite many domestic priorities Sri Lanka has discharged its obligations in paying its assessments to date, the Sri Lanka delegation to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) has called on the United Nations Secretariat to utilize the available resources received from the Member States in a more effective, impartial and transparent manner, at a time when the Organization is battling its worst financial crisis leading to the implantation of austerity measures and limited operations.

Foreign Affairs State Minister Vasantha Senanayake paid an official visit to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela from October 3 to 6 on the invitation of Venezuela Foreign Affairs Vice Minister Ruben Dario Molina to renew and promote cooperation between Sri Lanka and Venezuela.

Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Russia Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka attended the lecture on the Indo-Pacific concept within the framework of the course of public lectures titled ‘ASEAN Academic Days’ on 16 October, at the invitation of the Moscow State University of International Affairs (MGIMO). The institution is renowned as the most prestigious university in Russia for international political, legal and economic studies since it was begun 1944, and celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.

The Government has defended Brigadier Priyanka Fernando against who a fresh trial has commenced in the UK.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB) yesterday in Washington DC separately called on countries, especially those developing, to aggressively pursue structural reforms to spur inclusive higher growth, which remains a challenge globally.

India is keeping a close watch on the upcoming presidential elections in Sri Lanka, where pro-China Gotabaya Rajapaksa is pitted against housing minister and deputy leader of the ruling United National Party Sajith Premadasa, India’s Economic Times reported.

එල්.ටී.ටී.ඊ. සංවිධානය ත්‍රස්‌ත සංවිධාන අසාදු ලේඛනයෙන් ඉවත් කිරීමට යුරෝපා අධිකරණය පියවර ගෙන ඇති බව ‘රොයිටර්’ පුවත් සේවය පවසයි.

A combination of unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles have sent overweight and obesity rates soaring in Sri Lanka and around the world.