Colombo, August 22 – Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested on Friday on charges of misusing public funds. The 76-year-old leader was taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at its headquarters, where he had been summoned to record a statement in connection with the case.

According to police, Wickremesinghe is accused of using state funds in September 2023 to travel to the United Kingdom to attend a private event, his wife Maitree’s convocation ceremony. Reports allege that while returning from an official programme in the United States, Wickremesinghe diverted to the UK at government expense to join his wife’s personal event. The CID had earlier questioned his staff about the expenses incurred during that trip.

Wickremesinghe assumed the presidency in July 2022, completing the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s term after Rajapaksa resigned amid the country’s severe economic crisis. He remained in office until September 2024 and was credited with guiding Sri Lanka out of its most turbulent financial period.

A veteran political figure, Wickremesinghe has served as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka six times during his career. His arrest marks a significant development in Sri Lankan politics, raising questions about accountability in the use of public resources by senior leaders.

Would you like me to also prepare a shorter, crisp 150–200 word version of this news for quick portal publishing?

Colombo, April 18 – In a significant religious and cultural event, the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha has been placed on public display in Sri Lanka for the first time in 16 years. As per agency report, the relic was unveiled on Friday at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in the central city of Kandy, allowing devotees to pay homage over a ten-day period until April 27.

According to an official statement from the office of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, members of the public will be able to view the relic daily between 12 noon and 5 p.m. local time. The government has also made special arrangements for ambassadors from 17 countries, including India, to travel to Kandy by train to witness the ceremony.

Senior monk Mahavela Ratnapala of the Kandy Temple told reporters that thousands of Buddhist devotees are expected to visit the shrine during this sacred period. He noted that worshippers began lining up along the three main roads leading to the temple two days in advance.

The sacred tooth relic holds immense spiritual, historical, and cultural importance for Sri Lanka's Sinhalese Buddhist majority, who make up approximately 74 percent of the island nation's population. Historical records indicate that the relic was brought to Kandy in 1590, where it has since remained a revered symbol of faith and heritage.

Colombo, October 17 (H.S.): India continues to dominate the list of tourists visiting Sri Lanka, according to data from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA). During the first half of October, the country welcomed 63,491 tourists from around the globe.

According to the Sri Lankan newspaper Daily Mirror, the SLTDA's release highlighted that between October 7 and October 15, an average of 4,169.4 tourists arrived daily. Among them, India led the numbers with 18,078 visitors, followed by 4,504 tourists from China and 4,495 from the United Kingdom. Germany, Russia, and Australia ranked fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively.

So far this year, Sri Lanka has received a total of 1,548,299 tourists. India holds the top spot with 304,634 arrivals, followed by the United Kingdom with 140,959, and Russia with 130,701 visitors.

New Delhi, 01 August (HS): India summoned the Acting High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday morning and lodged strong protest over the incident in the case of death of one fisherman and disappearance of another in the collision between a Sri Lankan naval ship and an Indian fishing boat.

The Ministry of External Affairs has issued a statement in this regard today and said that the Government of India has always emphasized the need to deal with issues related to fishermen in a humane and humanitarian manner. The existing understanding between the two governments in this regard should be strictly followed. Maximum efforts should be made to ensure that there is no recurrence or resort to the use of force. The government gives top priority to the safety of Indian fishermen. Issues related to Indian fishermen have been regularly raised with the Sri Lankan leadership at the highest level.

In this regard, officials of the Indian Consulate in Jaffna have been directed to immediately proceed to Kankesanthurai and extend all possible assistance to the fishermen and their families.

It is notable that a collision between a Sri Lankan naval ship and an Indian fishing boat was reported this morning, 5 nautical miles north of Kachchatheevu Island. Of the four Indian fishermen on board, one unfortunately lost his life and the other is missing. Two fishermen have been rescued and brought to Kankesanthurai shore. Search for the missing Indian fisherman is underway.

According to the Ministry, the Indian High Commissioner in Colombo will also take up the matter with the Sri Lankan Government today.

Colombo, Sri Lanka - Twenty-four Indian fishermen detained by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly fishing in Sri Lankan waters were released on Friday, according to authorities. This release follows the repatriation of five other Indian fishermen two days earlier.

"Twenty-four Indian fishermen have been repatriated from Sri Lanka," the Indian High Commission in Colombo confirmed in a Twitter post. "They have left Colombo and are currently on their way home."

The release of these fishermen marks the third such instance in April. On Wednesday, five fishermen were repatriated, and earlier this month, 19 others were sent back to India.

The issue of fishermen inadvertently crossing maritime boundaries is a recurring source of tension between India and Sri Lanka. The Indian government has consistently called for the swift release of detained fishermen and their boats.

New Delhi, Feb 12 (IANS) India on Monday successfully launched its Unified Payment Interface (UPI) services in Sri Lanka and Mauritius.

RuPay card services were also launched in Mauritius as part of this initiative.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the inaugural event virtually alongside his Mauritian counterpart Pravind Jugnauth, and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Indians visiting the two nations will be able to utilise UPI services to make payments, and Mauritians travelling to India will be able to do the same. Additionally, Mauritian banks will be able to issue RuPay cards and use them for transactions in both India and Mauritius.

The launch of the Indian services comes amid growing bilateral economic ties with Sri Lanka and Mauritius.

UPI services, developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), enable immediate real-time bank transactions using mobile phones.

RuPay is an Indian-based card payment network that is widely accepted at retail locations, ATMs, and online platforms globally.

Prior to this, NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) worked with Lyra, a well-known French expert in e-commerce and proximity payments, to introduce UPI services to France.

Colombo, Oct 24 (IANS) Sri Lanka's cabinet has approved a proposal of offering visa-free entry for nationals from India and six other countries, Tourism Minister Harin Fernando said.

The minister said that the cabinet approved visa-free entry for travellers from India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia and Thailand as a pilot project till March 31, 2024, reports Xinhua news agency.

Sri Lanka's tourism industry aims to attract 2 million visitors in 2023, compared to the previous target of 1.5 million.

Tourism, as one of Sri Lanka's leading foreign exchange earners, has suffered a setback due to the Covid-19 pandemic and economic and political crises in the South Asian country. 

Colombo, Sep 17 (IANS) Mohammed Siraj became only the second bowler to take a six-fer in a men's ODI Asia Cup final after Ajantha Mendis, as he picked a career-best 6-21 in a deadly spell to set up India’s eighth title with a ten-wicket thrashing of Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium here on Sunday.

After play resumed at 3:40 pm, due to rain delaying the start, Siraj got massive help from movement off the pitch, making the ball talk both ways and leaving Sri Lanka batters bamboozled to pick a magnificent career-best 6-21 in seven overs, including four scalps coming in his second over of the game.

Apart from Siraj blowing away Sri Lankan batters and becoming first Indian bowler to take four wickets in an over, Hardik Pandya took three wickets while Jasprit Bumrah had a scalp to his name as the Indian fast-bowlers took all ten wickets in bowling out Sri Lanka for just 50, their second-lowest ODI total and the least they have scored in the format against India, as well as in the Asia Cup.

Bumrah gave India a dream start by enticing Kusal Perera to chase a wide, away-swinging delivery and the left-handed batter nicked behind to wicketkeeper K.L. Rahul moving to his left.

Siraj’s first over saw him bowl six outswingers and beat the batters four times, showcasing his accuracy and consistency, two constant pillars in him inflicting the perfect carnage on Sri Lankan batters, apart from varying his release points to bowl a nagging line and length.

On the first ball of his second over, Siraj bowled an outswinger yet again and Pathum Nissanka could drive only to backward point, who moved to his right to complete the catch. 

A dot ball later, Siraj trapped Sadeera Samawickrama lbw with a sharp nip-backer beating the inside edge and striking the batter in front of stumps.

On the very next ball, Charith Asalanka chipped the first ball he faced straight to cover point. Dhananjaya de Silva survived the hat-trick ball by punching Siraj past mid-on for four. But Siraj had the last laugh as de Silva pushed at an outswinger, giving a faint edge behind to take a catch.

Siraj grabbed his five-wicket haul in 16 balls by getting late movement at a fuller delivery to swing past Dasun Shanaka’s outside edge and sent the off-stump on a cartwheel ride. 

Seeing the carnage from the other end, Kusal Mendis tried to get Sri Lanka’s innings back on track from 12/6 by taking two boundaries square of the off-side against Bumrah.

But Siraj grabbed his sixth wicket by getting one to nip back in from outside off and castle Mendis through the gate, to grab the best figures by a fast-bowler in the men’s ODI Asia Cup. Pandya joined the wicket-takers list by bouncing out Dunith Wellalage, giving Rahul a simple catch on the top edge. He took out the remaining two wickets to end Sri Lanka’s innings at 50 in 92 legal balls.

Chasing a paltry 51, India sent Ishan Kishan to open alongside Shubman Gill, who completed the chase with 263 balls remaining. Gill began by nonchalantly flicking Pramod Madushan for four, and Kishan ramped and slashed Matheesha Pathirana for back-to-back fours.

Gill feasted on Madhushan’s deliveries by nailing a drive, punching past point and slamming a pull to take three boundaries off him to race through the chase. 

He and Kishan took a four each off Pathirana via a flick and drive respectively, followed by Gill hitting a scintillating drive off Wellalage for four and Kishan taking the single to seal India’s easy win in just 37 deliveries. 

Brief scores: 

Sri Lanka 50 all out in 15.2 overs (Kusal Mendis 17; Mohammed Siraj 6-21, Hardik Pandya 3-3) lost to India 51 for no loss in 6.1 overs (Shubman Gill 27 not out, Ishan Kishan 23 not out) by 10 wickets

New Delhi (India), August 26: Hubert Enviro Care Systems P Ltd (HECS) recently expanded its Packaged Sewage Treatment Plants portfolio to the Sri Lankan market; this comes soon after its recent expansion into the Bangladesh market. HECS is a pioneer in wastewater treatment with a 25-year expertise in the field; the Packaged STP range from HECS is a plug-and-play prefabricated FRP STP system that has brought about a revolution in the Packaged STP segment in India.

As a part of its entry into the Sri Lankan market, Waterman Environmental Systems P Ltd (Colombo) – Channel Partner of HECS STPs, jointly organized a half-day technical seminar on ‘Importance of Sewage Treatment and Packaged Compact IOT Enabled STPs from HECS for decentralized treatment’ at the Royal Colombo Golf Club, Colombo Sri Lanka. The event was attended by leaders from the Industry, including hotels, hospitals, and construction, apart from premier architects and consultants from Colombo.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Thomas, Vice President of HECS, emphasized on the importance of decentralized treatment and re-use of wastewater. He highlighted how HECS has pushed the boundaries in bringing in cutting-edge technology in Packaged STPs, especially with the introduction of Artificial Intelligence and IoT in this segment and also its MBR range, which provides unmatched quality of treated water. He also noted that these tech-savvy features were also tweaked to work in Sri Lanka.

Dr JR Moses, Managing Director of HECS, mentioned that HECS was positioned to bring about a technology revolution in the Packaged STP segment in Sri Lanka through its cutting-edge ‘SMART’ Amaze and Ultima+ Packaged STPs. He noted how HECS has always been at the forefront of bringing in new tech innovations in this segment, highlighting how HECS was the first company in India to bring about cutting-edge AI and IoT in STPs in India. He also noted that in view of its rapid expansion in the domestic and international markets, HECS has also ramped up its manufacturing facilities, which now has an installed capacity to manufacture up to 400-500 units/year. He also added that HECS had bagged its first set of orders from Sri Lanka and was all set to bring about a revolution in the Island Country with regards to sewage treatment and re-use.

www.hecspstp.com

If you have any objection to this press release content, kindly contact pr.error.rectification[at]gmail.com to notify us. We will respond and rectify the situation in the next 24 hours.

Patna (Bihar) [India], August 23: Dr. Rajeev Kumar Singh, a well-known physiotherapist from Patna, Bihar, was honored with recognition at a grand event organized by the Sri Lankan National Rehabilitation in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This event witnessed the presence of Bollywood stars Bobby Deol, Bipasha Basu, and others who also graced the event alongside Dr. Rajeev.

Prior to receiving this prestigious honor, Dr. Rajeev proudly sang the Indian national anthem and accepted the accolade with enthusiasm. During his address, he emphasized that physiotherapy is an exceptional medical treatment that encompasses injury prevention, rehabilitation, overall fitness, and sustained medical care. He highlighted how physiotherapy primarily focuses on the movements of various body parts, aiming to alleviate disabilities or restore functionality to impaired limbs. Esteemed figures like Bollywood celebrities, cricketers, politicians, and numerous individuals have undergone successful treatment by Dr. Rajeev.

https://drrajeevkumarsingh.com/

Dr. Rajeev Kumar Singh has previously been lauded with numerous accolades both in India and abroad. He is humbled by this recognition and attributes his success to his unwavering patience and determination. Dr. Rajeev was born into a military family in the small village of Raghunathpur, Siwan. Despite working with celebrities such as Govinda, Sonu Sood, Arbaaz Khan, and even cricketer Virat Kohli, his heart always remained with Bihar. Consequently, he returned to Patna and established the Sai Health Care Center. Today, this center boasts world-class facilities and modern equipment, effectively alleviating people’s pain without resorting to surgical procedures.

Furthermore, the Sai Health Care Center provides free accommodation and meals to those in need. The center also imparts training to hundreds of individuals, creating employment opportunities for Bihar’s youth.

Dr. Rajeev Kumar Singh’s dedication to his field and commitment to serving the people of Bihar and beyond have earned him recognition and respect on both national and international platforms.

If you have any objection to this press release content, kindly contact pr.error.rectification[at]gmail.com to notify us. We will respond and rectify the situation in the next 24 hours.

Colombo, Aug 8 (IANS) Cricket legend and the Unicef South Asia Regional Goodwill Ambassador, Sachin Tendulkar joined the world’s children’s charity organisation to help 3.9 million Sri Lankan people, including children, who are struggling to get adequate food.

Tendulkar is on a visit to Sri Lanka meeting children and parents impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2022 economic crisis.

The cricket legend recalled warm memories associated with Sri Lanka during his earlier visits, both as a cricketer and as part of his engagements with Unicef in 2015. He lauded the efforts of all government and non-government organisations in their efforts towards bringing a positive change despite challenging environments.

 During the field mission, he visited a pre-school, supported by Unicef’s ongoing mid-day school meal programme, and helped serve nutrient-rich food to children.

Since August 2022, the UN agency’s midday meal programme has been providing nutritious meals to 50,000 pre-school children in nearly 1,400 schools across the country.

The meal programme has also helped boost pre-school attendance.  

“Children require a nutrient-rich diet and quality education to reach their full potential. By investing in their education and nutrition, we are not only investing in their future but also every country’s future,” said Tendulkar. 

At another school, he observed teaching and learning activities for grade 3 children where many students shared their desire to stay in school and follow their dreams.

He then joined the senior schoolgirls and boys on the pitch for a game of cricket. 

“The children I spoke with, are showing great tenacity, and their hope for a better future remains strong. We need to continue supporting them so they keep achieving their goals,” Tendulkar added.

He also visited Indian origin Tamil families living in tea plantations, to understand their lives better.

As part of the support for economic recovery, Unicef provided cash transfers to more than 110,000 families with children up to two years of age to buy nutritious foods and other vital supplies needed for their children.

Tendulkar also took time to speak to a group of young people from Sri Lanka, in a close ‘Cricket Catch-Ups’ session during which he shared his experiences growing up, in overcoming obstacles, remaining resilient and focused in pursuing his goal.

These youngsters are part of the Unicef-supported Children’s Club network of the Department of Probation and Child Care Services.

Tendulkar was appointed as the first Unicef Regional Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia in 2013.