May 17, 2016 Reading Time: 2 minutes
Minister John Amaratunga to attend the World Conference on Tourism for Development in China. Image credit - emjaysmith /depositphotos
Reading Time: 2 min read
SL President welcomes German delegation
President Maithripala Sirisena has welcomed the support of the German government in sending a high-profile delegation to Sri Lanka to enhance business-to-business relations.
The Development Strategy and International Trade Minister, Malik Samarawickrama, has stated that the ties between the two countries will boost trade, and could improve the possibility of Sri Lanka regaining its GSP+ status by the end of the year.
World Tourism Conference to be held in China
The Minister of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs, John Amaratunga, will attend the World Conference on Tourism for Development in Beijing on 18 May.
The theme of the conference is ‘Sustainable Development through Tourism,’ and will be complemented with sessions that focus on ‘Tourism for Poverty Reduction’ and ‘Tourism for Peace’. Minister Amaratunga will also meet with the Chinese Tourism Ministry and leading travel agents, with the intention of attracting more Chinese tourists to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka releases Indian fisherman
Sri Lankan authorities have released 34 Tamil Nadu fishermen who had been detained in Jaffna and Vavuniya.
The fishermen will be handed over to the Indian Consulate General in Jaffna, where the Navies of Sri Lanka and India will discuss their return to Tamil Nadu.
World leaders back lifting of Libyan arms embargo
World powers have indicated they are ready to supply Libya’s UN-backed Government of National Accord with specific weapons to counter the Islamic State, by partially lifting the UN arms embargo.
Dominican President re-elected
The President of the Dominican Republic, Danilo Medina, has claimed victory in Sunday’s election.
President Medina has won 62% of the votes, exceeding the 35% of his closest rival, Luis Abinader, with 67% of the ballots counted thus far.
Armenian and Azeri leaders committed to Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire
The Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed on the need for a full ceasefire and a peaceful settlement of the conflict in the contested territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The meeting, mediated by the US, France, and Russia, was the first between Armenian President, Serzh Sarksyan, and Azeri President, Ilham Aliyev, since the escalation of violence last month. The parties also agreed that the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe would monitor the ceasefire.
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