May 20, 2016 Reading Time: 2 minutes
Tsai Ing-wen sworn in as President of Taiwan. Image credit - elwynn /depositphotos
Reading Time: 2 min read
India assists Sri Lanka’s flood relief efforts
The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has assured Sri Lanka of its support in providing relief to the flood affected regions in Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lankan Defence Ministry stated that two naval ships are en route to Colombo from the Southern Naval Command in Kochi, India.
Japan lends USD 3.5 billion to SL
The Minister of Finance, Ravi Karunanayake, has stated that Japan will lend Sri Lanka over USD 3.5 billion, to assist in reducing the country’s debt and to avert a balance of payments crisis.
Between January 2006 and September 2014, Japan disbursed USD 2.69 billion to Sri Lanka, making Japan Sri Lanka’s second largest sovereign lender after China.
Jordanian Foreign Ministry official in SL
Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry of the Kingdom of Jordan, Mohammed Tayseer Bani Yaseen, is currently in Sri Lanka on an official visit to engage in bilateral discussions.
During the official visit both countries exchanged ideas on trade, investment, tourism, employment, capacity building, and held discussions on diplomatic training partnerships.
Taiwanese President sworn in
Tsai Ing-wen has been sworn in as the President of Taiwan, becoming the country’s first female leader. In January, she led the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to a landslide victory in the general elections.
The DPP, which has traditionally leaned towards independence from China, will replace the Kuomintang as the governing party in Taiwan.
France to host Palestine-Israel peace conference
An international conference aimed at relaunching peace talks between Palestine and Israel has been scheduled for 3 June, in Paris. Israel and Palestine will not participate in the event.
The conference will be attended by officials from the Middle East Quartet, which includes the US, Russia, the EU, and the UN. Additionally a further 20 countries, the Arab League, and the UN Security Council will take part in the conference.
Canada opposes Brexit
The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, has stated that Canada is against a British exit from the EU.
Justin Trudeau warned that an exit from the EU could complicate the negotiation of future trade deals between the two countries. EU officials and the US President have also urged the UK to remain in the Union.
24 Horton Place
Colombo 7
Sri Lanka
A think tank engaging in independent research of Sri Lanka’s international relations and strategic interests, to provide insights and recommendations that advance justice, peace, prosperity, and sustainability.
