April 6, 2016 Reading Time: 2 minutes
Tourist arrivals up by 22.8%. Image credit - news.lk
Reading Time: 2 min read
Constitutional Council sits in Parliament
The Constitutional Council assembled for the first time in Parliament, yesterday. The Council is mandated to draft the new Constitution, with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe heading the Operations Committee.
A report detailing the progress of consultations and the appointment of subcommittees is expected to be released later this month.
Sri Lanka seeks Australian investments
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mangala Samaraweera, stated that Sri Lanka seeks Australia’s assistance in rebuilding the nation, during his visit to the Australian Institute of International Affairs, in Victoria.
He encouraged Foreign Direct Investment in tertiary education, ocean industries and the dairy sector.
Tourist arrivals up by 22.8%
New data released by the Tourism Development Authority indicates a 22.8% increase in the number of tourist arrivals, in March 2016, compared to the same time period last year.
Nearly 1.8 million tourists arrived in Sri Lanka in 2015, contributing US$ 2.86 billion to the economy, compared to US$ 2.43 billion recorded during 2014.
Libya’s Tripoli Government steps down
The self-declared National Salvation Government, based in Tripoli, has ceded its power to the UN-backed Government of National Accord, formed in December 2015.
The new government envisages bringing an end to the rivalry between the National Salvation Government and the internationally recognised House of Representatives, which were formed following the 2014 national elections.
Impeachment process initiated against Brazilian Vice President
Brazil’s Supreme Court has requested the National Congress to begin impeachment proceedings against Vice President Michel Temer on charges of manipulating national budget accounting. This is in addition to impeachment proceedings launched last December against President Dilma Rousseff on the same ground.
These proceedings come at a time of political turmoil, severe economic recession, and an institutional crisis in Brazil.
South African President survives impeachment
The South African President Jacob Zuma has survived a vote by the National Assembly, aimed to remove him from office.
The call for impeachment came following allegations of Zuma’s refusal to repay public funds valued at USD 15.8 million that were used to upgrade his private estate.
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