July 29, 2016 Reading Time: 2 minutes
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mangala Samaraweera, issues statement regarding Sri Lanka-Canada relations. Image credit - Minister of Foreign Affairs Sri Lanka.
Reading Time: 2 min read
India-Sri Lanka emergency service response launched
An Emergency Response Ambulance Service has been launched in the Southern and Western Provinces of Sri Lanka in partnership with the Indian government, who funded the project through a USD 7.6 million grant.
The project is expected to deploy 108 ambulances, and train up to 600 personnel as Emergency Medical Technicians and Ambulance Pilots.
FM issues statement regarding Canadian relations
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mangala Samaraweera, has issued a statement following talks with visiting Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stéphane Dion, on 28 July.
In his statement, Minister Samaraweera reviewed the successes of Minister Dion’s visit, and stated that bilateral discussions covered the topics of ‘reconciliation efforts, economic cooperation’ and ‘people-to-people ties’.
National policy on trade discussed
The International Chamber of Commerce, Sri Lanka, has commended the Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade, Malik Samarawickrama, on the proposed national policy on international trade.
Minister Samarawickrama stated that a framework for the policy will be developed by August 2016, and will be submitted to Parliament for approval. He further stated that the development of this policy would need to be undertaken alongside the signing of trade agreements with China, India and Singapore.
China announces anti-missile system
China has successfully conducted four consecutive tests of a Ground-based Midcourse Defence (GMD) system, and released footage of two of tests. The tests indicate that China’s system is ready for basic deployment in war, and is the second country to possess this technology, after the US.
The footage was released following an announcement made by the US and South Korea to install Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) anti-missile systems in South Korea.
New Peruvian President takes oath
Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, a former Wall Street banker, has been sworn in as Peru’s new president, having won 50.1% of the vote in elections held last month.
President Kuczynski has vowed to fight income inequality, and ensure equal access to running water, healthcare, and free primary education. He also intends to make Peru a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development by 2021.
Syrian extremist group splits from al-Qaeda
The leader of the Syrian extremist group al-Nusra Front, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, hasannounced its split from its parent organisation, al-Qaeda, and has renamed itself Jabhat Fath al Sham.
The organisation has been sanctioned by the UN Security Council and is listed as a terrorist group by the US and Russia. According to the US State Department spokesman, John Kirby, the split, which is widely seen as a rebranding, would not change the position of the US towards the group.
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