August 5, 2016 Reading Time: 2 minutes
Political consultations between Sri Lanka and Georgia conclude in Colombo. Image credit - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Reading Time: 2 min read
Sri Lanka and Georgia hold consultations
The Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esala Weerakoon, and the Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia, David Jalagania, engaged in the first session of political consultations between Sri Lanka and Georgia, from 3-4 August in Colombo.
The discussions focused on bilateral relations, and possible cooperation in the sectors of culture, science and technology, education, agriculture, and tourism. The second session of political consultations will be held in Georgia in 2017.
Joint committee to supervise Chinese investment
The Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and the Ambassador of China, Yi Xianliang, have agreed to form a China-Sri Lanka joint committee to oversee Chinese investments in Sri Lanka, ranging from infrastructure development to technical training.
A China-Sri Lanka joint committee has been deemed necessary, following the Sri Lankan government’s withdrawal from an agreement to sell 20 hectares of land in the Colombo Port City project, to a Chinese state owned company.
International Civil Aviation officials call on Minister of Foreign Affairs
The Council President of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, and its Secretary General, Dr. Fang Liu, have made a courtesy call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mangala Samaraweera.
The delegation from the ICAO arrived in Sri Lanka to attend the 53rd Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation, Asia-Pacific Region, held 1-5 August.
UN accuses South Sudan troops of atrocities
A report published by the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has accused the South Sudanese military and rebels of ethnically targeted rape and the killing of civilians during the 2015 civil war.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra`ad Al Hussein, said the reported number of rapes is only a ‘snapshot of the real total’.
Saudi report defends airstrikes in Yemen
A Saudi Arabian led coalition has presented the findings of their investigation into a series of Saudi Arabian airstrikes on clinics, markets, and a wedding in Yemen, in 2015. The investigation defended the strikes, due to the alleged presence of armed militiamen at the civilian sites.
The Saudi-led coalition began airstrikes in Yemen in March 2015, to prevent Iranian-allied Houthi rebels and forces loyal to Yemen’s ex-President, Ali Abdullah Saleh, from taking power.
US urges Pakistan to act against all terror groups
The US has urged Pakistan to act against all terrorist groups operating in its territory, including those that target its neighbors, and not only those that threaten Pakistan.
India’s Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, reiterated the sentiments of the US at the SAARC Home Ministers meeting in Islamabad. The US also advocated closer co-operation between India and Pakistan in fighting regional terrorism.
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