Political & Current Affairs

Sri Lanka will lead the Science, Technology and Innovation sector in the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). A BIMSTEC Facility for Technology Transfer is planned to be opened in Sri Lanka in the future. Sri Lanka will also appoint a Director to the BIMSTEC Secretariat in June this year. This was agreed during the finalization of areas of cooperation among BIMSTEC Member States during the 20 th Session of the Senior Officials’ Meeting (SoM) Chaired by Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha on 3 March 2020. The SOM was preceded by the 3 rd Permanent Working Committee Meeting (BPWC) Chaired by Additional Secretary (Economic Affairs) P.M. Amza, from 1 to 2 March 2020 at the Ministry of Foreign Relations. Sri Lanka is mandated to lead the sector on Science, Technology and Innovation under which cooperation in Technology, health and human resource development is also included. Bangladesh was mandated to lead Trade, Investment and Development, Bhutan– Environment and Climate Change, Myanmar – Agriculture and Food Security, India – Security (Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime, Disaster Management & Energy), Nepal – People to people contact (culture, tourism, forums of Think Thanks, Media etc) and Thailand – Connectivity. BIMSTEC Charter which is the institutional mechanism to effectively steer the process of regional cooperation under BIMSTEC was also finalized and is expected to be adopted at the 5 th BIMSTEC Summit. Foreign Secretary Aryasinha, chairing the 20 th Session of the SoM, said since Sri Lanka assumed the Chair, it had sought to reinvigorate the 20 year old organization. In this context, Sri Lanka had focused on the need for institutional building through the finalization of the BIMSTEC Charter and the allocation of defined areas of cooperation among the Member States as this will add focus to the future activities of BIMSTEC. He added that Sri Lanka which is scheduled to handover the Chairmanship to Thailand later this year, was keen to endeavor to also finalize tangible avenues of cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, technology, tourism and connectivity, ahead of the Summit. BIMSTEC Secretary General, Ambassador Shahidul Islam, commended the signing of MoU on Establishment of BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection in April 2019, in addition to the finalization of the BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters and Memorandum of Association on the Establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility. He further emphasized the importance of sectoral meetings for more comprehensive cooperation and called for the support of all Member States on this front, as well as in negotiation on BIMSTEC Free Trade Area. Sri Lanka assumed its duties as the Chairperson of BIMSTEC in August 2018, and has since facilitated the productive furtherance of the organization through three Permanent Working Committee Meetings and a Senior Officials Meeting. In addition to the finalization of BIMSTEC Charter, rationalization of sectors and Memorandum of Understanding on Mutual Cooperation between Diplomatic Academies/Training Institutions of BIMSTEC Member States the meetings also deliberated on sectoral and institutional administration matters. Sri Lanka is preparing for the 5 th BIMSTEC Summit which will be preceded by the 17 th Ministerial Meeting and 21 st Senior Officials Meeting later this year. The Sri Lanka delegation comprised of Anzul Jhan, Actg. Director General Economic Affairs (Multilateral), Thilani Silva, Deputy Legal Adviser, Shashika Somaratna, Director, Economic Affairs, Shakunthala Rajamanthree, Legal Officer and Kalani Dharmasena, Executive Assistant of the Ministry of Foreign Relations.

political Current Affairs

Minister Daya Gamage participates at ICAPP 2016

IGP left for Int’l Police Conference

First death anniversary of Sobhitha thero tomorrow

Govt. to fulfill Pandit Amaradewa’s dream

20 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees are to return from India

Maldives President condoles demise of Pandit Amaradeva

Gallantry Medals presented to Army Veterans

Examinations in November

Week of National Mourning declared for Pandit Amaradewa

Dedicated website for DCS Census of November 17

Workshop on RTI Act today in Galle

SL housemaid receives unpaid ten year salary

Media Minister calls on Ruwanweli Seya Chief incumbent

Speaker’s daughter passes away

Migrant worker pension scheme from January 2017

EU delegation visits Sri Lanka

Cedric’ Boat unveiled at Naval Museum in Trincomalee

Classified garbage collection program begins tomorrow

Latest News

State employees must dedicate themselves to building a nation that fulfils people’s aspirations

Let Us Work Together with One Goal to Build a Better Nation

Meeting Between the Presidential Secretary and the Japanese Ambassador

Deputy Minister of Vocational Education Emphasizes the Importance of Government Officials’ Support

The discussion on the third review of debt restructuring with the IMF concluded successfully

Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education Assumes Duties

Prof. Gomika Udugamasooriya appointed as the President’s Senior Advisor on Science and Technology

Sri Lanka showcases organic and natural products in Dubai

Weather Forecast

Deputy Ministers Officially Sworn In

Mahinda Siriwardena re-assumes duties as The Secretary to the Ministry of Finance

Prime Minister officially assumed duties as the Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education