The President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and Chairman of OCA Sports Congress, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabahhas reconfirmed that Sri Lanka would be endorsed as the Host for the 2017 Asian Youth Games in the cities of Colombo and Hambantota.

Six new ambassadors presented their credentials to President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat this morning:  

Mr. Viljar Lubi  Ambassador of Republic of Estonia  
Mrs. Monica Lanzetta Mutis  Ambassador of Republic of Colombia  
Mr. Daniel Carmon Ambassador of State of Israel   
Mr. Petko Kolev Doykov Ambassador of  Republic of Bulgaria  
Mrs. Phan Kieu Tha  Ambassador of Socialist Republic of Vietnam  
Mr. Southam Sakonhninhom   Ambassador of Lao People's Democratic Republic  
All the ambassadors accredited to Sri Lanka, except for Mrs. Phan Kieu Tha of Vietnam, are based in New Delhi, India.  
Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris, Secretary to the President Mr. Lalith Weeratunga and Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs Mrs. Kshenuka Senewiratne were present.

An awareness progamme to establish Model School Home Gardens under the Divi Neguma Sixth phase was held at the Ministry of Education under the patronage of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, recently.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who made a historic State visit on Sunday participated at the Sri Lanka-Japan Business Forum at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo on Sunday (08).  Addressing the Forum, Prime Minister Aby said, "I have been told that you have a saying 'Japana Hapana', likewise on this trip I have brought with me the best  CEOs from Japan.  Please take this opportunity and we will help Sri Lanka to become a leader in the region".