Sri Lankan bill to ban bottom trawling to be passed this month

(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) – A bill to ban the pernicious practice of bottom trawling, which will affect thousands of Sri Lankans and Indians fishing in the sea between Sri Lanka and India, is to be passed by the Sri Lankan Parliament by March end, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian, M. A. Sumanthiran, told The New Indian Express on Monday (12).

"Sri Lankan bill to ban bottom trawling to be passed this month"

Sri Lanka’s first Ambassador to Ethiopia presents credentials

(ADDIS ABABA, LANKAPUVATH) – Sri Lanka’s first resident Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Sumith Dassanayake presented Credentials to the President of Ethiopia Mulatu Teshome at the Presidential Palace in Addis Ababa on Thursday (09). Ambassador Dassanayake is also the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the African Union.

"Sri Lanka’s first Ambassador to Ethiopia presents credentials"

8 Sri Lankan crew members in vessel hijacked by Somali pirates

(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) – Sri Lanka Navy sources indicate that 8 Sri Lankans were on board the fuel freighter that is reported to have been hijacked by Somali pirates off the seas of Djibouti on Monday (14). The vessel had been carrying fuel from Djibouti to Somalia’s Capital, Mogadishu.

"8 Sri Lankan crew members in vessel hijacked by Somali pirates"

77 Indian fishermen released by Sri Lankan Government, repatriated

(RAMESWARAM, LANKAPUVATH) – 77 Indian and 12 Sri Lankan fishermen were on Tuesday (14) repatriated in line with the decision taken by two countries to set free fishermen in each other’s custody to defuse tension following the killing of an Indian fisherman last week, the Press Trust of India reported.

"77 Indian fishermen released by Sri Lankan Government, repatriated"

“No Indians turn up at Kachchathivu St. Anthony’s Church fest” – Navy

(JAFFNA, LANKAPUVATH) – None of the Indian pilgrims have attended the annual festival at a famous Church in Sri Lanka’s Katchatheevu Island amid tensions between both the countries following the killing of an Indian fisherman allegedly by the Lankan Navy, The New Indian Express reported.

"“No Indians turn up at Kachchathivu St. Anthony’s Church fest” – Navy"

NIA chargesheet asks Keralite to leave religious school in Sri Lanka

(KERALA, LANKAPUVATH) – Alleged Islamic State (IS) recruiter from Kerala, Abdul Rashid Abdulla, accused of instigating 22 youths from Kerala to join the terror outfit, was sternly asked to leave a religious school in Sri Lanka on account of his radical views, according to a chargesheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the DNA reported.

"NIA chargesheet asks Keralite to leave religious school in Sri Lanka"

Request to postpone St. Anthony’s festival rejected

(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) – The Tamil Nadu Coordinator for the Kachchativu St. Anthony’s festival, Fr. Sahayaraj, had asked for a postponement of the event fixed for Sunday (12), but the Jaffna Diocese had informed him that it could not be postponed for reasons beyond their control, The New Indian Express reported.

"Request to postpone St. Anthony’s festival rejected"

Sri Lanka eager to work with the maritime powers

(WASHINGTON, LANKAPUVATH) – “Sri Lanka is eager to work with the maritime powers of the Indian Ocean and beyond, to make our oceans secure for unimpeded commerce and peaceful navigation”, Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam said. The Ambassador was addressing a public event hosted by the Hudson Institute, a Washington-based think tank, on “Sri Lanka, A growing hub in the Indo-Pacific.”

"Sri Lanka eager to work with the maritime powers"