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Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held talks with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat today (09), as his three-day visit to Sri Lanka places renewed attention on defence and security cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.

The discussions centred on strengthening existing defence ties and maintaining close security engagement between Colombo and New Delhi. Both sides stressed the importance of continued cooperation and strong bilateral relations.

Singh arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday afternoon, beginning a visit that will continue until September 10. He was welcomed at Bandaranaike International Airport by Deputy Minister of Defence Maj. Gen. Aruna Jayasekara (Retd.) and Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha.

The Indian Defence Minister is also expected to meet Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Defence Ministry Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Sampath Thuyacontha and other senior government officials during his stay.

Indian media reports have indicated that the implementation of the India-Sri Lanka defence cooperation agreement signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka last year is likely to feature in discussions during the visit.

Singh’s trip is also significant as it is the first visit by an Indian Defence Minister to Sri Lanka in 38 years.

Traffic Restrictions Announced in Colombo

Authorities have introduced special traffic arrangements in Colombo in connection with the visiting minister.

The Colombo Traffic Division said restrictions will be imposed on several major roads at different times as Singh travels to various locations during his visit.

India Pledges Support During Times of Crisis

The defence minister also used a community reception in Colombo yesterday to underline India’s commitment to Sri Lanka, assuring that New Delhi would extend its full support whenever the country faces a crisis.

Singh described Sri Lanka as a “very close friend” of India and pointed to the longstanding and civilisational connections between the two nations.

He stressed that maintaining close relations with neighbouring countries remains particularly important, noting that while friendships may change, geographical neighbours remain constant.

Singh further said India’s traditional approach has been to regard neighbouring countries as family members. He also expressed his appreciation at meeting members of the Indian diaspora living in Sri Lanka.

The visit comes as the two countries seek to maintain and further develop their longstanding defence, security and bilateral relationship.

A bank account in Hong Kong holding approximately USD 22 million linked to an associate of the former Rajapaksa administration was frozen following the election of the Yahapalana Government in 2015, former Member of Parliament Ashu Marasinghe alleged.

The former MP, who also served as an advisor to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, made these remarks yesterday (07), detailing political interference within the then administration.

According to Marasinghe, initial legal proceedings were set in motion at the time to hold the responsible party accountable, but key figures within the then government intervened to block the investigation from progressing further.

He pointed out that several individuals currently leading campaigns and criticising the present government are themselves facing serious allegations of corruption originating from past regimes.

In light of these historical compromises, he questioned the political credibility of elements within the current opposition in campaigning against the sitting government on anti-corruption grounds.

He emphasised that pursuing legal action against members of the Rajapaksa family must not be viewed as political vengeance, asserting that legitimate judicial processes must be carried out wherever sufficient evidence exists.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday (08) joined protesting job seekers near Parliament, demanding an immediate overhaul of state foreign employment schemes.

He addressed members of the Israel Infrastructure Lottery Applicants Collective gathered at the Polduwa junction in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.

He condemned the government policy on overseas employment as fundamentally weak and ineffective.

He stated that the current state mechanism has allowed an exploitative employment mafia to shatter the aspirations of thousands of Sri Lankans seeking work abroad.

Disparity in recruitment systems

Applicants in the infrastructure sector have been denied job placements for two years despite successfully passing eligibility tests and obtaining police clearances.

Currently, 560 qualified individuals remain on waiting lists, while a further 1,200 applicants are trapped in a lottery selection process.

This slow pace of state-run programs contrasts sharply with the rapid processing of private recruitment agencies.

A severe cost disparity exists across these channels, as applicants going through state channels spend approximately Rs. 1 million compared to the Rs. 3.5 million charged by private agencies.

This price difference fosters widespread corruption, financial exploitation, and cheating within the recruitment sector.

Similar systemic obstacles previously affected more than 3,500 construction sector workers who faced extended delays under state schemes.

Demands for legislative intervention

The Opposition Leader pledged to raise the grievances of the stranded job seekers directly on the floor of Parliament.

He urged the government to honour its promises of systemic change by dismantling corrupt recruitment networks.

Calling for the implementation of a transparent selection framework that guarantees overseas placements at the official Rs 1 million rate, he demanded an immediate end to deceptive political practices in foreign employment management.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has alleged that the government is attempting to subvert the independence of the Judiciary through the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution.

Speaking at an executive committee meeting of the Samagi Vanitha Balawegaya in Naula, Matale District, the Opposition Leader claimed that the legislation will transform the judicial system into an instrument controlled directly by the President and the Executive branch.

Warning of severe economic repercussions, he said that foreign investors would be deterred from bringing capital into the country if they believed the judicial system was subject to Executive control.

He noted that the constitutional changes would steer the nation towards authoritarian rule by eroding the democratic rights, freedom of speech, and freedom of assembly of 22 million citizens.

The Opposition Leader also highlighted governance failures, pointing out that the governement had breached its key campaign promises to lower electricity tariffs and offer discounted fuel prices.

He also expressed concern over the reduction of welfare support under the Aswesuma assistance scheme, asserting that the state was failing to cushion the public against ongoing economic burdens.

The Opposition Leader reaffirmed that his party would oppose any legislative measures that endanger judicial autonomy and deepen the financial distress of the public.

Around 31 Lanka Sathosa outlets across the island were closed between January 2024 and October 2025, Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development R. M. Jayawardena told Parliament today (08).

He made the remarks in response to a question raised by Member of Parliament Chanaka Madugoda.

The Deputy Minister stated that, as of August 17 this year, 424 Lanka Sathosa outlets were operating across the country.

Jayawardena also highlighted the financial difficulties faced by Lanka Sathosa when the current government assumed office.

According to him, the state-owned retail network was incurring losses of approximately Rs. 24 billion at the time.

He further said Lanka Sathosa had accumulated debt amounting to Rs. 11 billion and maintained a bank overdraft of Rs. 5 billion.

Venerable Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thero, who was arrested by Batticaloa Police, has been remanded until tomorrow (07) by the Batticaloa Magistrate’s Court.

The monk was taken into custody over an incident involving the alleged obstruction of duties performed by officers at the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau office in Batticaloa.

Following his arrest, the Thero was produced before the Batticaloa Magistrate’s Court, where an order was issued to remand him until tomorrow.

Police are continuing investigations into the incident.

Foreign direct investment has not flowed into Sri Lanka at levels anticipated prior to the National People's Power taking office, Minister of Industry and Investment Promotion Sunil Handunnetti admitted.

Speaking on the Derana 360 television programme, the Minister said that securing current investment volumes under prevailing economic conditions remained a remarkable outcome.

He addressed critiques regarding the composition of capital inflows, following reports indicating that the majority of foreign direct investment recorded in 2025 represented reinvestment from existing operational entities rather than new ventures.

The Minister stated that the Opposition had built a widespread narrative predicting that foreign capital would flee the country under the current government.

He noted that critics had raised fears of punitive taxation and drawn comparisons to the Soviet Union and North Korea. Given that climate, retaining existing enterprise capital represented a significant victory for the government.

Responding to questions regarding two-year administrative delays in establishing an integrated single window facility for investors and enacting labor law reforms, the Minister acknowledged systemic hurdles.

He explained that integrating numerous state regulatory bodies into a unified portal remained a complex administrative task.

Handunetti also said that new operational models have already been deployed across key export sectors including apparel and tea.

The Ministry of Industry and Investment Promotion is currently coordinating an expedited framework with the Ministry of Finance and the Presidential Secretariat to streamline approval procedures for prospective foreign investors.

The Department of Motor Traffic has begun arrangements to issue green-background number plates for electric motor vehicles in Sri Lanka.

Commissioner General of Motor Traffic, Air Vice Marshal (Retired) Thushara Fernando, said around 8,000 number plates featuring the new green background have already been printed.

He explained that the move follows a directive issued by the Ministry of Transport to introduce a distinct registration plate for electric vehicles.

The Commissioner General also said the relevant notification has been submitted for publication in the Government Gazette.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police has been requested to notify all police stations that the newly introduced green-background number plates are legally recognised.

The measure will allow electric vehicles to be readily identified through their distinctive registration plates.

Governments that rely solely on constitutional mechanisms to cling to power without a popular mandate will ultimately be rejected by the public, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) national organiser Tissa Attanayake said.

Addressing a press breifing at the SJB headquarters in Colombo, the former minister warned that authoritarian regimes rarely maintain long-term stability and cautioned the current government against attempting to cling to power without public support.

Attanayake asserted that political leaders must earn public trust rather than suppress opposition movements to preserve their authority, adding that the main opposition party stands prepared to resist any state intimidation.

He criticized the government for failing to deliver on key pledges and losing public confidence, alleging that official policies aim to dismantle multi-party democracy in favor of a single-party system.

Emphasizing the need to protect democratic institutions, the former parliamentarian stated that the opposition maintains its commitment to respecting the majority will rather than promoting political hostility.