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Japan has reaffirmed its commitment to further strengthening security cooperation with Sri Lanka amid an increasingly complex international security environment.
The commitment was reiterated at a reception hosted by the Embassy of Japan in Colombo on November 5 to mark the 72nd anniversary of the establishment of the Japan Self-Defence Forces.
Deputy Defence Minister Major General (Retd.) Aruna Jayasekera and Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Sampath Thuyacontha were among those who attended the reception.
A video message from Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi was screened at the event, in which he reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to strengthening bonds, trust and cooperation with Sri Lanka and other international partners.
Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Akio Isomata, referring to the message, stressed the importance of security cooperation between Japan and Sri Lanka under the vision of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” (FOIP).
He said countries in the region needed to strengthen resilience across the economic, social and security spheres to deal with an increasingly challenging international security environment and ensure their freedom to determine their own future.
Japanese Ambassador Akio Isomata, Deputy Defence Minister (Retd.) Major General Aruna Jayasekera, Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Sampath Thuyacontha, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Damian Fernando and other officials perform the traditional Japanese “Kagamibiraki” (sake barrel-breaking) ceremony, toasting friendship between Japan and Sri Lanka, at a reception hosted by the Japanese Embassy to mark the 72nd anniversary of the establishment of the Japan Self-Defence Forces. The event also featured Japanese sake (rice wine) and cuisine, promoting mutual understanding and goodwill.
Referring to Japan’s Official Security Assistance (OSA) framework, Isomata highlighted an agreement reached last year to provide Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to the Sri Lanka Navy to strengthen maritime surveillance and disaster response capabilities.
He also highlighted ongoing skills development and personnel exchange programmes, including a new military personnel exchange programme initiated under a Memorandum of Understanding between Japan’s Sasakawa Peace Foundation and Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence signed in June.
Isomata reiterated that Japan had consistently pursued a path as a peace-loving nation since the end of World War II and continued to contribute to international peace and stability, with its “Exclusively Defense-Oriented Policy” remaining a fundamental pillar of its diplomatic and defence policy.
Monks defy court order as protest over A’pura development plan intensifies
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11 TH SINGER –MCA SUPER PREMIER T20 TOURNAMENT
Citizens Development Business Finance [CDB] and Hatton National Bank [HNB] ‘A’ qualified for the final of the 11 th Singer MCA Super Premier T20 Tournament.
In the semifinals played on Wednesday [11 th ] CDB beat Hayleys Group A by 4 wickets while HNB ‘A’ beat Fairfirst Insurance in a super over after the match was tied.
At the BRC ground Pawantha Weerasinghe scored 58 off 39 balls and Shevon Daniel scored 44 off 22 balls for HNB ‘A’ to help them chase down 179/8 posted by Hayleys Group ‘A’. Nuwanidu Fernando topped the Hayleys score card with 67 off 46 balls.
At the Bloomfield ground Fairfirst Insurance and HNB ‘A’ scored 170 runs each in their 20 overs but HNB’A’ won the game scoring 17 runs to Fairfirsts Inurance’s 8 runs in the super over.
CDB beat Hayleys Group ‘A’ by four wickets
Hayleys Group A 179/8 in 20 overs [Pulindu Perera 35, Nuwanidu Fernando 67, Minod Bhanuka 27, Kavindu Pathirathne 14*; Lahiru Madushanka 1-25, Navindu Prabash 2-51, Dunith Wellalage 3-12, Sachindu Colombage 1-30, Pawantha Weerasinghe 1-06]
CDB 180/6 in 19.4 overs [Shevon Daniel 44, Vishad Randika 10, Pawantha Weerasinghe 58, Muditha Lakshan 42; Kavishka Anjula 1-38, Kavindu Pathirathne 3-27, Treveen Mathew 1-23, Nisala Abeyrathne 1-32]
HNB ‘A’ beat Fairfirst Insurance in the Super Over
Fairfirst Insurance 170/9 in 20 overs [Gaviru Senehas 22, Isuru Fernando 35, Anuk Fernando 18, Ranesh Silva 26, Dushan Vimukthi 31; Hivin Kenula 1-48, Ashian Daniel 1-23, Praveen Jayawickrema 1-28, Malsha Tharupathi 2-14] and 8/0 in 1 over [Thanuka Dbare 07*; Chamindu Wijesinghe 0-08]
HNB ‘A’ 170/10 in 20 overs [Ranmith Jayasena 21, Sohan de Livera 30, Janishka Perera 34, Chamindu Wijesinghe 47, Malsha Tharupathi 21; Himesh Ramanayake 3-31, Sangeeeth Cooray 2-09, Thanuka Dabare 2-40, Dilum Sudeera 1-26] and 17/1 in 1 over [Malsha Tharupathi 13*, Chamindu wijesinghe 04; Himesh Ramanayake 1-17]
The SJB yesterday (11) acknowledged that the no-confidence motion against Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, handed over to Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera and included in the Order Book on October 12, was no longer in the parliamentary process, following its rejection by the Speaker himself.
SJB MP Ajith P. Perera said that the Opposition would have to bring in a new no-confidence motion. However, at the moment, the SJB was contemplating the possibility of complaining to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Commonwealth
Parliamentary Association (CPA), Perera said. The IPU and the CPA couldn’t swiftly respond to the situation created by Speaker Wickramaratne, he added.
The NPP government had succeeded in stifling the no-confidence motion against Speaker Wickramaratne, political sources said, noting that the Opposition’s efforts to pursue the matter, both inside and outside Parliament, were unlikely to receive the attention they deserved with the presentation of the Budget scheduled for Thursday (12).
The Budget debate is scheduled to run for 26 days, from November 13 to December 14, further pushing the motion into the background.
MP Perera indicated that the original no-confidence motion against the Speaker had been effectively discarded through illegal means. The former UNPer said that it was an unfortunate situation as the Speaker himself was allowed to discard the no-faith motion that dealt with a series of allegations against him, including some on corruption.
Ven. Balangoda Kassapa and two other monks, who had been staging a satyagraha near the Ruwanweliseya, in Anuradhapura, began a fast unto death at the site yesterday morning.
They launched the hunger strike demanding the withdrawal of the proposed draft Anuradhapura Sacred Area Development Plan and fulfilment of a pledge reportedly given by the Mahanayake Theras to secure the release of Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara.
The satyagraha, launched by Ven. Balangoda Kassapa, other monks and laypersons at the dansal premises near the Ruwanweliseya, on Saturday, November 07, in protest against the proposed development plan, entered its fifth day yesterday. A procession was also organised near the site.
The monks began their fast against the backdrop of an order issued by the Anuradhapura Magistrate on Saturday directing them to vacate the premises immediately.
The fast also began while Ven. Kassapa had been asked to appear before the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) to make a statement.
He had been summoned in connection with an investigation into a media statement he had made alleging that he had been assaulted during the recent satyagraha at Viharamahadevi Park, held to demand a presidential pardon for Ven. Gnanasara.
Addressing the media, before commencing the fast, Ven. Balangoda Kassapa said:
“After taking alms before noon yesterday,
I and the other monks have not consumed any solid food up to now. From this moment onwards, we will not drink even a drop of water. We therefore ask the public not to offer us even a bottle of water. We will completely abstain from food and drinks, including herbal drinks, subject to two conditions.
“We left Viharamahadevi Park at the request of the four Mahanayake Theras. That did not mean that our campaign to secure the release of Ven. Gnanasara had ended. Our first condition is that Ven. Gnanasara must be released in accordance with the assurances given to us by the four Mahanayake Theras.”
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