According to reports, Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse removed the country's first female Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake by ratifying parliamentary vote to impeach her on January 13, 2012. 1

In another development, the Sri Lankan government received approval from the Cabinet to obtain a SLRs. 19 billion loan (Yuan 960 million) from the Exim Bank of China to finance the additional cost of Phase I of the Hambantota Port Development Project on January 10, 2013 under Chinese Government Concessional Loan Facility. 2
Reports noted that Rear Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne assumed duties at the Coast Guard Headquarters as the new Director General of Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) on January 8, 2012. 3
In other developments, reports noted that Sri Lanka and Canada have agreed to cooperate on curbing the illegal migration of Tamils seeking economic opportunities in that country. During a discussion between the External Affairs Minister of Sri Lanka Professor G. L. Peiris and Canada's Minister for Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney held on January 6, the two Ministers discussed ways of addressing the challenges posed by illegal migration. The two Ministers have also agreed on the need for closer cooperation to increase bilateral trade, investment and tourism and the need for frequent exchange of high level visits. 4

• 1. “Sri Lanka President removes Chief Justice”, The Colombo Page, January 13, 2013 at http://www.colombopage.com/archive_12B/Jan13_1358064586CH.php.
• 2. “Sri Lanka to get Rs.19.5 billion loan from China to finance Hambantota Port development”, The Colombo Page, January 11, 2013 at http://www.colombopage.com/archive_12B/Jan11_1357842762CH.php.
• 3. “New Director General of Sri Lanka Coast Guard assumes duties”, The Colombo Page, January 8, 2013 at http://www.colombopage.com/archive_12B/Jan08_1357668762CH.php.
• 4. “Sri Lank, Canada to cooperate on illegal migration”, The Colombo Page, January 8, 2013 at http://www.colombopage.com/archive_12B/Jan08_1357585545CH.php.