Intelligence reports: Threat to Indian VVIPs from the LTTE; Pakistan delegation met with President Rajapaksa; India-Sri Lanka handed over arrested fishermen; Relief assistance to the flood victims continues to come; Chinese credit facility for Uva Udanaya
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Whatsapp
  • Linkedin
  • Print

    • Reports noted that Indian Central Intelligence has alerted the Tamil Nadu police that suspected LTTE cadres may conspire to carry out attacks on VVIPs during forthcoming assembly elections in the state.1

    The Speaker of Pakistan parliament Dr Fehmida Mirza and the Pakistan parliamentary delegation visited Sri Lanka and met with President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees on February 12. They discussed about boosting of bilateral trade and promotion of people to people contact.2

    Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Navy handed over 136 Indian fishermen to the Indian Coast Guard authorities in the international maritime border between the two countries on February 18. On the other hand, 26 Sri Lankan fishermen who were held under detention in Southern India were released on February 17.3

    According to reports, relief assistance to the flood victims is still pouring into Sri Lanka. The countries and organizations provided flood relief donation last week are: the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (30,000 Euro), the Green Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran (20,000 Swiss Francs), The Red Crescent Society of the United Arab Emirates (US $ 1,000,000), Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Limited (Rs.1 Million worth of dry rations and eighteen thousand litres of water), ADB ($3 million); The European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (700,000 Euros).4

    Meanwhile, on a request made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Government of China has agreed to provide a credit facility of US$ 24,928,046 through the Exim Bank of China to meet 85 per cent of the cost of ‘Lighting Sri Lanka Uva Province’ project.5

    Reports noted that the Sri Lankan government is willing to award three hydrocarbon blocks in its Northern offshore area to India’s ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) on a nomination basis.6 However, India’s NTPC is looking to revisit its plans on setting up thermal power projects in Sri Lanka.7

    Sri Lanka Tourism UK office received the world’s premier marketing recognition award from the Chartered Institute of Marketing UK.8 According to the IMF estimates Sri Lanka will have a 6.75 percent budget deficit in 2011 with inflation set to rise due to the impact of the recent floods on food prices.9 Meanwhile, the government of Japan has provided a sum of US$241,768 for three livelihood projects for communities in the Monaragala, Ampara and Matara districts under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security project (GGP) according to Grant Contracts singed on February 18, 2011.10

    In other developments, the government of Sri Lanka has welcomed the smooth and peaceful transition of power in Egypt.11

    Top