India is planning to supply two naval warships to Sri Lanka; Ten Sri Lankan fishermen arrested by Indian coastguard; Sri Lanka suspends purchasing medicine and pharmaceutical items from the Indian company Alvita Pharma; Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Pla
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    • Reportedly, India is planning to supply two naval warships to Sri Lanka to strengthen its capabilities to guard its maritime boundaries. The two Offshore Patrol Vessels would be built by the Goa-based defence PSU Goa Shipyard Limited and they are expected to be delivered to the Island nation by 2017-18 timeframe. 1

    According to reports, ten Sri Lankan fishermen, who were arrested by the Indian Coast Guard in two different incidents for allegedly entering Indians waters illegally and fishing last month, have been handed over to police authorities. 2

    Reports noted that Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Mr. Ahsan Iqbal made a courtesy call on President Mahinda Rajapaksa on September 3, 2013. 3 Meanwhile, Iraq’s Labor and Social Affairs Minister Mr. Nassar al-Rubaie called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa on September 5, at the President’s Office. President Rajapaksa. Minister al-Rubaie agreed and thanked the President for re-establishing diplomatic ties with Iraq. Minister al-Rubaie also requested for Sri Lanka’s assistance in the construction sector. 4

    According to reports, the Sri Lankan government expressed it deep concern about media reports on the alleged use of chemical weapons near Damascus in Syria. Issuing a statement the External Affairs Ministry said it was imperative to ensure an impartial and professional investigation in establishing the veracity of the use of chemical weapons. 5

    Reports noted that the World Economic Forum has upgraded Sri Lanka’s global competitiveness ranking from 68th to 65th place among 148 nations in the year 2013-2014. 6

    In other developments, reports noted that the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has appointed a one-man committee to study the gazette notification assigning powers to the President as the Commander-In-Chief to deploy army personnel to any district. The BASL is exploring the possibility of challenging the gazette notification in courts. 7

    According to reports, Hong Kong-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) power generator, Energy World International, will invest up to US$1.35 billion to establish a LNG terminal and a power plant in Sri Lanka, according to industry reports. The firm has reportedly been granted cabinet approval last month to set up a LNG Hub Terminal in the Colombo Port. 8

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