Asia Sri Lanka Israeli citizens visiting Sri Lanka, whether for tourism or other reasons, can now directly request assistance to ensure personal protection, according to a new telephone number provided by the Sri Lankan police
Asia Sri Lanka Sri Lanka has decided to apply for membership of the BRICS and the New Development Bank; Foreign Minister says neither he nor the new president will be able to attend the October summit in Russia for the upcoming parliamentary elections of 14 November
Asia Sri Lanka The second Resilience, Stability, and Economic Turnaround development policy operation has been signed with the World Bank for $200 million, the second operation in a two-part series that began in 2022
Asia Sri Lanka Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who won Sunday's elections in Sri Lanka, is 55 years old and is the most left-wing president in the country's history; he is the leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, a party still described as Marxist-Leninist
Asia Sri Lanka All vehicle import restrictions will be lifted by February 2025, following significant improvement in foreign exchange reserves and the strength of the rupee
Asia Sri Lanka Two of the pregnant dogs recently added to the police department have given birth to 13 puppies and will strengthen the work of the team, the Police Media Division announced
Asia Sri Lanka The High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka inaugurated a drinking water plant at Sinhapada, in the UNESCO World Heritage rock fortress of Sigiriya; the Indian government has already taken over the maintenance costs of the plant for the next 5 years
Asia Sri Lanka A programme to conserve 30% of the country's land and ocean by 2030 has been launched by the government, with the aim of attracting $1,5 billion in green investments between 2025 and 2030
Asia Sri Lanka Passports will be issued with new features and three different colours for the identification of diplomatic, official and regular persons from October this year
Asia Sri Lanka Four candidates officially submitted their cash deposits for the 2024 presidential election, two as independents, one from the Sri Lanka Workers' Party and one from 'Abhinawa Niwahal Peramuna'
Asia Sri Lanka To apply for a Sri Lankan passport, prior online registration is required and is not possible without first setting a date and an appointment - the new rule has been announced by the Department of Immigration and Emigration
Asia Sri Lanka USCIRF reported on current conditions of religious freedom in Sri Lanka describing the persecution of Christians with restrictions on church building permits, harassment and the proliferation of anti-Christian sentiments online
Asia Sri Lanka The new Electricity Act has received the approval of the Speaker of Parliament and is therefore in force: it provides for the establishment of the National Electricity Advisory Council and the appointment of the Sri Lanka Utilities Commission