Earlier today (26), Japanese ambassador to Sri Lanka – Mr. Mizukoshi Hideaki signed an Exchange of Note for grant assistance to provide JPY 503 million (USD 3.7 Million) in order to improve the management of infectious waste, which has increased following the spread of the COVID-19.

Based on “Gudelines for Management of COVID-19 infectious waste MoH, DE & OH” of March 2020, etc., the treatment of infectious waste through medical waste incinerators and infectious waste sterilization equipment has been encouraged. However, due to budget constraints, the proper facilities have not been developed sufficiently.

On the other hand, due to the increased infectious waste in the wake of the spread of COVID-19, the amount of the infectious waste exceeded the processing capacity of existing infectious waste treatment facilities in Sri Lanka. As a result, problems are arising such as the exposure of hospital staff to infectious pathogens, health damage to surrounding residents due to the disposal of waste through burning in open fields or through aging facilities, and the emission of dioxins, smoke, and unpleasant odors.

Through this project, medical waste incinerators with temperature control and exhaust gas treatment equipment will be installed at 15 hospitals covering all 9 provinces in Sri Lanka. It is expected that this project will increase the processing capacity of infection waste, enabling it to process more wastes with smaller environmental impact, and lead to reduction of the burden on the surrounding environment.

 Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka – Mr.Gopal Baglay called on the Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayake Thero of Malwatte Chapter and the Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Mahanayake Thero of Asgiriya Chapter in Kandy on April 22.

During the calls, the Most Venerable Mahanayake Theros of Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters highlighted the centuries old relationship between India and Sri Lanka and appreciated the steps taken by the Government of India to support Sri Lanka, especially during various crises.

The High Commissioner thanked the Mahanayake Thero of Malwatte Chapter for his blessings to a strong India–Sri Lanka relationship.  Referring to the inaugural address of the Global Buddhist Summit in New Delhi on 20 April 2023 by Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi, which was prominently covered in Sinhala language print media in Sri Lanka, the Most Venerable Thero stated that Shri Modi’s closeness to Buddhism is evident, not just in words, but through his actions.  The High Commissioner shared a Sinhala translation of the Prime Minister’s speech with both the Chief Prelates.

Enquiring about the ferry services between India and Sri Lanka, the Mahanayake Thero of Malwatte Chapter stressed that this initiative will benefit particularly the common people of both countries.

The High Commissioner thanked the Mahanayake Thero of Asgiriya Chapter for the audience and the blessings for strong India-Sri Lanka ties. The High Commissioner also thanked the Mahanayake Thero for his personal guidance and support to activities carried out by the Assistant High Commission of India in Kandy for the benefit of the people of Sri Lanka.  The Most Venerable Thero fondly recalled the visit of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Kandy in 2017 and appreciated the growing cooperation and close ties between India and Sri Lanka.

The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Defence responded to a statement made by MP Wimal Weerawansa.

The book titled “Nine; The Hidden Story” penned by Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa was launched in Colombo on Tuesday (25).

Weerawansa said that the United States of America and India had requested Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to fire Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Ambassador Julie Chung tweeted that she was disappointed that an MP has made baseless allegations and spread outright lies in a book that should be labeled “fiction.”

She said that for 75 years, the US & Sri Lanka have shared commitments to democracy, sovereignty, and prosperity – a partnership and future that they would continue to build together.

The Ministry of Defence also issued a statement in response to the statement made by MP Wimal Weerawansa regarding the Chief of Defence Staff and former Army Commander General Shavendra Silva, who was in India during the 9th July Aragalaya.

The statement noted that the Deputy National Security Advisor Level Meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave, a security conference organized between friendly countries in the South Indian Ocean region, was held in India on 07 July 2022.

The Ministry of Defence emphasizes that under the directions and approval of the then President of Sri Lanka and the Defence Ministry, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and former Commander of the Army General Shavendra Silva participated in the Meeting representing the Government of Sri Lanka.

(newsfirst.lk)