The Indo-Pacific Environmental Security Forum (IPESF) 2023, co-hosted by the US lndo- Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), and Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) commenced at Shangri-La Colombo today (14th August 2023). The inauguration of the forum, held in a dignified sequence, was graced by the U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, H.E. Julie Chung, Senior Adviser to the President on Climate Change, Mr. Ruwan Wijewardene, Chief of Defence Staff, General Shavendra Silva, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera and a host of distinguished invitees.

The four-day forum (from 14th to 17th August) is also attended by senior military personnel and top-level environmentalists in the Indo-Pacific region. The 12th edition of Indo-Pacific Environmental Security Forum will include presentations, panel sessions, and group activities to share lessons learned and best practices among environmental security stakeholders.

The first day of the forum focused on the theme ‘Climate Change and Security’ where the stakeholders exchanged views on developing actionable plans to address environmental security challenges. In the remaining days of IPESF 2023, the participants will continue to hold discussions under the themes of Maritime, Ocean and Water Security, Impacts of Urbanization and Land Security and Building National and Regional Resilience.

More than 140 senior officers from defence forces and top-level environmentalists from 28 countries in the Indo-Pacific are also taking part in this year’s Indo-Pacific Environmental Security Forum. Meanwhile, at the directives and guidance of the Commander of the Navy, the Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Coast Guard have made arrangements in place for the successful conduct of the event, in close coordination with INDOPACOM.

Source: Sri Lanka Navy

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): The Bogala Graphite Mine in Kegalle, one of the oldest graphite mines in the country, welcomed Sri Lanka’s fist ever ‘underground dining experience,’ Ada Derana reported.

The new underground restaurant has the capacity to accommodate fifteen (15) guests at a time for its dining experience.

Given the disconnection from the surface, the new restaurant facility has been provided free wifi connection for its diners.

The Bogala Graphite Mine is 127 metres below the ground level, and the new underground restaurant is operated by Bogala Graphite Lanka, a processing and exporting company with over 150 years of experience.

Colombo (LNW): Six persons including two women were arrested by the Crimes Unit of the Jaffna Police for allegedly beating a 52-year-old man to death in Kopay, Jaffna.

The deceased was assaulted for sexually abusing a nine-year-old, who is identified as the daughter of one of the suspects, Police said quoting the arrestees.

The deceased was initially assaulted with clubs, after which the brother of one of the women suspects had arrived at the scene with a group of others, and repeatedly assaulted him, Police added.

Thereafter, the deceased was thrown into a well having tied his feet.

The arrestees have been identified as residents of Kopay, Arsadi and Sithankeni.

The suspects are to be produced before the Jaffna Magistrate Court later today (14).

Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) lawmaker Chandima Weerakkody has been appointed as the President of the Sri Lanka – United Kingdom Parliamentary Friendship Association recently (08).

The meeting to elect office bearers for the Sri Lanka – United Kingdom Parliamentary Friendship Association of the Ninth Parliament was held at the Parliament under the chairmanship of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana.

Acting High Commissioner of United Kingdom in Sri Lanka Lisa Whanstall was present at the meeting as the Chief Guest. Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakse, Ministers and Members of Parliament and the Secretary General of the Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera were also present.

State Minister Diana Gamage and MPs S.M.M. Muszhaaraff and Ashok Abeysinghe were appointed as the Vice Presidents of the Friendship Association. MP M. A. Sumanthiran was appointed as Secretary, MP Harshana Rajakaruna, as Assistant Secretary, and MP Sagara Kariyawasam as Treasurer.

Speaking at this occasion, Speaker Abeywardana said he would like to express his gratitude for all the support given to Sri Lanka through the bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom for seven decades. Furthermore, he also expressed gratitude for providing opportunities for MPs and Parliamentary staff through seminars, workshops and study tours through the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD).

Addressing those present the Acting High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Sri Lanka, Mrs. Whanstall said that the United Kingdom is happy to support Sri Lanka through multilateral organisations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank (WB) and the United Nations (UN) to overcome the economic crisis.

Also, she added that she is ready to work with other lenders and the Government of Sri Lanka to restore debt sustainability.

New President of the SL-UK Parliamentary Weerakkody, who spoke at the meeting expressed his gratitude for appointing him as president. The Ruling Party lawmaker also stated that through this he hopes to further strengthen and develop the relations between the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka.

Colombo (LNW): The Polish border guard’s attempts to crack down on illegal migration from Belarus to Poland ended up in apprehending 160 people, among whom were Sri Lankans, Sky News reported.

Quoting border officials, Polish media is reporting that 160 people tried to cross into Poland yesterday (13), including citizens of Somalia, Egypt, Ethiopia and Sri Lanka. 

They added that three Ukrainian nationals were also arrested for trying to help four Syrian and three Bangladeshi citizens into Poland. 

According to Sky News Report, more than 500 people have been detained already this year for assisting illegal border crossings.

Yesterday’s figures fit into a picture that Polish officials have been painting for weeks, suggesting that crossings have rocketed this year.

The head of the border guard says 19,000 people have tried to cross the border illegally since January – up from 16,000 in all of last year.

The surge caused officials to ask the Polish government for 1,000 troops to secure the border earlier this week. Warsaw ended up sending double that amount on Wednesday, “to stem illegal crossings and maintain stability”.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): More than 170,000 (171,781) people living in over 50,000 (51,641) families have severely been affected by the prevailing dry weather conditions, a situation report by the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) of Sri Lanka disclosed.

These families are living in 13 districts and a majority of them are from the Sabaragamuwa, Eastern, North-Western, Northern, Uva and Southern Provinces, the report pointed out.

The affectees have been subject to drinking water scarcity due to prevailing dry weather, the DMC report added.

Meanwhile, the Public Health Inspectors’ (PHI) Association cautioned about a potential upsurge in the spread of Leptospirosis, also known as “rat fever”, amidst the ongoing dry weather conditions.

View the full report here: https://www.dmc.gov.lk/images/dmcreports/Situation_Report_on_2023__1691974520.pdf