A high-level delegation from the Embassy of Viet Nam, led by Ambassador Trinh Thi Tam, concluded a three-day visit to Sri Lanka’s Northern Province on 17–19 November 2025, marking a renewed push to strengthen economic, trade and investment ties between the two countries.

The visit, which included engagements with political leaders, government officials and the private sector, focused on unlocking opportunities in agriculture, fisheries, tourism, logistics and renewable energy.

Ambassador Tam began her visit on 17 November with a courtesy call on Northern Province Governor Nagalingam Vethanayahan, followed by discussions with Chief Secretary Thanuja Murugeson and sectoral heads in agriculture, education, health and tourism

 She commended the province’s ongoing progress in economic recovery, social stability and development efforts despite persistent structural challenges.

The Ambassador emphasised Viet Nam’s strong interest in expanding cooperation at the provincial level, noting that deeper engagement could help both sides leverage their comparative strengths.

Bilateral ties between Sri Lanka and Viet Nam, she said, had continued to mature since diplomatic relations were established 55 years ago, and now offered “significant potential for practical, mutually beneficial partnerships.”

Governor Vethanayahan highlighted the strategic value of the Northern Province as Sri Lanka’s closest maritime link to Southeast Asia, arguing that its fertile land, extensive coastline and untapped natural resources make it a promising hub for agribusiness, aquaculture, livestock development, tourism and clean energy.

He outlined provincial priorities such as special economic zones, industrial parks and logistics infrastructure, inviting Vietnamese firms to explore opportunities in export-oriented agro-processing, renewable energy projects, education, health services and infrastructure development.

Local authorities also briefed the delegation on ongoing constraints, including inadequate infrastructure, shortages of processing facilities and limited value-added industrial capacity.

They expressed hope that Viet Nam could support the region through technical assistance, training programmes and technology transfers, particularly in agriculture and food processing.

On 18 November, the Embassy partnered with the Jaffna Chamber of Commerce to host a roundtable discussion with leading businesses from the Northern Province. The event showcased Viet Nam’s investment climate, highlighting its skilled labour force, robust infrastructure, and expansive network of free trade agreements.

Ambassador Tam reiterated her country’s commitment to strengthening economic engagement, recalling the agreement reached during President Ranil Dissanayake’s State Visit to Viet Nam in May 2025 to increase bilateral trade to US$1 billion. Achieving this goal, she noted, would require deeper collaboration between both governments and the private sector.

Northern business leaders welcomed the renewed focus, noting the region’s readiness for high-tech agriculture, aquaculture, agro-processing and logistics partnerships. They encouraged Vietnamese companies to take a proactive role in identifying investment opportunities and requested assistance in capacity building, technology transfer and skills development to support long-term growth.

Sri Lanka’s long-delayed efforts to expand and modernise the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery have gathered new momentum, with the government confirming that 20 investors have responded to the call for Expressions of Interest (EOIs) to establish a 100,000-barrel-per-day refinery under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model.

 Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody told Parliament that the EOI evaluation process is now in its final stages, marking what officials describe as the most progress achieved on this project in nearly two decades.

The revival of the project comes against the backdrop of repeated failures by successive governments to move forward with refinery expansion due to strong political and trade union resistance most prominently led by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), whose petroleum-sector union consistently mobilised protests and strikes whenever the state sought private or foreign investment for Sapugaskanda.

Ironically, the same political movement now leads the National People’s Power (NPP) government, which is actively courting investors for the very project it once helped delay.

Past administrations, including those of Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, and Gotabaya Rajapaksa, all made attempts to initiate refinery modernisation.

Each effort was met with large-scale demonstrations organised by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) workers’ union affiliated to the JVP.

These campaigns framed foreign involvement in the refinery as a threat to national assets and petroleum-sector jobs, with union leaders staging pickets outside the refinery, blocking critical operations, and warning of “privatisation by stealth.”

 As a result, multiple feasibility studies, negotiations with Middle Eastern investors, and preliminary procurement processes were abandoned halfway.

Today, the political landscape has shifted. Minister Jayakody told Parliament that Requests for Proposals (RFPs) would soon be issued under the government procurement framework, describing the refinery upgrade as “a national priority that cannot be postponed any further.”

Officials say the government views Sapugaskanda modernisation as essential to reducing the country’s heavy dependence on imported refined petroleum, which drains billions of dollars annually.

 According to ministry data, about Rs. 785 million has been allocated for land acquisition required for the expansion of the Sapugaskanda complex, with Rs. 510 million already disbursed as advance payments.

In 2022, the state spent US$600,000 approximately Rs. 137 million on a feasibility study that confirmed the economic viability of a modern, higher-capacity refinery. That study, officials say, had been left idle until the new administration revived the initiative.

The proposed refinery is expected not only to meet the domestic requirements of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation but also support bunker fuel supply and petroleum exports, positioning Sri Lanka as a regional energy hub.

While the NPP government is now accelerating a project it once fiercely opposed, senior CPC officials note that the current economic climate leaves little room for ideological resistance. “The country needs refining capacity protests will not solve our fuel bill,” one official said on condition of anonymity.

For the first time in years, political will appears aligned with economic necessity. Whether this alignment will finally push the Sapugaskanda upgrade into realitor trigger fresh cycles of resistance remains to be seen.

Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament yesterday (20) that approximately 25 cyber crime cases are reported across the country each day.

Responding to a question raised by MP Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy, the Minister said that the Northern Province continues to record a high number of complaints related to cyber crimes.

He presented the following statistics for the Northern Province:

• 2020: 24 cases
• 2021: 577 cases
• 2022: 654 cases
• 2023: 472 cases
• 2024: 1,539 cases
• 2025 (up to October 31): 2,368 cases

Minister Wijepala further stated that computer crime sub-units have been established under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), with units now operating in many districts from Police Headquarters to strengthen investigations and respond more effectively to cyber-related offences.

Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) Chairman Kosala Wickramasinghe says the bureau aims to create a pool of 5,000 Sri Lankans who have completed Japanese language training by 2026.

He made these remarks during a meeting held yesterday (19) between the SLBFE leadership and a delegation of senior officials from Japanese companies currently employing Sri Lankan workers.

The visiting Japanese delegation is in the country to assess opportunities for expanding labour recruitment from Sri Lanka and to further strengthen avenues for employment in Japan.

Wickramasinghe noted that, in addition to building a pool of 5,000 trained individuals, the SLBFE also plans to launch a new program to send approximately 1,000 Sri Lankans to Japan under the IM Japan scheme.

With the number of Sri Lankans seeking job opportunities in Japan steadily rising, the Chairman said that district-level training programs will be expanded to produce a workforce equipped with both language proficiency and technical skills.

Sri Lanka and India held a bilateral discussion on the sidelines of the 7th National Security Advisers-level Meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC), which took place in New Delhi from 19–20 November 2025.

The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd.), while the Indian delegation was headed by India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, KC, the Ministry of Defence said.

Both sides engaged in a constructive and wide-ranging dialogue covering key security matters of mutual concern. Discussions centered on strengthening cooperation under the five thematic pillars of the Colombo Security Conclave:

• Maritime Safety and Security
• Countering Terrorism and Radicalization
• Combating Trafficking and Transnational Organized Crime
• Cyber Security
• Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR)

The meeting reaffirmed the continued commitment of both nations to regional security, stability, and collaborative security frameworks.

The Sri Lanka Navy has intercepted a multi-day fishing vessel off the southern coast, seizing a significant haul of narcotics including 261 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (‘Ice’) and 115 kilograms of heroin.

Navy personnel also recovered a revolver, a pistol, and a magazine during the operation, which was carried out while the vessel was at sea. The boat, carrying six local fishermen, was escorted to the Tangalle Fisheries Harbour last evening for further inspection and processing.

Authorities said the suspects, along with the seized narcotics and weapons, will be handed over to law enforcement agencies for further investigation.

A former Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) member of the Pannala Pradeshiya Sabha has been arrested by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) in connection with the recent interception of a multi-day fishing vessel carrying a large haul of narcotics off the southern coast.

The arrest follows Thursday’s (20) joint operation by the Sri Lanka Navy and the PNB, carried out based on intelligence received by security forces. The vessel, which was transporting a substantial stock of illegal drugs, was intercepted in southern seas and later escorted to the Tangalle Fisheries Harbour along with its six crew members.

According to police, 15 packages containing an estimated 300 kilograms of heroin and 100 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (‘Ice’) were recovered from the boat. Security personnel also discovered two brand-new firearms—a revolver and a 9mm pistol—on board.

Investigations are continuing to determine the broader network involved in the smuggling operation.