The 22ndASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Inter-Sessional Meeting on Disaster Relief was held virtually on Monday , hosted by Vietnam and co-chaired by Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, and attended by 55 participants from ARF member countries, Foreign Ministry said.
Sri Lanka as Co-Chair underscored the importance of collective response in addressing challenges posed by natural disasters and the importance of the ARF process in exploring synergies between climate change adaptation, climate mitigation and disaster risk management.
Referring to Sri Lanka’s own experience as a nation that has experienced first-hand the devastating impact of natural disasters, the importance of preparedness, response and recovery efforts were highlighted. The Sri Lanka delegation was led by Director General, South East Asia Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sashikala Premawardhane, with the participation of senior officials from the National Disaster Relief Service Centre of the Ministry of Defence, according to a statement issued by the Ministry.
The discussions at the meeting focused on exchange of best practices and enhancing regional and international coordination in disaster relief efforts. The meeting also reviewed progress on the ARF Work Plan for Disaster Relief and proposed the extension of the timeframe of the Work Plan to facilitate implementation.
The ARF is an ASEAN-led mechanism for security dialogue in the Asia-Pacific region and provides a forum to foster constructive dialogue and consultation towards promoting confidence building measures and preventive diplomacy in the region. Sri Lanka has been a member of the ARF since 2007.
Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament today that the suspect in the rape of a lady doctor at the Anuradhapura teaching hospital has been identified as an army deserter and he will be apprehended shortly.
Police have arrested the suspect connected to the sexual assault on a female doctor at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital today morning in Galnewa.
The Dutch Public Prosecutor suspects two companies of paying bribes in the construction of hospitals in Sri Lanka, according to an investigation by FD, the Dutch financial newspaper.
The Government today tabled in the House the Report of the Commission to Inquiry into the Establishment and Maintenance of Unlawful Places of Detention and Torture Chambers in the Batalanda Housing Scheme.
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe said today he wholly rejects the Batalanda Commission report and that it was appointed wholly with the intention slinging political mud at him.
Leader of the National People’s Party (NPP) and one time Propaganda Secretary of the JVP Wimal Weerawansa accused the Government of bringing back the “Batalanda Commission” for a media spectacle instead of a genuine concern for those who suffered during the 1988-1990 period.
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