President Maithripala Sirisena was quoted by media speaking at a rally on Sunday urging the Sri Lankan tea community not to panic, assuring them that the government would take necessary steps to settle the issue of tea imports being halted by Russia.
Sri Lanka is making a special appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin to remove a ban on Ceylon tea. Two ministers are leading a delegation to Moscow to request the suspension on Sri Lankan tea imports is lifted, reports claimed.
Imports were halted last week after Russia found an insect in a tea consignment from Sri Lanka. President Sirisena told a rally on Sunday that he was optimistic that "as a friendly country", Russia would help Sri Lanka.
Plantation Minister Navin Dissanayake and Industry Minister Rishad Bathiudeen are leading the special delegation to Moscow to reassure the Russian government.
Russia is one of the biggest importers of Sri Lankan tea, which accounts for nearly a quarter of its $436m (£326m) market.
Sri Lanka has insisted that a thorough investigation will be carried out and that punitive measures will be taken against anyone found guilty of tampering with its consignment.
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.
The Minister of Power, Kumara Jayakody, stated that in the future, internationally funded projects, such as power projects, will only be carried out through government-to-government (G2G) agreements and competitive procurement.
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.
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