China: Latest News

Canada’s foreign ministry has advised staff serving around the world to watch for mysterious illness symptoms following unexplained health incidents among diplomats in Cuba and U.S. personnel in various countries.In September, Global Affairs Canada began briefings with senior managers at headquarters in Ottawa, all heads of mission abroad and partners from other federal departments working at embassies, says a newly disclosed briefing note.On Oct.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers Association on Sunday (23) warned that there will be four-phase power cuts with effect from Monday (24). However, it is due time to examine the different views of parties involved in the power crisis.What is the current fuel status of power plants?Sapugaskanda has come to a standstill due to lack of oil, and according to the trade unions, the power plant has less than 24 hours to run on fuel.Meanwhile, the Yugadanavi power plant has fuel for only 10 days.What does the Minister of Energy say about this?The Energy Minister, Udaya Gammanpila stated on Sunday (23) that the stocks of fuel have been depleted due to a weakness in the CEB’s calculations.The Minister said that the CEB had requested the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation to supply only enough fuel for 10 days.Minister Gammanpila also stated that the stock of fuel was handed over to the CEB last week as agreed during the discussion held with the President’s participation.Moreover, Minister Udaya Gammanpila added that a ship carrying 37,500 metric tons of diesel has arrived near the Sri Lankan sea border.He also said that fuel could be supplied to the CEB if the relevant stock of diesel is released after obtaining dollars.What does the Minister of Power say?Power Minister Gamini Lokuge said that the CEB is currently managing the fuel stocks it has received so far.The Minister of Power and Energy also stated that due to this, there will be no need for a power cut from next Tuesday (25) onwards.However, the Unions state something completely different.Ananda Palitha, the  Media Spokesperson of the United Trade Union Force revealed that the Petroleum Corporation is the sole supplier to supply on demand.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers Association on Sunday (23) warned that there will be four-phase power cuts with effect from Monday (24). However, it is due time to examine the different views of parties involved in the power crisis.What is the current fuel status of power plants?Sapugaskanda has come to a standstill due to lack of oil, and according to the trade unions, the power plant has less than 24 hours to run on fuel.Meanwhile, the Yugadanavi power plant has fuel for only 10 days.What does the Minister of Energy say about this?The Energy Minister, Udaya Gammanpila stated on Sunday (23) that the stocks of fuel have been depleted due to a weakness in the CEB’s calculations.The Minister said that the CEB had requested the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation to supply only enough fuel for 10 days.Minister Gammanpila also stated that the stock of fuel was handed over to the CEB last week as agreed during the discussion held with the President’s participation.Moreover, Minister Udaya Gammanpila added that a ship carrying 37,500 metric tons of diesel has arrived near the Sri Lankan sea border.He also said that fuel could be supplied to the CEB if the relevant stock of diesel is released after obtaining dollars.What does the Minister of Power say?Power Minister Gamini Lokuge said that the CEB is currently managing the fuel stocks it has received so far.The Minister of Power and Energy also stated that due to this, there will be no need for a power cut from next Tuesday (25) onwards.However, the Unions state something completely different.Ananda Palitha, the  Media Spokesperson of the United Trade Union Force revealed that the Petroleum Corporation is the sole supplier to supply on demand.

world economy that continues to be wracked by supply chain chaos, worker absenteeism and faltering assembly lines.

MEAT Loaf blamed China for Covid-19 in a video recorded months before the Bat Out of Hell singer reportedly died of the virus aged 74. The rock legend had been filming a happy birthday video for a super fan named Marty in early September when he let loose.

A grandad has told of how he ‘wrestled back his life’ after the stress of the pandemic left him overweight with low self-esteem.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka will have to call Chinese President Xi Jinping the ‘father of rice’, says the Secretary of JVP and Janatha Jana Balawegaya MP Vijitha Herath.Expressing his views regarding the current crisis in the country in Parliament on Friday (21), the MP alleged that the Government uses the pandemic as an excuse although the gas cylinder explosions and the fertilizer issues did not take place due to COVID-19. Pointing out that the market is flooded with imported rice from India, Myanmar and China, the MP questioned as to how the imported rice can be certified as organic rice. Although the Government expected the price of rice to reduce after importing it, all that has happened is the price of rice increasing, he stated.The MP, speaking further, questioned as to why the Nano Nitrogen scam has not bee solved yet and if the President ordered for an investigation to commence on the following day, as to how the results of the investigation have not been released yet.

N95 mask, also known as an N95 respirator, is a respiratory protective device designed to achieve a very close facial fit and very efficient filtration of airborne particles, according to the Food and Drug Administration.The edges of the respirator are designed to form a seal around the nose and mouth. N95 particulate respirators are arranged for a photograph in Hong Kong, China, on Monday, April 6, 2020 (Credit: Justin Chin/Bloomberg via Getty Images) According to the CDC, the mask is called an N95 because it is the U.S. standard that requires masks to be able to filter out at least 95% of very small particles — including droplets from the coronavirus. With such similar-sounding names, it can be confusing to understand the difference between N95 and KN95 masks. Earlier this month, the CDC updated its masking guidelines stating respirators such as N95 and KN95 "offer the highest level of protection".

AUSTIN, Texas - A Texas man has been charged for posting a message on Craigslist last year threatening to kill Georgia election officials.Chad Christopher Stark of Leander has been charged with one count of communicating interstate threats in violation of Title 18 of the US Code Section 875 (c). He now faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison if convicted.Stark was arrested in Travis County and is scheduled to make his initial appearance Friday afternoon at the federal courthouse in Austin.According to the indictment, Stark allegedly posted a message to Craigslist on Jan.

Nearly 3,000 residents at a Hong Kong housing estate will be confined to their homes for five days, authorities announced, as they struggle to halt an outbreak of the Omicron coronavirus variant.

Following an initial licensing deal in October between the United Nations–based Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) and Merck to allow pharmaceutical companies in other countries to make molnupiravir, an oral antiviral for treating COVID-19, the MPP today announced agreements with 27 generic makers.

BENGALURU :

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said that the Monetary Board decided to increase policy rates after five months to deliver a message that inflation was being dealt with and that the external sector needs to be stabilized further.Cabraal was speaking at a press conference at the Central Bank on Thursday (20) after the Monetary Board decided to increase the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank by 50 basis points each, to 5.50 percent and 6.50 percent, respectively.Responding to a question by News 1st, the governor said the USD 500 Million settlement of sovereign bonds was made from the reserves and from the inflows that Sri Lanka receives.As a measure to address the USD crisis in Sri Lanka, the Central Bank has reached an agreement with the Licensed Commercial banks in the country allowing them to bear the financing and arrangement of the financing of essential goods, to bring greater stability.The monetary board had decided to distribute the financing of essential import bills for fuel purchases among the licensed banks in proportion to their foreign exchange inflows.He said that the Chinese SWAP is within Sri Lanka’s range of products and currencies, noting that it was moved into the reserves.

WASHINGTON - This week marks two years since COVID-19 changed lives in Washington state, across the country and throughout the world.On Jan. 19, 2020, a Snohomish County man in his 30s went to an urgent care clinic with symptoms of pneumonia and was taken to Everett’s Providence Regional Medical Center to be treated.Two days later, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed it was the first case of coronavirus in the U.S. after deploying a team to the state to help with contact tracing efforts.According to the CDC, the man had returned from a trip to Wuhan, China after visiting family and arrived at Sea-Tac International Airport asymptomatic.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lankan Government believes that the consignment of 1 million metric tons of rice from China is produced using organic fertilizer.Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister Dallas Alahapperuma told reporters that it is not possible to give definite answers as to whether the Chinese rice was produced using organic fertilizer or not.“I will inform you after consulting Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena over the matter,” he said during the weekly Cabinet Media Briefing where it was announced that China would deliver 1 million metric tons of rice to Sri Lanka as a grant.Joint Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister (Dr) Ramesh Pathirana told reporters that the consignment will reach Sri Lanka in March 2022.The grant is to mark the 70th anniversary of the Ceylon-China Rubber-Rice Pact, signed between Sri Lanka and the Peoples Republic of China in 1952.

LONDON :

A Chinese couple who were trapped on a never-ending date thanks to a coronavirus lockdown have been relieved to find that love, and not Covid-19, is in the air and have agreed to tie the knot.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila said the Central Bank of Sri Lanka had released US Dollars to the Ministry on Tuesday (18) to secure the delivery from two fuel tankers that were anchored off Colombo.“The consignment contains over 37,000 MT of Diesel and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) will deliver 10,000 MT for electricity generation,” he told the weekly Cabinet Media Briefing on Wednesday (19), adding that this stock will be sufficient for a period of 8 days.He also that Sri Lanka’s power generation crisis that should have been solved internally between the Ministries of Power and Energy, has unfortunately spilled into the public domain.“All the allegations and issues could have been raised internally and the solution made public,” said the Minister.He also added that NO proposal was made to change the standards of the fuel delivered to Sri Lanka, adding that these are matters spread across social media platforms by those who wish to generate profits from Diesel.“Some may be mixing other fuel, like Kerosene, to generate more profits,” he said adding that if a person has been victimized via such measures, one must immediately notify the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation over the matter.He said that Sri Lanka’s fuel stocks fluctuate every week, and there will be shipments coming in every week to Sri Lanka, and dismissed claims that Sri Lanka is losing fuel stocks by the day.

COLOMBO (News 1st); A currency swap agreement with China has assisted Sri Lanka to raise its foreign exchange reserves to around $3.1 billion, Reuters reports.According to the agency, the reserves had been topped up after a $1.5 billion currency swap with the People’s Bank of China was finalized on Wednesday (29).Central Bank Governor, Ajith Nivard Cabraal, said in a tweet on Wednesday (29) reserves has risen to around $3.1 billion and would remain at that level until year-end.In keeping with our previous announcements, the official #reserve position of the @CBSL has today reached appox USD 3.1 billion and will remain around that level by end 2021 as well. #RoadMap #SriLanka #GoSL— Ajith Nivard Cabraal (@an_cabraal) December 29, 2021Subsequently, the CBSL confirmed the foreign support but did not specifically reference the Chinese swap arrangement.

Though early-hit countries are on the downslope of their Omicron variant surges, others are battling rising cases, with some tightening their measures and others—such as China and Hong Kong—taking stronger steps as they try to head off steep rises.

Chinese health authorities have claimed that the highly transmissible Omicron variant of COVID-19 may have arrived into the capital, Beijing, via a contaminated letter from Canada — an assertion dismissed and questioned by Canadian experts.The Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control (BCDC) said in a news release Monday that its first case of the Omicron variant in a Beijing resident could be the result of international mail sent from Canada via the United States and Hong Kong.The letter was sent on Jan. 7 and received on Jan.

Hong Kong will cull hundreds of hamsters after some tested positive for the coronavirus, as the city pushes to maintain its strict "zero-Covid" strategy.

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) - Most access to a major city adjacent to Beijing was suspended Thursday as China tried to contain an outbreak of the highly contagious omicron variant, which poses a test to its "zero-tolerance" COVID-19 policy and its ability to successfully host the Winter Olympics.Tianjin, a port and manufacturing center with 14 million people, is one of a half-dozen cities where the government is imposing lockdowns and other restrictions as part of a policy that aims to track down every virus case. But the outbreak in a city so close to the Olympic host is particularly worrying.Throughout the pandemic, authorities have been especially protective of Beijing since it is the seat of government and home to senior politicians.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The agreements to develop Trinco Oil Tank Farm were signed on Thursday (6), said Energy Ministry Udaya Gammanpila.The Office of the Minister of Energy in a statement late Thursday (6) said that a majority of the tanks at the Trinco Oil Tank Farm which were under Lanka IOC will now be under the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation as a development project.The statement noted that the agreement signed in 2003 with thus be terminated and the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm will be leased for a period of 50 years to the following three entities.1. Ceylon Petroleum Corporation – 24 tanks2.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Minister of Power said that Lanka IOC has informed the Ceylon Electricity Board that it cannot deliver fuel as it does not have extra fuel stocks.Minister of Power Gamini Lokuge said if any disruptions to the power supply are likely in the future, the schedule of power cuts will be released.“A fuel tanker of the CPC has also reached the Port. We have held discussions with the Government to somehow release the shipment by settling the payment through the State Treasury at least.

The number of Covid-19 cases in China has reached its highest since March 2020, as Beijing races to stamp out the highly transmissible coronavirus variant just three weeks before hosting the Winter Olympics.

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Ministry of Power will hold a discussion on Tuesday (Jan. 18) with the Finance Ministry and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, on obtaining the required US dollars for the Ceylon Electricity Board. “A fuel tanker is currently at the Port and the discussions with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the Finance Ministry, and the Bank of Ceylon today (18), will focus on getting the tanker released to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation,” Minister of Power Gamini Lokuge told News 1st.Accordingly, once the shipment of fuel onboard the tanker is released to the CPC, the CEB could also obtain the required fuel for power generation, he added.“The Central Bank provided US dollars for all these shipments, and for this shipment also, we’ll obtain the required dollars from the CBSL,” Minister Lokuge noted.The Minister was hopeful that the prevailing power crisis could be rectified by the 22nd of this month, once the fault at the Norochcholai Power Plant is resolved and re-activated, as that would add another 300 MW of power to the National Grid.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila has warned that if the fuel imported to the country is released to the Ceylon Electricity Board for electricity generation, there will be a shortage of fuel for vehicles.“We were compelled to reach a decision to only release fuel to the CEB if they deliver payment in USD,” the Minister told News 1st adding that Sri Lanka does not have oil deposits or large stocks of fuel to be given to the CEB.“We can only procure fuel for the CEB if they can provide us with payment in USD,” he said.The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has already delivered 1,500 metric tons of diesel per day in the last two days.“At present, there are two tankers anchored at sea with a total of 76,000 MT of diesel. If the (CEB) can provide us with the US Dollars to unload one of them, we can deliver diesel to the Ceylon Electricity Board,” he told News 1st while denying that he will be held accountable for any power-cuts that may arise over the shortage of fuel to generate electricity.Minister Gammanpila said he is NOT vested with the responsibility of sourcing US Dollars for the country, adding that he has no power to even print US dollars.“The issue is not the fact that the CEB owes the CPC over Rs.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan authorities will meet on Tuesday (18) to discuss the procurement of fuel for an uninterruptible power supply to the island nation.The Ceylon Electricity Board told News 1st that the existing stocks of fuel will only be sufficient to generate electricity until Tuesday (18) morning.On Saturday (15) the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation supplied 3,000 MT of Diesel to the Ceylon Electricity Board for power generation, and the CPC said the fuel was released considering it as an urgent requirement.Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila said if the Ceylon Electricity Board needs fuel continuously, it must provide US dollars to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.The Minister said if the CEB provides the dollars, the Ministry of Energy is prepared to import and supply the required stocks of fuel for power generation.Minister Gammanpila noted that amidst the prevailing dollar crisis in the country, the CPC goes through serious difficulties to earn USD $400 million every month, to ensure the adequate supply of fuel stocks required for transportation and other industries.He said the Ministry of Energy informed the CEB three months ago that if they require fuel for power generation, they should inform in advance.However, according to the Energy Minister, the CEB has informed the CPC on the 11th of January that they require Diesel from the 13th of January.Minister Gammanpila said the CPC does not possess additional stocks of Diesel to supply on such short notice.He emphasized that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation is ready to import and supply fuel if the Ceylon Electricity Board provides the necessary dollars, adding that the CEB can also directly import fuel by themselves.

Can you imagine?!

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has agreed to provide 3000 Metric Tonnes of Fuel for the two power generating units at the Kelanitissa Power Plant Complex that ran out of Diesel on Thursday (Jan. 13) and are currently inactive.The two power stations could be re-activated once the fuel stocks are provided this morning, Andrew Nawamani, the Additional General Manager at the Ceylon Electricity Board told News 1st on Friday (Jan.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The government is preparing to import fertilizer again from China’s Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group.A stock of fertilizer sent by the Chinese fertilizer company was rejected earlier, for containing harmful pathogens.However, the government eventually paid 6.9 million US dollars Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group for the rejected shipment.Now the Sri Lanka Standards Institute is preparing new standards for special types of fertilizer.Its Senior Deputy Director K.A. Anil said initial work is being done to prepare the new standards.Agriculture minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said the ministry had requested the SLSI to prepare new standards for liquid biofertilizer and solid fertilizers.He noted that the previous standards did not allow the importation of fertilizer containing bacteria.The minister said that authorities would not allow fertilizer containing harmful bacteria into the country.The Sri Lanka Standards Institute says it would not set standards targetting Chinese fertilizer.Senior Deputy Director K.A.

COLOMBO (News 1st); What would you do if you were the President today?, was the question posed to Sri Lanka’s Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday (12).Wickremesinghe is the Leader of the United National Party, the oldest political party in Sri Lanka, and the only MP in parliament from the UNP.“I am not the President. But, I know what should be done at this time,” said Wickremesinghe during the 10 Questions programs with News 1st.According to Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka’s economy was stable in 2019 despite the Easter Attacks, and it was a matter of moving forward.He said suspending the imports of raw material to save reserves is a wrong move, adding SWAP agreements with other countries will not be successful.Wickremesinghe said the Trincomalee Oil Tanks could have been developed and Sri Lanka could have supplied fuel to the whole of South India.He said the Light rail transit (LRT), LNG programs, Central Expressway, MCC, and related programs could have boosted the reserves.“I would not anger India, China, Japan, USA, Europe, all at once,” pointed out Wickremesinghe.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Central Bank Governor said there is a possibility of obtaining a new loan from China for the country’s debt restructuring purposes.“We have a very good understanding with China, about our debt and key payments and investments,” Ajith Nivard Cabraal told reporters on Wednesday (12) morning.He told that “assistance that has been sought has been connected to the key payments that we are having. but it is only with regard to China’s transactions.”Cabraal said that Sri Lanka has an understanding with China that they would assist Sri Lanka in making the repayments.“So there is a possibility that we would have a new loan coming from China, in order to cushion the effect of our debt repayments to China itself,” he elaborated.However, the Governor said that this is something Sri Lanka wants to explore, and it would be used for the future as well.“It is to cushion the debt repayment to China that we would try to negotiate a new loan for that purpose, as well as for any other purposes.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s People’s Bank has been removed from the blacklist of the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka, it was confirmed on Tuesday (11).On the 9th of January 2022; The People’s Bank of Sri Lanka has informed the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka of its request to be taken off the blacklist by the Embassy’s Economic and Commercial Office over the Chinese Fertilizer shipment that was rejected by Sri Lanka, after pathogens were detected in samples twice.This is after People’s Bank honoured the Letter of Credit obligation of USD 6.9 Mn to China’s Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group.The People’s Bank of Sri Lanka announced that a sum of USD 6.9 Million was paid to Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd, on Friday (7) as per the Letter of Credit opened for the purchase of organic fertilizer.This announcement came days after the Colombo Commercial High Court dissolved an order preventing the payment to a Chinese company for imported fertilizer.The order was dissolved on the basis that the Chinese company and the Sri Lankan Government had reached a settlement on the issue.The People’s Bank of Sri Lanka was then blacklisted by the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka for failing to make the payment according to the Letter of Credit and the contracts between the two parties.

Sri Lanka’s Joint-Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana says the island nation has kept it doors open to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to provide support on debt restructuring.The Minister made the above remarks when asked whether Sri Lanka would restructure its debt.He noted that debt restructuring is one option and a need has arisen to talk to the agencies and countries and the debt owners.Minister Pathirana further added that currently talks are held with the World Bank and Asia Development Bank (ADB) and are also liaising closely with neighbouring India, China and Japan to support Sri Lanka.” So we are quite confident that we should be able to manage this crisis”, Dr.

COLOMBO (News 1st); State Councilor and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said discussions should be held to restart talks on a free trade agreement between China and Sri Lanka to send more positive signals to the world and contribute to Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and development.Quoting Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, a statement from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs read “Sri Lanka appreciates China never interfering in its domestic affairs and thanks to China for its long-term and enormous support for the country’s economic and social development”The statement went on to note that China firmly supports Sri Lanka in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity and in following a development path suited to its national conditions.

China reported 165 confirmed COVID-19 cases on Jan. 8, up from 159 a day earlier, health authorities said on Sunday.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Sunday (9) afternoon.According to the President’s Media Division, the meeting took place to further strengthen the 65 year diplomatic relations between China and Sri Lanka.Welcoming the visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister, the President recalled the historic close ties between the two countries.The President on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka and her people, thanked the Government of China for the material and financial assistance received to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.Reflecting on the friendship between the two countries, Wang Yi said he was pleased to be back in Sri Lanka and said that China would always support the island nation as a close friend.President Rajapaksa also thanked the Chinese Government for its continued support in providing Sri Lanka with Sinopharm vaccines for the successful implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination program.The President requested Wang Yi to assist in attracting Chinese tourists to Sri Lanka by allowing visitation using the bio-bubble program.The President pointed out that it would be a great relief to the country if the focus could be on restructuring the debt repayments as a solution to the economic crisis that has arisen in the face of COVID-19.The President also said that if a concessional trade credit scheme could be obtained for imports from China, it would enable industries to run smoothly.Wang Yi invited the President to visit China and expressed confidence that the visit would take place soon.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The People’s Bank of Sri Lanka has informed the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka of its request to be taken off the blacklist by the Embassy’s Economic and Commercial Office over the Chinese Fertilizer shipment that was rejected by Sri Lanka, after pathogens were detected in samples twice.This is after People’s Bank honoured the Letter of Credit obligation of USD 6.9 Mn to China’s Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group.The People’s Bank of Sri Lanka announced that a sum of USD 6.9 Million was paid to Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd, on Friday (7) as per the Letter of Credit opened for the purchase of organic fertilizer.This announcement comes three days after the Colombo Commercial High Court dissolved an order preventing the payment to a Chinese company for imported fertilizer.The order was dissolved on the basis that the Chinese company and the Sri Lankan Government had reached a settlement on the issue.The People’s Bank of Sri Lanka was then blacklisted by the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka for failing to make the payment according to the Letter of Credit and the contracts between the two parties.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Sri Lanka on Saturday (8) on 2-day visit to mark the 65th anniversary of Diplomatic Ties between the twi countries.During his visit, the Chinese Foreign Minister will meet with the country’s top leadership.His visit marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations and the 70th anniversary of theLanka-China Rubber Rice Pact. Signed in 1952, the Rubber-Rice Pact was a trade agreement between Lanka andChina under which Colombo supplied rubber to Beijing in exchange for rice, leading to the establishment ofdiplomatic relations and expansion of trade between the two nations.Profile:Wang Yi, a native of Beijing, was born in October 1953.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The People’s Bank of Sri Lanka announced that a sum of USD 6.9 Million was paid to Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd, on Friday (7) as per the Letter of Credit opened for the purchase of organic fertilizer.This announcement comes three days after the Colombo Commercial High Court dissolved an order preventing the payment to a Chinese company for imported fertilizer.The order was dissolved on the basis that the Chinese company and the Sri Lankan Government had reached a settlement on the issue.Sri Lanka’s Fertilizer companies informed the court that they reached a settlement with regard to the controversial Chinese Organic Fertilizer shipment.The terms that the plaintiff companies and the defendants, namely Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd, its local agent, and People’s Bank, have agreed to for the settlement are as follows.1. People’s Bank would release 75% of the consignment value to Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd in terms of the Letter of Credit.2.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The People’s Bank of Sri Lanka announced that a sum of USD 6.9 Million will be paid to Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd, on Friday (7) as per the Letter of Credit opened for the purchase of organic fertilizer.This announcement comes 48 hours after the Colombo Commercial High Court dissolved an order preventing the payment to a Chinese company for imported fertilizer.The order was dissolved on the basis that the Chinese company and the Sri Lankan Government had reached a settlement on the issue.Sri Lanka’s Fertilizer companies informed the court that they reached a settlement with regard to the controversial Chinese Organic Fertilizer shipment.The terms that the plaintiff companies and the defendants, namely Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd, its local agent, and People’s Bank, have agreed to for the settlement are as follows.1. People’s Bank would release 75% of the consignment value to Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd in terms of the Letter of Credit.2.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The People’s Bank of Sri Lanka announced that a sum of USD 6.9 Million will be paid to Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd, on Friday (7) as per the Letter of Credit opened for the purchase of organic fertilizer.This announcement comes 48 hours after the Colombo Commercial High Court dissolved an order preventing the payment to a Chinese company for imported fertilizer.The order was dissolved on the basis that the Chinese company and the Sri Lankan Government had reached a settlement on the issue.Sri Lanka’s Fertilizer companies informed the court that they reached a settlement with regard to the controversial Chinese Organic Fertilizer shipment.The terms that the plaintiff companies and the defendants, namely Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd, its local agent, and People’s Bank, have agreed to for the settlement are as follows.1. People’s Bank would release 75% of the consignment value to Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd in terms of the Letter of Credit.2.

COLOMBO (News 1st); It is reported that vehicles are no longer permitted to park along with Galle Face Green in Colombo.A group of activists gathered near Galle Face Green at around 10 am on Tuesday (4) to inquire into a situation that involved parking in the area.“We want to know where the commission is going”, Venerable Akmeemana Dayarathna Thero said, upon discussions with the Police near Galle Face Green after he said that he knew of reports that vehicles were being diverted to a popular shopping mall in the area, which would ultimately lead to foreign companies profiting off higher parking fees than what is being offered at Galle Face’s parking spots.“When it goes to this mall, where does the money end up? Directly to Chinese

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Colombo Commercial High Court on Monday (3) lifted the enjoining order issued against Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd, its local agent and People’s Bank.Sri Lanka’s Fertilizer companies informed the court that they have reached a settlement with regard to the controversial Chinese Organic Fertilizer shipment.The motions were filed by Colombo Commercial Fertilizer and Ceylon Fertilizer Corporation.The terms that the plaintiff companies and the defendants, namely Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd, its local agent, and People’s Bank, have agreed to for the settlement are as follows.1.

COLOMBO (News 1st); A salvage operation in underway to remove the X-Press Pearl wreck and the debris that settled in the ocean floor, said Sri Lanka’s Marine Environment Protection Authority.Florida-based salvor Resolve Marine has mapped out the debris spread and has identified 180 target locations, from where the debris will be removed.According to MEPA, the debris will be brought ashore and will be moved to a temporary facility in Wattala.The debris removal process will be monitored 24/7 by MEPA officials from the MMA Prestige vessel.Shanghai Salvage, a division of China’s Ministry of Transport, won the contract to remove the wreck of the sunken container ship X-Press Pearl from waters off the coast of Sri Lanka.The Singapore-flagged

Around 13 million people in China have been put into lockdown following a coronavirus outbreak - with the city of Xi'an under the strictest measures imposed since the start of the pandemic last year.