China To Train Sri Lankan Army

Saturday, June 8th, 2013 | Posted by admin

BEIJING – Firming up its ties with Sri Lanka, China has granted fresh development loan worth $2.2 billion for infrastructure projects and agreed to provide defence technology as well as training to the island nation’s army.

Both sides agreed to further deepen defence cooperation and maintain exchanges between the two defence ministries and would continue to carry out cooperating in defence technology, personal training and other fields, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei told media-persons here today.

He was replying to questions on the just-concluded visit by Sri Lankan President Mahenda Rajapaksa during which both the nations signed a defence agreement besides a host of deals to beef up infrastructure projects in the country, deepening China’s foothold there.

Hong did not disclose the details of the agreements including the one related to development of Colombo port and read out some of the highlights from joint statement issued by both the countries.

According to Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G L Peiris, China has offered $2.2 billion worth of new loans.

The countries agreed on $1.5 billion investment of private sector in the northern express highway linking Kandy in the central part of Sri Lanka to Jaffna in the north, he earlier told the media here.

The two sides agreed on the extension of a railway, the southern highway and the development of the port of Colombo, Peiris said. This is in addition to the construction of Hambantota Port with the multi billion dollar assistance of China.

ICC ‘regrets’ Hindi intro

MONDAY, 10 JUNE 2013 

The ICC while expressing regret over the playing of a Hindi song during the introduction of the Lankan team at the opening ceremony of the ongoing Champions Trophy tournament in England, said that it would take the up the issue with the event management company responsible for handling the opening ceremony.

Sri Lanka Cricket said that the International Cricket Council Tournament Director Chris Tetley has written to SLC regretting the incident, in response to concerns raised by Sri Lanka Cricket secrearty Nishantha Ranathunga in a letter sent to the ICC Chief Executive Officer.

Following is the full statement by Sri Lanka Cricket

This is with reference to the Hindi song which was played while the Sri Lankan National Flag was paraded onto the field, at the opening ceremony of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy in England. As concerns raised by the Secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket, Mr. Nishantha Ranatunga to the ICC regarding the above matter, The International Cricket Council Tournament Director Chris Tetley has written to SLC regretting the incident. He further stated that the ICC will take this matter for discussion with the Event Management Company who were entrusted to handle the opening ceremony.