Lanka, Pakistan discuss closer defence cooperation

Pakistan Defence Secretary retired Lt. Gen. Muhammad Ali inspects the guard of honour presented by Sri Lankan naval ratings at Navy Headquarters in the Defence Headquarters Complex, Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte Share Tweet The 6th Pakistan-Sri Lanka Armed Forces Defence Dialogue c…

The 6th Pakistan-Sri Lanka Armed Forces Defence Dialogue concluded successfully at Navy Headquarters in the Defence Headquarters Complex, Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte, with both countries reaffirming their commitment to strengthening defence ties. The annual bilateral dialogue was co-chaired by Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary, retired Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha, and Secretary of Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence, retired Lieutenant General Muhammad Ali. Senior officials from the defence ministries and armed forces of both countries participated in the discussions. The talks focused on enhancing existing defence cooperation and exploring new areas of collaboration, including military-to-military engagement, training and professional military education, maritime security, counterterrorism, capacity building and regional security. Addressing the opening session, retired AVM Thuyacontha expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s continued support in improving the professional capabilities of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces and stressed the importance of maintaining close defence relations between the two countries. He said the dialogue provided an important platform to review ongoing cooperation and identify new opportunities for partnership, while conveying Sri Lanka’s gratitude to the Pakistani delegation on behalf of the President and the Government. Retired Lt. Gen. Muhammad Ali thanked Sri Lanka for the hospitality extended to the Pakistani delegation and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening the longstanding defence partnership between the two nations. Pakistan High Commissioner retired Major General Nayyar Naseer, Additional Secretary (Defence), service commanders, senior Defence Ministry officials and senior tri-service officers also attended the event.

News Thai authorities foil international syndicate smuggling Lankan family using Malaysian passports

Published 4 mins agoon 2026/07/12

Suspect Lankan woman questioned by Thai immigration authorities (says.com)Thai immigration authorities at Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok have dismantled an international smuggling operation that attempted to traffic a Sri Lankan family to Kazakhstan using Malaysian travel documents According to Khaosod, the Sri Lankan family initially entered Thailand using their own passports before travelling overland to Malaysia. The group later re-entered Thailand using Malaysian passports and attempted to fly to Kazakhstan, accompanied by a Malaysian woman who falsely claimed to be the biological mother of both children. However, airline officials detected discrepancies in their travel documents and denied them boarding, prompting the group to change their route to Myanmar. The matter was reported to the Immigration Bureau. On a later date, the group attempted to board a flight from Myanmar to Kazakhstan via Don Mueang International Airport, where immigration authorities intervened and arrested them. Investigators found that the Sri Lankan woman and the eldest child had unlawfully used Malaysian passports belonging to other individuals, while the youngest child was believed to have travelled using a Malaysian passport that had been legally issued. Law enforcement agencies from the United Kingdom, Canada, and Sri Lanka had previously alerted regional authorities to this specific transnational syndicate operating within Malaysia Under the syndicate’s modus operandi, foreign children are smuggled into Malaysia to obtain fraudulently registered birth certificates. Criminal operators then use these birth records to apply for official Malaysian passports, granting the holders visa-free entry to various destination countries across Europe and Central Asia. Thai law enforcement officers arrested both adult women on charges of travel document misuse and criminal conspiracy. Following evaluations by welfare officers, authorities confirmed that the two young children were not victims of human trafficking; both minors have been placed in protective care while Thai officials coordinate their safe repatriation through the Sri Lankan Embassy.

News Govt. reviewing legality of e-visa agreements, SC told

Published 5 mins agoon 2026/07/12

The Attorney General on Friday informed the Supreme Court that the Cabinet has appointed a subcommittee to examine the legality of agreements entered into by the previous government with private companies for the operation of the electronic visa issuance system. Additional Solicitor General Viveka Siriwardena, appearing for the Attorney General, made the submission when a batch of Fundamental Rights petitions challenging the previous Cabinet’s decision to outsource the e-visa process came up before the Supreme Court. The petitions were filed by former MPs President’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran and Patali Champika Ranawaka, MP Rauff Hakeem and several others. The matter was taken up before a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justices Achala Wengappuli and Arjuna Obeyesekere. The Additional Solicitor General informed court that the Cabinet-appointed subcommittee was reviewing the legality of the agreements with the private companies and requested time to apprise the court of the progress of its deliberations. President’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that members of the present Cabinet had been named as respondents in the petitions and sought the issuance of notice on them so that the cases could proceed. After considering the submissions, the bench directed that notice be issued on the relevant respondents and fixed Sept. 29 for further proceedings and for the Attorney General to report on the progress of the Cabinet subcommittee’s review.

News 60 girls’ cadet platoons assessed for national camps

Published 19 mins agoon 2026/07/12

Girls’ cadet platoons march at the National Cadet Corps Training Centre in Rantembe after participating in battalion-level assessments The third phase of selecting school girls’ cadet platoons for the 2026 national camps was held at the National Cadet Corps Training Centre in Rantembe, with 60 platoons taking part in battalion-level assessments. The assessment programme, conducted from June 30 to July 6, featured cadet platoons representing the 1st Battalion in Hikkaduwa, 3rd Battalion in Kollupitiya, 4th Battalion in Kurunegala and 14th Battalion in Kuliyapitiya. Major General W.M.P.M. Herath, General Officer Commanding of the 11th Infantry Division, attended the passing-out parade as the chief guest. Principals, teachers, parents and cadets were among those present at the event. In the band competitions held as part of the assessment, Southlands Girls’ School, Galle, and Ananda Central College, Elpitiya, emerged champion and runner-up respectively in the 1st Battalion category. Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo 5, and Gothami Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo 10, secured the top two positions in the 3rd Battalion category, while Maliyadeva Girls’ College and President’s Girls’ College, Kurunegala, won the championship and runner-up titles respectively in the 4th Battalion category. Mayurapada Central College, Narammala, and Kuliyapitiya Central College emerged champion and runner-up in the 14th Battalion category.