International Affairs

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Monday for massive and speedy COVID-19 vaccination campaigns in both developed and developing countries, urging rich nations to make their excess doses available to poorer ones.

A newly formed political party in India, launched by a film star, has promised salaries to housewives if voted to power. A prominent MP welcomed the idea, saying it will "monetise the services of women homemakers, enhance their power and autonomy" and create a near-universal basic income.

While saying that Sri Lanka and the US enjoy longstanding relations and a close friendship, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in a congratulatory message to US President Joseph R. Biden said Sri Lanka is committed to further strengthen and consolidate the multifaceted partnership with the United States, grounded in mutual respect, shared values and common interests.

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the world to come together to fight the coronavirus pandemic and warned against a “new Cold War” in a speech Monday at the World Economic Forum, held virtually this year because of the pandemic.

Cash strapped Sri Lanka government is receiving the Netherlands assistance to implement its ambitious rural infrastructure development programme of building roads and bridges in remote villagers.

The leading infectious disease expert in the United States says the country will participate in the global initiative to provide COVID-19 vaccines to poor countries.

NEW DELHI - In an unusual diplomatic initiative, India has donated millions of doses of the British-developed AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine being produced in the country to neighboring South Asian nations.

Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has told Asian Cooperation Dialog (ACD) countries that Sri Lanka opened its borders to tourists after much consultation and preparation, while following best practices, and called on them to enable more knowledge-sharing to facilitate a collective recovery from the pandemic.

LONDON - World leaders have congratulated Joe Biden following his inauguration Wednesday as the 46th U.S. president. Many allies also offered warm words for Kamala Harris as she became the first woman to serve as vice president.

The world is on the verge of reaching 100 million COVID-19 infections, according to Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center statistics. More than 2 million people have died from the virus.

UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Hanaa Singer pointed out specific issues that the criminal justice system in Sri Lanka needs to address in ensuring the protection of human rights while countering-terrorism.

WASHINGTON - Vice President-elect Kamala Harris parlayed a career as a California prosecutor, state attorney general and U.S. senator to the second most powerful job in the United States

The government will present its response to the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Wednesday January, 27 Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage told the Sunday Observer yesterday. The report will be published along with the response as customary ahead of the upcoming sessions of the UN Human Rights Council late February.

LONDON - There is some evidence that a new coronavirus variant first identified in southeast England carries a higher risk of death than the original strain, the British government's chief scientific adviser said Friday — though he stressed that the data is uncertain.

WASHINGTON - Democrat Joe Biden, a fixture in Washington for nearly a half century, was sworn in Wednesday as the 46th U.S. president and called on Americans to unite in support of each other in what he called “a winter of peril and significant possibilities.”

The rescheduled Tokyo Games may have to be held behind closed doors if they are to go ahead in Japan this year, athletics chief Lord Coe has admitted.

WASHINGTON - The top U.S. intelligence officer for North Korea warned Friday the country sees diplomacy only as a means to advance its nuclear weapons development, even as the new Biden administration says it will look for ways to bring Pyongyang back to talks.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka on February 23 on a brief bilateral visit, Daily Mirror learns.