June 22, 2016 Reading Time: 2 minutes
BBC holds debate ahead of Brexit referendum. Image credit - Aaz-z.mail.ru / depositphotos
Reading Time: 2 min read
Foreign Minister meets Prime Minister of Norway
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mangala Samaraweera, is scheduled to engage in bilateral talks with the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Børge Brende, and deliver the opening address at the Sixth World Congress Against the Death Penalty held in Oslo, Norway.
Mr. Samaraweera also met with the Prime Minister of Norway, Erna Solberg, on 21 June.
Sri Lankan investor ratings downgraded
The Moody’s Investors Service, citing rising debt levels and unsatisfactory fiscal reforms, has downgraded Sri Lanka’s service ratings from ‘stable’ to ‘negative’.
The investor service has confirmed that the Sri Lankan government’s foreign currency issuer and senior unsecured sovereign ratings have been rated at B1.
Mahatma Gandhi scholarships awarded to students
The Minister of Education, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, and the High Commissioner of India, Y. K. Sinha, have awarded 150 prestigious Mahatma Gandhi Scholarships, to gifted Sri Lankan secondary school students.
The scholarships are awarded annually by the High Commission of India, in collaboration with the Sri Lankan Ministry of Education.
ICC passes sentence for former Congolese Vice-President
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has sentenced the former Congolese Vice-President, Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, to 18 years in prison for war crimes committed in the Central African Republic between October 2002 and March 2003.
During this period, Mr. Bemba was the commander-in-chief of the Congolese rebel group, the Movement for the Liberation of Congo. Due to Mr. Bemba’s ‘command responsibility’, he was charged with two counts of crimes against humanity and three counts of war crimes.
Jordan closes border with Syria
The Jordanian government has declared the border with Syria a ‘military zone’, following an attack by a suicide truck-bomber which killed six security personnel.
This action has resulted in the closure of the last entry point for Syrian refugees into Jordan, resulting in thousands of refugees being stranded on the Syrian side of the border. As of yet no one has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Brexit referendum debate held
Ahead of the UK’s Brexit referendum, rival sides have engaged in a debate before an audience of six thousand at the Wembley Arena.
Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, former London Mayor Boris Johnson, and incumbent London Mayor Sadiq Khan participated in the debate, which was organised by the BBC.
24 Horton Place
Colombo 7
Sri Lanka
A think tank engaging in independent research of Sri Lanka’s international relations and strategic interests, to provide insights and recommendations that advance justice, peace, prosperity, and sustainability.
