October 3, 2016 Reading Time: 2 minutes
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe to travel to New Delhi. Image Credit - saiko3p / depositphotos
Reading Time: 2 min read
Prime Minister discusses diplomacy and development in New Zealand
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and the Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key, have agreedto establish High Commissions in Sri Lanka and New Zealand. The leaders also discussed increasing the number of Sri Lankan students studying in New Zealand, reducing trade tariffs, and advancing tourism.
Prime Minister Key also commended Sri Lanka’s constitutional reforms and its national reconciliation process.
Commonwealth health committee to convene in Colombo
The Commonwealth Medical Association’s 24th Triennial Conference is scheduled to take place in Colombo from 14 -16 October. Several leading figures from Commonwealth agencies, including the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, are expected to attend.
Prior to the conference, the 16-member Commonwealth Advisory Committee on Health will convene in Colombo, in its first ever meeting outside its London headquarters.
Prime Minister to visit India
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe will travel to New Delhi on 4 October, to engage in discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and several other Indian ministers.
The Prime Minister will also attend the World Economic Forum’s India Economic Summit on 6 October. The Summit will focus on issues faced by India in the context of the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’.
UK Prime Minister sets deadline for Brexit
The UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, has announced that the UK will effect Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty to exit the EU by March 2017.
Prime Minister May also announced the details of legislation being described as the ‘Great Repeal Bill’, which will end the authority of EU law in the UK, once the country officially exits the EU.
FARC peace deal fails following referendum
Colombian voters have rejected the peace deal between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The referendum was held on 2 October, where 50.2% of the voters opposed the deal.
The Colombian President, Juan Manuel Santos, announced that the bilateral ceasefire with FARC is still in effect, and has sent negotiators to Cuba to discuss the way forward with FARC.
India ratifies the Paris Agreement
India has submitted its instrument of ratification of the Paris Agreement to the UN. India announced that it would increase its use of green energy, and reduce emissions relative to its GDP by up to 35% by 2030.
India is the 62nd country to submit its instrument of ratification. It currently is responsible for 4.1% of total global emissions.
Tags: India, Sri Lanka, EU, UK, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, Commonwealth, New Zealand, Colombia
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