News & Media

DAILY BRIEF: WEDNESDAY, 23RD MARCH 2016

March 23, 2016    Reading Time: 2 minutes

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Mourners gathered following terrorist attacks in Brussels. Image credit - SA2.0, Creative Commons Licence

Reading Time: 2 min read

LOCAL NEWS

 
Bilateral ties with Pakistan to be strengthened

The High Commissioner of Pakistan in Sri Lanka, Major General Syed Shakeel Hussain, speaking at Pakistan’s 76th National Day ceremony, stated that Sri Lanka and Pakistan have undertaken steps to further strengthen their economic and political relationship. 

He noted that their engagement with Sri Lanka is especially strong in social sector development, trade and investment.

IFC and Canada to invest in local retail business

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) together with the Canadian government, will invest LKR 15 million in the local retail chain, Richard Pieris Distributors Limited.

This investment will assist the company to expand its modern retail network, support job creation, develop local supply chains, and promote climate-smart technologies.

Google Maps street view now available in Sri Lanka

Google has announced that street view imagery of Sri Lanka is now available on Google Maps.

Numerous locations in Sri Lanka can be searched and viewed in 360-degree panoramic imagery. Google street view imagery is now available in 76 countries.
 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

 
Terrorist attacks in Brussels

At least 31 have been killed as a result of yesterday’s terrorist attacks at the Zaventem airport and Maelbeek metro station in Brussels, the Belgian capital.

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for these attacks. The attacks come just days after raids conducted by the Belgian police in response to last year’s attack in Paris.

Obama calls on Cuba to embrace free market

President Barack Obama urged Cuba to embrace the free market principles, in a landmark speech delivered in Havana.

President Obama’s trip has focused on the growth of small business in Cuba which many view as a potential driver of relations between the two countries.

The US carries out airstrikes in Yemen

The United States has conducted 135 airstrikes against Yemen, since the identification of the country as a major base of operation for Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

The Pentagon has claimed that dozens of Al-Qaeda militants were killed in the recent airstrikes.

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