[Submitted on May 05, 2013] Chinese Vice-Minister of Commerce Cheng Jiao has informed Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa that China is ready for large and medium scale investments in Sri Lanka with Beijing’s sponsorship.

[Submitted on May 03, 2013] Japan has assured continued support for developing Sri Lanka’s infrastructure facilities to improve the island’s transport, human resources and energy requirements.

[Submitted on May 03, 2013] Sir Lanka Freedom Party(SLFP) National Organiser and Minister Basil Rajapaksa has expressed his heartfelt thanks to all party leaders of the UPFA, SLFP organizers and other progressive activists who dedicated themselves to make the massive UPFA May Day rally and Parade an unprecedented success under the blue banner.

[Submitted on May 02, 2013] Deputy Prime Minister of Japan, Taro Aso, arrived in Sri lanka May 01st, as a follow up to the visit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to Tokyo in March this year.

[Submitted on May 01, 2013] The United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) will start its May Day rally from Nelum Pokuna Mawatha to Campbell Park, Borella. Its affiliated parties Sri Lanka Mahajana Party (SLMP), Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) and the National Freedom Party (NFF) join the main procession from Maradana and Dematagoda. President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived at the May Day rally of the UPFA Yesterday.

[Submitted on May 01, 2013] Addressing the May Day Rally of the Ceylon Workers Congress at the Nuwara Eliya Bus terminus yesterday(May 01), SLFP National Organiser and Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa said that the government was taking all possible steps to develop infrastructure in the plantation areas, improve living standards of plantation workers and their families, provide them with better housing instead of line rooms and to raise their children’s educational level.

The  processing UPFA May Day Rally commencing at Camble Park. Economic Development Minister Hon. Basil Rajapaksa Also present. [Show as slideshow] (Pix by Dharshana Karunarathna)

[Submitted on April 29, 2013] Ninety-five percent of the Confirmed Hazarders area has been cleared of mines, according to the National Mine Action Center which was established in the Economic Development Ministry after the war. The remaining confirmed hazard area (CHA) is only 96 square kilometers as at the end of March 2013. Most of this area is covered with shrubs and jungle.