The US blockade disrupts global oil markets, heightening geopolitical tensions and economic strain, with potential ripple effects on energy prices.
CryptoBriefing•Editorial Team26 Aug
SriLankan Airlines is making Mission ShakthiSAT possible for Sri Lanka’s Official Student Representative, Seneesa Goonewardena, and ShakthiSAT (Devi) Ambassador for Sri Lanka, Dr. Sulochana Segera, by sponsoring their travel to India to participate in the groundbreaking project that will bring together young girls from 108 countries to collaboratively design and build a satellite for the first time. Empowering young minds to pursue their dreams has long been at the heart of SriLankan Airlines’ corporate social responsibility efforts. The airline has worked with numerous schools over the years, including many in rural communities, helping foster better learning journeys.
EHang Holdings Limited, a world-leading advanced air mobility (“AAM”) technology platform company, announced the launch of its Global Fast Track Program — a structured and accelerated pathway for the assessment and introduction of pilotless eVTOL operations in international markets. Sri Lanka is the inaugural market under the initiative, with Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Ports and
We asked adults in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka how they view other South Asian countries. Only Sri Lanka receives more positive than negative ratings from the other three publics.
Public opinion of India ranges widely across 36 countries, with favorable views ranging from 79% in Sri Lanka to 7% in Pakistan.
Twenty years on, no one has been held accountable for the brutal killings of young Tamils working for a French NGO in Sri Lanka By the time their colleagues were able to reach them, their bodies had been lying in the dirt for around two days and were starting to decompose in the heat. On 6 August 2006, 17 Sri Lankan workers for the international NGO Action Against Hunger were found dead in the organisation’s compound in Muttur, Sri Lanka. They had been lined up and shot. Many were recent graduates, brought on board to help with the NGO’s increased workload in the aftermath of the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004. All but one were Tamil. Four were women. Two were father and daughter. Continue reading...
The Guardian•Kat Lay, Global health correspondent, and KA Shaji6 AugFrench bee is adding two new Indian Ocean destinations to its network, launching flights to Malé and Colombo from Paris–Orly starting 19 December 2026. The new services will operate seasonally until 2 May 2027 and are designed as flexible triangular routes linking Paris, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka, with a mix of direct and combined […]
Aviation24.be•André Orban19 Jun
Vietjet is launching three new international routes across Asia, including the first ever direct air link between Vietnam and Sri Lanka
Airline Routes & Ground Services•Eddie Saunders15 Jun
Israeli-built combat aircraft had been inactive for years before entering a modernization program launched in 2021
Air Data News•Ricardo Meier12 Jun
The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Timor-Leste as malaria-free, a remarkable achievement for a country that prioritized the disease and embarked on a concerted, nation-wide response shortly after gaining independence in 2002. “WHO congratulates the people and government of Timor-Leste on this significant milestone,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Timor-Leste’s success proves that malaria can be stopped in its tracks when strong political will, smart interventions, sustained domestic and external investment and dedicated health workers unite.” With today’s announcement, a total of 47 countries and 1 territory have been certified as malaria-free by WHO. Timor-Leste is the third country to be certified in the WHO South-East Asia region, joining Maldives and Sri Lanka which were certified in 2015 and 2016 respectively. Certification of malaria elimination is granted by WHO when a country has proven, beyond reasonable doubt, that the chain of indigenous transmission has been interrupted nationwide for at least the previous three consecutive years. “We did it. Malaria has been one of our most relentless enemies – silent, persistent, and deadly. We lost too many lives to a disease that should be preventable. But our health workers never gave up, our communities held strong, and our partners, like WHO, walked beside us. From 223 000 cases to zero – this elimination honours every life lost and every life now saved. We must safeguard this victory with continued vigilance and community action to prevent malaria's re-entry,” said Dr Élia António de Araújo dos Reis Amaral, SH, Minister of Health, Government of Timor-Leste. A rapid shift from high burden country to malaria-free Since gaining independence in 2002, Timor-Leste has made remarkable strides in the fight against malaria – reducing cases from a peak of more than 223 000 clinically diagnosed cases in 2006 to zero indigenous cases from 2021 onwards. Timor-Leste’s success in eliminating malaria was driven by the Ministry of Health’s swift action in 2003 to establish the National Malaria Programme, a dedicated programme for planning, implementing, and monitoring malaria control efforts nationwide. With only two full-time officers initially, the programme was able to lay the foundation for progress early on through strong technical leadership, managerial capacity and attention to detail. Within a few years, the country introduced rapid diagnostic tests and artemisinin-based combination therapy as part of the National Malaria Treatment Guidelines and began distributing free long-lasting insecticide treated nets to communities most at risk. In 2009, with support from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Timor-Leste scaled up nationwide vector control efforts through the distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying. Malaria diagnosis was also expanded using microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests at the point of care across all local health posts. Facing the challenges of severe shortages of health workers and doctors, Timor-Leste made investments and developed its three-tier health system – comprising national hospitals, reference hospitals, community health centers (CHCs), and health posts – to ensure most residents can access care within an hour's walk. Additionally, citizens are provided with free health services at the point of care, as part of the government’s policy on free universal health care. Monthly mobile clinics and community outreach programmes further enhance health services in rural areas. Timor-Leste’s success in combating malaria highlights the importance of country leadership and strong collaboration between the Ministry of Health, WHO, local communities, non-governmental organizations, donors, and multiple government sectors. A real-time integrated case-based surveillance system ensures rapid data collection and response, while trained health workers ensure timely detection and screening of malaria cases, including at borders. These integrated efforts have paved the way for the country to be officially certified malaria-free. "Timor-Leste’s malaria-free certification is a defining national triumph – driven by bold leadership, tireless efforts of health workers, and the resolve of its people. As a young nation, Timor-Leste stayed focused – testing, treating, and investigating swiftly. Ending transmission and maintaining zero deaths takes more than science; it takes grit. This victory protects generations, present and future, and shows what a determined country can achieve,” said Dr Arvind Mathur, WHO Representative to Timor-Leste. Note to the editor WHO malaria-free certification The final decision on awarding a malaria-free certification is made by the WHO Director-General, based on a recommendation by the Technical Advisory Group on Malaria Elimination and Certification and validation from the Malaria Policy Advisory Group. More on WHO’s malaria-free certification process .