Pakistan is pushing hard to secure an agreement in principle with Sri Lanka to sell its multi-role combat aircraft JF-17 Thunder to the island nation, according to a UK-based defense publication. Following the first export deal for its JF-17 multirole fighter to Myanmar, Pakistan is expected to be pushing hard for a follow-up agreement with Sri Lanka that would mark an important step in further extending its defense co-operation footprint in the Indian Ocean region, a report in IHS Jane's Defense Weekly said.

The report quoting diplomatic sources say that efforts to secure an agreement in principle for the sale of the JF-17 Thunder to Sri Lanka are likely to be high on the agenda of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his scheduled visit to Sri Lanka in the first week of January 2016. Sharif's upcoming talks in Colombo follow a mid-November visit to Pakistan by Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) commander Air Marshal Gagan Bulathsinhala during which the JF-17 was showcased by the Pakistanis. Immediately after the visit AM Bulathsinhala was invited to send an evaluation team of technicians and pilots to PAC's Kamra facilities near Islamabad, where the JF-17 is produced.

Earlier this year a Taiwanese news web site said that Sri Lanka will become the first foreign country to acquire Pakistan's multi-role combat aircraft JF-17 Thunder, and the Pakistan Air Force will begin delivery of the fighters to Sri Lanka from 2017. Reportedly, Sri Lanka's order will be for around 18-24 aircraft. The lightweight, single-engine multi-role third-generation combat aircraft is developed jointly by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation of China and it can be used for aerial reconnaissance, ground attack and aircraft interception.

In October state-owned English weekly Sunday Observer reported that India has offered Sri Lanka its brand new, home-made 'Tejas' Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) to counter an offer from Pakistan to sell its JF-17 fighters. The SLAF, which already flies several other Chinese-made aircraft types, is currently looking to upgrade its fighter capabilities. SLAF officials have reportedly argued that despite the high price tags, given the emerging global geo-political scenario, Sri Lanka needs to replace its currently ageing fleet of Israeli Kfirs and MIg 27s with a new generation of high technology aircraft to replenish Sri Lanka's air defense capability.

While refuting claims by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe that his government had allocated funds required to increase public sector salaries, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that no such funds had been allocated.

A Fundamental Rights petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking an order preventing Ranjan Ramanayake from contesting the parliamentary election scheduled for November 14.

Claiming that Sri Lanka has come a long way in terms of undertaking reforms which have led to some hard won gains, the International Monetary Fund (IMF)said they could move fast towards the third review which will come up soon.

The Election Commission has decided to mark the voters' index fingers for this year's general elections, Commissioner General Saman Ratnayake announced. He said the elections are scheduled for November 14, 2024.

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Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the security threats to Israeli nationals in the Arugam Bay area, Public Security Minister Vijitha Herath said.

Sri Lanka should get its foreign policy right in the wake of the escalating Middle East crisis, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Mujibur Rahman said today.

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