Sri Lankan-origin Athithiya Anantharajah, at just 25 years old has been appointed maire adjoint (Deputy Mayor) of Pontault-Combault – a municipality on the outskirts of Paris, France.

From city councillor at 19, the daughter of refugees escaping the conflict in Sri Lanka, the French local politician has excelled in the recent municipal race through her hard work, conviction, and commitment to the city that is her home.

Appointed Deputy Mayor of Pontault-Combault in March 2026, Athithiya will focus on local governance and community impact.

It is reported that the Anandarasa family hails originally from Kayts in the Jaffna District, crediting her family history and early experiences for her deep interest in politics.

In her earlier role as Municipal Councillor for Youth (2020–2026), she managed initiatives for residents aged 11–17, including the “Quartier Jeunes” program and awareness workshops on the environment and disability.

It is expected that she will continue to inspire more youth to step into politics and civic leadership.

Sri Lanka is looking at sourcing fuel from Russia, following an urgent meeting held today (13) between Russia’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Levan S. Dzhagaryan, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herah.

The discussion took place after the removal of sanctions that had previously prevented Sri Lanka from purchasing Russian oil, seen as a solution to fuel supply chain disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The United States has temporarily waived sanctions on Russian oil stranded at sea as Trump administration officials attempt to reverse a surge in prices that is causing mounting apprehension about global supplies.

As part of efforts to ensure the continuous supply of fuel to the island nation, the Foreign Minister held talks with Ambassador Dzhagaryan regarding the procurement of Russian fuel.

Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has begun 2026 on a strong footing, recording its highest-ever January arrivals, welcoming over 277,000 visitors and surpassing the previous high of 252,761 registered last year.

The country welcomed 277,327 tourists in January, marking a 10% year-on-year (YoY) increase compared to the same period last year. The improvement was underpinned by a notable rise in average daily arrivals, highlighting the industry’s continued recovery momentum following several years of disruption.

Average daily arrivals stood at 8,946 during the month, while the highest single-day inflow was recorded on 15 January, when 10,483 visitors arrived in the country. Weekly figures showed a steady upward trend, with 58,822 arrivals in the first week of January, followed by 62,590 in the second week, 64,077 in the third, and a sharp rise to 91,838 in the final week of the month.