Anup Sinha – a security and strategic affairs researcher and freelance columnist

The 28th Dhaka International Trade Fair was officially inaugurated on January 21 by Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina as the chief guest at the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center located in Purbachal, near the capital. According to the layout plan of this year’s trade fair, the total number of pavilions, restaurants and stalls of different categories is 351 and the total number of pavilions, restaurants and stalls allotted to local and foreign organizations is 300. This year, the entrance of the fair has been made in the pattern of Karnaphuli tunnel to bring forward the development and progress of the fair premises. On one side is the Rooppur nuclear power plant and on the other side is the third terminal of the airport. These are made visible to continue the journey of development.

The main objective of the trade fair is to diversify the export of domestic products by reducing the dependence on the garment sector. If Bangladesh can diversify its products, then our export can be more than 100 billion. Bangladesh fair can sustain rapid growth with resilience, emerging as a highlight of high-standard opening-up endeavors.

EPB said, in addition to domestic products, various countries including India, Pakistan, Thailand, Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Nepal will participate in this year’s trade fair. Aims to find large market for export of domestic products besides product display. The fair was held in Sherebangla Nagar from 1995 to 2020 as a joint initiative of the Ministry of Commerce and EPB to promote, spread, market, and support domestic products. Due to the covid epidemic, it was not possible to organize the fair in 2021. The fair was then held for the first time in 2022 at the BBCFEC in Purbachle amid pandemic restrictions. This is the third time the trade fair is being held at the permanent venue Bangladesh-China Exhibition Center. A permanent trade fair center has been built in Purbachal with Chinese funding. From now on, the International Trade Fair will be held here every year. A fair like computer fair, science fair, agricultural fair and book fair is the most modern version of our culture Dhaka International Trade Fair. Since 1995, the fair has been organized regularly in Shere Banglanagar, Dhaka, under the initiative of Bangladesh Ministry of Commerce and Export Development Bureau, but now the venue of the fair has been changed and it is being held at the present place. The fair attracts a large number of people as the best products are available in terms of uniqueness, beauty and quality. The Dhaka International Trade Fair has started in the month of January as always, upholding the traditional folk culture of Bengal. Due to the internationalization of the fair, many foreign business organizations and manufacturing companies participate. Foreign buyers and visitors gather. Small and cottage industries of our country are very popular with foreigners. By selling these products to foreign visitors at fairs, the sales and reputation of our indigenous industry in the world increases. As a result, our small industries can benefit. And the way of earning profit of big domestic companies is also facilitated through this fair. Besides, the Government of Bangladesh gets huge revenue from the participating domestic and foreign companies and has the opportunity to earn a lot of foreign exchange. A lot of money is also earned from the sale of fair tickets. Through part-time employment in the fair, temporary unemployment of the unemployed is overcome. Many also get permanent jobs by showing good skills in part-time jobs at fairs. Trade fairs are related to the economic infrastructure of a country.

Efforts are being made to improve the functions of thetrade fair,making it the South Asia’s most influential fair for trade, injecting new impetus to the Bangladesh’s economy. The trade fair is a valuable opportunity for businesses to engage with government stakeholders, for Bangladesh to exhibit its own strengths and ambitions for the business sector, and for international companies to announce deals with local partners.

For domestic small and medium-sized enterprises, participating in the Fair can be an excellent opportunity to build brand awareness, expand their customer base, and generate new business leads. They can meet potential partners and customers, explore new markets, and learn about the latest industry trends and developments.

Moreover, the Fair provides small and medium-sized enterprises with a level playing field to compete with larger companies on a global stage. It is a great opportunity for them to showcase their quality products and services, which can help them gain recognition and establish their brand in the international market.

The Fair also plays a critical role in attracting foreign investment to Bangladesh. The fair provides foreign investors with an opportunity to learn about the country’s business environment, meet with potential partners and suppliers, and explore investment opportunities which has helped to attract foreign investment to Bangladesh, contributing to the country’s economic growth and development.

That is, trade fairs play a supporting role in the economic development and expansion of the country. Therefore, it is necessary to organize a trade fair to build a rich infrastructure of the main energy economy of the country. Moreover, since the merchants of different countries appear with their various products in the fair, domestic business establishments can get acquainted with the latest foreign products. Manufacturing companies get new product ideas. Buyers or consumers can compare the quality of our domestic products with foreign products. The relationship between our country’s businessmen and foreign businessmen and entrepreneurs has improved. As a result, foreign trade is promoted and expanded. Trade is the main carrier of national progress and development. And the development and expansion of this trade is the main goal of the trade fair. Dhaka International Trade Fair has and will continue to play an important role in the rapid development of the country’s economy. This fair is the biggest business event in Bangladesh. The necessity of this fair is essential to bring together the producers-exporters, importers, traders and buyers on one platform and for the promotion of products and market expansion as well as for the development of the national economy.

Mehjabin Bhanu is a Bangladeshi culuminst, security and strategic affairs analyst, and teacher.

After winning the national elections, the Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina, formed a new administration for the fourth consecutive time, demonstrating their ongoing success. Sheikh Hasina has attained a great degree of bravery in her leadership while facing complex local and international plots. Following the elections held in Bangladesh on January 7, the governing Awami League (AL) has gained respect on a global scale. Many have described the election as free, fair, unbiased, and participatory. acknowledging people’s enthusiasm for democracy. Numerous chiefs of foreign missions in Bangladesh expressed their happiness with the referendum and congratulated Sheikh Hasina on her achievement. Several heads of state, including those of China, India, Brazil, Russia, and Australia, have welcomed Sheikh Hasina’s new administration. The international community’s backing and recognition of the newly constituted administration has raised its morale, notwithstanding the fears of entrenched organizations. Countries like China, India, and Russia have praised Hasina for her reelection, which has increased their self-assurance abroad. In addition to congratulating Hasina on her reelection, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted Bangladesh’s contributions to peacekeeping efforts and the Sustainable Development Goals. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received congratulations from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on her reelection and highlighted the two countries’ solid alliance. He complimented Bangladesh’s goodwill towards Rohingya refugees and hailed Bangladesh’s major contributions to UN peacekeeping missions. The foreign community’s support for Hasina’s administration is indicative of a favorable view of Bangladesh’s political environment and suggests that opinions may have changed after the country’s recent elections.

The Secretary-General acknowledged Bangladesh’s efforts towards a more sustainable and inclusive future and commended Hasina for her dedication to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He conveyed his belief in Bangladesh’s proactive involvement in the Global Crisis Response Group and emphasized the significance of teamwork in tackling worldwide issues.

Patricia Scotland, the secretary-general of the Commonwealth, also congratulated Hasina on her victory in the reelection of Bangladesh’s prime minister. After Hasina’s reelection, she wrote to her expressing her happiness and highlighting the common values—peace, democracy, and sustainable development—that are embodied in the Commonwealth Charter. Bangladesh’s leadership and active participation in the Commonwealth were recognized by Scotland, which also valued its efforts on problems including ocean stewardship, climate change, and digitalization.

Finally, the Secretary-Generals of the United Nations and the Commonwealth have said that they endorse Hasina’s reelection and the two countries’ ongoing cooperation.

Bangladesh has a significant position on the global map. Because of its position, powerful nations are gazing at Bangladesh. Based on Bangladesh’s actual political situation, Western nations have already acknowledged reality and begun cooperating with the Sheikh Hasina government. Engaging with the recently established Bangladeshi administration is in their best interests. India, who fought with us in the great liberation movement, has always upheld the idea of friendship. Specifically, even though during Sheikh Hasina’s leadership, India expanded its diplomatic ties with Bangladesh.

Prior to the 12th National Assembly elections, it seemed likely that neither the US nor the EU would be interested in reestablishing cooperative ties with the administration headed by Sheikh Hasina. The contrast between these fictitious facts and reality must have been obvious to astute onlookers. The message that emerged from the meeting with the foreign ministers of the US and EU ambassadors is, in a word, fantastic, after the announcement that Sheikh Hasina’s government has been formed with a majority of seats in the elections. Both the US and the EU have shown a desire to collaborate closely with Bangladesh’s freshly elected government and populace. Bangladesh and the EU will shortly sign a new Partnership Cooperation Agreement (PCA). The two sides’ relationship will improve as a result of this.

The foreign minister said, “We have relations with the United States on many issues,” using Bangladesh’s connection with the US as an example. For a considerable amount of time, we have collaborated to combat extremism and militancy. In the future, I’m excited to work on those topics more carefully. We have made it clear that we want to improve commerce, foster deeper ties between the two nations, and step-up collaboration in all other sectors.

Bangladesh has been receiving defense support from the United States. The fresh conversation on the subject has been made clear by the foreign minister. America is concurrently interested in exploring Bangladesh’s deep sea for oil and gas. An American business is searching for oil in the meantime. As a consequence, Bangladesh and the US may have further conversations over this matter. Bangladesh hasn’t profited from the potential Sunil economy yet. There won’t be an issue if Bangladesh gains greatly from the direct participation of one or more powerful nations, such as the US, in the extraction of marine resources. In addition, there is one more crucial item. The Rohingya problem is that. Over fifteen million Rohingya people are a burden on Bangladesh’s economy. Bangladesh has often asked for US assistance in getting the Rohingyas back. That the topic has now been revisited is definitely a step in the right direction.

The US is Bangladesh’s main export destination. Speculators predicted that US-Bangladesh ties would soar when Joe Biden was elected president. Not that it never happened. Government policy officials believe they want to explore the prospect of creating new avenues for collaboration on future shared concerns like as climate change, eradicating militancy, and repatriation of Rohingya. There is room for further collaboration with Bangladesh, as shown by the September 13, 2018, Washington, DC, meeting of the four-year Trade and Investment collaboration Forum Agreement (TICFA) between the governments of the United States and Bangladesh. The chance for Bangladesh to seize it fully is now once again there.

Keeping in mind Bangladesh’s foreign policy of “friendship with all, enmity with none,” the current US and EU approach is unquestionably advantageous for Bangladesh. The people of this nation anticipate that in the near future, new avenues for commerce and investment will develop.

By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham Courtesy NewsIn.Asia

Colombo, January 20: The present Sri Lankan constitution, in place for more than four and a half decades, has seen 21 Amendments. Most of them were brought by incumbent Presidents to suit their political interests and were fundamentally  anti-democratic.

But the 13th Amendment, which has a relatively democratic dimension in comparison, has long been the subject of intense political controversy. This write has already discussed several times   the controversies surrounding it. It was brought in to create Provincial Councils after the July 1987 India-Sri Lanka Accord, has been a part of the Constitution for three and a half decades.

The author is induced to write about it again by a statement issued this week by former minister and High Commissioner in India Milinda Moragoda.  

Moragoda, the founder of the ‘Pathfinder Foundation’, has insisted that the parties should give priority to the abolition of the Provincial Council system in their manifestos for the upcoming national elections.

This is not the first time that he has demanded the abolition of the Provincial Council system. Ahead of the 2020 general elections, he had asked political parties to express their position in manifestoes regarding the repeal of the 13th amendment and the abolition of the provincial council system. But no party did.

Moragoda did not speak much about the abolition of Provincial Councils during his  more than two years’ tenure as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India. But after coming back from India, he has started talking about it.

A statement issued by his office reiterated his earlier position that provincial Councils should be abolished and their powers given to reorganized Local Councils.

Local councils are in a better position to address and solve  community-level problems as they work closer to the citizens. A small country of 22 million people does not require another unnecessary layer of administration,” he said.

Abolition of Provincial Councils should be part of an overall strategy to restructure and modernize Sri Lanka’s governance and economy. Provincial Councils can be replaced by a district-level framework which would consist of relevant Members of Parliament, existing key local government office – bearers and other key stakeholders.”.

” The original intent of the 13th amendment, enacted in  1987,  was to create more provincial autonomy to help solve Sri Lanka’ s ethnic problem. Instead this structure has proven to be superfluous, expensive, divisive and fraught with inefficiency.

” Rather than having an unnecessary layer of expensive administration, an empowered Senate / Upper House be set up to address issues concerning ethnic, religious and regional diversity. A representative and properly composed forum of this nature would be best positioned to identify solutions for many of the complex issues facing our nation today ” the statement said.

Despite Moragoda’s arguments, none of the main candidates in the Presidential election is likely to express any position on the 13th Amendment in the manifestoes. To get 50% percent plus one vote in the first round, parties will be concerned about securing additional votes from minority communities. So it can be hoped that they will not listen to Moragoda’s request and not take any position that could damage their chances.

At the same time, we can expect them to focus on a stand that does not alienate the majority Sinhalese community or the minority communities.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who met Tamil parliamentarians including veteran leader R  Sampanthan last December, said that the parliament to be  elected in the next general election will take forward efforts for a political solution through a new constitution.

There is no doubt that he made the announcement with the tactful intention of ensuring that the issue of a political solution does not become a key talking point in the next Presidential election.

Wickremesinghe, who announced early last year that the government would fully implement the 13th Amendment step by step over two years, stopped talking about it following protests in the Sinhala South. 

The President said that the 13th Amendment, which is a part of the Constitution, should be implemented or it should be abolished. He also suggested that any member of Parliament could bring a new constitutional amendment as a private member bill to  abolish the  Amendment. But even members of parliament who are strong Sinhalese nationalists are not willing to do so.

There is an allegation that Wickremesinghe pavde the way for more protests against the 13th Amendment in the South than before by way of his haphazard handling of the issue.

He said at one point that it was up to Parliament to decide on the implementation of the 13th Amendment without police powers, but then decided that nothing could be done through the current Parliament and has now handed over the responsibility to the next Parliament.

During his four-visit to the Northern Province earlier this month,  the President, at a dinner with professionals, urged the provinces to utilize the powers granted by 13th amendment for economic development asserting that devolution should not merely be a political concept but an economic reality. He did not mention anything about the ethnic problem or a political solution.

But, it is astonishing to note that hardline Sinhala politicians like Wimal Weerawansa interpreted the President’s comments as an attempt to implement 13 Plus!

The Tamil political parties, who have been saying that the 13th Amendment is not a basis for a lasting  political solution to the ethnic problem, have now requested the government to fully implement the amendment and hold Provincial Council elections as an interim measure. This is the latest position of the Tamil parties regarding the amendment.

A suspicion has long been lingering in the people’s minds that someday a  Sri Lankan government may do away with the existing devolution arrangement in the form of the 13th Amendment in an attempt to bring in a new constitution. But there is also a belief among Tamil people and Tamil parties that India will never allow it.

One day a question will arise as to why India has to keep insisting on the implementation of an amendment that doesn’t have the support of Tamils and Sinhalese.  Another question is how much India will care to prevent the abolition of the devolution arrangement in the midst of changing geopolitical conditions.

New Delhi is well aware that Colombo no longer wants to involve it in issues related to the Tamil problem in bilateral relations.

There is a huge difference between the international political situation that prevailed in the 1980s when India directly intervened in the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict and the situation today. But Tamil parties feel that they have no choice but to appeal to New Delhi. They do not seem to have a proper understanding of India’s current level of concern in the Sri Lankan ethnic problem after a bitter experience of several decades. Still, Sampanthan often says that India would never abandon the Tamils.

The 13th Amendment is the only devolution arrangement in the Sri Lankan Constitution. No one needs to be a political expert to understand that it would never have been possible had it not been for India’s direct intervention. If one day a Sri Lankan government does away with the 13th amendment, can such an arrangement be brought back through the domestic process given the fiercely anti devolution mood in the South?

The Tamil people (not Tamil politicians), cannot help thinking about this question. Interpreting this question as one in favour of the 13th Amendment or not would surely be nothing more than a contrarian approach to the issue that will not bear fruit. There should be a conscious concern for the plight of the Tamils on the part of the Tamils themselves.

Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Colombo, Jan. 21 (Daily Mirror)- The controvercial saffron-robed monk who identifies himself as ‘Vishwa Buddha’ has been expelled from the Ramanna Maha Nikaya and the monkhood.

The Mahanayake Thera of Sri Lanka Ramanna Maha Nikaya, Ven. Makulewe Wimalaabhidana Thera has informed this decision to the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs.

The Karaka Maha Sangha Sabha of the Sri Lanka Ramanna Maha Nikaya had unanimously decided on December 15, 2023 to explell the controversial monk from the Ramanna Maha Nikaya and the monkhood.

The particular monk, who was arrested once again by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), was remanded till January 26 by the Gangodawila Magistrate Sunil Hettiarachchi today.

In December of last year, the CID’s cybercrimes unit arrested the monk for allegedly insulting Buddhism on social media and later he was released on bail.

Courtesy Adaderana

The saffron-robbed monk claiming to be ‘Vishwa Buddha’ has been ordered to be remanded in custody until January 26, after being produced before the Gangodawila Magistrate’s Court in Nugegoda.

The suspect, who was out on bail, was re-arrested this morning (21) by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

Earlier, the monk was arrested on December 12 at a private establishment in Kalagedihena by the cybercrimes unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), acting on a complaint received against the self-styled monk who was residing in Ratnapura.

According to police, the saffron-robbed monk had allegedly issued statements demeaning Buddhism.

උපුටා ගැන්ම  හිරු පුවත්

බෞද්ධයන්ට හා බුදුදහමට අපහාස වන අයුරින් ප්‍රකාශ නිකුත් කර ඒවා අන්තර් ජාලයට මුදාහැරි බවට චෝදනා එල්ලවීම හේතුවෙන් අපරාධ පරීක්ෂණ දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව අත්අඩංගුවට ගත් රත්නපුරේ විමල බුද්ධි හෙවත් විශ්ව බුද්ධ නැමැත්තා මේ මස 26 වනදා දක්වා රක්ෂිත බන්ධනාගාර ගතකතර තිබෙනවා.

ඒ, ඔහු නුගේගොඩ වැඩබලන මහේස්ත්‍රාත් සුනිල් හෙට්ටආරච්චි හමුවට ඉදිරිපත් කිරීමෙන් අනතුරුවයි.

රත්නපුරේ විමල බුද්ධි හෙවත් විශ්ව බුද්ධ නැමැත්තා අද (21) අපරාධ පරීක්ෂණ දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව විසින් අත්අඩංගුවට ගෙන තිබුණේ කලගෙඩිහේන ප්‍රදේශයේදීයි.

මීට පෙර ද මෙම චීවරධාරියා අපරාධ පරීක්ෂණ දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව මගින් අත්අඩංගුවට ගෙන රක්ෂිත බන්ධනාගාර ගතකර පසුව ඇප මත මුදා හැරුණා.

කෙසේ වෙතත් සැකකරු අධිකරණ නියෝග නොතකමින් දිිගින් දිගටම බුදු දහමට අපහාස වන ආකාරයේ ක්‍රියාවල නිරතවෙමින් සමාජ මාධ්‍ය ඔස්සේ ප්‍රකාශ නිකුත් කිරීම හේතුවෙන් යළි මෙලෙස අත්අඩංගුවට තිබුණේ.

මෙම චිවරධාරියා මීට පෙර අත්අඩංගුවට ගත් අවස්ථාවේ අපරාධ පරීක්ෂණ දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව අධිකරණයට කරුණු වාර්තාකරමින් සඳහන් කළේ බාහිර පාර්ශවයක් මගින් රුපියල් ලක්ෂ 25 ක මුදලක් සැකකරුගේ ගිණුමකට යොමුකර ඇති බවයි.

විටෙක චීවරධාරියෙකු ලෙස මෙන්ම ඇතැම් අවස්ථාවන්හිදී සාමාන්‍ය පුද්ගලයෙකු ලෙසද පෙනී සිට ඇති බවට එහිදී අපරාධ පරීක්ෂණ දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව කරුණු වාර්තා කළා.

එමෙන්ම කිසියම් සංවිධානාත්මක පිරිසක් මෙම පුද්ගලයා පිටුපස සිටින බවට තොරතුරු හෙළිව ඇති බවද අනාවරණ කළා.

මීට අමතරව මෙම සැකකාර චීවරධාරියා වාහන භාවිත කරමින් කාන්තාවන් ඇසුරු කරමින් සුඛෝපභෝගී ජීවිතයක් ගත කර ඇති බවටයි අපරාධ පරීක්ෂණ දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව සිදුකරන ලද විමර්ශනවලින් හෙළිව ඇත්තේ.<

කෙසේ වෙතත් යළිත් වරක් රත්නපුරේ විමල බුද්ධි හෙවත් විශ්ව බුද්ධ නැමැත්තා සමාජ මාධ්‍ය ඔස්සේ බෞද්ධයන්ට හා බුදුදහමට අපහාස වන අයුරින් ප්‍රකාශ නිකුත් කිරීම පිළිබද අපරාධ පරීක්ෂණ දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව විසින් ඊයේ පස්වරුවේ ඔහුගේ කළගෙඩිහේන නිවසේදී අත්අඩංගුවට ගෙන තිබුණා.

අත්අඩංගුවට ගන්නා අවස්ථාවේදී ඔහු කලිසමක් ඇඳ සිට ඇති අතර ඔහුගේ මව බවට පැවසෙන කාන්තාවක්ද නිවසේ සිට තිබෙනවා.

අපරාධ පරීක්ෂණ දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව අත්අඩංගුවට ගත් රත්නපුරේ විමල බුද්ධි හෙවත් විශ්ව බුද්ධ නැමැත්තා පසුව ඉදිරිපත් කෙරුණේ නුගේගොඩ වැඩබලන මහේස්ත්‍රාත් සුනිල් හෙට්ටිආරච්චි හමුවටයි.

එහිදී මහේස්ත්‍රාත්වරයා නියෝග කළේ සැකකරු මේ මස 26 වනදා දක්වා රක්ෂිත බන්ධනාගාර ගතකරන ලෙසයි.

Courtesy Adaderana

President Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing the 3rd South Summit today (21) in Kampala, Uganda, highlighted the numerous challenges the world faces, such as conflicts, pandemic repercussions, climate disasters and financial market uncertainties. The President also emphasized the disproportionate impact on vulnerable G77 economies.

In his statement, President Wickremesinghe stressed the urgency of reforming the global financial architecture. 

The President also pointed out that the contemporary international debt resolution architecture is more suited for a world where the Paris Club and London Club dominated global debt resolution. Currently the global debt and particularly debt in the developing world is dominated by international bond markets, and non-Paris Club lenders, the President’s Media Division (PMD) reported.

The President lamented the diversion of financial resources to debt service, hindering spending on essential public services and human development, impacting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets. He criticized the Common Framework for its inability to provide speedy debt resolution, causing delays in addressing recent sovereign debt distress in many G77 countries.

Addressing climate finance, President Wickremesinghe highlighted the failure of the global financial system to meet the Global South’s needs for mitigating and adapting to climate change. Despite commitments made in global forums, he pointed out the lack of real contributions. He introduced Sri Lanka’s Tropical Belt Initiative, aiming to catalyse private investments for global public goods, including biodiversity, oceans, and forest resources, it added.

Expressing concern about rising protectionist tendencies in global trade, the President urged decisions to be made in multilateral forums rather than unilaterally. He emphasized the need for coordination between the G77 and BRICS to ensure the smooth efficiency of global trade and investment.

President Wickremesinghe also touched upon the challenges of job creation in developing economies, quoting Joseph Stiglitz on technological changes making manufacturing skills and capital-intensive, resulting in fewer jobs.

While advocating for global financial reforms, the President called on the G77 + China to formulate strategies for member countries to prepare for energy transition, digital transformation, the green economy, and a skilled workforce for the new global economy.

President Wickremesinghe also thanked President Museveni and the Government of Uganda for their hospitality and congratulated President Museveni on hosting the 3rd South Summit and assuming the Chairmanship of the Group of 77 + China, the PMD mentioned.

The President also expressed gratitude to Cuba for its leadership during the past year and commended their effective leadership in the Havana Declaration.

As the G77 + China commemorate their 60th year, President Wickremesinghe emphasized the importance of remaining united to overcome multidimensional challenges based on the group’s founding principles of unity, complementarity, cooperation and solidarity.

As the largest alliance of developing countries within the United Nations, the G77 provided a platform for the Global South countries to express and advance their collective economic interests. It also served as a forum for joint discussions on international economic issues, fostering mutual cooperation among its member countries. The 3rd Southern Summit was convened under the theme of Leaving No One Behind,” aiming to enhance collaboration among its 134 member nations in areas such as trade, investment, sustainable development, climate change, poverty alleviation, and the digital economy.

The presidency of the G77 + China summit, previously held by the Republic of Cuba, was assumed by the Republic of Uganda during this session.

Courtesy Adaderana

The State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe says that the Micro-Finance and Loan Regulation Act was submitted to Parliament in order to establish a proper, strong regulatory procedure as a government.

Joining the FLi Diri Abhimani 2024” awards ceremony, organized to award women entrepreneurs in the Micro-Financial Sector, Semasinghe mentioned that the approval is expected to be obtained for the relevant act within the next few months.

We hope to get approval for this act in the next few months and protect consumers so that they can reap micro-finance benefits. We also hope to protect entities which provide these micro-financial benefits”, he expressed.

The State Minister also said it would take several months for the public to reap the benefits of economic development, adding that Sri Lanka must stick to the existing economic management plan regardless of which government is in power. 

We hope to establish proper regulation in the country within the first quarter of the year. The economy which remained negative for six quarters is positive from the second quarter of 2023.”

However, this positive economy is still not allowing the hardships you are facing to recede. Today, the country is under correct economic management and will take some time for benefits to be passed on to all social strata”, the State Minister said.

Though the economic restructuring process is able to reap benefits of economic development, it will take several months for you to experience these benefits. There is no way to deviate from the correct economic management regardless of the government”, he added.

Furthermore, Semasinghe stressed that if someone proposes or attempts to deviate from this economic management system, the country will have to face an economic crisis worse than which Sri Lanka had to face in 2022.

Courtesy Adaderana

President Ranil Wickremesinghe is currently addressing the Group of 77 and China (G77+China) Third South Summit in Kampala, Uganda, the President’s Media Division (PMD) reported.

In his statement at the summit in Kampala, President Ranil Wickremesinghe stressed establishing unity within the G77 and China to address challenges facing the Global South. 

Emphasizing the group’s 60th anniversary, he also highlighted principles like unity and cooperation as the basis for tackling these issues sustainably, according to the PMD.

The Sri Lankan President is in Uganda to attend the XIX Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the Group of 77 (G77) and China Third South Summit.

The theme of the G77 and China Third South Summit is Leaving No One Behind”. Member States of the G77 and China will discuss developmental challenges, and ways in which the Group can work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Courtesy Adaderana

Heads of states of the Non-Aligned Movement Saturday called Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip illegal” and strongly condemned indiscriminate attacks against Palestinian civilians, civilian infrastructure and the forced displacement of the Palestinian population.

While calling for a ceasefire desperately needed for humanitarian aid to access the Gaza Strip, the movement in a joint statement called for a two-state solution, on the basis of the borders before 1967, when Israel seized Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem in a brief war with neighboring Arab states.

The group also reiterated support for a Palestinian state to be admitted as a member of the United Nations to take its rightful place among the community of nations.

The Non-Aligned Movement, formed during the collapse of the colonial systems and at the height of the Cold War, has played a key part in decolonization processes, according to its website. Member countries aspire not to be formally aligned with or against any major power bloc.

Ninety representatives, including 30 heads of state, from the 120 countries that are members of NAM took part in the week-long conference in the Ugandan capital, Kampala. It culminated in a summit of heads of state on Friday and Saturday.

Gaza’s Health Ministry says more than 24,400 Palestinians have died in the current war, and the United Nations says a quarter of the 2.3 million people trapped in Gaza are starving. In Israel, around 1,200 people were killed during the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas that sparked the war and saw some 250 people taken hostage by militants.

The NAM statement said members were very concerned at the continued deterioration of the situation on ground and the humanitarian crisis. It condemned Israel’s continuing settlement construction and expansion activities throughout the Palestinian territories, as well as in Syria’s Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

The group called for the attention of the international community, especially the U.N. Security Council.

To this end, it is high time to end this abhorrent occupation, which continues to be imposed in flagrant violation of international law, and to ensure the implementation of the countless relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions,” the statement said.

UN Secretary General António Guterres told the summit that the refusal to accept the two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians, and the denial of the right to statehood for the Palestinian people, were unacceptable.

He supported the NAM’s position calling for reform of the Security Council.

Your Movement has long highlighted the Council’s systemic shortcomings and the need for reforms to make it truly effective and representative. How can we accept that the African continent still lacks a single Permanent Member?” he asked.

Guterres said the killing of 152 UN staff in Gaza is disheartening adding that the Hamas attack on Israel and the destruction of Gaza by the Israel army in 110 days was totally unprecedented during his mandate as UN Secretary General.

Source – AP News 

– Agencies 

Dilrook Kannangara

Rajapaksas are about to end up irrelevant in national politics. The battle is now between Sajith and Anura for presidency and opposition leader. These may be the last few months of power Rajapaksas enjoy. There is a way to strike it big and remain politically relevant for SLPP.

There’s only one way for them to remain a fighting force and have hope of a comeback – abolish executive presidency (EP).

They have the numbers in parliament and minority parties will also support it. Chandrika, Mahinda and Sirisena came to power promising they’d abolish EP but they never did it. If EP remains, the third force (Rajapaksas) will never be able to come to power again unless an absolute novice becomes EP and self-destruct himself and his party. Otherwise, the top two parties will not let it up. Rajapaksas’ party does not have minority votes so it makes it impossible for them to ever win it back.

In modern day and age we don’t need the EP. Countries without EP are more stable than countries with EP.

Abolishing EP requires a referendum. JVP’s official position is that the EP must be abolished so they can’t fight to keep it. (They lose credibility if their do.) A referendum will most likely say YES to abolishing EP. Rajapaksas can get credit for it and do better than now at the next parliamentary election.

The danger of an inexperienced person becoming EP has been seen in the recent past. Sirisena and Gotabaya had no experience at the top level (president or PM). When they became EP they could not handle it. Both Sajith and Anura are the same. They have no experience as PM or running important ministries, exposure to foreign relations, economics, etc. They will also blunder like Sirisena and Gotabaya. It makes perfect sense to abolish EP and empower the entire Cabinet with executive decisions. This is what happens in all countries without EP. They function much better than Sri Lanka and countries with an executive presidential system.

If SJB wins the presidential election once, they will not give it up for another 17 years as their predecessors did from 1977 to 1994. The JVP will take it over from there leaving no room for Rajapaksas. This is the last chance for Rajapaksas to save the nation from another executive presidency blunder and earn back some public trust in the process. If they keep EP hoping that one day they could get it, they are very sadly mistaken. The next executive president will end the Rajapaksa political power for good leaving no room for a comeback.

-ප්‍රියන්ත ප්‍රදීප් රණසිංහ

අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය දිනේෂ් ගුණවර්ධන මහතා සභාපතිත්වය දරන සමාජවාදී ලංකා කම්කරු සමිති සම්මේලනයට වසර 50ක් සැපිරීම නිමිත්තෙන් මේ සටහන ලියැවේ. ලෝකයේ පළමු වතාවට ත්‍රෛපාර්ශවීය ගිවිසුමකින් පෞද්ගලික අංශයේ සේවකයන් 37 ලක්ෂයකගේ රැකියා රැකදුන් අවස්ථාව කෙටියෙන් වුවද මෙහිදී විශේෂයෙන් සටහන් කළ අතර, වැඩකරන ජනතාව වෙනුවෙන් දිනේෂ් ගුණවර්ධනයන් ඉටු කරන මෙහෙවරේ වැදගත් අවස්ථා කිහිපයක් සංක්ෂිප්තව ඉදිරිපත් කර ඇත.

දිනේෂ් ගුණවර්ධන බොහෝ දෙනා හඳුනන්නේ දේශපාලනඥයකු ලෙස වුවත් ඔහුගේ ඒ දේශපාලනය මුවහත් වන්නේ වැඩකරන ජනතාව ඒකරාශී කරන වෘත්තීය සමිති ඔස්සේය. පිලිප් ගුණවර්ධනයන්ගේ දැවැන්ත නායකත්වයෙන් පසු, ම.එ.පෙ. ප්‍රතිනිර්මාණය කරමින් 1973 දී එහි නායකත්වයට පත් දිනේෂ් ගුණවර්ධනයන් සිය පක්ෂයට අනුබද්ධිත වෘත්තීය සමිති එකමුතුව වන ලංකා කම්කරු සමිති මධ්‍ය මණ්ඩලයේ සභාපතිවරයා ලෙස වෘත්තීය සමිති ව්‍යාපාරයට අද දක්වා ලබාදෙන දායකත්වය අතිමහත්ය. සමාජවාදී ලංකා කම්කරු සමිති සම්මේලනයටද ඔහු නායකත්වය දෙන්නේ 1973 වර්ෂයේ සිට වනවා සේම, ඔහු සමස්ත ලංකා හාබර් හා ඩොක් කම්කරු සමිතියේද සභාපතිවරයාය. රුපියල් 10ක වැටුප් වැඩිවීමක් ඉල්ලූ 1980 ජූලි වර්ජකයන්ගේ සටනට එක්ව ඔවුන්ට දැවැන්ත ශක්තියක් ලබාදුන් දිනේෂ්ගේ දේශපාලන ජිවිතයට වසර 50ක් සපිරෙන්නේ, මේ කම්කරු පන්ති දේශපාලනයේ අත්තිවාරම උඩය. 

මහජන එක්සත් පෙරමුණේ නායකයා ලෙස අද රටේ අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය ධුරය හොබවන දිනේෂ් ගුණවර්ධන, 2019 නොවැම්බර් 22 වන දා මෙරට කම්කරු ඇමතිවරයා ලෙස දිවුරුම් දෙන්නේද වෘත්තීය සමිති නායකයෙකු ලෙස සිටියදීමය. එදා විදේශ සබඳතා සහ නිපුණතා සංවර්ධන, රැකියා සහ කම්කරු සබඳතා අමාත්‍යවරයා වූ ඔහුට, මෙරට කම්කරු අමාත්‍යවරයෙකු මුහුණ දුන් බරපතළ  ම ප්‍රශ්නයට පිළිතුරු සෙවීමට සිදුවිය. 

ලක්ෂ 37ක රැකියා සුරැකි, කම්කරු ඇමති වූ වෘත්තීය සමිති නායකයා 

කෝවිඩ් වසංගතය නිසා ලෝකය පුරා ලක්ෂ ගණනින් රැකියා අහිමි වෙද්දී, විශේෂයෙන් දකුණු ආසියාවේ ඉන්දියාවේ වැඩකරන ජනතාවට ඔවුන්ගේ රැකියා ආරක්ෂා කරදිය නොහැකි තත්ත්වයක් උදාවෙද්දී ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ පෞද්ගලික අංශයේ 37 ලක්ෂයක් පමණ වූ සේවකයන්ට ඔවුන්ගේ රැකියා ආරක්ෂා කරදීමට කම්කරු ඇමති දිනේෂ් ගුණවර්ධනට හැකිවිය. ඒ, කම්කරු ඇමති ලෙස හාම්පුතුන් සහ වෘත්තීය සමිති සමග වෙහෙස නොබලා කළ අඛණ්ඩ සාකච්ඡාවක ප්‍රතිඵලයක් ලෙසය. 

දිනේෂ් ගුණවර්ධනයන් සාකච්ඡාවේ මුල සිට ම පැහැදිලි ස්ථාවරයක් දැරිය. ඒ කිසිදු පෞද්ගලික අංශයේ සේවකයෙකුගේ රැකියාව අහිමි නොකරමින් විසඳුමකට පැමිණීමේ ජනතා හිතවාදී පිළිවෙතයි. ඇතැම් හාම්පුත්තු සේවකයන් කොටසකගේ, සේවය අවසන් කිරීමට උත්සාහ දැරූ අවස්ථාවේ, ඔහු පළමුව කළේ, සේවකයන්ගේ සේවය අවසන් කිරීම සඳහා හාම්පුතුන් දෙන කිසිදු ඉල්ලුම්පතක් භාර නොගන්නා ලෙස කම්කරු දෙපාර්තමේන්තුවට උපදෙස් දීමයි. “කිසි කෙනෙක්ව රැකියාවෙන් අස් කිරීමට හෝ නවතා දැමීමට කම්කරු අමාත්‍යංශ හෝ කම්කරු කොමසාරිස්වරයාට අපේ අමාත්‍යංශය අවසර දී නොමැති බව ඉතාම වගකීමෙන් ප්‍රකාශ කරන්න කැමතියි”, සාකච්ඡා පැවැත්වෙන අතරතුර, 2020 අප්‍රේල් 19 වන දින ඔහු එම විශ්වාසය මෙරට වැඩකරන ජනතාව වෙත ලබාදුන්නේය. 

හාම්පුත්තුද(ලංකා සේව්‍ය සම්මේලනය /ශ්‍රී ලංකා හාම්පුතුන්ගේ සම්මේලනය), වෘත්තීය සමිති, කම්කරු අමාත්‍යංශය(රජය) පාර්ශව 3 ම එක්වී ත්‍රෛපාර්ශවිය එකඟතාවක් උදෙසා, ජාතික කම්කරු උපදේශක සභාවේ(NLAC) අනුමැතිය ගෙන එහි අනු කමිටුවක් ලෙස කම්කරු අමාත්‍යවරයා මුලසුන දරණ ‘ත්‍රෛපාර්ශවීය කාර්යසාධන බලකායක්’ ස්ථාපිත කිරීම ඊළඟ පියවර වූයේය. 2020 මාර්තු10 වන දින සිට, ඇඳිරි නීතිය මධ්‍යයේදී ද දිනපතා, සතිපතා බලකාය අඛණ්ඩව රැස්වූ අතර ඒ සෑම රැස්වීමකටම ක්‍රියාකාරිව සහභාගී වෙමින් මුලසුන ගත් දිනේෂ් ගුණවර්ධන කම්කරු ඇමැතිවරයා, සිය නිලධාරීන් මෙහෙයවමින් ජාත්‍යන්තර කම්කරු සංවිධානයද(ILO) දැනුවත් කරමින් ඔහු සිය වැඩපිළිවෙළ ඉදිරියට ම ගෙන ගියේය. 

කම්කරු අමාත්‍යංශය, සේව්‍ය, සේවක යන මෙම පාර්ශව තුන ම එක මතයකට ගෙන ඒම ලෙහෙසි පහසු කාර්යයක් වන්නේ නැත. අනෙක් පැත්තෙන් අනපේක්ෂිත වසංගතයට මුහුණ දීමට ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ එවක පැවති කම්කරු නීති ප්‍රමාණවත් වූයේද නැත. එම නිසා සේවකයන්ට  පමණක් නොව සේවා යෝජකයන්ටද සහන සඳහා අනුගමනය කළයුතු සම්ප්‍රදායික සහ නීතිමය ක්‍රියාමාර්ග අහිමි වී තිබිණි. එහෙත් කම්කරු ඇමති දිනේෂ් ගුණවර්ධනයන්ට දේශපාලන නායකයෙකු ලෙස, කම්කරු නායකයෙකු ලෙස, වගකීම් රැසක් දැරූ අමාත්‍යවරයෙකු ලෙස  ඒ වගේම සෑම සමාජ පන්තියක් සමග ම කටයුතු කරමින් කාලයක් තිස්සේ ලැබූ අත්දැකීම් මෙම කාර්යය සඳහා බෙහෙවින් උපකාරී වන්නට ඇත. කම්කරුවන්ගේ සියලු ඉල්ලීම් දෙමින් ව්‍යාපාරිකයා බිඳ වට්ටවා හෝ ව්‍යාපාරිකයාගේ සියලු ඉල්ලීම් දෙමින් සේවකයා පාරට වට්ටවා, රටක් ලෙස, ජාතියක් ලෙස යළි නැගී සිටිය නොහැකි බව ඔහු පසක් කරගෙන තිබිණි. සති කිහිපයක් තුළ මහත් වෙහෙසක් දරමින් මෙම තුන් පාර්ශවය ම ගැටළුව විසඳීම උදෙසා ම කැප වූහ. 

අඛණ්ඩව පැවති ත්‍රෛපාර්ශවිය සාකච්ඡාවලදී කම්හලේ සේවකයන්ගෙන් 50%ක් මාසයේ පළමු සති දෙකේ කැඳවීමටත්, දෙවන සති දෙකේ ඉතිරි 50% කැඳවීමටත් හාම්පුත්තු එකඟකරවා ගැනීමට කම්කරු ඇමති දිනේෂ් සමත් විය. ඒ අනුව පෞද්ගලික අංශයේ ලක්ෂ 37ක් පමණ වන සේවකයන්ගේ රැකියා අඛණ්ඩතාවය ආරක්ෂා කරදීමට ඔහු පළමුව පියවර ගත්තේය. ඉන් අනතුරුව එම සේවකයන්ගේ අවම වැටුපෙන් 50%ක් හෝ රුපියල් 14,500/= ක් හෝ(එයින් වැඩි අගය) ගෙවීමටද හාම්පුතුන් එකඟ කරවා ගත දිනේෂ් ගුණවර්ධන මහතා, සේවකයන් නිවසේ සිටියත් වැටුපෙන් 75%කට අසන්න ප්‍රමාණයක් ලබාගත හැකි සේ සේවකයන්ගේ අදායමද තහවුරු කිරීමට සමත් වූයේ වෘත්තීය සමිතිවලද හාම්පුතුන්ගේද කැපකිරීමට නිසි බර, නිසි කෘතඥතාව එක්කරමිනි. 

අවසානයේ මෙම එකඟතා ඇති, ඓතිහාසික ත්‍රෛපාර්ශවිය ගිවිසුමකට, කම්කරු අමාත්‍යංශය, ලංකා සේව්‍ය සම්මේලනය /ශ්‍රී ලංකා හාම්පුතුන්ගේ සම්මේලනය (The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon), වෘත්තීය සමිති 2020 මැයි 05 වන දා අත්සන් තැබිය. අමාත්‍ය මණ්ඩලය මැයි 14 වන දා එය අනුමත කළේය. ඒ වනවිට සමස්ත ආසියාවේ ම, ලෝකයේ ම එවැනි ගිවිසුමකට පැමිණීමට හැකිවූ එක ම රට වූයේද ශ්‍රී ලංකාවයි. 

1987 මැයි දින අයිතිය, ලංගම සහ ජාතියේ බැංකු සුරැකීම 

ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ පමණක් නොව සමස්ත ලෝකයේ ම කම්කරුවාගේ අයිතිය සුරැකීම උදෙසා, සියලු ප්‍රගතිශීලින් එකමුතු කරගෙන දිනේෂ් ගුණවර්ධනයන් 1987 මැයි 01 දින , එවක  ආණ්ඩුව තහනම් කළ මැයි දිනය නාරාහේන්පිට අභයාරාමයේදී සමරමින් ඉටු කළ මෙහෙය ඉතිහාසයේ ලියවී තිබේ. 

රාජ්‍ය බැංකු දෙක වන මහජන බැංකුව සහ ලංකා බැංකුව පෞද්ගලිකකරණයට එවක ආණ්ඩුව 1992 දී තීරණය කළ අවස්ථාවේ බැංකු සේවක වෘත්තීය සමිති සන්ධානයට නායක්තවය දෙමින් රටපුරා ප්‍රබල ජාතික විරෝධතා ව්‍යාපාරයක් ගෙනයමින් රාජ්‍ය බැංකු පද්ධතිය මහජන දේපොළක් ලෙස ආරක්ෂා කරගැනීමට හැකිවූයේද, දින 5 වැඩ සතිය ආරක්ෂා කරදීමට හැකිවූයේද දිනේෂ්ගේ නායකත්වයෙනි. 

මඑපෙ ආණ්ඩුව1956 ජනසතු කළ ලංගමය, 1991 දී පොකුරු සමාගම් ලෙස කැබලි කර පෞද්ගලිකකරණය තුළින් විනාශය කරා ගෙනයමින් තිබූ අවස්ථාවේ ලංගම යළි ස්ථාපිත කිරීමේ පනත් කෙටුම්පත දිනේෂ් ගුණවර්ධන ප්‍රවාහන අමත්‍යවරයා ලෙස 2000 වසරේදී පාර්ලිමේන්තුවට ගෙනා ආවද ආණ්ඩුව  පෙරළීම නිසා ඊට බාධා එල්ල විය. එහෙත් උත්සාහය අත් නොහැර 2005 වසරේදී එය සම්මත කරගැනීමට ඔහු සමත් වූයේ නාගරික සංවර්ධන හා ජල සම්පාදන අමාත්‍යවරයාව සිටියදීයි. 

විශ්‍රාමිකයන්, ගුරුවරුන් වෙනුවෙන් 

සියලු රජයේ සේවකයන්ගේ විශ්‍රාම වැටුප අහෝසි කිරීමට 2003දී දැරූ උත්සාහය ව්‍යර්ථ කිරීමට විපක්ෂයේ මන්ත්‍රීවරයෙකු ලෙස ඔහුට හැකිවූයේ, එම පනතට සංශෝධනයක් ගෙන ඒම තුළින් එකල ආණ්ඩුවේ එම ක්‍රියාවලිය අර්බුදයට ඇදදමමිනි. 

රාජ්‍ය සේවයෙන් විශ්‍රාම ගොස් සිටින සියල්ලන්ට ම අග්‍රහාර රක්ෂණ ප්‍රතිලාභ ලබාදීමට ක්‍රියා කළ ඔහු, 2021 දී සභානායක හා අධ්‍යාපන ඇමතිවරයා ලෙස සිටියදී එහි අවසාන කොටසද සම්පූර්ණ කරදුන්නේය. අවුරුදු 24ක් වැනි දීර්ඝ කාලයක් නොවිසඳුන ගුරු- විදුහල්පති වැටුප් විෂමතා ගැටළුව විසඳීම සඳහා 2021.08.30 දින රැස්වූ කැබිනට් මණ්ඩලදී අනුමැතිය ලබාගත් දිනේෂ් ගුණවර්ධන අධ්‍යාපන ඇමතිවරයා, සියලු ගුරු ක්ෂේත්‍රයන්ට බලපාන පරිදි, ගුරු සේවය සංවෘත සේවයක් බවට පත්කිරීමේ වැදගත් වු, ජාතික වූ තීරණයද, ඊට ඇතුළත් කරදෙන්නට සමත් විය. 

Courtesy CBC

This baker’s true passion is his gourmet chocolate business

Chamira Milinda is the owner of Chocolate de Champ, a small homemade chocolate business he runs out of his home in L’Anse au Loup, a community on Labrador’s southern coast.

Since moving to Labrador from his home in Sri Lanka in 2012, Milinda has been working full time in a bakery. He dedicates his time outside of work to crafting his unique and handmade chocolate designs and fulfilling his online orders. 

And yes — the movie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, did play a role in his sweet treat dreams. 

He is in the early days of his business, with his first pop-up sale recently in Corner Brook. But Milinda has big plans for the future and hopes this will be the start of getting the name Chocolate de Champ around the province. 

CBC Newfoundland Morning reporter Amy Feehan spoke with Milinda as part of the show’s focus on Canadian entrepreneurs. 

https://www.cbc.ca/i/phoenix/player/syndicate/?mediaId=2301945923545

CBC News Newfoundland2 days agoAutoplayChamira Milinda has a dream: to become the Willy Wonka of Newfoundland. Milinda, who grew up in Sri Lanka, learned to make chocolate in culinary school, and now has his own small business called Chocolate de Champ. His goodies look almost too good to eat. See for yourself!

Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Click here to visit our landing page.

 By CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Avissawella, Jan 20 (Daily Mirror) – statement made by the Opposition Leader about changing the agreement by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with Sri Lanka is a mere slogan, Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said.

He said the Opposition Leader had made a statement that he will change the agreement with the IMF under his government.

Therefore, everyone should act responsibly at this time, the Minister said at a meeting in Avissawella today.

“At a time when the country was in trouble, the agreement made with the financial fund did good and not bad for the country and the economy,” he said.

However, such statements are made for the sake of popularity and do not bring any good to the country, the Minister added.

 By DARSHANA SANJEEWA BALASURIYA Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Colombo, Jan 20 (Daily Mirror) – A leaked audio conversation between a police officer and a female lawyer, suspected of representing a relative of organized criminal Ganemulla Sanjeewa who is being held at the Weeragula Police Station, has surfaced. 

It is alleged that during the conversation, the lawyer engaged with an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) from the Narcotics Unit and attempted to offer a bribe.

It was reported that a team of officers from the Police Narcotics Bureau was dispatched to investigate a house in the Makilangamuwa area related to the drug trafficking case involving Ganemulla Sanjeeva. 

Sources said that a woman identifying herself as a lawyer representing a relative of Ganemulla Sanjeewa intervened at the location, urging the officers not to search the particular house.

The lawyer, a resident of the Gampaha area, allegedly tried to bribe an ASP of the Narcotics Bureau after her attempts to obstruct the search had failed. 

A formal complaint has been filed with the Bribery or Corruption Investigation Commission regarding this incident.

https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1722933366&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true

Daily Mirror · Ganemulla Sanjeewa tried to bribe the narcotics officials through a fem

Courtesy Adaderana

Sri Lanka Navy on Friday (Jan.19) foiled yet another drug smuggling attempt by intercepting a local multiday fishing trawler carrying a large cache of heroin.

The street value of the heroin consignment, weighing over 65kg, is believed to be more than Rs. 1,626 million.

Additionally, another multiday fishing trawler, suspected of assisting the other vessel, too was impounded during the operation which led to the arrest of 11 suspects involved in the drug smuggling attempt.

The Navy and the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB), in tandem with the intelligence services, had mounted a special operation about 100 nautical miles (approximately 185km) off Dondra Head, Matara on Friday (Jan.19).

Accordingly, a suspicious local fishing trawler was first intercepted off the southern coast on Friday morning.

The Navy said a subsequent search of the trawler led to the recovery of 3 sacks stuffed with heroin weighing more than 65kg and 076g, intending to be smuggled into the country. Five people who were aboard the drug-carrying vessel were also apprehended.

The second multiday fishing trawler, with 6 people aboard, was impounded shortly after.

Seized fishing trawlers, 11 suspects and the cache of narcotics were brought ashore to the Galle Harbour on Saturday morning (Jan.20) and were handed over to the custody of the PNB for onward legal action.

The suspects, aged between 28 and 52 years, have been identified as residents of Matara, Gandara, and Dondra areas.

According to the Navy, its operations conducted in the month of January alone, heroin and crystal methamphetamine (‘Ice’) with a street value of over Rs. 4.8 billion have been impounded.

Further, the Navy urged the members of public to share information regarding individuals involved in drug smuggling, posing as fishermen, with the Navy or law enforcement agencies.

රංජිත් විතානගේ සභාපති පාරිභෝගික අයිතීන් සුරැකීමේ ජාතික ව්‍යාපාරය

මිනිස් පරිභෝජනයට නුසුදුසු සහල් තොගයක් මුදා හැරීමට පාරිභෝගික අධිකාරියේ අධ්‍යක්ෂක මණ්ඩලය අනුමැතිය දීමේ සූදානමක් ඇති බවත්, මහා පරිමාණ සුදුලූණු වංචාව සිදුකල සමාගම විසින් මෙම සහල් ආනයනය කර ඇති බවත් පාරිභෝගික අයිතීන් සුරැකීමේ ජාතික ව්‍යාපාරය පවසයි.

මාධ්‍ය නිවේදනයක් නිකුත් කරමින් පාරිභෝගික අයිතීන් සුරැකීමේ ජාතික ව්‍යාපාරය මේ බව සඳහන් කර තිබේ.

අදාළ මාධ්‍ය නිවේදනය පහළින්…

මිනිස් පරිභෝජනයට නුසුදුසු සහල් තොගයක් මුදා හැරීමට පාරිභෝගික අධිකාරියේ අධ්‍යක්ෂක මණ්ඩලය අනුමැතිය දීමේ සූදානමක්! පාරිභෝගික ජීවිත අනතුරේ

මහා පරිමාණ සුදුලූණු වංචාව සිදුකල සමාගම විසින් මෙරටට ආනයනය කරන ලද මිනිස් පරිභෝජනයට නුසුදුසු සහල් තොගයක් වරායෙන් මුදා ගැනීම සදහා අනුමැතිය ලබා දීමට පාරිභෝගික කටයුතු අධිකාරියේ අධ්‍යක්ෂක මණ්ඩලය අද දින 2024/01/19 දින හදිසියේ කැදවා ඇත. මෙම මස 29 දිනට ආසන්න දිනකදී කැදවීමට නියමිතව තිබූ පාරිභෝගික කටයුතු අධිකාරියේ අධ්‍යක්ෂක මණ්ඩලය අද දින කැදවීමට ප්‍රධාන හේතුව වී ඇත්තේ අදාල සමාගමට එම සහල් තොගය මුදා ගැනීම සදහා සහයෝගය ලබා දීමට බව අප සංවිධානය විසින් කරන ලද සොයා බැලීමකදී තහවුරු විය.

සත්ව ආහාර සදහා ලබා දීමට මුවා වී අදාල සහල් තොග මුදා ගෙන එම සහල් වෙළදපොලේ ඇති සහල් සමග කවලම් කර අලෙවි කරන ජාවාරම්කරුවන් අදාල සිදුවීම පිටුපස සිටින බවට අප සංවිධානය සැක කරන අතර සත්ව ආහාර සදහා මීට පෙරද එලෙසම සහල් මුදාගෙන ඇති පළපුරුදු තැරැව්කරුවෙකු පාරිභෝගික කටයුතු අධිකාරියේ සාමාජිකයෙකු සමග එකතු වී මෙම ජාවාරම සිදු කරන බවට සැකයක් අප තුළ ඇති වී ඇත.

මෙරට පාරිභෝගිකයින් ආරක්ෂා කිරීමට පිහිටුවා ඇති එකම ආයතනය වන පාරිභෝගික කටයුතු අධිකාරිය මෙලෙස අනීතික ආකාරයට ක්‍රියා කිරීම සම්බන්ධයෙන් අපගේ දැඩි විරෝධය පළ කරන අතර ලක්ෂ සංඛ්‍යාත පාරිභෝගිකයින්ගේ ආරක්ෂාව නොතකමින් කිහිපදෙනෙකුගේ බඩගෝස්තරය රැක ගැනීම සදහා කටයුතු කිරීම සම්බන්ධයේන නීතිඥයෙකුද වන පාරිභෝගික කටයුතු පිළිබද අධිකාරියේ සභාපතිවරයා ලැජ්ජා විය යුතුය.

දිනකට විශාල පිරිසක් පිළිකාවට ගොදුරු වී අපා දුක් විදිද්දී රාජ්‍ය ආයතනයක සේවය කරමින් ජනතාවගේ මුදලින් නඩත්තුවන පාරිභෝගික කටයුතු අධිකාරියේ සාමාජිකයින්හට අපට පැවැසීමට ඇත්තේ මෙවැනි ක්‍රියාවලට අනුමැතිය ලබා දෙන්නේ නම් පසුව කණගාටුවීමට සිදුවන බවය.

සත්ව ආහාර සදහා සහල් ලබා දීම තහනම් කරමින් ගැසට්පත්‍රයක් ද නිකුත් කර ඇති අවස්ථාවක හා කිසිම හේතුවක් මත සහල් වෙනත් කාර්යයන් සදහා යොදා ගැනීම නොකල යුතු බවට වෙළද අමාත්‍යාංශය විසින් ලිඛිතව දන්වා සිටියදී පාරිභෝගික කටයුතු පිළිබද අධිකාරිය විසින් මෙම සහල් තොගය මුදා ගැනීම සදහා අවසරය ලබා දීමට කටයුතු කරන්නේ නම් එම ගණුදෙනුව පිළිබදව සාධාරණ සැකයක් ඇතිවීම වැලැක්විය නොහැක.

අප සංවිධානය රජයෙන් ඉල්ලා සිටින්නේ මිනිස් පරිභෝජනයට නුසුදුසු සහල් වෙළදපොලතුළට මුදා හැරීම සදහා කිසිසේත්ම අවසරය ලබා නොදෙන ලෙසය. එසේ මුදාහල සහල් මීට ඉහතදී වෙනත් සහල් සමග කවලම් කල අලෙවි කිරීමේ ජාවාරම් පසුගිය කාලය පුරා ක්‍රියාත්මක වූ අවස්ථා පිළිබදව අප රජයේ අවධානය යොමු කරමු.

රංජිත් විතානගේ
සභාපති
පාරිභෝගික අයිතීන් සුරැකීමේ ජාතික ව්‍යාපාරය

By: Salman Khan Courtesy bnn Breaking News

The Decision Review System (DRS), a technology-based aid used in cricket, was conceived by Senaka Weeraratna in 1997. Initially known as the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS), DRS combines television replays, ball-tracking technology, microphones, and infra-red imaging to assist match officials with decision making. It comprises both Umpire Reviews and Player Reviews, and was first introduced in Test matches in 2008, ODIs in January 2011, and in a Twenty20 International in October 2017.

A Game-Changer in Cricket

The International Cricket Council (ICC) initially made the use of DRS mandatory for all international matches. However, this was later revised to optional, requiring consent from both teams. Over the years, the rules and protocols for DRS, including LBW decisions and the number of unsuccessful reviews, have been updated and amended. The ICC continues to refine the system and its implementation.

The Impact of DRS in Recent Matches

One of the most recent instances of DRS in action was during the third T20I series match between Team India and Afghanistan. Indian batsman Rinku Singh was saved from dismissal by an inside edge detected by UltraEdge, a component of the DRS. The DRS decision sparked controversy and highlighted the system’s significance in the sport.

DRS Amidst the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about several logistical challenges in the cricketing world. To adapt, the ICC temporarily suspended the requirement for neutral match officials and increased the number of unsuccessful reviews per Test innings. The introduction of the ‘Umpire’s Call’ concept was another significant change, which aimed to honour the on-field umpire’s original decision in close situations.

DRS – A Boon or Bane?

Despite the debates and controversies surrounding DRS, it has generally been well-received. It has undeniably brought a level of technological sophistication to the sport, enhancing decision-making accuracy. The evolution of DRS is a testament to cricket’s adaptability and willingness to embrace change in the pursuit of fairness and improvement.

Ministry of Defence  – Media Centre

In the realm of national security, knowledge is not merely power; it is the bedrock upon which our safety and freedom vest.” Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne expressed his views as the Chief Guest of the launching ceremony of ‘Defence Review-2023’ held at the Institute of National Security Studies (INSS) in Battaramulla today (Jan 19).

Overlooking Director General and Acting Director (Research) of INSS, Colonel Nalin Herath warmly received the Chief Guest of the Day, Defence Secretary Gen. Gunaratne, on his arrival at the venue and also delivered the welcome address at the outset of the programme.

Defence Review is a double-blind, peer-reviewed annual publication of scholarly articles. The aim of this international journal is to provide a research platform on defence and security studies with a priority to enhance the understanding of national, regional and international security and geopolitics.

Defence Review was initially launched in 2017 and this marks the sixth volume, which comprises four papers addressing several key thematic areas related to national security.

The paper on “Defending National Security: Uniting against Corruption and Bribery with Whistle-blower Empowerment” was written by Ms. Charani Patabendige, who is also the Secretary to the editorial board of INSS. The paper on “Future of Information-Technology-Enabled Systems in the Military Forces and their Impacts on National Security: A Case Study of the Sri Lanka Air Force” was written by Wing Commander Gayan Kahandawalaarachchi (Retd) and DSSV Sooriyaarachchi. The third paper, “Socioeconomic Factors for Sustainable Peace and National Security in Sri Lanka: A Comprehensive Analysis,” was written by Indeewari Galagama. The final and fourth paper was titled “The Geopolitical Importance of Sri Lanka as a Maritime Gateway in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR): Impacts and Implications” and was written by Supasani Ariyawardana.

The audience comprised the distinguished editorial board, Professor Chaminda Padmakumara, Rear Admiral Sisira Jayakody (Retd) and Professor Chandra Embuldeniya. Members of the peer review board Air Vice Marshal Dilshan Wasage (Retd), Deputy Inspector General UK Marambage, Mrs. Chamindry Saparamadu, Lt Colonel M A D S Mutugala and Lieutenant Colonel Thushara Kathriarachchi (Retd).

අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය මාධ්‍ය අංශය

මාලදිවයින පාර්ලිමේන්තුවේ කථානායක මොහොමඩ් අස්ලාම් මහතා හා අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය දිනේෂ් ගුණවර්ධන මහතා අතර හමුවක් 2024.01.18 දින අරලියගහ මන්දිරයේදී සිදුවිය.

කිසි දිනක පලුදු නොවූ දෙරට අතර අනාදිමත් කාලයක සිට තිබූ සම්බන්ධතා හා රාජ්‍ය  තාන්ත්‍රික සබඳතා  පිළිබඳව අග්‍රාමාත්‍යවරයා  හා කතානායකවරයා මෙහිදී ස්මරණය කළේය.

මාලදිවයින් අධ්‍යාපන ක්‍ෂේත්‍රයට ශ්‍රී ලාංකිකයින් දක්වන බුද්ධිමය දායකත්වය පිළිබඳව කථානායකවරයා මෙහිදී ප්‍රකාශ කළේය. ඒ බොහෝ ශ්‍රී ලාංකික  ගුරුවරුන් මාලදිවයිනේ පෙර පාසල් සහ පාසල්වල සේවය කිරීමයි.

මාලදිවයින් ආයෝජනවලින් 10%ක් ආයෝජනය කර ඇත්තේ ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ ප්‍රධාන සමාගම් විසින් වීම විශේෂත්වයක් බව කතානායකවරයා පැවසීය.

ආසියා කලාපයෙන් අපේ ස්ථාවර කමිටුවට ශ්‍රී ලංකාව නම් කර ඇති බවද කතානායකවරයා මෙහිදී ප්‍රකාශ කළේය.

රාජ්‍ය අමාත්‍යවරුන් වන විදුර වික්‍රමනායක, කාදර් මස්ථාන්, සිසිර  ජයකොඩි, පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්‍රී යදාමිණි ගුණවර්ධන, අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය  ලේකම් අනුර දිසානායක මෙම අවස්ථාවට එක්විය.

අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය මාධ්‍ය අංශය

BY MEERA SRINIVASAN courtesy The Hindu Business

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk urges the Sri Lankan government to review the ongoing Yukthiya” [Justice] operation

Colombo:Sri Lanka has pledged to sustain its anti-drug operation — in which some 40,000 people have been arrested over the last month — despite serious concern expressed by the UN and international rights groups. 

They can issue statements, but I will not stop this operation,” Sri Lanka’s Public Security Minister Tiran Alles told a media conference in Colombo on Thursday. Rather than issuing general statements”, the UN must come up with specific incidents, he said, amid growing concern over rapid arrests and detention, particularly of youth.

The Minister’s remarks came days after UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk urged the Sri Lankan government to review the ongoing Yukthiya” [Justice] operation, while expressing concern over authorities opting for a heavily security-based response” to the country’s drugs problem, instead of public health policies grounded in human rights.”

During and after these operations, people are reported to have been subjected to a number of violations, including unauthorised searches, arbitrary arrests and detention, ill-treatment, torture, and strip searches in public,” the High Commissioner’s office said in a statement last week. Lawyers acting for those detained have alleged that they have faced intimidation from police officers, it said.

Justifying the government’s move, Alles said law enforcement agencies were mainly going after the distribution network, while intelligence agencies and the Navy were monitoring those engaged in the import of drugs. For the moment, we are not going after drug users,” he said, however adding that some users, too, were at times arrested in the special operation. Authorities have so far seized drugs worth LKR 4.7 billion, he said.

Source of drugs

On the source of the drug consignments entering Sri Lanka, Acting Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon, who was also present at the media conference, said Pakistan, Afghanistan and Myanmar were the three main countries from where the drug consignments originated . Ice” or methamphetamine often came from cottage industries in south India, he added.  

Contrary to prevalent claims that Sri Lanka is a transit hubs for narcotics, the Sri Lankan officials said much of the drugs coming into Sri Lanka was for consumption. There are over 1 lakh drug users in the island, and the aim of the special operation was to bring down both supply of drugs and the demand for it within the country, according to Shakya Nanayakkara, Chairman of the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board. 

Of the nearly 40,000 individuals arrested since the operation commenced in December, about 5,000 remain in custody while the rest had been released on bail, officials said.

Last week, Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Commission said it received several complaints of torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and arbitrary arrests and detention” in connection with the anti-drug operation.

Further, 33 international organisations, including rights watchdog Amnesty International, have urged the Sri Lankan government to stop the abusive” anti-drug operation that, they said, was leading to leading to significant human rights violations”. 

A punitive and militarised approach to drug control contravenes recognised international human rights standards and guidelines, is ineffective to protect individual and public health, and ultimately fails to make communities safer,” they noted in a joint statement.

(Meera Srinivasan is The Hindu correspondent in Colombo)

Courtesy The Hindu

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed a supplementary chargesheet against four accused in a 2021 case relating to human trafficking of 39 Sri Lankan nationals into India on the false pretext of taking them to Canada.

Mohamed Imran Khan alias Imran, who was arrested by the NIA recently, has been charge-sheeted under various sections of IPC relating to trafficking, confinement, and conspiracy, along with absconders Seeni Aabul Khan, Mohamed Ibrahim alias Ahmed and Pudumadam Imran alias Hajiyar aka Imrankhan, before the NIA Special Court, Bengaluru.

The accused were allegedly involved in trafficking of 39 Sri Lankan nationalists to Mangaluru via Tamil Nadu by falsely promising them that they were being taken to Canada. The victims were confined in various lodges across Mangaluru and were initially arrested by Karnataka Police, as accomplices along with the accused persons, NIA said in a press release.

NIA had launched investigations after taking over the case on July 13, 2021, and found 39 to be the victims of a human trafficking racket. The agency had filed the original chargesheet in the case on October 5, 2021, against six accused persons who were involved in the trafficking, while the victims were freed and sent back home, NIA claimed.

NIA investigations revealed that Mohammed Imran Khan, in conspiracy with Pudhumadam Imran and his friends Seeni Aabul Khan and Mohamed Ibrahim, received the Sri Lankan nationals in mid-sea, and brought them to Bengaluru and further to Mangaluru. NIA said that further investigations showed that the entire initial conspiracy was planned by Pudumadam Imran along with one Eesan, a Sri Lankan national, who is one of the absconding accused in the case.

The accused had collected vast sums of money from the victims, and also subsequently from their families. Efforts to arrest the remaining accused persons are continuing, NIA said.

By YOHAN PERERA Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Colombo, Jan 19 (Daily Mirror) –  Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa informed a group of IMF officials  that the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) agreement which their organization has signed with the Sri Lankan government has to be amended and a Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) government will do so in the future.

Premadasa made this remark when he met a group of IMF officials who are currently visiting Sri Lanka. The team includes Senior Mission Chief Peter Breuer, IMF Resident Representative Ms. Sarwat Javan and local economist Manavee Abeywickrama.

Sajith Premadasa informed the visiting IMF team that the Sri Lankan people have been heavily affected by the huge tax burden which has been imposed on them by the Sri Lankan government. He therefore stressed the need for the amendment of the EFF agreement and added that a future SJB government will definitely go for such an amendment,” a statement from the Opposition Leader’s office said.

Meanwhile SJB MP S.M. Marikar, who referred to a meeting which the IMF team has had with the National People’s Power (NPP) leaders, questioned as to why the latter has kept silent about this meeting. 

According to the information we have received, NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake has not participated in this meeting. Therefore, people of this country need to know as to why Dissanayake was absent during this meeting and the details on the discussions which other NPP leaders had with the IMF team,” Marikar  said.

By AJITH SIRIWARDANA Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Colombo, Jan 19 (Daily Mirror) –  The National People’s Power (NPP) was not expecting to legalize prostitution and that it would only amend some laws which inconvenience those who were forced to prostitution due to economic hardships, NPP MP Harini Amarasuriya said today.

She told the Daily Mirror that the main focus of the NPP was to revive the economy of the country as  economic hardships had forced women into prostitution.

The MP said women who were forced to prostitution had to face numerous hardships due to some laws and that the NPP would amend such laws to minimize such situations and to protect the rights of the women.

She said sex workers who were subjected to exploitation were further harassed due to some laws.

Referring to media reports on a claim made by NPP member Samanmalee Gunasinghe over legalizing prostitution, Amarasuriya said legalizing prostitution is only a popular topic and that media had only highlighted a part of her speech adding that her complete comment carries the correct idea.

Courtesy Adaderana

Although Sri Lanka’s macro economy is gradually stabilizing, the country’s economic recovery process is still in the ‘infancy level’ and has yet to reach the broader population, says Peter Breuer, the Senior Mission Chief of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to Sri Lanka.

Mr. Breuer has also expressed that property tax will help Sri Lanka to take the quantum leap to achieve the IMF programme’s goals.

A group of officials from the IMF arrived in Sri Lanka on 11 January to engage in discussions for a period of one week, while studying the process of economic reforms carried out within the country, following the IMF’s approval of the first review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement for Sri Lanka.

During a discussion with President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the IMF delegation congratulated the country on completing the first review under its program and highlighted the positive outset of the program, recognizing the challenging reforms undertaken by Sri Lanka and their significant impact on the domestic population.

Courtesy Adaderana

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says it is critical for Sri Lanka to swiftly complete the final agreements with the official creditors and reach a resolution with the external private creditors.

IMF mission team, led by Senior Mission Chief Peter Breuer, was in Sri Lanka from January 11-19 to discuss recent macroeconomic developments and progress in implementing economic and financial policies under the EFF arrangement.

Issuing a statement to convey its preliminary findings observed during the visit, the delegation says the economic reform program implemented by the Sri Lankan authorities is now yielding the first signs of recovery with positive real GDP growth in the third quarter of 2023, low inflation, increased revenue collection, and a build-up of external reserves.

Commending the commendable progress made by putting debt on a path towards sustainability, the IMF mission team highlighted that execution of the domestic debt restructuring was an important milestone.

However, swift completion of final agreements with official creditors and reaching a resolution with external private creditors remain critical, the statement underscored.

According to the delegation, progress in meeting key commitments under the IMF-supported program is set to be formally assessed in the context of the second review of the EFF arrangement alongside the forthcoming 2024 Article IV consultation assessing Sri Lanka’s economic health.

Attached below is the full statement issued by the IMF mission team:

The economic reform program implemented by the Sri Lankan authorities is yielding the first signs of recovery. Real GDP recorded positive growth of 1.6 percent year-on-year in the third quarter of 2023, the first expansion in six consecutive quarters. Shortages of essentials have eased, and inflation remains contained. Gross international reserves increased by USD 2.5 billion during 2023, and preliminary data point to improved fiscal revenue collections during the fourth quarter of 2023. However, challenges remain as these improvements need to translate into improved living conditions for Sri Lanka’s people.

In this context, sustaining the reform momentum and ensuring timely implementation of all program commitments are critical to rebuilding confidence and putting the recovery on a firm footing that will benefit all people. Swift progress towards the introduction of a progressive property tax is key to ensuring fair burden sharing while sustaining the revenue-based consolidation. Tax policy measures need to be accompanied by strengthening tax administration, removing tax exemptions, and actively eliminating tax evasion to make the reforms more sustainable and to further build confidence among creditors to support Sri Lanka’s efforts to regain debt sustainability.

Building on the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s success in taming inflation, future monetary policy decisions should remain prudent with a focus on keeping inflation expectations well anchored. Against continued uncertainty, it remains important to continue rebuilding external buffers through strong reserve accumulation. Protecting the poor and the vulnerable through improved targeting and better coverage of cash transfers remains critical.

To safeguard the stability of the financial sector and bolster its capacity to support economic growth, the authorities need to urgently finalize amendments to the Banking Act in line with their commitment under the IMF-supported program, implement the bank recapitalization plan and strengthen the financial supervision and crisis management framework.

Following the publication of the IMF Governance Diagnostic report, it is now imperative for the authorities to adopt their own action plan for implementing the recommendations in the report beyond the priority commitments under the EFF arrangement. At the same time, ensuring an enabling environment for governance and transparency reforms to take place is key to bolstering public confidence and facilitating implementation of these important efforts.

The authorities have made commendable progress with putting debt on a path towards sustainability. The execution of the domestic debt restructuring was an important milestone. A swift completion of final agreements with official creditors and reaching a resolution with external private creditors remain critical. Progress in meeting key commitments under the IMF-supported program will be formally assessed in the context of the second review of the EFF arrangement alongside the forthcoming 2024 Article IV consultation assessing Sri Lanka’s economic health.

The IMF team held meetings with President and Finance Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Governor Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Speaker Mr. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, Minister Mr. Kanchana Wijesekera, Minister Mr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe,State Minister Mr. Shehan Semasinghe, Secretary to the Treasury Mr. K M Mahinda Siriwardana, Governor of Northern Province Mrs. P.S.M.Charles, Governor of Eastern Province Senthil Thondaman, and other senior government and CBSL officials. The IMF team also met with Parliamentarians, representatives from the private sector, civil society organizations, and development partners.

We would like to thank the authorities for the excellent collaboration during the mission, including during the mission’s visit to the Northern and Eastern provinces. This visit enriched the mission team’s understanding of the challenges as well as the potential of Sri Lanka. We reaffirm our commitment to support Sri Lanka for a full economic recovery from the crisis.”

Courtesy Adaderana

The medical officers and nurses of the oncology unit of the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, together with the patients and residents of the area staged a demonstration on Friday (Jan.19), seeking justice for the senior oncologist arrested over an alleged assault.

Dr. S.C.R. Perera, 61, was arrested for purportedly assaulting a female junior staff member during a contentious situation that had ensued on Wednesday morning. He was accused of assaulting the said staff member during a heated argument between him and the other junior staffers after he slammed them for disrupting hospital services by going on a token strike the day before.

The hospital’s authorities had brought the situation under control, however, a female junior staff member got herself admitted to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, claiming an assault by the senior oncologist who was subsequently arrested and remanded until January 22 on the orders of the Galle magistrate.

The protesting doctors, nurses, patients and area residents said the law should be enforced against the junior staff members who assaulted the senior oncologist as well.

Courtesy Adaderana

Development projects are set to commence in February, following the finalization of agreements related to the debt restructuring and ongoing discussions with foreign creditors of Sri Lanka, according to Dr. Bandula Gunawardena, the Minister of Transport, Highways, and Mass Media.

During a media briefing at the Presidential Media Centre on Friday (Jan.19), the minister highlighted that Rs. 150 million has been allocated to the District Development Committees under the relevant chairmen for road development. Additionally, Rs. 50 million has been earmarked through the Ministry of Rural Affairs for the development of small roads.

Gunawardena further addressed the financial landscape, emphasizing the need for careful consideration of income and expenditure in the challenging year ahead.

In 2022, the government’s total tax revenue amounted to Rs. 1,751 billion, with 72% (Rs. 1265 billion) allocated to government employee salaries, pensions, and Rs. 506 billion spent on Samurdhi allowance and support for the less privileged. The minister highlighted the challenge of balancing expenses, including interest payments on loans (Rs. 1,065 billion) and capital expenditure (Rs. 715 billion).

He reported the earnings of various government departments, such as the Inland Revenue Department (Rs. 1,550 billion), Customs Department (Rs. 922 billion), Excise Department (Rs. 169 billion), and Motor Vehicle Commissioner Department (Rs. 20 billion). Despite an increase in income from the public and various strategies in 2023 (Rs. 3,201 billion), expenses outpaced revenue, resulting in a deficit.

In 2023, the government spent Rs. 2,160 billion on subsidies, Rs. 2,263 billion on interest payments, and a total of Rs. 4,394 billion to run the government, while its income for the year was Rs. 3,201 billion. The government borrowed extensively, with Rs. 10,091 billion borrowed domestically through Treasury Bills and Treasury Bonds.

Looking ahead to 2024, development schemes are slated to begin in February after the restructuring of debt and finalizing agreements with creditors. Notably, a USD 60 million loan from the World Bank and financial assistance from the Samurdi Fund will be utilized for road repairs.

Despite financial challenges, significant allocations have been made for the Chairmen of District Development Committees, with Rs. 150 million for road development and an additional Rs. 50 million for the development of small roads. The restructuring of foreign debt has reached its final stages, paving the way for the resumption of paused development projects.

–PMD