By Sena Thoradeniya
1. CALL FOR SYSTEM CHANGE When President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa came into power calling for a “System Change” we looked at him positively, that he was promising something his predecessors had failed to deliver. In his pre-Corvid encounters with the villagers in remote areas (“Gama Samaga Pilisandarak”) he expressed powerfully in front of hapless village-level officials the need for a system change. In his flying squad type surprise visits to places like RMV Office etc., system change was the official mantra he recited to get things done. Later on, we came into the conclusion... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/09/22)
KAMALIKA PIERIS
JVP has cleverly used the disorientation felt by the rural, low income, district quota student when he comes into a university, to gain power in the university. These district quota undergrads have many problems. They have difficulty in understanding certain technical modules, and are hampered by a lack of English. Their z-scores are low, and they are selected for subjects which are low in the academic ranking. The university authorities do not take any interest in this group. They do not guide them. JVP steps in through IUSF and fills this gap. The IUSF... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/09/22)
By Shamindra Ferdinando Courtesy The Island
” Norway will never forget how LTTE influenced the worst ever act of terrorism on its soil. Far right Norwegian Andres Breivik, 32, responsible for the July 22, 2011 massacre of 77 persons, mostly teenagers in two successive attacks in Norway was inspired by the LTTE. A few hours before, Breivik went on the rampage, he made reference to the LTTE's eviction of the Muslim community from the Northern Province in Oct/Nov 1990, in his so-called manifesto released online. The following are the references (1) Pro-Sri Lanka (supports the deportation of all Muslims from... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/09/22)
Kithsiri Senadeera
I have the highest regard for our Sri Lanka's cricket captain Dasun Shanaka not only because he lead a young team to win the T20 Asia Cup under extremely difficult conditions, but the statement he made at the post-match press conference after winning the Asia Cup. Dasun Shanaka said "Not only Cricket, but other sports should also be on top. But the media always speak only about cricket. It is a big thing if we talk about other games and bring them up," We all should admire his selflessness statement. Instead of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/09/22)
By P.K.Balachandran/Daily Mirror
Colombo, September 28: Reporting on the meeting between the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, last Friday on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly session in New York, the Chinese embassy in Colombo said that the two sides had “agreed to speed up the negotiation process and strive for an early conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), thereby boosting the confidence in and stabilizing the expectations for their economic and trade cooperation.” Significantly, from the Sri Lankan side, there was no press release on the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/09/22)
By P.K.Balachandran Courtesy NewsIn.Asia
Colombo, September 28 (Counterpoint): Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe told Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Tokyo on Tuesday, that Sri Lanka would give priority to reviving the Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA) of 2018. The SLSFTA, which was signed when Wickremesinghe was Prime Minister, became operational on May 1, 2018, but only to be disregarded by the end of the year following a recommendation of a Presidential Commission of Inquiry (COI) that it should be re-negotiated. While the promise of revival of the moribund pact may please the Singaporean... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/09/22)
Courtesy The Daily Mirror
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said he is hopeful that French investors would enter into new areas of investment such as fishery, agriculture, information technology (IT), renewable energy, electronics and tourism sectors. He said this at a function to bid farewell to the outgoing French Ambassador Eric Lavertu at the Prime Minister’s Office in Colombo on Tuesday (27). "Sri Lanka has vast potential in information technology, tourism and agriculture and France will undertake more projects once the global economic situation get over the current difficult phase. He said that fisheries development... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/09/22)
Courtesy The Daily Mirror
In parallel with the International Day for Universal Access to Information which falls today, a new unit “Counter Disinformation Unit” was launched by the President Media division. This program was initiated under the guidance of President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake at the President’s Office in Colombo. With the aim of countering disinformation and to solve public problems immediately a new webpage “Response” was also launched by the President Media Division this evening (28th). (pmd.gov.lk/counter-disinformation -unit) President’s attention has been constantly drawn to the public problems which appear in the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/09/22)
Courtesy The Daily Mirror
Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court today issued a warrant for the arrest of Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka thera of Alan Mathiniyaramaya Temple in Polhengoda for not appearing in Court over a private plaint filed against him for allegedly using loudspeakers in a manner of causing nuisance. When case came up before Colombo Additional Magistrate, Dhammaloka thera was not present in Court. Further magisterial inquiry put off for October 31. On December 6, 2016 the Court had issued a conditional order preventing Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka thera from using loudspeakers in a manner of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/09/22)
Courtesy The Daily Mirror
August merchandise exports income tops US$ 1.2bnApparel & textile exports up 15% to US$ 565mnJan-Aug. cumulative exports up 12% to US$ 8.85bnCumulative apparel & textile up 19% to US$ 4.08bn Sri Lanka recorded its highest merchandise export income so far for this year in the month of August amid increased export earnings from textile & apparel exports, the data released by the Export Development Board showed.August became the fourth consecutive month to report over one billion dollars of export income as the month saw a merchandise export income of US$ 1.21 billion,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/09/22)
Courtesy The Daily Mirror
Although Sri Lanka tourism had to face some unprecedented challenges over the past couple of years, the industry is now back on track for recovery, said the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA). Giving a positive message on World Tourism Day, the state agency highlighted that over the past couple of months, the number of tourist arrivals has increased, showing progress from the situation the industry was previously in. “Over the years provincial economies and rural communities have greatly benefited whilst contributing towards the tourism model of the country,” said SLTDA... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/09/22)
Courtesy Adaderana
The inaugural meeting of the National Council is scheduled to be held tomorrow (Sep. 29) under the patronage of the Speaker of Parliament, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena. The meeting will commence at 10.30 a.m. in parliament. On Sep. 23, the Speaker announced to the parliament the list of Members of Parliament who have been nominated for the National Council which was established as per the proposal of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. The National Council consists of members representing parliament from the respective political parties. https://youtu.be/kp2tDDcvclY... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/09/22)
Courtesy Hiru News
President Ranil Wickremesinghe held bilateral talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The discussions are taking place in Tokyo, Japan. President Ranil Wickremesinghe also called on His Majesty Emperor Naruhito at Imperial Palace in Tokyo. President Wickremesinghe left the island last morning (Sep. 26) on an official visit to Japan and the Philippines. During his two-day official visit to Japan, the President is expected to participate in the funeral ceremony of former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe. ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/09/22)
BY EDWARD THEOPHILUS
The administration of Sri Lanka has encountered a gigantic task of uniting the people of the country after the ARAGALAYA, the challenge seems to be an arduous task. People in the country are divided based on various ideologies and policy matters of the government. It is natural, that people have a variety of characteristics, but divisions in Sri Lanka have unrecognized strings behind the divisions that may be unknown to many. Human beings naturally have differences, they are subject to control by many organizations to a greater extent with different purposes which attempt to achieve... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/09/22)
BY EDWARD THEOPHILUS
Since the administration of King Vijaya, the application of values did not work in society because the behaviour of King Vijaya showed that he had no values and was not concerned about practising values in society. King Vijaya was a lawbreaker and was deported from his country as he was behaving harmful way to peace-loving people and leaders of the ARAGALAYA were ideal models of Vijaya who destroyed peace-loving inhabitants who were called the HELA community. Religions attempted to educate religions-related values that aimed to get respect from the laity. The authoritative administration... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/09/22)
Sugath Kulatunga,
Derana TV Channel must be congratulated on the new program they have introduced under the title ‘Rebuild Sri Lanka’ and brilliantly conducted by the dynamic Chatura de Alwis. I hope other channels also follow this example and devote more time on development issues rather than wasting time on never ending cheap TV drama and on longer and cheaper and violent Tamil films. The recent discussion was with a distinguished panel consisting of Chairman EDB, Chairman Tea Board and a very knowledgeable representative from the apparel sector. The discussion was well focused on different aspects... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/09/22)
Sasanka De Silva Pannipitiya
It is not a secret that the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has never made any profits. The public must always chip in by paying more taxes to cover their expenses by pumping money from the government coffers. Another generator at the Norochchole plant has been shut down, and social media is rife with news that a 10-hour power cut is on the cards. If that is true, the CEB income will be further reduced by more than 40%, and how do the authorities plan to bridge the gap?... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/09/22)
Courtesy CNA
MANILA/TOKYO: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is ready to provide further financial support to Sri Lanka, a top official of the regional lender said on Tuesday (Sep 27), as the Indian Ocean nation battles its worst economic crisis in more than seven decades. The remarks came after an ADB pact this month for an emergency loan of U$200 million to ensure access to food and protect livelihoods after months of shortages of key essential items which sparked protests that forced out the president. "As a key long-term partner, the ADB stands ready to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/09/22)
By Feizal Samath Courtesy TTG Asia
Sri Lanka is planning to offer a 49 per cent ownership and management stake in its loss-making national carrier to cut losses and transform the airline to a profitable venture. The move would signal a return to foreign management and partnership after a 10-year contract with Emirates ended in March 2008 without any extension. The Dubai carrier had a 43 per cent stake (at an investment of US$70 million) and full management control of the airline. SriLankan Airlines does not own any aircraft – its entire fleet of 23... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/09/22)
Steve Forbes Forbes Staff Courtesy Forbes
For decades, the International Monetary Fund has been the scourge of countries that get into economic trouble, yet its authority has never been seriously challenged. Today, this is especially dangerous. The deadly combination of inflation and food shortages is putting numerous nations on the brink of disaster. A few, most notably Sri Lanka, are already in chaos. All too many countries are particularly vulnerable because they loaded themselves with debt during the easy-money years following the 2008-09 financial crisis, when interest rates were virtually nonexistent. Now, with the cost of money... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/09/22)
Courtesy Adaderana
Expression of opinions on social media by public officers without following the Establishment Code shall constitute an offence leading to disciplinary action, the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration says. This was conveyed in a circular titled “Expression of opinions on social media by public officers” published today (Sep. 27). In the communique, Mr. M.P.K. Mayadunne also noted that carrying out an activity that should not be carried out by an officer who is not entitled to the exercise of political rights as per Section 1, Chapter XXXII, Volume I of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/09/22)
Courtesy Adaderana
President Ranil Wickremesinghe held discussions with Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi this morning in Tokyo. During the meeting, Foreign Minister Hayashi welcomed Sri Lanka’s progress with the IMF and expressed his country’s willingness to take a leading role in Sri Lanka’s creditor talks, the PMD reported. President Wickremesinghe expressed regret over the breakdown of relations between Japan and Sri Lanka following the cancellation of several investment projects by the former Government. The President stressed that he was keen to restart those projects, the statement said. The President also indicated that... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/09/22)
Courtesy orinoco tribune
The IMF released a report today on the Bolivian economy in which it recommends adopting drastic neoliberal measures, including; reducing workers’ salaries, cutting public investments, and ending currency controls. These policies have turned Bolivia from one of the poorest countries in the region into it’s fastest-growing economy. The report takes aim at the government’s spending on development, saying, “The government must restrict spending, including eliminating the end of year wage bonus for workers, they must restrict the growth of wages for public sector workers, and limit the growth of public investment and subsidies.”... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/09/22)
Shenali Waduge
... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/09/22)
Dilrook Kannangara
Many nations including Sri Lanka face a hunger problem. Instead of looking for easy ways out, blaming this and that and finding faults with everything suggested, nothing much happens in Sri Lanka. Various types of beans grow in all parts of the island. Beans can be grown in a small garden. Almost all households in rural areas can grow beans and other legumes. They are easy to cook, high in protein, carbohydrates and vitamins and currently have few pests. Unlike readily edible crops, beans do not attract thieves. Legumes extract nitrogen from the air... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/09/22)
Manusha Media
විදේශ ගත ශ්රමිකයින් සදහා වන විශ්රාම වැටුප් යෝජනා ක්රමය ආරම්භ කළේ විදේශ ගත ශ්රමිකයින්ට අපගේ ප්රතිඋපකාරය පළ කිරීමටයි - අමාත්ය මනුෂ නානායක්කාර මනුසවි විශ්රාම වැටුප් යෝජනා ක්රමය අරඹමින් කියයිමනුෂ්යත්වයේ නාමයෙන්, දශක ගණනාවක විගමනික ශ්රමිකයන්ගේ අපේක්ෂාව යථාර්ථයක් කරමින්, ‘මනුසවි‘ සමාජ ආරක්ෂණ දායක විශ්රාම වැටුප් යෝජනා ක්රමය ආරම්භ කිරීමට හැකි වූ බවත්, ඉදිරියේ දී මෙරට සෑම කම්කරුවකු ම සුරක්ෂිත කරන සාමාජ ආරක්ෂණ ජාලයක් නිර්මාණය කරන බවත්, කම්කරු හා විදේශ රැකියා අමාත්ය මනුෂ නානායක්කාර මහතා පැවැසීය. ඒ කම්කරු හා විදේශ රැකියා අමාත්ය මනුෂ නානායක්කාරගේ සංකල්පයකට අනුව විදේශ රැකියාවේ නිරතවූවන්ගේ විශ්රාමික දිවිය සවිමත් කිරීම සඳහා හඳුන්වා දෙන “මනුසවි” සමාජ ආරක්ෂණ දායක... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/09/22)
Chandre Dharmawardana
I have gone thorough the following U-tube video and I am sad to see this kind of unsubstantiated claims misleading the public. This is just one of many. [ටවුම මැද්දේ වගා කරන, ගල් පොළොවේ කුඹුරු කරන, ගොවි රජාගේ විශ්වකර්ම වැඩ https://youtu.be/VjOTnWlbTbE I urge the Sri Lankan scientific community to not to ignore this sort of thing says "this stuff is rubbish and so we don't need to comment on the obvious", or that there are too many of these and we don't have time for it. ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/09/22)
Courtesy Hiru News
Today, 8 state-of-the-art CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) Screening Vehicles (mobile labs) worth LKR 660 million donated by China entered commissioning in 8 CKDu affected areas, i.e. Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Ampara, Kurunagala, Matale, Badulla. SriLankan people especially in the rural area are suffering in relation to CKD, known as the "silent killer";, as patients live with the disease for years before showing symptoms. Early screening and detection will spare the patients with limited healthcare access from pain says the Chinese Embassy. The 8 Screening Vehicles is part of joint effort to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/09/22)
Courtesy Adaderana
President Ranil Wickremesinghe says that discussion on restructuring Sri Lanka’s bilateral debt has already commenced with India and China at a lower level and that he is visiting Japan to discuss their role it the process. He stated that talks with China would go to a higher level probably after the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party. The President stated this during an exclusive interview with StratNews Global Editor-in-Chief Nitin A. Gokhale. Responding to a question regarding the progress made thus far with regard to resolving the economic crisis,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/09/22)
Courtesy The Daily Mirror
Sri Lanka is to purchase crude oil from Iran on a government to government deal, a Minister said today. Foreign Minister Ali Sabry told Daily Mirror over the phone that he had a cordial discussion with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on the sidelines of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York. The Minister said crude oil purchase is one of the key areas discussed,” he said. “We discussed a range of bilateral issues aimed at strengthening the cordial bilateral relationship,” he said. ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/09/22)
Courtesy The Daily Mirror
Sri Lankan officials promote ad-hoc bilateral creditor platforms to expedite process Bilateral assurances expected around mid-November Private creditor assurance could come by way of ‘good faith’ engagement by officials ISB holders form two groups representing international and local bondholders to assess restructuring Any fund disbursements from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to crisis-hit Sri Lanka could be at least 3-4 months away from now as financing assurances from the country’s bilateral creditors remain a key sticking point for the IMF executive board to green light its bail-out programme, a presentation made to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/09/22)
Sasanka De Silva Pannipitiya.
It is obvious that there is some behind-the-scenes work involved in the recent coal tender revocation. Calling for a new tender allows opportunists to gain an unfair advantage and deceptive gains once more. How to avoid such an incident occurring in the future is as paramount as securing the next consignment before the country falls again into total darkness. Failing to fulfil the contractual obligations is a good reason not to release the deposited tender fee by the party who got it awarded. The other steps... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/09/22)
සුදත් ගුණසේකර මහනුවර 25.9.2022.
මේ සඳහා මැතිවරණ කොමිසම ප්රකාශය කරණුයේ නොවැ 11 දාට පසුව බවද දැනට පවතින ආසන සන්ක්යාව අඩුකිරීමට පාර්ලිමේන්තු කාරක සභාවේ නිර්දෙශ සහ සන්සෝධන මෙතෙක්ලැබි නොමැති බැවින් මේ වරද පසුගිගිය, එනම් 2018 පැවැති මැතිවරණයේ දී තොරාගත් නොයෝජිතයින් සන්ක්යාවම තෝරාගන්නා බවද මැතිවරණ කොමිසන් සභාවේ සභාපති පවසා ඇතැයි නො 25 ඉරිදා අරුණ පුවත් පතේ සඳහන් වෙයි.අද රටේ පවතින ආර්ථික තත්වය යටතේ මෙම ආසන සන්ක්යාව අඩුකරණ මෙන් යෝජනා ඉදිරිපතව ඇති බැවින් එම නව සන්ක්යාව වහාම මැතිවරණ කොමිසම වෙත දන්වනමෙන් අපි ඉල්ලා සිටිමු... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/09/22)
A Guide for Practitioners Courtesy Worldbank Group
5.1 Introductory RemarksEfforts toward asset confiscation are of little value if, at the end of the day, no asset is available for confiscation. Stolen assets may be hidden or moved out of reach in a short period, while investigation and confiscation proceedings may take years, often giving the target ample time to move or dissipate assets. Therefore, it is critical that measures be taken to secure the assets that may become subject to a confiscation judgment. These measures, referred to as “provisional measures,” include the seizure and restraint of assets and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/09/22)
By Dr Tilak S. Fernando
Recently, Chanaka Senanayake (we are only one nation-one country, one law and one nationality & one language organisation) interviewed the Sri Lankan media. He said Sri Lanka owes International Monitory Organisations a sum of US $55 billion in loans. However, out of that US$55, a sum of US$30 billion had been defrauded out of the country. He is on record by saying that 'he is not bothered by whom did the fleecing took place, but there is a process to get that money back to the Sri Lanka treasury.' It is known as... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/09/22)
Courtesy NewsIn.Asia
Colombo, September 25 (newsin.asia): Foreign Minister Ali Sabry enunciated Sri Lanka’s vision in his address to the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 24. Pitching strongly for multilateralism, Sabry said that now is indeed a watershed moment for the international community: a moment of great challenge and opportunity. And then he went on to say that the complex and interconnected crises that we face cannot be resolved by nations acting on their own. It is an opportunity to demonstrate global solidarity, diplomacy and collective efforts, leveraging the ideas... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/09/22)
Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America
On September 23, 2022 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Wang Yi expressed, China and Sri Lanka are each other's strategic cooperative partner. The two countries have always shared weal and woe and sincerely helped each other. This year, which marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Sri Lanka and the 70th anniversary of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/09/22)
Courtesy Adaderana
China and Sri Lanka have agreed to speed up the negotiation process and strive for an early conclusion of a free trade agreement, thereby boosting the confidence in and stabilizing the expectations for their economic and trade cooperation, the Chinese Embassy in Colombo said. https://youtu.be/FlifmPCv6Gk Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Ali Sabry on Friday on the sidelines of the ongoing 77th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. As strategic cooperative partners, Wang said,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/09/22)
Courtesy Hiru News
A new consignment of medicine worth 12.5 million RMB (650 million LKR) donated by China under its 500 million RMB emergency humanitarian assistance has departed Chengdu, China and is scheduled to arrive at Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport on Friday (23rd) evening via a charter flight of Sichuan Airlines. With a total volume of 60.04 cubic meters and weight of 14.62 metric tons, the consignment consists of:1) 100,800 PF.Syrs of Recombinant Human Erythropoietin Alpha Injection 4000IU<br />2) 270,000 doses of Rabies Vaccine for Human Use (Vero Cell) Freeze-dried3) 4,500 bottles... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/09/22)
Courtesy Hiru News
Sri Lanka expects the International Monetary Fund board to approve a $2.9 billion loan by year-end, officials from the country's central bank told investors during a virtual presentation on Friday, sources participating in the event said.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/09/22)
