February 20, Colombo (LNW): The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has rendered its verdict regarding the constitutionality of specific provisions within the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill, which is currently under scrutiny in Parliament.
Following its assessment, the court concluded that certain segments of the bill, as currently drafted, would mandate a special majority vote in Parliament for ratification.
This implies that the proposed legislation would necessitate the support of two-thirds of the members present and voting in Parliament to pass.
Additionally, the court ruled that Article 62/1 of the bill, if enacted without modifications, would not only require a special majority vote in Parliament but also necessitate endorsement through a referendum.
Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapaksa formally presented the court’s determination to Parliament earlier today.
February 20, Colombo (LNW): A demonstration took place this afternoon (20) in front of the Ministry of Tourism, as individuals voiced their opposition to Tourism Minister Harin Fernando’s recent remarks regarding Sri Lanka’s relationship with India.
Organised by the ‘No ETCA National Collective’, the protest aimed to demand the dismissal of Minister Fernando and halt any perceived efforts to compromise the nation’s integrity through alleged attempts to “sell the country to India.”
Minister Fernando faced backlash after publicly stating that Sri Lanka is a part of India, prompting protestors to decry this assertion as a grave affront to Sri Lanka’s sovereignty.
Critics contend that Minister Fernando, who originally pledged to uphold the Constitution, is now seen as directly contravening it, further exacerbating concerns among the demonstrators.
UN FAO Director General Dr. Qu Dongyu visits President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat, praising his leadership during Sri Lanka’s economic challenges: assures continued FAO support, while President Wickremesinghe outlines recovery efforts, emphasising the need for an agriculture modernisation project.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa says the government has failed in its inability to serve the people in a bankrupt country: stresses the government has not been able to reach an IMF agreement favouring the citizens of Sri Lanka: laments it favours the rich rather than protecting the people: adds that the Online Safety Act and Anti-Terrorism Act are being used to restrict people’s freedom and bar their right to know the truth.
Renowned human rights activist, Attorney-at-Law S.G. Punchihewa donates his well-known library to the National Peoples Power (NPP): says the NPP is an ‘excellent creation’ in the field of politics in Sri Lanka.
The Supreme Court rules on the constitutionality of sections in the Anti-Terrorism Bill, stating that some sections require a special majority vote in Parliament: Article 62/1 would require both a special majority vote and a referendum for approval: Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapaksa presented the determination to Parliament.
Iranian Foreign Minister Dr. Hossein Amir Abdollahia begins a three-day visit to Sri Lanka: His visit includes meetings with President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena: Official discussions with Minister Sabry are scheduled at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Education Minister Susil Premajayantha announces the launch of a digital education pilot project in March 2024, with Microsoft aiding in teacher training.
The Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) praises Canada’s Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre for pledging to pursue legal action against Sri Lanka for alleged war crimes, including genocide, through international avenues like the ICJ and Magnitsky sanctions: Poilievre aims to advocate for accountability at the UN and elsewhere, aligning with Canadian values: stresses the need for accountability amid ongoing racial violence against Tamils in Sri Lanka, advocating for peaceful, democratic solutions and international support.
US Ambassador Julie Chung expresses significant concerns regarding Sri Lanka’s Online Safety Bill, highlighting procedural flaws, ambiguous intentions, and potential threats to freedom of expression: stresses shortcomings in stakeholder engagement, cautions against misuse of the bill to suppress lawful expression, and questions the effectiveness of proposed amendments: urges the government to address citizen concerns and prioritise indigenous perspectives alongside international considerations.
Ex PUCSL chairman Janaka Ratnayaka criticises the current chairman’s handling of a public consultation on electricity tariff revision, deeming it inappropriate and unacceptable: stresses the importance of selecting qualified members for independent commissions like the PUCSL: adds that there is a need for proper representation, especially from the business community, in the commission’s composition.
Sadeera Samarawickrama (51) and Angelo Mathews (42n.o) add 66 runs sixth wicket stand as SL recorded 72 runs win over Afghanistan in their second T-20 game played at Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium: The victory also marked 2-0 series win with one game to spare and Sri Lankan dominated both games: The first game won with thrilling 4 runs margin but it was fine team effort to beat them more comfortably with 72 runs margin.
February 20, Colombo (LNW): Education Minister Susil Premajayantha announced the forthcoming launch of a pilot project aimed at digitising education, scheduled to commence in March 2024.
Addressing a briefing at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) yesterday (19), the Minister disclosed that Microsoft will be assisting in training teachers for this initiative.
Furthermore, the Minister confirmed the dispatch of school textbooks for the year 2024, emphasising complete coverage as all relevant materials have been sent to distribution stations.
The President’s Media Division (PMD) has outlined plans to finalise distribution at the school level by March 1, with an allocated expenditure of Rs. 12 billion for this purpose.
In addition, Premajayantha highlighted collaboration with the Chinese government, facilitating the acquisition of 80 per cent of required cloth for school uniforms, totaling Rs. 05 billion.
Distribution is underway, with the remaining 20 per cent expected shortly.
Efforts are also underway to prepare school timetables and term notes for the current year, with arrangements being made to conduct the G.C.E. (A/L) level examination as scheduled by year-end.
Detailed instructions regarding these activities will be disseminated to schools via circular within the next two to three weeks.
Concerns have been raised regarding decreased school enrollments due to a decline in birth rates, impacting children’s absence from school.
Additionally, the Minister addressed teacher shortages, with legal proceedings causing delays in recruitment.
Pending court decisions, efforts are underway to swiftly fill vacancies, including 20,000 teacher positions and 13,500 provincial-level vacancies.
Examinations for science and technology level vacancies are scheduled for the first week of March, with recruitment expected to conclude by month-end.
A budget of Rs. 16 billion has been allocated for school lunches, with agreements signed with USAID to provide meals to 200,000 children.
Initiatives have also commenced to engage parents through class meetings, focusing on guidance in areas such as road safety, drug prevention, and safeguarding against abuse.
Plans are in place to launch career and technology guidance courses across 300 centers nationwide, coinciding with the release of Advanced Level examination results.
Moreover, preparations are underway for the pilot project for digitalising education, scheduled for launch in March with support from Microsoft for teacher training.
February 20, Colombo (LNW): Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran Dr. Hossein Amir Abdollahia commenced a three-day official visit to the island on Monday night (19).
Upon arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake, the Iranian Foreign Minister, along with a delegation of 20 individuals, was warmly received by State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya.
This visit, initiated at the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry, will span from 19th to 21st February.
Dr. Hossein Amir Abdollahia is slated to extend courtesy calls to President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena during his stay in Sri Lanka.
Additionally, official discussions between the visiting Iranian Minister and his delegation and Minister Ali Sabry are scheduled to take place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
February 20, Colombo (LNW): The United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, has articulated significant apprehensions regarding the recently enacted Online Safety Bill, delineating three principal areas of concern.
The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka raised concerns on procedural shortcomings, underlying intentions, and the potential ramifications on freedom of expression against the enactment of the said Act.
Chung underscored the perceived deficiencies in the bill’s formulation process, noting a lack of comprehensive engagement with stakeholders, a factor contributing to widespread perception of its flawed nature.
Expressing reservations about the bill’s expansive scope and definitions, ostensibly designed to combat online offenses such as the dissemination of harmful content and gender-based violence, Ambassador Chung cautioned against the possibility of its misuse to curtail lawful expression.
Furthermore, she raised doubts about the bill’s implementation process, notwithstanding ongoing amendment initiatives.
Chung called into question the effectiveness of these amendments in mitigating the anticipated chilling effect on online discourse.
The US Ambassador further stressed that the concerns voiced by Sri Lankan citizens, technical experts, civil society organisations, legal professionals, the private sector, and journalists are paramount.
She urged the Sri Lankan government to prioritise attentiveness to the apprehensions expressed domestically, underscoring the significance of indigenous perspectives alongside international considerations.
February 20, Canada (LNW): The Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) extended its appreciation to Canada’s Conservative Party leader, Pierre Poilievre, for his commitment to pursue legal action against Sri Lanka through international avenues, including the International Court of Justice (ICJ), regarding alleged war crimes.
Poilievre has articulated his intention to utilise Magnitsky sanctions to target individuals within the Rajapaksa regime implicated in genocide, several Tamil media outlets reported.
Poilievre’s advocacy extends to seeking accountability at the United Nations and other global platforms, aiming to highlight Sri Lanka’s alleged abuses and recognise the plight of Tamils as genocide.
Furthermore, he has expressed plans to direct legal efforts through Canada’s foreign affairs apparatus to prosecute members of the Sri Lankan regime in international criminal courts for their alleged role in genocide.
In acknowledging Poilievre’s stance, Mr. Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran, Prime Minister of TGTE, commended the alignment of his actions with Canadian values and the pursuit of justice worldwide.
Drawing parallels to international precedents, Rudrakumaran likened the situation to South Africa’s petition against Israel for genocide against Palestinians, emphasising the gravity of the allegations concerning the final stages of the conflict between Tamils and the Sri Lankan state.
Citing the 2012 UN Internal Review Report (Petrie Report), which highlighted significant civilian casualties during the conflict’s culmination, along with calls from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein for criminalising genocide, TGTE underscored the urgency for international scrutiny.
Notably, TGTE points to a signature campaign garnering over 16 million supporters, urging an investigation into alleged international crimes in Sri Lanka.
Rudrakumaran emphasised the consistency of Poilievre’s position with a unanimous resolution passed in the Canadian Parliament in 2019, advocating for an independent international investigation into alleged Tamil genocide in Sri Lanka.
He underscored the imperative for accountability, given the absence of a statute of limitations for genocide charges and the continued lack of resolution in addressing past atrocities.
Highlighting a history of racial violence against Tamils in Sri Lanka, Rudrakumaran reiterated the need for accountability, citing former High Commissioner Al Hussein’s characterisation of crimes as systemic.
The available evidence points to the Sri Lankan state’s culpability and calls for corresponding accountability measures, TGTE asserted.
As an elected body representing Tamils globally, TGTE reiterated its commitment to peaceful, democratic, and diplomatic means in pursuing the political aspirations of Tamils.
Emphasising principles of nationhood, homeland, and self-determination, TGTE advocates for international recognition and support in holding perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide accountable.
The organisation further advocates for a peaceful resolution to determine the political future of Tamils through a referendum.
February 20, Colombo (LNW): A few showers may occur in Eastern and Uva provinces in the morning, and showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Sabaragamuwa province and in Galle and Matara districts in the evening or night, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (20),
Mainly fair weather will prevail elsewhere, the statement added.
Fairly strong winds about (30-35) kmph can be expected at times in eastern slopes of the central hills and in North-central, North-western, Uva, Southern and Eastern provinces and in Matale and Kandy districts.
Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces during the morning.
The public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Marine Weather:
Condition of Rain:
Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the sea areas off the coasts extending from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota.
Winds:
Winds will be north-easterly and wind speed will be (25-30) kmph. Wind speed may increase up to (40-45) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coasts extending from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota and from Colombo to Kankasanthurai via Puttalam.
State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coasts extending from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota and from Colombo to Kankasanthurai via Puttalam can be fairly rough at times.
February 19, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) indicates appreciation against the US Dollar today (19) in comparison to last week’s Friday, as per the official exchange rates released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).
Accordingly, the buying price of the US Dollar has dropped to Rs. 307.47 from Rs. 307.70, and the selling price to Rs. 317.29 from Rs. 317.76.
The Sri Lankan Rupee, meanwhile, indicates fluctuation against several other foreign currencies.
February 19, Colombo (LNW): Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has decided not to increase the Power Purchasing Agreements (PPAs) signed with Private Power Plants (PPPs) last September to procure 120 MW of emergency power, to meet electricity shortfall during the drought in the southern part of the country due to prevailing dry weather conditions
The PPAs are set to expire at the end of this month.Instead of extending the emergency PPAs, the board is currently in the process of procuring supplementary power.
In response to immediate electricity supply gaps, the CEB has obtained 120 MW of emergency power from Ace Power Embilipitiya (100 MW) and Matara (20 MW).
The urgency arose due to the depletion of the Samanalawewa reservoir, linked to the Udawalawe reservoir, which had dried up last year, necessitating Cabinet approval to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the Southern Province.
Sri Lanka’s electricity demand, sales and investment needs are growing rapidly compelling the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to increase end user tariff making it cost effective, and expedite the implementation of power plants.This was highlighted in the Asian Development Bank funded power sector assessment report.
The peak demand was forecasted to cross 3,000 MW by 2020 and reach 4,800 MW by 2030, the report disclosed.
According to findings and forecasts of the ADB funded report, the CEB will have to incur a massive loss of Rs.436 billion for the period 2021 to 2023 for emergency power purchasing from independent power producers (IPPs).
A proposal has already been made to purchase 800 megawatts of power from these private power producers this year without calling for tenders.
The CEB System Control is deciding on the most feasible option to purchase power using the available data manually.
This method of power purchasing has opened the flood gates for corruption and irregularities as identifying the least cost method and viable option based on the available data cannot be cannot be carried out manually and it requires relevant software, it was stated
The CEB plans indicate the investment requirements for power generation to be US $2400 million from 2020–2025 to meet the growing demand at the lowest cost, the report added.
The capacity shortage has to be resolved by building larger power plants. The CEB has proposed that the two cancelled coal-fired power plants be revived and built using the latest technology.
Additionally, two combined cycle power plants are required to be built to cater to seasonal shortages of hydro power.
“All IPPs are diesel-fired, operating on 10- to 20-year power purchase agreements; all SPPs are renewable energy-based, with 15- or 20-year contracts.
In order to offset this massive loss, the Ministry of Power has no alternative other than increasing electricity tariff by at least Rs.2.50 per unit for this period, the report recommended.Emergency power purchasing at higher rates from IPPs has now become a significant burden to the economy. Annual purchases of power average from Rs. 160 billion to Rs. 200 billion.
