January 08, Colombo (LNW): Amidst a surge in daily dengue cases, the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) revealed an inventive approach: the introduction of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes into high-risk areas of Colombo. This experimental strategy aims to assess the potential of reducing mosquito populations and, consequently, curtailing the spread of dengue.

Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, Director of the NDCU, emphasized the urgency of the situation, with daily dengue cases escalating to a concerning 300.

January 08, Colombo (LNW): The Hambantota International Port (HIP) concluded 2023 by solidifying its status as the fastest-growing Roll-on/Roll-off (RO-RO) transshipment port in the region, witnessing a remarkable 26% increase in handled vehicles compared to the previous year. This outstanding milestone saw a massive 700,000 units transported through the port, positioning HIP as a dominant force in the fiercely competitive transshipment sector.

The achievement was marked by the arrival of the Glovis vessel MV. HAE SHIN V.003B, carrying 3,626 units bound for Ulsan port in South Korea. Lance Zuo, General Manager Commercial & Marketing, attributes HIP’s success to its expanded capacity, strategic location, quality service, prompt berthing facilities, and competitive pricing formulas, making it an enticing prospect for customers.

Tissa Wickramasinghe, COO of HIPG, expressed pride in achieving this feat amidst challenges, citing the dedication of the RORO operations and marketing teams. He highlighted HIPG’s strategic vision to position HIP as a regional transshipment hub for RORO cargo, establishing partnerships with RORO lines, attracting new customers, and investing in advanced technology.

Wickramasinghe emphasized the investment in expanding yard space, modern equipment, frequent training sessions, and global quality standards adherence as pivotal factors in HIP’s success. He credited Team HIP’s collective effort and customer support for this remarkable achievement.

January 08, Colombo (LNW): In just 22 days since its launch, Operation Yukthiya by Sri Lankan authorities resulted in the arrest of 29,475 suspects, with 955 detained in the last 24 hours.

Under the Ministry of Public Security, 1473 detainees are held under orders, while investigations into illegal assets of 220 individuals are ongoing.

Notably, 2326 arrests targeted drug trafficking, focusing on suspects from the Police Narcotics Bureau and Special Bureau. Seized illicit drugs exceed 4,439 million rupees in market value.

Authorities also confiscated drug traffickers’ properties, valued over 619 million rupees, including vehicles (worth 389 million rupees) and gold (valued at 140 million rupees).

1. Head of the SMEs Organizations Tania Abeysundara says CB Governor Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe had orchestrated a scenario leading to the country’s declaration of bankruptcy unilaterally, hindering the functioning of businesses: also says there are Non-Performing Loans of about Rs.1.2 trillion solely due to the situation created by the CB Governor who pushed interest rates to record levels.
2. A well known research form announces that the Govt is planning to lift import restrictions placed on small cars with engine capacities of 1000cc & 1300cc: asserts the move to relax small vehicle imports comes in the wake of limited revenue collection by SL Customs in the backdrop of stringent revenue targets set by the IMF.
3. Senior FSP spokesperson Pubudu Jagoda says the FSP is urging political parties in Parliament to oppose the Govt’s decision to join the US-led coalition to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea against continuing attacks by Yemen’s Houthi group: asserts that the move announced by President Wickremesinghe on 3rd Jan’24 had taken all political parties by surprise.
4. Following the Energy Minister’s instructions to the CEB to take disciplinary action against CEB employees involved in the 3-day trade union action, Unions say they would take legal action against the CEB management if any of the workers are suspended.
5. Official data reveals that SL has spent USD 326mn on vegetable imports from Jan to Nov’23, an increase from USD 297mn recorded for the same period in 2022.
6. Health Unions allege that available PCR or Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) are approaching expiration, with no orders being placed for new kits: also allege that ordering test kits has not been a priority due to the ongoing economic crisis.
7. A top SL Airlines official says the daily operations of the airline are currently being conducted by only around 17 Airbus aircraft, resulting in several flight delays being experienced each month: also says the airline must have a minimum of 24 aircraft to ensure smooth operations without delays.
8. Hambantota International Port proves itself as the fastest growing transhipment port in the region with 700,000 transhipment vehicles handled in 2023: marks a significant 26% increase from the 2022 figures.
9. Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe says the revised Anti-Terrorism Bill will be presented to Parliament in the first sitting week of the new year.
10. Public Security Minister Tiran Alles presents official appointment letters to 4 top Cricketers who transition to roles within the SL Police after their stint with the Police Cricket Club: Kusal Janith Perera & Chamara Silva to positions as Chief Police Inspectors: Ashen Bandara & Nuwan Pradeep as Police Inspectors.

January 08, Colombo (LNW): Amidst a challenging year, Sri Lanka demonstrated remarkable resilience, recording a substantial surge in Workers’ Remittances. Figures for 2023 showcased a staggering 57.5% increase, reaching USD 5,969.6 million compared to USD 3,789.5 million in 2022. December alone drew USD 569.7 million in remittances, marking a positive trend.

Rejuvenating its economic health post a severe crisis, Sri Lanka saw pivotal improvements across key indicators. Notably, the gross official reserves crossed the USD 4 billion threshold for the first time in three years, provisionally estimated at USD 4,400 million by December 2023. This notable surge includes a People’s Bank of China (PBOC) swap, approximating USD 1.4 billion, albeit with certain conditionalities on its usage.

Making a pivotal shift from negative growth, the country achieved a 1.2% economic growth rate, signaling a promising trajectory ahead. The nation, once known for its staggering inflation rate surpassing 70%, managed to reduce it to about 3% in the final quarter of 2023. The Central Bank anticipates maintaining inflation below 5% in 2024, indicating stable economic prospects.

Tourism also experienced an uptick, with arrivals reaching 1.5 million in 2023, generating revenue exceeding USD 2.068 million, a significant leap from USD 1,136 billion in 2022.

An official from the Ministry of Labour Relations attributed the economic crisis to several factors, including low remittances, tourism receipts, and inadequate foreign reserves. Notably, a shift in expatriates’ remittance channels from non-banking to banking avenues, alongside a stabilized US dollar, contributed to robust foreign remittances.

During the period leading up to January 5, 2024, the Sri Lankan rupee appreciated against major currencies: the US dollar by 0.5%, the Japanese Yen by 2.8%, the Pound Sterling by 0.8%, the Euro by 1.6%, and the Indian Rupee by 0.6%. At the Colombo Stock Exchange, the ASPI surged by 25.5%, indicating positive market sentiment.

January 08, Colombo (LNW): Showers will occur at times in Eastern, Northern and Uva provinces. Several spells of showers will occur in North-central province. Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in other areas of the island after 1.00 p.m.

Heavy showers about 100 mm are likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.

The public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

January 07, Colombo (LNW): The Bandarawela Police have launched an investigation into a deeply disturbing incident involving the exhumation and undressing of the buried body of a 25-year old woman, who had recently passed away from pneumonia in Badulugasthenna, Bandarawela.

The body of the deceased, a resident of Bandarawela, was discovered exhumed on Sunday (07), indicating that an individual or a group was involved in this unsettling act.

The family had planned the seventh-day almsgiving ceremony for the deceased tomorrow (08), and the father visited the deceased’s grave this morning only to be confronted with this disturbing scene.

Upon witnessing the exhumation and the body being undressed, the family, including the father, promptly reported the incident to the Police.

Authorities in Bandarawela suspect that the body was intentionally exhumed and defiled.

In response to the discovery, the Bandarawela Acting Magistrate, along with Criminal Investigation Officers, examined the remains. Subsequently, the body was reinterred at the original location.

The Bandarawela Police have now initiated a thorough investigation into this distressing incident, aiming to identify and bring those responsible to justice.

January 07, Colombo (LNW): A group of prominent figures from various civil society organisations has expressed reservations regarding the expedited passage of the ONUR bill, citing the need for more extensive discussions before its parliamentary approval.

The ONUR bill, aimed at establishing the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation, is scheduled for parliamentary debate this week.

The bill seeks to ensure equal opportunities for citizens in economic, social, cultural, and political spheres while fostering an inclusive society that respects diversity and promotes unity.

Despite the commendable objectives outlined in the bill, the concerned individuals highlight three major concerns.

Firstly, they emphasised the importance of a multi-partisan approach in appointing the decision-making board of ONUR to better represent the diverse ethnic, religious, and socio-cultural interests of Sri Lanka.

Secondly, the group suggests incorporating ex-officio representatives from independent reconciliation mechanisms, such as the Office of Missing Persons, Office of Reparations, NGO Secretariat, and the upcoming Truth, Unity, and Reconciliation Commission, into the ONUR board to ensure a cohesive and informed approach to national reconciliation.

Thirdly, the group expresses apprehension about ONUR’s role in guiding and facilitating peace and reconciliation programs conducted by local organisations.

They call for clarity in the legislation to ensure that the government does not direct civil society but assists and facilitates them without politicisation for narrow purposes.

The signatories assert that national reconciliation should be a voluntary, bottom-up process involving all communities.

The group urged the government to engage opposition parties, particularly those representing minority communities, and civil society in a comprehensive discussion to establish a multi-partisan consensus before the law’s passage.

Full Statement:

More Time And Discussion Needed Before Parliamentary Passage Of Onur Law

This week the government will be taking up the ONUR bill for debate after which it will be enacted as law. The bill proposes to establish an Office for National Unity and Reconciliation in order to assure to every citizen equal opportunities in the economic, social, cultural and political spheres. At the same time, the new institution will have the purpose of safeguarding identity and building an inclusive society in which diversity will be respected and all communities will coexist in harmony and unity.
 
The commendable objectives outlined in the ONUR bill, such as promoting national unity and peaceful coexistence, require dialogue and negotiation among representatives of diverse communities in Sri Lanka, both in civil and political societies. Unfortunately, the potential importance of this new institution appears to be under-estimated by the government, its policymakers and the law’s drafters as there has been little or no effort to engage in public discussion on it or to educate the general public about the need for it. 
 
We, the undersigned, have three major concerns which we outline. First, we believe that the composition of the decision making board of ONUR will be crucial to the success of the institution and its work. We note that Appointments to the ONUR Board would be appointments by the Minister under whose purview the institution comes. The minister is empowered to recommend the appointment of 11 members who will have terms of 3 years, while the chairperson has no time limit, which is inadvisable. We urge a more multi-partisan method of appointments to ensure that those appointed represent the diversity of ethnic and religious groups and socio-cultural interests.
 
Second, as ONUR is expected to play a central role in the national reconciliation process that brings together all the independent reconciliation mechanisms we propose that appointments to the ONUR board should include ex-officio representatives from the Office of Missing Persons, Office of Reparations, NGO Secretariat and the Truth, Unity and Reconciliation Commission which is soon to be established. This will ensure that all the reconciliation institutions share a common vision and are informed of the work that is being done by each of them. There is also a need to ensure representation from civil society to ensure that the perspectives of affected communities and victims are considered and acted upon.
 
Third, we are concerned about the role given to ONUR to be prescriptive vis a vis civil society by virtue of the power “to guide and facilitate peace and reconciliation programmes conducted by local organisations including community based organisations.”  This authority to monitor and review the work of civil society raises concerns about the prospect of government heavy-handedness in the context of the possible politicisation for narrow and partisan purposes of national reconciliation policy and actions.  The new law needs to be clear that the government will not direct civil society to follow its guidelines, but can “assist and facilitate” them to do so.
 
National reconciliation cannot be enforced from the top down. It needs to be a voluntary process involving all ethnic and religious communities. There is a need to draw civil society and elected political representatives into the discussion about the new institution. Prior to the passage of the new law, we urge the government to engage with opposition political parties, particularly those representing minority ethnic and religious communities, as well as civil society, to establish a multi-partisan consensus, encompassing pluralistic values on the path to make this a true reconciliation process for national unity.
 

Signatories
Ihsaan A. Hameed, National President, All Ceylon YMMA Conference    
D M Nimal Dissanayake, Coordinator, Anuradhapura District Citizen Committee
Sachitha N Hewage, Chairman, ASIA LANKA Social Development Co-operation (ALSDC)
Visaka Dharmadasa, Chairperson, Association of War Affected Women (AWAW)
Dr Joe William, Director, Centre for Communication Training (CCT)
Mohamed Buhary, Executive Director, Eastern Social Development Foundation (ESDF)
Amar Gunatilleke, Executive Vice Chairman, Marga Institute
G V D Tilakasiri, President, Free Trade Union Development Center (FTUDC)
Anthony Vinoth, Executive Director, Human Rights Hub
Fr Nandana Manatungea, Director, Human Rights Office (HRO)
Sakunthala Kadirgamar, Executive Director, Law & Society Trust (LST)
B.W.Gunasekara, National Ethnic Unity Foundation  (NEUF)
Dr Jehan Perera, Executive Director, National Peace Council (NPC)
Michael Joachim, Executive Director, Plantation Rural Education Development Organisation (PREDO)
Philip Dissanayake, Executive Director, Right to Life (R2L)
Niroshan Ekanayaka, Executive Director, SAMADANA
Nawaz Mohammed, Country Director, Search for Common Ground (SFCG)
Aashiq Alabdeen, Chief Executive Officer, Serving Humanity Foundation
Nadesan Suresh, Executive Director, Uva Shakthi Foundation (USF)

January 07, Colombo (LNW): In the aftermath of the recent fatality at Galle Prison resulting from meningitis, eight additional inmates are presently under treatment for suspected meningitis at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital.

As a precautionary measure, all activities at Galle Prison have been restricted since January 4, Prisons Commissioner and Media Spokesman Gamini B. Dissanayake disclosed.

In response to the health crisis, stringent measures have been implemented, diverting new inmates originally designated for Galle Prison to Angunakolapelessa Prison.

Prisons Commissioner Dissanayake further stated that visitation to Galle Prison will now be allowed only under stringent health guidelines.

The unfortunate fatality occurred on January 3, where a 29-year-old resident of Kottawagama succumbed to meningitis at Karapitiya Teaching Hospital.

In a related incident last week, two inmates from Matara Prison also lost their lives due to meningitis, while 17 others were hospitalised with high fever.