Colombo (LNW): On November 23, 2023, Rohitha Bogollagama, the designated High Commissioner, formally presented the Open Copy of his Letter of Credence to Vice Marshal and Director of Protocol at the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, Victoria Busby OBE, the High Commission of Sri Lanka in London, UK said in a statement on Friday (24).

This occurred prior to the official presentation of Credentials to His Majesty King Charles III in a formal and ceremonial setting.

Expressing gratitude, High Commissioner designate Bogollagama thanked Vice Marshal and Director Busby for the early opportunity to present the open copy of his Letter of Credence. He conveyed his anticipation of strengthening the close and cordial relations between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.

Additionally, Bogollagama conveyed warm greetings from President Ranil Wickremesinghe to His Majesty King Charles III, wishing for the continued progress and prosperity of the United Kingdom.

In his discussions, Bogollagama also appealed for greater understanding from the UK Government on matters related to Sri Lanka, emphasising that such comprehension would pave the way for broader and more profound engagement between the two nations.

Vice-Marshal Busby extended best wishes for success to High Commissioner designate Bogollagama in his new role as the Envoy of Sri Lanka to the Court of St James’s. Furthermore, Busby assured the fullest cooperation of the UK Government during Bogollagama’s tenure.

The meeting included the presence of Counsellor Hiruni Rajapakse from the High Commission accompanying the High Commissioner designate.

1. Defence State Minister Pramitha Bandara says SL has started “right sizing” its military to reach 150,000 by 2030: says the reduction won’t have any impact on national security since the forces would be strengthened with modern technology: reductions to be – Army to 100,000, Navy to 30,000, & Air Force to 20,000.
   
2. CB weekly data shows that foreign “hot-money” investment in Govt T-Bills & Bonds is continuing its rapid exodus: records a massive reduction from Rs.159.2 bn (USD 492mn) on 30th Sep’23 to Rs.130.6bn (USD 397mn) on 24th Nov’23: currency depreciating pressure expected to escalate as more nervous “hot-money” investments continue to flee, after having made massive profits and gains.
   
3. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene says a decision was taken at the Party Leaders’ meeting to carry on the Committee on Public Enterprises inquiries on Sri Lanka Cricket without Professor Ranjith Bandara as the Chairman.
   
4. Foreign news report says 20,000 SL workers are getting ready to fly to Israel in December’23 to work as farmhands for nearly 10 times the pay, despite Israel’s war with Hamas: also says SL is desperate for dollars and remittances.
   
5. Muslim Congress Leader MP Rauff Hakeem says SL expatriate workers who are sent to Israel are to be given military training: Minister of Labour Manusha Nanayakkara denies the allegation.
   
6. Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera says the CEB received an additional income of Rs.16bn last month as hydropower generation took place at full capacity due to heavy rains: also says a similar or higher income is expected this month as reservoirs have reached full capacity and hydropower is generated at full capacity.
   
7. Police sources report that IGP C D Wickramaratne had announced he will retire from the position, effective from 25th November’23: albeit having to retire from the police service on 26th March’23, Wickramaratne’s tenure had been extended 4 times.
   
8. Four police officers arrested in connection with the death of a person who was in remand custody at the Jaffna Prison: remanded until 4th Dec’23.
   
9. Police Constable Krishnamoorthi Prathapan, 26, who drowned after having jumped into a canal in Ja Ela in pursuit of a suspect, promoted posthumously to the rank of Sergeant.
   
10. Feud between SL Cricket and Ministry of Sports escalates after SL Cricket accused the Ministry of misleading the public over how funds of the SLC board were spent, and interference in World Cup 2023 selection.

Colombo (LNW): Measures have been taken to address the shortage of Keeri Samba rice ahead of the upcoming festive season, Trade Minister Nalin Fernando revealed.

Speaking at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Trade, Commerce, and Food Security convened in Parliament on Thursday (23), the Minister asserted that steps have been taken to import a rice stock similar to Keeri Samba to meet the demand.

The Minister highlighted the efforts of major paddy mill owners to address the artificial shortage of Keeri Samba and samba rice, caused by withholding stocks from the market.

He further outlined plans to empower the business community by focusing on issues faced by small and medium-scale paddy mill owners.

Fernando also addressed the reported shortage of sugar in the local market due to concealed stocks after the imposition of a maximum retail price. Importers, facing challenges in distributing sugar at the set price, have suspended further imports, and to mitigate the risk of a sugar shortage, the maximum retail price on sugar will be removed, he stressed.

Lanka Sathosa, under Minister Fernando’s direction, has successfully provided essential products at affordable prices. As part of efforts to bring relief to consumers during the festive season, Lanka Sathosa is reducing prices on nearly 400 items, including essential food items.

The Trade Minister also confirmed that the Mahapola Higher Education Trust Fund and Trade Fair, an initiative introduced by the late Lalith Athulathmudali, will be relaunched. The event is scheduled to take place from December 13 to 17, 2023, at the Ja-Ela Municipal Council Grounds, Fernando revealed.

The Committee meeting, attended by Ministers, MPs, the Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, and Food Safety, and officials from relevant institutions, discussed these strategic measures to ensure a stable supply of essential goods and address market challenges.

Colombo (LNW): In a recent discussion at the Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance, it was disclosed that 168 cases of child sexual abuse were reported in September, with 22 girls under 16 becoming pregnant.

The committee, which included representatives from civil organisations like the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, convened to gather ideas and suggestions on the budget proposals for 2024 and the country’s policies.

During the discussion, civil society representatives emphasised the urgent need for a systematic program to provide sex education to children.

The Committee also highlighted the importance of identifying the number of school girls requiring various facilities, including sanitary facilities, and establishing a system to provide them with the necessary support.

Civil organisation representatives brought attention to the problems arising from insufficient focus on women’s welfare and the challenges faced by school girls, contributing valuable insights to the committee’s considerations.

Colombo (LNW): Minister of Power and Energy, Kanchana Wijesekera, announced plans to allocate any operating profit realised by the Electricity Board in December, attributed to favorable rain conditions, to consumers in April.

Despite the current financial deficit of Rs. 12 billion, Minister Wijesekera expressed optimism about a potential positive turn in the financial outlook, anticipating insights from the upcoming financial report in December.

The Minister shared these details during a Press Briefing at the Presidential Media Centre organised under the theme ‘Collective Path to a Stable Country’ on November 25.

Full Statement:

The restructuring of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has long been a subject of discussion within the country. In a significant development, the Cabinet granted approval last Monday for the restructuring based on the submitted report. Additionally, the proposed new electricity bill received approval, marking a crucial step towards enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the electricity sector in alignment with national objectives

Consequently, measures are underway to officially gazette and submit the new Electricity Act to Parliament within the upcoming two weeks. The intention is to facilitate a comprehensive debate on the proposed Act in the Parliamentary sessions scheduled for January of the following year.

The Minister addressed misconceptions raised in Parliament concerning the configuration of electricity generation, transmission and distribution. The Minister’s proposal entails restructuring power generation into four distinct companies, emphasizing that the entire hydroelectricity sector, constituting 100%, will remain under government control. The management of power plants situated in close proximity to Mahaweli, Lakshapana and Samanalaweva will also be retained by the government.

As part of this restructuring initiative, it has been decided to consolidate the Norochchole power plant under a single company, while all other power plants will be grouped together under a separate entity. This strategic decision aims to optimize operational efficiency and enhance the overall effectiveness of the power generation sector.

The proposal includes the establishment of a distinct company dedicated to transmission work, with the main control system remaining entirely under government ownership. Furthermore, it is suggested that the four distribution zones be transformed into four separate companies, each tasked with efficient and independent operation. This strategic proposal aims to streamline the transmission and distribution processes, ensuring enhanced effectiveness and responsiveness within the electricity sector.

The restructuring of the electricity board is anticipated improvements in efficiency, quality and reduction of wastage. The initiative takes into consideration existing laws and regulations in various countries worldwide. The implementation of the restructuring plan is slated to follow the submission of the draft, incorporating feedback and suggestions from various stakeholders, including experts of the relevant field. The continuity of the Public Utilities Commission is expected to remain unchanged, operating in a manner consistent with current practices.

Presently, the Electricity Board is experiencing a financial deficit of Rs. 12 billion. Regrettably, despite occurrence of rains, the Electricity Board has not yet achieved a financially profitable position. The current rain situation has yet to contribute to the desired positive impact on the board’s financial standing. The board is closely monitoring the situation, and if operational profits are realized by December, as determined through financial calculations, a concession will be extended to consumers in April, aligning with the commitment to pass on benefits to the public contingent upon favourable financial outcomes.

The nation has suffered the loss of numerous power plants as a consequence of delayed policy decisions and the prolonged non-implementation of previously made decisions. The proposed construction of the Sampur power plant, a project that has been under consideration for several years, faced a significant setback when the decision was made in 2016 to forego its construction. Originally slated for completion in 2020, the non-realization of the Sampur plant has resulted in an annual loss of Rs. 95 billion.

As part of the government’s strategic initiatives, five significant projects have been identified for immediate implementation. Additionally, there are plans to sign agreements for five more projects before the end of the current year. The forthcoming agreements include collaborations with the Adani wind power plant in Mannar, the construction of a solar panel power plant in Siambalanduwa, the Hambantota solar panel project, also projects proposed for Batticaloa and Punakari.

Furthermore, the government has issued instructions to the relevant departments to reassess the fee for reconnection following a power cut. It is anticipated that the current reconnection fee, set at Rs. 3000, will be revised to a range between Rs. 1000 and Rs. 2000. This adjustment is aimed at ensuring a more reasonable and accessible reconnection process for consumers, aligning with the government’s commitment to enhancing customer satisfaction and service affordability in the electricity sector.

Colombo (LNW): Minister of Education and Leader of the House, Susil Premajayantha, emphasised the value of the Student Parliament in shaping the future leadership of the country.

Speaking at the inaugural debate of the Student Parliament at Sivali Central College in Ratnapura, held at the Ministry of Education on Friday (24), Minister Premajayantha highlighted the importance of providing children with practical political experience to contribute to a strong political future.

The Minister noted that approximately 3,000 student parliaments are currently active nationwide, with the ministry’s goal being to nurture responsible, decent, and honest leadership from an early age.

Addressing the gathering, Assistant Secretary General of Parliament, Hansa Abeyratne, underlined the significance of the Parliament as the supreme institution in the country, as outlined in Articles 3 and 4 of the Constitution.

He emphasised that despite challenges, parliamentary democracy is a time-tested concept with no viable alternative.

Following the opening remarks, the Student Parliament commenced, focusing on the topic “The contribution of the education system to building sustainable development and the role of the Student Parliament.”

At the conclusion of the debate, certificates were awarded to student parliamentarians, and officials from the Ministry of Education received sets of books compiled on the parliamentary process.

The event, attended by Venerable clergy, Additional Secretary (Administration) to the Prime Minister Harsha Wijewardene, Co-Curriculum Director of the Education Ministry Githani Subasinghe, officials from the Department of Communication of Parliament, Principal of Sivali Central College, Ratnapura Captain Neil Dhammika Watukarawatta, Deputy Principal, teachers, and students, was organized jointly by the Ministry of Education and the Department of Communication of the Parliament of Sri Lanka.