Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association (SLAEA) took part in the 16th Global Textile and Apparel Supply Chain Conference in Shanghai, focusing on innovation and the development of high-end textile manufacturing clusters.
SLAEA President Indika Liyanahewage emphasised sustainable fabric manufacturing.
Despite challenges from COVID-19 and an economic crisis, Sri Lanka’s apparel industry continued business operations.
The country’s economy is stabilising with debt restructuring and IMF support.
The apparel sector is committed to sustainability, embracing certifications and renewable energy, he further noted.
SLAEA called for collaboration in fabric manufacturing and invited investors to the Eravur Fabric Park, emphasising Sri Lanka’s strategic location.
The conference included officials and stakeholders from the apparel industry worldwide.
Colombo (LNW): Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation, Nimal Siripala de Silva, received assurance from Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Khalid Hamoud Nasser Alkahtani, of Saudi Arabia’s support for Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic recovery efforts.
This was when a meeting was held between the two parties on November 6.
The Saudi Arabian Ambassador commended the rapid progress made by Sri Lanka’s shipping and aviation sectors in rebounding from a recent economic recession.
He pledged unconditional support through the Paris Club to assist Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring process, currently overseen by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva expressed gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s historical bilateral and diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka.
He acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s substantial contribution to Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange generation through employment opportunities for Sri Lankans in the kingdom.
Discussions also included the resumption of “Saudi Air” flights, the possibility of recruiting and deploying trained Sri Lankan seafarers to Saudi Arabian government shipping lines, and plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia on this matter.
Additionally, the Minister extended an invitation to the Saudi Arabian Ambassador for a group of Saudi academics to visit Sri Lanka.
The visit aims to evaluate the courses offered by the Mahapola Ports and Maritime Academy (MPMA) of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and other private sector universities in the shipping and naval sectors.
The Minister assured the Ambassador of Sri Lanka’s readiness to collaborate closely with Saudi Arabia in the fields of shipping, aviation, and foreign employment, and commended Saudi Arabia’s support for Sri Lanka’s socio-economic development.
Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation, Mrs. Nayana Somaratne, also participated in the discussions.
Colombo (LNW): A noteworthy surge has been reported by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) in Sri Lanka’s official reserve assets, signifying a 0.6 per cent increase from September 2023 to October 2023.
During this period, Sri Lanka’s official reserve assets saw a substantial uptick, soaring to US$ 3,562 million in October 2023 from the preceding US$ 3,540 million in September 2023.
It is worth highlighting that this boost encompasses a swap facility amounting to approximately US$ 1.3 billion from the People’s Bank of China, albeit with specific conditions governing its utilisation, according to the CBSL report.
Colombo (LNW): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Indrika Ratwatte of Sri Lanka as the new Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
Ratwatte will also serve as the Humanitarian Coordinator.
He succeeds Ramiz Alakbarov of Azerbaijan, with recognition for the service of Daniel Endres as ad-interim Deputy Special Representative, Resident, and Humanitarian Coordinator.
Ratwatte brings over 30 years of experience in humanitarian affairs and protection in complex and crisis settings, with a significant focus on Afghanistan and regional issues.
He has held various positions within the United Nations, including Director of UNHRC’s (Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees) Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific and UNHCR’s Representative in Pakistan.
Ratwatte holds a Master’s Degree in International Affairs from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Sociology from the University of Colombo, along with legal qualifications from Sri Lanka Law College.
Colombo (LNW): The CEO of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), Dr. Vijith Gunasekera, has been removed from his position.
Health Secretary Janaka Sri Chandragupta stated that the decision was made by the NMRA Board of Directors, and Dr. Gunasekera was subsequently summoned to the Health Ministry.
Allegations concerning the importation of substandard medicines to the country had been directed at the NMRA Chairman, CEO, and other officials.
Although the NMRA Chairman was recently replaced by Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama, Dr. Gunasekera remained as the CEO and was accused of destroying sensitive documents, leading to a complaint filed with the Criminal Investigations Department.
Colombo (LNW): US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung anticipates presidential elections will occur in the island nation next year.
She stressed the importance of timely elections for any democracy, which is why a presidential election is expected in the coming year.
Furthermore, she expressed optimism that in accordance with the constitution, Local Government Elections, Parliamentary Elections, and Provincial Council Elections will also proceed as planned.
“All those things give the people a voice, to be able to voice their opinion through the ballot box and to be able to choose their leadership,” News1st quoted Chung.
“We hope that the elections stay on schedule next year and onwards, and we are looking forward to seeing that free and fair election, and that culture of free and fair elections that’s been in Sri Lanka for decades continue,” she noted.
Colombo (LNW): Environment Minister Keheliya Rambukwella announced the receipt of several requests for a 700 MW solar power project.
Rambukwella made this revelation while participating in the launch of a public awareness campaign on plastic waste management at the Battaramulla “Sobadam Piyasa” Ministry of Environment Auditorium. Minister Rambukwella chaired the programme where the project-related tools were officially presented to the media.
This program is a collaborative effort of the Ministry of Environment and the Central Environment Authority, in partnership with the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP). It entails a comprehensive three-month awareness campaign focusing on plastic waste management.
Speaking at the event, Rambukwella noted that the environmental field, previously ranking between 10th and 15th on the global agenda, now holds the second position.
The minister highlighted the evolving global agenda, with environmental and climate change issues attaining top priority. He emphasised the critical significance of the environment sector, which has garnered heightened international attention.
Additionally, Minister Rambukwella mentioned the receipt of requests for a 700-megawatt solar power project.
Notable figures such as Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Dr. Rokeya Khaton, Director-General of the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme, communication specialist Dr. Kapila Suriyarachchi, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, RHMP Abeykoon, Director of the Ministry of Environment, Mr. SM Werahera, and others were present at the event.
Colombo (LNW): State Minister for Social Empowerment Anupa Pasqual has announced that, under the guidance of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, they are actively crafting a new legislation dedicated to improving the rights and well-being of differently-abled individuals.
In his statement, the state minister emphasised the government’s commitment to ensuring that differently-abled citizens are no longer considered a dependent population and that they should be treated as equal citizens, not relegated to second-class status, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.
State Minister Anupa Pasqual made these remarks during a press conference conducted at the Presidential Media Centre today (08), centred around the theme of ‘Collective Path to a Stable Country.’
Expressing his views further State Minister Pasqual said;
“We have been entrusted with a significant mission aimed at empowering our society in the upcoming year. One of the most notable tasks assigned to our ministry is the empowerment of 1 million beneficiaries from underprivileged backgrounds. It is crucial to highlight that the 1.6 million differently-abled community members have not received the empowerment they deserve thus far. Under the dedicated guidance of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, we are committed to completing these initiatives in the coming year.
To kick-start the International Day of the Differently-abled, observed on the 1st of December, we have organised special activities aimed at promoting the development of the differently-abled individuals, just like any other segment of our society. Our initiative, named “Empo 2023,” involves differently-abled individuals from across the island traveling by train from Colombo to Kandy, with a visit to the Dalada Maligawa and a special ceremony planned at the Peradeniya Botanical Garden. What’s truly remarkable is that the event will bring together differently-abled communities from around the world, including China and Japan.
Additionally, at the recommendation of the President, we are actively working on a new bill designed to better the lives of differently-abled people. Although discussions on this matter have been ongoing since 2004, concrete progress has been elusive. We are now committed to drafting and presenting the bill to Parliament within the first quarter of the next year. Furthermore, we have organised a special conference on International Disability Day, set for December 1st, under the leadership of Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.
Furthermore, it is a fundamental aspect of our government’s policy to ensure that the differently-abled community is no longer considered a group dependent on others. To achieve this, we are actively working to enable their participation in the development and education sectors. The differently-abled community should be treated as equals, with the same rights, technological resources and accessibility as the rest of our population.
As we embark on the journey into January, our ministry’s primary empowerment goal revolves around productivity. We are keen on exploring how our community can contribute to the overall Gross Domestic Product. Our objective is to establish a micro-level production network involving 1 million participants.
In addition, we have included proposals in this year’s budget. These proposals entail making the empowerment process mandatory, implementing a pension system and incorporating disability studies into university syllabi.”
Colombo (LNW): Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has reassured that efforts are underway to address the severe drinking water problem faced by the people in the Northern region.
During a parliamentary session, he mentioned ongoing discussions with engineers and relevant organisations to implement the “River to Jaffna” programme, aiming to resolve the water issue in the North while respecting the region’s heritage.
Gunawardena also highlighted the need to reduce the high costs associated with desalination methods and outlined plans to enhance the existing 40,000 lakes, promote rainwater harvesting, and preserve flood-prone areas while tapping into river water that flows into the sea.
Colombo (LNW): On the order of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, postal service has been declared as an essential service.
The declaration has been made under an extraordinary gazette, effective from Wednesday (08).
“By virtue of the powers vested in me in terms of section 2 of the essential Public services Act, No. 61 of 1979, I, Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of the democratic socialist republic of Sri Lanka, do by this order, considering it necessary that the services provided by any Public Corporation or Government department or Local Authority or Co-operative society or any branch thereof being a department or Corporation or Local Authority or Cooperative society, which is engaged in provision of the service specified in the Schedule hereto, is essential to the life of the Community and is likely to be impeded or interrupted, declare the service specified in the Schedule hereto to be an essential public service for the purposes of the aforesaid section. Given at Colombo, on the 08th day of November, Two Thousand and Twenty Three.
