The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry, in collaboration with its missions in ASEAN countries and South Korea, alongside the Department of Buddhist Affairs, has unveiled the ‘Temple to Temple Diplomacy Programme.’ This groundbreaking initiative, conceived by State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya under the guidance of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, aims to bridge connections between temples and religious communities in Sri Lanka and ASEAN nations. Its mission: fostering mutual understanding, cultural exchanges, and economic ties.
This unique programme facilitates a range of activities including visits by Buddhist monks between countries, platforms for interfaith dialogue and cultural interchange, and avenues for collaborative projects.
Recently, a significant step was marked with a media conference featuring a Vietnamese delegation, a part of the ‘Temple to Temple Diplomacy Programme.’ The event, attended by Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, State Minister Tharaka Balasuriya, and representatives from both Sri Lanka and Vietnam, highlighted the collaborative efforts in promoting religious and cultural diplomacy.
In its initial phase, selected Buddhist monks from Sri Lanka have received invitations from various temples in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, South Korea, and Vietnam, courtesy of Sri Lanka’s missions abroad. This exchange aims to lay the groundwork for reciprocal visits by monks from these countries to Sri Lankan temples in the forthcoming phases.
As part of this initiative, a group of Sri Lankan monks has already visited several countries, while foreign monks are anticipated to embark on visits to Sri Lankan temples in the subsequent phases. The successful completion of the first phase in Vietnam has seen reciprocal gestures, with Vietnamese monks and travel agents currently in Sri Lanka for a Buddhist pilgrimage tour, nurturing cultural and religious diplomacy between the two nations.
This ambitious programme has six primary objectives, including connecting Sri Lankan temples with ASEAN counterparts, promoting cultural and religious diversity understanding, fostering interfaith dialogue, encouraging joint initiatives for peace and harmony, enhancing diplomatic ties, and boosting sustainable tourism and economic cooperation between nations.
Notably, the initiative operates without government funding, as host temples provide accommodation and other necessities for visiting monks. Nearly 50 temples in ASEAN nations have expressed interest in hosting Sri Lankan monks under this programme, selected by the All Island Buddha Sasana Council of Sri Lanka based on their potential contributions.
Looking ahead, the Foreign Ministry plans to expand the programme to Singapore, Japan, Thailand, and Cambodia in its next phase, building upon the successful visits to South Korea, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
With several visits already completed and more planned, the ‘Temple to Temple Diplomacy Programme’ stands poised to deepen cultural ties and foster people-to-people connections between Sri Lanka and its partner nations, notably Vietnam, in the forthcoming stages.
Sri Lanka has taken a significant leap in modernizing government services by rolling out ‘digital government forms,’ a pioneering solution allowing citizens to complete necessary paperwork and access services online from the comfort of their homes.
The initiative, led by the Sri Lanka Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), enables individuals to utilize this digital platform using devices like computers, mobile phones, and tablets from any location.
Initially launched in 2022 across nine government institutions as a pilot project, this innovation has drastically reduced the need for citizens to physically visit government offices, streamlining the process of obtaining, filling, and submitting forms.
By facilitating remote access to government services, this transformation promises considerable time and cost savings for the public. The move is geared toward fostering citizen-centric services, ensuring the security of sensitive data, and preventing exposure of personal information while enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of public sector services.
The shift toward digital forms not only streamlines service provision but also champions environmental sustainability by reducing paper usage. Additionally, it alleviates the administrative burden associated with managing, safeguarding, and storing physical documents within public services.
Moreover, this digitalization effort enhances data accuracy by directly sourcing necessary citizen information, affirming its reliability and authenticity. This groundbreaking advancement marks a significant stride in leveraging technology to improve government-citizen interactions while upholding data security and efficiency.
November 27th marks the annual Tamil’s Heroes’ day / Tamil’s martyrs’ day. This year, the daughter of the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam – LTTE, Dr Thuvaraka Pirapaharan, one of Pirapaharan’s family members whom the government claimed were killed in the battle in Mullivaghzhal in May 2009 – made a Heroes’ day speech.
In her speech she said: “I would like to also make a statement to the Sinhala people. We have never been against the Sinhala people. Nor are the Sinhala people our enemies.” Her speech was telecast around the globe by the TV channel ‘tamiloli.net’.
She started by saying, “My beloved and esteemed people of Tamil Eelam, today we mark Great Heroes’ Day”.
She continued, explaining the significance of the day: “I consider it a great privilege that time has provided me the opportunity to make an appearance on this sacred day when we commemorate in the temples of our hearts the defenders of our nation who laid down their precious lives to achieve the eminent goal of our external right to self-determination”.
With emotional expression, she said: “I had never anticipated such an opportunity would arise in my lifetime. I am making this appearance after surmounting numerous dangers, obstacles, challenges and betrayals. At the same time, I have inexorable faith that time would one day provide me the opportunity to return to my homeland, Tamil Eelam, where I can live with my people and serve them”.
Thuvaraka said, “Sri Lanka, which lacked the will to confront us on its own, rallied powerful nations behind it. Whenever Sri Lanka was on the verge of defeat, it bowed down to alien forces and powerful nations and sought their support. Our national liberation movement was proscribed in many countries, and our resources were frozen. All supply routes to our homeland were shut down. On every occasion that our national liberation movement weakened the Sri Lankan military machinery; powerful nations intervened and resuscitated it. This was the reason why the armed struggle spearheaded independently by our national liberation movement in the corner of the world, and depending solely on the support of our people, was silenced in Mullivaikal”.
She continued to say, “Yet, our struggle for political independence is far from over. The political conditions that led to the emergence of our aspiration for Tamil Eelam remain very much alive today. Sri Lanka has embarked on full-scale Sinhala-Buddhisation programmes in our homeland and encourages the disorientation of our culture, thereby making it difficult for our people to safeguard our language, cultural values and religious ways of living.
Past fourteen years
To make matters worse, the Tamil hereditary land is the only region on the island where Sri Lanka has imposed total military rule. Our homeland has been deprived of all freedoms and human rights. Sri Lanka has deprived our people of the rule of law and constantly imposes satanic rule in the form of counter-terrorism and emergency laws. Our people live on the island with their voices silenced”.
She recalled that “On the other hand, the powerful nations that promised our people and made them believe during the armed conflict that if the armed struggles came to an end our people will be able to realise their aspirations through political means have not delivered a constructive political solution. Neither the UN, which filed reports within the past fourteen years that the atrocities inflicted against the Tamil people in the island are war crimes and crimes against humanity, nor the powerful nations that passed resolutions at the UN Human Rights Council, have taken steps to deliver remedial justice to the Tamil nation that became a victim of genocide”.
“These are the reasons why our struggle for political independence continues to remain alive. Our men and women, who rallied in their tens of thousands under the leadership of my father, our National Leader, Hon. Velupillai Pirapaharan, demonstrated that the Eelam Tamils are a nation. It was our Great Heroes who sacrificed their lives in the national liberation war who made this possible. Our Great Heroes have transcended time. Let those great, revered ones be honoured in eternity in the temples of our conscience”.
Political struggle to realise our aspirations
She recalled the duties of Tamils and said, “Although the armed struggle has come to an end, our political struggle to realise our aspirations and achieve national independence continues to remain alive because of our people, political leaders, and cadres and activists who served in our national liberation movement, both in our homeland and abroad. Under these circumstances, it would be meaningless to differentiate Tamils as the people and the Tigers. Our political struggle has evolved to the stage where the people and the Tigers have become one entity”.
Thuvaraka insisted on the duties of the Tamils, saying, “Yet, we must move our political struggle forward more effectively and achieve our political rights. Every Tamil, both in our homeland and abroad, has the duty to transcend party differences and differences between various organisations and work in unity and efficacy to realise the political aspirations of the nation of Tamil Eelam and deliver justice to our loved ones who were subjected to genocide. We may have differences of opinion, despite the differences, when it comes to the subject of our people’s political rights, we all must proceed along the same path in unity”.
She included the humanitarian situation saying, “At the same time, the wealthy sections of our nation have the duty to uplift our people at home living below the poverty line and build the lives of our former cadres who selflessly fought in the past. In particular, this duty falls on Tamils living abroad”.
She thanked everyone, saying, “I thank our loved ones and political leaders in our mother Tamil Nadu, and the global Tamil Diaspora for acting as our voice and their unwavering support for many years. I also extend my hand of love to the non-Tamils in India and other parts of our world who voice for and support us. I have inexorable faith that the people of Tamil Nadu and the Global Tamil Diaspora will stand by our people and voice for them so that they would be able to achieve their rights”.
Our goal is of high esteem, and the cost borne by our Great Heroes, the sacrifices made by our nation and the losses we sustained were numerous. These will never go to waste. I urge you all to come together as a people united by our goal so that we would be able to achieve our goal”.
Struggle through political means.
She emphasised the struggle through political means, saying, “In accordance with the norms of the current global order, we will continue our struggle through just and political means. Out of all struggles, a political struggle is the most difficult one. Patience, faith and resilience in our goal are the foundations of this form of struggle. I am not ignorant of this.
I have an inexorable belief that only the creation of an independent state would ensure the sovereignty and the right to self-determination of our nation. You all know very well that this is also the stance of our National Leader. I have resolute faith that time will one day generate the conditions to establish the state which will respect democratic norms, the rule of law, civil liberties and human rights and which will allow our people to preserve, protect and develop their language, culture, their religious ways of living and economic resources in our motherland”.
She reiterated the willingness to explore any political solutions that the international community may present to pave the way for the people to live in the homeland as a nation exercising the right to self-determination.
At this point, she wholeheartedly said she would also like to make a statement to the Sinhalese. “We have never been against the Sinhalese. Nor are the Sinhalese our enemies. You are aware that we have never acted against them. I am aware that innocent Sinhalese were turned against the Tamil people by selfish politicians and the racist state machinery that planted malicious ideas in their minds. I therefore have faith that you will recognise the moral rights of our people and our just struggle”.
She concluded her speech by saying, “Our National Leader always says, “Our paths may change to reach our goal.”The sacrifices made by our Great Heroes and our people who lost their lives will bear witness to the truth and guide our nation. We will continue our journey on this path of truth and realise our goal one day.
President’s Media Division announces that the Global Tamil Forum & “prominent Buddhist Monastics” had met President Ranil Wickremesinghe & presented a “Joint Himalayan Declaration promoting a pluralistic Sri Lanka that prioritizes community well-being, learning from historical mistakes, stressing the importance of accountability measures”.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe says his idea is to hold the Presidential election next year followed by Parliamentary elections and then the PC elections; also says these elections will enable the people to look at amending or drafting a new constitution.
Asian Development Bank approves a USD 200 mn loan to SL “to help stabilize the country’s finance sector”: analysts point out that recent loans by the World Bank and ADB are merely for budget support (meaning consumption), and not for any capital project as done previously.
Former Public Utilities Commission Chairman Janaka Ratnayake (“JR”) announces his Presidential candidature for 2024: emphasises the necessity for a systemic change grounded in a paradigm shift to rebuild SL: reveals his current efforts in establishing the foundation to guide SL onto a positive trajectory and reconstruct it in the days ahead: asserts that one must assume the role of the 1st citizen to transform & revive the nation.
CID informs Fort Magistrate’s Court that the Defence Ministry has extended the detention orders issued under the PTA for notorious drug dealers Nadun Chinthaka alias ‘Harak Kata’ and Salindu Malshika alias ‘Kudu Salindu,’ for another 90 days.
Ministry of Finance revises the opening & closing times of liquor shops and bars: Foreign liquor wine shops (FL4) – 8am to 10pm: Tourist board-approved hotels with FL7 and FL8 licenses (Hotels with 3 stars and above) – 10am to 2am: all other hotels – 10am to 12am.
Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena says relevant departments have been provided instructions for collecting taxes & tax file increases: asserts it’s a combination of policy & administration that would generate the expected revenue & it’s not a single effort: now concedes that issues can’t be resolved overnight.
Attorney General informs Supreme Court that the Constitutional Council headed by the Speaker has decided not to proceed with its earlier decision to call for a report from the Chief Justice seeking information about the “performance of a judge” nominated for promotion to the Supreme Court: the AG’s remarks were in response to a Fundamental Rights petition seeking the suspension of a decision taken by the Constitutional Council.
Govt initiates the establishment of an Interim “Secretariat for Truth and Reconciliation Mechanism”: the move said to be a “step towards transitional justice and post-conflict reconciliation”: the proposed Commission is expected to be established through an Act of Parliament.
SL expected to lose an estimated USD 22mn (approximately Rs.7bn) in direct & indirect income following the International Cricket Council’s decision to shift the Under-19 World Cup from Sri Lanka to South Africa: the 16-team tournament was originally scheduled from Jan 13 to Feb 4 across 5 venues in Colombo but the turmoil in SL Cricket had apparently led to this ICC decision.
Tradlanka Agricultural Enterprises was awarded 2 Gold Awards & 1 Silver Award for National Export Excellence by the National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka last night(09) Award Ceremony.
The Award Ceremony was held at Shangrila Hotel, Colombo.
In a recent press conference themed ‘Collective Path to a Stable Country’ at the Presidential Media Centre, Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry lauded President Ranil Wickremesinghe for steering Sri Lanka’s foreign relations towards a policy of non-alignment, emphasizing unity while fostering relationships with global nations.
Minister Sabry credited President Wickremesinghe’s decisions for positively impacting Sri Lanka’s foreign relations, citing the nation’s successful non-aligned policy and its ability to secure International Monetary Fund (IMF) support by extending friendship without bias.
Acknowledging diplomatic challenges, Minister Sabry highlighted how strategic decisions have redirected strained relations, particularly in the Muslim world and Japan, onto a constructive trajectory, affirming the commitment to amicable ties while safeguarding national unity.
Discussing debt restructuring intricacies, Sabry elaborated on an independent mechanism developed due to Sri Lanka’s unique position. Collaborative efforts with influential nations outside the Paris Club, including India, China, and Japan, have paved the way for a viable restructuring plan.
Sabry revealed commitments from involved countries for Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring, foreseeing an advantageous process compared to others. The imminent IMF discussion on the 12th is poised to signal international acknowledgment of Sri Lanka’s economic progress, potentially resulting in disbursement of the second tranche.
Highlighting the nation’s path towards financial independence, Sabry noted ongoing governmental efforts to steer away from bankruptcy. Strategic reduction in debt payments positions Sri Lanka for an economic advantage of US$17 billion, with plans to attract new investors for economic growth.
Looking ahead, Minister Sabry expressed confidence in the government’s roadmap, aiming for significant economic strides by the first quarter of the next year. This aligns with President Wickremesinghe’s broader vision for sustainable economic development, signaling a promising trajectory for Sri Lanka under his leadership.
A significant stride toward transitional justice and post-conflict reconciliation in Sri Lanka has been marked with the government’s decision to establish an independent Commission for Truth, Unity, and Reconciliation—a historic endeavor shaping the nation’s future.
As outlined by the President’s Media Division (PMD), this pivotal commission is set to be established through an Act of Parliament. Currently, a comprehensive concept paper is being crafted, inviting input from pertinent stakeholders to ensure a consultative and inclusive approach in developing legislation that strengthens national unity through truth, transitional justice, reconciliation, reparation, and social cohesion.
This initiative’s core objective is to unearth the truth regarding the post-conflict grievances of Sri Lankan citizens, laying the foundation for reconciliation, reparation, and sustainable peace.
“The proposed Commission acknowledges every Sri Lankan’s inalienable right to ascertain the truth, a pivotal aspect for individuals and communities to heal from past conflicts,” affirmed the PMD.
Moreover, the Commission aims to fortify national unity, peace, rule of law, coexistence, equality, tolerance, respect for diversity, and reconciliation among Sri Lanka’s diverse communities, striving to prevent future disharmony and conflicts.
Crucially, the Commission is poised to review past Commission recommendations, including those from the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) and findings from the Consultation Task Force on Reconciliation Mechanisms.
The government is steadfast in ensuring the Commission’s impartiality, free from political influence, while fostering a victim-centric approach, providing a platform for voices to be heard and acknowledging past pain to reclaim dignity. Pending the new law’s enactment, an Interim Secretariat for Truth and Reconciliation Mechanism (ISTRM) has been established, laying the groundwork for this transformative Commission.
The ISTRM is actively engaging with the public and stakeholders, striving to shape this mechanism through participation and consultation, ultimately steering Sri Lanka toward sustainable peace and national unity. This monumental initiative stands as a beacon of hope for a future founded on truth, reconciliation, and unity.
Dinushika Manawadu, Deputy Director of the Dehiwala Zoological Gardens, has confirmed the commencement of an independent investigation following the untimely death of “Haley,” a 30-year-old female giraffe—one of the precious few of an endangered giraffe species housed at the zoo.
Reports reveal that Haley had been grappling with health issues, particularly mobility concerns. Veterinary surgeons at the zoo had administered antibiotics to address an infection on one of her hooves, a measure taken to alleviate her ailments.
Regrettably, it is suspected that the antibiotic treatment triggered an allergic reaction, ultimately resulting in Haley’s demise on Thursday (Dec. 07).
A postmortem examination was conducted by veterinary surgeons affiliated with the Wildlife Conservation Department and the Faculty of Animal Sciences at Peradeniya University to delve into the circumstances surrounding Haley’s passing.
The zoo authorities, led by Director Ranjan Marasinghe, are eagerly awaiting the postmortem report to ascertain the precise cause of Haley’s unfortunate death.
The initiation of the investigation has been directed by the Dehiwala Zoological Garden’s administration, aiming to shed light on the circumstances leading to the tragic loss of the beloved giraffe.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe convened a discussion at the Presidential Secretariat on Friday, engaging heads of plantation companies to deliberate on the vital issue of wage hikes for plantation workers. Encouraging collective deliberation, President Wickremesinghe urged the companies to strive for a minimum wage of Rs. 1,700—a demand set forth by the workers themselves.
Alternatively, he stressed the necessity of arriving at a consensus regarding the increased wage quantum before December 31st, highlighting the urgency of the matter during the meeting.
The primary agenda of the discussion centered on aligning regional plantation companies’ initiatives with the agricultural modernization program outlined in this year’s budget. The talks also encompassed the program aimed at providing land rights to plantation laborers.
In a bid to address pressing concerns, President Wickremesinghe proposed the establishment of committees dedicated to resolving the housing needs of plantation workers and representing the interests of both workers and plantation companies. Expressing optimism about the country’s economic growth driven by exports, he underscored the collective effort required to ensure the success of the agricultural modernization program.
President Wickremesinghe emphasized the imperative role of an export-oriented economy in the nation’s economic development, particularly in light of the rising food demand attributed to the burgeoning populations in Asian countries. He urged the country’s export economy to prepare and capitalize on this burgeoning demand.
The discussion, attended by Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Promotion Manusha Nanayakkara, Minister of State for Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake, Senior Advisor to the President on Economic Affairs Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga, and several representatives from local plantation companies, comprehensively explored various aspects of the proposed initiatives.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has sanctioned a substantial USD 200 million concessional loan to assist Sri Lanka in stabilizing its finance sector, following the series of challenges stemming from the sovereign debt and economic crises that commenced in April 2022 when external debt payments were suspended.
Termed the Financial Sector Stability and Reforms Program, this initiative consists of two USD 200 million subprograms. Subprogram 1, implemented in 2023, targets short-term stabilization measures and crisis management. Meanwhile, Subprogram 2, slated for 2024, focuses on structural reforms and long-term strategies to rejuvenate growth within the banking sector.
The overarching objectives encompass enhancing the stability and governance of Sri Lanka’s banking sector, augmenting the asset quality of banking entities, and fostering sustainable and inclusive finance, particularly for women-led micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.
ADB Country Director for Sri Lanka, Takafumi Kadono, highlighted the program’s alignment with the nation’s strategy of finance sector stability and the facilitation of affordable finance for diverse sectors, aiming at fostering economic resurgence.
The initiative represents a follow-on aid from ADB’s crisis response, synchronized with the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility, designed to assist Sri Lanka in restoring financial stability. It further correlates with the government’s reform agenda, emphasizing the reinforcement of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s operational independence and its role as the country’s macroprudential authority.
ADB’s collaboration with the IMF and World Bank has played a pivotal role in designing targeted regulatory reforms for the banking sector, including asset quality reviews, and fortifying the deposit insurance scheme.
Complementing the loan, ADB will allocate a USD 1 million grant from its Technical Assistance Special Fund to provide advisory support, knowledge dissemination, and institutional capacity building for Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Finance and Central Bank.
This endeavor underscores ADB’s unwavering commitment to fostering a prosperous, inclusive, and resilient Asia-Pacific region, while persisting in eradicating extreme poverty through sustainable developmental efforts.
