By: Staff Writer

May 05, Colombo (LNW): Strategically placed Sri Lanka’s economic recovery is essential for stability in the Indo-Pacific region, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said Saturday, urging Colombo to swiftly restructure its foreign debt.

After talks with her Sri Lankan counterpart, Ali Sabry, Kamikawa said that Colombo should secure agreements with bilateral lenders and international sovereign bondholders to unlock suspended foreign funding.

The Sri Lankan government which defaulted on its $46 billion external debt in April 2022, had hoped to finalize deals with foreign creditors by April but there have been no final agreements yet although talks will be continued in Colombo to arrive at a  consensus by June this year.

Kamikawa said she “stressed the importance of reaching a debt restructuring agreement with all the creditors,” including China — the largest bilateral lender to the island.

She said Tokyo considered Colombo’s economic recovery to be crucial for the entire region. The island is located halfway along the main east-west international shipping route.

“The restoration of stability and economic development of Sri Lanka, which is at a strategic location in the India Ocean, is essential for the stability and prosperity of the entire Indo-Pacific region,” she added.

Sri Lanka must secure agreement from all official creditors and a majority of private bondholders to continue with a four-year, $2.9 billion bailout loan that began in March last year.

Japan, the second largest bilateral lender to the island, has expressed concern about China’s big infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka and elsewhere in the region.

The Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoko Kamikawa conveyed Japan’s intention to further support Sri Lanka’s development by swiftly resuming existing ‘Yen loan projects’ once the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on debt restructuring is signed and the Sri Lankan government’s intention to swiftly conclude bilateral agreement is confirmed.

Ms. Kamikawa expressed Japan’s intention to continue to support Sri Lanka’s ongoing efforts for national reconciliation.

Meanwhile, she mentioned that various reforms that Sri Lanka is currently undertaking are all essential for the normalization of Sri Lanka’s economy.

Also Saturday, the two countries agreed to work to resume stalled bilateral projects, including a $1.5 billion Japanese-funded light railway. Sri Lanka pulled out of the rail project in 2020, when it was moving closer to China under Rajapaksa.

1. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa commends President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s efforts to rescue Sri Lanka from its economic crisis and stabilise economic reforms during her meeting with the President: The meeting, which took place at the Presidential Secretariat, highlighted Japan’s support for Sri Lanka’s economic recovery.
   
2. Opposition MP Harsha De Silva calls for an immediate parliamentary probe into VFS Global’s visa service ‘monopoly’ in Sri Lanka, citing concerns over the high fees and lack of transparency: questions the need for paying what he termed as ‘monopoly rent’ amounting to Rs. 18 billion over the next year: urges scrutiny of the TORs for such services and stresses the need for alternative options to be explored: highlights the lack of transparency surrounding the agreement.
   
3. A 10-member delegation from Sri Lanka, including representatives from the Election Commission and PCOI, will participate in India’s International Election Visitor Programme from May 4 to May 9, 2024: The initiative aims to familiarise international election bodies with India’s electoral system, featuring briefing sessions and site visits to observe election procedures.
   
4. The Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith reiterates the existence of a conversation with former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, refuting Rajapaksa’s denial: criticises Rajapaksa’s handling of the Easter Sunday attacks and accuses him of transferring intelligence officers involved in the investigation: questions the current government’s failure to implement recommendations and calls for accountability: The Cardinal previously claimed that Rajapaksa told him over the telephone of his inability to execute the recommendations by the PCoI appointed to probe the genocide due to ‘potential repercussions on individuals and organisations with close ties to him.’
   
5. The Power and Energy Ministry hosts a delegation from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) led by Riccardo Puliti, Regional Vice President of Asia & the Pacific: Discussions focus on advancing renewable energy goals, electricity sector reforms, and financing challenges: Minister Kanchana Wijesekara highlights the need for innovative risk-mitigating tools for renewable energy projects: The presence of IFC and World Bank officials demonstrated their commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s energy transition.
   
6. During a meeting at the ADB Annual Meeting in Georgia, ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa assures Sri Lanka of continued support for its development efforts: Finance State Minister Shehan Semasinghe conveys Asakawa’s commendation for Sri Lanka’s economic progress and governance initiatives outlined in a diagnostic report by President Ranil Wickramasinghe’s government.
   
7. The Meteorology Department issues a warning stating that the heat index, which measures the temperature felt on the human body, will reach ‘Extreme Caution level’ in some areas of Northern, North-central, North-western, and Eastern provinces, as well as Monaragala district: Additionally, it will rise to ‘Caution level’ in certain places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, and Southern provinces: urges the public to stay hydrated, take breaks in the shade, check on the elderly and sick, avoid leaving children unattended, limit strenuous outdoor activities, and wear lightweight and light-coloured clothing.
   
8. Sri Lanka and the UK will hold their second strategic dialogue on May 7, 2024, in Colombo, focusing on foreign policy, security, trade, and other bilateral engagements: This meeting follows the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and will be led by senior officials from both sides.
   
9. The Examinations Department releases the re-scrutiny results for the 2022 (2023) General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (O/L) Examination: A total of 49,312 candidates applied for re-scrutiny, leading to the examination of 250,311 responses: The results are available on the official websites of the Ministry of Education, and individuals can contact the Examinations Department for further information.
   
10. The SLBFE says over 2,771 Sri Lankans have headed to Israel for employment in sectors like construction and healthcare in the past four months, with plans to send more workers later this year: The Sri Lankan and Israeli governments signed an MoU to facilitate these opportunities: Additionally, the government aims to send around 350,000 skilled workers abroad, focusing on Middle Eastern and European countries, and plans to expand vocational training facilities to meet this demand.

May 05, Colombo (LNW): The Parliament of Sri Lanka must immediately investigate into the ongoing monopoly by VFS Global for visa services in Sri Lanka, said Opposition MP (Dr.) Harsha De Silva.

In a statement, Silva questioned the justification behind paying what he termed as ‘monopoly rent’ amounting to approximately Rs. 18 billion over the next twelve months, and highlighted that the total fees per visa amount to US$ 25.77.

This prompts scrutiny into the terms of reference (TOR) specified for such services, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP emphasised.

The Opposition’s concerns centre on the lack of transparency surrounding the cost of service provided by VFS Global, a company that facilitates visa application processes for various countries.

Dr. Silva called into question whether alternative options were thoroughly reviewed before entrusting VFS Global with this responsibility.

The Opposition MP also urged Parliament to take swift action to probe the circumstances surrounding the agreement with VFS Global.

He further stressed that this matter has never been referred to the Parliament Committee on Public Finances (CoPF) which considers matters related to public finances.

He, therefore, clarified that the problem is far worse in the backdrop of data entry and billing being not transparent.

The issue raises broader questions about the government’s approach to outsourcing essential services and the need for comprehensive oversight mechanisms to safeguard public interests. 

As Sri Lanka grapples with economic challenges and strives to enhance governance standards, it is imperative to address concerns related to procurement practices and ensure that public funds are utilised efficiently and effectively.

May 05, Colombo (LNW): Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is expected to increase up to ‘Extreme Caution level’ at some places in Northern, North-central, North-western and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district and that values, expected to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces, the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology said in a warning statement.

The public, therefore, is urged to stay hydrated and take breaks in the shade as often as possible, check up on the elderly and the sick, never leave children unattended,limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated, and wear lightweight and white or light-coloured clothing.

May 05, Colombo (LNW): The Indian High Commission has announced the commencement of the International Election Visitor Programme (IEVP) organised by the Election Commission of India amidst the ongoing Lok Sabha 2024 elections, scheduled from May 4 to May 9, 2024.

A 10-member delegation from Sri Lanka will partake in the programme, a statement from the Indian High Commission disclosed.

This delegation comprises two representatives from the Election Commission of Sri Lanka and eight from PCOI (Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Make Recommendations for Election Law Reforms).

The IEVP serves as a vital platform for international election management bodies (EMBs) and organisations involved in the electoral field to gain insights into the robustness of India’s electoral system and to learn about the best practices adopted in the world’s largest democracy.

Previously, the Election Commission of India organised similar programmes during the Lok Sabha Elections in 2014 and 2019, aimed at familiarising foreign EMBs and international organisations with India’s electoral processes.

The programme encompasses briefing sessions covering various topics such as an overview of elections in India, EVMs & VVPAT, IT initiatives, and media and social media outreach.

Furthermore, participants will have the opportunity to travel to different states in groups to observe election procedures and witness polling in various stations.

This year, the Election Commission of India has extended invitations to 55 EMBs and organisations to participate in the IEVP 2024.

The programme offers a unique opportunity for participants to observe and interact with various stakeholders involved in the electoral process, thereby fostering greater understanding and collaboration in the realm of election management.

Through initiatives like the IEVP, both countries aim to promote transparency, integrity, and inclusivity in their respective electoral processes, contributing to the advancement of democratic principles and practices regionally and globally.

May 05, Colombo (LNW): Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamalkawa announced that Japan will recommence yen loan projects in Sri Lanka after the island nation formalises a deal with its bilateral lenders.

Minister Kamalkawa made these remarks after meeting with her Sri Lankan counterpart Ali Sabry in Colombo.

“Stability and economic development in Sri Lanka, strategically located in the Indian Ocean, are crucial for the stability and prosperity of the entire Indo-Pacific region,” stressed Minister Kamalkawa during a briefing in Colombo.

She further expressed Japan’s expectation for the prompt signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) between the Officials Creditor Committee (OCC) and Sri Lanka, highlighting Japan’s co-chairmanship of the OCC.

“We stress the importance of reaching a debt restructuring agreement with all creditors transparently and comparably,” she added.

Minister Kamalkawa also conveyed Japan’s intention to resume existing yen loan projects swiftly following the signing of the MOU on debt restructuring and confirmation of the Sri Lankan government’s intent to conclude a bilateral agreement.

Diplomatic relations between Japan and Sri Lanka faced challenges after former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa unilaterally cancelled a $1.5 billion railway project.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe apologised to the Japanese government for this cancellation during his visit to Japan in May last year.

While Minister Kamalkawa did not specify if the cancelled Light Rail Transit (LRT) project would be among those resumed post-MOU signing, she underscored the importance of various reforms undertaken by Sri Lanka for the re-normalisation of its economy.

Furthermore, Japan, advocating for a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” plans to bolster maritime cooperation with Sri Lanka.

As part of this initiative, Japan will provide Sri Lanka with a vessel equipped with sonar technology for data compilation and charting, upon Sri Lanka’s request.

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May 05, Colombo (LNW): The Japanese government has recently concluded a plan aimed at enhancing Sri Lanka’s oceanographic survey capabilities by providing a vessel equipped with advanced underwater sonar technology.

This initiative was disclosed by Japanese Deputy Press Secretary Kaneko Mariko.

During a bilateral discussion between Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Sri Lankan officials held on Saturday, Minister Kamikawa formally conveyed Japan’s decision to provide this assistance to Sri Lanka.

Under this plan, the Japanese government will furnish Sri Lanka with a vessel integrated with a state-of-the-art sonar system, totalling approximately 01 billion Yen in value.

May 05, Colombo (LNW): The Examinations Department released the re-scrutiny outcomes for the 2022 (2023) General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (O/L) Examination on the preceding day.

A cumulative total of 49,312 candidates applied for re-scrutiny, resulting in the examination of 250,311 responses.

The re-scrutiny findings have been made accessible through the official websites of the Ministry of Education, available at www.doenets.lk and www.results.exams.gov.lk.

For further inquiries or additional details, individuals are encouraged to reach out to the Examinations Department directly.