1. Well-known Economist Professor Howard Nicholas says he is “worried” about some conditions IMF has imposed on SL: asserts there’s no theoretical or empirical substance for the reform of SL’s Monetary Law Act & it’s based on a discarded theory: laments SL seems to be the “experiment ground” for IMF: also says preventing CB from providing liquidity is irrational & if SL is hit by a global shock in the future, “money printing” can’t be used as a buffer.
   
2. Former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake says the Govt is likely to lift the ban on the cultivation of Palm oil imposed by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2021.
   
3. Parliament approves the VAT (Amendment) Bill in anticipation of the IMF’s review for the 2nd tranche of around USD 330 mn out of the USD 2.9 bn bailout: the move expected to raise VAT from the existing 15% to 18%, and add a large number of new items into the VAT bracket, effective 1st Jan’24: 100 MPs vote for, and 55 MPs vote against.
   
4. Spokesperson of the Defence Ministry Colonel Nalin Herath responds to reports that 3 SL ex-military personnel who fought for the Ukrainian Foreign Legion during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict have been killed-in-action: says legal action can be taken only if individuals are identified, & that otherwise, no authority has any jurisdiction over such people.
   
5. Public sector employees including Development officers, Management service officers, Grama Niladharis, Samurdhi Officers, and Office Services personnel to be on a token strike today to pressure the Govt to implement the proposed Rs.10,000 salary increase from the next month itself.
   
6. Tourism Ministry officials inform the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Economic and Physical Plans that plans have been made to bring wealthy tourists to SL in the coming year: Committee also directs its attention towards bringing 5 mn tourists to SL in 2024.
   
7. Director of the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Centre says over 140 inmates have escaped from the Centre & 104 have been apprehended so far.
   
8. SL Atomic Energy Authority gives the “green light” for nuclear power: Russia (which has already invested in nuclear power generation in Bangladesh) and India show a keen interest in putting up a plant in SL.
   
9. SL Under-19 Cricket team suffers a shock defeat against UAE as UAE beats SL by 2 wickets with 10 balls to spare, in the Asia Cup Championship held in Dubai.
   
10. Sports Minister Harin Fernando appoints a new Cricket Selection Committee consisting of Upul Tharanga (Chairman), Dilruwan Perera, Tharanga Paranavithana, Ajantha Mendis and Indika de Seram.

PMD: Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries, Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera, highlighted on-going initiatives aimed at attracting the youth community to agriculture. He emphasised that proactive measures are being implemented to modernise the agricultural sector, fostering a more appealing environment for the youth.

During a press conference at the Presidential Media Centre (PMD) on the theme Collective path to a stable country’ held today (11), Minister Amaraweera expressed appreciation for the swift compensation provided within two months after crop damage, a historic achievement facilitated by the President and the Ministry of Finance.

Expanding on the recent budget debate concerning the allocation of funds to the Ministry of Agriculture and Plantations, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera reflected on the commendable state of affairs within the ministry. Addressing concerns about the number of allegations presented compared to other ministries, Minister Amaraweera clarified that the issues raised were primarily historical in nature and that the ministry is making significant strides in various cooperative projects across all sectors.

Assuming duties at the ministry during a challenging period, Minister Amaraweera recounted his proactive approach to instil confidence in farmers. He cited an example where, following his encouragement, farmers cultivated 212,000 hectares of rice, demonstrating a positive response. Subsequently, with continued dedication, the rice cultivation area expanded to an impressive 512,000 hectares, marking a substantial increase and achieving the highest yield in recent times.

Addressing allegations regarding the quality of fertilisers and concerns about their weight, Minister Amaraweera emphasised the unwavering faith that farmers placed in the President and the government. Despite challenges, the farmers actively engaged in cultivation and the ministry took prompt measures to ensure timely provision of various types of fertilisers. Additionally, financial assistance and fuel subsidies were arranged, contributing to the overall success of cultivation efforts and resulting in a high yield.

Minister Amaraweera’s remarks shed light on the ministry’s commitment to overcoming challenges, ensuring the timely support of farmers and achieving notable progress in the agricultural sector. The focus on increasing yields and addressing concerns reflects a proactive and responsive approach to agricultural development under Minister Amaraweera’s leadership.

Minister Mahinda Amaraweera shared crucial insights into Sri Lanka’s rice production and outlined measures to address potential challenges in the agricultural sector. Notably, the annual rice requirement stands at 25,40,000 metric tons and this year’s harvest has exceeded expectations, reaching 27,50,000 metric tons. The Minister attributed this success to strategic measures, resulting in an additional yield of over 200,000 metric tons. However, despite the surplus, the need for rice imports persists due to market dynamics. Minister Amaraweera explained that although the paddy yield is high, mill owners’ reluctance to release the entire stock to the market necessitates imports. Similarly, despite a decrease in the harvest of ‘Keeri Samba’, there has not been a reduction in the variety of rice consumed by the general populace. Therefore, if rice is not imported during this festive season, the price of rice will rise rapidly. Consequently, the importation of rice from abroad becomes a necessity, whether willingly or not.

Looking ahead to 2024, the Minister outlined the government’s agricultural priorities, with a focus on four key crops. While paddy cultivation has achieved success, efforts are underway to encourage the cultivation of maize, chillies, and yams. An on-going program aims to foster domestic cultivation of these crops, with dedicated areas allocated for each type. The government envisions self-sufficiency in growing these crops, reducing reliance on imports.

Highlighting Sri Lanka’s status as a bird flu-free country, Minister Amaraweera emphasised the opportunity for expanding chicken exports. Current exports to the Maldives are poised for expansion to other countries, capitalising on Sri Lanka’s bird flu-free status.

Compensation is now provided for crop damage and we are actively working to expedite the program by resolving any arising issues. Remarkably, this marks the first time in history that compensation has been disbursed within a month or two of crop damage. I extend my commendation to the President and the Ministry of Finance for their prompt actions.

The cultivation of rubber in our country has faced challenges and plans are underway to revitalise it. Steps are being taken to enhance the quality and increase the yield of tea. Additionally, a dedicated department has been established for the development of cinnamon cultivation.

Special attention is also being directed towards coffee cultivation, with comprehensive improvement plans in progress. Recognising the decline in youth participation in agriculture, largely attributed to factors such as insufficient income, we are implementing necessary measures to attract the younger generation to agriculture. In this regard, efforts are being made to further strengthen agricultural modernisation activities.

Colombo (LNW): Former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake has indicated a potential lift on the ban imposed by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2021 on the cultivation of palm oil.

The ban extended to both imports and local cultivation.

Following a meeting with the association of palm oil growers, Karunanayake acknowledged the adverse impact on livelihoods and suggested that the ban could be lifted after consulting experts in the field.

The growers argued that palm oil cultivation has significant economic potential, generating more foreign exchange revenue than tea and rubber combined.

Karunanayake pledged to discuss the matter with President Ranil Wickremesinghe, aiming for a ban lift in January.

Colombo (LNW): The amended list of value added tax (VAT) – exempted items took the centre of attention in Parliament yesterday (11).

The list includes 43 items subject to VAT-exemption.

The full list:

PMD: President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced that a programme focusing on utilising both university education and vocational training for the country’s development will commence next year.

Emphasising the need for a knowledgeable human resource to propel the nation forward, he assigned the responsibility to the university and vocational training sectors in Sri Lanka. The President highlighted the extended support from the private sector for a transformative shift in vocational training education and the imminent introduction of laws to reorganise the entire education system in the country.

These remarks were made during President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s presence at the 2023 graduation ceremony of the National Institute of Business Studies (NSBM Green University). As part of the ceremony, the President inaugurated a new stadium and awarded 06 students who demonstrated outstanding skills among the 176 graduates. In a celebratory gesture, NSBM Green University Vice Chancellor E. Mr. A. Weerasinghe presented a collection of valuable books to President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Addressing the gathering, President Wickremesinghe said;

We aim to revolutionise university education to ensure that every graduate secures employment. Currently, the admission of students to government universities is restricted due to logistical challenges. However, other nations have effectively addressed this issue, aligning with the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, which asserts the right of everyone to access education. In line with this, governments and private entities worldwide have established universities. As Sri Lanka, we are now prepared to undertake this task.

Our goal is to significantly increase the number of universities in the country, potentially doubling or tripling their current count. Simultaneously, leveraging new technology allows students in Sri Lanka the opportunity to earn degrees from foreign universities without leaving the country.

We envision Sri Lanka becoming a hub for universities. Additionally, we aspire to complete the task of imparting English proficiency to both school and university students by 2030. Furthermore, we seek to equip students in our country with knowledge of additional languages.

In our efforts, we plan to establish vocational training colleges by merging existing vocational training institutes. To enhance employability, we are introducing job-oriented curricula for these courses. Encouragingly, the private sector has pledged support for these initiatives, and we anticipate implementing this programme by the coming year.

After that, it is our expectation to bring the necessary laws to reorganise the entire education system in this country. Thus, it should be said that our aim is to start the programme of using university education and vocational training education for the development of this country from next year, as knowledge is needed to develop the country. A new education system should be created for that.

We should act as a middle income country. We have to decide whether we will remain in this state forever, or whether we will become a high income economy. We all want to go on that journey. So we leave it to education to build the necessary human resources.

Mr Nihal Ranasinghe, Secretary of the Ministry of Education, NSBM Green University Vice Chancellor E. A. Weerasinghe, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Chaminda Ratnayake, deans and academic staff and parents of graduate students participated in this event.

Colombo (LNW): Businesswoman Thilini Priyamali has been acquitted by the Colombo High Court yesterday (11) in connection with a case involving the defrauding of Rs. 8 million via the issuance of a cheque from an empty bank account.

This was when the case was taken up before High Court Judge Aditya Patabendige yesterday.

A lawsuit was filed against Priyamali in 2012 at the Colombo Magistrate Court by businessman Samith Anuruddha accusing her of criminal breach of trust by the issuance of a bounced cheque, and in 2021 indictments were filed against her at the Colombo High Court.

The Colombo High Court granted the businesswoman acquittal upon consideration of the argument by the defendant’s lawyers that the manner in which the case was files disqualifies the proceeding of indictments against her.

Editor (LGBTIQ)

Colombo (LNW): The Parliament of Sri Lanka has called in Ruling Party MP Premnath Dolawatta to attend the upcoming Parliamentary Business Committee meeting to review his private member’s bill showcasing decriminalisation of consensual same-sex sexual relations between adults via a ‘Penal Code (Amendment) Bill,’ a historical first move by a Sri Lankan lawmaker for the safeguarding of the rights of people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions and sex characteristics (SOGIESC).

Dated 09.12.2023, the letter requesting the SLPP MP to move the ‘Penal Code (Amendment) Bill’ for second reading has been sent by Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne, on behalf of the Secretary General of Parliament.

On the instructions of the Speaker, the matter related to the passing of the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill in Parliament was discussed at the meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business on November 20, the letter said, adding that after having discussed, the Committee decided to invite Dolawatta to attend the next meeting of the Committee in order to get ‘further clarification’ in this regard.

Accordingly, the next Committee meeting is due on December 12, 2023, and the SLPP lawmaker has been requested to sit for it, the letter added.

Dolawatta’s private member’s bill proposing decriminalisation of consensual same-sex sexual behaviour between adults proposes amendments to the sections 365 and 365A of the Penal Code as follows;

1. This Act may be cited as the Penal Code (Amendment) Act, No. of 2023.

2. Sections 365and 365A , of the Penal Code (Chapter 19) (hereinafter referred to as the “principal enactment”) is hereby amended as follows:–

(i) Section 365 in the principal enactment is hereby repealed and it is amended by substituting the following section:

“Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with an animal, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years and shall also liable to fine.”

Explanation: Penetration is sufficient to constitute the carnal intercourse necessary to the offence described in this section.

(ii) Section 365A of the principal enactment is hereby repealed.

(iii) The intent of the legislature in enacting this legislation must be considered as amending the provisions that makes sexual orientation a punishable offence.

3. In the event of any inconsistency between the Sinhala and Tamil texts of this Act, the Sinhala text shall prevail.

Dolawatta’s private member’s bill was challenged before the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka accusing it to be violating fundamental rights (FR), but the arguments were dropped by the Supreme Court producing a special and a historic determination that consensual same-sex sexual relations between adults are in fact constitutional and any move for decriminalisation of consensual same-sex sexual relations between adults can be passed into law with a simple majority in Parliament. The FR petition lodged challenging the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill proposed by the SLPP MP was appealed by a number of intermediate petitioners including human and civil rights activists, community-organisations and other individuals.