At the Invitation by Mr. Tao Guangyao Huawei Sri Lanka CEO and Christophe Lee, Director Huawei Sri Lanka -President Ranil Wickramasinghe Visited the Huwaei Advanced Research Center/ DaVinci Exhibition Center in Beijing on Tuesday.

He was Welcomed in the Centre by Simon Lin, Senior Vice President Huawei Technologies / President Huawei Asia Pacific,  Jun Zhang, President of Public Affairs and Communication and Peter Pan, President of Huawei South Asia Region. Several areas of cooperation was discussed.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry PC, Transport and Highways Minister Banduala Gunawardana ,Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka , DInesh Weerakkody Chairman BOI and Portcity Commission , Sagala Rathnayake NSA and Thekshana Abeyawardana Director Presidential Secretariat participated in the discussions at the Huawei Beijing DaVinci Exhibition Center.

On October 18, the Sri Lankan Rupee exhibited stability against the US Dollar at commercial banks in Sri Lanka, maintaining similar exchange rates compared to the previous Tuesday.

Peoples Bank reported minor adjustments, with the buying and selling rates for the US Dollar rising marginally from Rs. 316.18 to Rs. 316.67 and from Rs. 329.37 to Rs. 329.88, respectively.

Meanwhile, Commercial Bank noted no significant changes, as the buying rate and selling rates for the US Dollar remained constant at Rs. 317.68 and Rs. 328, respectively.

Sampath Bank observed slight fluctuations, with the buying rate for the US Dollar increasing from Rs. 319 to Rs. 319.50, and the selling rate also showing a slight increase from Rs. 329 to Rs. 329.50.

The government has officially declared three vital sectors as essential services through a Gazette notification. The announcement, issued by the Secretary to the President, came into effect on Tuesday, October 17, 2023.

The Gazette notification explicitly designates electricity, petroleum, and health services as essential. It reads, “All services related to the supply of electricity, the distribution of petroleum products and fuel, and any service, work, or labor, irrespective of its nature, essential or necessary for the maintenance and care, feeding, and treatment of patients in hospitals, nursing homes, dispensaries, and similar healthcare institutions, are hereby recognized as essential public services.”

This declaration underscores the critical importance of these sectors in ensuring the continuous functioning and well-being of the country, particularly during times of crisis or emergencies.

Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs, and Constitutional Reforms, Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC, has announced a forthcoming special discussion on Wednesday, the 18th, with political party leaders. The aim is to collaboratively consider the establishment of a mixed electoral system and solicit their valuable opinions on proposed reforms.

Minister Rajapakshe disclosed that he has already submitted a request to the Cabinet to replace the existing proportional representation system with a mixed electoral model. Under this proposed system, 160 constituencies would be identified for the election of Members of Parliament using the first-past-the-post system. Simultaneously, the remaining 65 MPs would be elected through a proportional representation system at the national, provincial, or district level.

Notably, a final decision on this transformation is still pending, and the bill associated with it is yet to be formulated and officially published. Engaging party leaders and social activists in constructive discussions is the crucial next step.

Minister Rajapakshe underlined the commencement of these discussions and revealed that a parliamentary session will convene on Wednesday, chaired by the Prime Minister, to address this matter.

The Ministry of Public Security has introduced a dedicated hotline for the public to report complaints against police officers regarding their alleged misconduct.

The Police Media Unit, in an official statement, revealed that the newly established 118 Emergency Hotline Unit operates under the purview of the Ministry of Public Security. This specialized unit not only welcomes information related to various crimes, including narcotics, but also encourages individuals to report instances of police officer misconduct through the same hotline.

The announcement emphasizes that individuals have the option to provide information either openly, disclosing their identity, or anonymously, assuring flexibility and security to the informants. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, with a commitment to preserving the confidentiality of all information shared.

1. The Ceylon Electricity Board’s 22 percent tariff hike is facing delays due to inaccurate data submitted to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), which has requested a revised submission by Wednesday. The CEB’s forecasted power demand for September and the following months has raised concerns about the accuracy of their assumptions.
2. Sri Lanka is urging China to share the terms of its recent $4.2 billion bilateral debt deal with other creditors to promote transparency and facilitate its financial recovery efforts, over a year after it defaulted. This request is part of Sri Lanka’s broader efforts to finalize agreements with its official creditor committee, which includes Japan, India, and the Paris Club, as it grapples with a substantial overseas debt of over $12 billion following its default in May 2022.
3. Twenty-seven Indian fishermen, arrested for allegedly poaching in Sri Lanka’s territorial waters, received material and legal assistance from the Indian mission in Jaffna after the Sri Lankan Navy detained them in separate incidents.
4. In September 2023, Sri Lanka experienced a decline in manufacturing activities, with a Manufacturing PMI of 45.7, attributed to decreased consumer demand, heightened competition from imported goods, and reduced global demand, particularly in sectors like food, beverages, textiles, and apparel. Nevertheless, there is optimism for the manufacturing sector in the near future, driven by expected increased demand during the upcoming festive season. In contrast, service activities exhibited growth during the same period.
5. President Ranil Wickremesinghe reappoints current police chief C.D. Wickramaratne despite the Constitutional Council unanimously vetoing the service extension given last week.
6. The Speaker endorses the certificate on the Bills Civil Procedure Code (Amendment), Elections (Special Provisions), National Eye Bank Trust of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Ports Authority (Amendment) and Civil Aviation (Amendment).
7. State Minister of Social Empowerment Anupa Pasqual said that steps are being taken to introduce a pension scheme for those who are self-employed. The proposal was submitted to the Ministry of Finance.
8. The Ministry of Public Security opens a hotline for the public to file complaints (118) against police officers in connection with their misconduct.
9. President Ranil Wickremesinghe underscores the need to enhance the political, economic and cultural ties between Sri Lanka and Indonesia by reinforcing the Indian Ocean’s identity, during an official meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Beijing.
10. Sri Lanka Cricket’s Independent Inquiry Committee has recommended lifting the ban on Cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka, who was suspended in November 2022 following criminal allegations related to alleged sexual assault in Australia during his travel as a member of the National team for the T20 World Cup 2022.

In a recent announcement, State Minister of Social Empowerment, Anupa Pasqual, unveiled plans to establish a pension scheme catered to self-employed individuals. Pasqual expressed that significant strides are already underway to bring this initiative to life.

According to Pasqual, a formal proposal has been submitted to the Ministry of Finance for review. The proposal aims to amend the Sri Lanka Social Security Board Act to accommodate the new pension scheme and provide financial security for the self-employed workforce.