By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW): Former British Prime Minister David Cameron, a friend of Sri Lanka especially having close contacts with President Ranil Wickremasinghe has been appointed as the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reshuffled his Cabinet today (Monday), bringing in former PM David Cameron as Foreign Secretary in a surprising move, UK media reported.

This appointment will renew friendly relations between Sri Lanka and Great Britan which were tainted by human rights issues in the recent past.

Relations with the West have been shaky in recent years over the country’s human rights record. The UK, in particular, has been instrumental in international attempts to hold Sri Lanka accountable for alleged human rights violations.

When incumbent UK Prime minister Rishi Sunak was sworn in in October 2022, President Wickremesinghe expressed his confidence that ties between the two island nations would be further strengthened under Sunak’s leadership

President Wickremesinghe is looking westward in his ambitions to resolve Sri Lanka’s ongoing currency crisis and usher in development.

Former UK Prime Minister David Cameron has met Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo in Janaury this year.

Cameron was recently involved in promoting the Colombo Port City among investors in the MIddle East, at the behest of the Government of Sri Lanka.

He replaces James Cleverly, who is replacing Suella Braverman as Home Secretary. Braverman was sacked after days of speculation following her criticism of police actions with regard to pro-Palestinian protests in the UK.

Meanwhile, Under-Secretary of State for Primary Care and Public Health Neil O’Brien and Schools Minister Nick Gibb have said they intend to step down for unrelated reasons.

Cameron has taken measures to promote the Colombo Port City at an invitee-only separate top events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai on 26 September.

He was involved in a conversation on “Now is the time to invest in the Port City Colombo, Sri Lanka.”

The exclusive event was also focused on the role of Sri Lanka in the new Indo-Pacific economy and position Port City as the nexus of trade investment and sustainability.

The event showcased Port City Colombo as a new city rising from the Indian ocean, as a strategic financial, residential, medical, education, leisure and entertainment hub for South Asia, Indian-Sub Continent, Middle East, East Africa and Southeast Asia.

Prime movers of the event included Senior Advisor to the President of Sri Lanka Nirj Deva Aditya who is a former UK MEP European Parliament and ex-MP of British Parliament and The Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute Chairman Lakshmi Narayanan and the Port City Economic Commission.

The 56 year old Cameron served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2016 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 2005 to 2016.

He served as Leader of the Opposition from 2005 to 2010, and was Member of Parliament (MP) for Witney from 2001 to 2016. He identifies as a one-nation conservative, and has been associated with both economically liberal and socially liberal policies.

1. President & Finance Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe unveils a plethora of relief & reforms in the 2024 Budget: urges all political parties to join to usher an “economic revolution”: gives increase in allowance for 1,300,000 public servants, 700,000 pensioners & 2,000,000 “Aswesuma” beneficiaries: removes almost all exemptions from VAT & increases the rate to 18%: retains the cascading Social Security Contribution Levy.
   
2. President Ranil Wickremasinghe says SL will establish a new technology university in Kandy & expand the capabilities of other higher education institutions: also says 20% of shares of the 2 large state banks will be divested to investors & depositors.
   
3. Budget data shows that Govt’s Actual Tax Revenue for 2023 is expected to plunge by a massive Rs.534bn, compared to the Budgeted Revenue for 2023: Govt Revenue loss to be over 17% for the year 2023: Income tax – down by 5%, Tax on Goods & Services – down by 22%, & Tax on External Trade – down by 22%.
   
4. SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa asserts many initiatives that were announced in the last budget have not been implemented & therefore those have been presented again in this year’s budget as well: further asserts the President has come as the Finance Minister of the “Pohottuwa” Govt, & that “fairytales are useless”.
   
5. Ceylon Electricity Board Media Spokesman Engineer Noel Priyantha confirms the CEB has disconnected the electricity supply of over 500,000 customers as of Oct’23 due to their failure to settle outstanding bills: asserts that has been done according to CEB regulations: adds the supply will be restored when payment is made.
   
6. President Ranil Wickremesinghe receives 3 names to fill 2 vacancies in the Court of Appeal: Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya has nominated the 2 senior-most High Court Judges Gihan Kulatunga & Damith Thotawatta: Attorney General Sanjaya Rajaratnam has nominated Senior Deputy Solicitor General Mahen Gopallawa: President is due to submit 2 names to the Constitutional Council for approval.
   
7. Former Chairman of the Central Environmental Authority Supun S Pathirage who was arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs.10mn, granted bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court: other 2 suspects further remanded until 24th November.
   
8. Govt’s T-Bond Auction of 13/11/2023 fails miserably: 3-Year Bonds – amount
   offered was Rs.60,000mn, and accepted Rs.60,000mn (100%): 4-Year Bonds – amount offered was Rs.110,000mn, but accepted only Rs.4,557mn (4.1%): 7-Year Bonds – amount offered was Rs. 80,000mn, but accepted only Rs.8,667mn (10.8%): Total T-Bonds offered was Rs.250,000mn, but accepted only Rs.73,224mn (29.3%): analysts warn a massive financial & interest rate crisis is looming in the horizon.
   
9. Former Cricketing great Aravinda de Silva is to be inducted into the ICC “Hall of Fame”: he would be the 4th Sri Lankan to join the elite group, after Kumar Sangakkara, Muthiah Muralidharan & Mahela Jayawardena: Aravinda will be honoured at the Wankhede Stadium during the World Cup Semi-final, along with Virender Sehwag and Diana Edulji.
   
10. Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe files a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department regarding the Sri Lanka Cricket crisis: informed sources say the complaint is pertaining to matters revealed in the SL Cricket audit report & the death threats against him.

Colombo (LNW): The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka yesterday (13) declared former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s regulations on the Prevention of Terrorism (De-radicalisation from holding violent extremist religious ideology) invalid.

The court ruled that these regulations violated fundamental rights under Articles 10, 12(1), and 13 of the Constitution.

The three-judge bench comprising Justices Buwaneka Aluwihare, Murdu Fernando and Mahinda Samayawardhena ordered the State Party to pay Rs. 25,000 to each petitioner, including the Centre for Policy Alternative and its Executive Director, Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu.

The court observed that amending the regulations to align with fundamental rights was impractical.

The petitioners argued that the regulations allowed executive detention without proper judicial evaluation, violating constitutional safeguards and international human rights norms.

Senior Counsel Viran Corea, Luwie Ganeshathasan and Thilini Vidanagamage appeared for the CPC, Counsel Suren Fernando with K. Wikramanayake appeared for Shreen Saroor and Pulasthi Hewamanna with Harini Jayawardena appeared for Ambika Satkunanathan.

Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle and Deputy Solicitor General Awanthi Perera appeared for the Attorney General.

Colombo (LNW): Thirteen post offices within the Western Province-South, covering the regions of Colombo and Kalutara, are set to provide round-the-clock services for accepting fines associated with traffic offenses during the night.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in charge of Traffic Control and Road Safety, Indika Hapugoda said this innovative initiative was discreetly conveyed to Divisional Officers in specific areas of Colombo (North, South, Central), Nugegoda, Mount Lavinia, Kalutara, Seethawakapura, Kelaniya, and Gampaha as part of a pilot project.

These specified post offices are located in Slave Island, Havelock Town, Wellawatta, Borella, Kotahena, Battaramulla, Nugegoda, Dehiwala, Mount Lavinia, Moratuwa, Panadura, Kalutara, and Seethawakapura and have been specifically designated to operate 24/7, including during the nocturnal hours, for the purpose of fine collection.

This covert collaboration between the Department of Posts and law enforcement ensures the seamless provision of this service.

Additionally, the DIG discreetly instructed traffic duty officers to subtly communicate this initiative to drivers while handling cases related to traffic offenses.