Colombo (LNW): Dr. Palitha Mahipala is reportedly being considered to be appointed as the new Secretary to the Ministry of Health.

The former Director General of Health Services (DGHS) who currently serves as the World Health Organisation (WHO) representative in Pakistan is tipped to be appointed to the position, following the retirement of Mr. Janaka Sri Chandragupta, according to sources.

Dr. Mahipala previously served as the Additional Secretary of Health and Deputy Director of General Public Health Services.

He is qualified in the field of public health, health sector management, business administration and economic development, and is recognised as a prominent figure in the medical sector.

Dr. Mahipala is well known amongst the Sri Lankan LGBTQIA+ community for his groundbreaking intervention in 2016 for the introduction of the Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC), which is the key component allowing people of transgender identities to legally change their gender in Sri Lanka.

Colombo (LNW): The parliamentary Committee on High Posts, chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, has approved six appointments.

The approved appointments include Mrs. K.D Senewiratne as the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India, C.R.B Bogollagama as the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Mr. D.D.M.S.B Dissanayake as the High Commissioner to Singapore, Mr. W.K.C Weerasena as the Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union.

Additionally, the committee approved the appointments of Mr. K.D.N.R Asoka as the secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils, and Local Government, and Dr. B.K J. K Perera as the Chairman of Ceylon Fertiliser Company Limited.

The committee meeting was attended by Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, Vidura Wickramanayake, and MPs John Seneviratne, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Rishad Bathiudeen, and Udaya Gammanpila.

Colombo (LNW): A distinguished delegation from Vietnam, led by Dr. Bui Van Nghiem, a Member of the Vietnam Communist Party Central Committee, expressed Vietnam’s commitment to sharing expertise on foreign investment promotion and attraction with Sri Lanka for the development of the proposed new Investment Bill.

The delegation conveyed this during a meeting with Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at Temple Trees in Colombo on November 17.

Prime Minister Gunawardena commended Vietnam for its rapid economic development following its struggle for independence and acknowledged Vietnam’s success in attracting foreign investments through innovative approaches.

He sought Vietnam’s insights and experiences as Sri Lanka plans to formulate a new Foreign Investment Bill.

Dr. Bui Van Nghiem, considering Sri Lanka as a special friend, affirmed Vietnam’s willingness to collaborate and emphasised the considerable potential for expanding bilateral trade, investment, tourism, and cultural relations.

He highlighted the opportunity for provincial-level collaboration between Vinh Long Province in Vietnam, renowned for its agricultural production, and Sri Lankan provinces for mutual benefit.

The discussions between the two delegations encompassed various aspects, including trade, tourism, industry, agriculture, culture, education, and investment. Dr. Bui Van Nghiem, a senior member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), led the high-level delegation, which included officials from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Central Commission for External Relations of CPV, corporate representatives, and academics.

MP Yadamini Gunawardena, Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake, and Director General of the Foreign Ministry Shashikala Premawardane were also present during the discussion.

Colombo (LNW): The Appeal Court yesterday (17) ordered the Police not to arrest pastor Jerome Fernando during any of his arrivals at the airport or any other place in the country.

The order was made after considering a writ petition filed by the self-proclaimed prophet by the two-member Appeal Court bench comprising Justices Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne (Chairman) and Chamath Morais.

Fernando, however, must produce a statement to the Digital Forensic Division of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) within 48 hours after arriving in Sri Lanka, the Court ordered.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW):

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in most provinces of the island after 01.00 p.m, and heavy showers about 100 mm are likely at some places in Central, Uva and Sabaragamuwa provinces, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (18).

Showers may occur in Western and Southern provinces and in Puttalam district during the morning too, the statement added.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Marine Weather:

1. Finance Ministry says a policy decision has been taken to include 87 of the 137 items that are presently exempted from VAT, into the VAT net, in order to increase revenue generation from VAT and increase the efficiency of VAT: this new imposition of tax based on the agreement with the IMF to be effective from 1st Dec’23.
   
2. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa says he will always stand for the people: also says there will be a time in the future to make explanations with regard to the recent Supreme Court decision.
   
3. Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera meets officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency: says the Govt intends to include the use of nuclear energy as a part of the long-term generation plans: affirms the Govt will call for EOIs for establishing nuclear power plants: previously, Wijesekera had said the Govt was assessing nuclear power plant offers from Russia, US, India & some European countries.
   
4. CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe says the Govt has shared the terms of a USD 4.2bn China debt deal, with other creditors: hopes official Creditors Committee led by Japan, India & Paris Club nations will now propose an agreement to restructure SL’s debt: expects which will allow the IMF to approve the next tranche of USD 330mn.
   
5. President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasizes the importance of expanding language knowledge beyond Sinhala & Tamil: announces the implementation of the “English for All” programme in all schools and universities across the country by 2030.
   
6. Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana says it is not possible to provide tax relief as SL continues to be behind the revenue targets set by the IMF, although the Govt is able to increase the salaries of State employees in the upcoming year: also says the Govt has decided to allocate Rs.450bn to recapitalise the State banks in order to secure stability & provide security as the Govt is in the process of restructuring local debt.
   
7. Education Minister Susil Premajayantha warns 74 school buildings across the country have been identified as unsafe, posing potential threats to the safety of students: also says all Principals have been informed to evacuate school children out of buildings in the event any building is found unsafe.
   
8. Chairman of the Garment Industries Assn Dhammika Fernando says the income of the garment industry has fallen by about a quarter (25%) due to the decrease in orders received by SL & increase in costs.
   
9. Court of Appeal orders the CID not to arrest Pastor Jerome Fernando upon his arrival at the BIA: also orders the self-styled ‘prophet’ should record a statement with the CID’s Cyber Crime Investigation Division within 48 hours of his arrival.
   
10. Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera says President Ranil Wickremesinghe has discussed the disappointing state of Cricketing affairs in SL with the Asian Cricket Council President Jay Shah: responds to the claim by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa who said that Jay Shah’s father is the right-hand man of Indian PM Narendra Modi.

Dr. Janaka Adassuriya, an esteemed astronomer from the Physics Department at Colombo University, has announced a rare celestial treat for Sri Lankans this weekend. The peak of the Leonid meteor shower is expected to grace the skies on both Saturday (18) and Sunday (19).

Dr. Adassuriya advised enthusiasts that the prime viewing window for these meteors will commence post 2 am on both days. For optimal sightings, observers are encouraged to gaze toward the Leo constellation along the eastern horizon.

However, he tempered expectations by noting that this particular meteor shower typically offers a modest display, showcasing an estimated count of 10-15 meteors per hour.

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has scored big this year, amassing a substantial Rs.220 million from fines imposed on errant traders. Asela Bandara, the CAA’s media spokesperson, revealed that these fines were a consequence of cracking down on various illegal practices rampant among traders.

Bandara highlighted that the fines were levied on traders engaged in activities such as price gouging, illegal stockpiling, failure to display prices, and the sale of expired products. The crackdown has been extensive, with a staggering 22,000 raids conducted nationwide to ensure compliance with regulations.

Of these raids, a significant portion—19,000 cases—resulted in prosecution, signaling the strict enforcement and zero-tolerance approach adopted by the CAA.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe made a resounding declaration at the R.I.T. Alles commemoration, advocating for a significant overhaul in Sri Lanka’s education system. Highlighting the launch of the “English for All” program aimed at schools and universities by 2030, the President underscored the need to diversify language education beyond Sinhala and Tamil.

Emphasizing the late R.I.T. Alles’s vision of “Education for all,” President Wickremesinghe outlined a multifaceted strategy to realize this ambition. This included plans to establish new universities in both public and private sectors to ensure equitable access to higher education for all Sri Lankan students.

President Wickremesinghe also urged the Sinhala and Tamil Diasporas to return and contribute to the establishment of new universities, underscoring a shared responsibility for the nation’s educational progress.

In addition to the “English for All” initiative, the President highlighted the necessity to adopt successful education systems worldwide, emphasizing the importance of quality higher education without compromising on accessibility. Plans to increase the number of universities within five years, including the establishment of three technology universities akin to General Sir John Kotelawala University, were also revealed.

The President expressed the government’s commitment to alleviating financial burdens on students by providing concessional loans, aiming to curb the trend of selling property or sending students abroad for higher education. He invited private sector participation, echoing R.I.T. Alles’s example in establishing new educational institutions.

In tandem with the President’s vision, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Education Minister Dr. Susil Premajayantha lauded R.I.T. Alles’s legacy and outlined initiatives to modernize education. Dr. Premajayantha detailed advancements in D.S.Senanayake Vidyalaya and efforts to ensure technological integration, pandemic resilience, and educational material accessibility for students.

The event, attended by prominent figures and stakeholders in education, signified a unified effort toward revolutionizing Sri Lanka’s educational landscape. The collective commitment to advancing education showcased a shared determination to propel the nation toward a brighter educational future.

Sri Lanka clinched a spot on the UNESCO Executive Board for the 2023-2027 term during the 42nd General Conference in Paris on November 15. Out of 188 member states voting, Sri Lanka garnered 144 votes, aligning it with the third-highest count in the region, shared with Bangladesh. The election saw six members from the Asia-Pacific Region, including Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Republic of Korea, and Australia, making it to the Executive Board out of nine candidates.

The UNESCO, dedicated to fostering international cooperation in education, sciences, culture, communication, and information, stands as a beacon for global peace and security, contributing significantly to the Sustainable Development Goals. Sri Lanka’s steadfast commitment to UNESCO’s values and principles dates back to its membership in 1949, shortly after gaining independence. This commitment reflects the country’s dedication to promoting collaboration among nations through education, science, and culture, furthering universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and fundamental freedoms.

Since its inception in UNESCO, Sri Lanka has played a pivotal role and actively contributed to advancing the organization’s objectives. The Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO, operating under the Ministry of Education’s guidance, serves as the government’s arm for implementing UNESCO’s agenda in the country.

The successful election to the UNESCO Executive Board was spearheaded by collaborative efforts between the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Sri Lanka Embassy in Paris, and the Education Ministry, serving as the national focal point.

Noteworthy is Sri Lanka’s recent streak of success in securing positions in three UN bodies/committees: the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (CMW), and now, the UNESCO Executive Board.