Colombo (LNW): President’s Senior Advisor on National Security and Chief of President’s Staff Sagala Ratnayake has underscored the importance of prompt policy decisions regarding the transfer of home ownership in government apartment complexes to citizens through freehold deeds.

He revealed plans for an upcoming discussion chaired by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, involving relevant officials from line institutions, to address current challenges and establish a clear agreement.

This disclosure took place during a morning discussion at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (22), focusing on issues related to the transfer of ownership.

In line with President Wickremesinghe’s directive, the objective is to grant freehold deeds to 8,351 houses in 2024. Discussions during the meeting delved into concerns about land ownership, clearances, certificates, guarantees, and recommendations.

The participants in the meeting included Director General Shirantha Herath of the Chief of Staff Office, Urban Development Authority Director General N. P. K Ranaweera, Municipal Commissioner of the Colombo Municipal Council Ms J. M. Badrani Jayawardena, Chairman of the Condominium Management Authority Sarana Karunaratne, Commissioner General of the Land Commissioner General Department Bandhula Jayasinghe, Thimbirigasaya Divisional Secretary Ms Priyantha Dissanayake, and other officials from line agencies.

Colombo (LNW): Minister Manusha Nanayakkara has lauded the substantial improvement in Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves during President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s tenure.

The minister highlighted that upon assuming office, the current government faced a depletion of foreign reserves, but it has since made a remarkable recovery, reaching a noteworthy US$ 3.6 billion.

During a media briefing titled “Collective Path to a Stable Country,” held at the Presidential Media Centre yesterday (22), Minister Nanayakkara acknowledged the challenges inherent in making decisions that align with public sentiments.

He emphasised that prioritising popular choices often posed setbacks for the nation.

Despite these challenges, the government has successfully navigated obstacles and guided the country toward economic stability, according to the minister’s statements.

“Politicians are often expected to make decisions that resonate with the public, as popular choices tend to garner widespread support. However, there had a pattern of groups including us, protesting against these kinds of popular decisions. But unfortunately, such kind of approaches has led the country into economic turmoil.

Even the opposition cannot escape criticism, as they have protested against decisions aimed at national development, dismissing them as mere populism. It is essential to acknowledge that such actions contribute to the country’s economic downfall.

In our case, when we assumed office, the country faced a severe economic crisis with no foreign reserves. Expatriate workers possessed more assets than the Central Bank’s dollar reserves. Despite the challenges, the government successfully increased foreign reserves to USD 3.6 billion, preventing a collapse due to a lack of dollars for imports.

Upon taking office, rampant money printing had led to inflation. We addressed this issue and stabilised the exchange rate, reducing the value of the dollar from Rs. 365 to 320. This prevented people from resorting to the black market for foreign currency transactions, ensuring accessibility for education and international transactions.

The government also tackled high-interest rates, lowering them from over 25% to a single-digit figure within a year and a half. This allowed the country to secure loans from banks and foster economic growth.

In the past, the country experienced negative economic growth, but now we have achieved positive growth. The agriculture, industry and tourism sectors have all seen significant improvements compared to the previous year.

Efforts have been made to address public demands for systemic change. Tax collection has been streamlined, ensuring that everyone pays their fair share. Emigrants are also contributing significantly through substantial taxes paid in their host countries. Building a country cannot solely rely on tax concessions, as witnessed in the ‘Samrudhi’ initiative.

The government has initiated operations against the underworld and drug trafficking, although these efforts are criticised as mere media shows. Numerous policy decisions have been implemented to bring about the desired systemic changes. A program emphasising respect for labour has been launched and the country is undergoing a digital transformation.”

Colombo (LNW): In a strategic move, Sri Lanka and India have reached an agreement to establish a submarine cable for connecting their power grids, veering away from the conventional approach of installing overhead transmission lines, according to a high-ranking official.

The official disclosed that the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd have concluded the technical report, slated to be submitted to the joint working group led by the secretaries of the line ministries in both countries.

This joint working group will be responsible for formulating the implementation modalities for the grid connectivity project.

Preferring to remain anonymous, the official highlighted that the CEB engaged in a virtual discussion with Indian authorities earlier in the week, culminating in the completion of the technical report.

The consensus was in favor of an undersea cable as opposed to overhead transmission lines.

The official justified this decision by pointing out that overhead transmission lines would incur additional maintenance costs in the future.

Additionally, the construction of pylons mid-sea poses logistical challenges.

While the technical aspects have been resolved, the specifics of the business model for project execution are yet to be finalised.

Colombo (LNW): Prisons nationwide are grappling with a severe issue of overcrowding as a consequence of heightened police operations, particularly the recent crackdown on drugs and underworld activities that resulted in the apprehension of over 10,000 suspects.

A staggering 30,000 inmates incarcerated in 30 prisons across the country, exceeding the intended capacity of approximately 13,000 inmates for these facilities, current data from the Prisons Department revealed.

Of particular concern is the fact that more than half of the prison population is awaiting trial, languishing behind bars due to prolonged delays in the legal process.

The recent island-wide police operation, aimed at curbing drug-related and underworld activities, led to the arrest of more than 10,000 suspects.

Individuals arrested for serious crimes, such as drug possession, will be detained in prison, while those accused of minor offenses may be released on police bail, according to sources from the Public Security Ministry.

Despite being constructed to accommodate around 13,000 inmates, the prisons currently house double that number.

Gamini Dissanayake, the Prisons spokesman, stated that officials are actively seeking temporary space within the prisons for suspects with short-term detention requirements.

Some inmates are also being relocated to prison camps to alleviate the pressure on conventional prisons.

Simultaneously, authorities are making efforts to expedite the release of individuals held for minor offenses after their court hearings, addressing the urgent need to manage the overcrowded prison conditions.

Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Power and Energy has instructed the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to suspend all scheduled power interruptions for non-essential maintenance work on weekends and during the holiday season.

Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekara, in a social media post, announced that this decision follows a thorough examination of consumer complaints regarding frequent power interruptions for maintenance purposes.

In collaboration with the General Manager of CEB, the Ministry will introduce updated guidelines in line with international standards for planned power interruptions during maintenance activities.

The primary focus is to minimise disruptions to the public and ensure a consistent and uninterrupted supply of electricity.

Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Lands has successfully dismantled a fraudulent operation that exploited the ministry’s details for financial scams.

A deceptive group, masquerading as ministry officials and using vehicles adorned with fake ministry logos, orchestrated the financial fraud, Minister of Lands Harin Fernando disclosed.

The group deceived the public in the Ridhigama area, claiming that the Ministry of Lands was offering land plots and subsequently collected money from unsuspecting individuals, According to Fernando.

Upon receiving reports of this fraudulent scheme, the Ministry of Lands took swift action, resulting in the apprehension of the fraudsters.

Fernando has urged the public to exercise caution and avoid falling prey to such deceptive activities.

Colombo (LNW): The ‘Yukthiya’ (Justice) operation, designed to dismantle the narcotics distribution network in the country, has yielded substantial results with the seizure of ill-gotten assets valued at millions of rupees.

The Illegal Assets and Properties Investigation Division of the Sri Lanka Police confiscated assets worth Rs. 134 million linked to drug traffickers in Galle, Habaraduwa, and Hikkaduwa.

The Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP) disclosed that the impounded assets include a 45-foot multi-day trawler, a van, an SUV, a four-storied villa, and a three-storied building.

This operation is part of a continuous law enforcement initiative to diminish the influence and financial prowess of drug traffickers, ultimately disrupting their illicit operations.

Colombo (LNW): The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a press release signaling a significant resurgence in global dengue cases in 2023, marked by a notable increase in the scale, number, and simultaneous occurrence of multiple outbreaks.

This surge follows a slight decline in cases between 2020 and 2022, attributed to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and decreased reporting rates.

Dengue transmission typically follows a cyclical pattern, with large outbreaks occurring every 3-4 years.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to varying levels of dengue transmission, resulting in an accumulation of individuals without immunity to specific dengue virus serotypes.

While data on circulating dengue serotypes is limited, ongoing transmission in 2023 has led to an unexpected spike in cases, surpassing five million globally, with over 5,000 dengue-related deaths.

The affected regions span over 80 countries/territories and include the Americas, Africa, South-East Asia, Western Pacific, and the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Region of the Americas bears the highest burden, accounting for approximately 80 per cent of the reported cases, totaling 4.1 million.

Dengue, the most widespread arbovirus, causes a substantial number of arboviral disease cases in the Americas, with recurrent epidemics every 3 to 5 years.

Clusters of autochthonous dengue cases have also been reported in the WHO European Region, although the reported numbers likely underestimate the true burden due to asymptomatic primary infections and the lack of mandatory reporting in numerous countries.

The escalating risk of the dengue epidemic is attributed to various factors outlined by the WHO, including changing vector distribution, the impact of El Niño phenomena in 2023, climate change contributing to increased temperatures, rainfall, and humidity, and fragile health systems amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Political and financial instabilities in countries facing humanitarian crises and high population movements further complicate the challenges posed by the epidemic.

Weaknesses in surveillance systems may have contributed to delayed reporting and response, potentially leading to increased severe dengue outcomes.

A global risk assessment by WHO concludes that the risk of a dengue epidemic is high globally, considering the increasing transmission risk and the surge in cases and deaths.