Colombo (LNW): A new system will be introduced in June, 2023 for the issuance of passports in a period of three days, in a bid to ease the process of obtaining passports, revealed Public Security Minister Tiran Alles, speaking to media today (22).
Accordingly, 50 more offices will be established to collect photographs and fingerprints, the Minister said, adding that these offices will be established at the Divisional Secretariats.
Alles noted that under the new system people will be required to fill out the necessary form online and subsequently the photographs and fingerprints have to be registered at their respective Divisional Secretariats.
“Under the new system, people will be required to fill out the necessary form online. Thereafter, they will have to visit their area Divisional Secretariat to provide their photographs and fingerprints, which can be done at the Divisional Secretariat office. Following this, we expect the passport to be couriered to the applicant within a period of 3 days,” the Minister told media.
He added that the government is also expecting to introduce an e-passport in the near future.
Alles disclosed that 16 brokers who had obtained payments ranging from Rs. 20,000 – 25,000 to get prior appointments at the passport office have been arrested, adding that another officer at the passport office was also arrested recently in connection with a passport racket.
Colombo (LNW): The Exchange Rates of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) today (22) reveal a slight appreciation in the Sri Lankan Rupee against the US Dollar in comparison to last week (19).
Accordingly, the buying price of the US Dollar has dropped to Rs. 299.71 from Rs. 300.65, and the selling price, to Rs. 313.82 from Rs. 314.08.
The Sri Lankan Rupee, however, indicates a slight depreciation against several other foreign currencies, according to the CBSL Exchange Rates.
Colombo (LNW): A petition filed by a group of Ruling Party MPs demanding a probe into the unrest occurred throughout the country subsequent to the brutal attack on the ‘Aragalaya’ protest ground in Galleface on May 09, 2022 has been withdrawn upon Public Security Minister Tiran Alles’ assurance that a proper investigation will be carried out in this regard.
The petition was taken down as the matter was taken up before the Court of Appeal today (22) and a Deputy Solicitor appearing for the Public Security Minister revealed Alles’ assurance.
Sanjeewa Jayawardena PC appearing for the petitioners sought the Court’s permission to withdraw the petition as the submissions were sufficient.
Chief of the Defence Staff and former Army Commander General Shavendra Silva was named as a respondent in the petition, and Faiz Musthafa PC appearing for him expressed his opposition to the request.
Despite the opposition, the Appeal Court chaired by Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and comprised of Justice A. Marikkar granted permission to withdraw the petition.
A petition demanding a probe into the May 09 violence was filed by a group of 39 Ruling Party MPs including Ministers Bandula Gunawardena, Prasanna Ranatunga, Shehan Semasinghe, and Prasanna Ranaweera. Documented reports stand that the May 09 violence was instigated subsequent to the brutal attack on the peaceful protesters in Galleface Green by devotees of the Rajapaksa family.
Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan government has recently introduced regulations to address the ill effects and illicit practices in sea cucumber cultivations involving Chinese companies exerting a threat for the survival of local fishermen, who depend on the sea for their livelihoods, fisheries ministry sources divulged.
According to new regulations, it has restricted the areas where sea cucumber farms can be established and set minimum distances from the shore. The government has also imposed fines and other penalties for those who violate regulations.
Sea cucumber farming is a relatively new industry in Sri Lanka, but it has quickly gained popularity due to its potential for high profits.
However, the rapid expansion of sea cucumber farms operated by Chinese companies in Sri Lanka has caused concerns among local fishermen, who depend on the sea for their livelihoods.
Some local fishermen have reported that the sea cucumber farms are affecting their catch, as the farms are taking up large areas of the seabed, which reduces the available space for fish to breed and feed.
In addition, some fishermen have claimed that the use of chemicals and antibiotics in sea cucumber farming is having a negative impact on the marine environment and the health of fish in the area.
Moreover, the Chinese companies operating the sea cucumber farms are accused of employing mainly Chinese workers and not hiring local people, which has added to the resentment of local communities towards the industry.
However, critics argue that the regulations are not enough, as they do not address the fundamental issues of the environmental impact and the exclusion of local people from the industry.
Therefore, there is a need for the government and the companies involved in sea cucumber farming to work with local communities to address these concerns and find solutions that are beneficial for all parties involved.
Sea cucumber farming, like any aquaculture activity, can have environmental impacts, including potential damage to marine life and ecosystems.
One of the main concerns associated with sea cucumber farming is the use of antibiotics and other chemicals to control disease and promote growth in the farmed animals.
These chemicals can potentially leach into the surrounding water and affect the health of other marine organisms.
Additionally, the waste generated by the sea cucumbers can contribute to water pollution and eutrophication, which can negatively impact marine ecosystems.
Sea cucumber farming can also lead to habitat destruction and alteration, particularly if farms are located in sensitive or ecologically important areas.
The installation of sea cucumber farm structures on the seafloor can impact sedimentation and disturb benthic habitats. The removal of wild sea cucumbers to stock the farms can also reduce populations and impact biodiversity in the area.
In addition, in 2016, China and Sri Lanka signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the “Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road” initiative, which includes cooperation in fisheries and aquatic product processing.
In 2020, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development announced that it had signed an agreement with a Chinese company to set up a sea cucumber farm in the eastern province of Batticaloa.
The project is now operating at full scale creating jobs for local residents and boost the country’s export earnings.
Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has signed a contract agreement with Sinopec Fuel Oil parent company in China and Singapore, aiming a long-term importation, storage, distribution and sale of petroleum products.
Accordingly, the agreement was inked between Sinopec Fuel Oil Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. and its parent company at the President’s Office today (22).
A statement by the President’s Media Division (PMD) confirmed that negotiations have been completed with Sinopec Fuel Oil Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. and its parent company in China and Singapore in this regard.
The announcement comes in as per the recommendations given by the Special Committee appointed by the Cabinet and after the negotiations with the said company.
Colombo (LNW): The Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) recorded a growth of 20% in the first quarter of 2023 compared with 2022 and facilitate over 18,000 passenger movements and 120 aircraft movements daily, in a bid to boost the confidence among the international airlines and Sri Lanka’s aviation industry for the better prospects, announced the Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. (AASL).
A statement by the AASL said that passenger movements rose by approximately 20 per cent at the BIA and flight movements recorded by 7 per cent in the first quarter of this year compared to the corresponding predecessor.
Accordingly, the passenger movements indicates a growth from 1,374,130 to 1,651,039, and flight movements, from 9,357 to 10,018.
The AASL, as the civil airport operator and the aviation services provider, has been able to meet the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) requirements for the aviation security systems at the BIA and other airports, reassuring that Sri Lanka’s airports and skies are safe.
“BIA had facilitated 9.95 million passengers in 2019 and 62,195 aircraft movements before the global pandemic. BIA continues to create a happy journey for its travellers, elevating the passenger experience to new heights,” the statement added.
Colombo (LNW): President Ranil Wickremesinghe is set to visit Singapore and Japan this week with the aim of further making attempts to continue strengthening the country’s foreign relations. He is scheduled to leave the country today Monday 22.
During the visits, the President is expected to meet the Prime Ministers of Singapore and Japan, along with other relevant ministers in Japan.
According to foreign ministry sources Japan, which played an integral role in securing International Monetary Fund (IMF) support for Sri Lanka, will be personally paying a tribute to Japanese administration by the President while extending an invitation for the Japanese Government to once again re-engage with the country’s economy through new investments.
Several projects, including the Light Rail Transit (LRT) project – which faced much controversy following the Gotabaya Rajapaksa (GR) administration unilaterally cancelling it – are expected to be on the agenda of discussions.
President Wickremesinghe will be addressing the Nikkei Forum, where he will be outlining his visions for the future of Asia in the changing landscape of global geopolitics.
Meanwhile, the Government is moving forward with work related to the debt restructuring programme while the IMF has stated that it expects Sri Lanka to complete the process by the first review of the IMF’s US $ 3 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme, which is scheduled for September-October.
India, Japan and France have announced a common platform for discussion among creditors to address the debt restructuring programme of Sri Lanka, which is grappling with one of its worst economic crisis.
The representatives of the three creditor countries, including finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, held a press briefing on the margins of the annual spring meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington recently.
They discussed the debt situation of Sri Lanka, Ghana, Zambia and Ethiopia. Resolutions should happen on time as it’s a time-consuming affair, even after IMF assurances,” Sitharaman said after the meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting at Washington.
She emphasised that collaboration among creditors was important to ensure transparency and equality in the debt restructuring discussions.
Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki described the launch as a historical development. “To be able to launch this negotiation process gathering, such a broad-based group of creditors, is a historical outcome,” he told reporters at the news conference.
At present, about 80 enterprises with Japanese investment are in operation under the purview of the BOI (section 17 and Section 16 of the BOI Law).
They have made their investment in the fields such as manufacturing semiconductors, printed circuit boards, safety sensors, ceramic items, cement, apparel, building and repairing ships, fabrication and installation of integrated buildings, power sector, tourism sector, infrastructure and logistics.
Currently, they have invested about US$ 399 million (Cumulative 2020), providing about 12,000 employment opportunities for the Sri Lankan community.
Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s governance system needs only 15 ministries to look after all public affairs, despite President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s proposal to continue with 30 ministries, Verité Research observed.
The analysis by the Research Agency found that the present approach to setting up cabinet portfolios impedes the ability of the government to be efficient and effective.
“On May 17, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said, ‘at present, we have around 30 ministries. Let us maintain this number and avoid further expansion’.
This affirms the current constitutional limit on the size of the Cabinet of Ministers, which is 30. This is double the number of 15 ministries recommended by Verité Research in a white paper setting out the design of a rational structure of government,” they said.
The Verité Research white paper titled “A Rational Method for Cabinet Formation in Sri Lanka’, issued in 2020, set out the following 15 ministries as providing an optimal rational structure for government.
1. Finance & Planning, 2. Justice , 3. Defence, 4. Education & Research, 5. Health, 6. Agriculture, 7. Labour, 8. Public Utilities, 9. Ports, Shipping, & Civil Aviation, 10. Economic Affairs, 11. Home Affairs & Public Administration, 12. Foreign Affairs, 13. Family & Community Development, 14. Society and Culture 15. Environment.
Verité Research arrived at the total of 15 ministries by applying the best principles of designing an efficient and effective structure of government. It said the irrationality in the construction of government arises from two critical problems:
(1) Fragmentation – where related subjects are split across different ministries and (2) misalignment – where unrelated subjects are grouped together under a single ministry.
“In the past, these two problems created delays in decision-making and implementation, reduced government accountability and ability to function, and increased costs.
Therefore, the White Paper notes that fixing these problems with not only an optimally designed number of ministries, but also with the proper assignment of subjects, functions, and institutions to each of the ministries is the key to having a government that functions effectively and efficiently.
To solve this problem, Verité Research has developed a complete mapping of all the Sri Lankan government functions, laws, and institutions that are required to be in a gazette forming a new cabinet, to fit within the optimally designed structure of 15 ministries listed above,” it said.
Colombo (LNW): The European Union (EU) has welcomed Sri Lanka’s intentions to present next month a plan for the lifting of the import restrictions on around less than 1000 items from 3000 items (HS codes).
The matter had come up for discussion at the recently concluded Sri Lanka-EU Joint Commission sessions in Colombo. The Joint Commission took stock of the conclusions of the Working Group on Trade and Economic Cooperation held virtually.
The EU and Sri Lanka noted the significance of bilateral trade relations. “In this regard, the EU urged Sri Lanka to lift the import restrictions preventing many European products from entering its market.
The EU welcomed Sri Lanka’s intention to present a plan for the lifting of the import restrictions by June 2023. Sri Lanka expressed its intention towards a gradual phasing out of these restrictions, factoring in the current economic situation,” according to the joint statement following the discussion.
The government has restricted imports of 3000 items (HS codes) ranging from motor vehicles and air conditioners, to beer, clothing items, cosmetics and even spices such as turmeric — an essential cooking ingredient for many local households.
But the controls failed to either stop imports, or maintain foreign reserves as money was printed. Now the country is running balance of payments surpluses despite the import controls being brought down, he disclosed.
However the Sri Lanka‘s tile and sanitary ware importers have expressed concerns on the procedure of relaxation as they were waiting for around four years under the ban of imports while the government has lifted restrictions for several other non-essential items ignoring their business.
Sri Lanka‘s tile and sanitary ware business is heading for possible collapse following the repeated delay in the lifting of import restrictions for almost four years since mid-March 2019,several leading importers and traders said.
Although the present regime and the previous government had considered the appeals of other commodity importers by lifting the import ban on several items necessary for local industry survival, but official authorities kept on postponing the pleas of tile and sanitary ware importers, several leading importers and traders complained.
A considerable number of businesses are fighting for survival. Small business enterprises have already shut down, affecting direct and indirect employment of hundreds and thousands of people and their livelihoods.
A report containing this comprehensive plan will be submitted to the International Monetary Fund in June regarding the relaxation of import restrictions that are currently in effect.
Under this set up the Finance Ministry has devised a comprehensive plan with necessary guidelines to relax import restrictions in a manner that it would not be harmful to the government policy framework.
State Minister Semasinghe categorically stated that the government has not identified the relevant items which would be under relaxation of import control.
Sri Lanka’s imports in the first quarter of 2023 declined by 31.7% year on year to $ 3.85 billion. Last year imports declined by 11.4% to 18.3 billion. The EU and Sri Lanka also agreed that the EU-Sri Lanka Investor Dialogue may take place at an early date, in Sri Lanka.
The EU presented the new EU GSP Regulation, which is expected to enter into force on 1 January 2024, for the next 10-year cycle. The EU informed that the report of the last EU GSP+ monitoring cycle 2020-2022 is expected to be released in the coming months.
Colombo (LNW): Public Security Minister Tiran Alles instructed IGP C.D. Wickramaratne to tighten security and increase night patrolling near the Universities of Colombo, Sri Jayawardenapura and Kelaniya, following requests by their Vice Chancellors due to increased thefts in the premises.
These instructions were given following a series of meetings held with the university Vice Chancellors on May 16, 17 and 18.
Inquired about the current security situation of the students of the universities, Vice Chancellor of the Colombo University, Senior Lecturer H.D. Karunaratne requested the Minister to strengthen security near the students’ hostels. He revealed that there has been a rise of thefts in the premises.
Accordingly, Minister Alles instructed the IGP to increase night patrolling near the University, and assured on the measures to be taken to tighten security in the premises.
Vice Chancellor of Sri Jayawardenapura University Upul Subhasinghe told the Minister that the security near the University’s female students’ hostels should be tightened. Accordingly, the Subject Minister instructed the Police to fulfill the need.
During the meeting with Vice Chancellor of Kelaniya University Nilanthi De Silva, attention was drawn to the necessity of tightening security near the female students’ due to the rise in the number of thefts within the premises. The Minister, accordingly, assured that security will be tightened as requested.
Inquired about the usage of drugs among the students, Prof. Silva responded that the use of ICE narcotics has been eradicated from the University.
Western Provincial Senior DIG Deshabandhu Thennakoon also attended these meetings.
