Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has already reached the threshold of dengue epidemic despite the authorities’ warning on the probable strike of an epidemic by June this year, disclosed Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama, Senior Consultant Physician at the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) in Colombo, speaking to Daily Mirror.
A report by Daily Mirror quoted Dr. Wijewickrama saying, “Normally, the number of patients tend to increase in June and July. Sri Lanka has already recorded over 34,000 cases. In that context, the worst is yet to come.”
In the backdrop, it is essential that the public is taking strict measures to prevent mosquito bites and the spread of the infection, he added.
Records by the Epidemiology Unit reveal that the total number of dengue cases report in Sri Lanka this year is 34,527 and about fifty per cent of the cases are from the Western Province.
Gampaha district stands at the highest record of cases, 7799, whilst Colombo and Kalutara report 7725 and 2033 cases respectively.
Colombo (LNW): If all activities go as planned, Sri Lanka’s first ever nuclear power plant can be built by 2032 with the technical support from Russia, a statement by the Parliament of Sri Lanka said, quoting the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board.
The above revelation was made during the recent meeting of the Parliament Sectoral Oversight Committee on Energy and Transport called in by Committee Chief MP Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda.
Full statement:
The Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board stated in the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Energy and Transport that if all activities go as planned, the first nuclear power plant can be built in Sri Lanka by 2032 with Russian technical support.
This fact came to light when the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Energy and Transport met in Parliament recently (May 09) to discuss the current status and future activities of the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board. The committee was chaired by the Member of Parliament Hon. Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda.
There was a discussion in length in the committee regarding the production of skilled professionals in the field of welding and related technology in Sri Lanka. The members of the committee pointed out that there is a great demand for experts in this field in industrialised countries including Korea and the need for a formal mechanism to produce skilled workers with formal certificates in the said field.
Officials mentioned that the training and certification system for those who already have professional experience in this sector and those who are new entrants in the field is conducted at the training centre run by the board. However, since there is no proper awareness among the people about this training, the committee advised to prepare a plan and take steps to make awareness and involve more young people.
It was also discussed that Saudi Arabia hopes to get preserved coconut coir from Sri Lanka for the project of planting 10 billion trees in Saudi Arabia. Chairman of the Committee MP Hon. Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda mentioned that the country can get a large amount of foreign exchange by providing facilities for the said process of sterilisation. Accordingly, the Committee advised the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board to take steps to prepare the sterilisation facility.
The members of Parliament, Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha, Hon. Yadamini Gunawardena, Hon. Isuru Dodangoda, Hon. Udayakanta Gunathilake, Hon. M. Udayakumar, Hon. Kumarasiri Ratnayake and Hon. Akila Ellawala participated in the meeting.
Colombo (LNW): A case has been filed in Singapore over the X-Press Pearl incident, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.
The Attorney General (AG) filed the claim in the High Court of Singapore over the X-Press Pearl incident involving six defendants.
A case conference hearing took place on 15th May and the next hearing is scheduled for June, PMD said.
The AG’s department is considering transferring the case to the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC) based on SICC’s rules and litigation is being managed by a Singaporean law firm approved by the Cabinet to represent the Sri Lankan Government.
X-Press Pearl was a Singapore-registered container ship which caught fire off the coast of Colombo, in May 2021.
The vessel was engulfed in flames by 27 May 2021 and declared a total loss. It was still afloat, and the fire was thought to be under control by Sri Lankan firefighters by the late hours of 27 May 2021.
Following a lapse of four years, the Sri Lankan government filed the compensation claim for the X-press Pearl inferno at a Singapore Court on May 9and the proceedings commenced on May 15 The estimate has been calculated at USD 6.2 billion, but this amount has not yet been finalized.
However, several maritime legal experts raised concerns when the government planned to file the case in an international court as they believed that it would be an advantage to the company that owns the ship.
But international arbitration experts claim Sri Lanka has an advantage in filing the case in an international court.
Explaining the litigation process in an international court, Manthi Wickramasooriya, of Counsel at Quinn Emanuel Office, London and an international arbitration and commercial litigation specialist said that as he understands from the limited information available publicly, the claim that has been filed by the Government of Sri Lanka is a claim before the courts of Singapore.
“This would ordinarily mean the Singapore High Court (and could perhaps even be a claim before the Singapore International Commercial Court).”
“The litigation process in Singapore is well-established and is, in broad terms, no different to other international fora, such as the courts of England and Wales.
Ordinarily, once a party files its claim, there is a pleadings phase where both parties exchange their legal cases, followed by the production of relevant documents (typically known as ‘disclosure’ or ‘discovery’ in the US), the exchange of evidence of fact witnesses and the exchange of expert evidence (e.g. expert evidence in demonstrating the losses caused, and also quantifying the amount of the alleged loss).
This is followed by a public trial during which fact witnesses and experts will be cross-examined and submissions are made by the legal teams. In a case of this magnitude, a trial may well last a month or longer. Once the trial has been concluded, the court will issue its judgement, he explained.
Colombo (LNW): Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa denied any involvement with Pastor Jerome Fernando, a self proclaimed ‘Prophet of God’ and the leading advocate for the Glorious Church of Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwean Pastor Uebert Angel, who is best described as the ‘Godfather’ of the modern prophetic movement and implicated in fraud, money laundering and racketeering in a series of crimes, saying that he had met the two only on one occasion during his tenure as the Prime Minister and the Minister in charge of Religious Affairs.
Pastor Fernando is currently being probed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and is expected to be arrested over certain controversial public statements he had allegedly made instigating religious disharmony.
The ex President emphasised that as the then Prime Minister and the Minister in charge of Religious Affairs, it was his duty to give priority to meet with religious heads as well as those connected to religious establishments as ‘part of a goodwill gesture’ and in order to see what issues they faced, according to a report by Daily Mirror.
Rajapaksa also called out against any derogatory remarks made by Pastor Fernando against religions and stressed that there was no room for communal disharmony or hatred in Sri Lanka.
“I strongly condemn remarks made by any individuals who attempt to cause communal disharmony in Sri Lanka especially when we fought hard as a nation to bring in unity and end all divisions,” Daily Mirror quoted Rajapaksa.
“It was a cordial meeting during which both the Pastors conducted a small prayer meeting with me and my wife. Since it was an official meeting, the pictures were released to the media. I have met Pastor Jerome and Uebert Angel only during that instance and have held no other meetings with them nor do I have any personal connections with either,” the ex President added.
Meanwhile, Fernando who is currently under the radar of the CID said in his Instagram that he will return to Sri Lanka on Sunday (21).
The self-proclaimed prophet added that he was presently travelling on a pre-scheduled official matters pertaining to the ministry.
Colombo (LNW): Three of four counts of sexual assault charged against Sri Lankan Cricketer Dhanushka Gunathilaka have been dropped by Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney, Australia.
Gunathilaka was accused of sexually assaulting a woman whom he is said to have met online in her residence.
The Sri Lankan Cricketer was arrested at his T20 World Cup team’s hotel in Sydney last year with four counts of unconsented sexual intercourse.
Prosecutor Hugh Buddin appearing for the Director of Public Prosecutions, told the court that one charge had been certified but the remaining three counts had been withdrawn.
Magistrate Clare Farnan, accordingly, dismissed the counts.
Solicitor appearing for Gunathilaka Alen Sahinovic said the parties were yet to have a case conference and asked for the matter to return to court on July 13, 2023, adding that he expects it to proceed to committal on that date.
Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s Inland Revenue Department one of the three state revenue collection agencies is till to recover the total arrears of taxes, penalties and interest due to the state tax office by December 31, 2022 as a result of using faulty RAMIS and Legacy systems is Rs. 904 billion, the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) revealed .
The corrupted official front liners who were behind the introduction of the RAMIS system and played out tax payers money safeguarding billionaire businessmen are still spearheading treasury operations aiding and abetting corrupt practices , several IRD officials said.
It was disclosed that an amount of Rs. 163 billion has been identified as income that can be collected without any legal concern and that Rs. 740 billion has been identified as income that has been temporarily suspended due to certain reasons.
The Auditor General also pointed out that this amount has been identified as the total arrears of tax to be collected under both RAMIS and Legacy systems and there was a discussion at length about not collecting the revenue due that could be collected off this tax arrears.
COPA Chairman State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna, recommended that a report be given to COPA with dates containing information on how to collect the tax arrears identified as chargeable income which can be collected at least in installments.
The Chairman also recommended that a separate report should be given on the total outstanding tax amount of 904 billion rupees and the report should state in detail how taxes have been evaded and the reasons for such.
The Commission on Public Accounts (COPA) recently made several proposals regarding the Inland Revenue Department’s tax collection system.
According to COPA, the department’s Revenue Administration Management Information System, or RAMIS for short, currently doesn’t function properly. The proposals suggest that RAMIS would need to be updated properly in order to improve the IRD’s efficiency.
Back in 2014, the IRD under the Ministry of Finance, invested Rs 10 billion towards building RAMIS.
The idea was to modernize and improve the tax collection process. However, it’s now revealed that the system doesn’t operate as intended, despite the fact that “more money has already been spent to strengthen this system,” according to COPA Chairman.
The IRD officials’ claim that RAMIS would need to be updated following the 2017 Inland Revenue Act as RAMIS was implemented in 2014.
However, back in 2018, the IRD stated the system was being updated to include the 2017 act. The officials further mentioned that they are unable to provide contractual information as per the terms and conditions of the agreement with the company that built RAMIS, a Singaporean firm.
Further, since the agreement is technically between the two governments, “intervention of the
Prior to RAMIS, Sri Lanka’s taxation system was only partially automated and it was one riddled with issues, according to the then Senior Commissioner of Inland Revenue.
RAMIS was built as part of an agreement between Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Finance and NCS, a subsidiary of Singapore’s Singtel.
A customized version of Singapore’s own IRAS application, the arrangement also included “change management and transformation” training sessions for IRD staff as part of the implementation process.
Colombo (LNW): With 16 Covid related fatalities and 170 new infections reported over the last 20 days, the total number of Covid cases confirmed stands at 672,317 and the death toll at 16,856, revealed the Epidemiology Unit.
According to health authorities, a majority of the recently deceased were above the age 70, among whom some were vaccinated and some were not. All 16 victims had been suffering from chronic diseases, they added.
The highest number of deaths, 03, within the last 20-day period was recorded on May 07, and the highest number of single-day cases, 13, were reported on May 06 and 16, according to official reports.
Colombo (LNW): President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake under the directives of President Ranil Wickremesinghe has issued a special gazette notification declaring the supply of electricity and all related services, the supply or distribution of petroleum products and fuel, and health services as essential services.
This is but one of a series of similar declarations previously by the President essentialising these services, and the latest declaration will be in effect from Wednesday (17).
The gazette was issued in accordance with the powers vested in the President under Section 2 of the Essential Public Services Act No. 61 of 1979.
Colombo (LNW): The World Rugby Council has suspended Sri Lanka Rugby from World Rugby member with immediate effect, in what a statement by the sport’s highest authority described as a response to the concerns about the governance of the island’s rugby sport and a breach of the World Rugby bye-laws pertaining to political interference.
The ousting of Sri Lanka Rugby from its membership at World Rugby was mentioned in a statement by the World Rugby Council, which further details that the Council and Asia Rugby agreed that the two would work together with all stakeholders to ensure the least possible disruption of rugby in Sri Lanka.
“The immediate priority is to work with all of the relevant stakeholders to resolve the governance issues. A resolution of these issues will enable Sri Lankan athletes and officials to participate in upcoming matches and tournaments in Asia,” the statement read.
Sri Lanka Rugby was recently subject to controversy over alleged irregularities at the governance of the body and political interference. As critics continued to urge that this issue be resolved immediately, the Council responded that World Rugby will work together with Asia Rugby and other stakeholders to “put in place a programme of meetings to be held in Sri Lanka to resolve the current impasse.”
Full statement:
“In response to concerns about the governance of Sri Lanka Rugby and a breach of the World Rugby Bye-Laws relating to political interference, the World Rugby Council has suspended Sri Lanka Rugby from World Rugby membership with immediate effect.
The World Rugby Council and Asia Rugby agreed that the international federation and regional association would work together with all stakeholders to ensure the least possible disruption of rugby in Sri Lanka.
The immediate priority is to work with all of the relevant stakeholders to resolve the governance issues. A resolution of these issues will enable Sri Lankan athletes and officials to participate in upcoming matches and tournaments in Asia.
World Rugby and Asia Rugby will urgently work with all stakeholders to put in place a programme of meetings to be held in Sri Lanka to hopefully resolve the current impasse.”
PMD: President Ranil Wickremesinghe, during a meeting with Ministry Secretaries and Provincial Chief Secretaries, expressed confidence that the proper implementation of the government’s policy program would lead to economic prosperity surpassing the goals set by the International Monetary Fund.
He stressed the need for collective effort to address the concerns raised by the youth regarding the country’s economy and their future. The President emphasized the importance of restructuring state-owned companies to ensure a prosperous economy and urged ministry secretaries to support the government’s policy program rather than protecting companies under their jurisdictions.
He also highlighted the forthcoming regulations on capital expenditure and projects of Provincial Councils, with decisions on power distribution at the local level expected within the next few months.
The meeting covered the progress of budget proposals, the performance of ministry secretaries, and discussions on public enterprise reconciliation, public service management, and the economy.
Detailed deliberations were held on law amendments related to policy changes in the interim budget and the 2023 budget presented in Parliament, as well as bills associated with obligations to the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund.
Following is the full context of the President’s speech;
As the President, I acknowledge that every ministry shares responsibility for the economic bankruptcy our country faces today. In the past, ministries were tasked with allocating funds for various activities, but unfortunately, this often led to the squandering of people’s hard-earned money. It is understandable that the youth are questioning the state of our nation, and it is our duty as politicians and administrative officials to provide them with answers.
While we cannot change what has already transpired, we have the power to reverse this situation. In the past, our government has successfully rebuilt the economy, such as in 1977 when we took over and revitalized the country, and again in 2001 when we led the government and achieved a rapid economic recovery by 2004.
With the proper implementation of our current program, we have the potential to surpass the goals set by the International Monetary Fund and achieve remarkable progress.
One of our key objectives is the restructuring of public corporations, particularly the main company that oversees them. We will carefully assess these entities and retain some under government control, while allowing private companies to acquire the remaining shares. It is crucial that we receive maximum support in this endeavour to ensure the effective restructuring of these companies.
Regarding youth development, the functions of the Youth Service Council, the National Apprenticeship Board, and the Vocational Training Authority may be merged for greater efficiency. Additionally, we propose that the Vocational Training Centres, which are spread across the islands, be placed under the supervision of the Provincial Councils.
Hence, it is essential for each ministry to determine how to implement the government’s policies. I anticipate reviewing the progress made in a month’s time.
We must also introduce new regulations concerning capital expenditure and capital projects of the Provincial Councils. Simultaneously, decisions pertaining to devolving power at the grassroots level must be expedited within the coming months. Let us swiftly address these matters.
In terms of education, our initial plan was to grant authority to the Provincial Councils. However, circumstances have unfolded differently. Similarly, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Provincial Council share responsibilities in the agricultural sector. We should consider transferring these powers to the Provincial Councils. There is no requirement that mandates these powers to remain solely under the National Ministry. By granting such authority, the National Ministry can effectively coordinate with the Provincial Councils.
At present, we have around 30 ministries. Let us maintain this number and avoid further expansion. The amalgamation of the local government and state administration into one ministry is a positive development. Similarly, we have successfully unified irrigation and canal management. By the end of next year, we should strive to bring plantation industries and agriculture under one ministry.
Moreover, I propose that international trade and foreign affairs be consolidated. This restructuring process should commence promptly, and we have the capacity to complete several activities by next year.
Our first priority is the implementation of the International Monetary Fund’s proposals. We cannot evade this responsibility and must move forward accordingly. By adhering to these proposals, we can establish economic stability. Subsequently, we need to focus on repaying the loan. This necessitates embarking on a rapid development program, with a targeted completion date of 2048.
It is undeniable that every ministry shares responsibility for the current state of our country’s economic affairs. We must acknowledge that allocating funds to certain activities in the past has resulted in the misuse of public funds. It is only fair for the youth to question what has transpired.
Presidential Senior Adviser on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Mr Sagala Ratnayake, President’s Secretary Mr Saman Ekanayake, Presidential Senior Adviser on Economic Affairs Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga, and Cabinet Secretary Mr W.M.D.J. Fernando were also present.
