Colombo (LNW): The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) has increased the fuel prices effective from midnight yesterday (01).
Octane 92 Petrol up by Rs. 04 per litre,
Octane 95 Petrol up by Rs. 3 per litre,
White Diesel up by Rs. 10 per litre and
Super Diesel by Rs. 62 per litre.
Kerosene by Rs. 11 per litre.
The Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC) revised their fuel prices resembling the CEYPETCO revision.
However, recently installed SINOPEC continues to offer the lowest rates, as the China-based energy solution company made no changes in the price of Octane 92 Petrol and sells the fuel Rs. 07 below the CEYPETCO price. The price of Octane 95 Petrol is as same as those of the CEYPETCO, and the prices of White Diesel and Super Diesel are Rs. 03 and Rs. 04 below the CEYPETCO prices, respectively.
Colombo (LNW): Parliament is scheduled to meet from October 03 to 06, said Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadheera.
The parliamentary business related to this week has been decided at the Committee on Parliamentary Business chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on September 22.
Accordingly, time from 09.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. on each day has been allotted for Questions for Oral Answers. On Tuesday, the 03rd of October 2023 from 10.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Civil Procedure Code (Amendment) Bill (Second Reading), Elections (Special Provisions) Bill (Second Reading), Regulations under the Mediation (Special Categories of Disputes) Act and Order under the Judicature Act have been scheduled to be taken up for debate.
Subsequently, from 5.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. the Motion at the Adjournment Time by the Government will be taken up for debate. On Wednesday, the 04th of October 2023 from 10.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. three Resolutions under the Customs Ordinance (Vide Gazette Extraordinary Nos. 2336/72, 2338/54 & 2341/64), Orders under the Special Commodity Levy Act (Vide Gazette Extraordinary Nos. 2332/14, 2332/53, 2337/16 & 2340/45) and National Eye Bank Trust of Sri Lanka Bill (Second Reading) will be taken up for debate.
Thereafter time has been allotted from 5.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. for Questions at the Adjournment Time. On Thursday, the 5th of October 2023 from 10.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Sri Lanka Ports Authority (Amendment) Bill (Second Reading), Civil Aviation (Amendment) Bill (Second Reading), Regulations under the Civil Aviation Act, Regulations under the Licensing of Shipping Agents, Freight Forwarders, Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers and Container Operators Act have been scheduled to be taken up for debate.
From 5.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. the Motion at the Adjournment Time by the Government will be taken up. On Friday, the 6th October 2023 from 10.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. the Adjournment Debate on the trend of professionals leaving the country due to the economic crisis by Opposition will be taken up, the Secretary General stated.
Colombo (LNW): New vocational training courses will be made available for students who sat for G.C.E. Advanced Level Examinations, announced Education Minister Susil Premajayantha.
These courses will commence immediately after the conclusion of the Advanced Level Examinations this year.
Training centres islandwide are prepared to conduct these courses, and the initiative will be a consistent feature for future Advanced Level taking students as well.
Over 50 per cent of Advanced Level students may be enrolled in these vocational courses, the Minister anticipated.
Colombo (LNW): The Chinese vessel Shi Yan 6 is scheduled to operate at sea for 80 days with 28 scientific research projects from 13 research teams onboard on its way to Sri Lanka, an international navigation report revealed.
Following India, the U.S. has raised concern with the Ranil Wickremesinghe administration, over the scheduled visit of a Chinese research vessel to Sri Lanka in October
In a recent meeting with Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland took up the coming visit of Chinese research vessel Shi Yan 6 to Sri Lanka.
Reportedly, Mr. Sabry reassured the American official that Colombo would adhere to a “Standard Operating Procedure” that the government has recently finalised, for all foreign vessels intending to call at a Sri Lankan port.
Sri Lanka has made an urgent request from the Chinese authorities to delay the Chinese ships’ arrival to Sri Lanka till next month due to important events that are to take place in the island nation, an informed source said.
The SL government was of the view that if the Chinese vessel is allowed to enter the country on October 28, it has to face severe diplomatic issues and repercussions.
Sri Lanka is to host Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) meeting in Colombo with the participation of 23 foreign ministers including India this month in which the island nation is expected to take over the chairmanship of the IORA.
President Ranil Wickremasighe’s official visit to China is also scheduled for October 16-17 and he is expected to meet President Xi Jinping during his stay in Beijing.
It has been revealed that India has decided to send a high level official delegation to Sri Lanka after the President’s visit to China to discuss current pressing issues including the Chinese vessel’s visit to the island nation.
Under this setup Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar participation in IORA hangs in the balance as India is visibly concerned about the Chinese research ship’s voyage to Sri Lanka.
A year after India expressed concerns over a Chinese ‘spy’ ship in Sri Lanka, this ‘research’ vessel is headed for a visit to the island nation.
Shi Yan 6 ship has entered the Indian Ocean and is expected to reach Sri Lanka this month to carry out research along with the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA).
As per reports, the ship will make trip to the Sri Lankan ports of Colombo and Hambantota for a span of 17 days to conduct an ocean survey.
The United States has already raised concerns with Sri Lanka with Under Secretary Victoria Nuland meeting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session and raising concerns about the upcoming visit of the Chinese vessel. Indian officials have also expressed concerns to Colombo.
Colombo (LNW): The Port City Colombo is making significant progress in infrastructure development and engineering as well as regulations along with the implementation in the Special Economic Zone activities.
This was revealed by the Colombo Port City Economic Commission, the Single Window Investment Facilitator authorised to assist investors, businesses and residents in conducting their activities seamlessly and efficiently in Port City Colombo.
Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is designed to be a prestigious, strategically located city in the heart of South Asia, with sustainable high-quality public spaces and infrastructure, providing top-quality commercial, entertainment, medical, education and lifestyle.
International destinations such as DIFC, DMCC, Labuan, Singapore and Mauritius were studied for their regulatory frameworks, fiscal incentives and operational efficiency to identify the most competitive processes and policies for Port City Colombo.
The benchmarking study was done by global consultants such as Boston Consulting Group, PwC, KPMG, EY, Pinsent Masons, Zico Law, JLL, etc., for the SEZ’s thrust sectors, supported by market feedback on both fiscal and non-fiscal parameters.
Making significant progress with regard to infrastructure and engineering, regulations governing Apartment Ownership and Condominium Management were drafted, and have been submitted to the Ministry of Investment Promotion.
A number of site inspections have also been carried out, and have addressed infrastructure development issues identified in Phase I, enhancing overall development. These are quickly being addressed to make way for Phase II.
As a modern, tech-centric development, committed to sustainability, key progress milestones were achieved in this area as well, during the year.
A committee, comprising IT/Technology leaders, Commission officials, and CHEC Port City Colombo representatives, was established to advise on technology-related matters, including smart city development.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mastercard has been inked to foster collaboration in data insights, technology innovation, sustainable growth, and digital accessibility.
A Duty-Free verification system is also in development to monitor compliance when Port City Duty-Free operations commence. Meanwhile, the Commission also launched its official website(s) and mobile application, enhancing accessibility and convenience for stakeholders and visitors.
These accomplishments underscore the Commission’s unwavering commitment to fostering economic growth, innovation, and a dynamic business environment within Colombo Port City.
With an optimistic future outlook, the Commission eagerly anticipates continued collaboration and progress during the remainder of the year and the upcoming year, building upon the foundation of success established so far in 2023.
Investors can thus now confidently explore the opportunities that Colombo Port City offers the world as the Gateway to South Asia.
The government’s failure to obtain the second tranche of IMF support is a wakeup call regarding the precarious condition of the economy. The IMF has said that Sri Lanka’s economic recovery is still not assured. It has also said that the government has not met the economic targets set for it, particularly with regard to reducing the budget deficit due to a potential shortfall in government revenue generation. The IMF’s refusal to grant the second tranche of USD 330 million at this time will erode the confidence of prospective investors in the economy. The IMF has said the second tranche under its lending programme would only be released after it reaches a staff-level agreement, and there was no fixed timeline on when that would take place.
The failure of the government to fulfil many of the IMF’s transparency requirements, such as posting its contracts and procurements on the website, and explain its rationale for tax holidays and those who benefit, have contributed to the loss of confidence in the government’s commitment to the economic reform process. In view of the seriousness of the economic challenge to the country and its people we call on the government to address issues of governance in consultation with the opposition. The National Peace Council urges the government to invite the opposition parties and the latter to respond positively to discuss the IMF programme and find ways to amend and implement it as necessary in a bipartisan spirit keeping in mind the interests of vulnerable sections of the population.
The National Peace Council believes that the core issues the government needs to address if it is to get the economy on the correct track is that of governance, and its lack which has led to corruption and impunity. The mounting difficulties faced by people in coping with their economic circumstances can lead to protests and agitation campaigns. The logic of competitive electoral politics can also come into play with different political parties making their own promises to alleviate the economic hardships on the people even at the cost of the economic reform programme agreed with the IMF. We are concerned that the government’s efforts to silence public protest and criticism by means of the proposed Anti-Terrorist Act and the Online Safety Act which are to be placed before parliament next week will make a bad situation worse.
The draft Anti-Terrorist Act which seeks to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act is wider in scope and gives the government the power to arrest persons who are engaging in public protest or trade union action. Those who are charged as “intimidating the public or a section of the public” can be arrested under this law. The Online Safety Act seeks, among others, to “protect persons against damage caused by false statements or threatening, alarming, or distressing statements.” It will establish a five-member commission appointed by the President which will be able to proscribe or suspend any social media account or online publication, and also recommend jail time for alleged offenses which can be highly subjective. We call on the government to withdraw these proposed anti-democratic legislations forthwith and instead deal with urgent economic issues, particularly concerns raised by the IMF.
Colombo (LNW): The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has raised concerns about Sri Lanka’s new Online Safety Bill, which was published in the government gazette on Sept. 18, emphasizing that if adopted in its present form, the legislation would serve “to crush free expression and further contract an already shrinking civic space” in the country.
In a statement released on Friday (Sept. 29), the ICJ said the Bill, albeit intending to dramatically regulate the content of online communication including by the general public, stands to undermine the exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the country, including freedom of information and expression.
The Geneva-based rights organization notes that the provisions related to the setting up, appointment and functions of an Online Safety Commission and other experts, the vague and overboard wording of conduct designated as punishable offences and unnecessary and disproportionate punitive sanctions are of particular concern.
The ICJ raised concerns about the Online Safety Commission being on the ‘sole discretion of the President’, adding that it contrasts with other notionally independent commissions in Sri Lanka, the appointments to which require the consent of the Constitutional Council by way of nomination or ratification. “This bill would give the president unfettered discretion where both appointment and removal is concerned.”
ICJ’s Legal and Policy Director, Ian Seiderman says this Bill is ‘deeply flawed’ in its design and would be open to abuse by the Sri Lankan government, which it says has persistently failed to uphold freedom of expression. He, however, acknowledged that the spread of online hate-speech and disinformation needs to be tackled.
Seiderman stresses that the Bill risks being used to suppress important public debate regarding the conduct of the government and matters of public policy.
He says the current draft must be either withdrawn or amended to be brought in line with Sri Lanka’s international human rights obligations guaranteeing freedom of expression, opinion, and information.
The CEJ is of the opinion that the Bill should not be evaluated in a vacuum but instead must be read in conjunction with existing and proposed legislation that threaten human rights. “Such laws include the extremely misused ICCPR Act of 2005, the Prevention of Terorrism Act (PTA), the Bureau of Rehabilitation Act, and the proposed Anti-Terrorism law which seeks to replace the PTA.”
Colombo (LNW): The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) corruption-busting governance diagnostic report compiled by the recently concluded IMF mission has made 16 Priority Recommendations for Sri Lanka to improve the island nation’s governance system, IMF sources divulged.
Sri Lanka is the first country in Asia to undergo an IMF governance diagnostic under the global lender’s key structural reform to address corruption vulnerabilities and enhance growth.
The Sri Lanka Governance Diagnostic Assessment September 2023 by the IMF mission has revealed that social tensions remain high in the island nation due to falling real incomes.
This is despite tentative signs of macroeconomic stabilization with inflation moderating, exchange rate stabilizing, and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) rebuilding reserves buffers.
It adds that the government measures to address the balance of payment crisis, including tax reforms and cost-recovery pricing in the energy sector, have raised the cost of living.
The Diagnostic Assessment noted that the continued shortages of essentials, strong-arm measures against protestors, and the postponement of local government elections have been sources of popular discontent.
It has noted that large fiscal deficit and elevated debt continued to weigh on the recovery prospects.
The Diagnostic Assessment reveals that the absence of visible progress on addressing corruption and holding officials to account for past behaviour raises popular concerns that officials will continue to enjoy impunity for their misconduct.
The GDA revealed systematic and severe governance weaknesses and corruption vulnerabilities across state functions, with particular macroeconomic impact in: budget credibility; expenditure control; public investment management and control of spending
It has also disclosed public procurement; management and oversight of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs); transparency of revenue policy and the integrity of revenue administration as priority areas of concern.
The governance and legal frameworks of the Central Bank; the application of financial sector regulations; and clarity and security of land ownership and the integrity of the judicial sector were the other ares that needed more attention of the authorities.
Corruption vulnerabilities are exacerbated by weak accountability institutions, including the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) that have neither the authority nor competency to successfully fulfil their functions.
The GDA points out that impunity for misbehaviour enjoyed by officials undermines trust in the public sector and compounds concerns over limited access to efficient and rule-based adjudication process for resolving disputes.
It noted that Corruption vulnerabilities in Public Procurement remain high, and the absence of a public procurement law creates ambiguity in the legal framework, and has contributed to high-levels of political engagement in the selection of procurement winners, poor contract management, limited transparency and a lack of oversight of procurement processes and outcomes.
Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka will probably be setting the title of becoming the country with the most expensive electricity in South Asia, were the proposed electricity tariff hike to be implemented, warned renowned energy expert Dr. Thilak Siyambalapitiya.
He noted that it is alarming that Sri Lanka already ranks within the top three nations in the region for high electricity rates.
Siyambalapitiya further underscored the pressing need to urgently devise a new strategy to slash electricity prices, warning that otherwise Sri Lanka will be recognised as the country with the highest tariffs in the South Asian region.
Colombo (LNW): Niluka Karunaratne, Sri Lanka’s top badminton player, announced his retirement from international competitive badminton for Sri Lanka.
The announcement was made on Oct. 01 at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarter in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Karunaratne represented Sri Lanka in the Olympics in 2012, 2016, and 2020, and is currently ranked as the island’s number one badminton player and holds a record of 21 international medals, including 9 golds.
The player has the unique achievement of winning gold medals on five different countries.
In June 2013, Karunaratne attained a career-best singles ranking of 34, the highest ever by a Sri Lankan badminton player. He clinched the national badminton champion title a record 17 times.
His family, including his father Louie Karunaratne and brothers Dinuka and Diluka, are professional badminton players. Another brother, Chamika Karunaratne, plays cricket for the Sri Lanka national team.
