Colombo (LNW): A permanent Chairperson will be appointed for the Parliamentary Committee on Public Finances (CoPF), announced Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.
The CoPF was recently subject to controversy over SJB MP Harsha De Silva’s lamenting over not being appointed to the post and being removed without notice, and the position of the Chairperson of the CoPF has been vacant for more than three months.
Several MPs representing the Ruling Party were appointed as temporary chairmen of the Committee on four occasions.
Colombo (LNW): With more than 31,000 cases of dengue (31,098) reported within 2023 alone, the health authorities have been instructed to take swift action to combat the spread of the virus in recognition of the situation being ‘critical’.
Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella has instructed the Health Secretary to provide an expert report outlining immediate steps to be taken to combat the spread of dengue.
Meanwhile, an experts committee comprised of the National Dengue Control Unit has been appointed for the mission.
In addition, a Presidential task force has also been established to coordinate efforts and contain the virus. The task force is expected to work with health authorities to implement the necessary measures to contain the dengue virus.
As of now, the Gampaha district reports the highest number of dengue cases, with 6,953 patients, and Colombo, 6,500 patients.
The public is urged to take all the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the infection, including the elimination of mosquito breeding grounds, wearing of protective clothing and mosquito repellents.
Mumbai, May 5 (PTI): Sri Lanka, which is emerging from an economic crisis, is expecting to attract 20 lakh visitors from India this year, Sri Lanka Tourism Minister said on Friday.
“Sri Lanka is experiencing a significant rise in tourist arrivals, particularly from India, which has now secured the top spot.
“In the first three months of 2023, we welcomed 46,432 Indian tourists. With an ambitious promotional campaign underway, we are aiming to attract 2 million Indian tourists this year,” Sri Lanka Tourism Minister Harin Fernando said in a statement.
This increase in visitors has had a positive impact on tourism earnings, with Sri Lanka earning around USD 530 million in the first quarter of 2023, compared to USD 482.3 million in the same period last year, he said.
“We expect to generate a total of USD 3 billion in tourism revenue this year,” the minister added.
Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Chalaka Gajabahu said that the country is an ideal destination for families and is suitable for travel throughout the year.
“We are currently engaging with the travel industry in India to reinforce its position as a preferred travel destination. Through our representatives and stakeholders from hotels, resorts, destination management companies, and event management companies, we aim to build a strong relationship with our travel-trade partners in India and foster a mutually beneficial association,” he said.
Colombo (LNW): Shunichi Suzuki, the Japanese Finance Minster has welcomed Sri Lanka’s recently launched coordinated debt restructuring programme for the bilateral creditors of Sri Lanka amidst its worst recession since independence.
With Japan, India and France announcing the commencement of the programme in April, 2023, Suzuki emphasised that it is essential to improve debt data transparency and accuracy to prevent future debt crisis.
He also acknowledged the higher risks faced by low and middle income nations concerning debt vulnerabilities in the midst of the Covid pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Colombo (LNW): Two Covid related deaths were reported from the Kinigama and Akbar Town Grama Niladhari Divisions of Mahara, confirmed Daily Mirror.
According to Mahara MOH Dr. Nihal Gamage, the two had died due to the infection of Coronavirus.
The deceased, 81, female and 80, male, who were residents of Kinigama and Akbar Town respectively, were lacking vaccines against the virus, one of whom had not received either of the doses and the other, only one dose.
With the two deaths confirmed, the total number of Covid related deaths has mounted to 16,844 since the pandemic’s inception in Sri Lanka.
Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has been recognised as one of the safest countries to travel in 2023, said ‘Worldpackers,’ a global travel watcher that connects travellers with hosts all over the world who seek information on housekeeping, bartending and farming, among other things.
Sri Lanka, accordingly, has been listed among 13 of the safest countries to travel this year, reassuring the government’s objective to make the island nation a safe destination for all travellers.
It is also noteworthy that Sri Lanka and Japan are the only Asian countries listed as safe to travel.
The safest countries to travel according to Worldpackers are: 1. Iceland 2. Switzerland 3. Denmark 4. New Zealand 5. Canada 6. Spain 7. Portugal 8. Ireland 9. Japan 10. Finland 11. Austria 12. Sri Lanka and Rs. Rural UK.
Delight to see #visitsrilanka on the list. Only Sri Lanka and Japan from Asia. One of the main objectives is to make Sri Lanka a safe destination for all travelers and further measures will also be taken to strengthen the safety of travelers. https://t.co/3ImhYVAT7F
WION: India and Sri Lanka stepped up their talks to proceed with trade in Indian Rupee as New Delhi and Colombo look set to expand their bilateral cooperation in “power and energy sector as well as aspects relating to Rupee trade”.
Dr Pramod Kumar Mishra, a cabinet rank official in India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration, met with Sri Lankan High Commissioner Milinda Moragoda in New Delhi on Friday to continue the bilateral dialogue between two South Asian neighbours on a number of issues, including on debt restructuring matters crucial for Colombo’s economic recovery.
“The High Commissioner stressed the vital role that economic integration between the two countries could play in Sri Lanka’s economic recovery,” an official readout stated.
“High Commissioner Moragoda also followed up [Pramod Kumar Mishra] on a range of issues pertaining to the bilateral relationship that had been discussed during their last meeting in February,” the readout added, while referring to a previous round of bilateral talks between New Delhi and Colombo that addressed former’s support for latter’s economic recovery alongside aforementioned matters of bilateral cooperation.
“The matters discussed included further economic integration between Sri Lanka and India, enhancing Indian investments and tourism in Sri Lanka, ways and means to further promote bilateral trade, cooperation in power and energy sector as well as aspects relating to Rupee trade,” the official readout stated further.
Several banks in Sri Lanka have opened special rupee trading accounts, called Vostro accounts. This means that Sri Lankan citizens can now hold $10,000 (₹8,26,823) in physical form and for transactions with their Indian counterparts, they can use Indian rupees instead of US dollars.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration since July 2022, has been looking to bring countries that are short of dollars, into its rupee settlement mechanism.
Designating Indian Rupee as a legal currency in Sri Lanka has provided India’s coastal neighbour at its south much-needed liquidity support to help tide over its economic crisis amid inadequate availability of the US dollar.
Meanwhile, India’s finance ministry has asked the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) to proceed with an awareness campaign to sensitise stakeholders about the rupee trade.
Colombo (LNW): Following the controversial appearance of ex Minister Wimal Weerawansa’s wife Shashi Weerawansa at a free food distribution (dansala) event held by ex President Mahinda Rajapaksa in front of his official residence in Wijerama, Colombo, more details into the story have begun to appear contradicting Weerawansa’s strong stance against the Rajapaksas, involving a telephone conversation allegedly taken place between Basil Rajapaksa, the National Organiser of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader.
The alleged telephone conversation has taken place between Basil Rajapaksa, Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila, Leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, in what SLPP sources described as an invitation to the Ruling Party MPs gone rogue to set aside the differences and rejoin the SLPP to put the once most powerful political alliance in the known history back in track.
It is interesting to note that the story of the alleged telephone conversation appears in the backdrop where both Gammanpila and Weerawansa have been strong advocates against Basil Rajapaksa for the last two years.
Rajapaksa has allegedly told the two that there is no benefit to be gained by the current separation in their political stream, adding that the factions they represent may reach a point of no return in politics considering the current trend in Sri Lanka, should they continue to oppose the formation of an alliance, hence the invitation to reassemble being made.
Despite Gammanpila and Weerawansa not making any comment on the story, the NFF Leader’s wife’s presence at a chick pea dansala sanctioned by the Rajapaksas has improvised speculation that a major political blow is about to take place.
Weerawansa’s wife has already been convicted in a passport scandal and has been sentenced to serve in prison but is out on bail, and Weerawansa himself has been subjugated to a series of pending trials. Weerawansa laments that he is being targeted by the CIA and the FBI, but needless to say that their political games have always been instrumental in turning the tables in Sri Lankan politics.
Colombo (LNW): Showery condition is expected to continue further over most parts of the island due to an atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, the Natural Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology issued an advisory warning.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, North-Western and Northern provinces and in the Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts, and showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in Eastern and Uva provinces during the afternoon or night, the Department of Meteorology said in a statement today (07).
Strong winds about (40-50) kmph can be expected at times over western and southern coastal areas and in the western slopes of the central hills.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Marine Weather:
A low-level atmospheric disturbance is over the South-east Bay of Bengal will gradually develop into a low-pressure area and then into a cyclonic storm in next few days.
Fishing and naval community are requested to be attentive to future forecasts issued by the Department of Meteorology in this regard.
Condition of Rain: Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the sea areas around the island.
Winds: Winds will be south-westerly over sea area around the island and wind speed will be (20-30) kmph. Wind speed may increase up to (40-50) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Colombo to Hambanthota via Galle and Matara.
State of Sea: The sea areas off the coast extending from Colombo to Hambanthota via Galle and Matara will be fairly rough at times. The other sea areas around the island will be slight to moderate.
Temporarily strong gusty winds and very rough seas can be expected during thundershowers.
01. Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki welcomes the recent launch of a coordinated debt restructuring programme for the bilateral creditors of Sri Lanka, with Japan, India and France announcing the start of the process in April; says it is “essential to improve debt data transparency and accuracy to prevent future debt crises.”
02. Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella takes swift action to combat the spread of dengue in several parts of the island: 31,098 cases reported this year alone, situation said to be critical and requires urgent attention: Gampaha district reports the highest number of cases (6,953), followed by Colombo (6,500).
03. Two Covid-19 related deaths reported from the Kinigama and Akbar Town Grama Niladhari Divisions of the Mahara Grama Niladhari Division: First two deaths in the area after one and a half years since the pandemic: One of the deceased said to have not received any dose of the vaccines, while the other only one dose: The death toll mounts to 16,844.
04. Adverse weather conditions affect at least 9,000 individuals belonging to 2,000 families in 11 districts across the island: The Disaster Management Centre says steps taken to evacuate residents from the flood-affected areas of Katana, Rubber Watta and Gomaswatta in the Gampaha district.
05. Police bust a large-scale racket of stealing and selling oxygen cylinders from the Polonnaruwa General Hospital: 06 suspects arrested, including a hospital employee: Racket said to be in operation since 2020: 210 government-owned oxygen cylinders stolen in this manner: Suspects to be produced before the Polonnaruwa Magistrate Court: Further investigations conducted.
06. Sri Lanka included among 13 of the safest countries to travel in 2023 by ‘Worldpackers’, a global website that connects travellers with hosts, all over the globe, who need help with things like housekeeping, bartending, and farming: Tourism Minister Harin Fernando says delighted to see only Sri Lanka and Japan are included in the list from Asia.
07. Tourism Minister Harin Fernando says Sri Lanka is expecting to attract 2 million visitors from India this year; reveals in the first three months of 2023, Sri Lanka welcomed 46,432 Indian tourists; asserts around US$ 530 million earned in the 1Q of 2023, compared to US$ 482.3 million in the same period last year; stresses the aim is to generate a total of US$ 3 billion in tourism revenue this year.
08. The Indian Marine Police say ten more refugees, including three children and four women from Mullativu reached India’s Dhanushkodi islet on a vessel: Preliminary inquiries reveal that the ten people had decided to leave Sri Lanka following the economic crisis, and the prices of essential goods touching new highs: Refugees reported to have lamented that they were not getting jobs regularly to survive.
09. President Ranil Wickremesinghe during the gathering of the Commonwealth leaders convened in London emphasises the importance of the Commonwealth playing ‘a more significant role’ in supporting education reforms that encourage youth involvement and bolstering connectivity through digitisation.
10. Former Indian Captain MS Dhoni says Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana should not play Test Cricket instead focus on shorter version of the game; stresses Pathirana is ‘a great asset’ for Sri Lanka and therefore, “should play less ODIs and all the ICC tournaments”: Pathirana took 3/15 runs in his 4 overs in Chennai Super Kings comfortable win against Mumbai Indians.
