By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW): The United Nations Development Programme in Sri Lanka launched its latest report on vulnerability titled “Understanding Multidimensional Vulnerabilities: Impact on People of Sri Lanka for the first time.

The releasing of the report on Friday by the UNDP has exposed the enefficency of the state authorities specially the failure of the Census and Statistics Department to conduct such a comprehensive survey on the plight of vulnerable community in the island facing economic crisis.    

This UNDP report presents findings from the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) derived from the National Citizen Survey 2022-2023 initiated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka.

It was administered with the objective of capturing a wide picture of vulnerabilities experienced by Sri Lankans during the economic downturn.

Debt, a lack of education, and the ability to adapt to disasters are factors that make most people feel vulnerable, said the new report, released on Friday 01 of September by the UNDP and the University of Oxford’s Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI).

The report was presented to Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa ata ceremony in Colombo in the presence of Ms Azusa Kubota, Dr Sabina Alkire ( Director -Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), University of Oxford), several other dignitaries.

Mr. Premadsa noted that a social security programme cannot be implanted without a proper survey on vulnerable community and thiswas the reason for the present confution and puverty ridden community agitation against the state devised” asvesuma” relief programme.

In the wake of releasing the , Multidimensional Vulnerabilities: Impact on People of Sri Lanka survey report by the UNDP has exposed the inefficiency and lethargic attitude of the  Census and Statistics Department which has still not released the the Household Income and Expenditure (HIE) Survey 2022 since 2019. 

The Department conducts this Survey (HIES) once in every three years to measure the levels and changes in living conditions of the people.

Data collected from this survey is used to observe the consumption patterns to compute various other socioeconomic indicators such a poverty price indices etc.

Generally the survey is conducted over a period of 12 months time to capture seasonal variations. The general sample size is 25000 housing units to facilitate the information be given up to district level.

.Sri Lanka’s average monthly household income was estimated at Rs. 76,414 prior to the country’s economy fell deep into a recession and incomes deteriorated in the two years of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, according to Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) data.

However the monthly report on house hold income is still to be updated, informed official sources said.

However the UNDP report demonstrates the overlapping challenges faced by Sri Lanka’s population and weaves together a novel set of indicators to capture vulnerabilities beyond traditional income-based measures.

The index includes twelve indicators grouped under three dimensions: education, health and disasters, and living standards. Indicator selection was based on consultations with key stakeholders, including a technical advisory panel. 

Colombo (LNW): The Police and other responsible authorities should focus their attention on the growing rate of organised crimes and murders in the country, and prompt action, therefore, should be taken to curb them, emphasised the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) in a statement.

Highlighting issues related to the law enforcement authorities involving problematic situations leading to the weakening of public security in Sri Lanka, the NMSJ urged the relevant parties to take immediate action to prevent such situation from occurring in the future.

Full Statement:

The National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) would like to emphasise that the Police and other responsible authorities should focus their attention on the growing rate of organised crimes and murders in the country.

The number of murders reported in different parts of the island in the last few months alone is sufficient for anyone to understand the need for immediate action to prevent such. It is the duty of the responsible institutions to review the steps taken by the Police and their progress at the earliest possible.

The reasons that have led to the occurrence of these types of crimes in the recent past should be investigated and remedial measures should be taken immediately. We also believe that there is a special responsibility to the National Police Commission (NPC) including its Chairman.

We have come to know that the appointment of officers in charge (OICs) of certain Police Stations has been done on the recommendations of politicians, and, in some cases, their family members. It is clear that such situations have led to the weakening of public security in the country, so we hope that the NPC would take steps to prevent such situations from occurring in the future.

Sunil Jayasekara
General Secretary
National Movement for Social Justice
01.09.2023

1. Asian Development Bank approves a USD 350mn loan to SL to provide “budget support for economic stabilization”: accordingly, the bulk of these funds would be utilised to pay govt servants salaries & pensions and interest, and not to fund any revenue-generating capital project.
   
2. Bangladesh Bank says SL has paid back another USD 100mn of the USD 200mn it borrowed 2 years ago, thereby increasing the total repayments to USD 150mn: expresses hope the balance will be repaid by September: previously, SL had announced that a part of the credit line from India had also been “settled” immediately after receiving the 1st trance from IMF: analysts say these “settlements-in-full” to selected bilateral creditors is likely to have an impact on the overall debt restructuring effort of the Govt.
   
3. Defence Minister of India Rajnath Singh’s visit to SL scheduled for 2 & 3 September, deferred: the purpose of the visit was earlier announced as “to review bilateral defence ties”: India had previously raised security concerns with the SL govt over the Chinese ship ShiYan 6’s planned docking at the ports of SL from 26 October.
   
4. Indian Naval Ship “Delhi” docks at the Colombo port and welcomed by the SL Navy: the vessel is a 163-metre long Destroyer manned by a crew of 450 and commanded by Captain Abhishek Kumar.
   
5. An organisation called “The Civil Society Collective for Democracy” says recent statements from the President, Speaker & some MPs who are attempting to undermine judicial independence are “deeply troubling”: also says the recent acts of intimidation targeting members of the Election Commission and Public Utilities Commission are examples of the disabling environment: asserts the citizens’ sovereign right to vote has been infringed by using financial constraints as an excuse.
   
6. A collective of 80 Trade Unions write to the IMF to express their concerns about the ongoing Domestic Debt Restructuring process affecting the most vulnerable and marginalised citizens of the country: also say the people are now feeling the brunt of the IMF’s agreement with the Govt.
   
7. The core objectives of the visit of US Senator Chris Van Hollen (Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Appropriations Subcommittee on State & Foreign Operations) is reported as being to promote “enhanced security cooperation, deepening economic ties, collaborative initiatives to address climate change, and the advancement of democracy & human rights”.
   
8. Central Bank’s “money printing” increases by Rs.33 bn this week to fund the significant shortfall in the subscription for the week’s Treasury Bills issue: analysts point out the Central Bank will be precluded from doing so after the Speaker confirms the passage of the new Central Bank Act which has already been passed by Parliament.
   
9. IGP C D Wickramaratne says steps will be taken to resolve concerns regarding traffic offences being video recorded by the traffic police and then released to the media: the IGP was responding to concerns raised by the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Public Security surrounding the ethicality of the release of such videos to the media.
   
10. Sri Lanka’s victory over Bangladesh in their tournament opener in the ongoing Asia Cup, marks the record for their longest winning streak of 11 consecutive victories in one-day internationals: this winning streak is due to their prowess in bowling, as they have dismissed their opponents for the 11th successive game.

Colombo (LNW): The charges on public transportation services have been increased in response to the recent fuel price hike, announced the National Transport Commission (NTC).

Accordingly, the bus fares will increase by 4.01 per cent from midnight tomorrow (02).

The minimum fare, however, will remain unchanged, the Commission noted.

Meanwhile, container haulage charges will soar by 5 per cent, according to the Association of Container Transporters, effective from today (01).

Colombo (LNW): The no confidence motion proposed against Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella will be taken up for parliamentary debate in the chambers next week, as decided by the Parliamentary Business Committee.

Accordingly, the no confidence motion against the Minister will be taken up for debate on September 06, 07 and 08, 2023, and the voting will take place at 5.30 pm Friday, September 08, 2023.