Colombo (LNW): On October 31, 2023, the 11th Inter-Parliamentary consultations between Sri Lanka and the Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia of the European Parliament (DSAS) took place at the Sri Lanka Parliamentary premises, the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry said in a statement today (02).

A multi-party delegation, headed by SL Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, engaged in an interactive discussion with a visiting EU delegation.

This European Union delegation was led by Heidi Hautala, a Finnish Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from the Greens group, who also holds the positions of Vice-President and Rapporteur for the New GSP Regulation of the European Parliament.

“The discussion centered on matters related to bilateral cooperation in the context of further consolidating ties between the two legislatures. Sri Lanka side apprised the MEPs of the current economic and political developments in the country and also on overall progress in reconciliation and human rights situation including proposed Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). The EU Co-chair HAUTALA welcomed progress in EU – Sri Lanka bilateral relations and briefed on issues of importance to the EU such as new climate friendly regulations being adopted in the EU (European Green Deal), Ukraine conflict, inflation in the European region and future EU integration,” the statement read.

The Sri Lanka delegation also highlighted the importance of GSP+ concessions which provides duty free access for Sri Lanka’s exports to the EU market and requested support of the European Parliament for continued access to the concessions.

The State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya, and eight (08) MPs representing the Government and the Opposition parties of Sri Lanka, including theSri Lanka Podujana Peramuna(SLPP), the Samagi Jana Balawegaya(SJB) and the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi(ITAK) participated in the meeting.

The visiting delegation also comprised Zdzislaw Marek KRASNODEBSKI Polish MEP from the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR), Karsten LUCKE German MEP from Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S & D), and Ausra MALDEIKIENE Lithuanian MEP from the Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats/EPP).

Senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Department of Commerce of Sri Lanka, and officials from the EU Delegation in Colombo were also associated with the meeting.

The Sri Lanka High Commission in Malaysia played a pivotal role in facilitating a generous donation of medicines valued at US$70,000 (approximately Rs 23 million) from Unimed Sdn Bhd, a well-known Malaysian pharmaceutical company, aimed at supporting Sri Lanka’s healthcare system.

Recognizing the significance of this humanitarian initiative, SriLankan Airlines, in a commendable gesture, provided free transportation for the consignment to Sri Lanka. Geetha Rubasundram, an Exco member of the Federation of Malaysia-Sri Lanka Organizations (FOMSO), generously sponsored the local freight forwarding charges associated with this endeavor.

This substantial donation of medicines will make a significant impact on the ongoing efforts to address healthcare challenges in Sri Lanka, particularly in ensuring the availability of specific essential drugs for the benefit of the nation’s citizens.

Colombo (LNW): State Minister Janaka Wakkumbura has revealed a significant initiative under the Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government.

An allocation of Rs. 9 billion has been earmarked to bolster the health and education sectors in all nine provinces.

Furthermore, he unveiled plans for the transition of 8,400 non-permanent employees in local government agencies under the Provincial Councils to permanent government service, pending cabinet approval.

State Minister Wakkambura made these announcements during a press conference at the Presidential Media Centre, themed ‘Collective Path to a Stable Country’ on the 2nd of November.

Full Statement:

“The use of “GIS” and “GPS Mapping” technology enables us to capture the coordinates of all the roads within local government jurisdictions, facilitating the creation of a comprehensive road inventory in accordance with the Local Government Act of 1987/No. This system has already been successfully implemented in the North Western Province. A Cabinet paper was submitted and approved on the 09th of October marking a significant step towards extending this method to cover all provinces. Remarkably, we have managed to accomplish road mapping that eluded completion for 36 years, within a relatively brief span of one and a half years.

Notably, the North Central and Northern Provinces have made substantial progress in identifying roads and mapping their coordinates. We have set a target to complete this work in these two provinces by the 31st of December this year. Subsequently, a timeline will be established for the remaining six provinces, along with training initiatives to achieve our goals in 2024.

In addition to our mapping efforts, we are actively engaged in a project supported by the World Bank through our ministry. This project allocates Rs. 09 billion to enhance the health and education sectors across all nine provinces. Out of this amount, Rs. 4,500 million will be dedicated to improving healthcare services. By the end of June next year, we aim to address the health-related issues in the respective provinces.

Furthermore, we are committed to providing another Rs. 4,500 million to address deficiencies in schools across these provinces. This project is slated to commence in January and is expected to be completed within a six-month timeframe.

Additionally, we have a plan to transition 8,400 non-permanent employees currently working in local government agencies under the provincial councils into permanent government service once the cabinet grants approval. These dedicated individuals have served for approximately 15 years. With a vacancy of 10,000 positions within the provincial councils, over 6,000 have already been designated as multi-purpose workers. By the 10th of this month, we are actively working to fill the remaining vacancies with multi-purpose development officers.

Furthermore, we anticipate the completion of software development related to the online system for assessment payments, fines and property transfers within the next two weeks. The initial phase will see the introduction of online payment methods in the Central Province and Western Province by the end of this month.

In addition, a noteworthy project is on the horizon. Under the financial support of the Korean Government, the solid waste processing and sanitary landfill project is set to commence in January 2024. This project aims to address the waste management challenges faced by the districts of Badulla and Vavuniya, as well as all local government bodies.”

Colombo (LNW): The Indian government has revealed plans to construct an additional 10,000 houses for estate workers in Sri Lanka as part of ‘Phase 4’ of the Indian Housing Project.

Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made this announcement during the ‘Nam 200’ event, which marks 200 years since the arrival of Indian Origin Tamils (IOT) in Sri Lanka.

She praised the success of ‘Phase 3’ of the project and noted that 3,700 houses out of the 4,000 agreed upon have already been provided to the beneficiaries.

The foundation stone for the first batch of the 10,000 houses under ‘Phase 4’ was laid during the ‘Nam 200’ celebrations, emphasising India’s commitment to supporting the wellbeing of IOTs in Sri Lanka and enhancing connectivity between the two nations.

Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa, along with five others, has been acquitted from the Gowers Corporation money laundering case.

The Colombo High Court cleared them of the charges, which were filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The case alleged that they were involved in money laundering amounting to Rs. 30 million through Gowers Corporate Services (Pvt) Limited, which provided coordinating services to SriLankan Airlines.

The charges had been brought against Rajapaksa and five directors of the company on 11 counts related to money laundering between 2013 and 2014.

The investigations began after a complaint by Wasantha Samarasinghe, Convener of Voice Against Corruption, who claimed that Rajapaksa had purchased shares of a company called Hello Corp and established Gowers Corporate Services (Pvt) Limited, allegedly using Rs. 125 million earned through illegal means.

Colombo (LNW): The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has ordered former state officials, including ex-President Maithripala Sirisena, to disclose their assets and liabilities as they have failed to pay full compensation to the victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

This order comes after the Supreme Court previously ruled that they must compensate the victims.

Former President Sirisena was ordered to pay Rs. 100 million, former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando Rs. 50 million, former Head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) Nilantha Jayawardena and former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara Rs. 75 million each, and National Intelligence Chief Sisira Mendis Rs. 10 million in compensation.

The former officials must submit their asset and liability affidavits by December 30, 2023.

Colombo (LNW): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry initiated a two-week Orientation Programme for Sri Lanka’s Heads of Mission designate. 

Minister Sabry outlined key foreign policy priorities of the government under President Ranil Wickremesinghe. 

The Heads of Mission will play a crucial role in supporting Sri Lanka’s economic recovery. The programme will cover various areas, including trade, investment, employment, tourism, consular affairs, and public diplomacy. 

It will also include visits to several provinces and interactions with private sector and civil society representatives. Ten newly appointed Heads of Mission will undertake these roles.

• Ambassador-designate to Italy Satyajit Rodrigo (SLFS), 
• Ambassador-designate to Egypt Madurika Weninger (SLFS), 
• High Commissioner-designate to Bangladesh Dharamapala Weerakkody (SLFS), 
• High Commissioner-designate to Singapore Senerath Dissanayake (SLFS), 
• Ambassador-designate to Belgium and the European Union Chandana Weerasena (SLFS), 
• High Commissioner-designate to India Kshenuka Senewiratne (retd. SLFS), 
• High Commissioner-designate to Pakistan Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, 
• Ambassador-designate to Nepal Air Marshal Sudharshan Pathirana, 
• Ambassador-designate to Cuba Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, and 
• High Commissioner-designate to the UK Rohitha Bogollagama.