By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has replaced the 20-year-old air operation communication system at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake, with the latest Digital Voice Communication Switching System (DVCSS).

The Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited has installed the new system at the Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) at the airport.

The system, made in Italy according to European standards, has been installed at a cost of Rs.670 million.

With Voice Over IP technology, it has the potential to instantly connect air traffic controllers at the ATCT with the flight, all due airports, and the radar tower, enabling simultaneous communication, clarity of communication, and credibility at a very high rate.

The installation and maintenance of the system are carried out by Sri Lankan engineers at the Electrical, Electronic, and Aviation Engineering Division of the airport. The total installation also includes a VHF air-ground communication system.

The official launch of this new DVCSS took place at the initiative of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, with the first call through the system from Katunayake to Ratmalana airport.

“The airspace and airports have been designated as safe zones, and the International Civil Aviation Organization has extended us a special commendation on this,” Minister de Silva said.

He also said that the old radar system at Piduruthalagala being used at present will also be replaced with a new radar system using the latest technology available in the world. “This will take place by October,” he said.

The Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. (AASL) has suspended some times back the awarding of a tender to a French company which has a dubious record internationally,

AASL Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) had been considering the awarding of a planned radar system in Piduruthalagala to a French company called Thales Group, despite its chequered history, until the intervention of the AASL Chairman Major General (Rtd.) G.A. Chandrasiri.

Upon the receipt of a complaint made by the Retired Engineers Association (REA), General Chandrasiri had suspended the awarding of the tender and ordered an internal investigation into the tender process.

The Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. Has been directed to expedite the project calling for expression of interest from international and local bidders for joint venture project.

By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to bolster the recovery of stressed small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and praised Sri Lanka’s steadfast dedication to rebound from the economic crisis.

The assurance was extended by ADB Country Director Takafumi Kadano during a meeting with State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe held at the Finance Ministry recently.

Kadano shared insights into forthcoming projects in Sri Lanka, particularly in the power sector.

He commended the success of ongoing projects in Sri Lanka with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank. He further said that the ADB is ready to provide funds to restructure several state-owned enterprises.

The ADB has allocated US$ 786 million for Sri Lanka this year for implementation of 27 projects

State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe said that Sri Lanka is discussing with ADB for a credit guarantee scheme worth $200 million, to support SMEs.

“This scheme will be established and implemented by the Ministry of Finance. The discussions are progressing well,” he said.

He added that the government is very concerned about the SME sector and is keen to get them out of the furrow. “The SME sector is hit the hardest by the pandemic, and the ensuing economic crisis.

We are looking at many avenues to emerge from the bad situation.” He also said the government is expecting the banks to pass on the benefits to the sector by lowering inflation rates and reducing interest rates.

He said “We do understand the banks’ constraints but with improving economic indicators, we expect the banking sector to help out the small and medium entrepreneurs.”

SMEs make up 52 per cent of the GDP and 45 per cent of national employment.

The Ministry of Finance is negotiating another two loans with the ADB. Finance Ministry officials said that one is for banking sector stability worth $200 million and the other one is $100 million worth of loans for power sector reforms. “The banking sector stability loan is to be finalized by early next month,” one official said.

Recognizing Sri Lanka’s commendable efforts in steering clear of a crisis, ADB Country Director Takafumi Kadano highlighted the potential for progress that often emerges from adversity and expressed optimism about the ability to transition towards a sustainable, long-term economic trajectory.

With an unequivocal commitment to sustained support, Kadano underscored that the ADB’s assistance would remain resolute, especially in alignment with the initiatives of the International Monetary Fund.

He reiterated the ADB’s keen interest in conducting an in-depth study of Sri Lanka’s SME sector to identify and implement effective support mechanisms.

State Minister Shehan Semasinghe also appreciated ADB for continued assistance throughout the crisis and subsequent recovery phases.

Shedding light on the segment most severely impacted by the crisis, he emphasized the vital role of SMEs in the economic fabric, urging their swift revitalization. He highlighted the Government’s efforts in providing concessions to revive these enterprises and underlined the pressing need for additional support.

Colombo (LNW): Beneficiaries of the ‘Aswesuma’ Welfare Benfit Scheme will be able to access their funds via banks from either tomorrow (29) or the day after (30), announced Finance State Minister Shehan Semasinghe.

During the initial phase, 800,000 families will be eligible for the welfare benefit scheme, he noted, reminding that the funds required will be transferred from the Treasury to the banks today (28).

Meanwhile, appeals and objections have been meticulously reviewed, and disbursements related to the month of July will take places in this regard, he added.

By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka government has embarked on another project of collecting personal data of the people for a digital database at grama niladhari divisional level in addition to similar initiatives of setting up of various databases for e–passport, e–national identity card, e-driving licence etc.

The aim is to Utilize this community – based database of ‘e – Grama Niladhari’ project instead of the previously existing house holders’ register.

According to the document issued to the public via grama niladhari countrywide, the ministry of public administration and home affairs, it has been planned to eliminate obstacles in providing development project benefits to the people.

Another objective is to create an environment free of irregularities and corruption in obtaining public services at grama niladhari divisional level.

Preliminary work of creating e-grama niladhari project data system has been completed at present.

People will have to fil forms distributed by grama niladhari these days among households divulging almost all of their personal details including email address, passport number,driving licence details, mobile number and the number of residential phone., bank account number.

It is also compulsory to provide highly personnel details of details of bank account, monthly income, and the extent of housing land if there is any employment, etc.

Numerous issues have erupted due to issuance of certificates pertaining to residency based on electoral register by the Grama Niladhari officers and not implementing the methodology of maintaining the householder head list.

By now ‘e – Grama Niladhari’ project has been inaugurated under the State Ministry of Home Affairs and a house and citizens database is being developed while it has been planned to implement throughout the 14,022 Grama Niladhari divisions under several phases.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal submitted by the President as the Minister of Defence to conceptually accept the database of ‘e – Grama Niladhari’ project as the national database for the requirements of previously existing householders list method.

Householders’ lists are confined to only basic details of the house holder and occupants and the current comprehensive system includes all personnel details.

Quite apart from exposing confidential details ,there are the inherent risks of holding the nation’s entire identity information in a central database that is accessed by various government — and possibly private — entities, several social activists , community organizations and socio economic experts claimed.

The system immediately becomes a magnet for hackers. In the age of cyberwarfare and the usual sloppiness with which information security is treated by those in the Sri Lankan government, this should be a serious concern, they complained.

As a whole, the system opens itself up to all sorts of abuse by errant individuals or organized groups. Having access to people’s linked data on all activities the person has with the state, their family and perhaps bank details is a worrying amount of information that could be at few people’s disposal, they added.

The scheme is also easily converted into a system of mass surveillance that can be used to target dissidents, political opponents and others. All it requires is the right political moment and the wrong people in power. This needless to say is an enduring risk in Sri Lanka.

Colombo (LNW): Principals and teaches engaged in evaluating the G.C.E. Ordinary Levels Examination this year have been granted a two-day work leave on Monday (28) and Tuesday (29).

The evaluation process of the OL answer scripts was commenced on August 18 and concluded on August 27.

Earlier, OL exam evaluators demanded that an allowance of Rs. 2000 be granted, and the Subject Minister responded that he has already taken steps to address the matter.

Colombo (LNW): Inmates visitation privileges have been restored at the Galle Prison, following the measures taken to neutralise health hazard occurred due to an infection.

Accordingly, relatives of inmates at the Prison have been granted another opportunity to pay a visit, said the Prisons Department.

The prison authorities clarified that prisoners will not be removed from prison premises any longer, and measures have been taken to control the disease spread.

Earlier, visits and prison affairs were restricted due to an outbreak of Meningococcal disease, which is caused by Meningococcus bacteria.

Two inmates died due to the illness while several others were hospitalised.

Previous reports:

1. KPMG Tax and Regulatory Principal Suresh Perera says that, in line with the IMF conditions and Cabinet approval, SL authorities will be ready to impose Wealth Tax, Inheritance Tax, Gift Tax and Capital Gains Tax from 1January’25 onwards: analysts point out that such capital taxes are considered “draconian”, and have been discontinued worldwide many decades ago.
   
2. State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon says Defence authorities have ordered a crackdown on those responsible for causing deliberate forest fires: adds that fire belts will be set up at the earliest to prevent further infernos.
   
3. Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe says that the insurance company relating to the MV X-press Pearl disaster has expressed willingness to pay USD 878,000 plus LKR 16 mn for the damage caused by the X-Press: previously, several politicians had stated that Sri Lanka stands to receive around USD 6,000,000,000 (six billion US dollars) as compensation for the disaster.
   
4. State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe says that out of the 15 lakhs of beneficiaries who have been selected, the Welfare Benefits Board will disburse payments related to the month of July to the banks on Monday for the 8 lakhs of beneficiaries whose information has been confirmed correctly.
   
5. Defence Ministry spokesman says that approval has been granted for the Chinese vessel ‘Shi Yan 6’ to carry out research on Sri Lankan waters with NARA, based on a request from NARA & the Foreign Ministry.
   
6. Johnson Liu, CEO of Hambantota International Port Group of the Hambantota International Port says the HIP has joined hands with the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Small Enterprises Development Division to bring about progressive change for entrepreneurs in the Hambantota District: asserts the HIPG is creating meaningful opportunities for small-scale entrepreneurs in the region.
   
7. Ministry of Finance officials say the Treasury is preparing to create an Asset Management Company (Bad Loans Bank) to take over the toxic assets of the banks and ring-fence these assets for the banks to move forward: also say this proposal was approved by the last budget, but progress was very slow.
   
8. Export Development Board’s Director (Export Agriculture) Janak Badugama says the EDB is to introduce the first geographical indication (GI)-certified (Ceylon) cinnamon products to the market by October’23: asserts that achieving the certificate was a “herculean task”.
   
9. University Grants Commission Chairman Prof Sampath Amaratunga says that although there should be 12,992 university lecturers, currently there are only 6,548: laments there is a drastic brain drain and the university teachers and non-academic staff were leaving the country en masse.
   
10. Three top bowlers, Dushmantha Chameera, Wanindu Hasaranga and Lahiru Kumara, ruled out from the Asia Cup Cricket tournament, due to injuries: as the defending Asia Cup champions, Sri Lanka to meet Bangladesh on August 31 at Pallekele, Kandy.