Among the charge-sheeted persons are C Gunashekharaan alias Guna and Pushparajah alias Pookutti Kanna, Sri Lankan nationals who run a drug syndicate in the island nation and work closely with Pakistani drugs and arms supplier Haji Salim, the NIA said.

Hindustan Times: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge sheet against 13 persons, including Lankan nationals, in its probe into the India-Sri Lanka illegal drugs and arms trade case relating to attempts to revive the activities of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in both countries, the agency said on Friday.

Among the charge-sheeted persons are C Gunashekharaan alias Guna and Pushparajah alias Pookutti Kanna, Sri Lankan nationals who run a drug syndicate in the island nation and work closely with Pakistani drugs and arms supplier Haji Salim.

Salim, as reported by HT on April 30, works with the Pakistani spy agency ISI and handles almost the entire maritime smuggling of drugs and arms to India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and other nearby countries.

The agency said that the charge sheet was filed on Thursday against three Indians and 10 Sri Lankan nationals as they conspired with each other to exploit the illegal drugs trade in India and Sri Lanka for funding, amassing and stashing weapons for the revival of LTTE in India and Sri Lanka.

“The drugs were being sourced from one Haji Salim, who is suspected to be residing in Pakistan. The accused persons had been using various foreign WhatsApp numbers to carry out the clandestine trade,” said an NIA statement.

“Investigations in the case had exposed their conspiracy to fund the revival of LTTE through the drug trade. They were arrested (last year) at the Trichy Special Camp. Investigations had further revealed that the accused were using the proceeds of crime to live a lavish life. Several mobile phones with pre-activated Indian SIM cards were seized from them. NIA also seized various digital devices, documents relating to drug transactions, cash to the tune of ₹80 lakh and nine gold bars during the investigations. This cash and gold were proceeds from the sale of narcotics and were being channelled through hawala networks between Chennai and Sri Lanka. Several transactions using Crypto platforms were also unearthed between the accused,” the statement added.

Three Indians named in the charge sheet are Selvakumar M, Vigneshwara Perumal and Iyyapan Nandhu.

Besides Guna and Kanna, eight Sri Lankans named include Mohammad Asmin, Alahapperumaga Sunil Ghamini Fonseka, Stanly Kennady Fernando, Dhanukka Roshan, Ladiya, Vella Suranga, Thilipan and Danarathnam Nilukshan.

While Vicky and Nandhu were arrested in April this year, the others were arrested in December 2022.

The federal agency is probing at least four cases related to conspiracy to revive the activities of LTTE.

In October 2021, a former intelligence officer of LTTE – Satkunam alias Sabesan was arrested in a probe into the seizure of five AK47 rifles, thousands of rounds of 9 mm ammunition and 300 kg of heroin from the fishing vessel Ravihansi, which was intercepted by the Coast Guard off the coast of Minicoy in Lakshwadeep on March 18, 2021.

Source: Hindustan Times

Colombo (LNW): A total 75 suspects have been arrested this year over cyber crimes, Police said.

These arrests were updated in a statement by the Computer Crimes Investigation Division of the Sri Lanka Police.

Police are urging the public to remain vigilant of cyber crimes, which are common in occurrence these days.

Colombo (LNW): The government is planning to digitise the Education Sector, as part of its programme to digitise all government services, said Education Minister Susil Premjayanth, addressing a programme held today (17) at Temple Trees for the grant of National Institute of Education teachers.

A total of 2,355 teacher appointments were granted to the Western Province and national schools under the leadership of the President and the Minister. The remaining faculty appointments were granted simultaneously in eight provinces.

The National Institute of Education teaching diploma will be extended to four years and developed into a degree, the Minister went on, adding that the teachers who have completed the diploma will be given the opportunity to develop it into a degree.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): Two acting Cabinet Ministers have been appointed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, following his departure to the United Kingdom and France this (17) morning.

Accordingly, Finance State Minister Shehan Semasinghe has been appointed as the Acting Minister of Finance and Defence State Minister Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon as the Acting Defence Minister.

These two will serve in the positions until the President’s return.

PMD: President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized the importance of English education and infrastructure development in the next five years. He expressed his commitment to promoting English as a national language and ensuring that teachers and necessary resources are provided for its effective teaching. The President also highlighted that the opportunity should also be given to learn languages such as Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, and Arabic and should not be limited to English alone.

These remarks were made by President Ranil Wickremesinghe during his address at the national ceremony for awarding teacher appointments to National Education Diploma holders for the 2018-2022 academic year. The event took place at Temple Trees this morning (16).

President Wickremesinghe, who presided over the ceremony, awarded 1,729 teacher appointments for national schools and 626 appointments for the Western Province. Similar appointments were also made for the other eight provinces, resulting in a total of 7,342 National Education Diploma holders receiving appointments on this day.

Furthermore, the President emphasized the government’s commitment to establishing an education system that extends beyond the year 2050. He recognized that human resources are vital for the country’s economic development and highlighted the teachers’ responsibility in preparing the future workforce. President Wickremesinghe stressed the need to develop the export economy and make necessary changes to the education system to prevent future economic crises, despite the current economic stability in the country.

President Wickremesinghe further said;

“First of all, I would like to extend my congratulations to all of you who are receiving appointments today. I am aware that due to the challenges posed by the Covid pandemic and the political situation in the country, you had to dedicate an additional two years to your education. I would also like to express my gratitude to the deans and teachers who have provided you with this education during these difficult times.

When I served as the Minister of Education in 1985, we initiated the establishment of the Colleges of Education. It has been 38 years since the Faculty of Education was established, and during this time, significant changes have taken place. Back then, mobile phones were nonexistent, and computers were limited and mainly produced by American and British companies. Today, those companies have faced bankruptcy, and computer manufacturing has shifted to countries like China and India, where they possess the necessary expertise. This shift signifies a significant change and the addition of new knowledge.

We find ourselves in the 21st century, yet our education system still reflects the practices of the 20th century. As a government, we are committed to creating an education system that aligns with the demands of the 21st century.

We are currently facing an economic crisis, and in order to move forward and prevent future economic crises, we must improve our trade balance and generate revenue through exports. Consequently, we need to develop an education system that aligns with these objectives.
The key resource for building our economy is our human resource, which is nurtured by our teachers. Therefore, it is crucial that we enhance our teacher resources to strengthen our economy.

To address these matters, we have formed a dedicated ministerial committee for education, tasked with discussing and making decisions regarding education. The National Education Commission has already submitted a report, and a group representing various sectors, chaired by the Prime Minister’s Secretary for Education Modernization, has also been appointed.

We expect to receive all these reports by the end of August, with the aim of creating an education system suitable not only for the present but also for the year 2050, considering the changing needs and demands of the future.

We must ensure that students do not drop out of school after completing the eighth year or failing the GCE O/L examination. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the government to provide 13 years of schooling to every child, a commitment we have undertaken. Accordingly, adjustments should be made to school education.

Talented individuals in music and art should be given the opportunity to develop their abilities. Scandinavian countries provide such opportunities, and we should also implement similar programs that encompass not only Advanced-level subjects but also essential life skills.

There is a question regarding the necessity of conducting the Ordinary Level examination if students are to complete 13 years of education. Some argue that a general examination is unnecessary, and we can look to countries like the United States, the most developed nation in the world, where such an examination does not exist. While completely eliminating examinations may not be feasible for us, we must deliberate on how to structure them, whether it be in a different format or as a pass/fail assessment.

If we are providing 13 years of education, it is our duty to ensure that the examinations are conducted accordingly. Currently, the exam dates fluctuate, with A-level examinations taking place in different months from January to December. Therefore, it is crucial that we pass legislation mandating the A-level examination to be held in December. This way, the Examination Department bears the primary responsibility of conducting examinations within the specified timeframe.

I was 21 years old when I completed my university education, but now it is recommended to complete university studies by the age of 23. Times have changed, and there are many new subjects and fields of study available today. Among them, the English language has become incredibly essential. It is almost unthinkable for anyone to feel that they can get by without knowing English.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, many Sinhala writers and literary figures were influenced and nurtured by the English language. Prominent figures such as Ven. Sri Sumangala Thera of Hikkaduwa, E.R. Sarathchandra, and Martin Wickramasinghe all developed their talents through English education. Therefore, it is crucial that we establish a program to provide English education to all. The first step is to ensure an adequate number of English teachers. This program should not be limited to the next five years; rather, it should pave the way for English to be recognized as a national language. Despite English not being the official language, many of our documents and files are still maintained in English. However, we must not stop there. We have also created opportunities for learning languages such as Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, and Arabic.

Furthermore, our university system needs to be modernized. We must decide whether the duration of university education should be three or four years. Additionally, our state universities should undergo modernization to meet the evolving needs of our students.

Presently, around 40,000 students enter universities each year, while some choose to study abroad, and others pursue higher education in various institutions. Consequently, we are working towards establishing state universities, national universities, and non-state universities to accommodate the increasing demand. Moreover, we have decided to provide loans with subsidized or no interest to students studying in non-governmental universities and higher education institutes.

Unlike other countries, where students have the freedom to choose their subjects, in our country, the government decides what each student should study. We need to reform this system and grant students the right to choose the subjects they are passionate about.

Looking ahead, none of us can accurately predict what the classrooms will be like in the next 15-20 years. We must explore how we can embrace technologies like artificial intelligence and adapt our teaching methods accordingly. With advancements like Chat GPT, teaching approaches will undergo a complete transformation in the future. We are currently experiencing a significant era of change, and it is essential that we embrace and move forward with these technological advancements.”

Expressing his views, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardane said;

 “Starting today, I am bound by a profound responsibility and duty to contribute the educational training and knowledge I have acquired towards the development of our country. It is my role to fulfill the hopes of the new generation and nurture them with new knowledge, creating a future generation that is equipped with the necessary tools for success. This is a time where both responsibility and duty play a vital role in our education, and knowledge has become a valuable asset in fulfilling these tasks.

The knowledge that an individual acquires cannot be destroyed by any material possession. It is now my entrusted responsibility to utilize the unique training I have received and impart it to our children and students across various subjects. By doing so, I contribute to shaping a generation that will build a strong and prosperous future for Sri Lanka.

During the time when our current President served as the Minister of Education, he initiated the establishment of science faculties and provided specialized training to a generation of teachers. Today, I continue to walk this path, playing my part in imparting knowledge to the students of our nation, who will grow up to become resilient citizens of Sri Lanka.

Despite the existing economic challenges, the President has demonstrated unwavering support for the education sector and its endeavours. We are empowered to work towards a society where strong and knowledgeable children emerge from our schools. Each one of us must remain committed to striving for our desired goals in the realm of quality education.”

Minister of Education Dr. Susil Premajayanth;

 “The introduction of the National Educational Institutions Act of 1985 and the Colleges Act of 1986, by the President during his tenure as the Minister of Education, marked a significant milestone. It granted us the opportunity to deploy teachers in our school system after completing a three-year training course.

Currently, there are approximately 250,000 teachers serving in 10,135 public schools across our country. A staggering 4.1 million children are enrolled in government schools, while an additional 150,000 students attend private and international schools.

The primary objective of this program was to ensure that schools are staffed with trained and qualified teachers. As part of ongoing efforts, proposals are being implemented to transform the existing three-year courses offered by 19 faculties of education into four-year programs that produce graduates instead of diploma holders. Additionally, those who have completed their training as diploma holders are now provided the opportunity to further their qualifications up to the level of graduation through institutions such as the National Institute of Education.

Furthermore, we have developed plans to facilitate the provision of necessary facilities and opportunities for pursuing postgraduate degrees.

These initiatives signify our commitment to enhancing the quality and professionalism of our teaching workforce. By extending the duration of the training courses and offering advanced educational opportunities, we aim to equip teachers with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in their roles and contribute effectively to the education sector.”

Ministers Wijayadasa Rajapaksha, Prasanna Ranatunga, Vidura Wickremanayake, State Ministers Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Piyal Nishantha, Suren Raghavan, Aravind Kumar and Members of Parliament, Western Province Governor Roshan Gunathilake, Secretary of the Ministry of Education M.N. Ranasinghe, Western Province Chief Secretary Pradeep Yasaratne, Additional Secretaries of the Ministry of Education, People’s Bank Chairman Sujeewa Rajapaksa, and Deans of the Faculty of Science were present on this occasion.

1. SJB MP Niroshan Padukka exposes a major Bond Scam that has been allegedly carried out by the Central Bank top management from 31st May 2023 to 2nd June 2023: reveals the modus operandi of the scam: says the loss to the Govt is several billions of Rupees: analysts call for immediate independent CID probe.
   
2. President Ranil Wickremesinghe says concerns about issuing broadcasting licences have been puzzling: also says the new media laws do not seek to limit media freedom: alleges “Electronic media” set fire to his house in which about 3,000 books were destroyed: asks whether breadcasting licences are to be granted to carry out acts of arson: charges the media has been manipulating the public to propagate dangerous views.
   
3. Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar says “Foreign hostile elements” want Pakistan to default on its debt just like Sri Lanka and then enter negotiations: stresses Pakistan would meet its obligations with or without the IMF bailout package: asserts Pakistan is a sovereign country and can’t accept everything the IMF demands.
   
4. President Ranil Wickremesinghe leaves for an official visit to the UK and France: State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe appointed Acting Finance Minister and State Defence Minister Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon appointed Acting Defence Minister.
   
5. Kankesanturai Harbour renovated to be suitable to operate the passenger ferry service between India and Sri Lanka.
   
6. Sri Lanka’s largest automotive company, David Pieris Motor Company launches “e-drive”, a model electric 3-wheeler (tuk-tuk) taxi service for public transportation for the first time in Sri Lanka.
   
7. LKR in a roller-coaster ride: suddenly appreciates against the USD after a week’s fall, as per the opaque reports of CBSL: analysts puzzled as to why the LKR has been appreciated by the CBSL by nearly Rs.10 per USD on Friday 16th June, even while “hot-money” investors flee with about USD 29 mn during the week: several analysts call for probe into these “hot-money” transactions and ad-hoc LKR fluctuations.
   
8. Communiqué issued by the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization & National Policies to announce the liquidation of 2 state departments, Internal Trade Dept and Telecommunications Dept.
   
9. All Island Jewellers Association Treasurer R. Balasubramaniam calls on Govt to lift the ban on gold imports to ease upward pressure on prices and ensure industry’s viability: Colombo’s Sea Street is renowned for its gold trade, and the prices set in this area serve as a benchmark.
   
10. Consultant Cardiologist at the National Hospital of Colombo Dr Anidu Pathirana says air pollution has increased the risk of heart disease in SL like elsewhere in the world: asserts its impact on human health is now coming to the forefront with new research.

By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW):The Finance Ministry has been directed to devise strategies to limit growth in the public sector wage bill and further prune the already shrinking government work force after a steady increase in spending on salaries via a hike of Rs-2,500- Rs.10.000 in 2019 and Rs 5,000 from January 2022.

At present the public service has shrinked by 135,000 to 1.393 million by the end of 2022 from 1.528 million in 2020 by removing some of them from service or allowing to vacate their posts or voluntary retirements.

This includes employees in ministries, departments, district secretariats, divisional secretariats, provincial council’s and State Owned Enterprises (SOEs).

Accordingly, the public sector employment recorded a decline in 2022 to 1.393 million compared to 1.401 million reported in 2021 due to the reduction of employment in SOEs.

Another reason was the introduction of the scheme of extending leave for a five-year period to public sector employees to travel overseas for employment.

More than 2,000 public sector employees have obtained extended leave for a five-year period to work on overseas and the number job seekers for foreign employment is rapidly increasing , finance ministry top official said.

The scheme was introduced last year to tackle the economic crisis and prune government spending

This was indicated in the data of the Department of Management Services of the Ministry of Finance.

Excessive cuts to capital spending and public sector allowances and additional payments have been avoided and fiscal space for capital spending will be constrained, a senior finance ministry official disclosed.

A special “conception paper” issued by the Manpower and Employment Ministry recently has suggested extensive public sector expenditure and job cuts claiming that that more than 50 percent of government income was being used to pay salaries and allowances to 1.7 million public sector employees at that time.

The paper identified that during COVID-19 pandemic restrictions about 30 to 50 percent of public sector employees were called in to work and that only 50 percent out of its 1.7 million workforce was needed to maintain public services at that time.

This warrants the government to cut more than 850,000 public employees to increase the productivity in the public service.

Other job curtailment and budget cutting plans, which will push a large numbers public sector workers and their dependents into poverty and starvation, are currently being discussed by the cabinet of ministers.

According to the State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, the government has spent Rs 956 billion on State sector salaries, while Rs. 701 billion is estimated for salary payments in 2023.

Further, the State Minister said that the Government has not yet decided on the exact amount by which it will reduce the current State sector workforce of about 1.4 million, but added that new recruitments have been indefinitely suspended.

The Government has also reduced the retirement age of the State sector to 60 from 65 in an attempt to curtail the State sector workforce.

By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW):Sri Lanka is now gearing up to adopt a new path towards a competitive, open, green, and digital economy that is socially just, especially focused on the export market, and built for the benefit of today’s youth and children.

To achieve this goal, the country must break away from the old political system and embrace change.

Sri Lankan fiscal and monetary authorities have just started discussions with the bilateral creditors on debt restructuring of US$ 7.1 billion out of the total $25.9 billion owed to external creditors.

It is now holding debt restructuring talks with Paris Club members together with India, while discussing with China separately.

Three baseline restructuring scenarios” with six-year maturity extension for all of them and nominal haircuts ranging from 15 per cent to 30 per cent, with higher coupons corresponding to lower haircuts have already been proposed reliable official sources said.

Each of the three baseline scenarios also implies roughly equal net present value relief of 23-28 per cent at the IMF’s preferred 5 per cent discount rate.

Sri Lanka indebted $7.1 billion to bilateral creditors, according to official government data, with $3 billion owed to China, $2.4 billion to the Paris Club and $1.6 billion to India

In a latest progressive move, the government has decided to appoint five youth representatives to both the Selection Committees and Monitoring Committees of the Parliament, which will be completed by May.

Additionally, the government will present the Jana Sabha draft bill to the Parliament, following former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya’s proposal.

To make this objectives a reality everyone should be united and work together towards building a new, competitive, and sustainable economy that is inclusive and just for all communities in Sri Lanka.

As the government strive towards this common goal, the opposition parties in parliament should extend the support to ruling party’s progressive measures without jumping up against every proposals frequently barking at each and everything making use of parliamentary privileges wasting valuable time of the legislature.

The uncertain political situation and heightened fiscal, external, and financial sector imbalances pose significant impact for the outlook.

Growth prospects depend on debt restructuring and growth enhancing structural reforms. At the same time, fiscal consolidation will likely dampen these prospects, with the fiscal deficit expected to gradually fall over the medium-term.

Inflation is projected to come down from a high base as monetization of fiscal deficits is reined in. The current account deficit is expected to decline due to import compression, despite decelerating exports as result of weak global demand.

Additional resources will be needed in 2023 and beyond to close the external financing gap

As per the latest economic indicator report of the Central Bank Headline inflation, as measured by the year-on-year (Y-o-Y) change in the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI, 2021=100) decreased to 35.3% in April 2023 from 50.3% in March 2023.

The lower level of realized inflation compared to the projections made, was mainly due to higher than expected price decreases observed in Volatile Food and Non-Food items

At the time of changing administration, the inflation rate was at 70 percent. By the end of last month, it had decreased to 50 percent and nw35 percent while the government aims to bring it down to single digits by the end of this year.

The foreign reserves, which were previously zero, now stand at US$1.3 million, and commodity prices are decreasing.

The cost of living is still way too high, but the rate of inflation appears to have been declining. But Consumer prices were soaring at unbearable levels. At almost any other point in the past 40 years, that would be alarmingly high.

But the inflation seems to be a significant cool down to 35.3% in April 2023 from 50.3% in March 2023. It’s also the lowest inflation rate in nearly a year. If this trend continues, it could significantly lower the risk of a recession.

The No. 1 headache, the cost of living for consumers for much of this year has eased considerably as the fuel and gas prices have now been slashed bringing expectations among the people of impending the ease of skyrocketing of essential commodity prices.

Fuel prices of the CPC revised with effect from midnight on Sunday 30 in April. A litre of 92 Octane Petrol reduced by Rs.7 to Rs.333, 95 Octane Petrol reduced by Rs.10 to Rs.365, Diesel by Rs.15 to Rs.310 and Super Diesel by Rs.135 to Rs.330

Price of a Litro LP Gas 12.5kg cylinder reduced by Rs.100 with effect from midnight on Wednesday 03 and the new price will be Rs.3,638.5kg cylinder reduced by Rs.40 and the new price Rs.1,462;2.3kg cylinder reduced by Rs.19 and the new price will be Rs.681.

‘Several inherent weaknesses’ and ‘policy lapses’ of the previous regime have triggered the severe economic problems that engulfed Sri Lanka, the country’s central bank said in its annual report released recently.