Colombo (LNW): Secretary to the Ministry of Information Technology Prof. Niranjan Gunawardena has reportedly decided to resign from his position.
Prof. Gunawardena also serves as the Chairman of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka and recently has been appointed as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa.
Gunawardena’s decision to resign from his position as the Secretary to the IT Ministry comes upon the pressure exerted by what speculators describe as ‘a higher fist’ to award the digital identity card tender to a well known blacklisted company, sources said.
Gunawardena, on the other hand, responded to the speculations stating that he has decided to resign from his position at the Ministry due to being appointed as the Vice Chancellor of the Moratuwa University.
Colombo (LNW): Showers will occur at times in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts, and several spells of showers will occur in Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (29).
Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in Uva province and in Ampara, Batticaloa and Mulathivu districts during the evening or night, the statement added.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
On the apparent southward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka during 28th of August to 07th of September in this year. The nearest towns of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (29) are Palavi (Kilinochchi District), Chalai (Mulathivu District) about 12.11 noon.
Marine Weather:
Condition of Rain:
Showers may occur at several places in the sea areas off the coast extending from Colombo to Matara via Galle.
Winds:
Winds will be south-westerly and speed will be (30-35) kmph. Wind speed may increase up to (50-55) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Hambantota to Pottuvil, and from Puttalam to Trincomalee via Mannar and Kankasanthurai. Wind speed may increase up to (40-45) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Hambantota via Colombo and Galle.
State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coast extending from Hambantota to Pottuvil and from Puttalam to Kankasanthurai via Mannar may be rough at times. The sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Hambantota via Colombo and Galle may be fairly rough at times.
Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Urban Development has taken steps to implement a project to improve the convection facilities in the Sigiri region which will generate a huge income for the country from tourism.
The project is being implemented at a cost of US$15million under the assistance of Asian Development Bank (ADB) with the aim of improving tourism facilities, rural development, income generation and investment promotion in Sigiriya region.
Sigiriya tourism zone will be developed under nine sub projects under the ministry of urban development and housing minister Prasanna Ranatunge disclosed adding that this project will be foreign exhnge money spinner after its completion.
The nine sub projects include new car parks for surrounding villages, improvement of sanitary facilities and the Sigiriya entrance road, establishing an information centre at Sigiriya, conservation of Mapangala archeological site,and rehabilitation of Sigiri Lake and the , establishment of a heritage path from Ramakele to Pidurangala.
The othersubprojects are the conservation of the archaeological site surrounding Kaludiya Pond, improvement of infrastructure facilities at Inamaluwa Lake for recreational activities, development of infrastructure for tourist and recreational activities centred on Galewela Lake, and development of a solid waste management system in the Digampathana area.
The Sigiriya Rock Fortress was listed as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, making Sri Lanka the only Asian country to make it onto the list along with six other iconic sites appealing to the new age traveller with a thirst for adventure.
These marvels include archaeological and natural treasures spanning far wider than the ancient Greek world and catering to all types of modern explorers
Dating back to King Kashyapa in the fifth century A.D., Sigiriya is the “perfect amalgam of human-made treasure and natural wonder” enthuses Bloomberg.
Known as Lion Rock — a reference to the paws sculpted into the base of the 660-foot-tall stone — it includes elaborate cisterns and gardens, frescoed caves, and a winding stairway to the crowning citadel.
Sri Lanka Tourism has strategically embarked on developing Sigiriya, a World Heritage site, into a sustainable destination under the National Sustainable Destination Certification (NSDC) initiative.
Sustainable tourism is essential to protect natural, cultural, and environmental resources which are critical for the wellbeing of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. If these valuable resources are not sustained, Sri Lanka could see dwindling tourist numbers in the future.
Colombo (LNW): In the wake of the government’s efforts to collect highly personal data for e-grama niladari project distributing forms to be filled by the people and handed over to grama nildaris this week has created public confusion, civil society activists said.
The right to privacy includes the right of individuals to lead their lives in a manner that is reasonably secluded from public scrutiny, and the right to make personal decisions regarding their lives, they claimed.
The importance of privacy and the multitude of practises through which privacy is breached are not fully appreciated by policymakers, businesses as well as the general public in Sri Lanka.
Proposed reform such as the revival of the National Register of Persons recommendations for invasive surveillance methods2 as well as violations of privacy,in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic3 raises grave concerns, especially in the absence of legislative protection of the right to privacy in Sri Lanka, several leading legal luminaries pointed out.
These developments, among others, need to be closely monitored, and wide debate and awareness generated on their potential implications and risks.
Sri Lanka government has already embarked on another project of collecting personal data of the people for a digital database at grama niladari 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 existed house holders’ register.
According to the document issued to the pubic via grama niladaris countrywide, the ministry of public administration and home affairs, it has been planned to eliminate obstacles in providing development project benefits to the people.
People will have to fil forms distributed by grama nildaris these days among households divulging almost all of their personnel 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
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 existed 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 organiastions 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.
Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan government, in its bid to stimulate the country’s economy, has announced plans to ease import restrictions on an additional 300 items, State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya disclosed.
The move, set to take effect next week, is expected to further invigorate the nation’s domestic markets and foster economic recovery.
This policy shift comes on the heels of a similar decision made a month ago, when the government relaxed import controls on 300 different items.
The previously relaxed list included a wide variety of goods, such as electronic equipment, sanitaryware, and various food items, which took effect on June 9.
The relaxation of import restrictions is part of a broader government strategy aimed at easing supply chain constraints, improving the availability of goods, and stabilizing market prices.
Sri Lanka is looking at demand, domestic substitutes, and its foreign exchange position in relaxing the country’s import restrictions which have been in place since March 2020, as the country phases out control measures under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
He said that in the approach, the criteria the Finance Ministry had considered were items that had no domestic substitute, items that were essentials for agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and other industries.
Despite these progressive measures, Siyambalapitiya clarified that import restrictions on vehicles are likely to remain in place for the foreseeable future.
He cited the country’s current economic conditions as the primary reason for this ongoing restriction. This announcement may come as a disappointment to many potential vehicle buyers and importers who were hoping for a relaxation of vehicle import restrictions.
The government’s decision to maintain vehicle import restrictions has stirred concerns within Sri Lanka Customs.
Officials recently communicated their apprehensions to the Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on National Economic & Physical Plans.
The main point of contention lies in achieving the set target revenue. With the ongoing vehicle import restrictions, meeting these targets becomes significantly more challenging.
The Government has already relaxed 638 HS codes including those of commercial vehicles since June 2023, but imports declined from May to June from $ 1.46 billion to $ 1.38 billion with a slight reduction in export numbers from $ 1.01 billion to $ 1 billion.
The government’s dual approach reflects its delicate balancing act: on one hand, it seeks to boost economic activity by loosening import restrictions, and on the other hand, it remains cautious about overextending the country’s economic capacity by keeping restrictions on potentially high-cost imports like vehicles.
As Sri Lanka navigates its way through these economic challenges, the focus remains on managing the financial health of the nation while also ensuring that consumer needs are adequately met. How these dual objectives are balanced will undoubtedly be the subject of ongoing scrutiny and debate.
Colombo (LNW): Drastic disinflation after 19 months in double digits, questions regarding the impact of the domestic debt optimisation framework (DDO) and its impact on the fiscal outlook, and an easing of import restrictions are among the most recent vicissitudes on the minds of businesspeople.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka informed that the rate of inflation as measured by the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) on a year-on-year basis reduced to 6.3 percent in July – down from 12 percent in the preceding month. The last time single digit inflation (9.9%) was recorded was back in November 2021.
As for the long awaited DDO, the proposed restructure is expected to knock off around 1.5 percent of GDP and the authorities have directed their attention towards restructuring rupee denominated debt on the country’s superannuation funds.
Continuing its downward trend, the LMD-Nielsen Business Confidence Index (BCI) fell by 20 basis pointsa five month low , an exclusive release from leading business magazine LMD notes.
Confidence Index (BCI) shed 20 basis points in August to register 73. The index was last in the 70s range in March and the 20 point fall is the highest since February when the BCI surrendered 23 points.
The barometer’s overarching trend therefore, has been one of a downward spiral, having briefly gained ground in April and crossed the psychologically important 100 mark for three consecutive months. It reached a peak of 108 in April before falling back in July.
So the unique index is now 14 points shy of its average for the last 12 months (87) and eight notches lower than where it stood a year ago (81).
Financial sector volatility and a statement by the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka that the rupee will move in both directions – and not be a one-way bet – under a flexible exchange rate regime has led to a sense of caution in biz circles.
September will be a crucial month as an IMF staff team is scheduled to visit Colombo for the first review of it Extended Fund Facility (EFF) loan programme.
If approved by both the staff and executive board following this visit, the Washington-based lender of last resort will release its second disbursement of around US$ 338 million. Needless to say, the country needs this injection of funds and the confidence that goes with it.
Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has cautioned that declining global oil inventories, reduced production from OPEC+ members and record high demand could drive crude prices for the rest of this year.
The IEA asserts that world oil demand, which reached all-time highs in June and August, may increase further in the coming months.
NielsenIQ’s Market Leader – Sri Lanka Adrian Hakel says that “barring any significant developments in the coming months, it is highly unlikely that the BCI would see a significant positive upturn.”
Likewise, LMD stands by its assertion in recent months that the index will remain in negative territory – the tangible rewards of disinflation are unlikely to manifest in the near future.
Colombo (LNW): Products and services with Sri Lankan characteristics, strengths and competitiveness are welcomed to China’s vast market with a population of over 1.3 billion.
Sri Lanka is endowed with unique geographical advantage and natural environment, so there are many products (such as black tea, gems and jewelries, rubber, etc.) with special Sri Lankan characteristics.
The deepening of China-Sri Lanka economic and trade exchanges and the first CIIE have made more Chinese consumers get to know and like Sri Lankan products.
This will not only expand Sri Lanka’s exports to China and reduce its trade deficit, but also better meet the needs of Chinese consumers, which is undoubtedly a win-win situation.
Sri Lanka is to seize the opportunity of China’s actively expanding its open market, and constantly try and explore, so that the country’s products can better meet the needs of the vast number of Chinese consumers.
In this way, the mperticipation of trade fairs and expositions has become the avenue of opening the gate way for two countries and Sri lanka to achieve economic growth and mutually beneficial development and common prosperity.
The Department of Commerce under the Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Food Security successfully organised the participation of 58 Sri Lankan companies at the China-South Asia Exposition held for five days in Kunming.
This was an ideal opportunity for Sri Lankan companies to showcase their products to the Chinese market and find new buyers, ministry of trade sources said.
Trade, Commerce and Food Security Minister Nalin Fernando visited the Kunming Expo and encouraged Sri Lankan companies to promote Sri Lankan products in the lucrative consumer market in China. Furthermore, it was an opportunity to understand the dynamic E-commerce and Social media marketing strategies used in the Chinese market.
Further the Minister chaired the Sri Lanka side of the bilateral meeting with the Department of Commerce of Yunnan province and expressed the close collaboration to establish Sri Lanka particularly with Yunnan province.
Officials of the Department of Commerce of Sri Lanka, the Officials of the Department Commerce of the Yunnan province and the Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing represented at the bi-lateral talks.
Kunming Expo has been a major trade expo over the years and could be a great platform for strengthening bilateral trade collaboration. Further the opportunity was used to discuss the areas of market expansion of Sri Lankan products, market access for new products and capacity building that required entry to the Chinese market.
The companies promoted a range of products such as Gems and Jewellery, Ceylon Tea, Confectionery, Processed food, Cashew, Spices, Coconut Kernel products, Batiks and Handicraft.
Colombo (LNW): Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has called for an immediate report on the alleged use of internationally banned pesticides in Sri Lanka, following a disclosure made by the Centre for Environmental Justice that around 40 types of hazardous pesticides which are internationally banned are currently being used within the island.
The Minister, accordingly, called for an immediate report on the allegation from the Secretary to the Ministry, and instructed Gunadasa Samarasinghe, the Agriculture Ministry’s Secretary, to take action as soon as possible.
The Registrar of Pesticides responded to the claim of banned pesticides being utilised in Sri Lanka, stating that no approval has been granted so far for the utilisation of internationally banned pesticides.
PMD: Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles emphasised that necessary measures have been taken as a responsible government to stop hindrances to the lives of the people. He further stated that the program to suppress the underworld has already been implemented under the instructions given by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The Minister also pointed out that the police department is working on a non-political agenda and is always committed to protecting the law and order of the country at the highest level.
These statements were made by the Minister of Public Security, Tiran Alles, during his presence at the press conference held at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) today (28) under the theme ‘Collective Path to a Stable Country.’
Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles further stated;
‘Currently, the Police Department is working on a non-political agenda. All the necessary facilities have been provided. It has been about a year since the current government took office, so not everything can be accomplished within a year. However, the Police Department has undertaken a significant amount of work. The Police Department currently comprises around 85,000 officers. The ministry has developed a special program to eradicate narcotic drugs from the country. Underworld activities in the South have been on the rise consistently. Due to this, the Special Task Force, the police and other security forces jointly started special operations in such areas. As a result, it has been possible to eliminate to some extent the underworld activities in the southern province. At present, there are a number of reports of shootings between groups of underworld gangs. They murder each other. Necessary measures have already been taken to stop such activities of the underworld gangs. Security forces have also been instructed to shoot if necessary. As a responsible government, no activity that harms the lives of the people will be tolerated.
Following President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s instructions, we provided the Catholic Church with a copy of the complete investigation report concerning the Easter attack. The Catholic Church should also extend its support to the police investigations into the Easter attack.
In the Department of Immigration and Emigration, which falls under my ministry, we have initiated the process of issuing passports through an online system. In the past, various types of scams occurred. Now through this new online system, we have completely stopped the possibility of such fraudulent activities. There are 51 centres that have already been established island-wide to facilitate necessary fingerprint scanning for new passports. Therefore, people can have their passports delivered to their doorstep within a few days.
We have taken the necessary steps to enhance the facilities related to the efficient operation of the department. In some cases, system errors and crashes may occur. Therefore, we must implement modern technology to prevent such issues.
We have taken steps to register all NGOs with the National Secretariat for NGOs and measures will be taken to prohibit any NGOs that are not registered.”
Colombo, August 28, 2023 – Today marks a significant milestone for Visa, the global leader in digital payments, celebrating its 35-year anniversary in Sri Lanka. This journey encapsulates the company’s unwavering commitment to the nation and signifies the pivotal role Visa has played in helping the country transition towards a comprehensive digital economy. Celebrating the milestone, Visa announced a pledge of LKR 13 million to The Asia Foundation to help support women-led small businesses in Sri Lanka.
Chris Clark, Chairman for Asia Pacific, Visa, while reflecting on this journey said, “Visa has become an intrinsic part of Sri Lanka’s financial fabric over these past 35 years. Our vision goes far beyond transactions; our purpose is to uplift everyone everywhere and in doing so, we aim to empower individuals, businesses, and the wider community. We’re thrilled to launch Visa Government Solutions in the market, while also strengthening our dedication to local small businesses in Sri Lanka.”
To commemorate this occasion, Visa is pledging LKR 13 million to improve the economic outcomes of women-led small and medium businesses (SMBs) across Sri Lanka. In partnership with The Asia Foundation, Visa will provide seed funding to a group of selected women-led SMBs. In addition, funding will also aid skills development, knowledge sharing and collaboration, as well as promote financial inclusion among women-led small businesses.
Over the years, Visa has introduced pioneering payment solutions, catalyzing the transition from cash to digital transactions among consumers and businesses alike. Visa has been instrumental in digitizing crucial sectors such as small businesses and transit and tourism, all essential for growth in the nation’s post-pandemic trajectory to recovery.
In its latest endeavor to enhance the nation’s payment infrastructure, Visa plans to introduce Visa Government Solutions (VGS) in Sri Lanka. With the VGS suite of solutions, Visa aims to partner with the government to modernize its payment systems, promoting efficiency in making and receiving payments, reducing fraud, and supporting the overarching goal of building a digitized economic framework.
Sandeep Ghosh, Group Country Manager for India and South Asia at Visa, shares his vision on strengthening this alliance, “By introducing Visa Government Solutions to the country, we aim to further strengthen our relationship with the Sri Lankan government. By helping improve government payment systems, we will continue to demonstrate our commitment to helping the nation’s digital transformation agenda.”
Throughout its journey, Visa has built robust relationships with financial institutions, merchants and FinTech partners – an ecosystem of partnerships aimed at strengthening Sri Lanka’s digital economy.
Avanthi Colombage, Country Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives at Visa, says, ” The essence of our 35 years in Sri Lanka lies in transforming and simplifying the payments landscape. We have consistently driven growth and financial inclusion over the years and remain committed to accelerating the country’s digital transformation in the coming years. With continued support and guidance from the Government of Sri Lanka and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, we stand ready to play an expanded role in the nation’s progress.”
Over the years, Visa has continued to enjoy unflinching support from its partners, consumers, and the wider Sri Lankan community. As the company looks forward to the journey ahead, it remains committed to championing a socially and economically inclusive digital future for Sri Lanka.
