Colombo (LNW): Two Covid related deaths were reported from the Kinigama and Akbar Town Grama Niladhari Divisions of Mahara, confirmed Daily Mirror.
According to Mahara MOH Dr. Nihal Gamage, the two had died due to the infection of Coronavirus.
The deceased, 81, female and 80, male, who were residents of Kinigama and Akbar Town respectively, were lacking vaccines against the virus, one of whom had not received either of the doses and the other, only one dose.
With the two deaths confirmed, the total number of Covid related deaths has mounted to 16,844 since the pandemic’s inception in Sri Lanka.
Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has been recognised as one of the safest countries to travel in 2023, said ‘Worldpackers,’ a global travel watcher that connects travellers with hosts all over the world who seek information on housekeeping, bartending and farming, among other things.
Sri Lanka, accordingly, has been listed among 13 of the safest countries to travel this year, reassuring the government’s objective to make the island nation a safe destination for all travellers.
It is also noteworthy that Sri Lanka and Japan are the only Asian countries listed as safe to travel.
The safest countries to travel according to Worldpackers are: 1. Iceland 2. Switzerland 3. Denmark 4. New Zealand 5. Canada 6. Spain 7. Portugal 8. Ireland 9. Japan 10. Finland 11. Austria 12. Sri Lanka and Rs. Rural UK.
Delight to see #visitsrilanka on the list. Only Sri Lanka and Japan from Asia. One of the main objectives is to make Sri Lanka a safe destination for all travelers and further measures will also be taken to strengthen the safety of travelers. https://t.co/3ImhYVAT7F
WION: India and Sri Lanka stepped up their talks to proceed with trade in Indian Rupee as New Delhi and Colombo look set to expand their bilateral cooperation in “power and energy sector as well as aspects relating to Rupee trade”.
Dr Pramod Kumar Mishra, a cabinet rank official in India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration, met with Sri Lankan High Commissioner Milinda Moragoda in New Delhi on Friday to continue the bilateral dialogue between two South Asian neighbours on a number of issues, including on debt restructuring matters crucial for Colombo’s economic recovery.
“The High Commissioner stressed the vital role that economic integration between the two countries could play in Sri Lanka’s economic recovery,” an official readout stated.
“High Commissioner Moragoda also followed up [Pramod Kumar Mishra] on a range of issues pertaining to the bilateral relationship that had been discussed during their last meeting in February,” the readout added, while referring to a previous round of bilateral talks between New Delhi and Colombo that addressed former’s support for latter’s economic recovery alongside aforementioned matters of bilateral cooperation.
“The matters discussed included further economic integration between Sri Lanka and India, enhancing Indian investments and tourism in Sri Lanka, ways and means to further promote bilateral trade, cooperation in power and energy sector as well as aspects relating to Rupee trade,” the official readout stated further.
Several banks in Sri Lanka have opened special rupee trading accounts, called Vostro accounts. This means that Sri Lankan citizens can now hold $10,000 (₹8,26,823) in physical form and for transactions with their Indian counterparts, they can use Indian rupees instead of US dollars.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration since July 2022, has been looking to bring countries that are short of dollars, into its rupee settlement mechanism.
Designating Indian Rupee as a legal currency in Sri Lanka has provided India’s coastal neighbour at its south much-needed liquidity support to help tide over its economic crisis amid inadequate availability of the US dollar.
Meanwhile, India’s finance ministry has asked the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) to proceed with an awareness campaign to sensitise stakeholders about the rupee trade.
Colombo (LNW): Following the controversial appearance of ex Minister Wimal Weerawansa’s wife Shashi Weerawansa at a free food distribution (dansala) event held by ex President Mahinda Rajapaksa in front of his official residence in Wijerama, Colombo, more details into the story have begun to appear contradicting Weerawansa’s strong stance against the Rajapaksas, involving a telephone conversation allegedly taken place between Basil Rajapaksa, the National Organiser of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader.
The alleged telephone conversation has taken place between Basil Rajapaksa, Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila, Leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, in what SLPP sources described as an invitation to the Ruling Party MPs gone rogue to set aside the differences and rejoin the SLPP to put the once most powerful political alliance in the known history back in track.
It is interesting to note that the story of the alleged telephone conversation appears in the backdrop where both Gammanpila and Weerawansa have been strong advocates against Basil Rajapaksa for the last two years.
Rajapaksa has allegedly told the two that there is no benefit to be gained by the current separation in their political stream, adding that the factions they represent may reach a point of no return in politics considering the current trend in Sri Lanka, should they continue to oppose the formation of an alliance, hence the invitation to reassemble being made.
Despite Gammanpila and Weerawansa not making any comment on the story, the NFF Leader’s wife’s presence at a chick pea dansala sanctioned by the Rajapaksas has improvised speculation that a major political blow is about to take place.
Weerawansa’s wife has already been convicted in a passport scandal and has been sentenced to serve in prison but is out on bail, and Weerawansa himself has been subjugated to a series of pending trials. Weerawansa laments that he is being targeted by the CIA and the FBI, but needless to say that their political games have always been instrumental in turning the tables in Sri Lankan politics.
Colombo (LNW): Showery condition is expected to continue further over most parts of the island due to an atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, the Natural Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology issued an advisory warning.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, North-Western and Northern provinces and in the Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts, and showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in Eastern and Uva provinces during the afternoon or night, the Department of Meteorology said in a statement today (07).
Strong winds about (40-50) kmph can be expected at times over western and southern coastal areas and in the western slopes of the central hills.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Marine Weather:
A low-level atmospheric disturbance is over the South-east Bay of Bengal will gradually develop into a low-pressure area and then into a cyclonic storm in next few days.
Fishing and naval community are requested to be attentive to future forecasts issued by the Department of Meteorology in this regard.
Condition of Rain: Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the sea areas around the island.
Winds: Winds will be south-westerly over sea area around the island and wind speed will be (20-30) kmph. Wind speed may increase up to (40-50) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Colombo to Hambanthota via Galle and Matara.
State of Sea: The sea areas off the coast extending from Colombo to Hambanthota via Galle and Matara will be fairly rough at times. The other sea areas around the island will be slight to moderate.
Temporarily strong gusty winds and very rough seas can be expected during thundershowers.
01. Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki welcomes the recent launch of a coordinated debt restructuring programme for the bilateral creditors of Sri Lanka, with Japan, India and France announcing the start of the process in April; says it is “essential to improve debt data transparency and accuracy to prevent future debt crises.”
02. Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella takes swift action to combat the spread of dengue in several parts of the island: 31,098 cases reported this year alone, situation said to be critical and requires urgent attention: Gampaha district reports the highest number of cases (6,953), followed by Colombo (6,500).
03. Two Covid-19 related deaths reported from the Kinigama and Akbar Town Grama Niladhari Divisions of the Mahara Grama Niladhari Division: First two deaths in the area after one and a half years since the pandemic: One of the deceased said to have not received any dose of the vaccines, while the other only one dose: The death toll mounts to 16,844.
04. Adverse weather conditions affect at least 9,000 individuals belonging to 2,000 families in 11 districts across the island: The Disaster Management Centre says steps taken to evacuate residents from the flood-affected areas of Katana, Rubber Watta and Gomaswatta in the Gampaha district.
05. Police bust a large-scale racket of stealing and selling oxygen cylinders from the Polonnaruwa General Hospital: 06 suspects arrested, including a hospital employee: Racket said to be in operation since 2020: 210 government-owned oxygen cylinders stolen in this manner: Suspects to be produced before the Polonnaruwa Magistrate Court: Further investigations conducted.
06. Sri Lanka included among 13 of the safest countries to travel in 2023 by ‘Worldpackers’, a global website that connects travellers with hosts, all over the globe, who need help with things like housekeeping, bartending, and farming: Tourism Minister Harin Fernando says delighted to see only Sri Lanka and Japan are included in the list from Asia.
07. Tourism Minister Harin Fernando says Sri Lanka is expecting to attract 2 million visitors from India this year; reveals in the first three months of 2023, Sri Lanka welcomed 46,432 Indian tourists; asserts around US$ 530 million earned in the 1Q of 2023, compared to US$ 482.3 million in the same period last year; stresses the aim is to generate a total of US$ 3 billion in tourism revenue this year.
08. The Indian Marine Police say ten more refugees, including three children and four women from Mullativu reached India’s Dhanushkodi islet on a vessel: Preliminary inquiries reveal that the ten people had decided to leave Sri Lanka following the economic crisis, and the prices of essential goods touching new highs: Refugees reported to have lamented that they were not getting jobs regularly to survive.
09. President Ranil Wickremesinghe during the gathering of the Commonwealth leaders convened in London emphasises the importance of the Commonwealth playing ‘a more significant role’ in supporting education reforms that encourage youth involvement and bolstering connectivity through digitisation.
10. Former Indian Captain MS Dhoni says Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana should not play Test Cricket instead focus on shorter version of the game; stresses Pathirana is ‘a great asset’ for Sri Lanka and therefore, “should play less ODIs and all the ICC tournaments”: Pathirana took 3/15 runs in his 4 overs in Chennai Super Kings comfortable win against Mumbai Indians.
Yesterday (05), a meeting of the Commonwealth of Nations’ heads of state was held in London, with the presence of King Charles III and President Ranil Wickremesinghe. The event saw President Wickremesinghe extending his congratulations to King Charles III and engaging in a friendly conversation. Notably, Prof. Maithrie Wickramasinghe was also present at the gathering.
During the meeting, President Wickremesinghe emphasized the importance of the Commonwealth playing a more significant role in supporting education reforms that encourage youth involvement. He also called on the Commonwealth to strengthen connectivity through digitization.
Additionally, President Wickremesinghe held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana, to discuss ways to reinforce ties between their countries.
Meanwhile, Prof. Wickramasinghe participated in the Fireside Chat program, which ran alongside the Leaders Meeting. This program offered a platform for discussions on various topics and issues related to the Commonwealth and its members.
The Sri Lanka Air Force Academy in China Bay is set to receive a brand new auditorium, courtesy of a grant from the Indian Air Force. The foundation stone for the construction of this new facility was jointly laid on Thursday (4) by Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, the Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, and Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana.
Located inside the academy next to the gymnasium, the new auditorium is set to accommodate up to 700 people, with 565 seats in the main hall and 135 on the balcony. The construction period is intended to take six months.
The new facilities will be fully air-conditioned and consist of a stage with sound and lighting, a control room, VIP room with washroom, ticketing and information office, dressing rooms for males and females, separate washrooms for males and females, and landscaped premises with parking space.
The new auditorium will benefit all trainees at the Academy, including Student Officers of Junior Command and Staff College, Officer Cadets in the Ground Training Wing and NCOs of Non-Commissioned Officers Management School.
The ceremony, which was attended by a cross-section of officers and airmen representing the Sri Lanka Air Force, as well as other Indian Air Force visiting dignitaries, was a memorable occasion blessed by representatives from multiple religions. President of the Indian Air Force Wives Welfare Association Neeta Chaudhari and Chairperson SLAF Seva Vanitha Unit Charmini Pathirana were also in attendance.
Sri Lanka government is going all out to regularise commercial banks and strengthen state owned banks by introducing new banking act soon
The IMF in its staff report released in March 2022 said the finalisation and adoption of the new Banking Act should help achieve required goals.
An entirely new Banking Act is to be passed by the Cabinet in June 2023 and approved by Parliament in December 2023 as IMF structural benchmarks
The Cabinet of Ministers at its meeting on Tuesday approved the resolution presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, to publish the Banks (Special Provisions) Bill in the Government gazette and table it in Parliament for its approval.
The move follows the Attorney General clearing the bill prepared by the legal draftsman. The proposed bill is expected to supplement the existing Banking Act No. 30 of 1988.
The new legislation once enacted will strengthen the Central Bank’s crisis management powers ensure that the state-owned banks meet the same regulatory requirements as private banks, including on large exposures, related party lending, and governance.
The regulatory and governance framework for state-owned banks will also be strengthened. The Banking Act will ensure that the state-owned banks meet the same regulatory requirements as private banks, including on large exposures, related party lending, and governance.
The Act will include binding time-bound transition periods for the reduction of existing large exposures to SOEs. In parallel with broader reforms to SOE governance, the framework for appointment of directors and senior managers for state-owned Licensed Commercial Banks.
Licensed Specialized banks will be changed to ensure that nominees are independent, have clear periods of appointment, and possess appropriate professional experience.
Clear mandates will be defined to ensure that state-owned banks are run at arm’s length and lend to SOEs on a commercial basis.
They will be supervised by the CBSL and within standard prudential requirements as defined by the Banking Act, including for concentration risk, foreign currency lending, and the suitability and independence of board members and senior executives. New nomination and appointment processes will be defined for directors and management.
Accounting for more than 70 percent of domestically-owned bank assets as of end-June 2022, including the two largest state-owned banks and the three largest private sector banks, based on a Terms of Reference to be agreed with IMF staff.
It has been defined to ensure that state-owned banks are run at arm’s length and lend to SOEs on a commercial basis.
Reinforcing its commitment to the nation, Unilever Sri Lanka, has embarked on a journey to localise the production of its malted food drink brands with the commencement of the construction of its first Malted Beverage Plant at the Lanka Industrial Estate Limited (LINDEL) zone in Sapugaskanda.
Unilever at present manufactures 97% of all its products in Sri Lanka at its manufacturing facility in Horana and local third-party manufacturing sites and the latest venture will enhance its locally manufactured portfolio further.
This will come in the form of an investment of Rs. 4 billion and will manufacture Viva and Horlicks, as part of its journey of nourishing a million Sri Lankan lives.
Adapting state-of-the-art technology, the plant is equipped with Vacuum Bran Dryer technology which helps ensure the quality and consistency of products.
This ensures a sustainable supply of high-quality Viva and Horlicks products, enriched with the goodness of malt and barley to enable Sri Lankan families to start their day with the energy required to keep them active throughout the day.
The foundation stone ceremony saw the participation of Unilever Sri Lanka Chairperson and Managing Director Hajar Alafifi, BOI Director General Renuka Weerakoon and District Secretary of Gampaha Darshana Pandikorala.
Over the past 85 years, Unilever has been deeply rooted in Sri Lankan society, curating a landscape that preserves and nurtures the true Sri Lankan way of life.
It is one of the largest Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies in the country. The company has invested over Rs. 19.8 Billion in local manufacturing capacity to date.
State Ministry of Investment Promotion Secretary M. M. Nayeemudeen said: “Unilever’s investment in the new Health Food Drinks plan is a testament to Sri Lanka’s potential as an investment destination.
This investment not only creates employment opportunities but also strengthens the local economy by reducing the dependence on imports.
It is commendable that Unilever is not only investing in the country’s growth but also contributing to the nation’s food security through the production of high-quality malted food drink brands. We welcome Unilever’s continued commitment to Sri Lanka, and we look forward to more investments in the future.”
Board of Investment and Colombo Port City Economic Commission Chairman Dinesh Weerakkody said: “In the midst of economic challenges, it is indeed refreshing to see companies like Unilever supporting the country’s growth and development through meaningful investments.
Unilever Sri Lanka Chairperson and Managing Director Alafifi said: “Unilever began its journey in investing behind Sri Lanka’s future 85 years ago. Investing in our new Malted Beverages plant, will not only minimise forex outflow for imported products but also creates over 125 direct employment opportunities and much more indirect employment, to help further stimulate economic growth,he added
