To avoid losing benefits, applicants must provide accurate information by March 31
The program initiated on the instructions of President Ranil Wickremesinghe to identify those eligible for welfare benefit payments has completed the information verification for over 2.2 million applications received during the on-going survey and verification process.
Mr. Saman Ekanayake, the Secretary to the President, has instructed officers to accelerate the eligibility verification process for welfare allowances pertaining to 3.7 million applications received from 340 Divisional Secretariat Divisions throughout the island.
As a result, the majority of applications that have been confirmed and finalized are from the Matara district, accounting for 82.1% of all applications.
The data verification process has validated the information of 2,227,888 applications from all over the island. Among them, 78.3% were from Ampara district, 74.5% were from Kalutara district, 73.3% were from Galle district, and 71.7% were from Anuradhapura district. (See Annexure 01)
As the information survey work is set to conclude on March 31st, the government urges applicants to provide accurate data to the officials conducting the survey with utmost urgency.
It should be noted that failure to provide correct information by the deadline may result in the denial of welfare benefits, and therefore, the government emphasizes the importance of timely and accurate information submission.
Effective from Friday, March 31, 2023, the Ministry of Transport has announced a reduction in the minimum bus fare for Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) and private buses. The minimum bus fare will now be lowered from Rs. 34 to Rs. 30. The ministry has further added that the revision of other fares will be notified tomorrow, March 30.
Regarding the reduction of fuel prices announced by Minister Kanchana Wijesekara, the new prices starting from midnight today are as follows:
The price of petrol will decrease by Rs 60, resulting in a new price of Rs 340. The price of diesel will decrease by Rs 80, resulting in a new price of Rs 325. The price of petrol 95 will decrease by Rs 135, resulting in a new price of Rs 375. The price of super diesel will decrease by Rs 45, resulting in a new price of Rs 465. The price of kerosene will decrease by Rs 10, resulting in a new price of Rs 295.
In response to the ongoing strike by several trade union leaders and workers against the privatization of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), the CPC has taken action by sending disruptive trade union leaders and workers on compulsory leave starting today. The CPC has also implemented an entry ban on these individuals at both the CPC and the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited (CPSTL).
The CPC has assured the public that all other employees will be allowed to enter the premises and continue with the fuel distribution process. In the meantime, the Minister of Power and Energy, Kanchana Wijesekera, has urged the public not to panic over fuel shortages, while the Police and armed forces have been deployed to assist with the fuel distribution.
Furthermore, Minister Wijesekera announced that fuel distribution has commenced at the Kollonawa and Muthurajawela terminals since 6 am today, and there are sufficient stocks of fuel available.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe says SL will become the first country in the region to adopt a green economy, as the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Power and Energy, and the Climate Change Office work together to introduce a green economic policy focused on renewable energy within the next two months.
Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara says seven companies have submitted EOIs for the proposed new refinery in Hambantota; asserts technical evaluation committee and other procurement committees will evaluate EOIs and issue the RFPs to suitable applicants.
Janaka Ratnayake confirms he has been officially briefed on the grounds on which he was removed from the position as the Chairman of the PUCSL; denies all allegations against him; adds that his response will be sent to the Finance Ministry in writing.
Health Ministry’s food inspection unit asserts the certification required for the release of the egg stock imported from India can be completed within this week; adds the process may take at least three days.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, MP Ajith Mannamperuma says two opinions have been raised regarding the lodging of a lawsuit demanding compensation for the eco damage caused by the MV X-Press Pearl disaster; asserts the Committee will be working towards reaching a common agreement in the first week of April; laments no legal clearance is granted to inspect the place where the cargo vessel sank for the calculation of the damage.
Director of Verité Research and economic expert Dr. Nishan De Mel says some more steps need to be taken to build global confidence in Sri Lanka’s economy; adds the next challenges facing the island nation are to succeed its debt restructuring programme and to secure a higher credit rating.
The UNFPA congratulates Sri Lanka on its achievement in developing robust national evaluation capacities, at the policy, institutional, and professional levels: UNFPA delegation commends President Wickremesinghe’s leadership in promoting evaluation, particularly in the public sector, which they say will play a ‘significant role’ in addressing the challenges faced by the country.
Senior Director of the global human rights watchdog Amnesty International Deprose Muchena spills the tea by slamming the Sri Lankan government, in what he suggested as Sri Lanka “being one of the many countries that disrupted the right to protest of the people”; adds human rights came under attack, and repression has taken the course in the most ‘calculated order’; demands ‘transparency’ on the IMF deal so that everything that has been debated in within the public purview.
Veteran singer, songwriter and musician Prof. Sanath Nandasiri has passed away at the age of 81.
A coalition of leading South African human rights groups questions their government’s invitation to Sri Lankan delegates whom they described as individuals with links to alleged ‘war criminals’ for a study tour on reconciliation and transitional justice: A statement by the coalition emphasises that the invitation to Ministers Ali Sabry and Wijedasa Rajapaksa by the SA government is concerning in view of allegations of on-going human rights abuses, the suppression of civil society and a failure by the SL government to ensure criminal accountability for ‘gross human rights abuses’ perpetrated during the 1983 – 2009 civil war.
Sri Lanka’s Permanent Delegate to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Manisha Gunasekera presented her Letters of Credence to the Director General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay on 21 March 2023 at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. The ceremony entailed the presentation of credentials followed by a meeting with the Director General.
At the meeting, Ambassador Gunasekera reiterated Sri Lanka’s strong commitment to maintaining its proactive engagement with UNESCO in areas of shared interest and relevance encompassing education, cultural heritage, environment and the sciences.
Recalling the country’s long standing close relations with UNESCO since the early days of the organization, Ambassador Gunasekera referred to the75th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s membership of the UN body which will be commemorated in 2024. Director General Azoulay welcomed Sri Lanka’s strong and abiding ties with UNESCO as a testimony to the enduring significance of the organization to member states.
The discussion focused on Sri Lanka’s collaboration with UNESCO in sectors of relevance and the means of further enhancing existing cooperation. Director General Azoulay appreciated Sri Lanka’s valued contribution and commitment to UNESCO, and expressed her support towards the country’s continued engagement with the organization.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry, accompanied by the Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, concluded the 3 day working visit to South Africa from 21-25 March 2023.
It is recalled that the Cabinet of Ministers in January this year approved the concept of a Truth and Reconciliation mechanism as proposed by the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Reconciliation, which is chaired by President Wickremesinghe. The proposed concept states that an independent, domestic mechanism of truth seeking is identified as a meaningful way for Sri Lanka to advance and secure peace, after the country’s arduous journey of ending conflict of three decades. The Cabinet also authorized the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Justice to operationalize this concept and to initiate discussions and facilitate the drafting of a Truth and Reconciliation law. It is in support of this process, the current visit took place at the invitation of the South African Government.
During the visit, the two Ministers paid a Courtesy Call on the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and held bilateral meetings with the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa Naledi Pandoor and the Minister of Justice and Constitutional and Constitutional Development Ronald Lamola. They also met with former South African President Thabo Mbeki as well as Roelf Meyer, former Minister of Constitutional Development and one of the chief negotiators, along with President Ramaphosa, for the end of apartheid in South Africa and paving the way to the first democratic elections in the country. Meetings were also held with officials from the Public Prosecutions Office of South Africa, the Pan African Bar Association of South Africa, “Freedom park”, “In Transformation Initiative” and the “Institute for Justice and Reconciliation”.
During the call on President Ramaphosa, the South African President warmly recalled his friendship with President Wickremesinghe and said that he wishes to further consolidate the bilateral relations with Sri Lanka. He further stated that South Africa is committed to sharing their experiences in relation to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission with a view to assisting Sri Lanka in the reconciliation process.
Foreign Minister Sabry and Minister Pandoor exchanged views on important bilateral issues as well as the current situation in Sri Lanka. Minister Sabry especially briefed the South African Minister on the progress being made by the Government of Sri Lanka with regard to national efforts on reconciliation and the promotion and protection of human rights. While acknowledging that the South African model would need to be adapted to the Sri Lankan context, both Ministers agreed to work together in sharing experiences and expertise in developing the contours of a truth-seeking mechanism that would best suit the needs of the Sri Lankan people.
The interactions with the South African Minister of Justice and other experts provided valuable insights with regard to the South African experience in the establishment of their Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Uva, Southern and North-western provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya and Mannar districts during the afternoon or night.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Colombo (LNW): Government has embarked on an ambitious and innovative programme to transform Sri Lanka as first green country in the region with a green economic policy plan.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe has announced his plans to place Sri Lanka at the forefront of green economic policy, with a green economic policy being introduced in the next two months.
Accordingly, he stated that the island nation will become the first country in the region to adopt a green economy, with the Environment, Power and Energy Ministries and the Climate Change Office working together to introduce a green economic policy focused on renewable energy within the next two months.
President Wickremesinghe also committed to facilitating both local and foreign investors who attended the conference, adding that the green economic policy due to be implemented soon will be the first of its kind in the region.
Speaking at a meeting with investors who attended the Sri Lanka Green Energy Summit at the President’s Office on 27 March, the Head of State expressed his gratitude to the investors who participated in the Clean Green Energy Summit, and pledged to provide the necessary facilities to meet their investment requirements.
“Sri Lanka is currently facing two major challenges – debt restructuring and transitioning to green energy. While debt restructuring is already underway, the country must also act quickly to establish a green economy.
It has great potential to generate energy through renewable sources such as solar, wind, bio gas, and sea waves. President Wickremesinghe believes that transitioning to a green economy could be the key to building a stronger economy for Sri Lanka”, the President’s Media Division (PMD) stated.
Mr Wickremesinghe further emphasized on the need for legislation to be passed promptly pertaining to the new policy, adding that the green economic policy is not a short-term program, but a long-term initiative that requires a legal framework.
The President highlighted that Sri Lanka has the potential to become the first in Asia in green energy, thanks to its natural resources and the experienced investors present at the meeting.
He also mentioned the on-going discussion of bringing an oil pipeline from India to Trincomalee, and emphasized the importance of cooperation with South India in moving towards renewable energy.
According to the President, Trincomalee has been identified as a potential port for green hydrogen due to its proximity to the North, which has abundant sources of green hydrogen, renewable energy, and strong wind power in Sri Lanka.
He added that this would create development opportunities for the country and investors, leading to economic expansion and good returns on investment.
Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) had taken measures to empower women Led Businesses to enter international market by Branding through Packaging.
The Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme organized by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) was focused on the theme “Branding through Packaging” to support women-led businesses in Sri Lanka.
The program aimed at enhancing their knowledge on product branding and packaging to help them to enter the international market. The EDB collaborated with Slick, a leading company in Sri Lanka packaging industry, to provide valuable insights and guidance to the participants from their expertise in Branding and Packaging.
The program was organized to coincide with International Women’s Day and is part of the EDB’s efforts to support and empower women led businesses in Sri Lanka to enter the export market.
The Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme organized by the EDB included a knowledge-sharing workshop on “Branding through Packaging” for over 60 women entrepreneurs and a competition for export-oriented women-led businesses.
Six selected winners were awarded valuable certificates and gift vouchers from Slick for availing printing and packaging solutions for individual awardees. This was aimed at helping the women led businesses improve their branding and packaging to better compete in the international market.
EDB Chairman Suresh de Mel stated that Sri Lankan women are more powerful and have the ability to resist any circumstances from their genes. He further added that they need some encouragement and support to awaken their potential and achieve their targets.
The EDB has identified three main areas for development in women entrepreneurship – Capacity Development, Product Development, and Market Development.
These components are crucial to enable leading businesswomen to achieve global success. Many Women Led Businesses face various economic, social, and physical barriers to enter the international market.
The Women Entrepreneurship Development Programmes organized by the EDB since 2018 have helped women entrepreneurs to enhance their knowledge and skills in various areas related to entrepreneurship and identify opportunities in the international market.
Women Led Businesses play a crucial role in driving economic growth and development in a country. Therefore, it is important to support and empower them, especially those with export potential, as they can contribute significantly to the foreign exchange earnings.
Chairperson of Ramya Holdings (Pvt) Ltd,Mrs. Ramya Weerakoon, emphasized the importance of staying up-to-date with the latest industry trends and constantly improving one’s skills and knowledge to remain competitive in the market.
Krishna Ravindran, Director of Printcare Digital Solutions (Pvt) Ltd, also shared him insights. The participation of Ms.Linda Mense, Regional Expert Import Promotion Desk – Germany and Dr. Dilhan S. Jayatilleke, Executive Committee Member, Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing, Mrs. Malani Baddegamage, Acting Director General of the EDB and Officers of the EDB further added value to the program.
