Colombo (LNW): The welfare benefits paid by the government for differently-abled persons will be increased disclosed State Minister of Social Empowerment of Sri Lanka Anupa Pasqual, speaking at a briefing yesterday (16).
Accordingly, the revision on the welfare benefits entitled to differently-abled persons will take place as follows;
Education welfare will rise to Rs. 20,000 from Rs. 10,000
Self-employment welfare will rise to Rs. 40,000 from Rs. 25,000
Welfare for equipment (aid) will rise to Rs. 35,000 from Rs. 15,000
Welfare for housing will rise to Rs. 500,000 from Rs. 250,000
Welfare for house repairing will rise to Rs. 250,000 from Rs. 150,000
Welfare for lavatory facilities will rise to Rs. 100,000
Colombo (LNW): A sudden fire erupted at the Ministry of Finance due to an electrical short circuit earlier yesterday (16 Aug) has been completely doused, ministry sources confirmed.
A fire has reportedly broken out on the second floor of the Ministry of Finance.
Accordingly, a fire has broken at the second floor of the Ministry of Finance located in the Old Parliament building in Colombo.
However, the fire brigade has taken prompt action to extinguish the fire with the support of fire fighters and it has already deployed several fire engines at the location to douse the flames, several officials of the ministry said.
Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka allocates less than two per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on education, which falls well below the international benchmark of four-to-six per cent of GDP and is identified as one of the lowest in the South Asian region, revealed the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in a statement yesterday (16).
These remarks were made during the initiation of a national initiative to help 1.6 million primary school children impacted by prolonged school closures and sporadic disruptions to their education over the past three years, to catch up on their learning.
The initiative is being spearheaded in a joint effort by the Ministry of Education and UNICEF.
85 per cent of Grade 3 children are not achieving minimum proficiency in literacy and numeracy, which is essential in their transition to secondary school and beyond, both in life and work, a Ministry-led national assessment disclosed.
The event was held under the leadership of the Sri Lankan Education Minister Susil Premajayantha, along with the UNICEF Representative for Sri Lanka, Christian Skoog, and was attended by government and development partners.
Currently, Sri Lanka allocates less than 2 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on education, which falls well below the international benchmark of four-to-six per cent, making it one of the lowest in the region, UNICEF emphasised.
“There is an urgent need to increase the national budget allocation for education, especially for primary grades, where we need to boost foundational learning for children, while also ensuring the implementation of vital Education Reforms so that we can build the solid human resource skills needed to support the country’s development,” said Minister Premajayantha.
The learning crisis has affected vulnerable children the most, including younger children in primary grades and those in plantation estates in the country.
“The basics of literacy, numeracy, and social economic skills are the platform on which children build their own, their families, their communities, and their country’s future,” commented Christian Skoog, UNICEF Representative for Sri Lanka. “We commend the MOE for its commitment to undertake urgent efforts to reverse the widening disparities in learning achievement for children who are lagging further behind, including slow learners, and missing out due to the continued hardship the country faces.”
In July, the MOE and UNICEF held a special briefing on ‘Learning Recovery’ to leverage the support of development partners, while more technical-level workshops were held across nine provinces, to identify gaps and prioritise actions.
Colombo (LNW): In a move to ease the process of obtaining vehicle revenue licences, the issuance of revenue licences for all vehicles registered will be implemented in the Central Province from September 01, annouced Transport Commissioner for the Central Province Parami Tennakoon.
The decision in motion will allow drivers having vehicles with registrations in other provinces to obtain their revenue licences from all divisional secretariats in the Central Province.
Currently, revenue licences can only be obtained through the divisional secretariat of the province in which the vehicle has been initially registered.
Colombo (LNW): Power and Energy Minister yesterday (16) called in a special discussion with the Governor of the Eastern Province to develop a plan pertaining to the energy sector in the Eastern Province.
Plans related to renewable energy and the energy policies of the province were discussed between the Minister, the Governor and other officials from the province, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and the Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA).
Concerns were raised on a number of matters, including the progress of the ongoing projects, plans for future ones, the development of the transmission lines in the area, expediting the approval process for the affair, refinery and tank farm operations in the East, and investments on green-hydrogen and land identification.
PMD: A successor Donier-228 maritime surveillance aircraft was handed over to Sri Lanka by India at a ceremony held at the Sri Lanka Air Force Base in Katunayake.
During the bilateral security discussions that transpired between India and Sri Lanka on January 9, 2018, in New Delhi, the potential acquisition of maritime surveillance aircraft akin to the Dornier type from India was brought to attention. The aim was to bolster Sri Lanka’s capabilities in maritime surveillance.
In response to Sri Lanka’s request, the Indian government took proactive measures during these deliberations. They decided to provide a Donier-228 maritime surveillance aircraft, which was part of the Indian Navy’s fleet, to Sri Lanka free of cost for a span of two years. The formal handover of this aircraft took place at the Sri Lanka Air Force Base Katunayake, with Mr. Baglay officiating.
Upon its delivery, the Donier-228 aircraft was instrumental in performing specialized tasks within Sri Lanka over the past year.
Subsequently, it underwent mandatory annual maintenance services in India. In lieu of the aircraft undergoing maintenance, a replacement Donier-228 maritime surveillance aircraft was assigned to the Sri Lanka Air Force at a ceremony held today (16) in Katunanayake.
Since its initial arrival in Sri Lanka, the Donier-228 maritime surveillance aircraft has significantly contributed to numerous operations.
These encompass a spectrum of activities such as monitoring and safeguarding Sri Lanka’s airspace and exclusive economic zone through maritime and coastal surveillance operations, executing search and rescue missions, and monitoring and controlling maritime pollution.
The official handover of the successor aircraft to Sri Lanka was attended by a delegation representing the Sri Lankan Government. This delegation included Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Presidential Chief of Staff Mr Sagala Ratnayaka, HE Gopal Baglay, the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, General Kamal Gunaratne (Rtd) Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and other officials.
PMD: Shashendra Rajapaksa, the State Minister of Irrigation, announced the recent completion and opening of the Diaraba Reservoir as part of the Uma Oya Multi-Purpose Development Project. This achievement brings an additional 120 megawatts of electricity to the national power grid and facilitates the cultivation of 15,000 acres of paddy fields in the Yala basin.
Highlighting the Ministry of Irrigation’s pivotal role, the State Minister emphasized its significant contributions to President Ranil Wickramasinghe’s initiative for bolstering national food production. This concerted effort underscores the nation’s commitment to ensuring food security within the country.
He expressed these views yesterday (16) during a press conference themed ‘Collective Path to a Stable Country’ held at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC).
State Minister Shashendra Rajapaksa further said;
The Ministry of Irrigation plays a substantial role in supporting the national food production initiative led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, ensuring the country’s food security. The management of cultivated land and irrigation water follows a systematic approach.
The Ministry of Irrigation functions as a proactive entity, addressing challenges arising from current weather conditions with effective management. Collaborative efforts are in place, working closely with the Ministries of Agriculture, Plantation Industry, Electricity, and Water Supply, alongside the Department of Wildlife and Forest Conservation. This coordinated approach safeguards water sources, prioritizes agriculture while preserving ecosystems, and caters to drinking water, hydropower, industry, and wildlife needs.
This year’s budget allocations have been strategically utilized for key projects, including the multi-phase climate mitigation program, integrated water resources management project (Dhahara), and Wav Gam Pubuduwa projects.
District-level irrigation plans have been recently devised, prompting the commencement of a repair project for approximately 3,000 identified irrigation structures across 25 districts. Dilapidated culverts and tank embankments are being revitalized through this endeavour.
Significantly, the filling of the Diaraba Reservoir within the Uma Oya Project began on the 13th, marking a notable hydroelectric venture.
This project is set to contribute 120 megawatts of power to the national grid and facilitate the cultivation of 15,000 acres of paddy fields in the Yala and Maha seasons. These outcomes will soon bolster the National Food Security Program.
Moreover, discussions are underway to address drinking water challenges in Monaragala and Badulla districts. To enhance water management decision-making, a mechanism empowered by the legal authority is being established, bringing together various institutions such as the Meteorological Department, Irrigation Department, Mahaweli Authority, and Electricity Board.
In essence, the Ministry of Irrigation is dedicated to ensuring the irrigation water needs for agriculture and enhancing the populace’s nutritional well-being, thus solidifying the country’s national food security.
Colombo (LNW): A few showers will occur in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts, but mainly fair weather will prevail elsewhere over the Island, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (17).
Fairly strong winds about (40-45) kmph can be expected at times in Northern, North-Central and North-Western provinces, and in Trincomalee and Hambantota districts, the statement added.
Marine Weather:
Condition of Rain:
Showers may occur at a few 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 (25-35) kmph. Wind speed may increase up to (45-55) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Hambantota to Pottuvil and Puttalam to Trincomalee via Kankasanthurai and Mannar.
State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coast extending from Hambantota to Pottuvil and Puttalam to Kankasanthurai via Mannar can be rough at times.
Sri Lanka, a small isle under the nipple of India, can only be found valuable so much as long as it shares neighbourhood with one of the biggest states and currently the single largest market in Asia – the Maha Bharat.
The colonists in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries invaded Aisa as they had witnessed the wonders at its centre – India, the land of the gods – not because of some minuscule isle below. The Western colonists saw a toll-like isle under India’s nipple – the Ceylon, and took control of it, foreseeing the potential threat against the security of the Indian Empire the isle might pose, were it to be taken over by some other foreign power adverse to the West, although the West owned India at the time.
The Ceylon now Sri Lanka being a tropical land full of biodiversity notwithstanding, the Isle, even to this day, is found economically and politically critical only in the backdrop where it shares neighbourhood with India. What lies within is irrelevant.
Even today, India finds Sri Lanka an isle of importance against the risk of it being pulled by the strings by China, one of the major adversaries to India, as an observation hub. Otherwise, India finds little or no interest in a small state like Sri Lanka, which literally has almost nothing to offer to the single largest market in Asia.
Sri Lanka falls under the context in which India can easily take over at any given time. However, India needs no tendency to resort to such barbarism in the democratic dynamic of its political landscape. Needless to remind that the United Nations’ troops made no intervention at all when China made multiple attempts in invading Taiwan.
When an Indian fighter craft entered the Sri Lankan airspace and threw lentils on Jaffna in 1987, J.R. Jayawardena, the then Sri Lankan Head of State, who was a pro-American ideologist himself, had sought negotiations with the United States on the matter, but was told that the States, regardless of its close ties with India, could not make an intervention and that the conflict ought to be solved only via negotiation between the neighbours themselves. If truth be told, the Western powers never adopt a grudge with their ‘Asian Agent’ and the single largest market of the Asian Region for the mere benefit of a minuscule and before their eyes a puny land like Sri Lanka.
Last year, Sri Lanka fell onto its knees to suffer the worst economic collapse since Independence, and when all the countries of the world, including China, had abandoned it, India was the only state that offered a US $4 billion debt to prevent the once glorious Isle from becoming another historical Tanzania. India had done so only to avoid the threat it might face, were its neighbour in its worst shape fuelled by anarchy to be taken over by a dictator like China. India, on the other hand, gains no benefit by aiding a bankrupt nation like Sri Lanka.
Notwithstanding the above, the anti-Indian propaganda craved by the Sri Lankans for decades is nothing but an extension of the anti-Tamil ideology endorsed by the Sinhala-Buddhist Nationalism.
The racist anti-Indian propaganda runs into the depths of the Sri Lankan Culture, that it can be better understood by the colourful drawings on the walls depicting fictional battles between the two nations such as the ‘Coming of Ravana’ and ancient Sri Lankan kings like Gemunu, Gajaba and Vijayaba who were deemed ‘heroic’ for fighting battles against ‘Indian Invaders,’ made by racist trendsetters that paved the way for the coming of Gotabaya Rajapaksa almost four years ago.
India was the first state to make an intervention to provide a political solution to the marginalised community in the Northern Region of Sri Lanka, which had been blatantly ignored by the Sinhalese society in the Southern parts, via the adaptation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. Parties who had initially objected to the 13A now begin to acknowledge that India’s intervention on the issue was, in fact, good. Even today, India worrying about the people of the North by no means can be described as ‘a bad thing.’
The real problem is that there are entities whose political vision itself is a tangled ball of yarn in their failure to comprehend anything beyond the halo of sea, waging war against a giant tiger, when they but form the role of an angry vermin.
The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), in partnership with the Confederation of the Indian Industry (CII), concluded the ‘Invest Sri Lanka’ Investor Forum on August 11th at the luxurious Taj Lands End Hotel in Mumbai.
Highlighting the event’s central theme, the forum fervently advocated for increased investment flows into Sri Lanka, drawing the attention of a dynamic audience of over 120 potential investors from Mumbai. Addressing the assembly, Shehan Semasinghe, the State Minister of Finance, delivered a keynote speech that resonated with the objectives of the gathering.
Representatives from the Sri Lankan delegation, including the Chairman of CSE, key figures from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC), the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), and delegates from sixteen prominent Stockbroker Firms, united their efforts to extend an inviting appeal for enhanced investments in Sri Lanka. This call for investment was further amplified by the wholehearted support of the CII.
Distinguished speakers took center stage during the forum, with luminaries such as S. Swaminathan, Co-Chairman of CII WR Committee on Innovation, R&D and Digitalization, and Founder and CEO of IRIS Business Services, sharing insights. Dilshan Wirasekara, Chairman of CSE, Chinthaka Mendis, Director General of SEC, and Dr. P.K.G. Harischandra, Director of Research at CBSL, eloquently discussed the Sri Lankan Economy and the Capital Market.
In a comprehensive exploration of the Sri Lankan Stock Market’s trajectory and sector performances, the forum featured engaging technical sessions facilitated by eminent figures in the industry. Notable speakers, including Shehan Cooray, Director/Head of Research at Acuity Stockbrokers (Pvt) Ltd, Oshadha De Vas Gunasekara, Head of Research at CT CLSA Securities (Pvt) Ltd., and Sanjeewa Fernando, Chief Research and Chief Economist and Strategist at Asia Securities (Pvt) Ltd., shared their valuable insights.
A captivating Q&A session further enriched the discourse, with active audience participation and contributions from esteemed personalities like State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe, CSE Chairman Dilshan Wirasekara, SEC Director General Chinthaka Mendis, CBSL Director of Research Dr. P.K.G. Harischandra, and CSE CEO Rajeeva Bandaranaike, who adeptly moderated the session.
Following the successful conclusion of the ‘Invest Sri Lanka’ Investor Forum in Mumbai, an earlier event took place in Chennai at the Taj Coromandel Hotel on August 9th.
The event in Mumbai garnered strong support from Platinum Sponsors Asia Securities and First Capital Holdings PLC, as well as Gold Sponsor Almas Holdings Ltd. The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) played a crucial role as the forum’s support partner, contributing to the overall success of the event.
