By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday (14) left Sri Lanka on a four-day official visit to China.

The Sri Lankan Prime Minster is set to attend the 7th China-South Asia Expo and the 27th China Kunming Import and Export Exhibition jointly hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and the Yunnan provincial government, as the Chief Guest.

The exhibition will be held from August 16 to 20 in Kunming, China, under the theme, ‘Solidarity and Coordination for Common Development’.

State Ministers Tharaka Balasuriya, Janaka Wakkumbura and Kanaka Herath, MP Yadamani Gunawardena and Prime Minister’s Secretary Anura Dissanayake will accompany the Prime Minister as the Sri Lankan delegation to the exhibition.

PMD: Minister of Tourism & Lands Harin Fernando stated that a Policy for Tourism that does not change when the Government or the politicians are changed to be urgently presented to the county.

The minister mentioned that the policy, which was prepared after extensive study by the experts in the field, has now been forwarded to the cabinet, and the way of its operation will be presented to the country in the next two weeks.

The Minister of Tourism & Lands Harin Fernando expressed these views while joining the news conference held at the Presidential Media Center today (14) under the theme “Collective Path to a stable country”.

The minister who further commented said:

With the correct economic program that President Ranil Wickramasinghe is taking to build this country, there is an awakening in the tourism sector today. Among the leaders who refused to take over the country, it must be said that it is a great pleasure to work with the president who fearlessly accepted the challenge.

Development of the tourism sector can be pointed out as a major approach to solve the dollar crisis in the country. There is a modest happiness about the progress made today compared to the state of the tourism sector a year ago. President Ranil Wickramasinghe is making a great contribution to uplifting the country’s tourism industry. We should promote it more.

Sri Lanka is a very beautiful country. But no one has yet understood the value of its beautiful. And this country is a treasure. We have not yet thought how to use it. The President’s plan is to bring about the necessary change in attitude.

Politicians who have ruled this country for the past 75 years are responsible for the situation this country suffers in present. But today a single person is implementing the necessary policies to move the country forward.

We have already implemented the necessary program to make Sri Lanka a beautiful destination for tourists. Also, in order to further increase the number of tourists, many practical problems related to the tourism sector need to be solved.

It is also expected to introduce a program in the future to reduce the existing traffic in places that have gained tourist attraction in the country. Also, a special program has been planned to ensure the safety of tourists together with the Ministry of Public Security.

A mobile application for the convenience of tourists and a formal program to prevent various irregularities faced by foreign tourists are also going to be implemented.

Also, we are on immediate working to prepare a policy for tourism. The tourism industry of the country needs a national policy that does not change when governments and politicians are changed. The country’s tourism policy cannot be changed just because the change of its minister. Therefore, after a long analysis, we have forwarded a new policy for tourism which was prepared by experts in the field to the cabinet. We will present the country how it will work, within the next two weeks.

The challenge we had so far was to bring tourists to Sri Lanka. Also, the challenge to be faced in the future is how to maintain the quality of the tourism industry. Employees in the hotel industry in Sri Lanka leave for foreign jobs as soon as they get their first service certificate. Then another person is hired for it. I observe this situation as a big problem in the hotel industry in this country. We are taking immediate steps to solve that and other problems in the field as well.

It has also been decided to hold an open short film festival on the beautiful places of Sri Lanka targeting tourists. It has been planned to select the best 10 short films through a jury consisting of experts in the field and give them financial rewards, as well as provide them with formal training. This program is planned to be held annually.

Aiming at the promotion of the tourism industry, the ultra-luxury hotel of the Hilton Hotel chain is scheduled to be opened by the President on the 19th in Yala area. Along with that, it is planned to launch a series of tourism advertising programs.

1. Former CB Deputy Governor W A Wijewardena expresses serious concern about potential social unrest arising when implementing IMF proposals, leading to “IMF riots”: notes these reforms burden the poor more than the affluent, making it likely that SL could face similar challenges: previously, Wijewardene was an ardent advocate of SL seeking an IMF programme.
   
2. UNICEF Report states 3.9 mn Sri Lankans are moderately food insecure: over 10,000 households face severe food insecurity: about 2.9 mn children need humanitarian assistance to access life-saving nutrition, health, education, water & sanitation, protection, and social protection services: 62% of households adopt livelihood-based coping strategies such as withdrawing savings, borrowing money, and buying food on credit to access food.
   
3. Former UN Expert on Foreign Debt and Human Rights Juan Pablo says Sri Lanka’s austerity measures could do more harm than good: also says historical evidence shows that such measures fail to lead to higher growth rates, increased employment, or reduced poverty: stresses need to look at other measures during an economic crisis.
   
4. Treasury concedes there has been a “significant shortfall” in revenue performance this year: Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardene instructs Govt institutions to adhere to the stringent expenditure control measures until further notice, as the Govt is still struggling for “various reasons”.
   
5. Life-saving surgeries at the Hambantota General Hospital halted as the only anaesthetist at the hospital has gone abroad without permission from the Health Ministry: Government Medical Officers Assn says that during the year ended 31May’23, 274 specialist doctors & 842 graded medical officers have migrated.
   
6. JVP-led NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake says SL’s sovereignty & national security are in jeopardy as an Indian company will gain access to citizens’ personal data through a project to print digital national identity cards: reveals that arrangements have been made to award the project to the Madras Security Printing Company.
   
7. State Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says the proposed Betting & Gaming Levy Bill and the Gambling Regulatory Authority will regulate lotteries, gambling, gaming, horse racing, betting shops and casinos: also says establishing this law cannot be done in a hurry.
   
8. Analysts say SL’s Call-Money interest rate and Treasuries’ yields are now determined by the IMF’s Net International Reserve target for SL, not inflation: warn that Forex pressure will emerge quickly leading to the currency falling, if a “reserve collecting” central bank cuts interest rates based on an inflation index number.
   
9. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa accuses the Govt of attempting to sell state-owned media channels: asserts such ‘erratic’ decisions must not be made.
   
10. Organic fertilizer production at the Welimada Ulugalawatta Organic Solid Fertilizer Processing Center under the National Food Promotion Board, commences: arrangements said to have been made to export 5000 MT of solid organic fertilizer processed at this center, to a cultivation project currently being built in Dubai, every month: at the same time, Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera says the decision to use 100% organic fertilizer in the country has completely destroyed the agricultural sector.

The Indo-Pacific Environmental Security Forum (IPESF) 2023, co-hosted by the US lndo- Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), and Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) commenced at Shangri-La Colombo today (14th August 2023). The inauguration of the forum, held in a dignified sequence, was graced by the U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, H.E. Julie Chung, Senior Adviser to the President on Climate Change, Mr. Ruwan Wijewardene, Chief of Defence Staff, General Shavendra Silva, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera and a host of distinguished invitees.

The four-day forum (from 14th to 17th August) is also attended by senior military personnel and top-level environmentalists in the Indo-Pacific region. The 12th edition of Indo-Pacific Environmental Security Forum will include presentations, panel sessions, and group activities to share lessons learned and best practices among environmental security stakeholders.

The first day of the forum focused on the theme ‘Climate Change and Security’ where the stakeholders exchanged views on developing actionable plans to address environmental security challenges. In the remaining days of IPESF 2023, the participants will continue to hold discussions under the themes of Maritime, Ocean and Water Security, Impacts of Urbanization and Land Security and Building National and Regional Resilience.

More than 140 senior officers from defence forces and top-level environmentalists from 28 countries in the Indo-Pacific are also taking part in this year’s Indo-Pacific Environmental Security Forum. Meanwhile, at the directives and guidance of the Commander of the Navy, the Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Coast Guard have made arrangements in place for the successful conduct of the event, in close coordination with INDOPACOM.

Source: Sri Lanka Navy

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): The Bogala Graphite Mine in Kegalle, one of the oldest graphite mines in the country, welcomed Sri Lanka’s fist ever ‘underground dining experience,’ Ada Derana reported.

The new underground restaurant has the capacity to accommodate fifteen (15) guests at a time for its dining experience.

Given the disconnection from the surface, the new restaurant facility has been provided free wifi connection for its diners.

The Bogala Graphite Mine is 127 metres below the ground level, and the new underground restaurant is operated by Bogala Graphite Lanka, a processing and exporting company with over 150 years of experience.

Colombo (LNW): Six persons including two women were arrested by the Crimes Unit of the Jaffna Police for allegedly beating a 52-year-old man to death in Kopay, Jaffna.

The deceased was assaulted for sexually abusing a nine-year-old, who is identified as the daughter of one of the suspects, Police said quoting the arrestees.

The deceased was initially assaulted with clubs, after which the brother of one of the women suspects had arrived at the scene with a group of others, and repeatedly assaulted him, Police added.

Thereafter, the deceased was thrown into a well having tied his feet.

The arrestees have been identified as residents of Kopay, Arsadi and Sithankeni.

The suspects are to be produced before the Jaffna Magistrate Court later today (14).

Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) lawmaker Chandima Weerakkody has been appointed as the President of the Sri Lanka – United Kingdom Parliamentary Friendship Association recently (08).

The meeting to elect office bearers for the Sri Lanka – United Kingdom Parliamentary Friendship Association of the Ninth Parliament was held at the Parliament under the chairmanship of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana.

Acting High Commissioner of United Kingdom in Sri Lanka Lisa Whanstall was present at the meeting as the Chief Guest. Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakse, Ministers and Members of Parliament and the Secretary General of the Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera were also present.

State Minister Diana Gamage and MPs S.M.M. Muszhaaraff and Ashok Abeysinghe were appointed as the Vice Presidents of the Friendship Association. MP M. A. Sumanthiran was appointed as Secretary, MP Harshana Rajakaruna, as Assistant Secretary, and MP Sagara Kariyawasam as Treasurer.

Speaking at this occasion, Speaker Abeywardana said he would like to express his gratitude for all the support given to Sri Lanka through the bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom for seven decades. Furthermore, he also expressed gratitude for providing opportunities for MPs and Parliamentary staff through seminars, workshops and study tours through the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD).

Addressing those present the Acting High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Sri Lanka, Mrs. Whanstall said that the United Kingdom is happy to support Sri Lanka through multilateral organisations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank (WB) and the United Nations (UN) to overcome the economic crisis.

Also, she added that she is ready to work with other lenders and the Government of Sri Lanka to restore debt sustainability.

New President of the SL-UK Parliamentary Weerakkody, who spoke at the meeting expressed his gratitude for appointing him as president. The Ruling Party lawmaker also stated that through this he hopes to further strengthen and develop the relations between the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka.