A Sri Lankan Gem and Jewellery Exhibition was held at The St. Regis Hotel in Shanghai between 22 to 23 March 2023 with the participation of Zam Gems Sri Lanka under the patronage of Sri Lanka Consulate General in Shanghai.

At the exhibition, Sri Lankan gems which included blue sapphires, pink sapphires (rubies), Alexandrite and Cat’s-eye Chrysoberyl were displayed. In addition, a variety of jewellery including necklaces, rings, earrings, bracelets which were crafted using above mentioned Sri Lankan gems and stones were also exhibited.

The Chairman of Shanghai Jade and Gem Exchange Simon Chan participated in the event with his team of officials and reputed Chinese buyers.  In addition, many other buyers across China, Gem and Jewellery traders, gem collectors, members of Shanghai Diplomatic Corp,  expatriates as well as other interested parties and visitors were present at the event.

Further, the Consulate used this opportunity to promote Sri Lanka tourism by displaying and distributing Sri Lanka tourism brochures among prospective gem buyers, members of Diplomatic Corp and visitors while responding to tourism related queries.

This event, which was the 01^st Gem and Jewellery exhibition held in Shanghai in the aftermath of the opening up of Chinese borders (ending months long Covid-19 restrictions), proved to be a huge success

Consulate General of Sri Lanka

Shanghai

24 March 2023

National Peace Council of Sri Lanka: There have been media reports of a ministerial delegation visiting South Africa to undertake a study of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the reconciliation process that took place in that country over two decades ago.  The South African reconciliation process, and its Truth and Reconciliation Commission in particular, have gained worldwide recognition for being a pioneer in dealing with human rights violations and war crimes that took place in the course of the struggle against Apartheid. 

An important feature of the South African TRC was its openness and transparency. The public hearings held by the TRC ensured that South Africans became aware of the violations that had been committed during the apartheid years.  The National Peace Council (NPC) believes that such a commission could provide Sri Lankan with renewed hope in terms of peace and reconciliation for those who have been affected by gross human rights violations. It is hoped the TRC will enable families of the missing to have the opportunity to learn about the fate of their relatives, who went missing during the war and leftist insurrection.

The reconciliation process should be a home grown one which is organic to Sri Lanka. If the process is organic, then it will not be rejected inasmuch as a human body will reject and organ which is foreign. NPC believes that Sri Lanka should venture beyond retributive justice and restorative justice. While the criminal justice system uses retributive justice as a form of deterrence this has not provided protection against the repetition of crime.  Restoring society to the pre-war period is not adequate to achieve reconciliation, neither is punishing those involved as it can polarize society in a manner where there is no organic social consciousness of guilt.  NPC believes that the transformative approach of the South African model is more suitable than the retributive justice process which is not suitable for ethnic conflicts or large scale conflicts.

The challenge will be to find solutions that are in line with Sri Lankan values and forms of justice that are accepted by the Sri Lankan people along with the rejection of violence. Accordingly, NPC believes that it is necessary for the TRC to be representative to instill confidence in the victims.  It is of paramount importance that the members of the commission are selected via a consultative process as was the South African TRC where its members were selected through an open countrywide nomination process and publicly interviewed by an independent selection panel comprising representatives of all the political parties, civil society, and the religious bodies in the country. Hence those studying the TRC process need to ensure that a transparent process emerges in the establishment and implementation of a TRC in order to achieve peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. 

Hon. Thalatha Athukorala, Member of Parliament appointed as the Chair of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Children, Women and Gender

Hon. Thalatha Athukorala, Member of Parliament was appointed as the Chair to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Children, Women and Gender unanimously at its first meeting held on 22.03.2023 in Parliament.

Hon. (Mrs.) Manjula Dissanayake, Member of Parliament proposed the name of the Chair while Hon. (Mrs.) Muditha Prashanthi , Member of Parliament seconded it.
It was also revealed that this committee has the authority to summon institutions under the Ministry of Women, Children Affairs and Social Empowerment, Department of Probation and Child Care Services, National Child Protection Authority, National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development.

Members of Parliament Hon. Thissa Vitharana, Hon. Rohini Kumari Wijeratne, Hon. Mudita Prishanthi, Hon. Rajika Wickramasinghe, Hon. D. Weerasinghe, Hon. Manjula Dissanayake, Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya and Hon. Jagath Samarawickrama were present at this committee.

President’s Senior Adviser on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Mr. Sagala Ratnayake said sustainable economic development goals cannot be accomplished without taking steps to mitigate climate change.
He said this while participating in the 10,000 sapling planting program organized by the LEO Youth Vision 2048 Club and the LEO Club at the Royal College, Colombo yesterday (23rd).

This program was organized in view of President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s birthday, which is today (24), and the required plants were distributed to the main schools of the Colombo District.
LEO members, including Senula Dilana, President of LEO Youth Vision 2048, coordinated this program.

Additionally, Mr. Sagala Ratnayake emphasized the importance of working with understanding and commitment to mitigate climate change, as it contributes to economic development.

Expressing his views, Mr. Sagala Ratnayake said;

Respected Minister of Education,

I extend my gratitude to you for extending an invitation to me to partake in this event. This hall and stage hold many fond memories for me. Despite the passage of time, I have lost count of the number of occasions I have graced this stage. During my time as a student at Royal College, I actively engaged in various extracurricular activities, including sports, and held positions such as prefect and head prefect. These experiences proved invaluable to me.

The experience provided me with substantial fortitude for my political endeavours, and I believe it has the capability to allure more admirable individuals. Observing enthusiastic young students aspiring to hold the position of head prefect delighted me. I aspire for these students to progress in their educational pursuits, eventually ascending to positions of prominence within society and, ultimately, assume the mantle of leadership for the nation.

We have had a few great days as Royalists. We won the Royal-Thomian match on Saturday. Then as a Nation on Monday we were given the great news that we are no longer a bankrupt state that we are now coming out of it.

IMF Executive Board approved Sri Lanka’s program under the Extended Fund Facility. Many people think we will get a lot of money with the IMF program. More than the money that we are going to get, it comes in the form of a loan which you’ll have to repay in over a long period of time at very concessional rates.

But more than that, it is the stamp of confidence that the international community has given us. The IMF includes a lot of countries, including Sri Lanka will also members of it. But it’s a very stringent program many countries have been trying for over any year, maybe even as much as two, but still not been able to achieve it. Coming out of this economic crisis that came along with COVID and in some countries, the economy was mismanaged beyond COVID, which led to many countries going down like us. But we are the first to come out. We have a long way to go as well.

What is important is that we get our policies right and our economic framework right. We must make it easy for people to come and invest in Sri Lanka, for Sri Lankans to invest in Sri Lanka, the confidence must be there that it is a level playing field that it is a transparent field out there that gives any investor the confidence that is required to come and transact in Sri Lanka. It’s only with investments like that that we can improve our economy and make it a better tomorrow for the generations like you.

What we are doing now, we are doing for you. It won’t be for many of us in this first role. What we build on the foundation we build now, you all will build on further and you all will reap the benefits. So it is important you understand it. It is important that you participate in it; you read about it, you get interested in it and you get involved in it. One of the most important components of coming out of this is also what you are trying to do today as the Leos coordinated by the Leos of Royal College; you’re going to plant 10,000 trees.

I must say thank you to you, because you have chosen an important day, the 24th of April, to signify our honourable President’s birthday. Climate change is going to play a major role in our future. if we do not pay attention to it, if you don’t make a conscious effort to come out of it. Economic development or resurgence is going to be temporary. It’s going to be very difficult. It’s not going to be sustainable. There’s not going to be anything for the future generations. So it is very important. I won’t go into great length about it.

Climate change also means economic support. There are a lot of people out there in the world who are very committed to climate change and they encourage it and they supported financially. It’s now a financial tool as much as all the other financial tools like bonds and various things that we’ve heard about in the past few months along with this financial crisis we had. It’s going to be a very important tool that a country like Sri Lanka can really capitalize on.

So I’m grateful that the youth, the leaders have taken this on. Please push it harder. I think it’s important. We’ve had from time to time as society develops, as the country develops, we’ve had various extracurricular committees, societies coming up at schools like Royal. I remember we had the Buddhist brotherhoods and the Interact clubs, but then we had the Computer Society coming up later on as IT came in. Climate change is another important thing.

It’s something that you can add to your extracurricular activities, not just at Royal but at all schools. So with that thought in mind, with a final word to say thank you again, Leo, Senula and the team, all the leaders from the other schools that have joined this program. Thank you very much. And thank you very much, Royal College, for spearheading this and also for having me at this very important event.

I wish you all the very best. It’s your future that we all working for, so please join it and help us.
Minister of Education Susil Premjayant, Principal of Colombo Royal College Mr. R.M. Rathnayake, staff members and the students including the Head Prefect Kavisha Ratnayake were present on this occasion.

1. IMF says risks to its Sri Lanka program are “exceptionally high” because of the complex debt restructuring, unfavorable external environment, high inflation, and challenging political & social situation: also says the program runs significant risks of fiscal slippages, revenue mobilization and reserves buildup: warns a deeper crisis induced by a further economic fallout, weakened banking sector, exchange rate pressure and loss of market confidence could also complicate the program.
2. LKR starts to depreciate once again against the USD after just 4 days of the IMF agreement: falls by nearly 1% to Rs.331.38; black market quotes up again at around Rs.345.00: market expects further depreciation.
3. State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya reveals USD 121 mn was used from the USD 333 mn received from the IMF to settle a loan installment due to India: analysts puzzled how Govt has done so in the context of its solemn assurance of “equal treatment” of all bi-lateral creditors and commitment to transparency.
4. Fertilizer companies agree to reduce the price of a 50 kg bag of urea fertilizer by Rs.7,000: decision follows discussion with Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera.
5. Top officials of the Health Ministry fail to appear before the HRC for a 3rd time to participate in the inquiry into the medicinal drug shortage in the country.
6. Crowds protest outside residence of Bar Assn President Saliya Peiris, accusing him of representing infamous underworld figure and Drug Lord “Harak Kata”: Bar Assn says the protest is a serious hindrance to Pieris’ professional right to represent a client.
7. Exports record USD 1,005 mn in Feb23: contraction of 8.1% YOY: cumulative export earnings for the first 2 months of USD 1,980 mn reflects a massive reduction of 9.7% YoY.
8. Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and other leaders of opposition Parties meet foreign diplomats: provide briefing on the current situation, the need to protect the country’s democracy & Constitution, and the need to conduct LG elections.
9. Law & Order Minister Tiran Alles to await provision of detailed information on alleged incidents of certain Police stations falsely reporting drug-related cases, from Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe: previously, Rajapakshe had said that reports by Govt Analyst’s Dept have proven that certain drug related cases are being falsely reported to Courts by certain Police stations.
10. Marine Environment Protection Authority officials say legal action in connection with the MV X-Press Pearl fire and marine disaster should be instituted within the next 58 days: previously various Govt leaders have stated that the Govt expects at least USD 1 bn as compensation.