A crucial meeting is scheduled for today (13) between the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) and President Ranil Wickremesinghe. GMOA Spokesman Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe announced that the discussion will take place at 3 pm at the President’s Office.
The meeting’s primary focus will be on pressing issues within the healthcare sector, such as the ongoing shortage of medicines and the concerning trend of doctors leaving the country for various reasons.
Dr. Wijesinghe revealed that the GMOA had launched a series of protests in response to the Ministry of Health’s failure to address these issues and provide adequate protection for doctors. He emphasized that the Health Minister would not be granted additional time to resolve these critical concerns, as solutions have already been proposed, and now it’s time for implementation.
The Central Committee of the party has decided that no changes should be made in the existing positions of the United National Party.
That was when the UNP Central Committee met yesterday (12) under the chairmanship of President Ranil Wickramasinghe.
A proposal to appoint Ravi Karunanayake for the post of General Secretary of the party has been discussed in the Central Committee, but the seniors of the party are of the opinion that no change should be made in the current positions.
Also, it was previously proposed to abolish all other positions except the chairman and general secretary positions of the party and appoint a leadership board, but the party central committee has decided that there is no need to implement that proposal.
It is stated that the Central Committee has decided that the current leaders are working very diligently to move the UNP forward little by little and that they have the ability to continue the future work as well.
Showers or thundershowers will occur over most parts of the island during the afternoon or night.
Fairly heavy showers above 75 mm can be expected at some places in Uva, Central and Easten provinces.
A few showers may occur in coastal areas of the western and southern provinces during the morning too.
Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Central, Sabaragamuwa and Uva provinces during the morning.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Bloomberg: Sri Lanka is likely to clinch an agreement in the next several days that would help it tap more funds from the International Monetary Fund even though it’s still trying to firm up negotiations with creditors on debt restructuring.
Officials from the South Asian nation and the IMF are close to reaching a staff-level agreement following talks in Morocco this week, according to people involved in the discussions, who asked not to be identified because the matter isn’t finalized yet. Only a few outstanding issues remain, one person said, declining to provide more detail.
The IMF is assessing Sri Lanka’s progress toward meeting economic targets and reform goals set under the nation’s $3 billion bailout package. A staff-level agreement is the first step needed in order for a second tranche of $334 million in loans to be disbursed.
Sri Lanka needs that deal, as well as separate agreements with its creditors on restructuring terms that also align with the program’s debt sustainability criteria, before the IMF board signs off on the next round of funding.
The debt restructuring talks with creditors from the Paris Club and other lenders are also taking place in Morocco this week at the IMF-World Bank annual meetings. The official creditors committee had aimed to sign a memorandum of understanding with Sri Lanka this week, although an announcement is looking increasingly unlikely, according to people familiar with the situation, who asked not to be identified.
Failure to conclude talks on the debt restructuring this week won’t halt the IMF funding program, although it may delay its progress.
Sri Lanka’s central bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe and Junior Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe, who are in Marrakech this week, didn’t respond to questions seeking confirmation. IMF officials in Colombo weren’t immediately available for comment.
Separately, Sri Lanka reached an agreement with Export-Import Bank of China to restructure $4.2 billion of debt. The government said it hoped the agreement would be an “anchor” for talks with other bilateral creditors and holders of the nation’s bonds, and would allow the IMF to approve the second tranche of funding to the country.
Colombo (LNW): The Health Department of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has taken measures to address an outbreak of ‘Conjunctivitis,’ an eye infection giving pink colour in the eye, in Colombo schools, a report by Daily Mirror disclosed.
Several schools have suspended classes due to the disease, with three year groups at Kotahena Central College closed until the next Friday.
Furthermore, Years 6, 7, and 8 at Kotahena Madhya Maha Vidyalaya have been suspended after about 100 students were affected.
Colombo’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ruwan Wijemuni has identified a rapid increase in cases in specific Colombo areas and assured the public that the infection is not fatal.
“It is believed to be spreading rapidly in schools located in Colombo West, Colombo Central, Colombo North and Borella areas under the council’s jurisdiction,” Daily Mirror cited Dr. Wijemuni’s comment.
He highlighted symptoms and advised parents to consult a doctor if symptoms persist in their children for over five days.
‘Conjunctivitis‘, or Pink Eye is an inflammation of the transparent membrane that lines the eyelid and eyeball.
Colombo (LNW): The Colombo High Court today (12) sentenced nine Iranians to life imprisonment over the possession and trafficking of narcotics off the Sri Lankan coast four years ago.
In 2019, the Iranian nationals were apprehended on their fishing vessel with more than 100 kg of heroin, valued at over Rs. 1 billion. Subsequent reports at the time had claimed that an additional 500 kg of heroin had also been discarded in the ocean.
High Court Judge Amal Ranaraja delivered the life sentences after the accused admitted their guilt before the start of the evidentiary hearing on the matter today.
Furthermore, the High Court Judge decreed that the convicts should be extradited to Iran to serve their sentences, in compliance with the international treaty signed by Sri Lanka.
This verdict was produced after the defence solicitors confirmed that all the defendants had accepted the charges against them.
Colombo (LNW): The Supreme Court today (12) commenced hearing a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition by Ministers Manusha Nanayakkara and Harin Fernando, over the decision by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) to oust them from the Party for joining the government.
Justices Vijith Malalgoda, Achala Vengappuli and Arjuna Obeysekera presided over the proceedings.
Representing Minister Nanayakkara, Faiszer Musthapha PC argued to the judges that the primary opposition’s choice to suspend his client’s party membership was wholly unlawful.
According to the party’s constitution, he pointed out that only the Working Committee holds the authority to remove party members. He highlighted that neither the Party Leadership nor the Disciplinary Committee possess such powers.
The Disciplinary Committee’s sole responsibility is to bring charges against and investigate members who breach the party’s constitution, Musthapha emphasised.
He noted that despite Nanayakkara securing an injunction from the district court against a membership suspension, he was still dismissed from the SJB based on a notice from its general secretary.
Furthermore, Musthapha argued that the Supreme Court’s previous ruling supporting the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress’ (SLMC) choice to remove Minister Naseer Ahamed from the party does not apply to this situation.
The next hearing of the petition, which cites Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and SJB’s General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara as respondents, has been scheduled for October 24, 2023.
PMD: President Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed government officials to prioritise the immediate requirements of Sri Lankan citizens residing in Israel, especially their safety, in light of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Consequently, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Israel and relevant government departments have collaboratively initiated a special programme aimed at offering the utmost possible assistance to the Sri Lankan community living in Israel.
Sri Lankans working or residing in Israel for various purposes now have access to channels for directly informing Sri Lankan authorities in case of life-threatening situations or related difficulties. They could convey their needs or obtain essential information by reaching out through the following contact options:
The government emphasises that all Sri Lankans in Israel can avail of these services through established immigration procedures or any other appropriate method.
Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) launched a fresh campaign, “Sri Lanka – you will come back for more”, at the International French Travel Market (IFTM) in Paris.
Following a strong turnout in 2021, Sri Lanka showcased its new branding at the travel fair, the first since its adoption.
France is among Sri Lanka’s top tourist sources, with over 44,000 visitors in the first nine months of 2023, ranking just behind the UK and Germany in Europe.
Chalaka Gajabahu, Chairman of SLTPB, introduced the new slogan and stated that their initial campaign, “seeing is believing”, had affirmed the country’s stability.
Manisha Gunasekara, the Ambassador to the Sri Lankan Embassy in France, inaugurated the Sri Lanka pavilion, which spotlighted the country’s cultural and natural attractions.
The pavilion also promoted Ceylon tea to the French audience.
The IFTM’s Sri Lanka pavilion was officially opened with the lighting of an oil lamp, led by Manisha Gunasekara, the Ambassador from the Sri Lankan Embassy in France, and was followed by representatives from the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, SriLankan Airlines, the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO), and the Tourist Hoteliers Association of Sri Lanka (THASL).
Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) has slightly depreciated against the US Dollar today (12) in comparison to yesterday, as per the official exchange rates list issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).
Accordingly, the buying price of the US Dollar has increased to Rs. 318.06 from Rs. 318.02, and the selling price to Rs. 328.82 from Rs. 328.78.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Rupee indicates fluctuation against several other foreign currencies, including Gulf currencies.
