Colombo (LNW): The programme to distribute free rice to 2.9 million low-income families commenced March (26) in the Colombo District under the patronage of President’s Senior Adviser on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayake.

The programme was carried out with a focus on the Dematagoda, Narahenpita, and Wellawatta areas, which fall under the Thimbirigasaya Divisional Secretariat Division.

As part of the programme, 995 recipients received bags of rice at the Mihidusenpura Community Hall in Dematagoda, 448 recipients received rice at the Dabare Mawatha Community Hall in Narahenpita, and 169 recipients were given rice at the Ranjan Wijeratnapura Community Hall in Wellawatta.

The distribution of free rice to low-income families for two months is part of the government’s 2022/2023 Maha season rice purchase and rice stock disposal programme, which was implemented on the instructions of President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Each family will receive 10 kg of rice per month during this period.

Initially, the rice subsidy was intended for 2 million families, but it was later expanded to 2.9 million families as per the directives of the President. The programme’s first phase will be rolled out in several districts, including Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kandy, Ratnapura, Galle, and Matara.

Addressing the programme held at the Mihidusenpura Community Hall in Dematagoda, Ratnayake explained how Sri Lanka was able to turn a corner during a difficult period with the assistance of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The President’s Chief of Staff emphasised that the country had faced an economic crisis due to wrong decisions made in the past, but now under the leadership of President Wickremesinghe, the country is following a more appropriate economic programme.

During the event, Ratnayake interacted with the attendees and listened to some of the issues they were facing.

The Colombo District Secretary, K.G. Wijesiri, and senior officials from the Ministry of Social Empowerment were present at the event.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): The Parliament of Sri Lanka will convene only on Tuesday, April 04, 2023 during the next Parliament week, as decided at the Committee on Parliamentary Businesses four days ago (24), revealed Parliament Secretary General Dhammika Dasanayake.

Accordingly, Parliament will convene on April 04, 2023 at 9.30 am, with time for questions for oral answers being allotted from 9.30 am to 10.30 am.

The schedule will follow the debate on the approval of an order published in the Gazette declaration No. 2306/15 under the Order under the Sri Lanka Export Development Act pertaining to amending the CESS Tax and Two Regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act published in the Gazette declaration No. 2320/46 and No. 2320/47, from 10.30 am to 5 pm.

Thereafter, time will be allotted for questions at the Adjournment Time from 5 pm to 5.30 pm.

In addition, Parliament will convene from Tuesday, April 25, 2023, to Friday, April 28, 2023, in accordance with the decisions made by the Committee, Dasanayake added.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): Seven companies have submitted expressions of interest (EOI) for the proposed new oil refinery in Hambantota, disclosed Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara in a tweet today (28).

Companies had submitted EOIs by the deadline yesterday (27) pertaining to the oil refinery to be developed in Mirijjawila, he went on, adding that the technical evaluation committee & other procurement committees will evaluate EOIs and issue the request for proposals (RFP) to suitable applicants.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Uva and North-western provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle, Matara and Mannar districts during the afternoon or night, the Department of Meteorology said in a statement today (28).

General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Marine Weather:

01. President Ranil Wickremesinghe says SL’s access to the growing Indian and African markets should not be disrupted by any ‘big power rivalry’ or conflict; asserts Sri Lanka supports ASEAN’s vision of the Indo-Pacific region and is committed to ensuring the freedom of navigation in the Indian Ocean and the security of undersea cables, as it is essential for the future of the country.

02. Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says Sri Lanka is due to receive US$ 7 billion more as a debt from two foreign banks, ADB and WB; stresses the international trust lost to the ‘debt default’ announced in April last year was restored following the IMF’s EFF.

03. Auditor General W.P.C. Wickramaratna warns many govt agencies have not yet handed over their financial statements on time, and in the backdrop the fulfillment of the conditions imposed by the IMF in the granting of loans to Sri Lanka may also be hindered; laments some public bodies tend to submit their statements of five years at once beyond the ‘correct procedure,’ and such reports cannot be accepted.

04. A Parliament Select Committee appointed to probe the levels of child malnutrition in Sri Lanka: Expected to inquiry into whether the child malnutrition issue in Sri Lanka is aggravating, to identify short-term, medium-term and long-term solutions to be implemented, and to oversee the speedy implementation of the measures due on establishment.

05. Senior Director of the global human rights watch dog Amnesty International Deprose Muchena arrives in Sri Lanka for the launch of Amnesty’s global annual report: Set to address the event as the key speaker: Aims to use his presence to highlight and stress on the urgent necessity to protect and promote human rights in Sri Lanka.

06. A Cabinet paper presented on the salaries of the public servants expecting nominations to contest the LG Polls: About 3,000 public servants expecting nominations and deprived of their salaries are suffering due to the incessant delay in the holding of the Polls: Subject Minister Janaka Wakkumbura said the aforementioned Cabinet paper will resolve the matter.

07. Drug trafficker ‘Army Sanath’ believed to be the weapons mule to underworld gangster Nandun Chinthaka alias ‘Harak Kata’ arrested by the Police STF: Suspect wanted for a series of crimes and arrested for the possession of 15 g of heroin: Sanath at the behest of Kata said to have had delivered arms used to commit shooting, and wiped them clean after the crimes were committed, later to be handed over to various other individuals.

08. IOC Chief Shrikant Madhav Vaidya called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe over the weekend: Vaidya presents 500 IOC-produced indoor solar cooking systems to Sri Lanka, and a unique jacket made of sustainable threads retrieved by recycling PET bottles under India’s ‘Unbottled Initiative’.

09. Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says the sale of alcohol and cigarettes has dropped by 30 – 40 per cent, due to the imposition of a higher tax on them; adds most low-income earners are unable to afford alcohol and cigarettes.

10. The Sri Lanka Rupee on Monday indicates another slight depreciation against the US Dollar: Buy price Rs. 314.82; Sell price Rs. 332.58: The US Dollar said to be sold for higher prices in the black market.

27.03.2023 (Amnesty International): Deprose Muchena will be the key speaker at the regional launch of the Annual Report 2023 on 28 March in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Given the current economic crisis and human rights situation in Sri Lanka, he aims to use his presence to highlight and stress on the urgent need to protect and promote the rights of the of the island’s 22 million people.

Deprose Muchena is the Senior Director for Regional Human Rights Impact at Amnesty International where he oversees Amnesty regional offices across the world to lead the mandate of expanding human rights footprint.

He has previously worked with United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA). He has co-edited two books and holds two Master’s Degrees from the University of Cape Town and University of Zimbabwe. He has undertaken advanced Leadership training at Harvard University, Syracuse University, and INSEAD Business School.

Deprose Muchena will be available for media interviews on a range of human rights issues including: 

1. Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, IMF loan and paths to inclusive reforms and accountability
2. Rich, western countries’ double standards and the failure to unite around consistently applied human rights and universal values 
3. Inadequate responses to a climate and refugee crisis in South Asia, and intense crackdown on the right to protest in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, India, Afghanistan and Nepal 
4. Failure to protect Women’s rights and freedom to protest
5. UN Security Council reform