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Today’s (03) official exchange rates reveal LKR appreciation

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Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan Rupee has further appreciated against the US Dollar today (03) 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 dropped to Rs. 308.60 from Rs. 309.70, and the selling price to Rs. 322.20 from Rs. 322.68.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Rupee has also appreciated against many other foreign currencies, including several Gulf currencies.

Rugby, Law and Patriotism

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Colombo (LNW): The recent past of Sri Lanka rugby has been marked by the loved ones involved striving to steer the sport in a new direction. It is in the midst of various obstacles. Despite the obstacles, Sri Lanka Rugby has gone ahead upholding the law free from fraud or corruption. Consequently, politicians and those who lacked support from rugby enthusiasts joined forces to create various hurdles, attempting to impede its progress.

They deprived the sport of valuable time to progress and thrive. But in the the limited time available, In their short time they had through the space created by the law, they managed to achieve what others had not accomplished. In that brief timeframe, they successfully forged international relations. Efficiently organized and led all the tournaments. Through their efforts, they elevated the team’s talent to the level of the best international performers. Also, they did not back down of the international community and steadfastly safeguarding their independence.

Indeed, such is the truth. However, despite being interpreted as Ranil Wickramasinghe’s government, the helm of this is a group of representatives which is thought of as localism, viewing it as a means to secure support from Sinhala Buddhist voters.

Ranil Wickramasinghe is a puppet on strings, he knows that the power of his leadership rests on its power. In the Rugby issue, they could not handle these puppets only the courts. It is not implausible to think that some pressures were not give on the judges who upheld supremacy in the matter. But when considering the facts related to certain judge tragedies in history, has shown us instances where individuals dedicated to upholding humanity, fairness, and justice have worked diligently to keep the law at the forefront, valuing it as a blessing above any unjust pursuit.

By upholding the independence of the law, Sri Lanka Rugby has managed to overcome various obstacles and free itself from debt. Indeed, despite the challenges and opposition faced, the minority power within Sri Lankan Rugby, which has been marginalized by the Sinhala Buddhist government, has persevered and continued to progress. Main blessing that Sri Lankan Rugby received to do some work withstood pressure from international associations and government officials who sought to influence the sport outside the boundaries of the constitution.

It is believed in one reason that the stories being spread about different parties trying to influence and undermine the independence of Sri Lankan Rugby are not true. It is because it is thought that the supremacy of law will work to retain the honor and independence of the venerable judiciary rather than burying it in the mud. It is like a blooming lotus in a swamp.

The administration of Asian Rugby, the influence of political authorities, Government officials who may be perceived as puppets, and the individuals around Rugby who have lost their popularity and confidence to the extent that they cannot even enter the administration of Sri Lanka Rugby through by election are poses a challenge.

That challenge is, to be the removal of the current president, who is believed to be responsible for the success of Sri Lanka Rugby, from his position. It comes with words. The sports minister who has become a Picasso of irresponsible use of words, often seen as irresponsible and lacking finesse. However, despite his prominent role, he is not considered a subject expert in the field of sports. Instead, the individuals he consults and relies upon for expertise are often viewed as “Arrears coverers”.

The Asia president also not reveals the reason for the accusations against the current president of Sri Lanka Rugby. And also, there is no formal investigation into the accusations against the current president of Sri Lanka Rugby. The Asia president is using their power arbitrarily without proper accountability or transparency. Asanga Senaviratne, a close one of the president and a former rugby president, appears to be disinterested in interests in this matter. The reason for analysis of the root cause of the problem is just because he is also in the analysis.

The root cause of the political and Asia crisis in Sri Lankan Rugby is believed to stem from the appointment of Asanga Senaviratne as the chairman of a rugby advisory committee alongside the Asia chairman, during Namal Rajapaksa’s tenure as the sports minister.

During Asanga Senaviratne’s tenure as president, a significant mistake was made by employing foreign players to play in Sri Lanka, leading to serious repercussions. Sri Lanka Rugby 50000 pounds fine which is still being paid today. So the Asia President and Sports Minister is the one who appoints the Sri Lanka Rugby Administration as the head of the Sri Lanka Rugby Administration influencing the power and independence of the Rugby Administration in the Sri Lanka Rugby Constitution.

As an extension of this, in a private conversation between the Asia president and the Sri Lanka Rugby president, the Sri Lanka Rugby president blamed the Asia president and the Asia president arbitrarily used his power to impose a ban on the Sri Lanka Rugby president. If the current sports minister is using parliamentary privileges to unfairly criticize the president of Sri Lanka Rugby and spreading baseless accusations that he is a traitor who should be deported from the country, it raises serious concerns about the misuse of power.

At the conclusion of this story, we now propose the proposal of a very simple man. That is, instead of leading directly, according to the law as well as the administration he took over, to the development and expansion of sports amid a thousand obstacles, to bring the players’ talents to the top, and to reduce the debt burden, if the sports minister of this country brands himself as a treason that should be deported from the country, the powers of the law that he has If the quoted passages are taken back and prohibitory orders are brought, t use a bull instead of a human being to getting involved with such degenerate people he should stay away .

Otherwise, instead of going on this journey with people who think that obeying the law is a stain on their pride, instead of going on this journey with people who think that obeying the law means killing their personal grudges, the chairman’s own vision should be put forward.

If not, the people who do not have the confidence and popularity of the Rugby field and the Asia president will also allow the sports minister to speak in the parliament about a patriot who can be deported to another country.

It is not a good sight for the international community to look at a political agenda that is dividing the common people of the country into races and religions even now from the perspective of the President of the National Olympic Committee. The sports minister does not understand that. Or the people are rejecting these actions in their politics as if they still think that the tribal society that existed when Gotabhaya came to the presidency is still there.

The Sports Minister’s spreading of rumors about the Rugby chairman as a traitor who should be deported from the country is both unprofessional and divisive. What the minister should have done is to think about what the problem is and find the reasons for that problem.

Has the Asia president influence the Sri Lankan rugby constitution outside? Is it right for the Asia President to make appointments as an influence instead of suggesting things to be administered together with the country’s politician? Should the approval or non-approval of these be considered as treason that should be deported from the country?

That’s the simple fact.

The issue revolves from there. If not, has Rugby not been transparent about the financial management of the administration? Are there allegations of sexual bribery? Was there an allegation of inefficiency, such as not organizing tournaments that should have been held? Has Rugby finances been in an unusual downward spiral? Are there any audit errors?

Such a reason usually affects in the banning of a sports association or federation. But that is the only charge left to present as the problem for the current rugby president.

The Stabilization Committee that has been appointed is also currently reading about the voting sports clubs in the Constitution, but the shape and which of the voting sports clubs is not a matter that came up yesterday. It is a question that should be presented to the rugby administration and resolved within the rugby community by obtaining the majority required by the constitution.

They are still trying efforts are ongoing to prevent Sri Lanka from participating in the Asian tournament by raising various issues, including legal matters, and leaving them unresolved in court due to court orders not to interfere with the minister.

If such a situation goes down in history, it is more likely that the country will get a medal, because it can be a reason to further widen the denial of the name of the current administration. The argument of the sports minister’s patriotism does not affect it. He is biting the snakes that he himself nurtured in his power to add to history that he won a medal during the sports minister’s time.

Looking at all this, there is nothing left here at the end except for examples of frustrations and regrets in the political context of Sri Lanka when Rugby was the agenda. In the face of all that, as a leader who brought Rugby forward without stepping back, a young generation will be created in Rugby who will be able to emulate the steps taken by Rizly Illyas tomorrow rather than today.

They or the real traitors will identify who should be found and deported. Traitors cannot let any citizen of this country throw back any hope of winning in the Asian tournament. It will be dragged down the generations into infamy in front of the true rugby loving community. No one who could understand it would consent to the realization of such desires at this time. Physical changes can be achieved through tireless effort, but transforming people’s hypocrisy, greed, jealousy, and racism is challenging spiritually. They should be what the heart feels, not the body.

The rugby club will invite you to the game of rugby with an even more different power factor if you can hold back a little until the people who feel it come along.

Very soon the previous people will come back and increase the debt, and when the politicians will put on carnival shows for the events that please the rugby, the people who love rugby will go beyond the sports clubs and come forward for the real ruler. Stay there if you can. That is the sense of comradeship we feel.

Not being able to do something for a country is also a unfortunate. Sri Lanka currently can take many such examples in recent unfortunate situations The most recent example of the attempt by the athletics administration not to include the pole vault in the qualifiers of the Asian Youth Athletics Championships is Tushen Silva, who qualified for the tournament by playing alone in the qualifiers. All that happened after the election and his victory is now no secret to the country. How much of a crime would it be if it was not possible to qualify?

Are there no working adults to leave a glorious history for the future? That is the sad fact. No matter what profession you are in, no matter what responsibility you have, working outside of your personal life to try to win a rugby medal at this moment is a way of encouraging children to be proud of their future.

*Adapted from original article, “රගර්, නීතිය සහ දේශප්‍රේමය” published on 02.08.2023

Sri Lanka Original Narrative Summary: 03/08

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  1. President Wickremesinghe directs the formulation of a new Medical Act within six months with the aim of addressing shortcomings in the present Medical Ordinance and thereby provide better healthcare and protect citizens’ well-being: A high-level Committee, consisting of the Secretary of Health, Legal Draftsman, and President of the SLMC, assigned to examine the provisions of the Medical Ordinance and formulate a new Medical Act with appropriate provisions.
  2. President Ranil Wickremesinghe to table the government’s proposals on the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in Parliament next week: The proposals will be presented with a special statement by the President: Wickremesinghe is believed to be presenting facts pertaining to the sharing of powers other than police powers under the 13A.
  3. Minister of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development Jeewan Thondaman issues a gazette notification revising the water tariffs, effective from August 01: The low-income families, including Samurdhi beneficiaries and residents of the plantation community, will not be affected by the revision.
  4. The Immigration/Emigration Department says only the residents of the Northern and Eastern Provinces and the Anuradhapura District will be eligible to access services from the Immigration/Emigration Office at the Vavuniya Divisional Office from today: The limitation was imposed in order to minimise the existing congestion in the regional office and provide a more efficient service to the customers.
  5. UNP’s Working Committee lifts the suspensions imposed on Ministers Manusha Nanayakkara and Harin Fernando and reinstates them in the Party’s Working Committee: The two were suspended by the UNP a few years back, when they decided to leave the Party and join the SJB led by Sajith Premadasa.
  6. Sri Lankan singer Umara Sinhawansa makes a formal apology to anyone who was offended by the way she sang the National Anthem at the opening ceremony of LPL 2023 Cricket Tournament.
  7. Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Roshan Ranasinghe says the distribution of land deeds for 15,000 families in the Mahaweli region will commence from the second week of August this year, as per the instructions of President Ranil Wickremesinghe: asserts steps have been taken to provide land deeds to 20,000 families who do not possess land deeds in the Mahaweli region.
  8. Small plantation owners lament ‘Ceylon Tea’ and cinnamon prices are coming down rapidly, making it difficult for tea small holders and cinnamon cultivators to survive in the plantation sector: The price of a kilo of fresh tea leaf has dropped drastically to Rs 150 at present from the new high of Rs.300 a few months ago: Before the 2022 economic crisis, tea exports accounted for US$1.3 billion annually and 5% of all global tea production: The figure has dropped to its lowest level in 23 years.
  9. Plantation Industries and Industries Minister Ramesh Pathirana says the second Coconut Triangle would be launched in the Northern Province this year consisting of the areas of Jaffna, Mannar and Mulaitvu Districts in conjunction with World Coconut Day on September 2: adds 290 million kg of tea are planned to be exported this year.
  10. The Hotels Association says Sri Lanka’s golden opportunity to reposition tourism via Minimum Room Rate must not be squandered and it should not impact tourist arrivals but enhance much needed higher foreign exchange earnings: warns selling 5 star double room per night at US$ 60 net no longer acceptable pointing to DMCs only accounting for 20% of city hotels bookings while insisting higher room rate means higher contribution to Govt, hotels and economy.

Notice for passport applicants in North, East, North-Central

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Colombo (LNW): Only the residents of the Northern and Eastern Provinces and the Anuradhapura District will be eligible to access services from the Immigration – Emigration Office at the Vavuniyawa Divisional Office from today (03), announced the Department of Immigration and Emigration.

The limitation was imposed in order to minimise the existing congestion in the regional offices and provide a more efficient service to the customers, it added.

UNP lifts suspensions imposed on Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara

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Colombo (LNW): The United National Party’s (UNP) Working Committee has decided to lift the suspensions imposed on Ministers Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara and reinstate them in the Party’s Working Committee.

This was when the UNP’s Working Committee was convened under the patronage of Party Leader, President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday (02).

The two MPs were subjected to suspension by the UNP a few years back, when they decided to leave the Party and join the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) led by Sajith Premadasa.

President to table govt’s proposals on 13A in Parliament next week

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Colombo (LNW): President Ranil Wickremesinghe is scheduled to table the government’s proposals on the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in Parliament next week, informed sources said.

These proposals will be presented with a special statement by the President, and Wickremesinghe is believed to be presenting facts pertaining to the sharing of powers other than police powers under the 13A.

The 13th Amendment to the Constitution was introduced to Sri Lanka as an outcome of the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord of July 1987, signed between then Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi and then Sri Lankan President J.R. Jayawardena, proposing the devolution of power by introducing the ‘federal system’, in an attempt to resolve the longstanding ethnic conflict. The outcome of it was the establishment of Provincial Councils.

Wickremesinghe had convened an all-party conference on July 26 to inform the party leaders representing Parliament about the government’s programme in relation to national reconciliation, with a primary focus on the 13A.

Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to be upgraded to ECTA

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By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW): The Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is to be upgraded to an Economic and Technology Co-operation Agreement (ECTA).

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that ECTA is essential as India is going to be the next growth center and will trigger off growth in South Asia.

“We are just 22 miles away and we have to work especially to ensure that the synergies of Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu are brought together,” the President said.

The President expressed this view during an interview organized by Harvard University through Zoom technology.

India and Sri Lanka agreed to start discussions on an Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ECTA) and unveiled plans to cooperate on power, digital payments, connectivity and green energy. The ECTA with Sri Lanka will focus on tariff and non-tariff barriers as well as investment rules.

The development came during the visit of Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe to New Delhi recently.

Indian and Sri Lankan authorities are now working towards the finalisation expeditiously of the much delayed and widely debated Economic and Technology Co-operation Agreement (ETCA), which will out strip the existing free trade agreement (FTA) entered in to in March 2000, Trade Ministry sources confirmed.

The conclusion of ETCA negotiations has been delayed for five and half year period since 2016, as it was opposed by professional bodies, particularly in the IT and healthcare sectors who alleged that it would give preference to Indian workers displacing skilled Sri Lankans.

It was initially scheduled to be signed in 2016 when President Ranil Wickremesinghe was the prime minister at that, time; senior trade ministry official said adding that it is expected to address larger issues of market access and asymmetry in two-way trade.

According to the Commerce Department of the Trade Ministry, there has been no progress in negotiations between India and Sri Lanka with regard to the controversial ETCA.

The importation of good from India to Sri Lanka was at a very low level under the free trade agreement during the past few years due to heavy taxes on Indian imports which was not covered under the FTA.

Further Indian imports were subjected to other levies and duties in addition to customs duties such as the cess levy and the Ports and Airports Development Levy (PAL), he pointed out.

However, the growth of exports to India from Sri Lanka has been sluggish due to the non-tariff barriers imposed by the Indian authorities, which include un necessary regulatory requirements, he added.

 The ETCA initiative follows unfruitful negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries. The India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement of 1998 was followed by efforts towards CEPA to liberalise trade in services and investment starting in the mid-2000s.

Gazette revising water tariffs issued

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Colombo (LNW): The gazette notification revising the water tariffs has been issued last (02) night, signed by Minister of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development Jeewan Thondaman.

Accordingly, the tariff revisions will be in effect from August 01.

The low income families, including Samurdhi beneficiaries and residents of the plantation community, however, will not be affected by the revision.

Click here to view the full gazette.

Umara apologises over National Anthem gaffe

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Colombo (LNW): Singer Umara Sinhawansa has made a formal apology to anyone who was offended by the way she sang the National Anthem at the opening ceremony of LPL 2023 Cricket Tournament.

In a Facebook remark, the singer made a formal apology over the gaffe.

Today’s (03) weather forecast

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By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): Except for a few showers in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts, mainly fair weather will prevail elsewhere over the Island, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (03).

Strong winds about (45-50) kmph can be expected at times in western slopes of the central hills, Northern, North-Central, Southern and North-Western provinces, and in Trincomalee district, 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 (30-40) kmph. Wind speed may increase up to (55-65) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Hambantota to Pottuvil and the sea area off the coast extending from Puttalam to Trincomalee via Mannar and Kankasanthurai. Wind speed may increase up to (45-50) kmph at times in the other sea areas around the island.
State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coast extending from Hambantota to Pottuvil and the sea area off the coast extending from Puttalam to Trincomalee via Mannar and Kankasanthurai will be rough at times. The other sea areas around the island may fairly rough at times.