World Food Programme (WFP), in its Country Brief for January 2023, notes that food insecurity remains at concerning levels in the face of Sri Lanka’s economic crisis.
However, as per the latest Household Food Security Survey for December 2022, 33% of households in Sri Lanka are food insecure, a decline from 37% in November, the document read further.
The organization says 68% of households are resorting to negative food-based coping strategies such as consuming less preferred food, limiting portion sizes and/or reducing the number of meals.
The WFP says, in tandem with the Sri Lankan government, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN and WFP, a joint Food Security Assessment (CFSAM) would be conducted in early March, targeting 15,000 households from 25 districts. This is a follow-up to the CFSAM conducted in May 2022.
The report further noted that markets remain functional and currently have a wide range of products, adequate physical availability of essential goods and a resilient supply chain, despite the markets reporting concerns around price volatility in December last year as per the WFP’s December Market Functional Index.
With regards to its emergency responses to Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, WFP mentioned its plans to assist 3.4 million people through general food distribution, school meals and nutrition support.
Since the start of emergency operations in June 2022, WFP has reached 489,040 people with cash assistance and 362,100 with in-kind food assistance. This is a result of WFP’s response scale-up aimed at reaching 1.4 million people through unconditional food assistance (cash or in-kind).
As of January 2023, WFP had distributed rice to 7,593 schools, reaching 1,050,714 children. WFP surpassed its plan to support 1 million children with school meals through the Government’s national school meals programme in 2022.
According to the World Food Program, 6.3 million people, or over 30 percent of Sri Lanka’s population, are “food insecure” and require humanitarian assistance.
Of these, around 5.3 million people are either reducing meals or skipping meals, and at least 65,600 people are severely food insecure.
According to a study by Save the Children in June 2022, 59% of families reported not being able to meet all their food needs fully.
In addition, two in three respondents noted that their households had to rely on less preferred or less expensive foods at least once a week before the survey.
The report stated: “Over half of all children had to eat less preferred food and children had to reduce their quantity of food intake.
WFP says food insecurity in Sri Lanka remains at alarming levels
ADB, WB, JICA extend support to restructure CEB
By: Isuru Parakrama
Colombo (LNW): A number of development agencies, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank (WB), and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have agreed to extend support for restructuring process of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), following a meeting held with the development agencies for the purpose.
These agencies were requested to provide the following assistance to Sri Lanka;
- Enrolling foreign and domestic experts in energy, finance and legal fields to expedite the implementation of the restructuring plan;
- Obtaining necessary support for separation of generation, transmission and distribution;
- Conducting audits related to finance and energy fields;
- Human Resource Management during the restructuring process;
- Establishing and adapting public-private business models;
- Legislation and drafting;
- Research required for the restructuring process;
- Implementation of generation plans based on renewable energy; required communication regarding the operation
- Technical and financial support required to maintain a plan office till the completion of the restructuring programme.
Accordingly, the said agencies have agreed to provide assistance to Sri Lanka by dividing themselves as groups.
Sri Lankan focal points representing the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank (WB), the Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Department of External Resources (ERD), and the Department of National Planning (NPD) and their members, and the members of the Committee appointed for the restructuring of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) attended the event.
Sri Lanka to receive first group of post-pandemic Chinese tourists in March
Sri Lanka is set to receive its first group of post-pandemic Chinese tourists after becoming one of the first 20 countries to resume the organization of outbound group tourists from China since COVID-19.
Their flight will depart from the Shanghai Pudong International Airport on March 3.“We are expecting Chinese tourists to come back soon, but their particular interest has been to countries closer to China,” Anura Fernando, the consul general of Sri Lanka in Shanghai, said during an interview with China Daily about the country’s eagerness to receive more tourists from China.
As soon as the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced the decision to allow travel agencies to resume booking groups to travel to 20 countries and regions on Feb 6, the Sri Lanka consul general began to work closely with travel agencies and other partners to reopen direct flights between Shanghai and Colombo, its capital city.
Only a limited number of countries have been included in this list and this listing is a reflection of the close bonds between the two countries. The Embassy has consistently made representations to have Sri Lanka included in such a list.
The tourism industry of Sri Lanka which suffered a catastrophic decline following the Covid19 pandemic, now has the opportunity to recover rapidly. In 2019, 169 million Chinese nationals travelled outside the Chinese mainland. Today there is a tremendous pent up urge to travel among the Chinese and large numbers are expected to undertake vacation travel.
The Sri Lanka Embassy in Beijing is continuing its multi faceted efforts to promote Sri Lanka tourism despite the limited resources available, including during Ambassador Dr Palitha Kohona’s visits to different provinces and cities.
The electronic (TV) and the print media (including the national dailies) have been engaged on every occasion as well as the social media.
With its tropical climate, as well as rich and diverse cultural heritage, Sri Lanka has been a popular destination for holidaymakers from around the world. In 2018, the country received a record number of 280,000 tourists from China.
“Since most Chinese haven’t traveled out of the country for three years, they are looking at closer destinations,” he says, adding “but I think Sri Lanka should be attractive to most Chinese tourists”.
He notes that the rich heritage of Buddhist culture, tea plantations, gem stones, as well as its natural beauty and water activities, are all appealing for Chinese tourists. Now that the pandemic is over, and Sri Lanka has emerged from the economic crisis, Fernando hopes that “this year tourists’ numbers will increase to about 1 million”.
China is the biggest trading partner of Sri Lanka and the largest source of foreign investments. With the signing of a free trade agreement expected to be made this year, Fernando believes the trade volume will increase between the two countries.
One of the first countries involved in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Sri Lanka has witnessed major projects constructed by China, such as the Port City in Colombo that kicked off in 2014
Soldier attached to Panagoda Army Base shoots himself
By: Isuru Parakrama
Colombo (LNW): An Army Soldier who served in the Panagoda Army Camp has shot himself, revealed the Army Spokesman.
The soldier, according to the Spokesman, has shot himself by his official firearm in suicide fashion.
President reveals plans to make SL a year-round tourist destination
Colombo (LNW): President Ranil Wickremesinghe has declared plans to make Sri Lanka a year-round tourist destination, with the aim of attracting over two million tourists, including high-spenders.
He assured businessmen from the tourism industry that a programme is in place to revitalise the sector and a committee has been appointed to implement the plan.
The President emphasised the need for better publicity for Sri Lanka and highlighted the recent Independence Day celebrations as an example.
The meeting was received positively by the business community engaged in the tourism sector, who expressed hope that it will lead to increased investment and growth in the tourism sector.
Several areas to meet showers or thundershowers today
By: Isuru Parakrama
Colombo (LNW): Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts during the afternoon or night, and a few showers may occur in Uva province and in Ampara and Matale districts. Mainly fair weather will prevail elsewhere over the Island, said the Department of Meteorology in a statement today (25).
Fairly heavy showers above 50mm are likely at some places in Kaluthara, Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Marine Weather:
| Condition of Rain: |
| Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places in the sea areas extending from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota. Showers or thundershowers will occur at a few places over the sea areas off the coast extending from Colombo to Galle during the evening or night. |
| Winds: |
| Winds will be north-easterly and wind speed will be (20-30) kmph. Wind speed may increase up to (40-45) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Mannar to Colombo via Puttalam and Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota. |
| State of Sea: |
| The sea areas off the coast extending from Mannar to Colombo via Puttalam and Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota will be fairly rough at times. Temporarily strong gusty winds and very rough seas can be expected during thundershowers |
Chinese EXIM Bank offers short, mid, long term measures
EXIM Bank of China (Export-Import Bank) submitted a comprehensive program in its financial support document on January 19 to ‘strongly support’ Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring process with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and it includes short, mid and long-term measures for debt treatment, a diplomatic source from the Chinese embassy said.
Sri Lanka is seeking the support of all the creditors to unlock the US $ 2.9 billion program with the IMF in four years.
According to the source, it is not just a two -year moratorium on debt repayments. “The two-year moratorium on borrowings is only part of the support to help relieve Sri Lanka’s immediate debt repayment pressure,” the source said.
“The Bank would like to have friendly consultation with Sri Lanka regarding medium and long term debt treatment in this window period; and the Bank will make best efforts to contribute to the debt sustainability and the future development of Sri Lanka. Only the short term measure is talked about in the media. It is incomplete and inaccurate,” the source said.
China calls on commercial creditors including the ISB holders to provide debt treatment in an equally comparable manner, and encourage multilateral creditors to do their utmost to make corresponding contributions.
“We also call on the IMF to take into full consideration the urgency of the situation in Sri Lanka and provide loan support as soon as possible to relieve the country’s liquidity strain,” the source said.
EXIM Bank works as the official bilateral creditor representative of China in dealing with the IMF.
Sri Lanka owes US $ 7.4 billion to EXIM Bank and China Development Bank according to the Ministry of Finance.
Source: Daily Mirror
Sri Lanka Original Narrative Summary: 25/02
- Elections Commission says the LG Election will not be held on 9th March: new date to be notified on 3rd March, 2023.
- Former CB Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal says multilateral lenders IMF, World Bank & ADB who enjoy the status of “Senior Creditors” must also have their loans restructured like other bilateral and commercial creditors, in any sovereign debt re-structuring exercise: also says he urged IMF top management in March 2020 to grant a moratorium of at least one year on all emerging nations’ debt due to “Senior Creditors” at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic: laments that was not done, unfortunately.
- Finance officials from China and US to discuss debt and other issues today: the US has repeatedly criticized China’s stance in relation to debt relief for low and middle-income countries including Sri Lanka: meanwhile, the US-backed “Senior Creditors” IMF and World Bank have been reluctant to grant any concession whatsoever to debt-distressed countries.
- State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna appointed as the Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA).
- IUSF convenor Wasantha Mudalige and 62 others who were arrested for focibly entering the Education Ministry, remanded until 26th February.
- New Central Bank Bill published: under the new law, the Central Bank to have “administrative & financial autonomy”: provides for a “Governing Board” to oversee management with the Governor as Chairperson and 6 others who have expertise in economics, banking, finance, accounting & auditing, law or risk management.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe announces plans to make Sri Lanka a year-round tourist destination: also outlines program to attract over 2 mn tourists including those spending USD 500 per day: says Committee appointed to implement plan: stresses importance of better and positive publicity.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe says Bar Association President, Saliya Pieris should not be representing the Election Commission in cases related to the LG poll as Pieris is a “political’ lawyer.
- Self-proclaimed SJB Economic Guru Harsha Silva claims he had been “illegitimately removed” as Chairman of COPF as he had become a headache to a “bunch of rogues” in a “bankrupt nation”: previously, Silva was at the forefront in demanding that the Govt defaults on ISB debt, which had massive “cross-default” consequences.
- GMOA spokesman Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe says the Govt is planning to reduce the salaries of those in the health sector by 15%: alleges the Health Secretary has issued a circular instructing the reduction: emphasises the entire health sector is in crisis.
Prevention is better than cure! What did the Indian Navy officer say in 2015?
S V. Kirubaharan, France
If we analyse the political, economic, social and cultural events that have taken place over the past seventy-five years in Sri Lanka – since independence, we have a lot to learn: mistakes and lessons.
No matter where one lives today, his or her life and contribution to the island’s history is short – maybe a few decades.
For the last thirty-three years (33) – I have been writing articles based on facts and reality to educate those who tell history in a biased or distorted way. Some who read my articles are furious, branding me with various labels to their convenience. They fail to look at the message rather than the messenger. There was a time when a serious accusation was made against me that ‘Interpol’ was looking for me and I had gone into hiding. I brought this matter to the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and she sought clarification from Interpol. Then, jointly with the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, she wrote a letter dated 11 August 2011 (Ref. Reference: UA G/SO 214 (67-17) G/SO 214 (107-9) LKA 3/2011) to the Sri Lanka Ambassador in Geneva, stating that “Interpol reportedly holds no information concerning Mr. Kirupaharan in its files”.
As far as I am concerned, anyone dedicated to human rights cannot work without facing slander. However, my reply to those who accused me is that “dogs bark and caravan moves on”.
Within the last three decades of my task in the UN Human Rights Forums in Geneva, I have met hundreds of diplomats, VIPs, UN officials and others. In UN side-events, I have argued and debated with almost fifteen different Ministers and VIPs of various Sri Lankan governments, in the presence of international observers and participants. I would proudly say that no other person has acted in this manner in the history of Sri Lanka, speaking up and putting their own life at risk. These are matters well documented by the media, especially some print media in Colombo.
Some events
When we look at the sequence of events that have taken place since independence, linked to various governments and citizens, especially in the North and East, one notices how disturbing and frustrating life is. Here are some examples:
Following independence, the Up-country Tamils were stripped of their citizenship and voting rights. In 1949, when the Indian-Pakistani citizenship bill was voted in parliament, Mr. G.G. Ponnambalam who was then a minister, voted in favour of this bill.
There were five communal riots (1956, 1958, 1977, 1981 and 1983) against Tamils all over the island. In each riot – hundreds, thousands were killed and millions of rupees worth of their properties were destroyed and looted.
In 1956, the Sinhala only Language Act was passed in parliament. During that time Tamil leaders were violently attacked by thugs in front of the old Parliament in Galle face, Colombo.
In 1959 democratically elected Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike was assassinated by a Buddhist Monk. Following the signing of the Sirimao-Shastri pact in 1964, thousands of Tamils who had been living in the Up-country for more than a century were sent back to India.
The JVP began in 1967. In 1971 their attempt to take over the government by armed struggle failed and hundreds, thousands of youths from the South were killed and imprisoned.
In 1972, Sri Lanka was declared as the Republic of Sri Lanka. During the same year, ‘standardisation’ in education was introduced to limit Tamil students entering University.
At the fourth Tamil Research Conference held in Jaffna in 1974, nine Tamils were killed. In 1978, Sri Lanka was declared a Democratic Socialist Republic and an Executive Presidential system was introduced.
In 1979 following the introduction of the Prevention of Terrorism Act – PTA in Sri Lanka, a large number of youths were killed and imprisoned in the North and East. In 1981, the Jaffna Public Library was set on fire and destroyed. It had housed 95,000 volumes of books including culturally important and irreplaceable historical manuscripts documents were also destroyed.
In October 1982, J.R.Jayawardene was re-elected as Executive President of Sri Lanka. In this Presidential election, Vijaya Kumaratunga and T.B. Ilangaratne campaigned for the main opposition candidate Hector Kobbekaduwa. Both of them and a few others were accused as Naxalites and imprisoned under the Emergency Regulations.
In December 1982 a Sri Lankan national referendum was held, to extend the life of parliament by 6 years. Opposition parties described this as a dictatorial move by J. R. Jayawardene who was re-elected as the President in October.
In 1983, late Member of Parliament Vivienne Goonewardena carried out a demonstration against the US military base in Diego Garcia. She was physically assaulted by the Police.
The year 1983 marked the worst ethnic riot against the Tamils. Thousands of Tamils were killed. During the same period, 53 Tamil prisoners in Colombo’s Welikadai prison were murdered by fellow Sinhala prisoners.
At the same time, the Sixth Amendment act was passed in Parliament, preventing anyone from demanding external right to self-determination.
Again in 1985-1989 there was an uprising of the JVP. In gross and massive human rights violations a huge number of youths – especially JVP members, academics, religious leaders, MPs, government forces and others were killed and ‘disappeared’.
On 21 April 2019, on Easter Sunday, 270 people including 45 foreigners were killed and more than 500 injured by suicide bombers in three churches and three hotels in Colombo and other areas.
Non-violent and Armed
The non-violent struggle carried out by the Tamil leaders for almost thirty years was continuously suppressed violently by different governments.
It is history, that in 1957 the Banda-Chelva pact, and in 1961 Dudley-Chelva pact to grant Federal system to the North and East, were arbitrarily destroyed by SWRD Bandaranaike and Dudley Senanayke, due to protests carried out by politicians in the South and Buddhist monks.
In 1976, the Tamil United Liberation Front – TULF was formed. In the parliamentary elections held in 1977, the TULF contested the election with a manifesto for establishing the external right to self-determination for the North and East. The TULF overwhelmingly won this election, and even became an opposition party in parliament.
In 1972 Tamil militancy began with minor incidents. In 1984 it came to the stage of a war between Sri Lankan security forces and militant groups. In 1985, the ‘Thimbu talks’ took place in the capital of Bhutan, between all factions of the Tamils and representatives of the Sri Lankan government. These talks were unsuccessful. Since then, several talks have taken place but nothing produced any fruit.
In 1987 the Indio-Lanka accord was signed. The Indian Army (IPKF) arrived in the North East and the same year the war started between the Indian Army and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Thousands of people were killed in the North and East and their properties were looted by Indian soldiers.
The IPKF was withdrawn from the North and East in 1990. In 1990 an economic embargo to the Jaffna peninsula was introduced and gross human rights violations took place. The LTTE administered a de-facto government equal to the government of Sri Lanka, until the war ended in Mullivaikal in May 2009.
Where are we now?
On 13th February 2023, Mr. Pala Nedumaran, a senior politician of Tamil Nadu who was an associate of late Prime Minister Gandhi announced that the leader of the LTTE, Pirabaharan, who was presumed dead in May 2009 is alive and will come into public soon. I wrote an article regarding this matter in August 2016.
My article was about what was said by India’s retired naval officer, Professor Kagil Subramaniam. During his visit to Colombo, on 13 September 2015, he gave an interview to an English print media saying that ‘it could not be Pirabhakaran’s body that was photographed and telecast to the public’. The professor said, “There were no chances of Pirabhakaran shooting himself as many are claiming now. If so there would have been a proper fingerprint and a DNA test conducted.”
The two reasons cited by him are: 1) that no ‘death certificate’ of his death has been issued by Sri Lanka to India and 2) the statement given by Sri Lanka to India was on the request of the Attorney General. The Colombo High Court had stated ‘presumed dead’ and no ‘genetic analysis’ (DNA) had been conducted either in Sri Lanka or India. Also, his fingerprints had not been examined.
Prof. Subramaniam said that the statement given by Sri Lanka to India read as follows: “LTTE leader Velupillai Pirabhakaran was presumed to have been killed on the last day of the Eelam War IV at Mullivaikkal in Nandikadal on 17 May 2009 and no evidence exists for him being alive, therefore, he is presumed to be dead judicially”.
In this interview, Professor Subramaniam also stated that Pirabaharan was said to have died on May 17, 2009. But his death was officially announced on May 19.
In my article of August 2016, I questioned why the Sri Lankan government, the Ministry of Defence, Gotabaya, Mahinda, Sarath Fonseka and others never came forward to object to Professor Subramaniam’s statement, after all it had been published in one of the Colombo newspapers.
But now, after thirteen years, especially after Mr. Nedumaran’s statement on 13 February, the spokesperson of the Sri Lanka Army claims that they have the ‘DNA’ of Pirabaharan. However former naval officer, Minister and the Member of Parliament Sarath Weeraseka said to the BBC on 13February: “this is our problem, why should we give DNA to others?”
Whoever, one should “tell the truth and live uprightly”. In my articles I always say: “when the facts are delayed, lies take the space”. Now huge confusion has been created among the people.
Current situation
If we examine the current political situation of the North and East – the South has completely forgotten the consequence of thirty years of the ethnic bloody conflict and also the ‘de-facto state’ that was in existence in large parts of the North East for more than two decades.
The war was won with the support of the international community on a promise that as soon as the war came to an end, there would be a political settlement – not simply on the basis of the 13th amendment, but it would be an enhanced solution called ‘13th plus’.
Now thirteen years have passed. There is no light of any political solution to the bloody conflict. It is surprising why now some Southern politicians are objecting and Buddhist monks are demonstrating against the 13th amendment which has been part of the constitution for more than three decades.
It is a mystery why, during the war, these politicians and Buddhist monks never demonstrated against the government, which was telling the international community that, ‘it will not be the 13th amendment, but it will be the 13th plus’. Significantly, Ranil Wickremasinghe agreed to the Oslo declaration which endorsed, “ …the principle of internal self-determination in areas of historical habitation of the Tamil-speaking peoples, based on a federal structure within a united Sri Lanka”.
There are politicians in the North and East who have claimed that the 13th amendment is no solution to the ethnic conflict. Here we can see a parallel between extremists in the South and the North and East. If so, what will be the future of Sri Lanka?
It has been a miserable story for the last seventy-five years. The people in the North and East are frustrated and losing patience….. so, do the extremists in the South expect another bloody conflict in the island? Is there any way to prevent it and live peacefully as equal citizens? Do the extreme elements pave the way for this?
Now it seems that the time has come for all to think very carefully and get into action rather than continue to fuel hate among innocent citizens.
SL cricket earns US$ 14 million in profits despite dismal form of national team
Sri Lanka’s cricket board today announced a profit of US$ 14 million last year, far above all previous records despite one of the worst on-field performances by the islanders in years.
Revenues, at six billion rupees, were roughly double 2016 figures, Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.
This record marks a 3-fold year-on-year increase compared to the Rs. 2.1 billion of net profits earned in 2021, SLC claimed
“This was a result of SLC’s strategic growth plans and prudent financial management,” the board said in a statement.
The latest growth in net income was mainly generated from four revenue segments, which are international cricket, domestic cricket, sponsorship contracts, and ICC annual member ship disbursements..
Sri Lanka Cricket invested a sum of Rs. 2.27 billion on domestic cricket in 2022, which was utilized to play domestic tournaments, operate the high performance center, pay compensation for domestic players and officials, and also finance school cricket development.
Stadium management and administration grants for district and provincial associations, and member clubs totaled Rs. 599 million during the year under reference
The board did not elaborate on its dramatic turnaround.But sources attributed the sharp rise in profits to a packed 2017 calendar which featured home series against Bangladesh, India and Zimbabwe.
Earnings from the broadcasting of the Indian tour were thought to be a major contributor to the coffers, but Sri Lanka Cricket would not comment.
The record-breaking profits were the only good news from an otherwise woeful spell for Sri Lanka cricket, with the islanders enduring their worst year on the pitch since winning the World Cup in 1996.
They suffered a full series defeat against India and humiliatingly lost a home one-day series to bottom-ranked Zimbabwe.They also bowed out early from the Champions Trophy in June last year
During the year under reference, Sri Lanka Cricket invested Rs. 4.2 billion on playing international cricket, consisting of inbound and outbound tours of the national team, the “A” team, junior team tours, and the national women’s team tour expenses.
Rs. 1.2 billion was invested in fulfilling Sri Lanka Cricket’s corporate social responsibility program, which consisted of a grant of over Rs. 900 million for the country’s health sector (including donations for the Apeksha Cancer Hospital and Lady Ridgeway Hospital).
it has provided over Rs. 278 million for the National Sports Fund, among other grants such as Rs. 25 million to renovate the Gangarama Rajamaha Viharaya in Kandy, etc