The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Iran, with the assistance of the Association of Air Transport & Tourism Agencies of Iran and the Sri Lanka Tea Board, successfully organized Sri Lanka’s participation in the 16th Tehran International Exhibition of Tourism and Related Industries held from 07-10 February 2023 at the Tehran International Fairground in Iran.

More than 30,000 visitors representing 45 countries participated in the event and about 200 domestic and foreign exhibitors including Tehran based diplomatic missions, travel agencies, airlines, cruise lines, hotels, insurance services, travel, hospitality & tourism faculties of several universities showcased their services.

The Sri Lankan Pavilion of the exhibition was declared open by Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts of Iran Ezzatollah Zarghami with the participation of senior Government officials, members of Iran Tourism Association, diplomats, Iran travel agents and tour operators. The Pavilion portrayed Sri Lanka’s attractive tourism themes and a variety of unique products . All visitors to the Pavilion also had an opportunity to gather more information on tourism through promotional videos, “So Sri Lanka” brochures, leaflets from Sri Lankan travel companies and presentations made by the Sri Lanka Embassy staff.

At the press conference arranged by the organizers of the Tourism Exhibition, Ambassador G.M.V. Wishwanath Aponsu highlighted Sri Lanka’s natural beauty, rich culture & arts, ayurveda medicine & herbal drinks, traditional Sri Lankan cuisine etc. While briefing on the recent developments of the tourism industry in the country, the Sri Lankan envoy requested all tourism stakeholders in Iran to promote tourism and encourage Iranian tourists to visit Sri Lanka expecially during the upcoming Nowruz holiday season-March 2023 (Persian New Year).

Ambassador Wishwanath Aponsu had meetings with heads of travel & tourism faculties of universities based in Tehran, senior officials of the Iran Tourism Ministry, Chairman of the Association of Air Transport & Tourism Agencies and country managers of airlines and key travel agents in Iran. After the Ambassador’s comprehensive briefing that highlighted a 75% growth of Iranian tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka in 2022 compared to the year 2019, all tourism stakeholders assured their fullest support to uplift the two-way tourism between Iran and Sri Lanka for mutual benefit.

The Ceylon tea counter arranged by the Embassy with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Tea Board was very popular among the visitors. The counter displayed seven assortments of tea from the main seven tea growing regions of NuwaraEliya, UdaPussellawa, Dimbula, Uva, Kandy, Sabaragamuwa and Ruhuna and freshly brewed “Ceylon tea” with other refreshments was offered to high-level dignitaries and visitors during the opening day of the Exhibition. Promotional tea samples and Ceylon tea brochures were also distributed among the visitors.

The Tehran International Exhibition of Tourism and Related Industries is the largest professional tourism exhibition hosted by the Islamic Republic of Iran under the auspices of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts. It is regarded as a meeting place for tourism professionals and service providers from the tourism industry to promote incoming, domestic and outgoing tourism.

Embassy of Sri Lanka

Tehran

The Defence Advisor at Bangladesh High Commission in Sri Lanka, Commodore MD Shafiul Bari called on the Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera at the Navy Headquarters in Colombo (14th February 2023).

During their maiden official interaction, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera and Commodore MD Shafiul Bari exchanged views on several matters of bilateral importance. Naval Assistant to Commander of the Navy Commodore Kosala Warnakulasooriya was also present on this occasion.

 At the end of the cordial discussion mementoes were also exchanged as a symbol of cooperation and goodwill.

The call for applications for the GCE Ordinary Level examination is scheduled to end on February 28 at 12.00 midnight.

The department issued a statement emphasizing that the period for accepting applications will not be extended for any reason.

1. Foreign media reports indicate the IMF is considering approving Sri Lanka’s bail-out without the formal assurance of debt-restructuring support from China, as contemplated by the IMF.
   
2. Government Printer says it will not be able to print ballot papers required for the Local Government Polls if the Treasury is unable to release money: postal voting scheduled for 22, 23, 24 & 28 Feb postponed: new dates to be announced later says the Elections Commission.
   
3. Appeal Court rejects Writ Application challenging the Cabinet decision to increase the electricity tariffs as proposed by the CEB.
   
4. Colombo Additional Magistrate orders the appointment of a 5-member expert committee comprising Judicial Medical Officers to prepare a report as there are contradictions in the post-mortem reports of well-known businessman Dinesh Schaffter.
   
5. Tea exports down by 9.4% from a year ago to 17.6mn kg in Jan’23, as the industry experiences the lagged effect of lack of chemical fertilizer and weedicide: however, due to the Rupee depreciation, rupee earnings rise 96% to Rs.17.7bn, while export earnings rise to USD 99.6mn in Jan’23 up from USD 91.9mn a year earlier.
   
6. Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera says that connecting the national energy grid of Sri Lanka with the Indian grid will not cause any risk.
   
7. Rebel SLPP MP and former Foreign Minister Professor G L Peiris says the recent resignation of Ministers Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa & Ali Sabry from a Ministerial Subcommittee inquiring into the procurement of coal for Lakvijaya coal-fired power plant complex at Norochcholai reveals the failure on their part to take tangible action against corruption.
   
8. Joint Apparel Assn Forum says its members are extremely concerned about the impact of the electricity tariff: asserts the move by the electricity regulator to approve another tariff hike has sent shock-waves across the nation: laments the massive hike will be detrimental for all sectors of the economy.
   
9. Medical professionals allege the Ministry of Health had decided to postpone surgeries which the Ministry claimed to be non-essential and non-urgent based on medical advice in view of the shortage of pharmaceutical drugs and medical equipment, without consulting the relevant parties including general surgeons.
   
10. Economists say the Govt will have to choose between increasing taxes further or borrowing more, when the “money printing” by the Central Bank is stopped under an IMF programme: assert the Govt is likely to opt for borrowing more which would lead to a further spike in the country’s interest rates.

A special discussion was held today (16.02.2023) under the leadership of Ceylon workers’ Congress General Secretary and Minister Jeevan Thondaman regarding the housing project being carried out in the central province under the financial assistance of the Government of India.

This discussion was held at the Ministry of Water Supply and estate Infrastructure Development, three officials of the Indian High Commission were also participated.

Also, the Secretary of the Ministry of Water Supply and estate Infrastructure Development, the officers of the Planning Division and the Director of estate Human Resource Development Department were also participated in this discussion.

As the 4,000 houses project provided by India for the central province is yet to be completed in some areas, the Minister Jeevan Thondaman briefed the Indian Embassy officials regarding the measures being taken to fulfill them.

Due to the current economic situation in Sri Lanka, the 10,000 housing project cannot be carried out as per the earlier assessment, hence the need for additional assistance was also pointed out .
It has also been brought into consideration that, only completing the first 4,000 housing scheme, the 10,000 housing scheme will be implemented and the beneficiaries will be selected.

Further, discussions were held between the two sides regarding the activities of Thondaman Vocational Training Center and the Smart Classroom Project.

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) today filed a fundamental rights petition (SC/FR 65/2023) in the Supreme Court naming 47 Respondents, in relation to the steps taken by the Cabinet of Ministers, the Minister of Health, the Ministry of Health, and the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) to procure medical supplies from two Indian private companies.

This case is filed in the public interest, and challenges the following:
♦️ The role of the cabinet of ministers in procuring medical supplies through unregistered private suppliers
♦️ The role of the NMRA in providing a Waiver of Registration to procure medical supplies from unregistered suppliers
♦️ Non-compliance with procurement guidelines including the emergency procurement process
♦️ Abuse of process by the Minister of Health and the Chief Executive Officer of the NMRA.

In its petition, TISL alleges that the citizens’ fundamental right to equality (Article 12(1)) and the right of access to information (Article 14A) have been violated, along with serious disregard for the health, safety and wellbeing of the people and in total abuse of public trust and public funds. TISL seeks further information on these transactions.

The petition seeks interim orders against –
♦️ The procurement based on this unsolicited proposal and the placing of any orders
♦️ Approvals for Waiver of Registration of 38 drugs
♦️ Importation of said drugs into Sri Lanka and
♦️ Making payment for such drugs

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, the Director-General of Customs, the Inspector-General of Police, Savorite Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Limited, Kausikh Therapeutics (P) Limited and the Attorney-General are also named as Respondents in this petition.

Read the petition: https://bit.ly/3YUcKdj