By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s manufacturing sector continued its downward trend in June this year amidst expansion of services, Central Banks purchasing mangers index indicated.

Manufacturing PMI recorded an index value of 47.3 in June 2023, indicating the setback in manufacturing activities. This setback was contributed by subdued performance observed in all the sub-indices.

Production and New Orders declined, mainly driven by the manufacture of textile and apparel sector. As mentioned by many respondents, continued subdued global demand was the major reason for this decline, CB stated.

However, some improvement in New Orders and Production was observed in the manufacture of food and beverages sector with the reduction of prices by some manufacturers to increase the market demand. Employment and Stock of Purchases also decreased in line with the decline in New Orders and Production.

Many respondents mentioned that they tend to replace only the essential staff and also to maintain a minimum raw material stock.

Meanwhile, Suppliers’ Delivery Time remained shortened in June 2023 with the low order volumes during the month. Expectations for manufacturing activities for the next three months indicated an improvement, anticipating a gradual recovery in economic conditions.

Purchasing Managers Indices indicated an expansion in Services activities and a contraction in Manufacturing activities in June 2023.

Services sector PMI increased further in June 2023 recording an index value of 56.7, the highest reading since January 2022.

This was led by the increases observed in New Businesses, Business Activities and Expectations for Activity. Nevertheless, Backlogs of Works continued to decrease, while employment remained unchanged during the month.

New Businesses increased in June 2023 compared to May 2023 particularly with the increases observed in financial services, other personal services, insurance and professional services sub-sectors.

Business Activities experienced a continuous growth in June 2023 with improvements across most of the sub-sectors.

Accordingly, financial services sub-sector showed improvements driven by the gradual decrease in market interest rates. In addition, other personal services, education and professional services sub-sectors also exhibited positive developments during the month.

Nevertheless,wholesale and retail trade sub-sector experienced a continued decline in business activities, though there was some improvement in clothing and footwear businesses due to Hajj season.

Backlogs of Work also decreased at a higher rate during the month,while Employment remained unchanged from the level reported in May.

Expectations for Business Activities for the next three months continued to improve in June amid anticipated improvements in economic activities driven by policy rate cuts, strengthening of SriLanka Rupee, relaxation of import restrictions and moderation of inflationary pressures.

Variable May

By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW): The governments of Sri Lanka and India will soon launch a passenger ferry service between Kankesanthurai in Jaffna and Karaikal in India, says the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation.

Discussions in this regard have been held between the Minister of Ports and Shipping Nimal Siripala de Silva and India’s Foreign Affairs Ministry recently.

It has also been decided to establish two Immigration and Emigration offices, one each in Kankesanthurai and Karaikal for this purpose, while preliminary measures have already commenced in this regard.

Minister De Silva has revealed that boats will not be provided initially by the governments of India and Sri Lanka for the ferry service, instead, boats will be provided under the tender called for by the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Under the new passenger ferry programme, a ferry will have a capacity of 150 passengers with each passenger allowed a baggage weighing 100 kilos, while the cost of one-way travel is US$ 50.

A joint commission established to strengthen bilateral connectivity has held “productive discussions” on the resumption of ferry services between India and Sri Lanka to boost regional trade and tourism and promote stronger people-to-people ties.

India-Sri Lanka Joint Committee established under MOU on Passenger Transportation by Sea held a virtual meeting last week.

“The productive discussions focused on the resumption of ferry services between the two countries connecting mutually agreed points,” the Indian High Commission here said in a statement.

Both sides agreed that the resumption of ferry services will boost regional trade and tourism and promote stronger people-to-people ties, it said.

The meeting took place ahead of Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s planned visit to India later this week.

The Joint Committee identified a number of areas for mutual cooperation for the operationalization of ferry services in the near future and desired to take further steps based on mutual understanding, the statement said.

The Joint Committee was recently reconstituted by the Governments of India and Sri Lanka as per the provisions of the bilateral Memorandum of Understanding on Passenger Transportation by Sea, signed in 2011.The ferry services were suspended in the 80’s.

The two sides were to start a boast service in April which was later delayed as India changed the port it had chosen for the service.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has decided to launch a strike action at the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital (LRH) in Borella tomorrow (19), over the questionable conduct of the consultant specialist in charge of Ward 8B.

Calling in a briefing today (18), Secretary of the GMOA Dr. Haritha Aluthge said the consultant in charge of Ward 8B of the LRH continues to behave in a manner oppressing the staff and the holding of a strike action would be inevitable in the event that the authorities failed to provide a solution.

The LRH, accordingly, will be facing a strike action for the first time ever, and the hospital director, who believes that he is above the Director General of Health Services (DGHS), should be held responsible, Dr. Aluthge noted.

The GMOA Secretary went on saying that the DGHS who promised that the issue will be solved within yesterday (17) itself failed to do so, but the authorities still have time to fix the problem before 8 am tomorrow (19).

Failure, the medical officers will refrain themselves from providing services at the out patient department (OPD) for 24 hours, he added, urging the public not to visit the OPD tomorrow for treatment.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): The adoption of the Anti-Corruption Bill (ACB) in Parliament is significantly important and decisive in the occurrence of corruption which affects the country’s economic bankruptcy, and causes various forms of social injustice, said Chairman of the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ), former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya in a statement.

The new ACB, therefore, is essential to eliminate corruption, and it is the responsibility of every citizen who seeks a fair society to pay continuous attention to this matter, the former Speaker emphasised.

Full Statement:

It is well known that acts of corruption affect the country’s economic bankruptcy, and they also cause various forms of social injustice. While powerful politicians and officials have been accused of corruption, several parties have been demanding the introduction of laws and regulations to eliminate all forms of corruption.

That is why the adoption of the ACB in the Parliament is significantly important and decisive. It is our strong belief that the ACB should be passed at this point, until the deficiencies in it are addressed in the future.

In order for a fair society, a democratic pattern of politics and a progressive country to be established, all forms of corruption from the top to the bottom must be eliminated, and for that, it is important that the necessary legal provisions are introduced in a timely manner.

At this crucial point, taking steps to pass the ACB is a responsibility that cannot be avoided by any Parliamentary group. We, as the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ), request everyone to fulfill that responsibility without a second thought. We would also like to note that it is the responsibility of every citizen who seeks a fair society to pay continuous attention to this matter.

Colombo (LNW): The Cabinet of Ministers has granted its approval to the proposal on revising water and sewerage charges, in the backdrop where the financial viability and sustainability of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) are at a crisis.

Taking into account the proposal put forward by the Minister of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development, the Cabinet has approved the revision of charges that will be minimising the impact of low-income groups and the social security base provided in connection with educational, religious and public water supplies.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): Government employees of the Eastern Province have taken a stand against Minister of Environment Naseer Ahamed who was accused of publicly threatening several government officials, including the Education Secretary of the Province.

Ahamed was seen threatening the said officials by babbling that “he can sack anyone as he pleases overnight,” in what public servants described as a direct blow in the head against the honour of the public service.

The Minister’s comments will only provoke anger among all public servants in the country, and one of such authority cannot act as if Sri Lanka’s public service is his personal property, one official on the condition of anonymity told LNW.

Ahamed who was elected to Parliament as a member of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) the main Opposition being submissive to his craving for a ministerial post in the government simply betrayed the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and its allied parties, he reminded, stressing that government employees are not ready to serve in such double standards.

The Environment Minister is at the centre of criticism from government officials to even MPs over his threatening comments in Kattankudy. Ahamed was seen threatening the officials by babbling, “I can sack anyone as I please overnight because this is my area, I will not let anyone walk freely on the road.“

Ahamed’s comments appear in a provocative manner instigating racial disharmony between Sinhala and Muslim people, and the petty political agenda the Minister has resorted to has already met with severe condemnation by the public servants and MPs alike.

A renowned trade union told LNW that they are appealing to President Wickremesinghe over Ahamed’s conduct, and a massive strike action will be launched with the support of public officials, should he fail to take an immediate action.