The Department of Railways has successfully reopened the Anuradhapura-Omanthai stretch of the Northern Railway Line after six months of construction activities. The restoration of this 62 km railway line, with the assistance of Indian loans totaling Rs. 33 billion, marks a significant milestone for Sri Lanka’s rail infrastructure.

With the completion of the reconstruction work, trains will now be able to operate at a speed of 100 kmph on the Anuradhapura-Omanthai section. This development not only improves travel efficiency but also enhances connectivity and transportation options for the local community.

Furthermore, the Department of Railways has announced the resumption of the Jaffna-Colombo train seat reservation service, providing convenient booking options for passengers.

Deputy General Manager (Traffic) of the Department of Railways, M. J. Indipolage, shared that the Yal Devi train commenced its journey from Mount Lavinia to Sammanthurai at 5.10 am on Saturday. Additionally, the Uththara Devi train is scheduled to depart from Colombo Fort to Kankasanthurai at 11.50 am. The night postal train is also set to embark on its journey from Colombo Fort to Kankasanthurai at 8 pm. Another train will leave Kankasanthurai at 1.40 pm on Saturday.

Arrangements have been made for a postal train to depart from Kankasanthurai at 7 pm as well. Starting from July 16th, train journeys from Kankasanthurai to Colombo Fort will commence at 5.40 am. In total, six train journeys have been scheduled, with three trains departing from Colombo Fort and Mount Lavinia, and three from Kankasanthurai to Colombo.

State Minister of Investment Promotion, Dilum Amunugama, announced that China’s Sinopec Company is set to commence the importation and distribution of fuel in Sri Lanka, starting on Saturday (15). Additionally, the company plans to establish 50 new fuel stations across the country.

Under the agreement previously made between Sinopec Company and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, the necessary registration under the Board of Investment was completed, and related agreements were signed in Colombo on the previous day (14). This development signifies an important step in strengthening the energy sector in Sri Lanka and fostering closer economic ties between China and Sri Lanka.

The entry of Sinopec Company into the Sri Lankan fuel market is expected to enhance competition, improve fuel availability, and contribute to the country’s energy infrastructure. The opening of 50 new fuel stations will provide increased accessibility to fuel for the public and further stimulate economic growth.

This collaboration reflects the ongoing efforts to attract foreign investment and promote economic development in Sri Lanka, while expanding trade relations with China. The commencement of fuel importation and the establishment of additional fuel stations signify a positive development for Sri Lanka’s energy sector and the broader economy.

1. President Ranil Wickremasinghe’s Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayake, Ministry of Finance officials, and IMF officials take a decision to lift all import restrictions, other than on vehicles, from the first week of September: Analysts expect the LKR to take a nose-dive as a result.
2. Drug addicts suspected to have removed Rs.280 mn worth of copper wires, nuts & bolts from the new “Golden Gate Kalyani” Kelani bridge built with a massive loan from Japan
3. State Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says the Govt will impose an excise tax of Rs.10 per liter on toddy: claims the tax is to increase Govt revenue: former CB Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal says instead of increasing taxes daily and imposing burdens on the beleaguered people, the Govt must seek ways to grow the economy, which would lead to higher Govt revenue, even at the current or even lower rates of tax.
4. President Ranil Wickremasinghe says Sri Lanka has invited UK’s former Paymaster General Francis Maude, who oversaw the creation of the UK Govt Digital Service in 2011, to visit the country and share his insights on digitalisation with a view to boosting state revenue.
5. Former Chief Justice Sarath N Silva says it would not be wise to give full independence to the Central Bank.
6. Colombo High Court Judge Namal Balalle sentences Garnia Bannister Francis (a local employee of the Swiss Embassy in Colombo) who had falsely claimed that she was abducted in 2019, to 2-years rigorous imprisonment & a fine of Rs.5,000: the prison sentence be suspended for 5 years.
7. SJB decides to lodge a complaint with the World Health Organization, seeking action against those responsible for weakening the country’s healthcare sector: SJB MP Kavinda Jayawardena says the Party is also mulling moving a no-confidence motion against Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.
8. NFF Leader Wimal Weerawansa says people who seek treatment from Govt hospitals have become “laboratory rats” due to the import of inferior quality drugs from India under emergency purchases.
9. SLPP MP Retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera rejects Bar Association allegation that his speech in Parliament on 7 July was an attack on the judiciary: asserts the Bar Association’s response shows their solidarity with the lawyers in Mulativu, without probing the relevant incident at Kurundi Buddhist Temple Complex.
10. SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva who stoutly stood for Debt Re-structuring and an IMF programme now says his stance is that domestic debt re-structuring must be avoided: adds that banks must bear the burden of re-structuring, instead of the EPF only bearing the brunt of the loss.

In a significant development, Major General Sanjaya Wanasinghe has been appointed as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army, following in the footsteps of his father, General Hamilton Wanasinghe.

Major General Sanjaya Wanasinghe is the eldest son of General Hamilton Wanasinghe, who previously held the prestigious position of Commander of the Sri Lanka Army from 1981 to 1991. General Hamilton Wanasinghe also served as the Joint Operations Commander and held the role of Secretary of Defence.

The appointment of Major General Sanjaya Wanasinghe as the Chief of Staff not only reflects his personal accomplishments and capabilities but also highlights the continuation of a remarkable family legacy within the Sri Lanka Army. His father’s distinguished service and leadership have undoubtedly influenced his own military career.

In a recent development, it has been uncovered that the lighting system of the esteemed ‘Golden Gate Kalyani’ bridge, which was inaugurated in 2021, is currently non-functional. This unfortunate circumstance arises from the discovery of numerous instances of tampering and theft of electric cables.

During a press briefing held in Colombo on 14 July, the Director General of the Road Development Authority (RDA) shed light on the matter, revealing that the repercussions have incurred a staggering loss of approximately Rs. 270 million.

The Director General expressed deep concerns regarding similar incidents of theft that have also been reported on the Katunayake, Central, and Southern highways. Consequently, he appealed to the general public to promptly inform the police through the hotline number 1969 if they witness or have any information regarding such thefts.

The ‘Golden Gate Kalyani’ bridge, constructed at a cost of Rs. 50 billion, was ceremoniously opened to the public on 21 November 2021. The current state of the lighting system’s inoperability underscores the need for immediate action to rectify the issue and prevent further losses.

Several spells of showers will occur in Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the evening or night.

General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers

The government is in discussions with India to construct an oil pipeline to transport fuel to the Eastern Port of Trincomalee.

The Trincomalee port currently has a World War II-era 99-tank farm, with a portion of the facility under the control of Lanka India Oil Corporation and the remainder under joint control of the Indian Oil Corporation and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.

Manoj Gupta, Managing Director of Lanka India Oil Corporation, stated that discussions and studies were ongoing for a finished product pipeline.

The construction of an oil pipeline to the Trincomalee port is expected to boost Sri Lanka’s energy security and improve economic cooperation between the two South Asian nations.

India officials have also affirmed their commitment to helping the country boost its energy security, with New Delhi officials announcing that India will maintain its support for Sri Lanka in developing oil infrastructure, as the two nations share common interests,

India’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Secretary, Pankaj Jain, recently led a delegation to Sri Lanka to visit prospective projects, where he called for an increase in partnerships between the two countries in the energy sector.

Jain added that both nations should explore renewable energy sources, such as green hydrogen, ammonia, and compressed biogas to bolster their energy security.

Sri Lanka and India agreed to jointly develop the Trincomalee oil farm after five years of discussions at an estimated cost of $500 million.

The Trinco Petroleum Terminal Ltd will be 51% owned by CEYPTCO and the remaining portion by Lanka IOC. The company will develop 61 tanks and pipes connecting to the farm at $70 million

Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera announced yesterday that discussions were held regarding a proposal by the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) for an oil distribution pipeline that would connect Nagapattinam, Trincomalee and Colombo.

This proposal takes into account future refinery developments, oil and gas exploration, pipeline connections to domestic LPG terminals, and aims to target regional oil and gas export markets while meeting the energy requirements of both countries,” he Tweeted.

Minister Wijesekera said before finalizing the project scope for approval, the feasibility and technical requirements of the project will be thoroughly assessed.

By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW):Sri Lanka’s two main revenue collection authorities, the Department of Customs and the Inland Revenue Department, are now firing all cylinders to reach revenue targets this year to overcome the country’s cash crunch, finance ministry officials said.

Sri Lanka Customs is looking for more informants who could provide information on undervaluations and other measures that people use to pay less customs duty in trade in a move to boost the crisis-hit nation’s revenue, as the island nation is in an attempt to reach the revenue target set by the International Monetary Fund in return to a US$3 billion loan.

Sri Lanka’s government revenue was just above 8 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) last year, one of the lowest in the world after the state income plummeted following a politically-motivated tax reduction by former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa in December 2019.

Sri Lanka has agreed to raise the revenue and grant target to 11 percent of the GDP in 2023.P.B.S.C. Nonis, the director general of Sri Lanka Customs said the authority is now looking for more ways to boost the revenue to raise the government income.

He said that they have a 24-hour hotline and dedicated lines to handle this information. The informer’s confidentiality will be protected.”

Undervaluation and other deceptive measures to pay less customs duty are not unusual in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Customs has been rewarding informants according to the accuracy of information they provide, Customs officials say.

The reward amount is based on the total value of confiscated goods and the penalty imposed for the offence. Out of the total value, 50 percent goes to the Treasury’s consolidated account, while 5% percent goes to the disaster management unit at the Customs.

Out of the remaining 45 percent, depending on the accuracy of the information, informants are likely to get 60 percent, an official at the Customs said.

The total tax revenue collected by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) for the first half of 2023 was 696,946 million rupees (2,233 million U.S. dollars), the IRD said in a press release on Wednesday night.

The corresponding revenue in the first six months of 2022 was 361, 832 million rupees (1,159 million U.S. dollars), the IRD said.It represents a 93 percent increase in tax revenue this year, the IRD said.

The reasons for this increase are decisive changes in the tax policy, the gradual recovery of the economic situation of the country and the efficiency of the efforts of the IRD, Commissioner General Inland Revenue D.R.S. Hapuarachchi said.

Meanwhile, an IMF spokesman has told the media that revenue mobilization is a key pillar of the IMF program with Sri Lanka.

By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW): Zapmail, the world’s first collaborative email service designed and developed by Sri Lanka, has been launched and is available to the public.

Zapmail is aiming to provide the best communication experience at your own pace and has been developed by Sri Lanka to address inefficiencies in team communication by simplifying and streamlining communication, saving teams time and increasing productivity.

Commenting on the launch, the Co-Founders of Zapmail; Sean Samarasinghe, Mark Sachintha, Shay Anthony, Devmin Abeyasena and Meredith Ivor say that; “Traditional email services are not designed for team collaboration, resulting in disorganized conversations, difficulty finding relevant information, and time wasted.

Thereby, they concentrated on developing a solution that enables teams to communicate in real time no matter where they are. Within our company, we saw the difficulties that teams had in effectively collaborating via traditional email services.

Zapmail’s developers move forward in search of solutions for the team to be able to collaborate in a professional setting while representing the brand of the organisation.

Businesses, universities, organisations, and any other formal setting can now form a more cohesive digital environment to achieve their goals. Furthermore, because Zapmail is cloud-based, it is accessible from any device, allowing teams to continue their conversations from anywhere in the world.

“We are just getting started, and our goal is to make business communication simple and effective for everyone by increasing productivity in organisations all over the world,” added the Co-Founders.

Customers of Zapmail, whether large, small, or medium-sized enterprises, businesses, universities, or professionals, will reap several benefits from the tool. Communication within the team will be simplified, organised, and streamlined, resulting in increased productivity and efficiency as information can be transmitted effortlessly.

Teams can use Zapmail to switch between chat-like conversations and organised email threads, all within the same platform.