Showers at times will occur in Eastern and Uva provinces and in Matale district.
Several spells of showers are likely in Hambantota and Polonnaruwa districts.
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.
Fairly heavy showers about 50mm are likely at some places in Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and in Batticaloa, Ampara and Badulla districts.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Ambassador-designate of Sri Lanka to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, J.A.D.S.Priyangika Wijegunasekera assumed duties at the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Jordan on 23 January 2023.
Upon arrival at the Embassy in Jordan, Ambassador-designate Priyangika Wijegunasekera was welcomed and greeted by the staff. Her assumption of duties was marked by a simple ceremony which commenced with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the Ambassador and other staff and traditional Sri Lankan cuisine were served on the occasion.
Addressing the staff, Ambassador-designate Priyangika Wijegunasekera thanked the staff for the warm welcome and expressed her optimism that the relations between Sri Lanka and the Jordan would be further strengthened and expanded into new vistas of cooperation during her tenure. The Ambassador-designate also highlighted the importance of engage with the Sri Lankan community always with a view to promoting Sri Lanka’s image and interests in Jordan.
Ambassador-designate Priyangika Wijegunasekera counts 20 years in the Sri Lanka Foreign Service, having served in Sri Lanka Missions in Kenya, Lebanon and Consulate General in Toronto, Canada and was attached to the Consular Affairs, Overseas Administration, South Asia & SAARC Divisions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
She is a graduate of the University of Peradeniya and has Masters in International Relations, Human Rights and Democratization from the University of Colombo and Political Science from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has come under fire as it has reportedly violated the assurance it had given to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) during a discussion held yesterday (25) that power cuts will not be imposed until the conclusion of the ongoing GCE Advanced Level Examination, by allowing the daily power cuts today (26).
During a discussion with the HRCSL yesterday, the PUCSL, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and other relevant authorities responding to electricity agreed not to impose power cuts during which the AL Examination is held.
However, many complaints received from the public that despite the assurance, power cuts were imposed today.
Parents and social activists lament that the government’s insensitivity towards children amidst this most critical examination will endanger their future.
Sri Lanka is to discuss the repayment of emergency credits from India separately from other defaulted debt, Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said.
The Asian Clearing Union and other Indian credits from India given in 2022 have been excluded from the perimeter for the debt restructuring process, he revealed.
Central banks swaps from “and any short term emergency facilities from anywhere and anything that was disbursed after the debt suspension” in April 2022 are also excluded.
“Those will have to be discussed separately. There is an understanding with creditors, especially with India about their liabilities between creditors that once we finalize the debt restructuring terms we will discuss separately, how we can settle.”
Sri Lanka owes around US$1.9 billion on ACU credits given by India according to data released to creditors.
India has given around 3.9 billion US dollars through credit lines, swaps and ACU deferrals
Any domestic debt restructuring will be part of a negotiation process with creditors, which will take place after a program with the International Monetary Fund is in place, Central Bank Governor Weerasinghe said.
First financial assurances from bi-lateral creditors have to be received to qualify for the IMF program.“Then only we start discussions with private creditors, he added.
Sri Lanka was already engaged with a private creditor but detailed discussions will start after the IMF program is in place.
The discussions will involve ‘what is demanded from the other side and how they can contribute’ and ‘how we can contribute’.As a creditor party it was not right to comment, he said.
Sri Lanka’s sovereign bond holders however will demand a domestic debt restructuring, according to reports.
Sri Lanka is expecting to conclude debt restructuring in about six months, Governor Weerasinghe said.
Sri Lanka authorities have said a domestic debt restructure will hurt commercial banks which have already taken a hit on mark-to-market losses.
Holders of domestic debt have seen the real value already slashed as the rupee fell from 200 to 360 to the US dollar.Bank would also have to take a hit on International Sovereign Bonds.
The central bank was in discussions on bank on any impact on debt treatment, Governor Weerasinghe said.adding We are talking to banks,” We thing we can manage it.”
Preliminary discussions on the setting up of International School at Colombo Port City in collaboration with three leading British independent schools were held in Colombo recently.
Senior delegations from three leading British independent schools visited Colombo for discussions with the Colombo Port City Economic Commission and senior management of Port City Colombo earlier this month, pertaining to the development of an International School at the Port City Colombo.
These schools are backed by a rich heritage going as far back as the 16th century and a diverse community of educators, students, alumni and international partners. In addition, excellence in co-curricular activities and academic performance has been demonstrated through outstanding achievement of students and admissions to prestige universities in the Russell Group.
The International School at Port City Colombo will be a demonstration of Sri Lanka’s commitment to internationalization with potential for attracting high net worth community in the South Asian region who educate children at boarding schools in the UK, Europe etc.
The school at Port City Colombo is expected to collaborate closely with the parent school to ensure the best education, facilities, faculty and an international experience for students.
As a world-class city for South Asia, Port City Colombo will offer a host of urban amenities and social infrastructure such as international education and healthcare services – a service-oriented Special Economic Zone, that is being built on sustainable strategies.
Having added 2.69 square kilometres to Sri Lanka’s sovereign territory, Port City Colombo is Sri Lanka’s biggest FDI-funded development project.
With an estimated total investment of US$ 15bn on completion, $1.2 Billion has already been invested into Port City Colombo by the project company and a further $ 1.5 billion is expected to be invested during the vertical development phase, which is expected to commence as soon as regulations are finalized.
A US$ 7-million Duty-Free Shopping Complex, the first of its kind in South Asia and expected to be a magnet for shopping and tourism, will also open its doors at Port City Colombo in April 2023.
China has given debt-ridden Sri Lanka the financing assurances required by the IMF to unlock a US $2.9 billion bailout package for the country, days after India strongly backed the island nation’s efforts to secure the loan from the global lender to recover from its worst-ever economic crisis.
The Chinese response came close on the heels of India stepping in first to issue the necessary assurances last week.
India’s ministry of finance last week issued a letter to the IMF to confirm its support to Sri Lanka on the issue of debt restructuring, ahead of the visit by the external affairs minister S. Jaishankar to Colombo which concluded on Friday.
Mr. Jaishankar during his visit also announced that India has given the required assurances to Sri Lanka for the bailout package.
Sri Lankan officials said that China had agreed to a short-term suspension of what Sri Lanka owed and expects Sri Lankan creditors to get together to work out the medium and long-term commitments.
China’s Export-Import Bank of China (EXIM) has provided Sri Lanka with a debt extension, China’s foreign ministry said on Thursday.
EXIM offered Sri Lanka a two-year moratorium on its debt and said it would support the country’s efforts to secure a $2.9 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund, according to a letter reviewed by Reuters.
Regional rivals China and India are the biggest bilateral lenders to Sri Lanka, a country of 22 million people that is facing its worst economic crisis in seven decades.
“China feels for Sri Lanka as it faces difficulties and challenges and has been helping with Sri Lanka’s socio-economic development as best as we can,” the foreign ministry said in comments to Reuters.
India wrote to the IMF earlier this month, saying it would commit to supporting Sri Lanka with financing and debt relief, but the island nation also needs the backing of China in order to reach a final agreement with the global lender.
At the end of 2020, China EXIM loaned Sri Lanka $2.83 billion which is 3.5% of the island’s debt, according to an IMF report released in March last year EXIM is a policy bank tasked by Beijing with lending to governments and key industries globally.
Commitments made to 100 developing nations by EXIM and the China Development Bank (CDB), the country’s two main policy lenders, fell to a 13-year low of $3.7 billion in 2021 due to Beijing curtailing funding for large-scale oil projects, a study from Boston University Global Development Policy Center showed.
Colombo South Port is to be developed by China Merchant Port Company, its existing venture CICT and SLPA as a Public-Private-Partnership project with an investment of US $ 150 million.
Sri Lanka is all set to roll out the first phase of the proposed Colombo South Port development project as a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) with the approval of the cabinet.
“Based on the recommendations of the Cabinet Appointed Negotiation Committee, the Government has decided to implement the Colombo International Container Terminals (CICT) proposal evaluated by a Cabinet Appointed Negotiation Committee,” Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardena said at the post-Cabinet meeting media briefing on Tuesday 24.
As per the evaluation by a Cabinet Appointed Negotiation Committee, Battenberg and Bloemendhal service delivery areas belonging to Colombo South Port were identified as areas that can be developed under PPP.
With the Government looking at transforming the Colombo Port into a service supply hub in South Asia, the proposal to this effect submitted by the Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva was approved Cabinet of Ministers at its meeting on Monday.
The Port of Colombo is the largest commercial port in Sri Lanka as well as a key hub port in the South Asian region. One of the primary strategic objectives of the Port Authority’s National Port Master Plan is to turn Colombo Port into a service supply hub.
The Colombo West Container Terminal is being developed by India’s Adani Group in joint venture with John Keells Holdings which also operates the South Asia Gateway Terminal with several other partners.
The Government of Sri Lanka has requested the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to provide a loan to fund the Government’s project to expand the Port of Colombo by developing the Colombo South Harbour (CSH).
The proposed Expansion of the Colombo South Harbour Project (the project) has been included in ADB’s pipeline as a firm project for approval in 2006.
The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) is the Executing Agency for the project.. The project will build breakwaters, terminals, and channels—all within SLPA port limits.
The project comprises a new outer basin enclosed by breakwater and served by navigation channels. The south, east, and west 1 terminals will be built, each with a quay length of 1,200 meters (m) and three or four berths.
The breakwater will provide sheltered water to allow ships to maneuver, berth, load, and unload safely. The total length of breakwater is about 5,000 m. The leeward side of the breakwater will be reclaimed to provide container storage areas with berths on the harbor side.
India celebrates its 74th Republic Day today, 26.01.2023.
In celebration of the day, India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar said he would like to underline that India is a reliable neighbour, a trustworthy partner, one who is prepared to go the extra mile when Sri Lanka feels the need.
Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay said: Over the past year, India rendered unprecedented financial assistance of around USD 4 billion for the people of Sri Lanka. This year, India became the first bilateral creditor of Sri Lanka to convey financing assurance to International Monetary Fund and support restructuring of Sri Lanka’s debt.
These steps have reinforced India’s commitment for the well-being of Sri Lanka in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Neighbourhood First policy.
The recent visit of External A airs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar to Sri Lanka has opened avenues for further cooperation through investment in infrastructure, manufacturing and promoting connectivity. India was Sri Lanka’s largest trading partner in 2021. Sri Lanka’s exports to India have also grown. Use of Rupees for trade settlement is further helping Sri Lanka’s economy. These are concrete steps to help Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and growth.
Recent developments in India-Sri Lanka ties have strengthened the friendship between the two nations and all-round cooperation. At the same time, the two countries also remain vigilant to address common challenges, especially in maritime security domain.
Three persons including MP Nalaka Godahewa have been acquitted by the Colombo High Court over an alleged misappropriation of public funds.
Dr. Godahewa was acquitted from the case filed against him accusing him of misappropriating public funds amounting to Rs. 05 million belonging to the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) during his tenure as the Commission Chief.
The other two, former SEC Deputy Director General Dhammika Perera and Sports Director of ‘Tharunyayata Hetak‘ movement Ronnie Ibrahim.
The acquittal was pronounced as the case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Amal Ranaraja, on the grounds that the evidence produced for the case cannot be substantiated.
Commissioner General of the Department of Motor Traffic Nishantha Weerasinghe revealed discussions are underway to introduce driver’s licence to mobile phones.
Accordingly, the introduction of a digital driver’s licence generated for mobile phones is currently under discussion, he told the media.
Revealing that there was a backlog of over four hundred thousand driver’s licences for which cards have to be printed and issued, Weerasinghe added that the introduction of a digital licence will ease the process and one will not simply have to require licence cards unless requested by the driver.
