The ultimate goal of ‘Aswesuma’ is not to achieve a country free from poverty, but a developed country

• Calling applications to select 2024 ‘Aswesuma’ beneficiaries to commence from August 1

-Social Empowerment State Minister Anupa Pasqual

President Ranil Wickremesinghe intends to create an entrepreneurial state instead of a welfare state, Social Empowerment State Minister Anupa Pasqual said.

The State Minister also mentioned that the ultimate goal of the ‘Aswesuma’ program is to create a developed Sri Lanka in place of a poverty-free Sri Lanka by the year 2048.

He expressed these views today (11) during a press conference themed ‘Collective Path to a Stable Country’ held at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC).

Social Empowerment State Minister Anupa Pasqual further commented;

We launched the ‘Aswesuma’ initiative in response to a persistent social criticism. The ‘Samurdhi’ Movement’s selection of deserving candidates was said to have involved a number of anomalies. The opposition specifically alleged that the ‘Samurdhi’ initiative lacks a social empowerment system.

The Social Welfare Board put the ‘Aswesuma’ scheme into effect as per President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s directives. The settlement program is a non-political, open process. Both appeals and objections may be submitted throughout the same process. It also covers the annual procedure of admitting the qualified and removing the ineligible.

The President entrusted our Ministry with enlisting 1.2 million people into the productive economy in order to empower them. Before the end of this month, the President will get the relevant plan. The empowerment of this group will be accomplished during the course of the three-year strategy.

In this country, there are 1.8 million‘Samurdhi’ beneficiaries, and more than half of them are adults. Although they were engaged in various jobs when they were young, they joined the Samurdhi’ Movement after the age of 60. That has also been the focus of the President’s attention, and actions have been taken to implement the pension system with help from the Social Security Board. It will be submitted to the Cabinet in the future and the necessary work will be done.

Education reforms are also crucial for the cause of social empowerment. The objective is to create skilled professionals. We are receiving support for this program from China, the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, and ‘Samurdhi’ Banking System. As a result, rather than eradicating poverty in Sri Lanka, we have planned to exploit the Samurdhi Bank system to generate wealthy individuals.

Currently, some politicians are working very hard to misrepresent ‘Samurdhi’ Bank. However, the ‘Samurdhi’ economy and financial system are being promoted more vigorously thanks to the ‘Aswesuma’ program.

Additionally, commencing from August 1st, those who could not apply for ‘Aswesuma” this year or failed to submit appeals will have another chance to do so. Every year, a certain number of people are eligible for these benefits, and some of them drop out due to a variety of reasons. Additionally, this program provides empowerment and protection to everyone, from young children to senior citizens.

Instead of eradicating poverty, President Ranil Wickremesinghe wants to see Sri Lanka become a developed nation by 2048. This serves as the required context for that. A welfare state is not what we desire. A state of entrepreneurship must be established. The goals of building a developed country cannot be achieved through a welfare country. We are moving forward with these programs in line, to achieve such a state.

President’s Media Division (PMD) 

The Parliamentary Staff Sports Club recently won the group A and C championships in the 2023 State Service Carrom Tournament.

The Parliamentary Staff Sports Club won the championship by beating the Colombo University team in the final match of Group A and the Moratuwa University team in the final match of Group C. Representing the Parliamentary Staff Sports Club, Sujeewa Lasantha (Captain), Rasika Rajapaksa, Gayan Perera, Priyantha Dharmasena and Sanjay Fernando participated in the Group A matches and Tharindu Perera (Captain), Bawanta Shamika, Pradeep Pushpakumara, R.M Ratnayake and Chathushka Madhusanka participated in the Group C matches.

The Parliamentary Staff Sports Club, who won the championship, was congratulated by the Secretary General of Parliament Mrs. Kushani Rohanadheera, Assistant Secretary General Mr. Hansa Abeyratne and other senior staff members.

Tamil political leaders condemn a member of the government under the guise of parliamentary privileges and pressuring the judiciary by denouncing the race of a judge.

Tamil political leaders point out that MP Sarath Weerasekera is trying to stir up racist feelings among the Sinhalese people by saying that a Tamil judge will intervene in the case related to the controversial Kurundi temple built at the Kurunthurmale archaeological site.

The Mullaitivu Bar Association, which unanimously passed a resolution condemning the statement of Rear Admiral Weerasekera, who is also a former Minister of Public Security, is scheduled to hold a protest in front of the Mullaitivu Court today (Tuesday 11).

MP Weerasekera’s quarrel with Mullaitivu Magistrate T.Saravanaraja has arisen when the judge took steps to stop him from speaking during a court inquiry held at the Kurunthurmale archaeological site on July 4.

When Magistrate Saravanarasa and all parties went there to investigate the complaint made by Adisivan Iyer Temple Administrator Council that the construction of the Kurunthurmale archaeological site was being carried out despite court orders, Parliamentarian Sarath Weerasekera was also present there along with a group of lay priests.

The MP Sarath Weerasekera has tried to state the facts when the Buddhist monks were allowed to perform religious ceremonies there by the order of the magistrate while the courts are investigating.

But Justice Saravanaraja, who refused to give his opinion, said that it cannot be allowed to publish the opinions of MPs, politicians or religious leaders. He emphasized that since it is a judicial matter, only the submissions of the lawyers are sufficient.

The magistrate also said that although other MPs were also present, none of them were allowed to express any opinion during the observation.

Ilangei Tamil Arasu Katchi Media Spokesperson, Member of Parliament MA Sumanthiran says that the judge came there with other parties to see if the court order related to the Kurunthurmale archaeological site has been violated, condemning the threatening statement of the government member.

“It is inappropriate for MP Sarath Weerasekera to criticize the litigant who came to fulfill his responsibility by using parliamentary privileges.”

Saying that Sri Lanka is a country of Sinhalese Buddhists, he cannot accept the views of this MP, who incites Sinhala racism, says the leader of the Tamil People’s National Alliance, Member of Parliament CV Wigneswaran.

The general secretary of the Tamil National Janata Peramuna, Member of Parliament Selvarasa Gajendran emphasizes that it clearly shows that his main aim is to intimidate the magistrate who started by using parliamentary privileges and to incite racism among the Sinhalese.

It is not known whether the Sri Lanka Bar Association or the Judicial Service Commission said anything regarding the statement made by the Rear Admiral in Parliament against the Mullaitivu Magistrate.

Meanwhile, Mullaitivu Magistrate T Saravanarasa has ordered that the reports of the Archeology Department and the Police should be submitted on August 8 regarding whether the new constructions have been carried out contrary to the court order.

Source: THE LEADER

During an official visit to the State of Goiás in Brazil on July 7, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Brazil, Sumith Dassanayake, held meetings with key officials to foster political and commercial partnerships between Sri Lanka and the State of Goiás. The State of Goiás is known for its rapid development, boasting a GDP of over BRL 42 billion and excelling in commerce, agriculture, livestock, mining, and food production.

Ambassador Dassanayake engaged in constructive discussions with Mayor Rogério Cruz of Goiánia, where the proposal to establish a “Sister City” project between the Municipal Council of Goiania and a prominent Municipal Council in Sri Lanka was warmly accepted. The ambassador also provided insights into the socio-political developments in Sri Lanka and highlighted trade, tourism, and investment opportunities available for the business community in the State of Goiás.

The Mayor expressed confidence in further strengthening the relations between Sri Lanka and the State of Goiás across multiple fields following the productive meetings with Ambassador Dassanayake and his team.

In another significant meeting, Ambassador Dassanayake met with Marco César Chaul, the President of the Federation of Trade in Goods, Services, and Tourism of the State of Goiás (Fecomércio-GO). During the discussion, the ambassador emphasized Sri Lanka’s interest in collaborating closely with the industrial sector in Goiás, particularly in pharmaceuticals, ICT services, tourism, and rubber-based industries. He also highlighted investment opportunities available in Sri Lanka, specifically in the Colombo Port City and the Industrial Zone in Hambantota, for Brazilian investors.

Both parties agreed to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on trade, tourism, and investment promotions between Fecomércio-GO and a leading Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Embassy in Brazil will undertake preliminary arrangements for the MoU, facilitating closer cooperation between the two entities.

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal put forth by the Urban Development and Housing Minister to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in order to obtain a satellite technology-based oil spill monitoring service. Cabinet Spokesman and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana made this announcement during the weekly Cabinet media briefing held at the Government Information Department.

With the shipping industry and port development experiencing growth, there has been an increase in the number of ships navigating Sri Lankan waters. Consequently, it has become imperative to establish a system that can swiftly gather information about oil spills caused by ships. Such a system would enable prompt measures to prevent marine pollution, identify the responsible vessels, and take appropriate legal actions. As a pilot project, the Economics and Finance Ministry of France has agreed to provide a grant of 601,810 Euros through Collected Localization Satellites (CLS) to support this endeavor.

The draft Memorandum of Understanding prepared for this purpose has received clearance from the Attorney General’s office. Subsequently, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Urban Development and Housing Minister to proceed with signing the MoU, solidifying Sri Lanka’s commitment to effective oil spill monitoring with the aid of satellite technology.

A friendly meeting between Rohitha Bogollagama, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Governor, and Ananda Sangari, the leader of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), took place at Bogollagama’s house in London Place, Colombo 07.

Furthermore, Rohitha Bogollagama is scheduled to start his duties as the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Great Britain on 01.08.2023.

A measles outbreak has been identified at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, with four confirmed cases, according to Dr. Deepal Perera, a Consultant Paediatrician at the hospital. Speaking to the media, Dr. Perera disclosed that as of Monday (10), 12 children have displayed symptoms of measles, with four cases officially diagnosed.

Measles symptoms encompass high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, and a characteristic rash known as the Measles rash, as explained by Dr. Perera. He further revealed that among the children exhibiting symptoms, some had not received the MMR vaccine for measles.

The MMR vaccine, which is administered free of charge at 9 months and 3 years of age, is strongly recommended by Dr. Perera to ensure the health and safety of children. He emphasized the importance of parents ensuring their children receive these vaccines to prevent the spread of measles and safeguard against potential complications.

Dr. Deepal Perera issued a warning regarding the significant increase in measles cases observed in recent days. He urged parents to remain vigilant and stressed the potential severity of health complications that could arise for children affected by the disease.

In light of the outbreak, he reiterated the necessity for parents to promptly seek the MMR vaccine for their children, underscoring its role in preventing adverse health consequences associated with measles.

The Sri Lankan Rupee experienced a depreciation against the US Dollar at commercial banks in Sri Lanka today (July 12) compared to the previous day.

At Peoples Bank, the buying rate of the US Dollar rose from Rs. 304.61 to Rs. 305.58, while the selling rate also increased from Rs. 319.59 to Rs. 320.61.

According to Commercial Bank, the buying and selling rates of the US Dollar increased from Rs. 304.61 to Rs. 305.83 and from Rs. 317 to Rs. 319, respectively.

At Sampath Bank, the buying rate of the US Dollar increased from Rs. 302 to Rs. 305, while the selling rate rose from Rs. 317 to Rs. 320.