Colombo (LNW): More than one thousand (1,100) employees of the State Engineering Corporation have volunteered to retire, however an amount of Rs. 2.6 billion is required to compensate them, revealed Corporation Chriaman Rathnasiri Kalupahana.
In the backdrop, there is a problematic situation with regard to acquiring the necessary funds for compensating employees who wish to retire voluntarily.
In the inability of paying the employees their full salary for the month of June, a tense situation arose at the SEC yesterday (07), and the Corporation Chief noted that it was not possible to settle the full salary to the SEC employees.
However, the full salary will be paid next Monday (10), he added.
Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLBFE) expects that nearly 300,000 people would register this year for overseas employment, Bureau General Manager Gamini Senarath Yapa said.
More than 150,000 persons have registered with the Bureau and left Sri Lanka within the 1H23, he revealed.
Nearly 311,000 people registered with the Bureau in 2022, and countries such as Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) would be the ones that they would want to migrate to, he added.
Meanwhile, an increased number of Sri Lankan migrant workers are also leaving for countries like Romania and Japan, Yapa went on, adding that there is a very high tendency for more Sri Lankans to leave the island.
More skilled workers are expected to leave for those countries aiming the foreign employment market, he noted.
Colombo (LNW): Public Security Minister Tiran Alles has reportedly issued a directive to the Police, ordering them to arrest those responsible for assaulting a Buddhist monk and two women, following the surfacing of a video allegedly featuring the event hit headlines on Social Media.
The incident, which had reportedly happened yesterday (07) in Nawagamuwa area, went viral on Social Media, and the Minister has instructed the Police to take immediate action to apprehend those responsible.
Colombo (LNW): The workers’ remittances in Sri Lanka in the month of June 2023 were recorded at US $ 475.7 million, latest CBSL data revealed.
The cumulative figure for the first six months of 2023 (January – June, 2023) is recorded at US $ 2,822.6 million, which is indicative to be an increase of 75.3 per cent compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.
Students of government schools and government-approved private schools are urged to send in their applications through the respective school principals, whilst private candidates are urged to put them forward themselves, the Dept added.
The candidates are also requested to keep a printed copy of the application with themselves, in case of an emergency.
Interest rates are down, exchange rate is stable, some imports are allowed, inflation is coming down, tourism is performing well, FDI is going up, Stock market up.
President Ranil Wickramasinghe has delivered, he has turned a Shakespearean tragedy into an unbelievable success story. Those who claimed RW didn’t have a right to accept the presidency, now fear that he will take majority at the next elections. He traveled the world not with a huge delegation but with a few and his weapons of choice were his immense knowledge, experience and wit. He has represented our nation like no other and it is obvious that, given a second term in office, he can and will out perform all others.
When the president took over chaos prevailed in the country ,rationality and reality were not the order of the day. There was no electricity or gas in the country. The citizens were in shock with a Aragalaya burning the present presidents house and creating havoc in the country .People had to queue for hours on end in order to obtain the little petrol and diesel available in the country.
Both the IMF deal and the latest domestic debt restructuring have been resoundingly successful. The naysayers who are a plenty in our nation (depending on which political party they are most aligned to) are not very pleased . The country’s success (which does not help their political ambitions) are a dampener for their power hungry ambitions and counter productive plans . They hoped the IMF deal would not to become a reality and that the domestic debt restructuring would be a failure. Their rhetoric about EPF /ETF loosing out and bank deposits being at risk were all but a damp squib. Alas it was a success! Now the naysayers (in their frustration) are putting on their second cap of ‘conspiracy theorist’ which is a common trait found in the DNA of our island nation. They know these stories will be proven wrong in time to come.
The Sri Lankan economy was akin to a patient in the ICU with no pulse. However, the President and the Governor played as a team and with surgical precision resurrected a failing economy. Economic and fiscal strategy was their medicine and it paid off. The patient is now in the recovery bay and all the vitals are looking good. Inflation is low, interest rates are dropping everyday, the exchange rate is stabilising with minimum intervention, some imports are being allowed, tourism is making a remarkable comeback, FDI has started to flow in and the stock market reflects the positive sentiment that prevails today. All these positives will definitely hurt those who are negative for ulterior motives ,However it is high time that we citizens identify the agendas of these people and their corrupt strategy of ‘power at all cost’.
The present Governor is a man who was, initially, not given his due place and more or less made to retire. However, as fate would have it, Nadalal Weerasinghe, the present head of the Central Bank, was offered the job last year. He accepted the post of Governor at a crucial time in the country.
Before his retirement Dr Weerasinghe in his capacity as the senior deputy Governor had warned the powers be of the impending calamity. However, the one time all powerful secretary of the administration (whom everyone knows) in his usual arrogance refused to heed the warnings resulting in disastrous consequences for the nation.
So let us give credit where credit is due and criticise when necessary. Let us not place our agendas before our country and support this island nations resilient economy to full recovery.
However it is prudent to note that lot still remains to be resolved. Beginning with lower interest rates for example, if tourism is the catalyst to rebound the economy and bring in the much needed FX we need to look at the interest rates at least for this industry. We also have to Free imports of raw material.
Certainly the economy is moving in the right direction.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe says he believes that the Tourism Industry would significantly contribute to the country’s forex earnings in the coming decade; asserts comprehensive plans had already been formulated to enhance Sri Lanka’s appeal as a tourist destination; stresses promoting tourism could lead to an increase in per capita income.
President’s Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayake says measures will be taken to swiftly address challenges in Health Sector; instructs the officials to thoroughly probe the accuracy of media reports concerning the crisis; asserts if any allegations are found to be true, immediate intervention and relief measures will be taken to assist the affected individuals.
Livestock Development State Minister D.B. Herath says the government has implemented a specific programme to promote liquid milk production in the country: asserts people are interested in the production and consumption of liquid milk; adds supporting the liquid milk business makes it feasible to boost the dairy farmer’s economics and satisfy the country’s need for protein.
India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra is to arrive in Colombo early next week to work out arrangements for Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to New Delhi on July 20 this year.
The Colombo Fort Magistrate lifts the travel ban imposed on SDIG in charge of the Western Province Deshabandu Tennakoon in connection with the assault on peaceful protesters at the ‘Aragalaya’ agitation site in Galleface in May last year.
The Exam Dept says applications for the 2023 GCE AL Exams will be accepted online from July 07 – 28: Candidates can submit applications via the dept’s official online portals (www.doenets.lk and www.onlineexams.gov.lk/eic) or the mobile app ‘DoE’.
Secretary of the ‘Ceylon Teachers Union’ and JVP member Mahinda Jayasinghe divulges there is a group of government officials who are engaged in fraud and corruption in the National Institute of Education and are being backed by close political ties of the government; laments the Secretary to the Education Ministry has been informed about the scenario, but no positive outcome has ever come.
CB data reveal workers’ remittances in June ’23 recorded US $475.7 million: The cumulative figure for the 1H23 stands at US $ 2,822.6 million, which is an increase of 75.3% from the corresponding period of the previous year.
The Government Radiology Technologists’ Association reveals the linear accelerator machine which provides radiotherapy to young children at the Maharagama Apeksha Hospital has been out of order for two weeks; adds this is mainly because the annual service contract for the said machines was not entered by, as they are unable to pay; warns the lives of 10 – 15 children who had been receiving radiotherapy for cancer are in danger.
Openers Pathum Nissanka (104) and Dimuth Karunaratne (83) put on a remarkable 190 run stand while mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana had 4 for 34 as SL records an easy 08 wicket win over West Indies in their last super six Cricket fixture of the World Cup Qualifier tournament played at Harare: With this one sided game SL being the only unbeaten team of the tournament will be brimming with confidence when they meet Netherlands in the final tomorrow.
Colombo (LNW): India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra is set to arrive in Colombo early next week to work out arrangements for Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to New Delhi on July 20 this year, a report by Daily Mirror divulged.
The Indian Foreign Secretary’s visit to Sri Lanka will take place in response to the Sri Lankan President’s first ever official visit to India since he assumed Office last year, according to the report.
Ministers Douglas Devananda, Kanchana Wijesekara and Ali Sabry and President’s Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayake will accompany President Wickremesinghe for his visit, the report added.
During the Sri Lankan President’s visit to India, he is set to hold bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
PMD: State Minister of Livestock Development D. B. Herath said that people are interested in the production and consumption of liquid milk, and by supporting the liquid milk business it has been feasible to boost the dairy farmer’s economics and satisfy the country’s need for protein.
The Minister also mentioned that the government has implemented a specific program to promote liquid milk production in the country.
He expressed these views today (07) during a press conference themed ‘Collective Path to a Stable Country’ held at the Presidential Media Center (PMC).
State Minister D. B. Herath further commented;
In the past, the Ministry of Agriculture had to face many problems. In the face of that crisis, the President started a strong program to meet the food needs of the people of the country.
The Ministry of Agriculture faced numerous issues in the past. The President launched a robust effort to meet the food needs of the people of the country in response to that disaster.
Our goal in the livestock sector is to primarily supply the nation’s protein and dairy needs. Medical guidelines state that one individual requires 100 ml of milk every day. As a result, the nation should produce 750 million ml of milk per day.
In the year 2021, we could not achieve those goals. We could produce only 712 million litres of milk. We had to import the rest from foreign countries. The government has spent Rs. 58 billion for that. This is a serious challenge for us economically.
To date, customs concessions have been provided to import animal feed and medicine. The possibility to import mother animals has also been made available. We intend to reduce costs by doing this. We anticipate charging the consumer a fair fee for these products. Restarting industry-related enterprises that have failed is one of our key objectives.
Making the nation milk self-sufficient is our goal. Despite the difficulty, we have commenced the required program for that. We currently have only 16,000 cows in this program. Additionally, there are 400,000 buffaloes.
Currently, the Central and North-West Provinces make significant contributions to milk production. Additionally, the majority of animals are raised solely for meat in the Eastern and Southern Provinces.
Also, we are currently implementing a program to provide the knowledge related to the subject to other farmers in that field, including the small-scale farmers who represent the livestock sector, thereby increasing the production capacity.
In order to make the milk production process successful, special attention should be paid to the food, health and maintenance of the animals, the breeding process as well as the mother animals. The government has started a specific program for that and implemented it throughout the island.
The Ministry of Agriculture is currently working to cultivate grass as a crop. The government gives one farmer a Rs. 20,000 grant under the program set up for that reason.
Also, attention has been paid to use irrigation industries legally to meet animal feed and other needs. The amount of milk that can be obtained from the traditional animal population of Sri Lanka is at a minimum level. Only four to five litres of milk can be obtained from local traditional cows. However, we have been able to identify cases where one animal produces about forty litres of milk per day. We also have to go into a system of getting at least 15 litres of milk from each animal. For this, a program that increases the genetic strength of animals is needed. And through the breeding process, it is expected to create a strong generation of cattle. It helps us to meet our nutritional needs.
Due to the low nutritional quality of some types of milk powder, the developed countries of the world have already opted to use liquid milk.
As we have recognized this need, we are following a strategic plan for that. Accordingly, small centres that can collect 5000 litres of liquid milk per day have already been started in several districts.
The public have already expressed interest in the manufacturing and consumption of liquid milk. The farmer can make more money by commencing this type of milk-related production activities which will give them more profit.
It must be acknowledged that this is a massive initiative to support the way of life of dairy farmers and satisfy the nation’s demand for protein.
Additionally, a program involving the Youth Service Council and farmers’ children who are involved in animal husbandry is anticipated to be implemented in order to boost milk output. Additionally, the government is concentrating on poultry and egg production in order to suit local demands.
The poultry and egg sector in this nation had to deal with a significant issue following Covid and the economic crisis. To supply the country’s daily needs, 80 lakh eggs are needed. Due to its inability to satisfy this demand domestically, the government was forced to import eggs.
But things are starting to change now. The difficulty of developing mother animals for that is something we are effectively overcoming.
As of right now, we have imported around 210,000 metric tons of corn. There won’t be a feed shortage in the future as a result. In addition, measures have been taken to ensure that the nation can produce enough maize on its own in the future. The related conversations with businessmen are now complete.
The government has also concentrated on exporting chicken. Sri Lankan meat is in high demand, particularly in the Maldives, the Middle East, and Gulf countries. Along with that, we have concentrated on enhancing the meat sector and generating the necessary foreign exchange for the nation.
A special meeting was convened at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (07), under the patronage of Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of the Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayaka, with the aim of swiftly resolving issues plaguing the health sector.
The areas that were discussed during the meeting were shortages of medicines and medical equipment, concerns about the quality of medicines, and challenges in the procurement process.
Attending the discussion were Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Secretary of the Ministry of Health, and a group of senior officials.
Extensive deliberations took place regarding various critical matters pertaining to the health sector, emphasising the need for urgent measures to address them.
Ratnayaka instructed the officials to thoroughly investigate the accuracy of media reports concerning the health sector crises. If any allegations are found to be true, he said immediate intervention and relief measures should be taken to assist the affected individuals.
“The government under President Wickremesinghe has a primary objective of ensuring an uninterrupted and accessible healthcare service to all citizens, without any compromise. This commitment reflects the government’s strong emphasis on promoting the health and well-being of the entire nation,” Ratnayake said.
Acknowledging the economic challenges faced, there have been significant delays in the payment of funds to suppliers of the Ministry of Health since the beginning of this year. In response, the Ministry of Finance has been diligently working, following the President’s instructions, to systematically settle the outstanding payments. Additionally, it was decided during the discussion to explore negotiations with international organisations to alleviate the financial difficulties faced by the Ministry of Health.
The President’s Chief of Staff stressed that any negligence on the part of the Ministry of Health resulting in harm to patients should not be excused. Instead, necessary measures should be promptly implemented to ensure the comfort and well-being of the affected patients.
