Colombo (LNW): Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekara said there is no shortage of Petrol 95 stocks or any other petroleum products with the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and the Lanka Indian Oil Company.
In a tweet, the Minister noted that daily requirement of Petrol 95 is about 80-100 metric tonnes islandwide, and there are adequate stocks available with fuel stations and all orders placed will be distributed.
The next cargo of 9000 metric tonnes of Petrol 95 is due to arrive on the 22nd of June, he added, reminding that there are no deliveries on Sundays.
Stock Details as at 2023/06/18 08:30 hrs
For All CPSTL/CPC Plants
Diesel – 103,087
Sup. Diesel – 2,977
92 Pet – 53,632
95 Pet – 601
JET A1 – 37,316
(All figures in MT)
There is no shortage of Petrol 95 stocks or any other petroleum products with CPC & LIOC. Daily requirement of Petrol 95 is about 80-100 MT islandwide. There’s adequate stocks available with fuel stations & all orders placed will be distributed. The next cargo of 9000 MT of… pic.twitter.com/RAl9qOQ2Zc
ECONOMYNEXT – Robust anti-corruption legislation will help Sri Lanka rank higher in global transparency and ease-of-doing business indices, according to a government official who invited all parties to cooperate in passing the proposed anti-corruption bill.
State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe told reporters on Saturday June 18 that Sri Lanka, as it progresses on the economic front, is now able to signal to the world that it is more transparent and has the capacity to address any irregularities.
“Next week, when this bill is brought to parliament, I believe we will be able to take that forward,” he said.
Stringent implementation of anti-corruption legislation will greatly and productively help a country’s standing in terms of transparency and ease of doing business, he said.
Sri Lanka gazetted a new anti-corruption bill after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a 2.9 billion US dollar loan which required the crisis-hit nation to address corruption vulnerabilities.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe said on April 02 that Sri Lanka will enact key points of its agreement with the IMF into law upon parliamentary approval, one of which would be new anti-corruption legislation which he said would likely be enacted in May.
Some of the objectives of the proposed Act are to prevent and eradicate bribery and corruption in order to meet the just requirements of the general welfare of a democratic society, enhance transparency in governance, strengthen integrity of governance and increase accountability, enhance public confidence in government and strengthen public participation to eradicate corruption.
The Act also envisions establishing an Independent Commission to exercise and perform the powers and functions under the Act and to carry out the responsibilities imposed. The said commission will be mandated to conduct preliminary inquiries and investigations into, and to prosecute against, bribery, corruption, offences relating to declaration of assets and liabilities and associated offences.
The draft bill, if enacted, will enable the authorities to conduct and coordinate educational activities on the prevention of bribery and corruption, introduce an effective system for the declaration of assets and liabilities in order to prevent illicit enrichment by public officials, promote inter-agency cooperation and international collaboration in preventing bribery and corruption, and give effect to obligations under the United Nations Convention against corruption and any other International Convention relating to the prevention of corruption to which Sri Lanka is a party and recognise international standards and best practices in order to establish a culture of integrity in Sri Lanka.
In the lead up to its board approval of the 2.9 billion dollar loan, the IMF had urged Sri Lanka to reduce corruption vulnerabilities through improved fiscal transparency and public financial management, introducing a stronger anti-corruption legal framework, and conducting an in-depth governance diagnostic, supported by IMF technical assistance.
A top IMF official said in May that the governance diagnostic report is expected to be completed by September and the global lender will spell out measures to improve the island nation’s governance system.
Sri Lanka is the first country in Asia to undergo an IMF governance diagnostic under the global lender’s key structural reform to address corruption vulnerabilities and enhance growth.
Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court in early June determined that several clauses in the bill are inconsistent with the constitution.
Sections 1, 2(1)(f), 2(2), 3(2), 4(1)(a), 4(1)(b), 4(3), 17(1), 21, 31(2), 163(2)(h), 40, 48(3), 49(1)(f), 51(a), 53(1), 62(1), 65, 67(5), 71(6), 80, 93, 99, 101, 112, 149 and 162 were flagged as inconsistent with the constitution, Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said citing the determination.
However, the inconsistencies flagged by the court will cease if the amendments as set out in the verdict are made to the bill, the speaker said.
The bill was challenged in terms of Article 121(1) of the constitution.
Amendments to clauses 83(3), 136, 141, 142 and 156 of the bill as set out in the determination will be made to address several concerns raised by the petitioners, the court was informed.
Notably, Section 119 of the bill which has proved controversial was not flagged by the Supreme Court as being inconsistent with the constitution, as per the Speaker’s statement.
Two patients died after being given Indian-made anaesthetic drugs; Indian-made eye medication caused visual impairment in 10 patients; SL faces two-fold crisis of drug shortage, quality concerns
The Hindu: Imported Indian drugs are at the centre of a medical storm in Sri Lanka, following cases of medical complications and fatalities, reportedly after patients were administered medicines sourced from India.
On June 16, local media reported the death of a patient undergoing treatment at the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital, in the Kandy district, after being given the Indian-manufactured anaesthetic Bupivacaine. The news sparked concern among locals, especially since the incident came less than two months after a pregnant woman was reported dead at the hospital, after being given an Indian anaesthetic drug. Following the April incident, the Health Ministry suspended the use of that drug.
Unregistered suppliers
Even prior to these incidents, Transparency International Sri Lanka had filed a fundamental rights petition in the Sri Lankan Supreme Court, challenging the decision of the Cabinet and health authorities to procure drugs from unregistered suppliers. The petition further questioned the national drug regulator’s role in providing a waiver of registration to allow for the swift import of essential drugs. Gujarat-based Savorite Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Limited and Chennai-based Kausikh Therapeutics were named as respondents. Early in April, the Supreme Court granted leave to proceed in the case and suspended imports from these companies.
Indian drugs made the news yet again in May 2023, when doctors at the general hospital in Nuwara Eliya, in Sri Lanka’s Central Province, reported complaints of visual impairment among 10 patients who were administered Indian medicines after eye surgery. The doctors cited the “presence of germs” in the eye medication as a reason for their patients’ condition. Health authorities initiated an inquiry and withdrew the drug to prevent further use.
India is top source
The series of incidents have brought Indian drugs under sharp scrutiny within Sri Lanka, including in the local media, which has urged Sri Lankan authorities to “nip a possible national-level health threat in the bud”. Some highlighted the cases of Gambia and Uzbekistan, where Indian-made cough syrups were recently linked to the deaths of dozens of children.
For years, India has been Sri Lanka’s top source of medical supplies, accounting for nearly half of its pharmaceutical imports that in 2022 totalled about $450 million. The trading link became more crucial in the wake of Sri Lanka’s unprecedented economic meltdown last year, that led to critical shortages, including medicines. The crisis-hit country continued procuring essential medical supplies from India, through the credit line offered by the Government of India, as part of its nearly $4 billion assistance to the island nation.
Inquiry ongoing
The death reported at the Sri Lankan hospital last week has brought the quality of imported drugs, as well as the responsibility of Sri Lanka’s national drug regulator, back to the national headlines.
When contacted, Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella said that authorities were conducting tests, adding that a report was expected soon. Sri Lanka has been importing eye medication from the same Indian supplier for seven years, well before the Indian credit line came into effect, he said. “Sometimes, there could be a quality failure in a particular batch or a problem with storage or transportation. Sometimes, patients may not be aware of their allergy to a drug. We have withdrawn the drugs for now, we are looking into the matter and have also sought compensation from the Indian manufacturers,” he told The Hindu on Sunday.
‘Two-fold health crisis’
Vinya Ariyaratne, president of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, said that these recent cases reflect a larger “two-fold” crisis facing Sri Lanka’s health sector: the persistent shortage of drugs on the one hand, and the serious concerns being raised about the quality of available drugs, on the other.
The situation is “a national health emergency” requiring attention from the “highest levels”, he told The Hindu. Despite the government importing medicines through the Indian credit line, shortages continue to affect Sri Lanka’s public health care system. Several drugs administered for routine medication, as well as vital drugs prescribed for patients affected by cancer and kidney ailments, are in short supply across government hospitals, forcing low-income families to buy them from private pharmacies.
“There is no price regulation at pharmacies and even basic drugs, such as those for diabetes, are very expensive. Patients from poor families cannot afford these medicines, and they regulate their own dosage, which can be very dangerous,” Dr. Ariyaratne said. “Doctors practising in the public healthcare system are reliant on donations for drugs and reagents [used for lab tests]. It is not sufficient or sustainable.”
‘Weak regulation’
As for the apparent failure in quality control, the senior medical practitioner pointed to Sri Lanka’s “weak” regulatory system as the “main problem”.
“The NMRA [National Medicines Regulatory Authority] is totally dysfunctional. The waiver of registration has allowed all sorts of medical procurements without any due process or accountability. We have to address this problem urgently if Sri Lanka is to have a proper supply of good quality drugs in at least six months’ time,” Dr. Ariyaratne said.
Colombo (LNW): The compensation estimated for the damage caused by the MV X-Press Pearl maritime disaster is at US$ 6.4 billion, revealed the Attorney General’s Department.
The compensation was estimated following the report in January, the AG’s Office said.
A team will leave for Singapore next month for the legal proceedings related to the damage, and discussions will be held with the relevant shipping company and other representatives in Singapore, it added.
The Pakistan Naval Ship (PNS) ‘Tippu Sultan’ arrived at the Port of Colombo on a formal visit this morning (18th June 2023). The visiting ship was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with naval traditions.
PNS ‘Tippu Sultan’ is a 134.1 m long warship which is manned by a crew of 168. She is commanded by Captain JAWWAD HUSSAIN TI.
During the ship’s stay, the crew will take part in several programmes organized by the Sri Lanka Navy, with a view to promoting cooperation and goodwill between two navies. They are also expected to visit some of the tourist attractions in the country. Today, Sri Lanka Navy personnel visited PNS ‘Tippu Sultan’, where they were briefed about the ship’s operational capabilities.
Concluding her official visit, PNS ‘Tippu Sultan’ will depart the island on 20th June and she is expected to engage in a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with a Sri Lanka Navy ship off Colombo.
PMD: President Ranil Wickremesinghe was presented with the ‘National Physical Planning Policy Draft – 2048’ ( June16) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat, marking a significant step in the country’s urban development and housing initiatives. The draft was formally handed over by Urban Development and Housing Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, emphasizing the government’s commitment to comprehensive and inclusive planning.
The meticulous preparation of the ‘National Physical Planning Policy Draft – 2048’ was undertaken by the National Physical Planning Department. This involved integrating a wide range of projects and programs from various ministries, departments, and related institutions. The collaborative effort aimed to ensure a cohesive approach to national development, aligning diverse sectors under a unified policy framework.
Following a rigorous evaluation process, the inter-ministerial secretaries’ committee unanimously recommended the draft for consideration. Consequently, the document was submitted to the National Physical Planning Council (NPPC), presided over by President Wickremasinghe, to seek final approval. The involvement of the NPPC ensures that the policy draft receives the highest level of scrutiny and is aligned with the overarching vision for the country’s physical development.
To commemorate this momentous occasion, a gathering was organized in which key stakeholders participated. Alongside President Wickremesinghe, attending the event were ministers representing the ministries that hold membership in the National Physical Planning Council. The Provincial Governors, the President’s Secretary Mr. Saman Ekanayake, the President’s Senior Adviser on Economic Affairs Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga, and secretaries of ministries, as well as heads of line agencies associated with the Council, were also present.
The presentation of the ‘National Physical Planning Policy Draft – 2048’ to the President signals a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s efforts to streamline its development initiatives. With careful consideration of various projects and programs, this policy framework aims to provide a roadmap for sustainable urban growth, enhance housing infrastructure, and foster the overall progress of the nation. As the draft undergoes scrutiny and subsequent approval, it is expected to serve as a crucial tool in shaping the future of the country’s physical landscape.
Colombo (LNW): The government’s program of domestic debt optimisation has not yet been finalised, and the government is fully committed to ensure the stability of the banking and financial sector, revealed State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe.
In a tweet, the Finance State Minister asserted that the government has made progress in engaging with Sri Lanka’s bilateral creditors on debt restructuring efforts, and that they are optimistic that the engagements will lead to a favourable agreement for sustainability.
“The process of domestic debt optimisation has not been finalised yet. The government is fully committed to ensuring the stability of the banking and financial sector. Recognising the sensitivity, premature speculations without a conclusion could potentially undermine market confidence. Therefore, it is important that we speak on this matter responsibly and diligently. We have made progress in engaging with our bilateral creditors on debt restructuring efforts. We are optimistic that the engagements will lead to a favourable agreement to achieve stability,” Semasinghe tweeted.
(1/2) The process of domestic debt optimization is not finalized yet. The govt is fully committed to ensure the stability of the banking and financial sector. Recognizing the sensitivity, premature speculations without a conclusion could potentially undermine market confidence pic.twitter.com/oncDCOn9Hc
Colombo (LNW): Former Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama is to be appointed as the new Sri Lankan High Commissioner to London, UK, sources said.
Bogollagama, who is mostly speculated as a pro-western politician in Sri Lanka, was previously invited to accept the post of Sri Lankan Ambassador to China, but denied the offer.
Based on his interest in the western, Bogollagama had asserted that he would accept a diplomat position in a country like the United States or the United Kingdom, according to sources.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is currently touring in the UK, is set to attend the birthday party of Neranjan Devaditya, an MP of the European Parliament, and is expected to visit France thereafter, in continuity of his official tour in the European region.
Following the President’s return, Bogollagama is believed will be appointed as the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to London.
SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella says investors will not come to a country that does not adhere to the rule of law: warns Sri Lanka might lose concessions from foreign donors and multilateral bodies due to the Govt’s attempts to suppress the people: asserts no one has offered significant amounts of aid so far.
Elections Commission requests the public to ensure that their names are in the Electoral Register 2023: asks the public to contact the area Grama Niladhari officer and make sure the inclusion of their names in the electoral register.
Peradeniya University’s Professor Wasantha Athukorale says the monthly expenditure of an average Sri Lankan family has increased to Rs.76,124 this year, from Rs.63,820 last year: of such amount, Rs.40,632 is spent on food: also says the income of 60% of the families has decreased this year.
India’s new Parliamentary complex built at a cost of USD 2.4 bn depicts an “undivided India” mural which includes parts of Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar: Nepal and Pakistan raise concerns about the inclusion of their sovereign territories in the mural: Bangladesh instructs its embassy in New Delhi to get an official explanation on the matter from India’s External Affairs Ministry: so far, no official statement from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan or Myanmar on the matter.
Labour Minister Manusha Nanayakkara denies allegations that the Govt’s newly proposed labour law reforms were enacted or proposed by IMF or any other similar organisation.
National Investigation Agency of India files charge-sheets against 13 persons (3 Indian + 10 Lankans) in relation to the India-SL illegal drugs and arms trade, and attempts to revive the LTTE.
Minister Tiran Alles says a decision hasn’t been made yet regarding the appointment of a new IGP: incumbent IGP C D Wickramaratne is due to retire on 26 March 2023, after having received a 3-month extension of service.
SJB MP Ashok Abeysinghe says 25 MPs of the SLPP will join the SJB: also says the group currently being led by MP Dallas Allahaperuma is amongst them.
Former Central Bank Deputy Governor W A Wijewardene advises the Govt to seek additional time to fulfill the conditions required to be met to qualify to receive the 2nd IMF tranche.
Transport Ministry decides to lease lands belonging to the Sri Lankan Railways in order to cover up it’s huge losses arising from the transport operations of the Railways.
