In a tragic incident that unfolded in the Iddaruwa area of Kosgoda, a 42-year-old individual identified as Vijith, commonly known as “Ran Mahaththaya,” was shot and killed early this morning (June 21).

According to the police, two unidentified gunmen arrived on a motorcycle and carried out the fatal shooting in front of the victim’s residence at approximately 6:00 a.m.

In a shocking turn of events, two fatal shootings have rocked the communities of Hiddaruwa in Kosgoda and Niyandagala in Homagama. A 52-year-old man was shot dead in Hiddaruwa during the early hours of Wednesday (21) morning, while a 46-year-old man lost his life in Niyandagala.

According to the police, the incident in Hiddaruwa unfolded when an unidentified group entered the victim’s home on Tuesday (20) night and opened fire. The assailants swiftly fled the scene, leaving the 52-year-old man with severe gunshot wounds. He was immediately rushed to Homagama Hospital, but tragically succumbed to his injuries upon admission.

Similarly, in Niyandagala, the 46-year-old man fell victim to a fatal shooting. The circumstances surrounding this incident are yet to be disclosed by the authorities.

These incidents have sent shockwaves through the communities of Hiddaruwa and Niyandagala, leaving residents concerned about their safety and the rising incidence of violence. Authorities have assured the public that every effort will be made to identify and apprehend the suspects swiftly.

Labour and Foreign Employment Minister, Mr. Manusha Nanayakkara, announced plans to digitize the entire foreign service centre in order to liberate the foreign employment centre from the clutches of traffickers.

Furthermore, the Minister emphasized that this initiative would empower the Foreign Employment Bureau to thwart unnecessary interference and combat illegal activities effectively.

He further revealed that, under the guidance of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Ministry of Finance has constituted a committee to oversee the implementation of this program.

Minister Manusha Nanayakkara conveyed these sentiments during a press conference held  June (20) at the Presidential Media Centre, focusing on the theme of ‘Collective path to a stable country’.

Minister Manusha Nanayakkara further said;

“President Ranil Wickremesinghe assumed the presidency during a challenging period when our country was in turmoil. We witnessed the tragic killings of MPs on the streets, and a group of terrorists attempted to seize power. However, President Ranil Wickremesinghe took it upon himself to uplift our nation from its fallen state. The government’s foremost priority was to establish a safe and secure environment where our people could thrive. Putting aside personal political agendas, the President rallied everyone together, regardless of their political affiliations, for the greater good of our country and worked towards forming a united government.

Rebuilding the country was a daunting task, especially considering the dire state of our economy. We faced a severe shortage of foreign currency reserves, but we took on the responsibility of bringing in much-needed dollars. Through the efforts of our overseas workforce, comprising 312,000 dedicated individuals, we were able to contribute $4.8 billion to our nation’s economy. Their contribution played a significant role in improving our financial situation.

We have made substantial progress in reducing inflation, which stood at a staggering 80 per cent when the President assumed office. Today, we have managed to bring it down to 25 per cent. I express my gratitude to the foreign workers who have played a crucial role in creating a liveable environment for our people.

To foster the development of our nation, it is imperative to focus on increasing production and nurturing a robust manufacturing economy. However, we face various obstacles when it comes to investments, particularly due to rigid labour laws. Therefore, we must create a favourable environment for foreign investors by reforming labour laws to ensure worker protection. We also need to enhance the productivity of our labour force, providing investors with opportunities to collaborate and enhance productivity together.

Furthermore, our country requires a comprehensive social security system. We have already begun drafting a bill for the social security program, which will be presented to the Cabinet after obtaining initial approval from the Labour Consultative Council appointed by the President.

Similarly, we are actively pursuing the digitization of the labour department. Currently, the tender process is underway for the digitization of the Employee Trust Fund (ETF), Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), and the e-salary service. Furthermore, we are taking measures to introduce a licensing system that covers all professions, from labourers to doctors. It is crucial for anyone working in the country to be registered under this system, enabling us to have comprehensive information about their employment. Additionally, a program is being implemented to extend social security benefits, including ETF and EPF, to daily wage workers.

In the past, foreign workers have been provided with unique opportunities, and we continue to prioritize their welfare. We are initiating a nationwide program to establish a comprehensive health and safety system in workplaces, which will be enforced through legislation. Efforts are also being made to eliminate child labour, while steps are being taken to streamline the Employee Provident Fund, collecting and digitizing relevant data to ensure efficient implementation.

To optimize government revenue, we have allocated vacant floors of the Mehewara Piyasa building to investors. Moreover, allowing foreign workers to import electric vehicles has resulted in saving $70 million for the country. This opportunity to import electric vehicles is available to anyone worldwide until September. We have already launched various welfare initiatives for foreign workers and are implementing nationwide programs to provide vocational training for young people, creating job opportunities abroad. The first phase of this program will commence with the global fair in Jaffna next month.

As only 40% of the workforce in Sri Lanka is engaged in direct employment, while the remaining 60% are in indirect employment, we are committed to providing comprehensive benefits through a centralized fund. This includes maternity benefits, compensation in case of job loss, and accident insurance. We secure these benefits through the funds acquired from ETF and contributions from employers. These measures are implemented without any bias towards political affiliations, as our goal is to safeguard the well-being of the people of our country. Regardless of party colours, we work diligently for the betterment of the nation, ensuring that political leaders make decisions based on the welfare of the people rather than their own political future.

Regarding the Broadcasting Authority Bill, it is important to clarify certain misconceptions. This act does not aim to suppress the media, as the government has no intention of controlling it. The Broadcasting Authority Act has several key objectives, with the primary one being the protection of freedom of speech as enshrined in the Constitution. Freedom of speech is an essential right that cannot be compromised. However, it is crucial for accurate information to be disseminated, and self-censorship and responsible reporting are vital in achieving this goal. The rules and regulations of the Broadcasting Authority Act are developed in collaboration with the Association of Broadcasters, without any government interference. Journalists and media organizations are not restricted, and licenses are issued in a fair and unbiased manner. Nevertheless, it is necessary to have an independent committee to investigate and address any misinformation or damage caused by certain media outlets in the past, ensuring that such incidents are not repeated.

I understand your concern regarding slanderous allegations that may arise while providing services to foreign workers, both within our country and abroad. I want to clarify that I have never engaged in any dealings with smugglers, and there is no truth to the news circulating on social media platforms. If there were any credibility to these claims, they would have been covered by reputable media outlets and addressed in Parliament. However, no such complaints or accusations have been lodged against me.

The implementation of the Broadcasting Authority Act is indeed crucial to prevent the dissemination of baseless news and unfounded rumours in the media. It aims to ensure responsible journalism and protect individuals from having their honour compromised. By enacting this legislation, we can maintain the integrity of news reporting and prevent the spread of false information.

Additionally, we have taken decisive action against numerous foreign employment agencies involved in illegal activities, resulting in their prohibition. Rest assured that if I were involved in any illicit dealings with such agencies, appropriate measures would have been taken. It is our duty to conduct the media in a manner that upholds the dignity and respect of every individual, and I am committed to adhering to these principles.

President’s Media Division (PMD)

Several spells of showers will occur in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Northern provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.

A few showers will occur in North-Central and North-western provinces.

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

Strong winds about (40-45) kmph can be expected at times in western slopes of the central hills, Northern and North-Central provinces and in Puttalam, Hambantota and Trincomalee districts.

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

The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to misleading information circulating in the public domain that Minister of Foreign Affairs M.U.M. Ali Sabry has spent a substantial amount of public funds while undertaking official visits overseas in the recent past.

The Ministry wishes to clarify that

i.  the Minister of Foreign Affairs undertakes official visits to represent Sri Lanka at important multilateral, regional and bilateral engagements overseas, as and when required;

ii.  these meetings/conferences/engagements should be attended by the Foreign Minister himself, considering their importance and also the expected level of participation;

iii.  it is the practice and essential for substantive reasons that senior officials of the Ministry and other line agencies accompany the Foreign Minster to these meetings/conferences/engagements as appropriate, considering the requirement of the expertise of such officials in discussions/deliberations;

iv.  the Foreign Ministry curtails expenses to the maximum extent possible and only essential expenses are authorized in keeping with the new Treasury circulars and guidelines.

Therefore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to emphasize that the Foreign Minister by virtue of his appointment/high office is required to undertake foreign travel for official purposes in the context of the Foreign Ministry’s and the government’s engagement with its international partners, and to represent Sri Lanka in fulfilling the country’s domestic and international obligations.

As clearly evidenced in the recent past, many immediate and long-term advantages accrue to Sri Lanka from these high-level person-to-person discussions with the Foreign Minister’s counterparts and other foreign dignitaries.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Colombo

20 June 2023

Colombo (LNW): The Parliamentary Budget Office Bill tabled for establishment of a Parliament Budget Office was passed today (20) with amendments.

The said bill was passed in the Chambers without a vote, and the debate on the second reading of the bill also took place this afternoon.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): Qatar’s national flag carrier ‘Qatar Airways’ will increase its flight frequency to Colombo, Sri Lanka in June, the airline said in a statement.

Accordingly, Qatar Airways will launch its fifth daily frequency to / from Colombo, effective from June 22, 2023.

The additional frequency will offer connectivity to over 160 destinations worldwide.

At present, Qatar Airways handles approximately 21,000 passengers per week at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).

Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Pvt) Ltd said it is happy to facilitate the increase in frequencies of Qatar’s flag carrier, which contributes to the development of the country.

Colombo (LNW): The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) has reportedly decided to extend the validity of temporary driving licences to two years, in a move to address the bulking up of temporary driving licences amidst the shortage of printing cards.

Accordingly, temporary driving licences issued from next Monday (26) will be eligible for the said extended validity period.

A gazette declaration will also be issued in this regard.