Colombo (LNW): The government will be removing the customs duty concession of Rs. 3 per kilo provided for wheat flour, revealed Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya.
Accordingly, the customs duty of Rs. 3 per kilo on wheat flour will be re-imposed and wheat flour prices will be managed to protect the 90 per cent of subsistence level paddy farmers, he added.
The removal, however, will not affect the price of wheat flour, the Minister pointed out addressing the media after attending an event held in Awissawella yesterday (07).
Colombo (LNW): The National Delimitation Committee chaired by former Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya is set to submit its final report in around the third week of May.
The Committee has reportedly received almost 400 proposals from various parties regarding its interim report submitted to the Prime Minister in April, 2023, and these proposals are currently being analysed and reviewed, Committee Chief Deshapriya noted.
Accordingly, the Committee’s observations will be shared with the relevant stakeholders, including political parties, civil society activists and other concerned groups, he added.
The National Delimitation Committee was formed in 2020 aiming the slashing of the number of local government members to around 4,000, in the objective of streamlining the administration and ensuring more efficient governance at the local governance bodies.
Colombo (LNW): A low level atmospheric disturbance has developed over the south east Bay of Bengal area and this system will gradually develop into a low-pressure area and then into a cyclonic storm within the next few days, the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology said in an advisory statement.
Meanwhile, showery condition is expected to continue further over most parts of the island due to an atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of the island, the Centre warned, urging the public to take adequate measures to prevent any damages.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-Western, Southern and Northern provinces and in Trincomalee district, and at several places elsewhere over the island, particularly during the afternoon or night.
Strong winds about (40-45) kmph can be expected at times over western and southern coastal areas and in the western slopes of the central hills.
Colombo (LNW): Water supply will be suspended for ten hours in several areas in the Colombo District tomorrow (08), the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) announced.
Accordingly, water supply will be suspended from 10 am to 8 pm tomorrow in the following areas;
Kolonnawa Urban Council
Moragasmulla
Rajagiriya
Obesekarapura
Bandaranayakepura
Ethul Kotte
Nawala-Koswatte
stretch of main road from Rajagiriya to Open University of Colombo (OUSL)
Colombo (LNW): On June 02, 1953, Mr. Esmond Wickremesimghe and Mrs. Nalini Wickremesinghe, parents of Sri Lanka’s current President Ranil Wickremesinghe, had attended the crowning of Queen Elizabeth the II, as escorted guests alongside then Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake.
70 years passed since Queen Elizabeth’s crowning, Mr. Wickremesinghe as Sri Lanka’s Head of State attended the crowning of her successor, King Charles the III yesterday (06), notably setting a world record.
Fresh speculation among local media houses suggests India’s Tata Group is interested in picking up a significant stake in SriLankan Airlines. The state-owned flag carrier has had a rough past few years and accumulated a mountain of debt. This, combined with the country’s severe economic hardships has left the Sri Lankan government with no choice but to privatize the airline, an option the Indian government exercised not too long ago.
Interestingly, the last time SriLankan Airlines was profitable was before 2008 when it was partly owned and entirely controlled by Emirates. Things started going south after the Emirates group sold its 43.63% stake to the Sri Lankan government and recorded more than $800 million in losses in the first seven years of state administration.
SriLankan to Tata?
SriLankan’s future has looked uncertain for quite a while now, but News Cutter has managed to confirm several media reports suggesting the island nation’s government considering the Tata Group as a potential buyer. The Tatas also bought loss-making Indian flag carrier Air India a couple of years ago and have been hard at work reforming it from the ground up.
Photo: Markus Mainka/Shutterstock
In addition to the Maharaja, the conglomerate also owns three other Indian airlines: AirAsia India, Air India Express, and full-service carrier Vistara. We know that efforts are underway to merge Vistara into AI and it seems like the remaining two subsidiaries will see a similar fate. However, it will be interesting to see where SriLankan Airlines fit in the grand scheme of things.
While speaking to Zawya, SriLankan’s CEO Richard Nuttall hinted at the possibility of the airline being partly sold to the Tatas, saying it would be strategically beneficial given the proximity of the two South Asian nations. But everything is just speculation at this point.
Privatization: good or bad?
Privatization of state-owned airlines is becoming increasingly common in today’s aviation world. Airlines are incredibly complicated to run and lawmakers are perhaps not best suited or often qualified for the job. More often than not, this is a lesson learned the hard way as experienced firsthand by the of Indian, Italian, and South African governments in recent years.
It is worth noting that a lack of political will can also be a major hurdle forcing governments to consider the idea of privatization only when all else fails. While privatization is generally viewed as a good thing for any airline’s future, it all depends on finding the right private player to run it.
Photo: Airbus
A research paper by Mahdy I. Al-Jazzaf used six technical variables to analyze data relating to ten newly privatized, formerly state-owned airlines and found healthy growth in all parameters except short-term profitability post-privatization. That is because any newly privatized airline will spend a significant amount on expansion, fleet modernization, restructuring, and improving facilities. However, the conclusion drawn from the study was that privatization has an overall positive effect on airline performance, at least in the short term.
Colombo (LNW): The British Tamil Forum (BTF) has welcomed the decision by the US Government to designate ex Navy Commander and current North-Western Governor Wasantha Karannagoda over his involvement in a gross violation of human rights during the war season in Sri Lanka.
Full Statement:
We, the British Tamils Forum (BTF), express our gratitude by welcoming the United States decision of designating Wasantha Karannagoda, the Governor of the North-western province in Sri Lanka for his involvement in a gross violation of human rights during his tenure as a Naval Commander.
On behalf of the victims of the war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide suffered during the thirty- year war that culminated in May 2009, we share our sincere appreciation to the governments of the United States and Canada for duly identifying and sanctioning Sri Lankan human rights violators.
It is prudent to reiterate the list of Sri Lankan perpetrators of serious human rights violations as named by the Report of the OHCHR investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL) released by the United Nations Human Rights Council in September 2015, to include in full for taking prompt action under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime Act in the United Kingdom and applicable Magnitsky acts or similar in other countries.
The titles quoted are as they held in 2015 at the time the OISL Report was released. 1. Gotabaya Rajapaksa. 2. Mahinda Rajapaksa. 3. Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva. 4. Brigadier Sathyapriya Liyanage. 5. Major General Kamal Gunaratne. 6. Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe. 7. Major General Nanda Mallawaratchchi. 8. Colonel G.V. Ravipriya. 9. Brigadier Prasanna Silva. 10. Major General Jagath Dias. 11. Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda. 12. Admiral Thisara S G Samarasinghe. 13. Admiral TSG Samarasinghe 14. Admiral D.W.A.S.Dissanayake. 15. Major General Jagath Jayasuriya. 16. Brigadier Nandana Udawatta. 17. Brigadier Chagie Gallage. 18. SSP C.N.Wakishta. 19. General Sarath Fonseka. 20. Admiral D.W.K Sandagiri. https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/OISL.aspx
We are concerned that the United Kingdom, despite being the penholder of the core group of the UNHRC sessions on Sri Lanka’s Human Rights matters, has not taken necessary actions against the Sri Lankan perpetrators to date, even after fourteen years of the war ended and after eight years of OISL released the names of serious human rights violators, listed above.
We expect the UK to take an immediate tangible action against the perpetrators of atrocity crimes under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Act on Sri Lanka in the same way as the USA and Canada, the members of the Core Group on Sri Lanka in the UNHRC have hitherto acted.
There was enough evidence brought forward at the UNHRC and we have requested the UK Government to apply the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime Act on Sri Lanka since it’s been passed in the UK. We are puzzled to understand why the UK has still not applied the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime Act on Sri Lanka yet but quick to apply on a number of perpetrators in other countries.
When the North Americans – USA and Canada – continue to sanction the perpetrators the Europe and the UK are continuing the GSP+. This will encourage Sri Lanka to continue its genocidal path. UK and EU should lead by example by promoting the values of Human rights, rule of law, transparency and address the unethical trade with Sri Lanka.
We encourage the United Kingdom and the European Union to follow the steps of the United States and Canada and take necessary actions to prevail justice to the victims of the human rights violation.
Colombo (LNW): A permanent Chairperson will be appointed for the Parliamentary Committee on Public Finances (CoPF), announced Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.
The CoPF was recently subject to controversy over SJB MP Harsha De Silva’s lamenting over not being appointed to the post and being removed without notice, and the position of the Chairperson of the CoPF has been vacant for more than three months.
Several MPs representing the Ruling Party were appointed as temporary chairmen of the Committee on four occasions.
Colombo (LNW): With more than 31,000 cases of dengue (31,098) reported within 2023 alone, the health authorities have been instructed to take swift action to combat the spread of the virus in recognition of the situation being ‘critical’.
Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella has instructed the Health Secretary to provide an expert report outlining immediate steps to be taken to combat the spread of dengue.
Meanwhile, an experts committee comprised of the National Dengue Control Unit has been appointed for the mission.
In addition, a Presidential task force has also been established to coordinate efforts and contain the virus. The task force is expected to work with health authorities to implement the necessary measures to contain the dengue virus.
As of now, the Gampaha district reports the highest number of dengue cases, with 6,953 patients, and Colombo, 6,500 patients.
The public is urged to take all the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the infection, including the elimination of mosquito breeding grounds, wearing of protective clothing and mosquito repellents.
Mumbai, May 5 (PTI): Sri Lanka, which is emerging from an economic crisis, is expecting to attract 20 lakh visitors from India this year, Sri Lanka Tourism Minister said on Friday.
“Sri Lanka is experiencing a significant rise in tourist arrivals, particularly from India, which has now secured the top spot.
“In the first three months of 2023, we welcomed 46,432 Indian tourists. With an ambitious promotional campaign underway, we are aiming to attract 2 million Indian tourists this year,” Sri Lanka Tourism Minister Harin Fernando said in a statement.
This increase in visitors has had a positive impact on tourism earnings, with Sri Lanka earning around USD 530 million in the first quarter of 2023, compared to USD 482.3 million in the same period last year, he said.
“We expect to generate a total of USD 3 billion in tourism revenue this year,” the minister added.
Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Chalaka Gajabahu said that the country is an ideal destination for families and is suitable for travel throughout the year.
“We are currently engaging with the travel industry in India to reinforce its position as a preferred travel destination. Through our representatives and stakeholders from hotels, resorts, destination management companies, and event management companies, we aim to build a strong relationship with our travel-trade partners in India and foster a mutually beneficial association,” he said.
