The public views the economy and economic crisis, followed by inflation as the top two problems facing Sri Lanka – and no other concerns come close.
In polling by the Sri Lanka Opinion Tracker Survey (SLOTS) during October and November 2022, respondents were asked to identify their top national issues currently facing the country.
Seven-in-10 Sri Lankans (73%) view the economy and the economic crisis as one of the top two problems for the country, with the public also rating inflation (41%) and jobs and unemployment (13%) as major economic problems.
After economic issues, one-in-four Sri Lankans (23%) view corruption as a priority issue, followed by one-in-10 (9%) who cite politicization or political interference.
Significant numbers of Sri Lankans also list fuel shortages (8%) and power cuts (7%) as priority problems, followed by 6% who mention high taxes and 5% who mention problems with the health services, according to SLOTS interviews of 622 adults conducted between 4 October – 30 November 2022.
Better-off and poor Sri Lankans differ in their rating of key problems. The poorest one-third of Sri Lankans almost universally (89%) rate the economic crisis as one of the two main national problems, but less than two-thirds (62%) of the richest one-third of Sri Lankans do.
In contrast, better-off Sri Lankans are far more likely to view corruption (36%) and political interference (11%) as leading problems, with few poor Sri Lankans listing corruption (6%) and political interference (3%) as leading problems.
IHP said these differences are paralleled in differences in views between Sinhala and non-Sinhala adults, which also reflects Sinhala adults on average being socioeconomically advantaged than members of other ethnicities.
Non-Sinhala adults are far more likely than Sinhala adults to rate the economic crisis as a leading problem (95% versus 66%). In contrast, the view of corruption (31%) or political interference (12%) as the leading problems is largely a Sinhala concern, with negligible numbers of non-Sinhala adults listing these as the top problems.
IHP is an independent, non-partisan research centre based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The SLOTS lead investigator is Dr. Ravi Rannan-Eliya of IHP, who has trained in public opinion polling at Harvard University and has conducted numerous surveys over three decades.
SLOTS combines data from daily interviews of a national sample of adults (ages 18 and over), drawn from a large national panel of respondents who were recruited in a field survey during 2019 using stratified random sampling and a separate sample of respondents reached by random digit dialing of mobile numbers.
Responses are adjusted to match the national population for sex, age, ethnicity, province, sector, and economic status.
Most Lankans express concern on economy, crisis and inflation as critical issues
Hambantota Port surpasses half a million mark of wheeled cargo
The Hambantota International Port reached the milestone of handling 500,000 RORO cargo units in 2022 this November, with the discharging of 4302 units from Hyundai Glovis’ Hae Shin to the yard for transshipment, the company said today.
This year, 223 RORO (cars, motorcycles, trucks, semi-trailer trucks, buses ) vessels called at the port with cargo from India, South Korea, Japan and the Middle East for transshipment mainly to East and South Africa, Mexico, the Middle East, Chile, and Japan.
The port has seen a 4% growth from 2021 in RORO cargo amidst economic challenges globally and locally. Last year’s transshipment figure up to November was 484,467 units.
In 2022, HIP has transshipped 505,185 units to and from the regional ports in the past eleven months.
These transshipment volumes were achieved amidst a ban on vehicle imports to the countrySri Lanka, already hailed as South Asia’s transshipment hub, draws tremendously from the expertise of its global partner China Merchants Port Holdings (CMPort), whose extensive relationships and international networking spreads across some of the most prominent international maritime centres in the world.
The Hambantota International Port and the Colombo International Container Terminals Ltd. (CICT), are the two major projects of CMPort, which are collaborations between the global port operator and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).
The expert knowledge sharing, know-how, and strategic investments by CMPort in these projects, is helping Sri Lanka maximize its growth potential both locally and globally.
A subsidiary of the reputed China Merchant Group, CMPort Holdings is the largest, globally competitive public port developer, investor and operator in China, with investments in Mainland China, Hong Kong and overseas.
An award-winning operator in the cargo logistics sector, with an international track record for best practices and sustainable cargo transportation CMPort, has a network of 36 ports in 18 countries and five continents.
With reliability and innovation as its primary focus, Hambantota International Port (HIP) is fast gearing to become the most efficient port in the region.
The port set a record by reducing 57% operational time in discharging marine fuel cargo of MV Yanbu recently.
HIP also kicked off its first ever dual cargo loading operation at the port’s oil jetty, loading both MGO and VLSFO at the same time on to tanker Mahaweli. T
his is the first time HIP facilitated the loading of 2 types of marine fuel cargo onto a single vessel simultaneously.
“The port’s efficiency is driven on Key Performance Indicators at every level, beginning from truck drivers upwards.
Keeping to efficiency levels in a multipurpose port is that much more challenging because the same work force is used for different types of cargo handling, and unlike in a container port, it is also more labour intensive.
SL Post workers launch strike action
The Joint Post Trade Union Front has launched a strike this (11) afternoon, based on several demands.
The strike action will be in effect from 4 pm this evening to midnight tomorrow (12), revealed Front Co Convener Chinthaka Bandara.
The demands include the revision of the overtime pay system at the Central Mail Exchange.
Accordingly, customers will not be able to receive services from any post office across the island, Bandara said.
MIAP
Teenage girl with leukaemia cured a month after pioneering cell-editing treatment
A teenage girl is recovering from leukaemia after becoming the first patient in the world to receive a pioneering cell-editing treatment.
The 13-year-old, named Alyssa, from Leicester, was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, which could not be treated with chemotherapy or a bone marrow transplant.
With no options left, doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, attempted a groundbreaking experimental therapy in which donated immune T-cells were genetically edited to target her cancer.
The technique, known as base-editing, is the first time a cancer treatment has altered the fundamental building blocks of DNA.
Experts changed the genetic code of immune cells to allow them to hunt down and kill cancerous T-cells while leaving themselves alone.
After just 28 days, Alyssa was in remission and after a second bone marrow transplant to restore her immune system the leukaemia is now undetectable. She is recovering at home and hoping to go back to school soon.
Professor Waseem Qasim, Professor of Cell and Gene Therapy at UCL GOS ICH and Consultant Immunologist at GOSH said: “This is a great demonstration of how, with expert teams and infrastructure, we can link cutting edge technologies in the lab with real results in the hospital for patients.
“It’s our most sophisticated cell engineering so far and paves the way for other new treatments and ultimately better futures for sick children.”
To create the cells, healthy donor T-cells needed to be engineered in four stages. Firstly, receptors needed to be removed from the donated cells to avoid rejection.
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Next, a “flag” known as CD7 that identifies them as T-cells was removed so that the engineered cells did not end up destroying each other.
In the third step, a second “flag”, called CD52, was snipped away to make the edited cells invisible to drugs given to the patient during the treatment process.
Finally, a receptor was added allowing the cells to recognise leukemic T-cells.
These changes were achieved by “base editing” – chemically converting single nucleotide bases or letters of the DNA code, which carry instructions.
For example, changing the nucleotide bases in the gene for CD7 from a cytosine to a thymine creates the equivalent of a genetic full stop, and stops the immune system attacking T-cells.
Alyssa was diagnosed with T-cell leukaemia in May 2021, after a long period of what the family thought were colds, viruses and general tiredness.
Despite months of treatment in hospitals in Leicester and Sheffield medics were unable to get her cancer under control and into remission.
Kiona, Alyssa’s mother said: “We’re on a strange cloud nine to be honest – it’s amazing to be home.
“The doctors have said the first six months are the most important and we don’t want to get too cavalier but we kept thinking ‘If they can just get rid of it, just once, she’ll be ok.’ And maybe we’ll be right.
“Hopefully this can prove the research works and they can offer it to more children – all of this needs to have been for something. It just feels so senseless.
“Alyssa wants to go back to school and that could be a reality soon.”
Clinical trial ongoing
A clinical trial for this treatment is currently open and aims to recruit up to 10 patients with T-cell leukaemia who have exhausted all conventional treatment options.
If shown to be successful, the bone marrow transplant and CAR T-cell therapy teams at GOSH hope it can be offered to children earlier when they are less sick.
Dr Robert Chiesa, consultant in bone marrow transplant and CAR T-cell therapy at GOSH, said: “This is quite remarkable, although it is still a preliminary result, which needs to be monitored and confirmed over the next few months.
“The entire team here at GOSH are extremely happy for Alyssa and her family and it’s been a privilege to work with them over the past few months. “
The results are being presented this weekend at the American Society of Haematology annual meeting in New Orleans, US.
Ex-Miss Croatia who loves to wear skimpy outfits approached by security at World Cup game
Ivana Knoll has rocketed to fame at the World Cup with her risque outfits – but the former Miss Croatia was snapped chatting with security as Croatia faced Brazil in the quarter-finals
Former Miss Croatia Ivana Knoll was stopped by security during Croatia’s clash with Brazil as she continued to sport her skimpy outfits.
Ivana has shot to fame in Qatar thanks to her stunning looks as has followed around her national side. And Knoll wore her most risque look to date as she posed at pitchside with a red bra and high-waisted leather pants paired with red and white chequered accessories.
One snap showed Ivana looking towards the camera as she formed a heart with her hands. However, more snaps show Ivana being confronted by two security officials at the Education City Stadium.
The security staff appeared to ask Ivana to return to her seat, which according to her Instagram story, appeared to be higher up in the stadium.
The stunning brunette continued to update fans with sultry snaps from inside the stadium as she revealed a heart with a Croatian flag on her breast. Ivana also shared a couple of snaps on her Instagram page of her full outfit.
She captioned the pictured: “Let’s go to the semi-finals!”
A Man’s Simplicity is the Beauty of his Humanity in Life
By Angie Ragunathan
“In character, in manner, in style, in all things the supreme excellence is simplicity’’.
A living witness for this above quote is none other than MP and Leader of the Opposition of Sri Lanka Honorable Sajith Premadasa. A Kids’ Christmas event to remember the birth of Christ the savior was held in Kichilan Reception Hall, Wekanda, Slave Island, Colombo 2 yesterday (10). More than 100 underprivileged Kids and parents from different communities gathered to celebrate Christmas. Children were given gifts of School exercise books and accessories. The Opposition Leader, Honorable Sajith Premadasa was gracing the event as the guest of Honor.
The event was hosted by the President of Lions club of Colombo Grand North, Miss Angel Ragunathan, in collaboration with LNW Media Network UK Ltd. The religious leaders, Deputy Mayor of Colombo Mr. AL Haj M.A.M Iqbal, Mr. Thajudeen, Member of Municipal Council, High-Ranking administrators of Lions Club International organization, intellectuals, Revival Power Ministry Sri Lanka, and Rev Karunasekara of Wellawatte Methodist Church also attended this event.
Honorable Sajith Premadasa’s simplicity towards mankind is remarkable. His voluminous work for the humanity and his compassion for the vulnerable community and his tendency to help the poor are worthless. He is a man who follows his father’s footstep. Looking at his father’s achievements and remarks he moulds himself as a better version of his father, but his endeavor is not based on family nepotism nor ethnic or religion unlike other politicians and presidential aspirants.
At the event yesterday he mentioned that he was so delighted to attend this event as a guest of honor which makes him to feel proud as children are the future of the country, its our responsibility to take care of the needs of children’s education and their nutritional needs. He further said that he was willing to be a part of this project to uplift the needs of the society to create a better future because people’s representatives should work for public welfare. Therefore, he loves to support and encourage such humanitarian services conducted by Lions International Organization.
I would like to mention his father the 3rd president of Sri Lanka Late Mr. Ranasinghe Premadasa was a man who zealously loved his country, much of his attention was directed at governing the country and his concentration on his presidential duties were immense. He was so devoted to the state and its people. I should specially mention something unique about his service to the state. Late Mr. Ranasinghe Premadasa who initiated GAM UDAWA project said, “when someone has a roof and four walls he or she can live. When you build houses you build a village, and when you build houses you build road for the village, then you will have electricity, water supply, medical Centre, community hall respectively”. This idea brought the country forward. GAM UDAWA project was instrumental in boosting the development of the country. This evolution of shelter policy is being followed by his son Sajith Premadasa. He too had built many model villages and housing schemes in different part of the island. I wish and pray that his passion for mankind will carve a path to a glorious victory.
New regulations for pawning come up soon amidst gold credit hike
Sri Lanka Finance Ministry is reportedly preparing to introduce new regulations to enable those pawning their gold to obtain the maximum value.
A high official from the Finance Ministry said that a circular regarding this issue is being prepared now.
It is revealed that the government is preparing to provide certain guarantees against the risks to banks and financial institutions in paying the maximum amount to those pawning their gold.
When the gold prices in the world market fell recently banks and financial institutions in Sri Lanka which had provided more loans against gold faced grave risks.
Sri Lanka pawning (gold-backed loans) credit from the banking system had grown rapidly as most of the middle class families have pawned their gold jewelry to meet their day to days due to severe economic difficulties in high cost of living conditions.
Owing to the ongoing economic crisis, gold worth nearly Rs. 200 billion has been pawned to various financial institutions in the country, a survey has revealed.
Accordingly, as per a survey conducted by the University of Peradeniya’s Department of Economics and Statistical Studies, it was revealed that gold worth over Rs. 193 billion has been pawned within the first 10 months of 2022.
The Department’s Prof. Wasantha Athukorala revealed that a majority of those who had pawned their gold belonged to the middle class, adding the two most common uses of the money received was for the education of their children and agricultural activities.
Prof. Athukorala further noted, however, that people are more likely to obtain the service from privatized pawning centres now, as they provide higher rates. The survey was conducted on a total of 13 licensed commercial banks and 10 pawning centres
The recent reversal in gold’s fortunes could prove painful for Sri Lankan banks, says a report by a leading rating agency
As gold prices soared over the past few years, Sri Lanka’s banks substantially expanded their pawning loans (gold-backed loans).
The competitive nature and need for a rapid turnaround in the pawning business could compromise the ability of banks to perform thorough credit assessment of borrowers, including checking their credit histories recorded with the Credit Information Bureau of Sri Lanka.
Banks’ pawning loans grew at a steep average annual rate of about 50 per cent over the past three years, compared with average annual loan growth of 25 per cent for the banking industry.
SL Govt speeds up public investment for productive projects next year
Sri Lankan government is aiming to speed up public investment disbursement for projects which generates return on investment to further economic growth post-pandemic as the country opens up in 2023.
Disbursing public investment capital is vital for the country’s economic recovery as it looks to bounce back from the negative effects of the pandemic and slowdown in its economy.
The expenditure on infrastructure development in priority areas covering highways, water supply, irrigation, transport, and agriculture and education sectors was nearly Rs. 210 billion in the first nine months of 2022.
A sum of Rs. 114 billion has been allocated o for the development of roads,highways, bridges and expressways, Rs. 15 billion for ensuring adequate and safe drinking water for all and Rs. 31 billion for improving efficiency, capacity and connectivity of the transport network
Feather a sum of Rs. 11 billion has been set apart for improving productivity and efficiency of the agriculture value chain by introducing modern technology and introducing new seeds varieties, Rs. 28 billion for ensuring water availability for agriculture by constructing multipurpose irrigation schemes and canals
Rs.11 billion will be spent for infrastructure development and quality improvement of the education system the investment projects take time to implement. Hence, ramping up of safe infrastructure maintenance is advisable rather than going for new projects during the pandemic. Finance ministry public investment report on 2022 projects reveled.
These ongoing projects will providence benefits immediately for the people and investments are made in the most productive sectors, senior treasury official said.
Hence, committed projects could be reviewed/restructured and consider relaunching of halted/delayed projects due to pandemic situation. In 2020, only 40 projects out of 100 projects in the pipeline were implemented due to island wide lock-down.
For 2021, 90 projects have been identified as priority projects for implementation. The total investment for new projects during 2022-2024 is Rs. 234 billion and this accounts to 8 percent of the to all investment, the report disclosed.
As such, priority needs to be given to projects that addresses the post crisis recovery needs.
Accordingly, the main purpose of the PIP 2021-2024 is to achieve the development targets of the government and the United Nations Agenda 2030.
Financing the investment projects is crucial considering the high debt burden and uncertainties in the speed of the recovery.
Hence, non-debt financing options such as FDIs, green bonds etc. should be encouraged. Moreover, the United Nations 2030 Agenda provides a blueprint to achieve a more sustainable future for all.
FAO and UNODC to enhance skills of SL prisoners in modern agriculture
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) are working with the Department of Prisons in Sri Lanka to enhance the skills of inmates in modern agriculture practices.
Accordingly, a selection of agricultural land under the Mahara Prison and the Pallansena Youth Correctional Center is being utilized to establish sustainable farming structures.
FAO and UNODC are providing technical equipment such as greenhouses, irrigation systems including solar water pump and sprinkler systems, and mushroom cultivation units along with training on sustainable agriculture practices for inmates and officials engaged in agriculture within these prisons.
The officials and inmates will be granted certificates to recognize the skills developed as part of the project and support the inmates’ access to livelihoods in the agriculture sector at the point of reintegration into society.
The Commissioner–General of Prisons, Thusara Upuldeniya describing the added value of the initiative stated “Inmates must be provided opportunities to develop their skills in a meaningful way to ensure successful re-integration into society.
The modern farming structures at the correctional facilities will also help strengthen the food security of the inmates. We thank FAO and UNODC for its support.”
Speaking on the initiative FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Mr Vimlendra Sharan stated “As FAO we are committed to encouraging urban agriculture by developing skills and promoting livelihoods in the agriculture sector.
The technical knowledge and skills transferred through this project will support the participants by providing expanded employment opportunities in the agriculture sector at the point of reintegration into society.”
Speaking on UNODC’s commitment, UNODC Head of Office a.i., Ms Siri Bjune stated “UNODC’s Global Maritime Crime Programme is committed to further support Sri Lanka Prisons to improve their capacities in managing secure, sustainable and human rights compliant detention facilities, that also promote effective rehabilitation.
UNODC would like to see this project contributes toward improved mental and physical well-being of the prisoners and further encourages Sri Lanka to meet international standards in treatment of prisoners and prison facilities.”
Let’s not miss this golden opportunity to solve National Crisis!
Below is a remark on President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s intervention of providing a political solution to the Ethnic Crisis faced by the Tamil communities of the North and the East by initiating several rounds of discussions having all political parties involved as stakeholders.
It would be an unavoidable fact that the National Crisis facing Sri Lanka, which at one point heated the arena in the form of a political crisis and at another an armed struggle for three decades, has taken a drastic turn influenced by the economic meltdown affecting the lives of the people of Sri Lanka regardless of their ethnicity. In the backdrop, the island nation is suffering from its worst economic crisis since independence, a scenario that can only be solved by the help of the International Community and more importantly, the Sri Lankan Tamil Community living overseas.
The extent to which the Economic Crisis facing Sri Lanka is solved will be decided by the extent to which the International Community wishes to extend their support to us, and the scenario of Sri Lankans being compelled to suffer further and for how long will be on their hands. The fact that many Sri Lankan regimes throughout the course of time breaking the promises made before the United Nations Human Rights Council and India during and after the thirty-year war leading the International Community to grow negative towards the island nation remains intact, and it is only fair that they may hold doubts about the sincerity of the Government of Sri Lanka catering especially to the National Crisis.
Sri Lanka being the paradigm of being relentlessly divided against the Political Crisis in the eyes of the International Community may give them no pleasure to support us to solve the Economic Crisis, unless the political leaders step up sparing differences. The International Community may have no interest in supporting a nation that has no willingness to settle its own political grudges. We, therefore, must open the door that provides solutions to the National Crisis by ourselves first, are we to solve the Economic Crisis.
Be the fact that the incumbent President of Sri Lanka is a person who is capable of leading the mission of solving the crisis true, Ranil Wickremesinghe has always been in the political view of providing solutions to the National Crisis by ‘power devolution’, against every backlash of him being labelled as a pro-LTTEer.
During the presidency of Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, she also tendered the resolution of power devolution, which at the time did not receive the support of the United National Party (UNP) led by Wickremesinghe. On another occasion, political streams like the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) opposed the peace establishment process initiated by Wickremesinghe. Despite the history being arguable, today Wickremesinghe does hold the position of Executive President of Sri Lanka and is administering the country alongside the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), or commonly known as the ‘Pohottuwa,’ a faction that unplugged itself from the SLFP mainstream after the 2015 Mahinda Rajapaksa defeat. The combination would be very crucial at this time, given that Sri Lanka may have been left with no more options.
Notwithstanding what is laid down above, there is also a standalone fighter in Parliament who is very much capable of boosting the process of solving the National Crisis by becoming a bridge between the Tamil political parties of the North and the East and the political parties of the South. He is none other than Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, a senior politician representing the Parliament of Sri Lanka for decades who has always been a huge voice for the minority communities of the country. His vision has also stood for providing a political solution to the National Crisis, despite his decisions to switch parties from which he contested throughout the years. During his tenure as a Cabinet Minister in the out and loud racist regime led by Mahinda Rajapaksa, Dr. Senaratne never changed his belief of providing a political solution to the National Crisis. The former Health Minister may have been ridiculed by the nationalists and their overwhelming followers, but Senaratne had never betrayed his vision towards any force that had stood against him. Needless to say, that the Tamil political parties can lay their trust upon him.
Almost every occasion on which a political solution was sought to solve the National Crisis, racist political powers of the South called it an attempt to divide the country. Contradictory to what the vast majority devoted to the South-led political stream believes, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) led by R. Sampanthan has made it very clear that they have no intention of dividing the country at all, but the implementation of power devolution, especially in the backdrop that there is no more LTTE separatism in the island nation. The TNA’s stance easily debunks the South-led political forces’ argument of dividing the country.
Reminiscent of the famous catchphrase by John Dickinson, the founding father of the United States, “United We Stand, Divided We Fall,” us the Sri Lankans too have to make a very unpopular decision as to whether we should stand up together to solve the Political and Economic Crises of the country by sparing our prejudice for the sake of the future generations, or should we continue to divide ourselves losing this golden opportunity once and for all.
*Adapted by original article, “ජාතික ගැටලුවට විසඳුමක් සෙවීමට මේ ස්වර්ණමය අවස්ථාව මඟ නොහරිමු !” published on 11.12.2022