By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): A person has been killed by gunfire in Kiththampahuwa area in Wellampitiya today (28).

Two shooters had arrived on a motorcycle and committed the shooting at the victim who was travelling in a three-wheeler, Police said.

The victim has been identified as a 47-year-old resident of Colombo 15, according to Police.

The Wellampitiya Police is conducting investigations into the incident.

Colombo (LNW): The Colombo Fort Magistrate Court today issued an order barring 24 individuals representing trade unions and political parties from entering certain parts of Colombo during a protest organised today (28).

The order has been issued as per the request of the Police, and prevents from entering the Presidential Secretariat, the President’s House, the Finance Ministry, and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has replaced the 20-year-old air operation communication system at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake, with the latest Digital Voice Communication Switching System (DVCSS).

The Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited has installed the new system at the Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) at the airport.

The system, made in Italy according to European standards, has been installed at a cost of Rs.670 million.

With Voice Over IP technology, it has the potential to instantly connect air traffic controllers at the ATCT with the flight, all due airports, and the radar tower, enabling simultaneous communication, clarity of communication, and credibility at a very high rate.

The installation and maintenance of the system are carried out by Sri Lankan engineers at the Electrical, Electronic, and Aviation Engineering Division of the airport. The total installation also includes a VHF air-ground communication system.

The official launch of this new DVCSS took place at the initiative of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, with the first call through the system from Katunayake to Ratmalana airport.

“The airspace and airports have been designated as safe zones, and the International Civil Aviation Organization has extended us a special commendation on this,” Minister de Silva said.

He also said that the old radar system at Piduruthalagala being used at present will also be replaced with a new radar system using the latest technology available in the world. “This will take place by October,” he said.

The Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. (AASL) has suspended some times back the awarding of a tender to a French company which has a dubious record internationally,

AASL Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) had been considering the awarding of a planned radar system in Piduruthalagala to a French company called Thales Group, despite its chequered history, until the intervention of the AASL Chairman Major General (Rtd.) G.A. Chandrasiri.

Upon the receipt of a complaint made by the Retired Engineers Association (REA), General Chandrasiri had suspended the awarding of the tender and ordered an internal investigation into the tender process.

The Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. Has been directed to expedite the project calling for expression of interest from international and local bidders for joint venture project.

By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to bolster the recovery of stressed small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and praised Sri Lanka’s steadfast dedication to rebound from the economic crisis.

The assurance was extended by ADB Country Director Takafumi Kadano during a meeting with State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe held at the Finance Ministry recently.

Kadano shared insights into forthcoming projects in Sri Lanka, particularly in the power sector.

He commended the success of ongoing projects in Sri Lanka with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank. He further said that the ADB is ready to provide funds to restructure several state-owned enterprises.

The ADB has allocated US$ 786 million for Sri Lanka this year for implementation of 27 projects

State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe said that Sri Lanka is discussing with ADB for a credit guarantee scheme worth $200 million, to support SMEs.

“This scheme will be established and implemented by the Ministry of Finance. The discussions are progressing well,” he said.

He added that the government is very concerned about the SME sector and is keen to get them out of the furrow. “The SME sector is hit the hardest by the pandemic, and the ensuing economic crisis.

We are looking at many avenues to emerge from the bad situation.” He also said the government is expecting the banks to pass on the benefits to the sector by lowering inflation rates and reducing interest rates.

He said “We do understand the banks’ constraints but with improving economic indicators, we expect the banking sector to help out the small and medium entrepreneurs.”

SMEs make up 52 per cent of the GDP and 45 per cent of national employment.

The Ministry of Finance is negotiating another two loans with the ADB. Finance Ministry officials said that one is for banking sector stability worth $200 million and the other one is $100 million worth of loans for power sector reforms. “The banking sector stability loan is to be finalized by early next month,” one official said.

Recognizing Sri Lanka’s commendable efforts in steering clear of a crisis, ADB Country Director Takafumi Kadano highlighted the potential for progress that often emerges from adversity and expressed optimism about the ability to transition towards a sustainable, long-term economic trajectory.

With an unequivocal commitment to sustained support, Kadano underscored that the ADB’s assistance would remain resolute, especially in alignment with the initiatives of the International Monetary Fund.

He reiterated the ADB’s keen interest in conducting an in-depth study of Sri Lanka’s SME sector to identify and implement effective support mechanisms.

State Minister Shehan Semasinghe also appreciated ADB for continued assistance throughout the crisis and subsequent recovery phases.

Shedding light on the segment most severely impacted by the crisis, he emphasized the vital role of SMEs in the economic fabric, urging their swift revitalization. He highlighted the Government’s efforts in providing concessions to revive these enterprises and underlined the pressing need for additional support.

Colombo (LNW): Beneficiaries of the ‘Aswesuma’ Welfare Benfit Scheme will be able to access their funds via banks from either tomorrow (29) or the day after (30), announced Finance State Minister Shehan Semasinghe.

During the initial phase, 800,000 families will be eligible for the welfare benefit scheme, he noted, reminding that the funds required will be transferred from the Treasury to the banks today (28).

Meanwhile, appeals and objections have been meticulously reviewed, and disbursements related to the month of July will take places in this regard, he added.

By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka government has embarked on another project of collecting personal data of the people for a digital database at grama niladhari divisional level in addition to similar initiatives of setting up of various databases for e–passport, e–national identity card, e-driving licence etc.

The aim is to Utilize this community – based database of ‘e – Grama Niladhari’ project instead of the previously existing house holders’ register.

According to the document issued to the public via grama niladhari countrywide, the ministry of public administration and home affairs, it has been planned to eliminate obstacles in providing development project benefits to the people.

Another objective is to create an environment free of irregularities and corruption in obtaining public services at grama niladhari divisional level.

Preliminary work of creating e-grama niladhari project data system has been completed at present.

People will have to fil forms distributed by grama niladhari these days among households divulging almost all of their personal details including email address, passport number,driving licence details, mobile number and the number of residential phone., bank account number.

It is also compulsory to provide highly personnel details of details of bank account, monthly income, and the extent of housing land if there is any employment, etc.

Numerous issues have erupted due to issuance of certificates pertaining to residency based on electoral register by the Grama Niladhari officers and not implementing the methodology of maintaining the householder head list.

By now ‘e – Grama Niladhari’ project has been inaugurated under the State Ministry of Home Affairs and a house and citizens database is being developed while it has been planned to implement throughout the 14,022 Grama Niladhari divisions under several phases.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal submitted by the President as the Minister of Defence to conceptually accept the database of ‘e – Grama Niladhari’ project as the national database for the requirements of previously existing householders list method.

Householders’ lists are confined to only basic details of the house holder and occupants and the current comprehensive system includes all personnel details.

Quite apart from exposing confidential details ,there are the inherent risks of holding the nation’s entire identity information in a central database that is accessed by various government — and possibly private — entities, several social activists , community organizations and socio economic experts claimed.

The system immediately becomes a magnet for hackers. In the age of cyberwarfare and the usual sloppiness with which information security is treated by those in the Sri Lankan government, this should be a serious concern, they complained.

As a whole, the system opens itself up to all sorts of abuse by errant individuals or organized groups. Having access to people’s linked data on all activities the person has with the state, their family and perhaps bank details is a worrying amount of information that could be at few people’s disposal, they added.

The scheme is also easily converted into a system of mass surveillance that can be used to target dissidents, political opponents and others. All it requires is the right political moment and the wrong people in power. This needless to say is an enduring risk in Sri Lanka.