Colombo (LNW): The Chief Prelates of all three Chapters of Buddhism in Sri Lanka urged President Ranil Wickremesinghe to remove ‘unsuitable clauses’ in the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill, a joint statement dated 21.04.2023.
These clauses restrict people’s right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, and therefore, should be removed through a panel of experts after a broad dialogue with society focusing on the existing problems and public needs of the country, the Chief Prelates emphasised.
They warned that the adopting of such a bill at a time when there is hope in the minds of the people for a regime with proper political accountability may lead to serious doubts about the democracy of the island nation, in the eyes of both national and international audiences.
PMD: “Wasath Siriya – 2023”, state’s Sinhala and Tamil New Year Festival was held in a grand manner yesterday (22) at the Shangri-La Green premises in Colombo with the participation of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and a large number of local and foreign people.
According to the instructions of President Ranil Wickramasinghe, the President’s Senior Adviser on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Mr. Sagala Ratnayake and President’s Secretary Mr. Saman Ekanayake organized the New Year celebration with the involvement of ministries and government institutions.
Many competitions were held under the 03 sections of public sector, open sector and guest sector, and a large number of staff members of ministries and government institutions, their families and friends as well as people from different provinces of the island participated in it.
Diplomats and their family members representing the countries of the US, United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Netherlands, China, Japan, Palestine, Bangladesh, Cuba, Myanmar, Thailand, Kuwait, South Korea, Vietnam and the staff of embassies were also present.
It was special that many competitions have been organized that can be enjoyed by foreign tourists visiting this country.
A model of an environment with a village house was also recreated here, demonstrating the beautiful link between the village and the village house in the rural society in the past.
The celebrations included many showy elements including sweets, costumes, Sinhala New Year rituals and village games while a Ferris wheel, fireworks, bazaar and a medicine house on the ground attracted the people.
Adults and children participate in the competitions with great enthusiasm and gifts were given to the winners.
President Ranil Wickramasinghe visited the site of the New Year’s Festival this afternoon and had a friendly meeting with the people present.
Also, the president, who visited the village house and the medicine house, had a friendly conversation with the foreigners who were there to enjoy the festivities.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe also awarded prizes to the tourists and young people who won the competitions and watched several competitions including the tug-of-war.
Mr. Sagala Ratnayake, President’s Senior Adviser on National Security and President’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Saman Ekanayake, President’s Secretary and the heads and representatives of the sponsoring institutions joined the prize giving to the winners of the competitions.
Meanwhile, First Lady Prof. Maithree Wickremesinghe also joined to watch the New Year festival this morning and government officials including Cabinet Ministers, State Ministers, Deputy Ministers and other political representatives and Ministry Secretaries visited the New Year festival site from time to time and joined the activities.
The competition for selecting the Wasath Syria – 2023 New Year Prince and Princess was started today at around 6.00 pm.
The Wasath Siriya 2023 musical was scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM at the venue and many popular singers will sing along with the popular band Mead Land.
The state’s Sinhala and Tamil New Year festival “Wasath Siriya – 2023” held in a grand manner at the Shangri-La Green premises in Colombo, with the participation of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and a large number of local and foreign people: Event organised by President’s Senior Adviser on National Security and Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayake and President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake.
The European Union and the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation launch a four million euro (approx. Rs. 1.5 billion) initiative to improve the efficiency and sustainability of paddy farming in Sri Lanka.
Sr. Prof. Ven. Uthurawala Dhammarathana Thero appointed as the new Chairman of the SLPP: Ex SLPP Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris calls the appointment ‘unlawful’: Party Chief ex President Mahinda Rajapaksa calls Peiris ‘a mad man.’
The Chief Prelates of all three Buddhist Chapters urge the President to remove the ‘unsuitable clauses’ in the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill through “a panel of experts after a broad dialogue with society focusing on the existing problems and public needs of the country”; stress the ATA restricts the people’s right to independent expression and peaceful protest.
Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe says a lawsuit will be filed in a foreign country against the damage caused by the MV X-Press Pearl disaster occurred on May 19, 2021; adds two foreign law firms will be contacted in this regard.
4,000 cruise tourists arrive in Sri Lanka in two Cruise ships during the New Year season, as part of the GOSL’s initiative of promoting and development of Cruise Tourism Marketing Plan: Tourism Minister Harin Fernando says the aim of the Tourism Development project is “to turn the cruise segment into a top-five source of tourist revenues for the country”: Ministry sources add seventeen cruise ships set to arrive in the island this year.
Ruling Party MPs to meet on Monday at the President’s Office under President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s chairmanship: The parliamentary debate on the IMF’s EFF and the vote expected to be discussed at the meeting: A senior minister tells media that attention will also be paid to the delay in the evaluation of GCE AL answer scripts.
BOI announces its Customs Declarations (CUSDECS) system is a major breakthrough to “simplify and streamline the procedures for investors”: The sole objective of this system is to provide a speedy service to BOI’s valued enterprises through processes that have been simplified and streamlined to improve business conditions in Sri Lanka.
SLPP MP Attorney-at-Law Wasantha Yapa Bandara says the proposed ATA paves the way for the Police to legally operate torture chambers similar to that of Batalanda; asserts anyone criticising the government can be labelled as a ‘terrorist’ under the provisions of the bill.
The government is mulling changing the name of the “Colombo Lotus Tower” to “Colombo Tower” by dropping “Lotus” from the name, in what sources believe as a move to rid the tower of being constantly described as yet another Rajapaksa white elephant.
Colombo (LNW): The heat index continues to alert ‘caution’ level advisory for some places in Western, North-Western, Northern, North-Central and Eastern provinces and Moneragala, Ratnapura and Hambantota districts, effective from April 22 to April 23, 2023, the Department of Meteorology said in a statement.
Meanwhile, today’s (23) weather forecast says that showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in Eastern, Uva, Northern, North-central, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces during the afternoon or night, and fairly heavy showers above 50mm are likely at some places.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at a few places in elsewhere during the afternoon or night, the statement added.
Showers may occur in the Western province and in Galle and Matara districts during the morning too.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Marine Weather:
Condition of Rain:
Showers or thunder showers will occur at several places in the sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Matara via Colombo and Galle.
Winds:
Winds will be south-westerly over sea areas around the island and wind speed will be (20-30) kmph.
State of Sea:
The sea areas around the island will be slight to moderate. Temporarily strong gusty winds and very rough seas can be expected during thundershowers.
In a general party meeting held this morning (22 April), Ven. Prof. Uthurawala Dhammarathana Thera was appointed as the new Chairman of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), replacing former Chairman Prof. G. L. Pieris.
During the meeting, the SLPP members unanimously agreed to appoint Ven. Prof. Uthurawala Dhammarathana Thera as the new Chairman, citing his leadership qualities, wisdom, and vision for the party’s future.
In his first statement as the new Chairman, Ven. Prof. Uthurawala Dhammarathana Thera expressed his gratitude to the party members for entrusting him with the leadership of the SLPP. He pledged to work tirelessly to strengthen the party and lead it to victory in future elections.
Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka expects tea production to recover in 2023 to 300 million kilos, whilst targeting export earnings of $ 1.5 billion for the year. But the export revenue has come down in March doubting the reaching of this ambitious target, tea industry sources said.
Despite hopes of a turnaround with fertilizer, Sri Lanka’s tea production began the year with lower volumes.
Sri Lanka’s tea exports dipped 22 percent year-on-year (YoY) to 17.97 MnKgs in March continuing the declining trend seen in both tea production and exports in recent times, the data released by Forbes & Walker Tea Brokers showed.
Among the categories, bulk tea showed a substantial decrease, while packeted tea showed a significant increase, and to a lesser extent tea bags when compared to March 2022.
Cumulative exports for the January-March 2023 period too contracted by 15 percent YoY to 54.08 MnKgs.
Here again, tea in bulk showed a substantial decrease in export quantities, whereas packeted tea showed a significant increase and tea bags to a lesser extent when compared to March 2022.
Meanwhile, FOB value in March 2023 recorded an increase of Rs.973.73 to Rs.2, 018.87 compared to Rs.1, 045.14 in March 2022.
FOB value of US$ 6.10 per kilo in March 2023 was the highest ever FOB value for a calendar month in US dollar terms surpassing the previous best of US$ 5.74 recorded in October 2022. This was a gain of US$ 1.97 compared to March 2022.
In terms of markets, Türkiye has emerged as the biggest importer of Ceylon Tea with an increase of 102 percent YoY in January-March 2023. Iraq, which had decreased its imports by 54 percent YoY, secured the second position.
Russia ranked as the third largest importer of Ceylon tea whereas the UAE moved down to the fourth position with imports reducing by 27 percent YoY. Other notable importers were Libya, China, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Germany.
According to Central Bank data for the January-February 2023 period, Sri Lanka earned US$ 204.1 million from tea exports, up by 6.3 percent from a year ago.
However, the Central Bank said “increased earnings from tea exports were mainly due to price increases as the volumes registered a decline.
Sri Lanka expects tea production to recover to 300 m kilos, earn $ 1.5 b from exports in 2023
.The woes of the tea industry continue with January crop volumes decreasing by 3.68 million kilos (16.13%) to 19.14 million kilos against the fertilizer issue.
Data analysed by Forbes and Walkers Research confirmed that the country’s tea production drop was seen at all elevation levels compared to the corresponding January 2022.
High-grown elevation produced 3.52 million kilos, a drop of 1.8 million kilos year-on-year (YoY) whilst medium elevation production was 2.39 million kilos compared with 3.78 million kilos in January 2022, a deficit of 1.4 million kilos.
Low-grown elevation dominated by the smallholder sector recorded 13 million kilos, losing approximately 0.4 million kilos or 3% against January 2022.
The production of green was at 161,634 kilos in January 2023, down by 18% YoY. As per the Sri Lanka Tea Board, the country’s total national production for the year 2022, was 251.50 million kilos compared with 299.49 million kilos in 2021. This was the lowest in 26 years when 246 million kilos were produced in 1995.
Colombo (LNW):Sri Lanka is eying options to re-structure domestic debt, or local law local currency debt (LLLC), without harming the banking sector and announcing them, the International Monetary Fund said in a report.
Local Law Local Currency Debt is held by the banks, pension funds, individuals and the central bank. Sri Lanka has to restructure debt to meet a ceiling on debt-rollovers and new deficits called the gross financing need from 2027, which has been set at 13 percent of GDP (from 30-pct in 2022).
Foreign debt service has to be 4.5 percent of GDP or below.“The authorities and their financial advisors are weighing different options and their associated legal procedures to optimize the design of an LLLC debt treatment while preserving financial stability,” the IMF said in a statement.
Sri Lanka’s plan for a voluntary restructuring of its domestic debt is finding few takers from local banks worried about a hit to their capital, raising the risk of a delay in the country’s financial rescue.
Some of the nation’s biggest lenders including Commercial Bank of Ceylon Plc. and Hatton National Bank Plc warn that a local debt restructuring will lead to capital impairment as banks are forced to set aside more money to cover losses.
“Already the banking sector is taking a toll on haircuts on dollar bonds,” said Sanath Manatunge, chief executive officer at Commercial Bank of Ceylon. “For liquidity and statutory reasons, we have to have some bills and bonds. If that is also going to be subject to a haircut, then the industry might lose its resilience.”
The country’s biggest challenge after securing a $3 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund in March is to reach a restructuring deal with creditors that would make its debt sustainable in the eyes of the Washington-based lender.
Banks’ reluctance to participate in a domestic-debt restructuring could complicate the process, which authorities hope to conclude before the first IMF review slated for September.
Authorities agreed to include local-currency bonds in the restructuring program as they sought to appease overseas investors who are demanding that domestic debt holders should also share billions of dollars of losses.
Sri Lanka’s external borrowings totaled $41 billion, while its local currency debt stood at around $38 billion in 2022, according to the IMF.
Sri Lankan lenders’ capital buffers are already depleted and if they are further affected by debt restructuring, that would make raising fresh funds harder, Aruni Goonetilleke, chairperson of Hatton National Bank, said at an Asian Development Bank event earlier this month.
Only Treasury bills held by the central bank, which owns about two-thirds of the nation’s around $11.4 billion in securities are currently included in the debt treatment, officials have said.
Sri Lanka also has $24 billion worth of T-bonds, most of which are held by domestic banks and local retirement funds and are subject to voluntary restructuring.
One way to push through the debt overhaul would be to restructure bonds held by the nation’s Superannuation funds, provided their cash flow can be serviced, said Suhini Fernando, chief executive of Reliance Capital (Pvt) Ltd., a Colombo-based investment consultancy.
Colombo (LNW): The largest commercial and logistics complex in South Asia is to come up in the Port of Colombo with an investment of US$ 392 million.
Agreements for the construction and operation of the South Asia Commercial and Logistics Hub (SACL) as a 50-year Build Operate-Transfer (BOT) project were formally signed in Colombo by the representatives of the three investing entities.
Accordingly, China Merchants Port Holdings (CMPort) holds a 70% stake while Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and Access Engineering PLC (Access) each hold a 15% stake in the venture/
A Public Private Partnership (PPP) project, the South Asia Commercial and Logistics will be built in the centre of the Colombo Port and will have 530,000 CBM of storage capacity via an eight-floor building.
The investment in the project is expected to bring in much-needed foreign investment into Sri Lanka.The construction of the complex is expected to begin in the second half of 2023 with a target of completion by the end of 2025.
Adjacent to Port City and the CBD, it will be directly linked with the airport via the Port Access Elevated Highway.
The five million square foot complex will offer the full gamut of logistics related facilities and services such as Less than Container Load (LCL), Multi-Country Consolidation (MCC), Container Freight Station (CFS), general warehousing and various other value-added services.
A Spokesperson for CMPort said the project will result in an infusion of US$ 126 million in addition to an upfront payment of US$ 26 million after the agreement is signed.
The project is also expected to provide direct employment to a minimum of 1,800 people and create 10,500 other indirect job opportunities.
The project aligns with Sri Lanka’s national development strategy to transform the country into a major logistics centre, identified as a key sector and a driving force for economic development in the National Policy Framework (NPF) 2019.
It will provide better logistics and warehousing facilities and services, enhancing the Port’s competitive advantage and consequently strengthening its Hub status.
The project will also improve the operational efficiency of the Port of Colombo and introduce leading-edge technology and innovation.
The Port of Colombo is currently ranked among the top 13 ports in the world in terms of shipping network connectivity.
Despite its ideal location on the international trading route, the Port still lacks a modern, state-of-the-art logistics facility, the Spokesperson said.
At present, mainly loading and discharging of cargo is done at the Port of Colombo, with little value-added services being offered. SACL will change this landscape.
Additionally, since the Port of Colombo was declared as a Freeport by the Government of Sri Lanka, the project will enjoy the associated Freeport advantages in its operations, such as no customs clearance for transshipment and MCC cargo, resulting in reduced paperwork and associated costs.
The project also provides an ideal platform for the registration of hub companies – which will enjoy tax concessions in CIT, WHT, VAT, etc.
The project is expected to help the Port of Colombo to strengthen its competitiveness against other competing ports in the region.
Furthermore, the improved services and cost benefits provided by the project are expected to attract more business and container volumes to the Port of Colombo, benefiting all its terminals and generating higher revenues for the Port and port-related companies in Sri Lanka.
Colombo (LNW): Organised groups are now operating a job scam of sending Sri Lankans fed up with the country’s economic crisis along the human trafficking pipeline to Laos as a large number of qualified and experienced youths are increasingly desperate to go abroad.
Loas is an independent republic, and the only landlocked nation in Southeast Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam.
With the sole aim of making money and helping their families survive hyperinflation through heftier remittances, these young men and women are falling prey to the employment racket both here and in Thailand.
While one group is based in Laos, those staying in the same apartment compound are responsible for handling the Sri Lankans there. Another group is based in Sri Lanka and they approach individuals, brainwash them, prepare their travel documents and drop them at the airport.
The ongoing economic crisis in Sri Lanka has hampered job prospects fot youths and thus, when they hear about lucrative pay packets of US$1,000 a month at an IT job in Thailand, they are used to jumping at the chance.
When they realize that their job would be to flirt with well-to-do Americans online in an organised crypto-currency scamming network handled by East Asian syndicates in Laos.
The Special Investigation Division of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB) revealed these details to warn Sri Lankans about Thailand job scam requesting them not to dupe them by lucrative job offers.
Sri Lanka Mission in Thailand has raised concerns about Sri Lankan nationals being lured for employment in Thailand, particularly for positions in Information to Laos in Thailand Information Technology (IT) sector by dubious tech firms involved in call-centre scams and cryptocurrency fraud.
It has noticed recently that Sri Lankan nationals are being lured for employment in Thailand particularly for the positions in the Information Technology (IT) sector by dubious IT firms involved in call-centre scams and crypto currency fraud.
Victims are illegally taken across the border from Thailand mostly into Myanmar and held captive to work under harsh restrictive conditions. Some of the victims have also been apprehended by authorities for illegal entry.
All these victimized Sri Lankans have arrived in Thailand on tourist visas, promising to convert the same to work visas after arrival, which has not been successful.
Sri Lankan nationals are therefore advised not to get enticed and entrapped in such fraudulent job offers and are requested to exercise extreme caution and verify the background of recruiting agents as well as any company before taking up any job offer.
Sri Lankan nationals are therefore advised not to get enticed and entrapped in such fraudulent job offers and are requested to exercise extreme caution and verify the background of recruiting agents as well as any company before taking up any job offer.
The Sri Lanka Mission urged Sri Lankans to obtain Thai visa details from the Thai Immigration Bureau website via www.immigration.go.th.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe says this year’s Ramadan festival is being celebrated by the devotees of Islam in “a revived environment in the country”; adds this has brought contentment to the nation in its entirety; expresses confidence that this year’s Ramadan will serve to unify all Sri Lankans irrespective of race and religion, in working towards the common goal of developing a robust and equitable society, which upholds the values of freedom and human dignity.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe highlights the need for a strong, export-oriented economy; urges private sector to become engines of growth in SL’s economy; calls for the private sector to submit proposals in this regard; stresses the need for modernising and updating traditional sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, logistics, and tourism.
Agriculture Ministry Secretary Gunadasa Samarasinghe assures China’s request “to import 100,000 toque macaque monkeys from Sri Lanka”, despite protests from many environmentalists against the deal; asserts a “privately-owned animal breeding Chinese company, connected to zoological gardens, had made the request”: The Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka maintains a diplomatic denial on such business.
Archbishop of Colombo HE Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith says he has “no faith in the country’s leadership in securing justice for Easter Attacks victims”: adds “although on the surface it looks like Islamic extremists carried out these attacks, the Parliament Select Committee report clearly states that a political conspiracy was behind it.”
US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung joins Sri Lankans to remember those killed in the 2019 April 21 Easter attacks; says she “remembers the hundreds of innocent people, including five Americans, who were murdered four years ago in a horrific act of terror on Easter Sunday”; adds the US honours the victims, their families and all affected communities and stands in solidarity with those awaiting justice.
The government is set to further ease import restrictions imposed as a remedy to crippling shortage of foreign exchange: Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says measures will be taken to “relax the import restrictions imposed on many other goods”; admits the main cause for the loss of revenue was the import restrictions imposed by the government.
The Examination Department says the preliminary marking of the G.C.E. Advanced Level Tamil medium answer scripts has commenced: Commissioner General of Exams Amith Jayasundara says the paper marking activities have commenced in relation to subjects of Hinduism, Christianity, Hindu Civilization, Bharatha Dancing, Oriental Music, Carnatic Music, Western Music, Art, Drama and Theatre and Hindi.
A dismissal ceremony conducted for 189 sub-inspectors who had completed their training at the Katukurunda Police Training College, under the patronage of Public Security Minister Tiran Alles: Of the 189 sub-inspectors, 167 dismissed from service, while 22 dispersed.
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Colombo stationed at the SL Navy HQ promptly coordinates the rescue of a group of Sri Lankans reported to be in distress on-board a Vietnamese-flagged fishing vessel in Vietnam waters: The group was temporarily settled in Vietnam upon rescuing: Among the distressed were 151 Sri Lankans deported from Vietnam in 2022, and 23 more Sri Lankans deported in April, 2023.
Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe expected to hold Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) election in August; promises that the election will be held after successful discussion with the Asian Rugby Union President Qais Al Dalal; assures the Asian Rugby chief is happy about the ministry’s proposals for SLR development.
