- Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa says local and foreign powers are working according to an organized agenda, to prevent the development of Sri Lanka : also says these efforts have been ongoing for a long period: claims these conspiracies have caused the economy to suffer on multiple occasions: blames the Yahapalana Govt for taking a massive amount of Forex debt during its tenure.
- NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake says CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe is contracting the economy: laments it has badly affected people’s lives: blames Weerasinghe for harping that the only solution to economic crisis is to contract the economy.
- Acting Minister of Mass Media Shantha Bandara says disciplinary action will be taken against teachers who attended schools dressed in casual attire: warns that the culture, morals and the existence of the school system should not be allowed to be changed.
- TNA MP M A Sumanthiran says 21st Amendment to the Constitution is an “eyewash”: asserts it has not stripped the executive President of any of its powers as promised.
- Former CB Governor Cabraal says Rupee has been “fixed” for the past 6 months under Governor Weerasinghe just as it was done for a greater part of his own tenure: urges the Rupee be now “fixed” at a much lower rate: also calls for the immediate reduction of CB policy interest rates.
- Human Rights Commission calls for report from the Health Secretary re. the suspension of services of the President of the Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa who exposed incidence of child malnutrition.
- Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara says Sri Lanka has stopped officially registering persons going to the UAE and Oman, on tourist visas.
- Second reading of Budget 2023 passed in Parliament by a majority of 37 votes: 121 MPs vote in favour: 84 against: MP C V Wigneswaran abstains.
- Ministry of Health admits there is currently a shortage of 152 drugs in the country: also says the delay is due to the long process that has to be followed in purchasing drugs through the credit facilities provided by the Indian Govt and ADB.
- SLPP’s “Independent” MP Professor G L Pieris asks whether the Election Commission is backing the Govt’s efforts to postpone polls: accuses President Ranil Wickremesinghe and PM Dinesh Gunawardena of conspiring to put off scheduled Local Govt polls indefinitely.
Sri Lanka Original Narrative Summary: 23/11
Mother accuses school teacher of brutally assaulting child (VIDEO)
A grade 07 student of Sellakatharagama Maha Vidyalaya who was brutally assaulted by his teacher in charge of discipline is currently receiving treatments at the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital due to sustaining ill health, his mother disclosed to the media.
According to the mother, her son was assaulted on November 16 and sustained injuries on an ear and the eyes. The mother made a shocking revelation of how the tables turned into someone else’s favour despite the event being reported to the Kataragama Police, accusing the Police and the School are in an attempt to cover up the incident.
MIAP
Employees of Dept of Govt Printing stage strike action
Employees of the Department of Government Printing have reportedly launched a strike action, accusing the government of slashing their overtime payments of the last month.
Accordingly, these employees have refrained themselves from working since this (22) afternoon.
MIAP
2023 Budget wins by 37 votes in second reading
The vote for the second reading of the 2023 Budget Appropriation Bill by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Finance Minister was held in Parliament this (22) evening.
After the second reading, 121 votes were cast in favour and 84 in objection, thereby securing 37 more votes winning the Budget.
MIAP
Hatfield preteen of SL descent receives top one percent IQ score of 162
An 11-year-old boy from Hatfield has achieved the highest possible score in a Mensa IQ test.
Methu Menuwara received a score of 162 and has surpassed the IQ score of scientists Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein.
Born on July 4, 2011, Methu previously attended Hatfield Community Free School and went on to get accepted to attend a private school in London.
The preteen’s parents were not surprised by his top one per cent score as they expected their son to be a high achiever.
Dad Eranda Menuwara said: “A few weeks ago one of our friends forwarded us an article published about a little girl who achieved a 162 IQ score, which Methu read excitedly, and he asked us whether he can test his IQ as well.”
Methu sat down for a two-hour test at Dulwich College in October to see what score he would get. His parents recently received a letter confirming Methu had also achieved a top score of 162 on the Cattell III B paper.
Eranda said: “We knew he would pass because when he was three and a half years old, he became the youngest person to recite the periodic table of elements.
“But we are so happy for him. When he was really young, we saw his abilities and we wanted him to continue to learn and go into a good career. We knew he was a bright child, but we did not know he would get a 162.”
“Methu was very excited, but he is also very humble and does not want to show off. Even in his class with other students and his teacher, he is very quiet, but he is very happy with the result,” Eranda added.
At a young age Methu told his parents he wanted to become a scientist or an astronaut, but as he grew older he took an interest in composing music, playing the piano, viola and singing.
Originally from Sri Lanka, Eranda said: “He composes at a perfect pitch and currently wants to get into music, so we’ll see what happens.”
The boy genius is not the only smart child in his family as Methu’s three younger siblings also show traits of brilliance.
Methu’s seven-year-old brother received a similar CAT score to him and their father plans on adding all his children to the Mensa High IQ soceity as they grow up.
Milk Powder shortage hit the market again with 17 containers lying idle
Sri Lanka is facing a milk powder shortage once again owing to the complex procedure in the clearance of containers, dollar shortage, difficulty in opening the Letters of Credit (LCs) and import policy inconsistency, several high officials of leading milk powder companies, complained.
Several brands of milk powder were not available in retail outlets and even most of the supermarkets as many local firms had to face different bureaucratic red tape and the present complex approval procedure for the importation of the product several top officials of milk powder companies disclosed.
A CEO of a leading milk powder company who wished to remain anonymous told the Business Times that different companies are used to import this essential commodity following different methods such as Open Account, Credit Lines, Documents against Acceptance, and Documents against Payment terms.
The complexity in the government approval process for importation of essential commodities including milk powder, SL Custom’s clearance of containers and the scarcity of dollars has compelled most of the companies to restrict their imports creating a shortage in the market.
Under this set up the clearance of 17 containers containing 400000 Kgs of milk powder stocks piled up at Colombo port for over 25 days, a leading importer disclosed.
Former President of Milk Food Importers Association (MIA) and Chairman of Anods Cocoa (Pvt) Ltd, Lakshman Weerasuriya said his company has to pay demurrage of over Rs 4 million for the stocks of milk powder imported under the Pure Dale company brand.
These containers are stuck at the port as a result of the delay in approving documents by the Department of Exports and Imports Control as his company imported milk powder under the terms of Open Account using his business relations of over 20 years with foreign suppliers, he revealed.
He noted that his company had to get approval from the ministries of trade, industries, Banks, Department of Exports and Imports Control for documents of importation causing unnecessary delay in the clearance of 17 containers stuck at the Colombo Port.
This procedure has affected several milk powder importing companies, high officials of several leading milk powder companies confirmed.
Exports and Imports Controller General Upulmalee Premathilaka there was no delay in scrutinizing and approving import documents if those were in proper order.
The change in import policy without prior notice has affected the importers who have placed orders with foreign suppliers before and after arrival of the shipment he said adding that they are to face repercussions of the different stance adopted by the ministry of trade and the central bank relating to the importation of commodities on open account terms.
The government has permitted milk powder importers to use open account to bring in the essential commodity with an aim to ease shortages of milk powder. But the move comes despite the central bank’s concerns over open accounts.
Central Bank banned open accounts in May this year in an attempt to reduce Unidyal and Hawala net settlements being made for non-essential’ imports.
However the ban on open account trade also hit food imports, which are usually imported long term relationships on supplier’s credit.
The open account method payments are estimated between US$150 to 250 million a month for food imports, according to industry officials.
Govt to fast track FTA negotiations with private sector participation.
The Government yesterday engaged the private sector as part of efforts to resume negotiations of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) which were put on the backburner by the previous administrations.
Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake told a meeting of the Trade Chambers and Industry Advisory Committees at the Finance Ministry that the Government’s intention is to fast track negotiations. He invited private sector stakeholders to creatively engage in this development initiative as they are the ultimate beneficiaries.
Ekanayake said that it is the vision of the President that Sri Lanka will integrate with the global value chains and with the largest economies in South Asia and East Asia and then expand to the east region linking to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
The Government intends to operationalise the FTAs with Singapore and has taken steps to resume the negotiations of Free Trade Agreements with India, China and Thailand where foreign direct investment can be largely attracted to channel the benefits to the goods and services trade through the Investment Trade nexus.
A Trade Negotiation Committee has already been appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers to reinvigorate the negotiations and these agreements will ultimately pave the path to gaining membership of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which consists of 30% of the world’s GDP, trade and population.
At the meeting, Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardhana emphasised the importance of leveraging the non-debt creating inflows and diversification of export products as well as markets.
He also mentioned the budget proposal 2023 of establishing the International Trade Office (ITO) which will deal with all international trade negotiations in the future. The Treasury Secretary also emphasized the necessity of engagement with chambers and other stakeholders during the negotiation process.
Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardana highlighted that foreign missions and diplomatic channels have fully prepared to facilitate these trade negotiations. According to the Government plan, once the proposed institutional mechanism is properly established, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will bear the mandate of international trade negotiations.
The private sector representatives engaged in the session with great enthusiasm and stressed in detail the necessity of giving the highest consideration to their offensive and defensive interests.
They also made a request to focus on other non-tariff barriers such as certain quota restrictions, various issues on laboratory facilities for testing standards, not having mutual standards recognition agreements etc. that are faced by the exporters, through these agreements while removing duties on our exports.
During this kick-off session of the stakeholder consultations, the National Trade Negotiation Committee gave the assurance of conducting broad dialogue with the private sector throughout the negotiations through the responsible Government institutions.
New web portal ‘MetaHub’ opened to address issues related to mathematics teachers
The Ministry of Education has launched the first ever web portal ‘MetaHub (Mathematics Education Teacher Awareness Hub),’ to address the issues facing teachers related to the subject of Mathematics, in a move to quickly and easily solve these problems.
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed in this regard at the Education Ministry under the patronage of Education Secretary M.N. Ranasinghe and Dr. Shelton Perera, Consultant at the Sri Lanka University of Technology, and Dr. Gaya Jayakody of the University of Sri Jayawardenapura are the co-creators of the portal.
The launching event of ‘MetaHub’ was graced by the Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), university professors and doctors, school principals and other ministerial officials.
The Ministry of Education urges the teachers to register themselves by logging on to http://www.meta-hub.org.lk
MIAP
SL proposes to set up a group to motivate political will to tackle terrorist funding
Sri Lanka has proposed to set up a group of Eminent Persons with a view to helping motivate greater political will and to create further international awareness among states on the importance of combating terrorist financing.
Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda made this proposal in his statement at the recently concluded 3rd No Money for Terror (NMFT) Ministerial Conference in New Delhi.
The High Commissioner led the delegation of Sri Lanka to the 3rd No Money For Terror Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism Financing which was held from 18-19 November 2022 in New Delhi, hosted by the Government of India.
The Conference, which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi on Friday saw the participation of delegations from ninety-three countries and multilateral organizations.
The Conference extensively discussed global trends in terrorism and terrorist financing, use of formal and informal channels of funds for terrorism, emerging technologies and terrorist financing and requisite international co-operation to address challenges in combating terrorist financing.
Delivering the country statement of Sri Lanka, High Commissioner Moragoda further stated that political will on the part of member states is the most significant component in international cooperation to address the multi-faceted challenges faced when combating terrorist financing.
He said that though the objective of the Conference on “No Money for Terror,” which is to sensitize the international community to the dangers of ignoring this issue, is commendable, there should be a mechanism to provide continuity to the work of the Conference.
In this context, High Commissioner Moragoda proposed that India, as the Chair of the present Conference, take the lead in creating a group of Eminent Persons selected from among the member states with a view to helping galvanize greater political will and to create further international awareness among states on the importance of combating terrorist financing.
The 1st and 2nd No Money For Terror Ministerial Conferences were held in Paris in 2018 and in Melbourne in 2019 respectively. The 3rd NMFT Conference was built on the progressive agenda of an integrated approach with collective involvement initiated in the first two Conferences.
SL embassy officer in Oman interdicted over human trafficking ring.
The third officer of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman who is accused of being involved in the human trafficking syndicate has been interdicted, Minister of Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara said.
The officer in question will be placed under arrest upon arrival to Sri Lanka for further period
State Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion Jagath Pushpakumara vowed stern legal actions against those who were involved in this racket.
Meanwhile, the main suspect in this human trafficking ring was arrested by the airport police at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake yesterday morning (Nov. 19) while returning to the island.
According to the Criminal Investigation Department’s findings, Sri Lankan women who were taken to Oman on the promise of jobs in Oman and the UAE, had been auctioned off to sultans for bids ranging from Rs. 10 million to Rs. 2.5 million.
Initiating a probe after being informed of the complaints received by Foreign Affairs Ministry on the matter, a three-member team of the CID, led by the director of Human Trafficking, Smuggling Investigation and Maritime Crime Investigation Division, had departed to Oman on October 03.
The investigation officers, after recording statements from a total of 45 Sri Lankan women who are sheltered at a safe house belonging to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Muscat, uncovered that they had arrived in Oman on tourist visas. They also found that these women had fled houses they were employed at for various reasons including the harassment.
To make matters worse, an officer of the Sri Lankan Embassy has sexually harassed the women who are sheltered at the safe house. His services have since been suspended.
Further probes into the matter disclosed that this sex trafficking ring had been operated by a group of officers of the Immigration & Emigration Department through the representatives of employment agencies stationed in Sri Lanka and Oman. Their target had been underprivileged local women facing financial difficulties.
The Sri Lankan Embassy in Muscat, in a statement, stated that at present, at least 90 Sri Lankan female domestic workers are stranded in Oman seeking repatriation assistance.
They are unable to afford the repatriation-related expenses such as visa, overstay penalty, air ticket, agent fees, and the cost of recruitment demanded by their respective sponsors.
The embassy said it has also sought the assistance of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to assist such victims.