By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW): The de facto Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne has won control power of the Health Ministry over certain policy level decisions, and even some Health Ministry officials are awaiting the ex Minister’s comeback to make the Health Sector a better place, sources said.

Apart from a few, a number of trade unions too have been anticipating his comeback, crying for a solution to end the corruption which has risen by an unprecedented magnitude.

Under those circumstances, for the past six months the vast majority of health officials were in touch with Dr. Senaratne, complaining the status quo as ‘disastrous and pathetic’.

A source on the condition of anonymity told LNW that the situation at the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) is disgraceful and the incumbent Minister is only interested in purchasing drugs at any cost.

Minister Keheliya Rambukwella has failed to pull his ministerial legal officers up together to instruct the Attorney General’s Department to defend the government policy of making compulsory retirement age to 60 from 65 last year, a top official disclosed.

The decision was uniformly applicable to all government officers, but some doctors consulted the Court challenging the decision taken by Parliament at the 22nd Budget, he added.

This simple policy decision has failed to be defended by Rambukwella, whilst trade unionists representing the United National Party (UNP) namely Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya (JSS) opposes the incumbent Minister and accuses him of backing the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) affiliated minor staff trade unions.

As a result the JSS too has agreed to pledge their support for the comeback of Rajitha Senaratne, who served as the Health Minister from 2015 to 2019.

Colombo (LNW): The third phase of the first school term of 2023 will commence tomorrow (12), announced the Education Ministry.

Accordingly, all government and government-approved private schools will start their third phase of the first school term of the 2023 academic year tomorrow.

The second phase of first school term in 2023 ended on May 26, 2023.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) warned that the Sri Lankan Rupee despite its rapid growth in the present will be subject to depreciation soon after the debt repayment resumes and import restrictions are relaxed.

Speaking to reporters in Hanwella yesterday (10), SJB National Organiser Tissa Attanayake said the current economic stability is only temporary due to the imposition of import restrictions and the suspension of foreign debt repayments.

Attanayake comments tally with many analysts’ warning that the recent appreciation of the Sri Lankan Rupee being ‘artificial’ is a result of the burrowings amounting to US $ 500 million at an interest of 25 per cent from various external parties.

Over the first half of 2023, the Sri Lankan Rupee has appreciated by about Rs. 70 against the US Dollar, under what analysts describe as ‘hot money’ inflows.

The SJB National Organiser emphasised that he does not believe that the country’s current situation is stable, adding that the Sri Lankan Rupee is very likely to depreciate again, once the debt repayment resumes and import restrictions are relaxed.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): Seventy per cent of farmers have already received their fertiliser subsidy coupons, announced the Agriculture Ministry in a statement today (11).

Subject Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said efforts are underway to ensure that all remaining coupons are distributed to farmers by the end of next week.

The government has instructed fertiliser companies to promptly distribute fertiliser stocks to Agrarian Development Centres. This instruction comes in as a ship carrying 22,500 metric tonnes of urea arrived in the island yesterday (10), and these stocks are said to be distributed from Monday (12).

1. State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says the Govt expects to allow vehicle imports with the payment of customs duties in forex: this proposal was originally mooted by former CB Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal in September 2021, but was not implemented by the Govt of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

2. All Ceylon Health Trade Union Federation General Secretary Dr. Jayantha Bandara alleges that the Govt only bears 40% of the total health costs with the private sector accounting for 60%: also says there are crippling medicine shortages in state-run hospitals and no equipment or materials for testing.

3. The Tamil National Alliance informs President Wickremesinghe that if the current Govt fails to provide a solution to the ethnic question within a certain period, it will take steps to find a solution under the international law of self-determination: alleges the Govt has deceived the Tamil people again.

4. President’s Advisor Ruwan Wijewardene says former Minister and son of the visionary leader Gamini Dissanayake, Navin Dissanayake will be appointed as the Governor of the Sabaragamuwa Province on June 13th.

5. SJB MP Harsha Silva warns the crisis faced by the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector is worsening: calls for urgent measures to ease their plight: analysts point out that it was MP Harsha Silva who fiercely advocated exchange rate float, debt restructuring, increased interest rates and higher taxes, that has led to current plight of the MSMEs.

6. Court of Appeal Judge Justice Sobhitha Rajakaruna appointed Acting President of the Court of Appeal by President Ranil Wickremasinghe.

7. Police Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa says the Katunayake situated “Miracle Dome” built by Pastor Jerome Fernando is not closed for the public, but under police security due to the risk of clashes that might break out between people.

8. Poultry producers say a kg of chicken meat can be brought down to Rs.1,200 within 3 months: presently a kg of chicken is being sold at around Rs.1,300.

9. Vavuniya High Court Judge M. Illancheliyan hands down the death sentence to former Vavuniya PLOTE leader Sivanadan Premanath, alias Nedumaran, after finding him guilty of murder of Vavuniya General Hospital Gynaecologist Dr. Mohammad Sulthan Meera Mohideen in 2000.

10. Athletics and Sports Ministry officials warmly welcome the Athletes who took part at the Asian Junior Athletic championship in South Korea, at the Katunayake Airport, for winning 2 gold, 1 silver & 2 bronze medals at this meet while they finished 7th among 45 countries.

The Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka together with Aitken Spence Travels promoted Sri Lanka as a unique tourist destination to 20 leading tours operators in Austria at the Embassy on 6 June 2023.

Delivering the welcome remarks, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka Majintha Jayesinghe highlighted the distinctive splendors of Sri Lanka. While speaking of the many attractions, the Ambassador ensured assistance to Austrian travel agencies.

During his presentation, Assistant General Manager of Aitken Spence Travels, Sampath Perera highlighted the unexplored touristic attributes and attractions that Sri Lanka poses to potential Austrian tourists and travellers while presenting detailed information in categories such as culture, wildlife, adventure, beaches, festivals, ayurveda, and UNESCO designated heritage sites. A number of fascinating promotional videos on Sri Lanka were also screened.

 At the event, Managing Director of Aitken Spence Travels Nalin Jayasundera elaborated the contribution of Aitken Spence Travels in destination promotion and invited attendees to facilitate and encourage potential tourists to visit Sri Lanka during the upcoming holiday season.

A raffle was drawn at the event where the grand prize was offered by the prestigious Aitken Spence hotel chain. Sri Lankan traditional refreshments together with world famous Ceylon tea were served to the travel agents.

Austria is placed among the potential markets for tourism in Sri Lanka and during the first four months of 2023 Sri Lanka received 3411 tourists from Austria. Being a leading conglomerate in the hospitality sector in Sri Lanka, Aitken Spence maintains a solid clientele in the European market.

Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka

Vienna

9 June 2023

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): President Ranil Wickremesinghe is set to embark on an official tour in India next month.

His departure may take place somewhere between July 20 – 30, according to sources.

This will be Wickremesinghe’s first official tour to India in his capacity as Sri Lanka’s Head of State.

During his tour, the Sri Lankan President is set to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top officials of the Indian government.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): In a move to provide an efficient service to passengers, an Automated Border Control (ABC) system is to be established at the Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).

Funded as per an order by the Cabinet, an agreement was signed between the BIA and the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Pvt.) Ltd. (AASL).

The basic facilities required for the unit was provided by the Department of Immigration and Emigration, and the project will be jointly carried out by the AASL and the Department.

In the initial stage of the project, two automated Immigration-Emigration Gates (eGates) will be set up at the departure terminal, and two more at the arrival terminal within a period of eight months.