- Elections Commission calls for nominations for Local Government Elections from 18th to 21st January 2023.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe orders all state institutions to fly the National Flag at half-mast today as a mark of respect to late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, whose funeral is taking place.
- Central Bank says Headline inflation expected to decrease in 1H of 2023 and reach desired levels by end-2023: also says economy will contract by 8% in 2022 and a gradual recovery to take place from 2H of 2023: expects IMF facility to materialize in “early 2023”: previously, the CB Governor assured that the IMF facility would materialize by Q3 of 2022.
- Finance Ministry sources say the Japanese Contractor for the Katunayake Airport New Terminal Project has claimed a staggering Rs.8,000 mn as damages from the Govt for the termination of the contract: the contract had been terminated due to the Debt Default of 12th April 2022 leading to JICA withdrawing funding for the project.
- CB sources say the Monetary Board has enabled Central Bank staff to evade a part of the new taxes from Jan’23 onwards by paying the employees’ “unutilised leave encashment” on 30th Dec’22: Secretary Treasury Mahinda Siriwardene also said to be a beneficiary of that “tax evasion” measure: Siriwardene has been at the forefront in the effort to increase taxes and utility prices in the entire country.
- Cabinet approves the incorporation of a 100% Treasury-owned Holding Company to fast-track the re-structuring of SOEs.
- Minister Bandula Gunawardena confirms that 2 major loss-making SOEs (CPC and SriLankan Airlines) have paid bonuses to their employees despite the burden on taxpayers, while also ignoring Govt regulations.
- Hotels Association President M Shanthikumar warns many hotels will close if the debt moratorium is not extended for another year: also says the anticipated recovery remains elusive amidst rise in costs, especially electricity.
- Construction work of the Pentagon-styled Defence Headquarters building complex at Akuregoda, Battaramulla expected to be completed in 2023 after nearly 12 years of construction.
- UN Assistant Secretary General Kanni Wignaraja applauds Sri Lanka’s plans for social and political development: discusses “implementing necessary programs to achieve sustainable development goals, green economy, social harmony and social protection” with PM Dinesh Gunawardena: discusses debt crisis with State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe and assures “willingness to provide technical support in capacity building”
Sri Lanka Original Narrative Summary: 05/01
Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award for Thiru Sivakumar Nadesan
Government of India (GoI) have selected Thiru Sivakumar Nadesan, Managing Director of Express Newspapers, for the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA), 2023. PBSA is the highest honour conferred by GoI on members of the Indian diaspora. The prestigious award will be conferred by Hon’ble President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu at the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention in Indore from 8-10 January 2023.
2. A Jury-cum-Awards Committee, with Vice-President Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar as the Chairman and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar as the Vice-Chair, selected Thiru Sivakumar Nadesan for the coveted honour. PBSA recognizes excellence achieved by members of the Indian diaspora across the globe in various fields.
3. Thiru Nadesan was selected for his contribution to the welfare of the community. He is the current President of the Sri Lanka chapter of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin and has been working relentlessly for community welfare. He initiated a fundraiser to assist stranded Indian Citizens in Sri Lanka during the Covid outbreak.
4. He actively promotes business and cultural exchanges between India and Sri Lanka and has been instrumental in inviting many Indian artists to perform in Sri Lanka. Further, he has supported several initiatives pertaining to classical and traditional fields such as Carnatic music in Sri Lanka. He has spoken at various PBD Conferences and was invited to meet Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at the Kumbh Mela in 2019.
5. Thiru Nadesan is the second Sri Lankan national to secure the honour. It may be recalled that Thiru Mano Selvanathan was conferred PBSA in 2011 for his valuable contributions in the business sphere.
***
Colombo
4 January 2023
Wreath-Laying Ceremony at Anıtkabir Mausoleum by the Ambassador of Sri Lanka
Following the Ceremony of presentation of the Letters of Credence to the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Ambassador of Sri Lanka, S. Hasanthi Urugodawatte Dissanayake participated in the Wreath Laying Ceremony at Anitkabir Mausoleum in Ankara recently.
Family members of the Ambassador, staff of the Embassy and Sri Lankan nationals reside in Türkiye also joined the Ambassador at the Ceremony.
The Ambassador was welcomed by the Chief of Protocol of the Anitkabir and the Ceremony consisted of wreath-laying at the Mausoleum, observance of one minute’s silence, signing of the “Book of Honour” by the Ambassador and visiting the Atatürk Museum &the Independence War Museum.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is father of the Republic of Türkiye, who modernized the nation with secular, pluralist democratic features, which is a part of the “Kemalist” ideology, which led to the empowerment of women as imperative for progress.
Ataturk’s reforms included a series of political, legal, religious, cultural, social and economic policy changes, designed to convert the new Republic of Türkiye into secular, modern nation-state, implemented under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in accordance with the Kemal ideology.Ataturk’s aspirations arecontinued by the current President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan bringing industrialization and rapid development.
In signing of the “Book of Honour”, the Ambassador wrote “The founding father of the Turkish Republic, Veteran Mr. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s legacy is indeed phenomenal globally.He led Türkiye’s modernization process, while advocating pluralism, democracy and secularism.
Above all, as a female citizen of the planet earth, I see him as a visionary in understanding the role of women in society, which is a prerequisite for development of any human society.”
Further she wrote that “Veteran Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is a shining example for developing states like my country, how determination and resilience can achieve rapid development, while retaining cultural characteristics in a contemporary manner”.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Ankara
02 January 2023
Sri Lanka precious mineral exploration goes haywire
Sri Lanka’s precious mineral exploration has become highly irregular activity from the issuance of licences for mining and till the end of exploration owing to corrupt and wasteful administrative practices of Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB).
It has been observed that Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) was mishandling ongoing exploration of some private companies.
The Bureau receives 7% as royalty in mineral exploration. This royalty should be paid to the Department of Treasury.
But a senior treasury official confirmed that the seven percent royalty is not transferred to the Treasury. He also said that the amount received as the royalty is used to pay salaries and bonuses and, in some cases, to throw parties.
In that manner, a large amount of money due to the Government is misused. These parties are held in the guise of official duties or in the pretext of conducting religious programmes, he claimed. .
According to an audit report the GSMB must properly transfer the royalty to the Government. For the Yan Oya project, the relevant construction company still needs to pay the royalty for 1,343,810 cubic metres of earth and 3397 cubic meters of sand.
According to the 2019 Audit Report, royalties amounting to 26,876,200 rupees and 5433490 rupees, and 27,419,690 rupees for soil and sand have yet to be recovered.
The report also says that the royalty charged for graphite in 2016, 2017, and 2018 was 65 percent less than the approved royalty mentioned in the mining licenses, i.e.Rs. 1,427,174,239.00.
According to the audit report, the GSMB has stated that legal measures have been taken regarding the deduced royalty charged for granite.
“So far no proper graphite mining has been carried out. Mines in Kahatagaha and Bogala have not yet been properly operated.
To mine graphite, one has to dig down about 2000 feet underground. No excavation has been done to that extent yet.
The Government should definitely receive the 7 percent royalty for the mineral resources that we export. But as per section 17 of the Geology Act, the bureau has to generate its own income since its establishment as a bureau.
The income is generated from the money received after collecting the related fees and licence fees. But the bureau doesn’t just do bureau work. It maintains tsunami warning stations and conducts other inspections free of charge.
That costs a lot of money and the royalty is used for that. We only give a certain amount to the Ministry of Finance as royalty,an official of the bureau said.
Government to set up holding company to expedite SOE reforms
The Government is to set up a holding company with 100 percent equity ownership vested with the Treasury Secretary and to make necessary arrangements to bring identified SOEs under this entity for restructuring.
The proposal is based on expert advice of the newly established SOE Restructuring Unit to expedite the restructuring process of SOEs.
The proposal to establish a separate agency was also made by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce last month suggesting a right model to adopt for the SOE restructuring agency (announced in the Interim National Budget for 2022) in order to provide the agency with the authority and power to carry out the required SOE Reforms.
It has also put forward a framework for practical implementation of SOE reforms after careful analysis of the role played by each SOE.
Accordingly, Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister of Transport and Highways and Minister of Mass Media Bandula Gunawardana said all identified SOEs including fully state-owned, partially owned and other forms of SOEs would be made subsidiaries of the proposed holding company.
Some of the entities targeted for restructuring are state-owned companies of which the government is the majority shareholder. Some state-owned enterprises operate as corporations,” the Government Information Department noted.
Gunawardana stressed that the SOE restructuring programme is critical to meet the country’s import bill and otherwise he warned that the country risks an economic collapse as similar to countries such as Zimbabwe and Sudan.
“A large number of SOEs are incurring losses and the burden is on the public. We cannot continue this moving forward. We need to expedite the SOE restructuring process in order to assure a continuous flow of imports,” he added.
In 2021, the Treasury exhausted Rs.367 billion to maintain the operations of 430 SOEs.
SOE reforms also remain a critical part of the IMF staff-level agreement for the US$ 2.9 billion bailout package. It has recommended the government to restructure the Ceylon Electricity Board, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and SriLankan Airlines immediately.
In addition, the government recently announced its intention to restructure Sri Lanka Telecom PLC.
President Wickremesinghe presented proposals to restructure SOEs in the interim budget of 2022 as well as in the budget presented for the year 2023.
According to State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, the government is considering various models to restructure the identified SOEs from implementing structural changes to divesting 49 percent stake in such SOEs
Electronic Shopping Mall opens at BIA enhancing modern facilities
Even amidst economic crisis, cash strapped Sri Lanka is striving to develop Colombo as a destination for aviation by completing the construction work of the Terminal 2 of Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this year.
With the objective of enhancing the passenger experience at the Arrival Duty-Free area at Airport (BIA), all duty-free electronic shops were relocated to the 2nd floor of the arrival terminal building.
The opening ceremony of the new premises was held yesterday on Tuesday 03 with the participation of Nimal Siripala De Silva, Minister of Ports, Shipping & Aviation.
The scope of work consisted of the construction of a new electronic mall on the second floor of the new passenger terminal building, the shifting of 31 arrival duty-free shops from the first floor to the second floor, the installation of two escalators and two glass elevators, the construction of a structural steel staircase, the extension of three existing elevators, and the construction of four washroom blocks, etc.
This expansion of passenger facilitation and the shifting of the duty-free shops from the first floor to the second floor result in improving the image of the airport and Sri Lanka in every aspect. AASL spent approximately Rs. 225 million on the relocation, which added a total floor area of 1900 square meters. This relocation will facilitate the passengers’ use of their duty-free allowance for consumer electronics.
The overall expectation from the airport and aviation services by establishing the “BIA New Arrival Electronic Mall” is to enhance the arrival duty-free shopping experience of passengers and enhance the service quality of the airport. It has been a dire need for BIA to make such a difference in the arrival of duty-free goods and provide an enhanced customer experience.
Air transportation today determines a country’s economic power and the successful completion of these infrastructure projects automatically elevates our country’s economic prosperity, by adding to its foreign exchange earnings, GDP, creating new jobs, creating new industries, and expanding aviation, and travel-related industries.
Airports play a significant role in branding nations and they act as catalysts for socio-economic prosperity. The commencement of BIA Terminal 2 will be a giant step towards becoming an aviation hub in the region. Sri Lanka will fly to new heights of the globe.
The construction works of the new terminal 2 commenced on 15th December 2020 and it is expected to complete the project on 14th December 2023.
Project Management Unit (PMU), AASL together with the JV Japan Airport Consultants (JAC)/Nippon Koei Co., Ltd. – (JAC/NK), the consultants of the project and TAISEI Corporation, Japan, the contractor are working towards the achievement of the objectives of the project.
Sign onto the Women, Life, Freedom Charter
Iran’s women’s revolution has announced the end of the Islamic regime and its discrimination, misogyny and violations of the human right to life.
The courage and beauty of the struggle of the youth and all members of society has inspired the world. Widespread gatherings outside Iran have shown unprecedented solidarity.
This is the end of Islamic rule and the beginning of a new Iran. An Iran imprinted with ‘women, life, freedom.’
We, the undersigned, announce the Woman, Life, Freedom Charter. PLEASE SIGN THE HISTORIC CHARTER. YOU CAN ADD YOUR DEMANDS TOO.
We demand the overthrow of the Islamic regime and the creation of a free, equal, prosperous and secular society. A society where all human beings enjoy full freedom and equality. A society where there is no discrimination, censorship and repression.
Our primary demands are as follows:
1. Equality for all, irrespective of sex, race, ethnicity, sexuality, ability and geographical and social status. A ban on discrimination against people, including migrants and refugees.
2. Full rights for women and LGBT, including equality under the law, reproductive rights, access to contraceptives, free and consensual adult sexual relations, right to cohabitation, marriage and divorce.
3. Unconditional freedom of speech, thought, expression, conscience and criticism. The full right of all people to form organisations, parties, associations, unions and groups without government interference. Freedom to protest and strike.
4. Abolition of the death penalty, stoning, torture and all inhuman and degrading punishment.
5. Equal rights for all children, whether born in or outside marriage and free medical, educational and cultural allowances and services for children and youth regardless of family circumstances.
6. Complete separation of religion from the state, judiciary and education. Religion and atheism as a private matter. An end to Sharia law and discriminatory practices, including compulsory veiling, sex apartheid, temporary marriage, polygamy, ‘honour’-related crimes and child marriage.
7. Freedom of press and media and an end to restrictions on communications, including the Internet, telephone and satellite television programmes.
8. Social welfare, including a living minimum wage, equal pay for women and men, free and universal education and health care, right to pension, annual leave, unemployment benefits and job security in all fields, both public and private.
9. Renewal and preservation of the environment and a ban on violence against animals.
10. The right to a fair and independent trial, prohibition of a judicial system based on vengeance, recognition of a person’s innocence until proven guilty. Prosecution and public trial of leaders and officials of the Islamic regime of Iran.
11. Free and fair elections. The right of all citizens to be elected at all levels. The establishment of a political structure based on direct and continuous involvement of the people in the matter of governance.
12. The future government of Iran is the matter of the people themselves without the interference of foreign governments. We want an Iran without nuclear weapons and energy.
We call on all Iranians, whether inside Iran or abroad, to support the Woman, Life, Freedom Charter.
We also call on Iranian to add their demands to the Charter.
We call for a People’s Congress to incorporate people’s demands so that the Charter becomes a common programme enshrining the hopes and aspirations of all people in a free Iran.
Join us. Victory is near.
For more information, contact Maryam Namazie at [email protected].
Sino –SL quarantine and quality protocol to boost marine product exports
Sri Lanka government has taken necessary measures to enhance marine product exports to China adhering to Chinese quarantine and quality protocols.
The cabinet has given permission to set up quarantine and quality protocols to export sea cucumber and other aquatic products to China.
A Memorandum of Understanding will be signed between the General Administration of Customs China and the Ministry of Fisheries to set up the protocols in Sri Lanka.
The Chinese customs unit has given permission to Sri Lanka to export 33 food products and 29 of those are aquatic products
38 Sri Lankan companies are currently exporting these aquatic products as there is a big demand for it in the Chinese market.Specially for products such as sea cucumbers there is high demand in India and China..”
The government will release 5000 acres in Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Batticaloa districts for cucumber cultivation as it’s a high priced delicacy in China and Korea, a kilo fetching about 40,000 rupees.
At the time, senior official said if the project is successful it can generate a billion US dollars.
Sri Lanka is planning to re-enter the US $ 15 billion Chinese seafood market following a resolution of issues connected to mandatory health certification.
The General Administration Customs of China (GACC) recently approved the amended health certificate, thereby enabling the import of fisheries and aquatic products from Sri Lanka
With the involvement of the Export Development Board (EDB) Department of Fisheries and the Sri Lanka Embassy in China, the certificate was upgraded to meet the quarantine requirements of the GACC – Import and Export Food Safety Bureau.
Seafood and aquaculture export products are required to obtain necessary clearance from the relevant authorities of the importing country.
“China is a lucrative market for seafood and aquaculture products such as frozen fish, crabs, prawns, lobsters and sea cucumbers. This arrangement will strengthen Sri Lanka’s seafood export market share in China,” EDB Chairman Suresh de Mel said.
He said the amended health certificate would facilitate existing Sri Lankan companies to continue exports and new exporters to enter the lucrative Chinese market.
China is a key player in global seafood trade and represents one of the largest producers, consumers, importers, and exporters of seafood in the world. China›s consumption has steadily grown and shifted toward an increasing quantity of high-value marine species.
“There is a significant increase in our seafood exports to China, particularly shellfish. With the Chinese consumption pattern, there is more demand for Sri Lankan crabs, shrimp and prawns and lobster than tuna and swordfish, which are generally exported in larger quantities to other markets. The key reason for this is their food culture and preference,” de Mel said.
Price of a liter of fuel to be increased by at least 25 rupees?
It is reported that the price of a liter of fuel will increase by at least 25 rupees as the government has taken steps to increase the production tax of every liter of fuel by 25 rupees.
Sources of Petroleum Corporation said that the production tax of 27 rupees for a liter of octane 92 and 95 petrol has become 52 rupees with this new tax increase and the tax of 27 rupees for a liter of other petrol has also increased to 52 rupees.
The production tax of 6 rupees per liter of regular diesel has been increased to 31 rupees, the tax of 13 rupees per liter of super diesel has been increased to 38 rupees, and in addition, the production tax of 13 rupees for all other types of fuel has been increased to 38 rupees. It is reported that it has been raised.
The government had decided to increase the existing tax rates for fuel with the aim of generating income to cover the loan amount of 2758 million dollars in the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.
Accordingly, the existing tax level for all types of fuel sold by the Petroleum Corporation has added a tax of 25 rupees to every liter of fuel.
In this regard, the Ministry of Finance says that taking into account the new tax rates, the prices will be revised according to the fuel price formula.
Bus fares to be reduced?
The Ministry of Transport says that a final decision will be taken today (04) on whether bus fares should be reduced compared to the reduction in diesel prices.
For that, a discussion will be held under the chairmanship of the minister in charge of the subject, Dr. Bandula Gunawardena.
The Director General of the National Transport Commission, Dr. Nilan Miranda, said that a report was handed over to the ministry regarding the percentages of bus fares that should be reduced compared to the reduction in diesel prices.
So far, the price of diesel has been reduced by 25 rupees on two occasions and there has been no reduction in bus fares.