1. LKR appreciates further against the USD: According to the CB, average exchange rate down to Rs.296.58: CB data also shows a massive increase in Foreign Investors’ T-Bill & Bond holdings from 17.02.23 onwards in an amount of Rs.135.7 bn, coinciding with the LKR appreciation from Rs.364.58 per USD to Rs.302.09.
   
2. ADB approves another loan of USD 350 mn as a “special policy-based loan to provide budget support for economic stabilisation”: loan to be a part of a broader package of financial assistance anchored by IMF.
   
3. Marine Environment Protection Authority, quoting the Navy, says there is no chemical or oil leak reported from the wreck of MV X-Press Pearl: adds samples were obtained from the sea area for further investigation.
   
4. Fort Magistrate remands Ven. Rajangane Saddhatissa Thera who was arrested by Police in Anuradhapura for making statements that could disrupt religious harmony: remand order valid till 7th June.
   
5. SJB MP Dr Harsha de Silva calls for urgent support for exports & SMEs: warns of a bigger crisis in the absence of a Govt plan: Silva was in the forefront demanding an IMF programme with flexible exchange rates, higher interest rates and debt default & re-structuring, which has now crippled the Sri Lankan SMEs.
   
6. Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says a new Court will be set up to hear cases relating to taxes: laments legal cases relating to taxes and related fraud have been languishing in the legal system, creating a severe backlog.
   
7. President Ranil Wickremesinghe decides to establish a special Police Unit to investigate and prosecute groups or persons, who try to disturb religious harmony in the country: instructs his adviser and Chief-of-Staff Sagala Ratnayake to discuss the matter with the IGP and take necessary action immediately.
   
8. Department of Animal Production & Health requests people to refrain from eating beef due to viral disease rapidly spreading among cattle in the North Western Province.
   
9. Former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake says State Owned Enterprises are set to undergo reforms and other public enterprises engaged in commercial activities also face “performance optimisation” under public-private ownership: out of 527 SOEs, 52 identified as strategically important and are to be operated with private sector investment.
   
10. Two of Sri Lanka’s emerging top young players Mahesh Theekshana and Mahesha Pathirana play for Chennai Super Kings who win the IPL Cricket Tournament 2023 Final, defeating Gujarat Titans by 5 wickets in the last ball of their innings: : GT: 214/4 (20) lose to CSK: 171/5 (15) under Duckworth – Lewis system.

Colombo (LNW): China is set to lead a Foreign Ministry delegation to Sri Lanka from May 29 to June 01, 2023, to commence the 12th round of diplomatic consultations between the two nations.

The delegation will be led by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Sun Weidong, and the event will be held with Aruni Wijewardane, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka.

These discussions aim the enabling of the two nations to assess the status of bilateral relations covering a number of areas, including political, economic and cultural cooperation, and thematic cooperation and people-to-people contacts, a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

During the visit, the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China is scheduled to call on President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and the State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya. The delegation will also engage with the members of the Sri Lanka – China Parliamentary Friendship Association and visit the Sri Lanka – China Friendship Village in Dewanagala.

Sri Lankans living abroad will be able to apply for a new passport or can renew their passport with effect from June 1st. This was stated at the Sectoral Oversight Committee on International Relations held.

It was revealed by the officials of the Immigration and Emigration Department who participated in the sectoral oversight committee on international relations, held recently under the chairmanship of its chairman MP Namal Rajapaksa.

Officials further pointed out that Sri Lankans who live abroad can apply for passports online without visiting Sri Lankan embassies in their countries.

The committee also discussed the implementation of e-passport and the chairman of the committee instructed the relevant officials to speed up this process.

There was also a discussion about various issues including the shortcomings found in visa application online in the committee. For the above purpose, the chairman of the committee instructed the officials to quickly prepare and implement a necessary mechanism for foreigners to obtain their visas without difficulty, and to take necessary steps to further improve the facilities of Sri Lanka’s international airports for both locals and foreigners.

The importance of attracting tourists from high-income generated countries like Europe to Sri Lanka was discussed at length and the chairman advised the officials to take the necessary steps for that without delay.

The members of the committee, MP Niroshan Perera, S.M.M. Musharraf, Sagara Kariyawasam, Yadamini Gunawardena, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, and attended the meeting while MP Chandima Virakkodi attended with the permission of the Chairman of the Committee.

Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority and Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Pvt) Ltd participated in this meeting.

Colombo (LNW): Many social problems have arisen due to the exposure of child victims and the child accused, through the media and therefore immediate measures should be taken to prevent it, emphasised Chair of the Parliamentary Caucus for Children MP Rohini Kumari Wijerathna, speaking at the Caucus recently (24).

The Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment and its affiliates such as the Department of Probation and Child Care Services, the National Child Protection Authority and the Ministry of Mass Media and the institutions operating under it and the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, Independent Television Network Ltd, Lake House and Government Information Department were also called before the caucus.

It was pointed out by the Members of Parliament that the exposure of the identities of children through the media, especially in cases of child molestation and child abuse, has a great impact on the lives of the children concerned.

Officials of the state media indicated that their agencies follow a standard when disseminating news related to children. Accordingly, the Caucus membership agreed that all media organisations should be called for the next meeting to discuss this further.

Apart from the said, there was a long discussion about the measures that can be taken to improve the condition of children in orphanages in Sri Lanka. Maintenance of relevant institutions even according to minimum standards, shortage of child care staff, inadequate hygiene in these places, provision of adequate psycho-social treatment to children, socialisation process of children in orphanages when they reach the age of 18, children in orphanages There was a long discussion about the measures to be taken for safety and proper supervision of children’s homes.

The officials pointed out that the Geneva Committee on Children’s Rights has given recommendations regarding orphanages in Sri Lanka and there are many issues such as shortage of trained staff, allocation of adequate provision for the Department of Child Care Services etc.

The importance of providing vocational training to children in orphanages was discussed at length, and the need for a suitable program to socialise children over 18 years of age and the importance of creating an environment for them to engage in self-employment was also emphasised.

In addition to that, introducing a foster parent system, placing children in the care of relatives, local adoptions, etc. were also discussed in the forum as alternative care proposals for children.

Furthermore, attention was paid to matters such as referring child suspects to the conciliation board for minor offenses, subjecting them to other alternative punishments, and using institutional reform as the last option.

Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, State Minister Diana Gamage, MPs Eran Wickramaratne, Mayantha Dissanayake, and Secretary to the Caucus and Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera, were present at the Committee meeting.

PMD: In a recent discussion, President Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed his concerns about the obstacles faced by students when taking exams in unfamiliar environments. He emphasised the need for the Ministry of Education and the Examinations Department to prioritise the convenience and progress of students over their own convenience. Recognising the difficulties faced by students, the President advised the education authorities to transform schools with a minimum of 75 qualified students into examination centres, provided that it doesn’t disrupt on-going exam activities. He instructed officials to take prompt action in implementing this plan.

During the discussion, it was revealed that the 2023 GCE O/L examination, which began today (29), would be conducted in 3,568 centres, accommodating a total of 472,553 students. The government has employed approximately 40,000 officials for the smooth execution of the exams.

However, President Wickremesinghe received reports from concerned parents and students regarding the inconvenience caused by redirecting students from their own schools to other examination centres. The Ministry of Education and the Department of Examinations explained that they had made this decision due to the prevailing economic situation, aiming to limit the number of examination centres.

Understanding the impact this has on students’ mental well-being, the President stressed the importance of informing schools and students about such changes at least one year in advance. He also emphasised the necessity of establishing a formal programme to conduct all examinations related to children’s education without any delay. The President clarified that it is not the responsibility of the Examinations Department to provide reasons for not holding exams but rather the primary duty of the Ministry of Education and the Examination Department to create a conducive environment for students to take exams in familiar surroundings.

The discussion was attended by Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Staff, Mr Sagala Ratnayake, Secretary to the President, Mr Saman Ekanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Mr Nihal Ranasinghe, Commissioner of Examinations, Mr Amit Jayasundara, and other officials.

During a press conference, MP Harsha de Silva addressed the challenges faced by Sri Lanka’s textile & apparel export sector. With a significant year-on-year decline of 17% in April, the industry has been severely impacted. De Silva emphasized the crucial role the textile & apparel industry played during the economic crisis, lending crucial support to keep the country afloat and providing employment opportunities to hundreds of thousands of people.

Key Points Discussed:

Decreased Global Demand: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a decrease in global demand for clothing, resulting in domestic wardrobe inventory build-up. This reduction in demand has affected the textile industry, particularly as big brands, anticipating a post-COVID surge, now face inventory build-up in their warehouses.

Factory Closures and Competitive Environment: As a consequence of the challenging market conditions, several factories have closed down, and others have been forced to place their workers on furlough. The competitive landscape in the textile industry has intensified as brands dictate cheaper prices, turning it into an auction-like scenario among countries in the region.

Long-term Outlook and Government Initiatives: De Silva stressed the importance of protecting the vital textile industry, as the problem is expected to persist for another 6-12 months. He urged the government to take immediate action, including a reevaluation and amendment of the 30% taxes on exports to alleviate the financial burden faced by exporters.

Tapping into the Indian Market: De Silva highlighted the significant increase in spending power among Indians, particularly in states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala. He called for measures to attract India’s growing middle class and suggested renegotiating the existing Free Trade Agreement to remove barriers that restrict exports above $8 million.

Seizing Opportunities from Shifting Investments: With corporations and foreign direct investments moving out of China and relocating to countries like Vietnam, Singapore, and India, De Silva urged the government to establish mechanisms similar to India to attract these investments. This would provide opportunities for the textile industry to grow and flourish.

De Silva’s urgent call to action underlines the importance of supporting Sri Lanka’s textile &apparel export sector during these challenging times. By implementing the proposed measures, the government can mitigate the impact of the crisis, revitalize the industry, and position Sri Lanka for long-term growth and sustainability.

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Brussels, together with the Circle Royal Gaulois and the Diplomatic Club of Belgium, hosted a tourism promotion event titled “A Glimpse of Sri Lanka”, on May 24, 2023, at the prestige Club of the Circle Royal Gaulois in Brussels. The purpose of the event was to present Sri Lanka’s comeback story in the context of an economic resurgence towards socio-economic prosperity as well as Sri Lanka as a natural destination for tourism. The Embassy of Sri Lanka has been regularly hosting tourism promotion workshops in several regions in Belgium targeting French and Flemish tour and travel industry stakeholders, and the event hosted at the Club of Royal Gaulois was the first event that directly approached potential customers.

Ambassador Grace Asirwatham presented the background leading to the unprecedented economic situation in Sri Lanka and the measures taken and reforms introduced to achieve economic prosperity together with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and creditors, which resulted in reaching an agreement with the IMF on Extended Credit Facility. The Ambassador remarked that Sri Lanka has time and again proven to be a resilient country and emphasized that Sri Lanka has already set a path to pursue a novel economic model that was competitive, open, green, and digital, as well as socially just, with a focus on the export market that will elevate Sri Lanka’s economy to new heights and foster continued growth and prosperity. To this effect, the Ambassador sought the support of the international community to make this goal a reality.

The event was centered on explaining and presenting a long list of reasons why one should visit Sri Lanka. Ambassador Asirwatham introduced Sri Lanka as a mesmerizing island that was blessed with a diverse landscape ranging from lush green tropical forests to highlands, arid plains, waterfalls, and pristine sandy beaches, as well as vibrant biodiversity, exotic wildlife, rich cultural heritage, authentic food, adventure and sports, accommodation, festivals, unique climate zones, etc. The Ambassador highlighted that Sri Lanka has tourism products for everyone.

The event also provided a platform to showcase Sri Lanka’s traditional performing arts influenced by its rich Sinhala and Tamil cultures, which included a ‘Pooja’ dance with Sri Lankan ritual music and dancing and a Sri Lankan traditional folk dance choreographed and performed by Sri Lankan dancers based in Belgium. A Tamil oriental classical dance act of ‘Bharatanatyam,” based on Hindu philosophy, traditions, and culture was performed by students from the school of Bharatanatyam in Antwerp, Belgium. These cultural performances amused the audience, adding vivid colour to the evening.

The event was also addressed by Charles Bois d’Enghien, Administrator of the Circle Royal Gaulois, and Thierry Dumoulin, Vice President of the Diplomatic Club of Belgium. They remarked that the evening with the theme “a glimpse of Sri Lanka” was one of the finest in terms of outreach and wished Sri Lanka every success in its efforts to revive tourism and reach the desired targets.

The evening that offered “A Glimpse of Sri Lanka” was attended by over 130 guests, including members of the European Parliament, EU officials, Belgium government officials, members of the prestige Circle Royal Gaulois and the Diplomatic Club of Belgium, business leaders, journalists, tour and travel professionals, bloggers, representatives of travel magazines and airlines, and diplomats.

Embassy of Sri Lanka

Brussels

29 May 2023