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Govt grapples to claim ocean pollution damages caused by X-Press Pearl fire

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Govt grapples to claim ocean pollution damages caused by X-Press Pearl fire

By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW): Almost two years after the sinking of the cargo ship the X-Press Pearl after ignited in the vesal, Sri Lanka is still trying to claim compensation for the environmental damage caused to the island nation.

When the Sectoral Oversight Committee met earlier this month, the members of the expert committee appointed to calculate the full extent of environmental and other damages pointed out that the inability to go near the ship or inside the ship caused some obstacles to assess the environmental damage.

The members of the expert committee pointed out that even though they prevented going near the ship by pointing out that it was dangerous, they should have taken the assistance of the Navy and Air Force to facilitate it.

An expert committee investigating the extent of damage to the country’s marine and coastal environment has now concluded the disaster to be the worst in terms of chemical and plastic pollution of the sea.

That’s according to Ajith de Alwis, co-chair of the X-Press Pearl damage assessment committee and a professor of chemical and process engineering at the University of Moratuwa.

The committee has submitted its assessment report to the Attorney General’s Office for use in claiming compensation from the Singapore-based operators of the ship.

“However, the report is only the first edition of the damage assessment, and further assessments would continue based on the monitoring,” De Alwis said

Maritime law expert Dan Malika Gunasekera said Sri Lankan authorities have taken a long time to file for compensation and are reluctant to go through years of strenuous legal battles in international courts.

Sri Lanka has obtained an interim payment of $3.7 million in damages, but the country could claim as much as $5 billion to $7 billion, according to Gunasekera.

Therefore, the Committee Chair MP Ajith Mannapperuma instructed the Maritime Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA) and the NARA Institute to expedite these activities as the inability to obtain these samples from the vicinity of the ship may be disadvantageous in the compensation claim case.

There was also a discussion regarding the prosecution of the ship in question. A group of lawyers including environmentalists pointed out only 45 days left to file a lawsuit and that it is disadvantageous to file a lawsuit in Singapore as per the Cabinet approval received.

The report of the expert committee related to the compensation of USD 6.2 billion has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department by the Maritime Environmental Protection Authority and that the prosecution should be done by the Attorney General’s Department.

According to the statement, the representatives of the Attorney General’s Department said that based on the report, they will promptly file a lawsuit to get the relevant money in compensation.

Gov. to spend record Rs.206 billion for 3-1 million poor families welfare

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Gov. to spend record Rs.206 billion for 3-1 million poor families welfare

By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW): The Government.is to spend a record Rs.206 bn on social welfare to assist the poor and vulnerable who are truly in need of assistance.

The government implements a new welfare programme with defined costs, timelines and number of recipients under the provisions of Welfare Benefits Board Act.

“This would be the largest expenditure on social welfare in post-independence Sri Lanka,” Cabinet Spokesman Minister Bandula Gunawardana said.

Unlike current welfare programmes, the proposed welfare programme is equipped with a mechanism to better target the most vulnerable groups in the society.

Around 3.1 million low-income families are expected to receive welfare benefits under this programme.

Multilateral agencies such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank have come on board to provide funding for this programme.

This program has been planned to cover all the districts of the country under the theme ‘Don’t Leave Anyone Behind’. State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe revealed

Under this programme the benefits will be available for the families or individuals receiving benefits under Samurdhi, Elderly Person, Disabled Person and Kidney Disease Assistance Program.

Also, people who are on the waiting list expecting subsidies as well as people who are affected by the current economic crisis and who are expecting government welfare benefits will also receive this benefit, the Minister revealed.

Minister also said that calling for applications have already started and the closing date has been extended to October 15.

The relevant application form can be downloaded via the www.wbb.gov.lkBy calling for new applications, the government hope to include all eligible beneficiaries and to provide benefits to all those who deserve benefits through the Social Welfare Benefit Board, the Minister further said.

Denying on the rumour that been circulating among the public regarding the cut-down of the allowances according to the agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), he said the government needs organize the data in a correct system.

It needs to include the group who are currently receiving welfare benefits as well as the group who are not receiving welfare benefits but are expecting.

It is our expectation to gather all the information and give the allowance to the necessary, appropriate and correct individual.

We are united in the national responsibility that no one should be left behind. Currently there is a group receiving public assistance, welfare allowances and disability allowances. It is mandatory for them to be registered at the Divisional Secretariat.

At present, only a small group of beneficiaries have been registered. Therefore, we have extended the registration. Extending this date further means that the date of receiving the benefits will also be delayed. This should be done quickly.

Sri Lanka condominium sector stagnates at subdued levels

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Sri Lanka condominium sector stagnates at subdued levels

By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s condominium developers have halted new projects and building materials are skyrocketing with the collapsing rupee and import protection given to building material producers triggering a crisis in partially built apartments.

“At present no Developers are embarking on new projects as budgeting even in the short term is impossible,” the Condominium Association of Sri Lanka said in a statement.

The stark reality though is that Developers with partially constructed properties and current Buyers [and] those who have paid deposits on “old pricing” will jointly face difficulty, it added.

“On the one hand, exponentially increased costs preclude the adherence to previously quoted prices and on the other hand buyers facing unanticipated cost increases and hiked-up interest rates.”

According to the information collected through the Condominium Market Survey conducted by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, sale of new condominiums by developers has stagnated at subdued levels by the end of Q4, 2022.

The Condominium Property Volume Index2 which measures the trend in number of new condominium sales, recorded a Year-on-Year reduction of 78 percent and a reduction of 10 per cent compared to Q3, 2022.

Imposition of VAT and other levies on condominium sales as well as the overall unfavourable economic situation may have resulted in this subdued performance in sales volume.

The overall price level of new condominiums in the Colombo district has stagnated at high levels by the end of Q4, 2022 as depicted by the Price Index for New Condominiums in Colombo district, which measures the trend in price levels of new condominiums sold by condominium developers.

The index recorded a Year-on-Year growth of 23.5 per cent while recording a marginal decrease of 2 per cent compared to the previous quarter.The relative reduction in sales of high-end condominiums may have contributed to the moderation in the Price Index for New Condominiums.

In terms of price categories, transactions in the categories of less than Rs. 25 Mn and between Rs.25 Mn—Rs. 50 Mn have increased compared to the previous quarter to 35 per cent and 43 per cent respectively while the transactions in higher price categories have decreased.

Further, single condominium projects category in the Colombo district remains to be the most prominent category during Q4, 2022 while the number of sales in the mixed development projects in Colombo district has shown a significant increase.

The three key funding sources for condominium developments were Pre-sale deposits, bank loans and equity. The proportion of pre-sale deposits has increased over the past year while the proportion of equity has decreased.

The majority of condominium buyers were Sri Lankan residents while the dual citizen and foreign purchasers remained minimal. Purchase of condominiums for immediate living has shown a significant increase over the last year while purchases for investment has decreased over the last one year.


Airport Customs’ denial of truth unravels greater mismanagement

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Airport Customs’ denial of truth unravels greater mismanagement

Colombo (LNW): Following the social media outrage on LNW’s report that the CCTV camera system at the Airport Customs is not working, many responses have been made, but need we inform that the matter is still being investigated.

These CCTV cameras were reported to be non-operational in line with the ongoing trade union actions against the government’s policies, but a Customs trade union officer told LNW that no such issue occurs at the Airport Customs and that the CCTV cameras are working as required.

Nonetheless, the Airport Customs’ denial on the matter happens to have unravelled a greater form of mismanagement inside the Customs as well as the Airport, sources disclosed.

Querying into the matter, we learned that both Airport administration and the Customs are operating in a mismanaged manner and there is no eagerness to rectify the problem.

Needless to mention that such occurrences case so much inconvenience to the local and foreign customers who require service at the Airport.

Officials responsible should understand that this is a public service and act immediately to rectify the matter.

Previous reports:

Public outrage on Social Media after LNW revelations on Customs Unions’ audacity
CCTVs in Airport Customs turned off amidst TU action?

Party Leaders’ meeting today

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Party Leaders’ meeting today

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): A party leaders’ meeting will be held in Parliament today (20).

The meeting will be chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

The meeting is expected to discuss the agenda for the 25th of April, and for the remaining session.  

Catholic Church marches demanding justice over Easter Sunday Massacre

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Catholic Church marches demanding justice over Easter Sunday Massacre

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): The Catholic Church has launched a march to mark four years since the Easter Sunday attacks, a genocide that took away more than 270 lives in April 2019.

The Archdiocese of Colombo said the march will commence frim Katuwapitiya Church today (20) at 9 am, and is due to arrive at the St. Anthony’s Shrine in Kochchikade in the morning of tomorrow (21), which marks four years since the attack.

Justice has not yet been served for the victims of the Easter attacks, the Church said.

Media Director for the Archdiocese Rev.Fr. Jude Krishantha said several special masses and silent protests will also be held to mark the four years since the carnage.  

CAA sets MRP for eggs

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CAA sets MRP for eggs

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has issued an extraordinary gazette declaring a maximum retail price for the sale of eggs.

Accordingly,

  • The maximum retail price of a white egg: Rs. 44; the price for 01kg Rs. 880
  • The maximum retail price of a brown egg: Rs. 46; the price for 01kg Rs. 920

TUs allege Rs. 860 mn in SAMURDHI funds used for New Year celebrations

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TUs allege Rs. 860 mn in SAMURDHI funds used for New Year celebrations

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): Rs. 860 million from the SAMURDHI funds are being used for new year celebrations, on the sidelines of the government’s so called initiative of distributing 10 kilograms of rice to each poor family in Sri Lanka, SAMURDHI trade unions alleged.

Joint Secretary of the All Ceylon SAMURDHI Managers’ Association, E.A.S. Edirisinghe told media that the money that belongs to the poor people of this country is being wasted by the government.

He added that they are against the wastage of money and such political hype programme, at a time when the children cannot even afford supplies such as books for their education.

Exporting toque macaque monkeys to China: Embassy makes strong response

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Exporting toque macaque monkeys to China: Embassy makes strong response

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): The Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka made a strong response over the media reports on the Sri Lankan government’s alleged attempts to sell toque macaque monkeys to China, stating that neither its government China’s official bodies responding to flora and fauna conservation is aware of such a move.

In a statement, the Chinese Embassy said that the Chinese National Forestry and Grassland Administration, the main government department supervising and managing the import and export of wild animals and plants, have clarified that they are not aware of any request to import toque macaque monkeys from Sri Lankan and has not received such application from any side.

Full statement:

The Embassy has noticed recent disinformation on local and foreign media about Sri Lanka to export “100 thousands” of “endangered” toque macaque monkeys to a Chinese private company for “experimental purpose”, as well as detailed clarifications by the Minister of Agriculture and the Cabinet Spokesperson of Sri Lanka thereafter.

The Embassy has also checked with relevant authorities in Beijing. The Chinese National Forestry and Grassland Administration, the main government department supervising and managing the import and export of wild animals and plants, clearly clarified that it is not aware of the request and has not received such application from any side. The Embassy would like to further stress that as a contracting party of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), China has already adopted its Wildlife Protection Law in 1988 with several amendments afterwards. The Chinese government always attaches great importance to wildlife protection and actively fulfill international obligations, which makes China one of top countries in the world in terms of wildlife protection legislation and law enforcement.

No one will be allowed to hold the education of children as hostage: President

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No one will be allowed to hold the education of children as hostage: President
  • Submit a specific program including alternative proposals and solutions before the end of this week regarding the evaluation of A-level answer scripts.
  • Make immediate plans to make education an essential service – President instructs education authorities.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the education of children cannot be allowed to be taken hostage and if teachers do not make themselves available for A/L exam paper marking by next week, he would not hesitate to make education an essential service under emergency law and initiate legal action against teachers flouting their responsibility.

He said all the teachers responsible for marking exam papers last year must be available for paper marking this year, failing which, he will prosecute them. “You can’t stop the education of the children. What nonsense is this? By next week I must tell the AG to be ready with the emergency regulations.”

President Ranil Wickremesinghe mentioned this while joining the discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (19) to review the progress of the special budget proposals implemented in the year 2023 by the Ministries of Education and Higher Education, Labor and Foreign Employment.

He also noted that the matter would be put to parliament for a vote where MPs would be asked to vote by name. “Let’s see which MP is going to vote against it. I will ask for a vote by name.”
He told the Education Ministry authorities that he will not allow the education of children to be taken hostage by anyone and demanded that the teachers come back to paper marking immediately.

“Tell them if they don’t want to come back and they want a confrontation, we are willing to come for a confrontation. No one is going to hold the education of children as hostage. That can’t be allowed. You’ll must come up with a solution by the end of this week. If you don’t have one I will take it up in Cabinet and then we will decide what to do. Speak to the minister and we will have a meeting by Friday,” the President told the Education Ministry officials.

During the meeting, the President advised officials to create a program that would enable at least four students per year, based on their exceptional performance in the GCE Advanced Level Examination, to pursue graduate courses in foreign universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard.

The President also stressed the importance of annually increasing the number of students who could benefit from such an opportunity. Additionally, the President emphasized the significance of providing equal opportunities to students from public and private universities and encouraging more students to pursue technical subjects.

He also noted that a decision would have to be made regarding the University in the East established by Mr. Hizbullah and was told by the education authorities that a sub-committee had been appointed headed by State Minister Mrs. Seetha Arambepola to look into that matter.

Furthermore, the President instructed the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) to prepare a plan to provide internet facilities to schools with Advanced Level within two years, followed by all schools with educational facilities up to the O/L.

The President has directed the creation of a joint program between public and private universities to produce 10,000 engineering and technology graduates and 5,000 medical graduates annually. In order to carry out this initiative, the President has called for the formation of a suitable committee to prepare and submit a report on the matter.

Moreover, the President has stressed the importance of integrating over 350 government-run technical and vocational training institutes and implementing training programs.

Recognizing the complexity of existing labour laws, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has emphasized the need to consolidate them into a single, unified labour law. The Ministry of Labor and Foreign Employment has been tasked with preparing the necessary bill for its enforcement by May.

The meeting was attended by various government officials, including the Presidential Senior Adviser on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Mr. Sagala Ratnayake, President’s Secretary Mr Saman Ekanayake, President’s Adviser on Economic Affairs Dr. R.H.S. Samarathunga, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance Mr. Mahinda Siriwardena, Secretary of the Ministry of Education Mr. M.N. Ranasinghe, Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment Secretary Mr. R.P.A. Wimalaweera, and Environment Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe, among others.

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