Colombo (LNW): The British Tamil Forum (BTF) has welcomed the decision by the US Government to designate ex Navy Commander and current North-Western Governor Wasantha Karannagoda over his involvement in a gross violation of human rights during the war season in Sri Lanka.

Full Statement:

We, the British Tamils Forum (BTF), express our gratitude by welcoming the United States decision of designating Wasantha Karannagoda, the Governor of the North-western province in Sri Lanka for his involvement in a gross violation of human rights during his tenure as a Naval Commander.

On behalf of the victims of the war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide suffered during the thirty- year war that culminated in May 2009, we share our sincere appreciation to the governments of the United States and Canada for duly identifying and sanctioning Sri Lankan human rights violators.

It is prudent to reiterate the list of Sri Lankan perpetrators of serious human rights violations as named by the Report of the OHCHR investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL) released by the United Nations Human Rights Council in September 2015, to include in full for taking prompt action under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime Act in the United Kingdom and applicable Magnitsky acts or similar in other countries.

The titles quoted are as they held in 2015 at the time the OISL Report was released.
1. Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
2. Mahinda Rajapaksa.
3. Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva.
4. Brigadier Sathyapriya Liyanage.
5. Major General Kamal Gunaratne.
6. Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe.
7. Major General Nanda Mallawaratchchi.
8. Colonel G.V. Ravipriya.
9. Brigadier Prasanna Silva.
10. Major General Jagath Dias.
11. Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda.
12. Admiral Thisara S G Samarasinghe.
13. Admiral TSG Samarasinghe
14. Admiral D.W.A.S.Dissanayake.
15. Major General Jagath Jayasuriya.
16. Brigadier Nandana Udawatta.
17. Brigadier Chagie Gallage.
18. SSP C.N.Wakishta.
19. General Sarath Fonseka.
20. Admiral D.W.K Sandagiri.
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/OISL.aspx

We are concerned that the United Kingdom, despite being the penholder of the core group of the UNHRC sessions on Sri Lanka’s Human Rights matters, has not taken necessary actions against the Sri Lankan perpetrators to date, even after fourteen years of the war ended and after eight years of OISL released the names of serious human rights violators, listed above.

We expect the UK to take an immediate tangible action against the perpetrators of atrocity crimes under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Act on Sri Lanka in the same way as the USA and Canada, the members of the Core Group on Sri Lanka in the UNHRC have hitherto acted.

There was enough evidence brought forward at the UNHRC and we have requested the UK Government to apply the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime Act on Sri Lanka since it’s  been passed in the UK. We are puzzled to understand why the UK has still not applied the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime Act on Sri Lanka yet but quick to apply on a number of perpetrators in other countries.

When the North Americans – USA and Canada – continue to sanction the perpetrators the Europe and the UK are continuing the GSP+. This will encourage Sri Lanka to continue its genocidal path. UK and EU should lead by example by promoting the values of Human rights, rule of law, transparency and address the unethical trade with Sri Lanka.

We encourage the United Kingdom and the European Union to follow the steps of the United States and Canada and take necessary actions to prevail justice to the victims of the human rights violation.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): A permanent Chairperson will be appointed for the Parliamentary Committee on Public Finances (CoPF), announced Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

The CoPF was recently subject to controversy over SJB MP Harsha De Silva’s lamenting over not being appointed to the post and being removed without notice, and the position of the Chairperson of the CoPF has been vacant for more than three months.

Several MPs representing the Ruling Party were appointed as temporary chairmen of the Committee on four occasions.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): With more than 31,000 cases of dengue (31,098) reported within 2023 alone, the health authorities have been instructed to take swift action to combat the spread of the virus in recognition of the situation being ‘critical’.

Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella has instructed the Health Secretary to provide an expert report outlining immediate steps to be taken to combat the spread of dengue.

Meanwhile, an experts committee comprised of the National Dengue Control Unit has been appointed for the mission.

In addition, a Presidential task force has also been established to coordinate efforts and contain the virus. The task force is expected to work with health authorities to implement the necessary measures to contain the dengue virus.

As of now, the Gampaha district reports the highest number of dengue cases, with 6,953 patients, and Colombo, 6,500 patients.

The public is urged to take all the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the infection, including the elimination of mosquito breeding grounds, wearing of protective clothing and mosquito repellents.

Mumbai, May 5 (PTI): Sri Lanka, which is emerging from an economic crisis, is expecting to attract 20 lakh visitors from India this year, Sri Lanka Tourism Minister said on Friday.

“Sri Lanka is experiencing a significant rise in tourist arrivals, particularly from India, which has now secured the top spot.

“In the first three months of 2023, we welcomed 46,432 Indian tourists. With an ambitious promotional campaign underway, we are aiming to attract 2 million Indian tourists this year,” Sri Lanka Tourism Minister Harin Fernando said in a statement.

This increase in visitors has had a positive impact on tourism earnings, with Sri Lanka earning around USD 530 million in the first quarter of 2023, compared to USD 482.3 million in the same period last year, he said.

“We expect to generate a total of USD 3 billion in tourism revenue this year,” the minister added.

Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Chalaka Gajabahu said that the country is an ideal destination for families and is suitable for travel throughout the year.

“We are currently engaging with the travel industry in India to reinforce its position as a preferred travel destination. Through our representatives and stakeholders from hotels, resorts, destination management companies, and event management companies, we aim to build a strong relationship with our travel-trade partners in India and foster a mutually beneficial association,” he said.

Source: PTI News

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): Shunichi Suzuki, the Japanese Finance Minster has welcomed Sri Lanka’s recently launched coordinated debt restructuring programme for the bilateral creditors of Sri Lanka amidst its worst recession since independence.

With Japan, India and France announcing the commencement of the programme in April, 2023, Suzuki emphasised that it is essential to improve debt data transparency and accuracy to prevent future debt crisis.

He also acknowledged the higher risks faced by low and middle income nations concerning debt vulnerabilities in the midst of the Covid pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): Two Covid related deaths were reported from the Kinigama and Akbar Town Grama Niladhari Divisions of Mahara, confirmed Daily Mirror.

According to Mahara MOH Dr. Nihal Gamage, the two had died due to the infection of Coronavirus.

The deceased, 81, female and 80, male, who were residents of Kinigama and Akbar Town respectively, were lacking vaccines against the virus, one of whom had not received either of the doses and the other, only one dose.

With the two deaths confirmed, the total number of Covid related deaths has mounted to 16,844 since the pandemic’s inception in Sri Lanka.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has been recognised as one of the safest countries to travel in 2023, said ‘Worldpackers,’ a global travel watcher that connects travellers with hosts all over the world who seek information on housekeeping, bartending and farming, among other things.

Sri Lanka, accordingly, has been listed among 13 of the safest countries to travel this year, reassuring the government’s objective to make the island nation a safe destination for all travellers.

It is also noteworthy that Sri Lanka and Japan are the only Asian countries listed as safe to travel.

The safest countries to travel according to Worldpackers are: 1. Iceland 2. Switzerland 3. Denmark 4. New Zealand 5. Canada 6. Spain 7. Portugal 8. Ireland 9. Japan 10. Finland 11. Austria 12. Sri Lanka and Rs. Rural UK.

Worldpackers is a legitimate online platform providing travellers with information.

WION: India and Sri Lanka stepped up their talks to proceed with trade in Indian Rupee as New Delhi and Colombo look set to expand their bilateral cooperation in “power and energy sector as well as aspects relating to Rupee trade”.

Dr Pramod Kumar Mishra, a cabinet rank official in India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration, met with Sri Lankan High Commissioner Milinda Moragoda in New Delhi on Friday to continue the bilateral dialogue between two South Asian neighbours on a number of issues, including on debt restructuring matters crucial for Colombo’s economic recovery. 

“The High Commissioner stressed the vital role that economic integration between the two countries could play in Sri Lanka’s economic recovery,” an official readout stated. 

“High Commissioner Moragoda also followed up [Pramod Kumar Mishra] on a range of issues pertaining to the bilateral relationship that had been discussed during their last meeting in February,” the readout added, while referring to a previous round of bilateral talks between New Delhi and Colombo that addressed former’s support for latter’s economic recovery alongside aforementioned matters of bilateral cooperation.

“The matters discussed included further economic integration between Sri Lanka and India, enhancing Indian investments and tourism in Sri Lanka, ways and means to further promote bilateral trade, cooperation in power and energy sector as well as aspects relating to Rupee trade,” the official readout stated further.

Several banks in Sri Lanka have opened special rupee trading accounts, called Vostro accounts. This means that Sri Lankan citizens can now hold $10,000 (₹8,26,823) in physical form and for transactions with their Indian counterparts, they can use Indian rupees instead of US dollars. 

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration since July 2022, has been looking to bring countries that are short of dollars, into its rupee settlement mechanism.

Designating Indian Rupee as a legal currency in Sri Lanka has provided India’s coastal neighbour at its south much-needed liquidity support to help tide over its economic crisis amid inadequate availability of the US dollar.

Meanwhile, India’s finance ministry has asked the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) to proceed with an awareness campaign to sensitise stakeholders about the rupee trade. 

Source: WION