The Government of Japan has contributed an additional US$6.6 million to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to provide critical food and nutrition assistance to over one million Sri Lankans.

Through this funding, WFP will provide families with food baskets containing rice, pulses and cooking oil, to meet half their monthly food needs for a period of two months. 

The donation will also be used to procure maize and soybean for the production of Thriposha, a fortified food product, for a period of four months, which will be supplied to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and young children at risk of malnutrition.

H.E. Mizukoshi Hideaki, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka said, “We are pleased to announce that the Government of Japan has decided to provide additional humanitarian support to Sri Lanka in this critical moment. 

Food aid through WFP by the Government of Japan has reached a total of USD10 million since the economic crisis began last year. This support is being used to provide essential food and nutrition to communities across the nation.”

WFP’s latest surveys indicate that food insecurity is still at a concerningly high level. Seven in every 10 households are adopting negative coping strategies such as cutting back on nutritious food like protein and dairy or skipping meals altogether.

“Our biggest concern is for the women and children who are among those affected by the impacts of the economic crisis,” said Abdur Rahim Siddiqui, Representative and Country Director of WFP Sri Lanka. 

He added “We are grateful for the continuous support from the Government of Japan which enables us to scale up our efforts so that vulnerable communities receive the food and nutrition they need.”

Japan has been a long-standing donor to the Government of Sri Lanka and WFP for over a decade, providing critical assistance in emergencies, while supporting longer-term recovery and development efforts to strengthen food and nutrition security in the country.

 Japan’s latest funding is an extension of its support to the people of Sri Lanka to help safeguard communities affected by the economic crisis.

WFP has reached over two million people since commencing its emergency operation in June last year and is moving closer to its target of reaching 3.4 million people with food and nutrition assistance.

1. The 38th session of the Board of Directors of the India-Sri Lanka Foundation (ISLF) was held in Bentota on 3 March 2023. The session was Co-Chaired by High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka H. E. Mr. Gopal Baglay and High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in India H.E. Mr. Milinda Moragoda. Board members of the Foundation, Ambassador Gopalaswami Parthasarathy and Ambassador Bernard Goonetilleke were also present.

ISLF was established on 28 December 1998 by a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Governments of India and Sri Lanka, with the objective of fostering Indo-Sri Lanka relations through the enhancement of economic, scientific, educational, technical, and cultural cooperation and the promotion of greater understanding between the peoples of the two countries.

The Foundation receives project proposals in the areas of art & culture, education, agriculture, research, science & technology, health, social works, developmental studies and tourism.The Foundation has supported more than 580 projects till date. The projects implemented so far with support of the Foundation compliment the initiatives by the Governments of the two countries in strengthening the bilateral relationship and people – to – people ties.This year, the Foundation received 98 project proposals from applicants in Sri Lanka and India for consideration of the Board of Directors for the support. The proposals approved for support will be implemented in the months to come.

Colombo

09 March 2023

In order to investigate the matters raised by the special audit report on the functioning of the Central Cultural Fund and to examine the progress of the implementation of recommendations given by COPE, a committee meeting was held March (07) under the chairmanship of Hon. (Prof.) Ranjith Bandara.

The Internal Inquiry Committee appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry to investigate the matters raised in the said Special Audit Report for the purpose of reporting to COPE was discussed at length.

Furthermore, in the last meeting, there was a discussion at length about holding the meetings of the governing council of the Central Cultural Fund and whether the funds have been properly spent, and the committee members had agreed to discuss the validity of the 209 th meeting of the governing council in this meeting.

Accordingly, the Auditor General pointed out that only 07 of the 11 members have agreed to the decisions of the 209 th meeting and 04 including the former Prime Minister have not signed. Stating that there is a discrepancy between the signatures used by the 07 signatories on the signature list of this meeting and the signatures used by them in the previous governing board meetings, the Auditor General pointed out that the decisions of the 209 th governing board meeting have not been adopted in the 210 th meeting.

The Auditor General also stated that the then Prime Minister's Secretary and the current President's Secretary, who were members of the relevant governing body, confirmed that he was not a party to such a meeting.

Accordingly, followed by extensive discussion, the COPE Chair gave the following recommendations to the Secretary to the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs.

1. Appointment of a committee headed by a retired court judge to investigate the issues raised by the special audit report of the Central Cultural Fund for the period 2015 – 2019.

2. Dissolution of the singular internal investigation committee for the purpose of reporting to COPE appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry to investigate the matters raised in the said Special Audit Report.

3. To check the validity of the signature list of the 209 th meeting, to refer the list to the Criminal Investigation Department and the Government Inspector.

4. Recall the Central Cultural Fund before the Committee to review the progress of the recommendations made by COPE on the matters raised by the Special Audit Report on the functioning of the Fund.

5. To make the report of the new committee proposed which is to be appointed to investigate the functioning of the Central Cultural Fund and present it before COPE within 03 months.

In addition to this, the committee members focused on the future plans of COPE, and the institutions that should be prioritized. The Chair mentioned that he had already discussed it with the Auditor General. Accordingly, the chair mentioned that investigations will be carried out by sub- committees through a cluster committee system and a system of calling only the institutions with essential and current importance to the main committee will be facilitated.

State Ministers Hon. Janaka Wakkumbura, Hon. Lohan Ratwatte, Hon. Indika Anuruddha Herath, Hon. D. V. Chanaka, Hon. Shantha Bandara Members of Parliament, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Hon. Rohitha Abegunawardhana, Hon. Eran Wickramaratne, Hon. Nimal Lanza, Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha, Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna, Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri, Hon. SM Marikkar, Hon. Sanjeeva Edirimanna, Hon. Jagath Kumara Sumithraarachchi, Hon. (Major) Sudarshana Denipitiya, Hon. Premnath C. Dolawatte, Hon. Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha, Hon. M. Rameshwaran, Hon. Rajika Wickramasinghe, Hon. Madhura Withanage, Hon. (Prof) Charitha Herath were present at the Committee meeting held.

1. Japan donates USD 6.6 mn to UN World Food Programme to provide critical food & nutrition assistance to over 1 mn Sri Lankans.
2. High-income earning public servants in higher education, medical, banking, ports and other sectors threaten to intensify ongoing trade union action against the IMF-backed taxes: warn of a “total shutdown” by 15th March.
3. Lanka Sathosa reduces prices of 7 items; Dried Chillies to Rs.1500; Red Dhal to Rs.339; Wheat Flour to Rs.230; White Sugar to Rs.218; Red Raw to Rs.155; White Nadu to Rs.188; Big Onion to Rs.129.
4. CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe says the debt-restructuring strategy will be announced in April: also says talks with commercial creditors will “step up” before the IMF review in 6-months: IMF says the 4-year USD 2.9 bn bail-out package will be submitted to its Executive Board for final approval on 20th March.
5. Frontline Socialist Party Educational Secretary Pubudu Jagoda says the new Central Bank Bill, if passed, would deprive Parliament of power over the CB.
6. Govt Printer Gangani Liyanage says she has written to the Treasury to release the remaining funds of more than Rs.300 mn to recommence activities of ballot paper printing for the upcoming LG poll and also requested the IGP for adequate security.
7. Dept of Immigration to introduce new visas for the Colombo Port City Special Economic Zone as employment, investor, and residence: visa fee to be USD 200,000 per year for multiple entries over 5 to 10 years: so far, only 3 persons have obtained “Golden Paradise Visas” of a similar nature.
8. State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe says Govt has requested State Bank of India and Indian High Commission to extend the USD 1bn Credit Line, which expires later this month, by 6-months to utilise around USD 300mn which is left-over at present: the balance credit to be used for medicines and health equipment.
9. JVP Chief Secretary Tilvin Silva says the Govt’s claim that the LKR is strong is false: Media State Minister Shantha Bandara says according to the
   latest report of the “American Bloomberg Institute”, the LKR is the fastest growing currency in the world.
10. Dept of Wildlife Conservation says the human-elephant conflict has left 14 humans and 74 pachyderms dead so far this year: also says Sri Lanka has the highest density of elephants in the world: last year, the human-elephant conflict led to the deaths of 145 people and 433 elephants.

Gold prices have fallen further due to the strengthening of the rupee against the US dollar.

Accordingly, yesterday (09) the price of a pound of 24 carat gold was recorded as 145,000 rupees at the Hetti Weediya gold market in Colombo. At the beginning of this month, it stood at 184,000 rupees.

Also, the price of a pound of 22 carat gold was recorded as 134,000 rupees and at the beginning of this month it was 170,000 rupees.

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka says that it will conduct an investigation into how the police acted to control the protests that took place around the University of Colombo on the 7th and 8th and around the University of Kelaniya on the 8th.

Accordingly, the commission has announced that the Minister of Public Security Tiran Alas will be summoned before the Human Rights Commission on the 13th to explain the measures taken by the police to suppress the protests.

Colombo (LNW): Suffering times continue in Sri Lanka, masses are going through immense suffering due to the current situation in the Island. As a result of this some have decided to migrate for greener pastures but for them there are many unnecessary grueling hurdles they have to cross before achieving their dreams. Starting from the Passport office to either to obtain a new passport or to renew the old one. People are spending days & nights at the passport office queues. After a struggle they will get their passport and thereafter another massive hurdle is to apply for Visa.

Almost every Country has outsourced their Visa Application process to VFS Global in Colombo and VFS is minting money from the situation. In addition to those who seeks migration, Employees and official Travelers & Business travelers too are seeking the service of VFS Global to obtain the Visa of the relevant Country.

It is very pathetic to see the plight of these Visa applicants who have to go through starting from the Security at the VFS Global Offices. Security officers treat the applicants as pickpockets, they are extremely rude, do not have the politeness when addressing applicants. After passing the security check applicants have to wait inside the office for hours. VFS says they start at 8.30 AM but in actual fact till about 9 am the counters are empty. Personnel who man the counters after coming late, start chatting with their colleagues dis respecting the people who are waiting to get their service.

After their chats they start announcing the Appointment Numbers, but that too not with a proper pronunciation. Applicants are fuming but stomach those thinking their Visa. Majority of those counter staff who are supposed to collect the Visa applications are uneducated, arrogant & ill-mannered. Instead of Going thro the check lists they try to interview applicants as if they are the people who decide whether issuing the Visa or not. In an uncertain issue they do not escalate the issue to their superior officer despite many requests by the applicants. Funnily though none of the Supervising staff are not to be seen. Training given to these counter staff seems very poor, it was very evident the way they behave and carry out their duties.

Very recently I happen to be at the VFS Global Visa Centre collects Visa applications on behalf of Japanese Embassy in Colombo. The similar rigmarole was observed and one distinguished looking gentleman heard saying “You just submit my application and let the Japanese embassy decides whether I will get the Visa or not kindly do not ridicule me asking silly questions etc.”  These Counter staff is extremely rude and they go beyond their scope of work by passing sarcastic remarks to many innocent Visa seekers. They even pass remarks saying Gurami traffic (asylum seekers). Many may do not understand the meaning but there were learned people who understand what they say. I felt so sad how our own country men are treating their own people. Whose power that these counter boys & girls have taken.

After going through these harassments if your are lucky enough to hand over your application to their satisfaction you will get a printout showing the Visa fee of the Country you applied plus almost equivalent amount as the Service fee which is supposed to be the Income for VFS Global. This total you need to pay in cash to the cashier at VFS Global and await for the Visa Approval and your passport. This date will be notify to you after a weeks’ time  minimum and again you have to come to the VFS Global Centre to collect your VISA and the passport along with your original documents. And again you have to go thro the similar harassment starting from the Security etc.. Is it the penalty you pay for born in a developing country or is it only in Sri Lanka. It is high time that VFS global upgrade their standard of service to do a justice for what they collect as a Service fee.

The author is a person who experienced this first hand recently at a VFS Global Centre in Colombo.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): Lawyers of the National People’s Power (NPP) today (09) demanded the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to provide a full report on tear gas and water cannons used to disperse protesters under the Right to Information Act (RTI).

Accordingly, a letter comprising of a questionnaire to obtain details with regard to these items was handed over to the Police and further actions would be taken based on the report, said NPP Lawyer Sunil Watagala.

Revealing that they have reliable information on what they described as ‘expired’ tear gas canisters and ‘contaminated’ water being used to disperse protesters, Mr. Watagala emphasised that those who were exposed to tear gas have died during the past week, while others sustained complications.

Water used to disperse protestors, as confirmed by Ruling Party MP Sanath Nishantha, was taken from Beira Lake, he added, alleging the government of launching a mechanism of suppression by deploying security officers in numbers greater than the protesters themselves to block the road and dispersing them via fatally inhuman means.

Meanwhile, reports emerge that Public Security Minister Tiran Alles has been summoned to appear before the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) on Monday (13) to produce a statement over the action taken by the Police against the recent protesters.

UN Human Rights Council – 52nd Session
As Delivered by Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the WTO and UN in Geneva, Simon Manley

Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

This statement is by the Sri Lanka Core Group comprising Canada, Malawi, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the UK and the United States.

We welcome recent commitments with respect to the protection of human rights in Sri Lanka, including those of persons from all religious and ethnic groups. Together with recent efforts at constitutional reform, and initiatives aimed at fostering political inclusion, these provide a basis upon which to build.

We also welcome Sri Lanka’s positive engagement in the Universal Periodic Review process in January. We are keen to assist Sri Lanka in implementing its UPR recommendations.

However, our concerns over heavy-handed responses to peaceful protests remain. Sri Lanka must safeguard the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, and freedom of expression. We call for accountability for any protest-related violence. Civil society has an important part to play in encouraging the protection of human rights and we underline the importance of protecting space for civil society’s important work, including through any future legislation.

We stress the crucial importance of upholding the rule of law and safeguarding representative democracy, including by ensuring the independence of institutions and governance systems. This includes the electoral system, in which maintaining the confidence of Sri Lankans is crucial.

We urge the Sri Lankan authorities to address long-standing impunity and corruption. We also underline the need for good governance, which together with sound economic policies, should better support the prosperity of all Sri Lankans.

Noting commitments made to the Council in September by the Government of Sri Lanka, we emphasise the importance of transitional justice, including promotion of truth and accountability, with the goal of reconciliation and accountability for all communities. We also emphasise the importance of replacing the Prevention of Terrorism Act with legislation that aligns with Sri Lanka’s international obligations.

The Core Group calls on Sri Lanka to work with the High Commissioner and his Office. We remain ready to support Sri Lanka in addressing HRC resolution 51/1.

Thank you.