A Host Country Agreement was signed between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) progressing Sri Lanka’s climate action and further deepening Sri Lanka’s green growth development. The agreement was signed in the presence of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Former Secretary General of the UN and the President of the Assembly and Chair of the Council of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) Ban Ki-Moon, this afternoon (07).

The agreement was signed, enabling the Government and the GGGI to effectively plan and implement green growth initiatives in the country. It was signed at the Presidential Secretariat by the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment Dr Anil Jasinghe, on behalf of the Sri Lankan Government and by the Director General of GGGI Frank Rijsberman on behalf of the GGGI.

These initiatives include the implementation of the on-going National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and Readiness Support project, funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), to enhance capacity and institutions. The project includes the development of provincial adaptation plans and the identification of climate adaptation investments to implement these plans.

Sri Lanka joined GGGI as a Member in 2019. Sri Lanka was elected as Vice President of the Assembly and Vice Chair of the Council of GGGI in October 2022. GGGI is hosted by the Ministry of Environment at the Climate Change Secretariat and Policy Planning Division.

GGGI is dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. It serves the role of an enabler and facilitator of Members’ transition into a low-carbon green economy, providing policy advice and technical support in the development of green growth plans, policies and regulations, mobilization of green investments, implementation of green growth projects, and development of local capacities and knowledge sharing.

The Korean Ambassador to Sri Lanka Santhush Woonjin Jeong, Environment Minister Nazeer Ahamed, Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Staff to the President Sagala Rathnayake, Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake, Senior Advisor to the President on Climate Change Ruwan Wijewrdena, Advisor to the President Ananda Mallavitantri, Lead Director of ODG of GGGI Dave H. Kim, Head of Programs, GGGI Dr Achala Abeysinghe and Dr Sonali Senaratne participated in this event.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has organised a 24-hour strike action from 8 am tomorrow (08), revealed Union Press Secretary Dr. Chamil Weerasinghe.

Accordingly, the strike action will continue till 8 am on Thursday (09).

The move comes in in objection to the government’s new tax policy and the state’s failure to address the ongoing medicine shortage in the country, involving both state and private hospital services where members of the GMOA will withdraw from their duties during the strike action, Dr. Weerasinghe said.

Essential medical services, such as emergency, kidney and children services, however, will go on unhindered.

Colombo (LNW): According to Dr Kapila Senanayake, Director General of the Department of Financial Policy, the tax on personal income was imposed as a short-term strategy to resurrect the country from the existing economic situation, and this new tax system in Sri Lanka is of a meager percentage compared to other Asian countries.

Mr Senanayake also stated that there is an opportunity to discuss short-term strategies to provide some relief by considering trade union leaders’ and civil organization representatives’ views and suggestions on the new tax system.

According to the instructions of the President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake, a meeting was held yesterday (06), presided over by the President’s Trade Union Director General Saman Ratnapriya and the Director General of the Financial Policy Department Mr Kapila Senanayake, to inform the trade union leaders and representatives of civil organizations regarding the new tax policy on earnings. These details were made public during the event, which was hosted at the Finance Ministry Auditorium.

According to Mr Saman Ratnapriya, the new tax policy that is assessed at the time of earning has created difficulties for government and semi-government employees, and as a result of the issues they have experienced, they have responded professionally. It was also made clear that the main goal of this conversation was to gather concepts and recommendations to find solutions to the current issues.

Mr Ratnapriya also stated that these conversations will result in swift short-term solution recommendations that may be taken to address the difficulties that have emerged. These quick short-term solution proposals will be presented to the President and the Prime Minister.

Dr Kapila Senanayake, Director General of the Department of Financial Policy, spoke at the event and explained in great detail about the government’s revenue, government spending, and financial strategies used to reduce the annual budget deficit. He also mentioned that Sri Lanka has a very low percentage of personal income taxation when compared to other Asian nations.

Dr Kapila Senaratne further explained the financial situation in Sri Lanka, problems of personal taxation, tax reforms related to personal income tax, the basis for increasing personal income tax and the implications of tax reforms.

In addition to outlining numerous tax rules, Senior Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Inland Revenue Mr K.K.I. Eranda also described how taxable personal income is calculated as per the new tax law.

The trade union leaders who took part in the discussion stated that there are issues with the new tax policy’s tax system that is imposed on personal income and that the trade unions should be consulted before creating the tax policy.

The trade union leaders further demanded that fair services be given to the public for the taxes levied like in other countries, and prompt solutions should be provided to reduce the inconvenience the professionals face due to the new tax act faces.

Inland Revenue Department Deputy Commissioner W.M.G. Kumaratunga, Tax Adviser, Fiscal Policy Division of the Ministry of Finance, Tanuja Perera Prime Minister’s Trade Union Secretary, Chandraratne Pallegama, trade union leaders, representatives of civil organizations and several others attended the event.

Colombo (LNW): The Presidential Secretariat has focused its attention on the false news circulating on social media regarding the cost of the 75th Independence Day official state event.

The spread of misinformation is clearly another extension of the narrow political agenda that forced people to boycott the official state celebration of independence due to the economic crisis.

Clearly, their aim is to mislead the people through false information, make the people hate the government and create unease to fulfil their petty political interests. 

Therefore, they have even attempted to convince the people that even providing mobile toilet facilities during the Independence Day celebration was a mistake.

However, it should be emphasized that high-ranking foreign diplomats were invited to this celebration including the Japanese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Takei Shunsuke, Bhutan’s Minister of Education and Skill Development Jai Bir Rai, Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr A.K. Abdul Momen, Pakistan’s Minister of State for External Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, Indian Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan, Foreign Minister of Nepal Dr Bimala Rai Paudyal and  Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland.

Further, around 3200 dignitaries including ambassadors, high commissioners of foreign countries, as well as 6670 armed forces personnel and the police attended the ceremony. Also, these mobile toilet facilities were provided for the personnel engaged in the pre-training for the Independence celebration. 

In such a background, as a measure to provide proper health and safety measures for an event where thousands of people gather, it cannot be determined as an unnecessary expense for the provision of adequate mobile toilet facilities. 

It should also be noted that not paying adequate attention to such an essential aspect at an official state event where a large number of people gather, is a disgrace to the country. 

Also, totally false news is being circulated on social media that Rs. 5.8 million has been freely spent for this event from the money allocated for education by the government. 

However, although the Ministry of Education has estimated the initial cost for this event, none of that money has been spent.

Allocating provisions for the official state ceremony of the National Independence Day celebration is also a common practice, and it should be emphasized that the amount spent on the official state ceremony of the 75th National Independence Day celebration held this year was significantly lesser than the estimated amount.

Accordingly, the government spent only Rs.11,130,011.29 on the 75th National Independence Day celebrations this year.

It should also be noted that the government has spent significantly lesser on this year’s Independence Day celebrations than on previous occasions.

Holding such a state ceremony when the country is recovering from a severe economic crisis is clearly preparing the country to rise again. On the other hand, it sends a message to the rest of the world that the country has the courage to stand up again, and that it is ready to reclaim the pride of Sri Lanka that was shattered by the crisis.

Therefore, the President’s Office regretfully rejects the false propaganda that exploits a proud state event such as National Independence Day for narrow political purposes. 

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): President Ranil Wickremesinghe has acknowledged the resignation letter tendered by Election Commission Member P.S.M. Charles, correspondents confirm.

The President’s response has been informed to Mrs. Charles by President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake.

The ex EC member had informed of her decision on January 25, but reports emerged that the President had denied her resignation then.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): The government is considering the closing down, or suspension of operations at certain project offices and project management units of large-scale development projects, announced Cabinet Spokesman Minister Bandula Gunawardena today (07).

The move comes in following the observations made at the Cabinet meeting held yesterday (06), and as a solution to address the recession befallen the island nation.

According to the Cabinet Spokesman, these offices are operating with specialists and consultants recruited for high salaries, hence a burden being created against the efforts to overcome the economic crisis.

Accordingly, a committee headed by ex ministry secretary H.G. Kamal Padmasiri was appointed to examine the necessity of such offices, and thereby a recommendation to close down 55 offices and to suspend the operations of 32 offices was forwarded.

Meanwhile, 46 offices will continue to operate under a specified organisation, Gunawardena added.

Nonetheless, a final decision has not yet been taken in this regard due to the concerns raised by the ministers in light of continuing their operations, and therefore, the President has instructed the ministers to hold discussions with the Finance Ministry to identify which offices can be closed down and which can be operated without being suspended.

Colombo Institute of Research and Psychology (CIRP) releases 300+ psychology graduates to the world.

Colombo (LNW): The Colombo Institute of Research and Psychology (CIRP), Sri Lanka’s leading school for psychology recently held its graduation ceremony for 300+ students. 

The graduates varied from those graduating from foundation and diploma level programmes all the way up to Bachelor’s and Master’s level programmes.

The event was held on January 21, 2023 and is believed to be the single largest graduation ceremony held for psychology students in Sri Lanka. Another specialty of the event was, the 300+ students represented diverse communities in Sri Lanka, which stands testimony to CIRP’s diverse environment which exposes every student to new and unique personalities.

This event also saw the participation of international educational experts who are attached to prestigious universities in Britain and Australia.

Conferring of the degrees was done by  Mr. Kiron Shenoy – Director of International Strategy & Academic Partnerships of CIRP , Prof. Sri Kandiah – a Visiting Professor in Psychology for CIRP and Professor at University of Southampton UK ,Ms. Pamela Stagg – Director of Degrees Plus, Representing Australian Partners of CIRP, Prof. Anil Gunathilake – Honorary Dean of CIRP’s School of Health & Life Sciences and the Professor of Pharmacology at University of Sri Jayawardane, and Dr. Ranjith Batuwanthudawe, – Honorary Dean Faculty of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, CIRP.

Speaking about the event, Dr. Darshan Perera said, “The graduation ceremony is a milestone, not only for the graduating students, but for CIRP as well.” This is probably the largest graduation ceremony that was held for psychology students in Sri Lanka and graduating students with the necessary skills to  provide psychological services to the community is a key achievement in our attempt to capacity build in mental health in Sri Lanka. Still we give less priority to mental well-being as a nation but , we believe that our students will play a crucial role  in society to ensure people take their mental wellbeing seriously. As an institute, CIRP strives to create the experts and send them out to the world, so they could be professionals who not only can make a difference in society, but also encourage future students to take psychology as a viable field of study.