- Education Minister Dr Susil Premajayantha says even during dark days when power transformers were destroyed and people were not allowed to switch on their lights at homes, the children of this country sat examinations successfully.
- Reports emerge that holders of Sri Lanka’s foreign bonds are seeking greater clarity on the nation’s local-currency debt before they sit down for formal restructuring talks: creditors concerned that managing Sri Lanka’s local debt pile will prove costly.
- CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe says country will hold “detailed talks on domestic debt treatment” after the IMF loan approval: previously, Weerasinghe had solemnly pledged local obligations will be serviced and only foreign debt will not be serviced: last month, Fitch cut the rating on local-currency debt to just 2 levels above “default”: however, data shows CB-managed EPF is still investing heavily in Govt securities, greatly risking people’s savings.
- Police say a 7-hour joint operation has been carried out by the STF, Police, Army, and Air Force in the Western & Southern provinces against drugs: also say 285 suspects were arrested including 60 drug operatives and a cache of narcotics seized, including 1kg heroin & 1kg cannabis.
- Constitutional Council approves appointing Justice NBPDS Karunarathne as the President of the Appeal Court and appointing the present President of the Appeal Court Justice KP Fernando as a Supreme Court Judge.
- PM Dinesh Gunawardena says the tourism industry can give the biggest boost to the economy: calls on stakeholders to take “innovative” steps towards its further growth: stresses need to build a network of Honorary Consuls and representatives abroad to introduce and promote tourism.
- Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara says 11,219 premises including educational, religious and Govt buildings will be equipped with roof top solar panels under the Credit Line of USD 100 million from the Indian Government for Renewable Energy.
- Case filed against former UNP MP Hirunika Premachandra for alleged involvement in the abduction of a youth, fixed for trial on February 28 by the Colombo High Court.
- Human Rights Commission says a case has been filed before the Supreme Court against CEB, CPC & Power Ministry for failing to abide by the settlement to provide uninterrupted electricity for A/L students during their exam period.
- Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe says new regulations are to be introduced soon for appointing members to selection committees of all sports, including Cricket.
Sri Lanka Original Narrative Summary: 31/01
Sri Lanka participates at the FITUR International Travel Mart in Madrid, Spain
The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) successfully participated in the 42nd edition of FITUR International Travel Mart held from 18- 22 in Madrid, Spain. The exhibition, which is one of the world’s leading trade fairs for tourism, organized by IFEMA Madrid, brought together 8360 exhibiting companies, 82,000 trade participants, and over 30,000 members of the general public.
The Sri Lanka pavilion was ceremonially opened by Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Chalaka Gajabahu and Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Barcelona Agustin Llanas, along with Sri Lankan travel industrialists.
The pavilion highlighted the country’s rich culture, natural beauty, ayurveda, and other potential tourism offerings. Ceylon tea was served to visitors as part of an effort to promote the product in the Spanish market.
On the sidelines of the fair, SLTPB officials participated in events organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and held discussions with Director of Regional Department for Asia and the Pacific UNWTO Harry Hwang to promote Sri Lanka as a tourist destination. The SLTPB and the Embassy of Sri Lanka in France also participated in business meetings, exclusive media interviews, and airline meetings at the fair.
Spain is considered as a high-potential tourist market for Sri Lanka, with 12,895 Spanish tourists visiting Sri Lanka in 2022. The participation in FITUR and the engagements with the media during the fair provided an opportunity to highlight developments in Sri Lanka and create awareness about the destination. The Embassy of Sri Lanka in France extended its fullest cooperation to SLTPB for its successful participation in the exhibition.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Paris
30 January 2023
Myanmar: Anti-journalist terror has grown in every way in two years of military rule
Since Myanmar’s military seized power two years ago, the figures for their press freedom violations have been truly appalling, says Reporters Without Borders (RSF). To cover up their massacres of civilians and impose their authority, the military – known as the Tatmadaw – have arrested, jailed, tortured and even eliminated journalists who could undermine their control over news and information.
Since the military coup on 1 February 2021, four Burmese journalists have been killed, two of them after being violently interrogated, beaten and even mutilated. No fewer than 130 journalists have been arrested and jailed, and 72 are still being held. Dozens of cases of torture have been reported. For the past two years, the unrelenting crackdown on press freedom in Myanmar has escalated steadily in every respect, including the territory covered, the methods used and the length of the sentences.
“RSF has been constantly appalled by the figures it has been compiling for the tragedy in Myanmar. The entire country has been subjected to an implacable repressive machine. The prison sentences passed on journalists keep getting longer. All this has but one goal – to prevent the world from knowing what is happening under Myanmar’s generals. We call on the United Nations special rapporteur responsible for Myanmar, Tom Andrews, to put this tragedy back at the centre of the international agenda.”
Daniel Bastard
Head of RSF’s Asia-Pacific desk
Myanmar is second only to China in the number of journalists held in its prisons but, in relation to population size, it is the world’s biggest jailer of media personnel. At the same time, the terror orchestrated by the military has proved to be extremely methodical, as seen in this graph showing the rate of growth in the total number of journalists held for at least 48 hours over the past two years and the growth in the total number of prison sentences passed on journalists.
Harsher methods
The number of detained journalists increased steadily during the first 12 months after the coup. A total of 115 journalists were arrested and jailed during this period, as against 15 the following year. But this fall does not indicate any let-up in the crackdown. The journalists who covered the big wave of protests after the coup are now either in prison or have fled the country or have gone into hiding. Almost all of the 15 journalists arrested and jailed in the past year were tracked down in the places where they were hiding.
The slowdown in the growth of the number of arrests has been accompanied by an equally disturbing increase in the number of journalists receiving prison sentences. Ten journalists had received prison sentences in December 2021. Five times as many have received prison sentences now. Military courts have clearly replaced soldiers in the field as the main tool for crushing any hope of a victory for journalistic freedom in Myanmar.
Longer sentences
At the same time, the jail sentences being imposed by the military courts have been getting steadily longer, reaching a record 15 years in prison in the case of freelance reporter Myo San Soe in late 2022. The combined number of years in prison to which Burmese journalists have been sentenced rose from 58 at the end of 2021 to 189 at the end of 2022.
Immediately after the coup, the military junta gave itself a new repressive tool in the form of Section 505 (a) of the penal code, under which spreading “false news” about the military government’s representatives is punishable by three years in prison. But, over the months, the courts set up inside the prisons have started to sentence journalists to much longer prison terms under such new charges as “terrorism,” “espionage” or just “acts prejudicial to the security of the state.” They seem ready to use any grounds for increasing sentences and intimidating the media.
More territory covered
Finally, an analysis of the places where journalists are detained shows the degree to which the junta has succeeded in deploying its repressive machinery throughout the territory it controls. Some 30 journalists are held in Yangon’s notorious Insein prison, but RSF has been able to identify no fewer than 26 other detention centres.
A few border regions are nonetheless beyond this relentless machinery’s reach, namely Chin State in the west, Kachin State in the north, and Shan State in the east. These three regions are traditionally dominated and run autonomously by rebel groups that are hostile to the Tatmadaw. In other words, the junta wields no direct authority there and journalists are relatively free to work.
A sign of hope should therefore be seen in this part of the grim overall picture. In part of the country, civil society still manages to escape the junta’s grip and demonstrates an unquenchable thirst for news and information. It shows, clearer than ever, the importance of press freedom in the fight for democracy in Myanmar.
REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS / REPORTERS SANS FRONTIÈRES
Three judges appointed to Supreme Court and Appeal Court
The Constitutional Council gathered today (30) considered the recommendation of President Ranil Wickremesinghe to appoint K.P. Fernando, President of the Court of Appeal as a Judge of the Supreme Court, to the post vacant upon the retirement of L.T.B. Dehideniya, and the recommendation was approved on a unanimous vote.
The Constitutional Council also unanimously approved the nomination of N.B.P.D.S. Karunaratne, an Appeal Court Judge, to be appointed as the President of the Appeal Court, and the nomination M.A.R. Marikkar, a High Court Judge, to be appointed as a Judge of the Appeal Court.
The Council further concluded that an advertisement be displayed on newspapers on February 01, 2023, calling for applications for the appointment as Members of the Commission specified in Schedule to Article 41B of the Constitution. Draft format of the application to be published on the official website of the Sri Lanka Parliament and the deadline to submit applications is February 15, 2023.
These conclusions were made as the Constitutional Council met today in Parliament presided by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, Minister Nimal Siripala De Sivla, MPs Sagara Kariyawasam, and other other council members Dr. Prathap Ramanujam, Dr. Dilkushi Anula Wijesundara and Dr. Dinesha Samaratne were also present at the meeting.
MIAP
Foreign Employment Minister Nanayakkara says SL’s bankrupt status will be removed in a few months
The bankrupt status embodied to Sri Lanka will be lifted in a matter of a few months this year, said Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara, addressing a public rally.
Claiming that Sri Lanka is ‘not’ a bankrupt nation, Nanayakkara emphasised that the government has started repaying the loans and is able to bring in new investments.
He added that salaries will be increased and taxes and bank interest rates will drop, in what he described as Sri Lanka’s path to be commenced to move forward.
Many people are unable to accept this progress and hence their willingness to sabotage it, he added.
MIAP
‘Aragalaya’ activists hand in 12k affidavits to AG demanding justice for Wasantha Mudalige
Activists of the ‘Aragalaya’ people’s struggle have handed over nearly 12,000 affidavits signed by them to the Attorney General today (30) demanding justice for Wasantha Mudalige, Convenor of the Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF), who is being detained under the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
The affidavits question as to why Mudalige is being detained over the anti-government protests while no action was taken against those who had attended the ‘Aragalaya’ agitation site.
MIAP
CBSL Exchange Rates reveal slight appreciation of LKR against USD
The Sri Lankan Rupees indicates a slight appreciation against the US Dollar in comparison with that of Friday (27), the exchange rates of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) revealed.
Accordingly, the sell rate of the US Dollar has dropped to Rs. 371.30, and the buy rate, Rs. 360.45.
The Sri Lankan Rupee also indicates slight appreciation against the Euro, Singapore Dollar, Pound Sterling and Swiss Franc.
Below is the statement by the CBSL:
MIAP
26.2 bn Euros allocated for Training Workshop – ERASMUS+ Programme
Training Workshop – ERASMUS+ Programme: 16,17 & 18 February 2023 – Colombo, Sri Lanka
Three Day Training Workshop: Opportunities and Range of Options for Higher Education Institutions, Public and Private Bodies from Sri Lanka
- Erasmus+ is the EU-funded academic initiative aimed at the development of academic, social, and cultural ties between European universities and their counterparts from eligible countries across the world.
- In March 2021 a new Erasmus+ package has been announced with a budget of 26.2 Billion Euros were allocated for the period between 2021 and 2027.
- This fund is focused primarily on Education, Training, Youth and sports
- This is open for both state and non-state sector (Private Sector and NGOs)
- Youth, Green or Environment Protection and Digitalisation are priority areas of Erasmus+
- As universities of Sri Lanka are eligible for Erasmus+, they can be a part of the academic partnership and alliances with universities from the European Union and other parts of the world receiving funds covering student and teaching staff exchange as well as more wide-scale, institutional developments.
- As the Erasmus+ initiative brings unique opportunities, it also requires from university specialists a certain level of training on identifying proper priorities and topic areas of projects, selecting academic partners, drafting proposals and reports, etc.
- This training program is designed with the purpose of developing a certain set of skills required by Sri Lankan Academics and academic administrators for successful work within the Erasmus+ initiative,
- This is an opportunity to attract a portion of funds available from the EU ( Euro 26.2 Billion) to develop higher education & Training, Youth, and Sports Development in Sri Lanka.
Visit: https://ichesrilanka.org/
India saved Sri Lanka from total collapse says Foreign Minister Ali Sabry
Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry last week hailed strong Indo-Lanka ties in context following India’s extension of support and relief for Sri Lanka’s external debt restructuring as the first bilateral creditor to do so and the official visit of External Affairs Minister Dr.S.Jaishankar.
India reiterated it will stand by Sri Lanka in its hour of need and expressed confidence in overcoming challenges.
During bilateral engagements between Dr. Jaishankar and President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry, the two nations agreed to strengthen ties as well as pursue new measures to enhance cooperation in areas of renewable energy, trade, investment, infrastructure, and tourism.
Minister Sabry spoke to CNN-News 18 -India on the importance of ties with India as well as Sri Lanka’s relationship with China, the challenge of external debt restructuring and future prospects for Sri Lanka.
He said India had already announced that it will support as one of your biggest lenders, backing the restructuring of the Sri Lankan debt, which has come as a massive relief for you. Could you give me a sense of what the discussion was like as far as debt restructuring is concerned?
Debt restructuring is very important for Sri Lanka and its future because we have approached the IMF, but funding has not come in.
So, two stages which we have to pass – the first one is we need to take a lot of pre-actions, you know, so that you enter into a stock-level agreement on the basis of that stock agreement you need to do a lot of things, though some of those things are very painful and very difficult, which we are doing now.
For example, the cost-reflective pricing which means the petrol prices have gone up, kerosene prices have gone up, electricity bills have gone up so it’s not very popular, he said.
Once you do that, you have to tangibly see some economic benefit coming into the country. So, we had another hurdle to pass, that hurdle is because Sri Lanka’s debt had been declared unsustainable. We got to get our biggest creditors – bilateral creditors – to give us assurances that they are willing and able and contribute towards a debt-restructuring process under the IMF watch, he added .
IGP Wickramaratne seeks one-year service extension
Having the most interesting argument in place, IGP C.D. Wickramaratne who is to be retired next month is tirelessly putting his efforts to grab the attention of the authorities to earn a one-year service extension, saying that all three Police personnel suitable for the job are, or were under disciplinary inquiry due to various circumstances, sources said.
The three Police personnel, namely SDGI Nilantha Jayawardena, who is next in line but is subjugated to an inquiry following the conclusions of the Supreme Court on the Easter Sunday attack, SDGI Deshabandu Thennakoon, who in seniority is the officer after Jayawardena and was under a court-ordered inquiry due to the unrest provoked at the ‘Aragalaya’ agitation site, and SDGI Lalith Pathinayake, the officer after Thennakoon who was under an inquiry by the Police Special Investigation Unit, being under the weather in Wickramaratne’s argument, the IGP babbles that he would be the most ideal person to continue the job and therefore, is pressing the authorities to grant him his wish, according to sources.
In the aftermath of the 2019 Easter Sunday genocide, then IGP Pujith Jayasundara was sent on mandatory leave and Wickramaratne was appointed as the acting IGP. His appointment was fixed as the Inspector General of Police (IGP) in November, 2020 and Wickramaratne has been serving his title for more than three and a half years by now.
MIAP