Veteran film producer and director Dr. Sumithra Peiris has passed away at the age 88 years this (19) morning.
Wife of late Cinema Giant Dr. Lester James Peiris and cousin to Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Dr. Sumithra Peiris’ demise was confirmed while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Colombo.
Peiris is known for producing and/or directing many blockbuster Sri Lankan movies including Ganga Addara, Gehenu Lamai, Yahalu Yeheli, Maya, Sagara Jalaya Madi Henduwa Oba Sandha, Loku Duwa, Duwata Mawaka Misa, Sakman Maluwa and Waishnavi.
Mainly fair weather will prevail over most places in the island, and strong gusty winds of about (40-50) kmph can be expected at times over North-Central, North-western and Uva provinces and in Hambantota district, said the Department of Meteorology in a statement today (19).
Condition of Rain:
Mainly fair weather will prevail over the sea areas around the Island.
Winds:
Winds will be north-easterly and wind speed will be (25-35) kmph. Wind speed may increase up to (45-55) kmph at times over the sea areas off the coast extending from Trincomalee to Colombo via Kankasanthurai, Mannar and Puttalam and the sea areas off the coast extending from Hambanthota to Pottuvil.
State of Sea:
Sea areas off the coast extending from Trincomalee to Colombo via Kankasanthurai, Mannar and Puttalam and the sea areas off the coast extending from Hambanthota to Pottuvil will be rough at times. The other sea areas around the island may be slight to moderate.
A delegation of investors from the United Arab Emirates, led by His Royal Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum, visited Port City Colombo on the 14th of January 2023, during a special visit to Sri Lankato explore investment opportunities, officials said.
Discussions were held between the members of the delegation, representatives from the Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Commission) and Port City Colombo (PCC) with a view to attracting foreign direct investments to the project.
The delegation was given a comprehensive overview of Port City Colombo’s development and plans for the future which the delegation commended, followed by a tour of PCC Marina.
Port City Colombo is a large-scale development project covering an area of 269 hectares of reclaimed land. It aims to serve as a new economic hub for the country, offering a range of commercial and residential opportunities.
The project is expected to bring significant economic benefits to Sri Lanka, including job creation and increased foreign investment.
Expressing his views on the visit and the progress of discussions, Thulci Aluwihare, Deputy Managing Director of CHEC Port City Colombo (Private) Limited said, “We’re very pleased to have had the opportunity to host this delegation, led by His Royal Highness, and showcase the potential of the Port City Colombo development project.
This visit is a clear indication of the growing interest in what we have to offer, and we look forward to welcoming more investors and partners in the future. We are also anticipating the PCC Duty-Free Shopping Complex to open on schedule by April 2023.”
The UAE delegation also included Mr. Luke Sellwood – Advisor to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum, Mr. Ivan Shkarba – Partner and investor in efiscal. Mr. Ivan also invests with His Highness in other business opportunities.
Having added 2.69 square kilometres to Sri Lanka’s sovereign territory, Port City Colombo is Sri Lanka’s biggest FDI-funded development project.
With infrastructure development slated for completion in Q3 of 2023, of the USD 1.4 Billion committed by the project company, USD 1.2 Billion has already been invested into Port City Colombo.
A further USD 1.5 billion is expected to be invested during the vertical development phase, which is expected to commence as soon as regulations are finalized.
A USD 7-million Duty-Free Shopping Complex, the first of its kind in South Asia and expected to be a magnet for shopping and tourism, will also open its doors at Port City Colombo in April 2023.
In support of the government’s ‘National Combined Mechanism for Food Security and Nutrition’, Fonterra will provide free milk powder to 70,000 low-income families.
Joining the ‘National Combined Mechanism for Food Security and Nutrition’ programme, set up under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Fonterra Brands Lanka Company has donated milk powder worth Rs174 million to 70,000 low-income families experiencing financial hardships.
The donation was made symbolically at the President’s Office two days ago (17) with the participation of New Zealand High Commissioner Michael Appleton and a group of New Zealand representatives.
Speaking at the occasion, Chairman and Advisor of the Presidential Committee on National Food Security Dr. Suren Batagoda said, “The Vision of the food security programme of the government is to ensure that every citizen has access to nutrition. This initiative is aimed at bridging this gap with the most vulnerable families.”
The milk powder was delivered to the 70,000 vulnerable families across the country, identified by the task force and delivered via the District Secretariats.
President’s Chief of Staff and the Senior Advisor on National Security Mr. Sagala Ratnayake, Vidya Sivaraja – MD, SEA & SA, Consumer & Food Service Global Markets, Judith Swales – CEO, Global Markets, General Shavendra Silva – Chief of Defence Staff and other officials, attended this event.
The Election Commission informs the Supreme Court the Local Government Election will be held on time in compliance with the regulations pertaining to the holding of the Polls – stresses the Treasury has not yet informed whether grants cannot be allocated for the Polls.
Lawyers stage protest in front of Hulftsdrop (Aluthkade) Court Complex demanding Judiciary’s autonomy in objection to the Attorney General’s alleged pressure on Magistrate hearing IUSF Convener Wasantha Mudalige’s case – Additional Magistrate Tharanga Mahawatta, who was hearing Mudalige’s case, has reportedly been dismissed over a complaint by the IGP claiming she treated the suspects ‘humanely’.
India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, will undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka from 19-20 January 2023 – scheduled to have officials discussions with his Sri Lankan counterpart Ali Sabry and pay courtesy call on President Wickremesinghe, Premier Gunawardena and other dignitaries.
The Committee on Parliamentary Business decides to take into debate the controversial ‘Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill’ today – Parties of the Opposition raise severe objections claiming this is a blatant attempt by the Government to postpone the Local Government Election.
Indika Nuwan Kumara, grandson of Indigenous Leader Uruvarige Wannila Aththo, to contest the upcoming Local Government Election from the National Democratic Party; currently serves as the Electoral Organiser of Mahiyanganaya – The Indigenous Community to contest for 65 villages including Mahiyanganaya.
Commemorative event titled ‘Amathaka Nokaramu’ (Let’s Not Forget) held at the Documentation Centre Conference Hall of the Colombo National Library remembering slain and abducted journalists of Sri Lanka coincided with ‘Black January,’ a conventional month advocating for media freedom and remembering journalists subject to state-sponsored repression – Cabinet Minister Manusha Nanayakkara pays courtesy by attending the event.
Sri Lanka Navy receives state-of-the-art camera ‘Olympus TG – 06’ used for advanced underwater shooting presented by naval personnel who followed the Forensic Diving Course at the Hulhumalé Coast Guard Base of Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) – The Gendarmerie Law Enforcement Forces of Frances has organised this Forensic Diving Course as part of the European Union Critical Maritime Routes in Indian Ocean (EU CRIMARIO) Programme.
The Colombo Port City’s flagship investment project set to change the Colombo Landscape announces full speed to complete the ‘Duty Free’ complex – The Complex is said will be establishing a landmark in South Asia by setting up duty free retail operations involving an investment of over US$ 50 million.
US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung accuses China of being the biggest obstacle to Sri Lanka receiving bailout – China responds harshly, reminds US is the largest shareholder of the IMF with a veto power over major policy decisions, sued the island nation in its federal court immediately after the announcement of ‘debt default,’ and has private creditors owning 40 per cent of Sri Lanka’s total external debt stock with the highest interest rates.
Government to set up an ‘international trade office’ to boost exports and promote FDI following the enactment of the ‘International Trade Office Bill’ in Parliament – Sri Lanka’s FDI net inflows in the long-term is projected to trend around US$ 350 million in 2023, Finance Ministry’s econometric models and provisional data reveal.
Colombo Port City the flagship investment project set to change the Colombo Landscape is moving at full speed to complete the duty free complex. The complex will become a land mark in South Asia. China Duty Free and Singapore Duty Free is poised to set up retail operations involving an investment of over USD 50 Million.
Retail Center Outside Construction On GoingSand Beach Jogging TrackRetail Center Outside Construction On GoingCenter Park South Landscape Work FinishInterim Road Will be Connected and Opened to Public Very Soon
Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Aruni Wijewardane and Permanent Under Secretary of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom Sir Philip Barton held discussions at the Foreign Ministry in Colombo on Tuesday 17 January 2023. The constructive bilateral engagement took place in the 75th year of UK-SL diplomatic relations.
Foreign Secretary Wijewardane briefed the UK Permanent Under Secretary on current developments in the country and the Government’s plans for 2023 as a year of socio-economic stabilization, reconciliation and recovery. Permanent Under Secretary Barton encouraged Sri Lanka’s efforts and reiterated the support of the UK in this regard.
In view of the priority placed by Sri Lanka on economic recovery and growth, Foreign Secretary highlighted the significance of Sri Lanka’s economic partnership with the UK, under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) which provides duty free access to the UK market, as well as in other sectors such as enhancing UK’s contribution to Sri Lanka’s tourism and skilled labour migration. The two sides appreciated the potential to further expand trade and investment ties, including reaction to climate change objectives, and in achieving Sri Lanka’s target of achieving 70% renewable energy by 2030.
Both sides reiterated their mutual interest to initiate a Sri Lanka – UK Dialogue in the first quarter of 2023, with a view to elevating the existing multifaceted engagement and to work towards achieving tangible results through a result-oriented approach on several areas of mutually beneficial cooperation.
Foreign Secretary Wijewardane and Permanent Under Secretary of the FCDO appreciated the vibrant people-to-people ties emanating from the significant community of Sri Lankan heritage in the UK. Foreign Secretary Wijewardane apprised the Permanent Under Secretary on the Government’s intent to further engage with the overseas Sri Lankan community to better harness their synergies for mutual benefit. It was agreed to commemorate the 75th anniversary of UK-Sri Lanka diplomatic relations this year in a manner reflective of the long standing relations in a forward-looking and result-oriented manner.
In an exchange of views on regional and international developments, Foreign Secretary Wijewardena briefed the Permanent Under Secretary on Sri Lanka’s policy priorities in Indian Ocean engagement, as well as the country’s assumption of the Chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) this year.
During the visit, the Permanent Under Secretary Sir Barton called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry, the State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe and the Chief of Staff to the President Sagala Ratnayaka. Sir Philip Barton was accompanied by the British High Commissioner Sarah Hulton and officials of the British High Commission and the UK FCDO. Senior officials of the Foreign Ministry also participated in the meeting.
The Hold the Line Coalition (HTL) welcomes Philippine Court of Tax Appeals verdict, which has acquitted on Wednesday 18 January Nobel laureate Maria Ressa and Rappler, the news organization she founded, of tax evasion in four of seven cases brought by the government.
If they had failed to defend the charges, Maria Ressa could have gone to jail for up to 34 years and Rappler would have faced a substantial fine.
Rappler and Ressa have maintained their innocence and will continue to hold the line in defense of press freedom in the Philippines as they fight a barrage of pending cases designed to silence their reporting.
“This verdict indicates that it is possible for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to hit reset on his predecessors’ vast campaign of media repression,” said the Hold The Line Coalition Steering Committee. “We hope we are seeing the beginning of an end to the previous administration’s strategy to instrumentalize the courts as a means to undermine independent news organizations and damage journalists’ credibility. As an immediate next step, we call for all remaining cases against Rappler and Ressa to be closed and their constant persecution to be stopped once and for all.”
“Maria Ressa and Rappler will continue to fight the broader wave of multipronged attacks because they will not have their reporting stymied or their voices silenced,” said the HTL Steering Committee.
The decision by the Philippines Court of Tax Appeals applies to three cases on alleged failure to provide accurate information regarding investments, and the fourth is an accusation of knowingly avoiding paying taxes. While this judgment represents a reprieve, there is no doubt that being forced to maintain continuous legal defenses in the face of 23 cases leveled by the government since 2018 is meant to debilitate the news organization and Ressa, as well as making investors in the media sector wary of the ramifications of supporting independent local news outlets.
Ressa, her colleagues and Rappler face a sustained campaign of legal persecution and online violence, with 23 individual cases opened by the State against them since 2018. Ressa could face close to seven years in prison on a previous conviction for criminal cyber libel, which is currently in its last cycle of appeal before the Philippine Supreme Court – meaning she could still face a possible imminent prison sentence.
In an historic precedent, Rappler was officially issued a shutdown order in June 2022, reinforcing an earlier decision to revoke the outlet’s license to operate. The order was the first of its kind for the issuing agency and for Philippine media.
The Marcos administration still has an opportunity to turn the page on the Duterte government’s approach to intimidating independent news media, which has included threats to withdraw media groups’ licenses or hurt their commercial interests to encourage self-censorship when reporting on sensitive issues.
The Philippines was one of the governments participating in the U.S.-hosted Summit for Democracy in 2021, when President Rodrigo Duterte addressed other leaders as part of the event. The summit will reconvene governments and civil society in March 2023.
The HTL Coalition calls on states committed to freedom of the press and democracy, on intergovernmental organizations, on international development investors, and on international civil society groups to defend press freedom in the Philippines and urge President Marcos to revitalize the country’s commitment to a free press.
Sri Lanka, a lower-middle-income country, is facing an acute crisis following the impact of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and other compounding factors that have profoundly affected the country and jeopardized progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
Despite important progress made for children over the past decades across most dimensions, many children do not have an adequate standard of living and significant inequalities have been aggravated by the current crisis, which has disproportionally affected urban daily wage labourers, and families from poor households in the estate sector1, rural areas and the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
UNICEF is taking urgent action by supporting emergency measures in the short term that safeguard children and mitigate a worsening situation, while also supporting the State to recover and expand services in the medium term.
