“Sri Lanka In Focus 2023” Art Culture and Wildlife Exhibition is scheduled to be held at the University of California in Los Angeles – UCLA on 22 and 23 April to mark the Earth Day.
This photographic exhibition will not only focus on just art and culture but also tourist attractions, wildlife, and the natural beauty of Sri Lanka. It is organized by the America Sri Lanka Photographic and Art Society- Los Angeles and supported by the Sri Lanka Consulate General in Los Angeles.
The Republic of Italy has expressed its willingness to help Sri Lanka by supplying helicopters for anti-human trafficking measures taken by the Government of Sri Lanka.
Her Excellency the Italian Ambassador Rita Giuliana Mannella revealed this during a meeting with Hon. President Ranil Wickremesinghe January (25) at the Presidential Secretariat.
The duo discussed the strengthening of the partnership between Italy and Sri Lanka and special attention was paid to cultural exchanges, tourism enhancement, possible investments, defence aspects, and on how Italy can help Sri Lanka during these challenging times.
President’s Media Division
In a statement, the Election Commission says that the news published in the media that a member of the Election Commission has resigned and that the members including the Chairman of the Commission have resigned are false.
The Commission states that the Election Commission, including the Chairman, will carry out its constitutional functions and the functions related to the 2023 local government election without any interruption, as planned.
The commission has further announced that it has been observed that false news is being created and propagated from time to time with the aim of undermining people’s trust in the Election Commission.
A mother and two children of the same family have died in a house fire in Alayapattu area of Anuradhapura.
The fire took place last night (26).
The police said that the father of the family, who was injured in the fire, has been admitted to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital.
Alayapattuwa police are conducting further investigations.
Showers at times will occur in Eastern and Uva provinces and in Matale district.
Several spells of showers are likely in Hambantota and Polonnaruwa districts.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts during the afternoon or night.
Fairly heavy showers about 50mm are likely at some places in Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and in Batticaloa, Ampara and Badulla districts.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Ambassador-designate of Sri Lanka to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, J.A.D.S.Priyangika Wijegunasekera assumed duties at the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Jordan on 23 January 2023.
Upon arrival at the Embassy in Jordan, Ambassador-designate Priyangika Wijegunasekera was welcomed and greeted by the staff. Her assumption of duties was marked by a simple ceremony which commenced with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the Ambassador and other staff and traditional Sri Lankan cuisine were served on the occasion.
Addressing the staff, Ambassador-designate Priyangika Wijegunasekera thanked the staff for the warm welcome and expressed her optimism that the relations between Sri Lanka and the Jordan would be further strengthened and expanded into new vistas of cooperation during her tenure. The Ambassador-designate also highlighted the importance of engage with the Sri Lankan community always with a view to promoting Sri Lanka’s image and interests in Jordan.
Ambassador-designate Priyangika Wijegunasekera counts 20 years in the Sri Lanka Foreign Service, having served in Sri Lanka Missions in Kenya, Lebanon and Consulate General in Toronto, Canada and was attached to the Consular Affairs, Overseas Administration, South Asia & SAARC Divisions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
She is a graduate of the University of Peradeniya and has Masters in International Relations, Human Rights and Democratization from the University of Colombo and Political Science from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Jordan
25 January 2023
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has come under fire as it has reportedly violated the assurance it had given to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) during a discussion held yesterday (25) that power cuts will not be imposed until the conclusion of the ongoing GCE Advanced Level Examination, by allowing the daily power cuts today (26).
During a discussion with the HRCSL yesterday, the PUCSL, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and other relevant authorities responding to electricity agreed not to impose power cuts during which the AL Examination is held.
However, many complaints received from the public that despite the assurance, power cuts were imposed today.
Parents and social activists lament that the government’s insensitivity towards children amidst this most critical examination will endanger their future.
MIAP
Sri Lanka is to discuss the repayment of emergency credits from India separately from other defaulted debt, Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said.
The Asian Clearing Union and other Indian credits from India given in 2022 have been excluded from the perimeter for the debt restructuring process, he revealed.
Central banks swaps from “and any short term emergency facilities from anywhere and anything that was disbursed after the debt suspension” in April 2022 are also excluded.
“Those will have to be discussed separately. There is an understanding with creditors, especially with India about their liabilities between creditors that once we finalize the debt restructuring terms we will discuss separately, how we can settle.”
Sri Lanka owes around US$1.9 billion on ACU credits given by India according to data released to creditors.
India has given around 3.9 billion US dollars through credit lines, swaps and ACU deferrals
Any domestic debt restructuring will be part of a negotiation process with creditors, which will take place after a program with the International Monetary Fund is in place, Central Bank Governor Weerasinghe said.
First financial assurances from bi-lateral creditors have to be received to qualify for the IMF program.“Then only we start discussions with private creditors, he added.
Sri Lanka was already engaged with a private creditor but detailed discussions will start after the IMF program is in place.
The discussions will involve ‘what is demanded from the other side and how they can contribute’ and ‘how we can contribute’.As a creditor party it was not right to comment, he said.
Sri Lanka’s sovereign bond holders however will demand a domestic debt restructuring, according to reports.
Sri Lanka is expecting to conclude debt restructuring in about six months, Governor Weerasinghe said.
Sri Lanka authorities have said a domestic debt restructure will hurt commercial banks which have already taken a hit on mark-to-market losses.
Holders of domestic debt have seen the real value already slashed as the rupee fell from 200 to 360 to the US dollar.Bank would also have to take a hit on International Sovereign Bonds.
The central bank was in discussions on bank on any impact on debt treatment, Governor Weerasinghe said.adding We are talking to banks,” We thing we can manage it.”
Preliminary discussions on the setting up of International School at Colombo Port City in collaboration with three leading British independent schools were held in Colombo recently.
Senior delegations from three leading British independent schools visited Colombo for discussions with the Colombo Port City Economic Commission and senior management of Port City Colombo earlier this month, pertaining to the development of an International School at the Port City Colombo.
These schools are backed by a rich heritage going as far back as the 16th century and a diverse community of educators, students, alumni and international partners. In addition, excellence in co-curricular activities and academic performance has been demonstrated through outstanding achievement of students and admissions to prestige universities in the Russell Group.
The International School at Port City Colombo will be a demonstration of Sri Lanka’s commitment to internationalization with potential for attracting high net worth community in the South Asian region who educate children at boarding schools in the UK, Europe etc.
The school at Port City Colombo is expected to collaborate closely with the parent school to ensure the best education, facilities, faculty and an international experience for students.
As a world-class city for South Asia, Port City Colombo will offer a host of urban amenities and social infrastructure such as international education and healthcare services – a service-oriented Special Economic Zone, that is being built on sustainable strategies.
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 an estimated total investment of US$ 15bn on completion, $1.2 Billion has already been invested into Port City Colombo by the project company and a further $ 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 US$ 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.