The Court today (18) denied a request to impose a travel ban on former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and former Finance Secretary S.R. Attygalle.
Keerthi Thennakoon, a provincial governor of the previous government, had made this request to the Court and Maithri Gunaratne, another former provincial governor of the previous government, appeared in Court on his behalf.
A vacation court is functioning today and only one of the five Colombo Magistrate Courts operates. Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawala, who served as its Judge, denied the above request.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has reportedly agreed to abolish the 20th Amendment to the Constitution and reenact the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.
Accordingly, his decision will be announced tomorrow (19) or the day after (20), sources claimed.
The 19th Amendment to the Constitution is of provisions which slash many powers vested in the Executive Presidency.
Former Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Ajith Nivard Cabraal in a statement today (18) reiterated that the allegations levelled against him are baseless and/or malicious and that he has no intention of travelling overseas.
He added that these allegations have been presented to Court by suppressing important material facts and that all steps will be taken legally to refute them and present the correct facts to Court.
Statement by Ajith Nivard Cabraal on 18th April 2022
In accordance with the Summons issued to me in Case No: 68647/4 by the Registrar of the Colombo Magistrate Court, I was ordered to tender appearance through my Registered Attorney and to move to file answer in Court on 18th April 2022. The said Summons was issued to me in terms of the Civil Procedure Code and I had also been informed that if I am not represented by a registered Attorney, I should furnish a communication to Court, specifying an address to which all legal notices should be addressed in the future.
Mr. Jeevantha Jayatilake, Senior Attorney at Law appearing on my behalf in Court explained the nature of the Summons that I have received, and further informed Court that my personal appearance has been dispensed with, in terms of the Summons. I have also been advised by my lawyers that, in terms of Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Honourable Magistrate has the discretion and the power to dispense with the personal appearance of a party summoned to Court. Further, my Senior Attorney at Law informed Court that I have no intention to travel overseas at this stage, and therefore, I did not require any application to be made to vacate the overseas travel ban. Nevertheless, my Lawyers stated that they reserve the right to make an application pertaining to the travel ban at the appropriate stage, if a need arises for me to travel abroad. Accordingly, the Honourable Magistrate had re-fixed the Case for 2nd May 2022.
With regard to the several allegations made against me in the above Plaint, I wish to state that the said complaints are baseless and/or malicious and presented to Court by suppressing important material facts and all steps will be taken legally to refute them and present the correct facts to Court.
The bus fares are likely to be revised completely over any revision taken place on fuel prices at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO), said Gemunu Wijeratne, Chairman of the All Ceylon Private Bus Owners Association, speaking to a briefing held in Colombo today (18).
Should the CEYPETCO prices increase in comparison with the recent price revision at the Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC), the bus fares may double the price, he warned.
He added that diesel for buses has to be obtained from the LIOC filling stations as there are are no CEYPETCO filling stations in many parts of the country at present, pointing out that bus fares in these areas may be revised based on the situation.
The travel ban imposed by the Colombo Magistrate Court against former Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Ajith Nivard Cabraal has been extended till May 02, ordered Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawela.
Accordingly, the Court today (18) issued summons to Cabraal to appear in Court on May 02.
The Magistrate Court on April 07 issued summons to the former CBSL Governor to appear in Court today. However, Cabraal did not appear and Attorney at Law Jeewantha Jayathilake appearing on his behalf told the Court that objections will be tendered against the private complaint lodged against his client.
Former Governor Keerthi Thennakoon lodged the private complaint against the former CBSL Chief based on six allegations.
Countries importing textile products from Sri Lanka have now started moving towards Indian exporters as Sri Lanka continues to reel under its worst economic crisis, said the Ministry of Textile official on Friday.
Speaking to ANI, UP Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Textile said, “Some countries who were earlier importing from Sri Lanka, have started contacting India, as Sri Lanka is under its worst economic crises. Some orders have already been given to companies in the Tirupur district of Tamil Nadu. Tirupur is the hub of the textile industry in Tamil Nadu.”
Singh said that last year’s textile sector export was around USD 43 billion and this year the target has been set for 100 billion. He said India currently produces more than 340 lakh bells of cotton, but consumption is going to be more than production due to the order diversion from Sri Lanka due to the crisis.
“Conversely, our importers had to pay 11 per cent duty leading to high input cost which makes them uncompetitive. So our importers were demanding the government to lift the import duty. Vietnam, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan were getting the advantage in certain markets like European Union and the UK and our exporters were at disadvantage,” Singh said.
“Our exporters have to pay 9.5 per cent export duty which these countries do not have to pay. Now adding these 11 per cent import duty and 9.5 per cent export duty on cotton, it becomes very difficult for our textile exporters to compete with such countries. Since now we do not have to pay import duty on cotton, this will certainly make our exporters more competitive,” emphasized the Textile Secretary.
A Sakthivel, President, Federation of Indian Exporters Organisation said, “Buyers are now started making queries with Tirupur Exporters Association and other places in India because the situation in Sri Lanka is bad. Some queries may turn into orders. This is an opportunity. Good talks are happening and we expect some orders to divert from Sri Lanka to India.”
He said Indian exporters are getting queries from countries like the United Kingdom and European Union Countries. “Their queries are mainly for woven items, shirts, t-shirts and some baby garments. We are hopeful that these queries will turn in orders,” Sakthivel hoped.
Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since independence with food and fuel shortages, soaring prices and power cuts affecting a large number of the people in the island nation.
Sri Lanka’s economy has been in a free-fall since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the crash of the tourism sector.
Sri Lanka is also facing a foreign exchange shortage, which has affected its capacity to import food and fuel. The shortage of essential goods forced Sri Lanka to seek assistance from friendly countries.
Image caption, Lady Ridgeway hospital is one of Sri Lanka’s biggest healthcare facilities for children
Doctors across Sri Lanka say hospitals are running out of medicines and essential supplies as the country’s economic crisis worsens. They fear a health catastrophe if international help doesn’t arrive soon.
“Day by day things are running out. If we get to the point where it’s zero, then I don’t know what will happen,” says Dr Gnanasekaram anxiously.
As secretary of Sri Lanka’s Association of Medical Specialists, the surgeon has been busy compiling lists of which medicines are running low at hospitals in the capital Colombo.
“We are short of medical drugs, anaesthetic drugs, implants, suture materials. We are nearly exhausting the stock.
“Healthcare services are going to collapse unless there’s immediate relief,” he says.
I meet Dr Gnanasekaram between consultations – he says he’s hoping this interview will encourage international donors to come forward.
Image caption, Doctors say hospitals are running out of medicines and essential supplies
If supplies aren’t replenished soon, the doctor warns of dire consequences.
“If that happens there may be a situation where we won’t be able to save patients’ lives.”
Sri Lanka is in the midst of its worst economic crisis in history. The country imports around 85% of its medical supplies. But with foreign currency reserves running low, essential drugs are now difficult to obtain.
At his office in Sri Lanka’s largest children’s hospital, Lady Ridgeway, medical director Dr Wijesuriya shows me a piece of paper with a list of essential drugs on it.
Image caption, Dr Wijesuriya has a list of vital drugs running short – and in some cases out of stock
Next to the name of the medicine, there’s a column showing availability.
Some like atracurium – used in anaesthetics – have only two months of stock left. But as I scan the list further, other drugs are in even shorter supply.
There’s only two weeks left of the painkiller fentanyl, while three different types of antibiotics are already “out of stock”.
For now Dr Wijesuriya says he’s managing these shortages with substitutions. He remains optimistic that the government will find a way to get him what is needed for his patients.
Image caption, Patients wait for treatment at a Colombo hospital amid a health worker strike over shortages in February
Frontline doctors are far less upbeat. Many say they’ve been told by the government they can’t speak openly to the media about the situation, with only union representatives and hospital directors authorised to do so.
In a statement Sri Lanka’s government initially denied medicines were running out, even as doctors reported problems.
A day later the Department of Government Information issued a correction, admitting there is a shortage of some drugs and equipment.
Image caption, Doctors and nurses have taken part in the protests during the worsening crisis
Documents seen by the BBC, interviews with medical unions and testimony from frontline doctors reveal that hospitals across the nation are in desperate need of a range of life-saving drugs and equipment.
Medical staff have told the BBC the crunch in supplies has forced them to suspend non-essential operations, and reuse or ration some equipment.
Dr Nishan (not his real name) works at a cancer hospital in the Eastern province.
“In two weeks’ time we may have to stop most surgeries and only do emergencies,” he told me as he reeled off a list of essentials like IV fluids, paracetamol, and antibiotics that his team are struggling to get hold of.
“There may be a time when we have to even stop treating cancer patients,” he warned.
Dr Nishan is from an area hit hard by the country’s civil war. Working as a doctor in conflict has its many challenges, but this economic crisis comes with many others.
“During the war we had limitations, but we could still get things from the ministry in Colombo,” he said.
“But now even the health ministry doesn’t have supplies. During wartime we were not so frustrated and desperate as we are now.”
Sri Lanka runs a free national healthcare system, which millions of people on the island rely on.
Kasun (not his real name), who works at a hospital in the Southern province, said it’s only a matter of days before drugs run out unless supplies come in.
“We are being told to use what we have sparingly, but there’s no real solution. I feel helpless.”
The largest doctor’s union on the island, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA), has blamed the crisis on poor financial and economic management and is calling on people from overseas to donate supplies.
It has published an extensive list of items which are desperately needed, which includes antibiotics, paracetamol, blood pressure medicine and anti-depressants.
WhatsApp groups of Sri Lankan doctors around the world are busily trying to source drugs, as the diaspora pitches in to help at this desperate time.
Dr Saman Kumara, president of the Perinatal Society of Sri Lanka, recorded a desperate video message last week, pleading for ET tubes to help newborn babies breathe.
“We have almost used all the stocks and no ET tubes will be available in a few weeks,” he said. Dr Kumara said he had instructed staff to clean and sterilise tubes in case they needed to be reused.
After his message went out, doctors around the world sprang into action to help. Within 24 hours, he said he was donated an “adequate amount” of ET tubes for his hospital.
But he says other shortages remain, and is working with the Save A Baby charity to help co-ordinate efforts.
Dr Anver Hamdani, who was recently appointed by the Sri Lankan health ministry to co-ordinate efforts to keep healthcare services running, told the BBC he and his colleagues are working to overcome the shortages.
He’s hoping pledges from overseas governments including a credit line from India, the main supplier of Sri Lanka’s medicines, plus donations which are coming in, will prevent the looming crisis.
“We have to admit this is a challenging period – there is a reasonable amount of shortage of certain things.
“It is not yet under control, it in the process of being controlled,” he said conceding that once the short term supply problem was fixed, a sustainable financing solution will still need to be found.
Sri Lanka’s medical crisis is compounded by the added pressure staff themselves are having to face.
Kasun says workers at his hospital have been told overtime payments will be cut as budgets are strained.
Like millions across the country doctors are struggling to obtain the basics. Many say they are queuing for hours to get fuel for their cars to get to hospital.
“It’s becoming very difficult to live, salaries aren’t going up but the cost of living has skyrocketed,” he said.
As millions have taken to the streets to protest at rising food and fuel prices, doctors, nurses and medical students have joined the demonstrations.
Back at his office Dr Gnanaksekaran pleaded to the world for help.
“We need supplies to come in whatever form, whether it’s another country’s government, or an individual donation.
“As professionals we are apolitical, but we are concerned about our patients.
“We just want to be able to treat them – we don’t want them to die.”
The Opposition has the 113-majority in Parliament and the no-confidence motion against the government, therefore, will be tabled on time, said Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dr. Harsha De Silva, speaking to reporters today (18).
The President and the Prime Minister, on the other hand, should be thinking about what the public demands, the Opposition MP pointed out.
Any no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and even the President can be tabled as a people’s no-confidence motion in the event that there are provisions secured by the Constitution to do so, he added
The Opposition MP further noted that they are ready to come forward on behalf of the people and that the President and the Prime Minister have driven themselves to a position in which they have to resign.
The legal support required to lead the struggle initiated by the youth to victory at the hand of the youth itself will be provided, said the Lawyers of the Struggle movement speaking to a briefing held yesterday (17).
The protest initiated by the youth is appreciated in a manner unlike any other political movement in the history managed to be, Attorney at law Manoj Nanayakkara said.
Accordingly, the change should be made by using the fullest of the people’s appreciation received before the struggle, he emphasised.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa is a failed person and he should be banished from the country in the same manner in which he was ousted from the Presidential Secretariat, he went on, adding that nevertheless, the stolen money should be reclaimed by arresting him prior to any deportation, should it come to that point.
