Initiating the long overdue system change in governance, administration and state machinery the Government is set to launch the new reform program for the next 25 years at the Diamond Jubilee celebration of Independence Day on February 04.

The 75th National Independence Day will be held under the theme ‘Namo Namo Matha – A Step towards a Century’.

“During the celebrations, the Government will announce its new reform course for the next 25 years for the implementation of a stable Government policy right until the 100th Independence Day celebrations in 2048,” the President’s Media Division said.

The main ceremony of the National Independence Day celebrations will be held on February 04 at 8:30 a.m. at Galle Face Green under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

President Wickremesinghe aims to reform and maintain a stable State Policy till the 100th Independence Day in 2048 to ensure solid economic growth for Sri Lanka by the 100th Independence Day in 2048.

For this, the Cabinet of Ministers at its meeting on Monday approved the proposal tabled by President Wickremesinghe to establish several new institutions, laws and projects within the next 25 years.

The objective of establishing these measures is to ensure the progress of socio-economic, cultural and political harmony in the country. These include three sub-categories such as establishing institutions, introducing new laws, and implementing new projects.

The establishment institutions include; the Institution of History, the Institute of Economic and Trade, the Institute of Women and Gender, the University of Government and Government Policies, the University of Agricultural Technology, the University of Climatic Changes, and the University of Sports.

Introduction of new laws for activities include; National Commission on Women’s Act, Gender Equality Act, Women Empowerment Act, Child Protection Act, Act on Climatic Changes, Commission on Social Equality Act, Reforestation and Forest Cover Act, Live Entities Act (River Mahaweli, Sinharaja, Sri Paada Conserve/Solitary Peak Horton Plains, Knuckles Adam’s Bridge), Laws for oceanic resources expedition and management (Specific economic zone/within EEZ), Muthurajawela (Conservation) Act, and Protection Act of Differently Abled Persons.

The festivities are scheduled to begin after the offering of floral tributes at the statue of post-independence first Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake at Independence Square and the statue of the war heroes at the Presidential Secretariat.

It is also of significance that many cultural and religious programs have been organised throughout the country in concurrence with the 75th National Independence celebrations.

In addition, arrangements have been made to hold Independence Day commemorations at the provincial and district level, whilst the entrance to all public and national parks will be opened to the public free of charge on National Independence Day.

Sri Lanka government has embarked on streamlining of the Samurdhi (poverty alleviation relief) payment scheme confining only to the eligible poorest of the poor people countrywide strictly identifying the needy in the wake of World Bank concerns on irregularities in the system.

World Bank survey has revealed that nearly forty percent of Sri Lanka’s Samurdhi welfare recipients are ineligible to receive the benefits.

The Committee on Public Finance emphasized the need of maintaining a register with accurate data for transparent payment of these benefits but the preparation of a transparent register of welfare beneficiaries, further delayed due to the trade union actions of the officials.

It was revealed at the meeting of the Committee held recently (Jan. 10) that a problematic situation has arisen due to the refusal of Samurdhi officials to collect data to prepare a social welfare register, identifying those who deserve benefits with transparency.

This was revealed when the orders of the Extraordinary Gazette No. 2302/23 published under the Welfare Benefits Act No. 24 of 2002 were taken into consideration at the Committee of Public Finance under the Chairmanship of Member of Parliament Dr.Harsha De Silva.

It was further revealed that it is a proposal of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to carry out the activities transparently without corruption in the payment of Samurdhi and welfare benefits and accordingly the responsibility for this is assigned to the Welfare Benefits Board.

Thus, the orders were published in this gazette for the necessary arrangements for the data collection process.

Accordingly, the Chairman of the Welfare Benefits Board Mr. B. Wijeratne said that trade unions of Samurdhi Department officers, Grama Niladharis and Economic Development officers have brought to the notice the difficulties faced by them.

They informed that they would not carry out the next phase of this program until measures are taken to amend the section 21 and 22 of the Welfare Benefits Act as even their employment could be lost in the event if the applicants would not reveal their information truly and correctly at the enumeration.

He pointed out that the officers who enter false data are also subject to punishment by this section 21 and 22, thus they have refused to collect this data until those sections are amended.

Acceptance of initial applications to identify suitable individuals/families for receiving welfare benefit payments had recently ended.

The Chairman of the Welfare Benefits Board said that a mobile application was also introduced to collect secondary data by visiting the houses of the applicants who have applied for welfare benefits.

Suggestion has been made to make the National Identity Card mandatory in the payment of welfare benefits.

Thus, the committee emphasized the need to solve this problem as soon as possible to create a culture free from corruption and fraud, as the delay in preparing this register may lead to delay in obtaining the assistance of the International Monetary Fund. (IMF)

It has also recommended to take decisions related to carrying out these data collection activities promptly by following an alternative method

The government expects to slash the number of Sri Lanka Army personnel to one hundred and thirty five thousand from two hundred thousand by next year, revealed State Minister of Defence Pramitha Bandara Thennakoon.

“The number of Sri Lanka Army personnel is 200,783. We expect to slash the number of estimated Sri Lanka Army personnel to 135,000 by the year 2024. In addition, by 2030 we expect to maintain our Army by about 100,000 personnel. This decision has been taken following a thorough study and an understanding,” Thennakoon said.

The Minister went on: “National Security and Economy are two sides of the same coin. Every country prioritises National Security. Accordingly, every government considering that priority allocates the highest amount from their budgets for National Security. As long as National Security exists the country’s Economy strengthens. Therefore, we as a government give priority to National Security always.”

Despite the number of military personnel being slashed the move will not affect National Security whatsoever, he added.

MIAP

The United People’s Party (UPP) of which Public Security Minister Tiran Alles is the Secretary General will be contesting the upcoming Local Government Election, Party Media Coordinator Chaminda Gunasinghe revealed.

The UPP has the symbol of a Mobile Phone, and expects to contest the Local Government Polls covering the entire island, including the North and the East.

Many popular political activists and social activists have already expressed their interest to contest the polls from the UPP, the Party Media Coordinator said.

Candidates can submit their applications and interviews have already commenced, Gunasinghe added.

Connect from here to apply.

MIAP

Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Mr. Stephen Twigg, met with President Ranil Wickremesinghe during his official visit to Sri Lanka.

The meeting was held at the President’s office this morning (13).

Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Staff of the President Mr. Sagala Ratnayake was also present on this occasion.

PMD

1. Central Bank’s “fixed exchange rate policy” since 12th May 2022 now enters the 9th month with the Sri Lankan Rupee being “fixed” in a range around Rs.370 per USD: analysts expect a “floating exchange rate policy” to be introduced soon once again by the IMF: Rupee likely to depreciate sharply thereafter in keeping with weak international trade figures and very low forex inflows.
   
2. State Defence Minister Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon says the Army cadre will be slashed to 135,000 from the current approved cadre of 200,783, by 2024: a cut of almost one-third in 2 years: cadre to be halved to 100,000 by 2030: analysts warn of the danger of rendering almost 100,000 well-trained young persons jobless, in a time of acute economic uncertainty.
   
3. Acting Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Hu Wei hands over 8,862,990 meters of cloth as a grant from China: the grant to fulfill 70% of the school uniform requirement for 2023.
   
4. Cardinal Ranjith hails Supreme Court verdict ordering compensation to Easter Sunday victims: says it reflects that any high-profile person including the President has no protection from the law if they have committed a crime: stresses it would be a good precedent to future leaders and officers.
   
5. Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam requests Office for Reparation Chairperson Dhara Wijetillake to establish a “Victim Fund” to award sums ordered as compensation in a fair and equitable manner to the victim families as per the Supreme Court judgement re. the Easter Sunday attacks.
   
6. Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardena says 30 short-distance train journeys will be suspended from 16th Jan’23 onwards: explains the move is aimed at reducing costs.
   
7. Political alliance formed between arch-rivals Vinayagamurthy Muralidaran (Karuna Amman) and Sivnesathurai Chandrakanthan (Pillayan): new alliance to contest every Local Government Body in the North at the upcoming LG election.
   
8. Sri Lanka Tourism says new Covid-19 protocols and procedures will be henceforth applicable to all inbound tourists who must possess vaccination cards: tourists who are not vaccinated to submit a PCR report obtained 72-hours prior to arrival: no exceptions.
   
9. State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe says the authorities’ inability to get debt assurances from bilateral creditors has delayed the bailout by IMF: asserts such inability is taking a heavy toll on the people: on 3rd May 22, CB Governor Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe indicated the economy will be stabilised within 3 months of that day.
   
10. Minister of Power and Energy Kanchan Wijesekera says the Petroleum Development Authority will recommence work on exploration of petroleum resources in about 900 blocks identified around the country: authority prepares to issue 2-year oil and gas exploration licenses to suitable investors.