- Sri Jayawardenepura University Immunology and Molecular Medicine Dengue Research Centre Director Professor Neelika Malavige says dengue cases are at an all-time high after two years.
- Sri Lankan-born Galleon Fund founder Raj Rajaratnam, allegedly the mastermind of the largest hedge-fund insider-trading ring in US history, due to meet some Sri Lankan politicians in the coming days: former CB Governor and present Debt Advisor to the President Dr Indrajith Coomaraswamy was also a Director of Rajaratnam’s Galleon Group.
- Excise Commissioner General M.J.Gunasiri says the Excise Department has recorded an annual income of Rs.170 bn, it’s highest in 110 years: previous incomes were Rs.121 bn in 2020 and Rs.140 bn in 2021: also says this was achieved in the background of alcohol price increase and decrease in demand during the last 6 months of 2022.
- Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera says over Rs.3.5 bn per month was paid as allowances and salaries for employees of the CEB: also says CEB’s revenue was Rs.33.6 bn for Oct’22 and Rs.35.6 bn for Nov’22.
- Dominant party of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Ilankai Tamil Arashu Katchchi (ITAK) declines the request to accommodate other Tamil parties except its traditional allies to form a broad political alliance.
- American national Pritchett Jermaine Adriun, 38, identified as a taxi driver in the USA, arrested by Police at the Katunayake International Airport with 10.9 mm live bullets: suspect said to have come to Sri Lanka with his Japanese girlfriend to attend the wedding ceremony of a friend.
- Agriculture Ministry begins to deposit money in the bank accounts of the paddy farmers utilizing Rs.8 bn grant of the ADB: small-scale farmers cultivating paddy to receive financial support of Rs.10,000 for a hectare, upto a maximum of 2 hectares, under the scheme.
- Tens of thousands of Sri Lankan individuals and corporates to cut spending and investment from Jan’23 as steep income tax rates come into force: over 65% inflation, tripled interest rates, high energy prices and the massive tax hike to sharply affect spending on consumption of wage earners: many Sri Lankans scrambling to migrate.
- State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe says approval of IMF will be received in Q1 of 2023: points out that USD 2,900mn in 4 years (in 8 tranches of USD 362 mn once every 6 months) is not a “meagre aid”: also says the arrangement “builds trust in the country” beyond financial value: in the 6 months prior to seeking IMF assistance, the Sri Lankan authorities secured Forex inflows of USD 4,000 mn.
- Government Information Department says all inbound travelers and outbound Sri Lankans could fill “Arrival and Departure Cards” online from 1st January 2023 onwards.
Sri Lanka Original Narrative Summary: 30/12
Sri Lankan Ambassador calls on the Kuwait Parliament Speaker
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the State of Kuwait U. L. Mohammed Jauhar paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of the National Assembly Ahmad Abdulaziz Al-Saadoun, who was chosen to the position for the fourth time following the general elections held in September this year.
During the meeting, the Ambassador sought the assistance of the Speaker to further strengthen the relations between the Kuwait National Assembly and the Parliament of Sri Lanka. While extending congratulations to the Speaker on his election, the Ambassador gave a brief account of the legislatures of Sri Lanka, prior to and post independence. He recalled the visits of the Members of Kuwait National Assembly to Sri Lanka.
Speaker Al-Saadoun thanked the Ambassador and stated that a Kuwait Parliamentary Friendship Group on Sri Lanka would be formed shortly. He also stated that he believes that the formation of such a group and exchange of visits by legislators of both countries in future would further enhance the bilateral cooperation. The Speaker appreciated the contribution of the Sri Lankan migrant workers to the economy of the State of Kuwait. He fondly recalled his meeting with former Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike during his visit to Sri Lanka in 1975.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Kuwait
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Türkiye Hasanthi Dissanayake, Presents Credentials in Ankara
The newly appointed Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Türkiye, Saranya Hasanthi Urugodawatte Dissanayake, presented credentials to President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on 27 December 2022 at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, accrediting her as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Türkiye.
During the meeting, President Erdoğan extended his greetings to President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremasinghe. He further recalled Sri Lanka’s long standing bilateral relations with Türkiye with connections dating back to around 09th Century during the Ottoman Empire. He noted that first formal relations began with the Ottoman Empire appointing an Honorary Consul to Sri Lanka in 1864 with residence in Galle.
President Erdoğan also recalled his visit to Sri Lanka in 2005 as the then Prime Minister of Türkiye and noted the humanitarian assistance extended by the Government of Türkiye to Sri Lanka as well as the donation of medical supply to Sri Lanka in August 2022. He expressed his pleasure on the continuous support for the operation of Turkish Airlines in Sri Lanka stating that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Turkish Airlines was one of the few airlines that continued its services between Istanbul and Colombo.
Ambassador Dissanayake thanked President Erdoğan for his remarks and stated that as a senior career diplomat, and being mandated by the President of Sri Lanka, she remains firmly committed to further strengthen the longstanding and cordial bilateral relations between the two countries. She also thanked the President and the Government of Türkiye for supporting Sri Lanka at the UNHRC, Geneva.
The Ambassador also briefed President Erdoğan on Sri Lanka’s current economic and political situation and assured that to her utmost ability, she remains committed to promote historical relations for the mutual benefit of both countries.
Ambassador Dissanayake expressed inspirations she has drawn from the visionary founding father of the Republic of Türkiye, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk who modernized the nation with secular, pluralist democratic features, which is a part of the “Kemalist” ideology, that led to the empowerment of women as a pre-requisite for development.
Considering the visionary leadership of Veteran Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in transforming the country in to a modern state with emancipation of all its citizenry including women, revamping the justice and legal system to bring fairness to all, which is indeed a global inspiration. Ambassador Dissanayake further stated that this has also been the commonality of the shared vision of the two countries during its longstanding friendship. She specified that 2023 is a very significant year for both countries individually and for the bilateral relations of the two countries with Türkiye celebrating its 100th Anniversary of Independence and Sri Lanka celebrating its 75th Anniversary of Independence. Sri Lanka and Türkiye will be celebrating the 75th Anniversary of established Diplomatic relations.
The Ambassador congratulated President Erdoğan on his initiatives on climate and environment, including the commitment to host the 16th Conference of Parties of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in 2023, global Zero Waste initiative and the announcement of the world’s largest wave energy project. Türkiye’s soft diplomacy skills in facilitating the Black Sea Grain Deal and the fact that the country is hosting 3.6 million Syrian refugees and 400,000 other refugees were much appreciated.
The need to conclude bilateral agreements on investment promotion and protection, avoidance of double taxation and customs matters were noted as key areas of collaboration for enhancing bilateral investment and trade. Increasing cooperation in education, culture, technology, energy and tourism sectors were also discussed.
In the sphere of cultural exchange it was also noted that the 02 novels of Nobel Literature Laureate OrhanPamuk, the Turkish Novelist, screenwriter, academic, has been translated to Sinhalese by a fellow Sri Lanka Foreign Service Officer, Niluka Kadurugamuwa, currently serving as the Deputy High Commissioner at the Sri Lanka High Commission in New Delhi, India.
Ambassador Dissanayake also stated that she is closely collaborating with the Turkish Ambassador in Colombo and Turkish Airlines on a range of economic cooperation activities and that she is looking forward to holding the 3rd Session of the bilateral Economic and Technical Cooperation in Ankara.
Ambassador Saranya Hasanthi Urugodawatte Dissanayake joined the Sri Lanka Foreign Service in 1996 and has previously served as the Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Viet Nam, Consul General in Shanghai, and other diplomatic postings in Japan, Sweden and Italy.
Prior to her appointment as the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Türkiye, she was the Additional Secretary for Ocean Affairs, Climate Change and Environment at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka.
She is married and has one daughter.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Ankara
29 December 2022
BASL silent over notarial malpractice?
Suri Ramanathan, a Sri Lankan citizen, raised strong concerns over the silence of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) pertaining to a complaint he had lodged about six months ago accusing Attorney-at-Law S.D. Yogendra of notarial misconduct.
In a letter addressed to the President of the BASL, Mr. Ramanathan stressed that in BASL’s stance to root out members who are wrong doers, he observes poor governance regarding the matter of his complaint, urging the body to pay immediate attention.
The Letter:
Mr. S. Pieris
President
Bar Association of Sri Lanka
Dear Mr. Pieris,
Six months had passed since BASL accepted my submission (BASL receipt number 3103, dated 27 June 2022, duly attached) sent by registered post by a member of my legal team Mr. Sapumal Bandara. It took me a decade to send this complaint as it became clear to me the extent of the malpractice not only did not recede but continues to get worse. I was hoping my complaint will be addressed with due process and relatively quickly as is the global norm. Whilst I am aware of the recent politico-economic challenges in Sri Lanka, I am not aware that it is any different to other countries in the world, I am also not aware that a National Professional Body loses its direction granted to self regulate itself by events external to its purpose.
With due humility to your office as President, I write to you to seek immediate attention to the poor governance regarding the matter of my complaint. I also attach a copy of the document lodged for your ease. If you require any further information, I am happy to instruct Mr. Bandra to assist.
Being elected by the legal profession in Sri Lanka, I take it for granted that you will not need me to say much about the essence of a strong legal profession, as a foundation for a society, a country to operate and indeed build its hopes on. Suffice to say that Justice is a process of bringing private and public interests together in a pragmatic way. The essence of this process of justice, the best in class and espoused by many jurisdictions, is timeliness. As Justice delayed is Justice denied.
In my wider case, I will be pursuing them relying on the due processes of established laws in Sri Lanka, but you and your organisation are the only one that can investigate my complaint of the long shadow over time of unbelievably poor ethics, where justice has been continually denied to me by a member of your profession. Given my experience, I fear and speculate that my “missing file” may also be part of the long list of strangulation of the oath of truth that this attorney undertakes as the nub of the way he practices the license granted to him to operate.
I am also relying that BASL stands to root out members who are wrong doers, who bring disrepute to its membership by a process that delivers more than a minor slap but dis-enrolling permanently or even for a very very long period, sending a message to its members who celebrate their oath daily and professionally who deserve not to be sullied by scum. If found guilty of severe malpractice, a mere slap will be mockery of justice. In most professions globally, they counsel their errant members to seek another profession or , if older, to retire to save face thereby withdrawing the license to commit further larceny. I am assuming that you and your committee may have pragmatic measures already in place.
Will you help bring justice to me, by investigating my complaint against S.D. Yogendra, at the Bar Council’s earliest possible date ?
Kind Regards,
Suri Ramanathan
Sri Lanka joins “Reinvigoration of Ayutthaya’s Foreign Relations” conducted by the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Thailand
Recently, at the invitation of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Upholding the Monarchy and the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Thailand, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka C.A. Chaminda I Colonne, and spouse Stephen Senanayake joined the inauguration ceremony on “Reinvigoration of Ayutthaya’s Foreign Relations” at Ayutthaya Historical Study Centre, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, Thailand. The event was also attended by Ambassadors and representatives of six other countries which enjoy historical relations with Ayutthaya, namely, Iran, Indonesia Vietnam, India, China and Japan.
Chairman of the Working Group, Governor of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, President of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Rajabhat University and Senator Withaya Pewpong welcomed the Ambassadors and their spouses to the ceremony. During the opening remarks, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Upholding the Monarchy Senator Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana, and President of the Senate Professor Pornpetch Wichitcholchai highlighted Ayutthya’s historical international relations.
At the Sri Lanka corner of the Exhibition, Ambassador Chaminda Colonne outlined Sri Lanka’s historical relations with Thailand.
Thailand and Sri Lanka have cordial relations, especially in religion, arts and culture that extend over a span of seven centuries. Ayutthaya of Thailand and Kandy of Sri Lanka are the epicenters of these historical relations. Both countries have supported each other at crucial moments throughout the history. As a result, Buddhism has been firmly established in both countries until today.
All the seven countries which have historical relations with Ayutthya also participated in the exhibition displaying souvenirs that represent their national identity. Products from Spices and Allied Products Marketing Board and artifacts from National Crafts Council were showcased at the Sri Lanka stall and Ceylon Tea was offered to the visitors to the stall.
Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Bangkok
28 December 2022
Russian airline Red Wings commences charter flights to SL
Leading private airlines of the Russian Federation Red Wings Airlines today (29) commenced scheduled charter flights to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, Sri Lanka from Moscow, Russia.
The flights carried a group of tourists, and according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka, the inaugural flight arrived at 9.42 am this morning, with 398 international tourists.
The event was graced by Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Nimal Siripala De Silva.
Red Wings delivers a charter programme Moscow-Mattala-Moscow two flights per week operated by Boeing 777-200 craft with 412 seating capacity for this season.
MIAP
Eggs to be sold for Rs. 55 each in Kandy and Galle from tomorrow
The consumers in Kandy and Galle areas can purchase eggs at Rs. 55 each from Friday (30), said Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, following his request to the All Ceylon Egg Producers’ Association to initiate a programme to sell eggs at a fair price amidst the astronomically high prices found in the market.
Following Amaraweera’s request, the Egg Producers Association yesterday (28) implemented a programme providing eggs at Rs. 55 each centring Colmobo and Gampaha districts, a move that has been taken into motion preventing the occurrence of any artificial shortage of eggs or any price surge.
The Union revealed that they expect to sell 400,000 eggs from ten lorries at ten locations, including Borella, Maharagama, Dematagoda, Narahenpita, near the Colombo National Television Corporation, Rajagiriya, Ja-Ela, Wattala, Negombo and Ragama. Customers were not allowed to purchase more than 25 eggs at a time, it added.
Meanwhile, the Subject Minister confessed that this arrangement is not the best solution to address the problem, adding that the unscrupulous traders, however, cannot be allowed to exploit customers by selling eggs for higher prices.
MIAP
CBSL announces licence cancellation of Swarnamahal Financial Services PLC
The Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka decided to cancel the Finance Business Licence issued to Swarnamahal Financial Services PLC (SFSP), in terms of Section 37(3) of the Finance Business Act, No. 42 of 2011 (FBA) with effect from 28th December 2022.
Accordingly, SFSP is not permitted to engage in Finance Business under the FBA with effect from 28th December 2022. Further, the Director of the Department of Supervision of Non- Bank Financial Institutions of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has decided to cancel the Certificate of Registration of SFSP as a Registered Finance Leasing Establishment under the provisions of the Finance Leasing Act, No. 56 of 2000.
In view of the contribution made by SMB Finance PLC (SMBF) (then SMB Leasing PLC) to repay the remaining deposits of SFSP, as per the directions of the “Masterplan for Consolidation of Non-Bank Financial Institutions Sector”, unclaimed deposit liability of SFSP will be transferred to SMBF along with the corresponding assets value and relevant depositor information.
Further, Sri Lanka Deposit Insurance and Liquidity Support Scheme (SLDILSS) will take necessary actions to pay compensation to the outstanding insured depositors of SFSP up to a maximum of Rs. 1,100,000/- per depositor as per the regulations of the SLDILSS in due course. Upon the transfer of unclaimed deposit to SMBF and payment of compensation through SLDILSS, the entirety of the deposit liability of SFSP will be settled.
CBSL
Click Here to view the full statement.
Showers or thundershowers to continue in several places
Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Sabaragamuwa province and in Galle and Matara districts during the afternoon or nigh, and mainly fair weather will prevail elsewhere over the island, said the Department of Meteorology in a statement today (29).
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers
Marine Weather:
| Condition of Rain: |
| A few showers may occur in the sea areas off the coast extending from Trincomalee to Pottuvil via Batticaloa. |
| Winds: |
| Winds will be easterly or north-easterly and wind speed will be (20-30) kmph. Wind speed may increase up to 40 kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Galle to Hambantota via Matara. |
| State of Sea: |
| The sea areas off the coast extending from Galle to Hambantota via Matara will be moderate. The other sea areas around the island will be slight. |
MIAP
Opposition Leader says deception towards ‘beautiful words’ always ended up in destruction (VIDEO)
The regime that came to power in 2019 by deceptive but ‘beautiful words’ contributed to the bankruptcy of Sri Lanka, and deception towards such beautiful words always ended up in destruction, said Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, attending the occasion of donating a bus worth Rs. 05 million under the Samagi Jana Balawegaya’s ‘Sakwala’ initiative to Kurunegala Yapahuwa Vijayaba Central College, the 51st donation of its kind.
Stressing that a massive transformation in the education system should be established to bring Sri Lanka to the front, Premadasa noted that many developed nations have given priority to education.
MIAP