British Prime Minister Boris Johnson reiterates that the UK will continue to work with the people of Sri Lanka, especially during the current economic and social challenges.
The British PM said he anticipates that there are strong opportunities for UK support with green finance and renewable energy recalling the conversation the two leaders had in May about shared ambitions on climate change
He also highlighted the recently announced Developing Countries Trading Scheme which will offer Sri Lanka the opportunity to benefit from duty- free access for the vast majority of total goods exported to the UK.
He expressed the hope that the two countries can find more opportunities to enhance trade and investment.
He also expressed the belief that PM Ranil Wickremasinghe will be able to make quick and positive progress with the International Monetary Fund.
The UK stands ready to engage with its international partners to support Sri Lanka on this issue, he added.
The British Prime Minister also expressed confidence that the two governments can work together to achieve long-lasting and substantive progress on reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka.
He has urged President Ranil Wickremesinghe to change Sri Lanka’s approach on the human rights issue.
He said the upcoming 51st Session of the UN Human Rights Council will be a moment for the Sri Lankan Government to demonstrate its human rights credentials with a change of approach.
Johnson commended the efforts of President Ranil Wickremesinghe for establishing an inclusive government which will bring the stability needed to address issues for the Sri Lankan people.
In a congratulatory message to President Wickremesinghe on his appointment as the Head of State, the British Prime Minister said that upholding democratic principles and seeking democratic consensus will be vital to President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s success, the President’s Office said.
“The 51st UN Human Rights Council in September will be a moment for your government to demonstrate your human rights credentials with a change of approach. We and others in the international community want to work with Sri Lanka to make real and tangible progress on these issues.”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson concluded his message by expressing confidence that with Sri Lanka due to celebrate its 75th Anniversary of Independence, UK and Sri Lanka would continue to build an even deeper and stronger partnership.
He also appreciated Sri Lanka’s efforts to prioritize UK-Sri Lanka relations and wished President Wickremesinghe the very best in his efforts to restore stability and prosperity in Sri Lanka.
UK supports Sri Lanka to promote green finance and renewable energy
China always encourages IMF and other lenders to help SL
As a traditional friendly neighbour of Sri Lanka and a major shareholder of the International Monetary Fund, China has always been encouraging the IMF and other international financial institutions to continue to play a positive role in supporting Sri Lanka’s response to the current crisis .
It will assist the debt ridden country to overcome difficulties and efforts to ease the debt burden and realise sustainable development, the Chinese embassy said in a statement.
The statement said after the Sri Lankan government announced to suspend international debt payments in April 2022, Chinese financial institutions reached out to the Sri Lankan side and expressed their readiness to find a proper way to handle the matured debts related to China.
It has offered help Sri Lanka to overcome the current difficulties a spokesperson of the embassy said adding that China hopes that Sri Lanka will work actively with China in a similar spirit and work out a feasible solution expeditiously.
China is willing to help Sri Lanka cope with the economic crisis plaguing the country, according to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.
Sri Lanka is going through its worst economic crisis in seven decades and the foreign exchange deficit is making it difficult for millions of people to buy food, medicine, fuel, and other necessities.
Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesman Shu Jueting noted that “China will continue to support Sri Lanka to the best of its ability amid the country’s difficulties so that it can recover its economy as soon as possible and improve the people’s living conditions.”
The Chinese official referred to the China-Ceylon Rice Rubber Pact, signed in 1952, which reflects both nations’ spirit in fighting hegemony and power politics. “We will together maintain a healthy and stable development of relations under our trade agreement,” the spokesperson said
Meanwhile the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Sri Lanka should kick off debt restructuring talks with its bilateral lender China, while the island state’s Government reaches staff level agreement ona bail out loan from the Washington-based fund.
“China is a big creditor and Sri Lanka has to engage proactively with it on a debt restructuring,” IMF’ official said.
The country owes Beijing some $ 6.5 billion in financing including development bank loans and a central bank swap, according to data from the Institute of International Finance (IFF).
The country defaulted on a bond payment debt earlier this year on its $ 12 billion overseas debt with private creditors, as it struggles to pay for imports of basic goods.
An Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program from the IMF, which would be the fund’s 17th plan for the nation, requires countries to make structural economic reforms.
SL food inflation rises to 93.7% in August pushing people into starvation
The August 2022 inflation rate in Sri Lanka jumped to a record high of 64.% in July of 2022, as a political crisis, state of emergency, and weak currency added further pressure on prices. Biggest upward contribution came from food cost which jumped at an all-time high of 93.7%, namely food commodities (29.5%).
Sri Lanka’s consumer prices continued their record ascent in August on a persistent shortage of essentials from food to fuel due to the country’s depleted foreign exchange reserves.
While the Central Bank left borrowing costs unchanged in August , policy makers may be forced to resume tightening to arrest runaway inflation.
Headline inflation, as measured by the year-on-year (YoY) change in the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI, 2013=100)1 increased to 64.3% in August 2022 from 60.8% in July 2022.
This increase in YoY inflation was mainly driven by the monthly increases of both Food and Non-Food categories.
Food inflation (YoY) increased to 93.7% in August 2022 from 90.9% in July 2022, while Non-Food inflation (YoY) increased to 50.2% in August 2022 from 46.5% in July 2022.
Monthly change of CCPI recorded at 2.45% in August 2022 due to price increases observed in items of both Food and Non-Food categories which were 0.83% and 1.62%, respectively.
Within the Food category, increases were observed in prices of fresh fish, fruits, bread, biscuits, eggs and chicken.
However, prices of rice and dhal decreased during the month. Further, within the Non-Food category, increases were observed in prices of Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels (Electricity bill and maintenance/reconstruction),
Prices of Transport (Transport fare for schooling and airfare), Clothing and Footwear and Miscellaneous Goods and Services sub-categories increased in unbearable proportions for the people during the month.
Annual average inflation rose to 28.0% in August 2022 from 23.1% in July 2022. Core inflation (YoY), which reflects the underlying inflation in the economy, increased to 46.6% in August 2022 from 44.3% in July 2022, while annual average core inflation increased to 20.3% in August 2022 from 16.7% in July 2022.
High Commissioner Moragoda participates in ‘Idea Exchange’ programme of the Indian Express
The Indian Express newspaper hosted High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India Milinda Moragoda at its ‘Idea Exchange’ programme on 1 September, 2022. The programme was held at the newspaper’s headquarters in Noida.
This programme conducted as an exchange of ideas with the senior editorial staff of the Indian Express, features a distinguished personality every week. As per the format of the programme, the editors pose questions to the guest and a discussion follows. The content of the discussion is carried on a full page of the newspaper every Monday.
The senior editors of the Indian Express led by Chief Editor Raj Kamal Jha posed several questions to High Commissioner Moragoda at the event. The questions covered Sri Lanka’s present political developments, its economic situation and Indo-Sri Lanka relations at large. The discussion was moderated by senior journalist, Shubhajit Roy.
Founded in 1932, The Indian Express is one of the most prominent English daily newspapers in India.
High Commission of Sri Lanka
New Delhi
Gotabhaya welcomed by a group of SLPP members (PHOTOS)
Former President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa returned to Sri Lanka at midnight yesterday (02) and was received by a group of ministers including members of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna.
Seetha says she is willing to give up her seat for Gotabhaya
Many people are talking about whether Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who returned to Sri Lanka, will continue to engage in active politics. In a press conference held recently, Podujana Peramuna MPs stated that they would give their utmost support if Rajapaksa comes to Parliament and becomes the Prime Minister.
However, it is reported that there has been no discussion regarding the future political affairs of the former president or his accession to parliament.
Meanwhile, Podujana Peramuna’s National List MP Seetha Arambepola has told the media that she is ready to give up her MP position if Gotabhaya Rajapaksa intends to come to Parliament. However, the MP also mentions that such a request has not been made by the party or Rajapaksa.
Arambepola further states that the story of the former president coming to Parliament is a false news spread through social media.
A statement from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sri Lanka’s debt
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China says that it will continue to support Sri Lanka to recover from the current difficulties it is facing and to ease its debt burden as well as to achieve sustainable development.
Accordingly, they have stated that they are ready to work with other countries and international financial institutions to help Sri Lanka positively.
Gotabhaya will never enter politics again – Welgama
Samagi Jana Balavegaya Member of Parliament Kumara Welgama says that, according to what happened to the former President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, he does not think that he will enter politics again.
Kumara Welgama said this while speaking to the media while leaving after the parliamentary meeting yesterday (02).
The SLFP divides into two during the budget voting!
A clear division of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s parliamentary group was seen during the voting for the second reading of the 2022 Amended Appropriation Bill held yesterday (02).
Sri Lanka National Party President Maithripala Sirisena, Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara, San Vijayalal De Silva and Dushmantha Mitrapala were not present in the House to vote and all the other members of the party had voted in favor of the budget.
Meanwhile, Maithripala Sirisena succeeded in passing an amendment to the party constitution which increased his powers as party president at the 71st anniversary of the Sri Lankan National Party held yesterday.
Accordingly, it will be possible to see in the future whether this division of the Sri Lankan Party is another double act of theirs or not.
Measures to prevent delays in obtaining information from government agencies
The government has decided to use telephone, WhatsApp and e-mail to prevent delays in obtaining information from government agencies under the right to information.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Public Administration requests the people to send their phone number, WhatsApp number and email address along with the information requests.
