The proposed ferry service between India and Sri Lanka is expected to be launched this year, Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy said.
He told the Assembly the Indian Government hopes to launch the ferry service between the Karaikal Port and Kankesanthurai Port this year.
Presenting the Budget for 2022-23, Rangasamy also said that under the Sagarmala scheme, it was proposed to commence commercial cargo handling operation at the Puducherry Port, in association with Chennai Port Trust this year.
“It is proposed to invite Expression of Interest (EoI) from firms for operating passenger and cargo ship and promoting other allied activities in the Puducherry Port,” he said.
In recent times, India’s Union Ministers and State politicians are calling for further people-to-people connectivity between Sri Lanka and India for tourism purposes as most of the tourists who visit Sri Lanka during the pre-pandemic period were from India.
As part of this, plans are underway from the Indian side to revive the India-Sri Lanka ferry service between Karaikal in the Union Territory of Puducherry and Jaffna covering a distance of 56 nautical miles.
The project is going to be a Public-Private Partnership arrangement with a shipping services entity. Ferry services between Colombo-Tuticorin and Thalaimannar-Rameswaram are also under consideration.
If implemented, the ferry service would facilitate Buddhist and Hindu pilgrims to visit religious and cultural destinations in respective countries.
Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda also stressed the need to revive this service in his conceptual note before taking up the job, hopefully next week.
Responding to a query raised by Batticaloa MP R. Chanakkiyan, Foreign Ministry said there had been no final decision taken from the Sri Lankan side on reviving the ferry service even though the Indian side expressed interests.
The ministry said the Indian proposal was pending approval from Sri Lankan Defence and law enforcement authorities.
It would take around three hours for one-way trip and would cost about Indian Rs 6,5000-Rs 7,000 for a round trip.
In order to promote tourism, the Puducherry ministry for shipping has mooted a proposal to start ferry service between Karaikal in the Union Territory of Puducherry and Jaffna in Sri Lanka covering a distance of 56 nautical miles (103.7 kilometres).
Hundreds of Tamil-speaking people from Sri Lanka come to India on pilgrimage. Besides, many Sri Lankans also visit India to see Buddhist sites.
The ferry service will facilitate their visit. It will not only give boost to tourism, but will also improve bilateral cooperation between the two countries, he said.
A ferry service between India and Sri Lanka was operated between Dhanushkodi in Tamil Nadu and Thalaimannar in Sri Lanka, over a distance of 30 nautical miles.
After the 1964 cyclone destroyed infrastructure at Dhanushkodi, the service was operated from Rameswaram.
In 1984, the Union government suspended the service due to the rise of ethnic conflict in the island nation. In more recent years, the TN government has been looking at a fresh site at Rameswaram to resume operations.
India puts into motion ferry service from Puducherry to Jaffna
Protect the rights of the LGBTIQ community: Premnath C. Dolawatte
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Premnath C. Dolawatta says that the laws provided by the Penal Code affecting the people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, expressions and sex characteristics including the LGBTIQ Community in Sri lanka must be repealed.
The private motion that has been granted to the President Ranil Wickramasinghe today (24), was tabled in Parliament the day before(23) and through that, the MP suggests that the transgression in civil-liberties of the LGBTIQ community enforced via the Penal Code (Amended) (19th Authority) should be ceased.
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Japan grants JPY 500 million to improve SL’ Non-Communicable Disease Treatment Facilities
Japan will be providing JPY 500 million(approximately Rs. 1,265 million) under the Japanese Government Non- Project Grant Aid Programme to Improve Non-Communicable Disease Treatment Facilities at the Sri Jayawardenepura Government Hospital (SJGH).
“Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages” is a Sustainable Development Goal and its Target: “By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being”.
Accordingly, Government of Japan provides medical equipment and technical assistance to improve Non-Communicable Disease Treatment Facilities at the Sri Jayawardenepura Government Hospital (SJGH) under Japanese Government Non- Project Grant Aid Programme.
Under this grant assistance, Angio- CT machine, Other Radiology equipment, Ophthalmic instruments, Surgical instrument set (stainless steel with satin finish), Fifteen (15) Dental Units with accessories, Liver transplant Instrument set, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory will be provided.
This improvement at the hospital will facilitate for enhancing the quality of the care provided specially to the patients with non-communicable diseases while enabling to provide high quality medical professional training to medical undergraduates and postgraduates from National School of Nursing in Sri Jayawardenepura and Faculty of Medical Sciences of University of Sri Jayawardenepura.
Accordingly, this project will eventually assist the development of human resources of health sector in Sri Lanka.
Based on the request of the Government of Sri Lanka, the Government of Japan has agreed to provide Japanese Yen 500 million (approximately Rs. 1,265 million) grant under the Japanese non-project grant aid scheme for provision of equipment to improve the facilities at the Sri Jayawardenepura Government Hospital (SJGH).
The Exchange of Notes pertaining to the above grant were signed by K.M Mahinda Siriwardana, Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies on behalf of the GOSL and. MIZUKOSHI Hideaki, Ambassador of Government of Japan on August 18, 2022 at the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies.
UN and SL enter into UNSDCF agreement to ensure rapid economic recovery
UN Sri Lanka and Government sign Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Sri Lanka The Cooperation Framework will guide the work of UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes for the next five years (2023 – 2027)
The United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023-2027 was launched today by the Government of Sri Lanka and the United Nations in Sri Lanka.
The UNSDCF is the Framework that guides the work of all the UN Agencies in Sri Lanka and articulates the collective vision and contribution of the United Nations to support Sri Lanka to accelerate actions towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The Cooperation Framework gives primacy to accelerating actions to ensure a rapid recovery from the economic crisis along with the impact of COVID-19, prioritising support to revitalise the economy and economic activities, social services, decent employment, social cohesion, and health and wellbeing for all people in Sri Lanka.
The UNSDCF was co-signed by the Secretary to the Treasury Mahinda Siriwardana on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka and UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka. Hanaa Singer-Hamdy on behalf of the United Nations. Heads of UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes in Sri Lanka also signed the Cooperation Framework.
The signing ceremony hosted at the Ministry of Finance was also attended by Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mrs. Aruni Wijewardane and the Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific of the UN Development Coordination Office, David McLachlanKarr.
Speaking at the event, Secretary to the Treasury Mahinda Siriwardana noted that “the current global challenges demonstrate the continued importance for multilateral solutions that bring together the international community around shared priorities.
This Cooperation Framework with the United Nations in Sri Lanka will be key as we pursue sustainable and inclusive development for the people of Sri Lanka,” he said.
Elaborating further the UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka H.E. Hanaa Singer-Hamdy said, “this Cooperation Framework is mutually owned and anchored in national development priorities, the 2030 Agenda and the principles of the UN Charter.
The UNSDCF is structured around four interrelated and mutually reinforcing Strategic Priorities where the UN system will concentrate its expertise to support Sri Lanka to make transformational and accelerated progress.
These Strategic Priorities cover Inclusive and Equitable Human Development and Well-being; Resilient and Green Recovery and Growth for Shared Prosperity and Environmental Sustainability; Social Cohesion and Inclusive Governance & Justice; and 2022 – 08 – 17 Gender Equality.
UN’s work will be underpinned by a crosscutting commitment to support rapid recovery from the economic crisis and the impact of COVID-19”. She further noted that programmes by the UN System will be anchored in the principles of human rights and nondiscrimination and ensuring that “no one is left behind”.
“The 2023-2027 Development Cooperation Framework reflects Sri Lanka’s national development priorities while working towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It was concluded at a very significant moment for the country, when transformational changes are being operationalized in the economic, political and social fronts.
It is supportive of the Government’s efforts to “leave no one behind” in progressing towards the SDGs in partnership with the UN Development System in “Delivering as One”, Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mrs. Aruni Wijewardane said.
The UNSDCF will be funded through core budget allocations of an estimated USD 60 Million, in addition to approx. USD 325 Million through other resources – spread across the five-year period of implementation.
IMF team arrives in the island today to reach the Staff-Level Agreement
The International Monetary Board will be arriving in the island today (Wednesday 24) to finalize discussions and to reach Staff-Level Agreement which will lead to to gain IMF Board Approval and unlock loan package including additional much-needed multilateral financings ,official sources said.
Sri Lanka is to continue engagement with creditors in order to obtain financing assurances although debt restructuring plan, which is crucial to reaching the eagerly awaited agreement with the IMF, is yet to be finalized.
A staff-level agreement would be an important milestone towards the IMF Board approval for the EFF programme, which in turn would help unlock bridging finance to support the much-needed external financing for Sri Lanka,” the Finance Ministry said.
The ministry shared that the Sri Lankan authorities are working with debt restructuring advisor Lazard and Clifford Chance to reach a consensus on debt restructuring arrangements with the creditors.
“The advisors have already prepared the analytical framework for the debt operation, prior to formal engagements with Sri Lanka’s creditors,” the ministry said.
The statement highlighted that the government is committed to engaging its creditors in good faith, with a view to reaching a comprehensive debt restructuring programme that provides a fair and sustainable outcome for all stakeholders.
According to Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe ,the International Monetary Fund’s disbursement of the Extended Fund Facility to Sri Lanka can be expected by the end of the year, subject to the success of debt restructuring with creditors and successful negotiations with the IMF.
Speaking on Bloomberg Television, the Governor also discussed inflation in Sri Lanka, monetary policy and the country’s domestic debt.
Asked whether he can give the IMF assurances that Sri Lanka’s debt is sustainable without restructuring domestic debt, he said: “This is exactly what we are discussing with the IMF.”
“First part is to reach a staff-level agreement on the overall macro fiscal policy framework for the next 3-4 years and the medium-term framework, that we are coming closer to reaching an agreement on a macro fiscal framework,”he disclosed.
“The second part is for us to agree and negotiate with the debt targets for us to make our medium to long term debt sustainable. We are in the process of having this discussion. Only after that basically we can say where the debt targets we have to meet.”
He said that they are currently discussing with the IMF and that they hope to reach that agreement as well. “Then only we will approach the creditors,” he said.
Once we reach the staff-level agreement, then the timeline is set. Then we have to approach all our external creditors and start negotiating and discussing in good faith for us to obtain a relief on the debt service payments, he added.
“It is essential to get ‘financial assurance’ from Sri Lanka’s external creditors he said adding that CB thinks next about 3-4 months, hopefully if all goes well, if all external creditors are cooperating with the Sri Lankan government’s debt management strategy, then hoping that we would be able to get financial assurance somewhere is December.
This will be the requirement for IMF to allow the Central Bank to submit its paper to the executive board enabling them for disbursing the Extended Fund Facility of Around US $ 3 billion in tranches commencing from towards the end of this year, he claimed.
SL Apparel sector calls for trade deals with EU, US and the UK
The apparel sector stakeholders are calling for trade deals with the EU, US and the UK that suit Sri Lanka’s realities.
Secretary General of the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) Yohan Lawrence emphasized the importance of retaining GSP+ post December 2023 as regional peers such as Vietnam and India have already signed or gained renewed focus on securing FTAs with the EU.
He also highlighted that Sri Lanka must push for better trade agreements with the EU, US and the UK that suit Sri Lanka’s realities while looking for opportunities in countries like China and India.
Lawrence identified this as vital for the apparel industry to gain the temporary boost it needs to aid the country’s economic recovery.He expressed these views at a workshop held under the theme ‘De-risking Sri Lankan Apparel’.
The UK-based start-up Kavida collaborated with the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) in Sri Lanka to launch ‘Resilient Sri Lanka’, a new industry forum aimed at facilitating supply chain resilience in the manufacturing sector.
It navigated the numerous supply chain risks within the apparel industry characterized by post-COVID-19 realities, growing uncertainties in the global geopolitical landscape, market volatilities and the need for resilience in the face of such external shocks.
The topic of discussion was timely and highlighted efforts taken by the Sri Lankan apparel industry to navigate through these supply chain disruptions via innovation and collaboration with the tech industry.
Kavida also launched its new AI platform with the aim of enabling procurement managers ensure on-time delivery and improve supplier collaboration.
The Joint Apparel Association Forum pledged support to the effort of identifying technology-intensive solutions in the focus areas of discussion.
Lawrence highlighted that Sri Lanka’s largest export markets – the US, EU and the UK, have their own share of troubles due to supply chain disruptions including shipment delays contributing to high inflation.
The UK’s inflation recorded at 10% is the highest in the last 40 years, with Germany anticipating double digit inflation. He reiterated that “there is opportunity in crisis”.
“With growing global trade shifts, the EU is looking at an EU-Asia connectivity strategy, a trade system based on sustainable, comprehensive, rules based connectivity, ensuring prosperity, safety and resilience of people.
Sri Lanka already has an excellent track record of delivering products to customers in difficult times. However, we need to ensure these opportunities are not taken away from us.”
Lawrence also stressed that Sri Lanka must work on a framework to ensure compliance with global trade legislation placing a greater onus on the supplier to prove they have robust systems and risk analysis mechanisms in place and have done their due diligence.
The event showcased a panel with key industry leaders displaying a positive outlook on how the know-how and innovation culture of the tech industry can complement the scale and resilience of the apparel industry to move beyond the barriers of the supply chain.
The forum also brought together US and UK fashion brands that pledged support to Sri Lanka and the apparel industry in this hour of crisis.
Four including Nagamuwa and Stalin, granted bail!
The Fort Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to Duminda Nagamuwa, Secretary of Frontline Socialist Party, Joseph Stalin, Secretary of Sri Lanka Teachers Union, Father Jeevantha Peiris and Nalin Gunawardena, who were accused of forcibly entering the Presidential Palace.
They have been released on bail on personal bail of Rs 05 lakh each.
Ranil’s interim budget to be presented to the Parliament on 31st
The interim budget report prepared by revising the adopted budget for the year 2023 is to be submitted to the Parliament on August 31. It is reported that President Ranil Wickremesinghe will present the interim budget to Parliament as the Minister of Finance.
After the presentation of the budget, 03 days have been reserved for the debate on the budget report. Accordingly, the budget debate will be held on September 01, 02, 03.
GR is ready to return to SL if his security is guaranteed – Reuters
Reuters reports that former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s return to Sri Lanka will be delayed by another two weeks.
Earlier, the former president’s close friends had told the media that he would come to the island on the 24th. However, it was later reported that his arrival would be delayed.
Reuters reports that Rajapaksa is ready to come to the island in the first week of next September and further states that if his security is confirmed, he will come to Sri Lanka even before then.
Reuters reports that the cost of living in Thailand has led to the ex-president’s trip to Sri Lanka hastening.
No new recruitments for public service!
The Ministry of Finance has informed the Examinations Department of Sri Lanka not to hold any examination for public service recruitment. Apart from this, it has been notified to suspend the results of the recent recruitment competitive exams.
Due to the current financial crisis, the payment of salaries of public servants has also gone into crisis and due to this, the government is engaged in an effort to reduce the number of public servants.
The Ministry of Education says that due to this decision, it has not been possible to release the results of the examination for the selection of aesthetic subjects, home economics and English teachers for public schools held last February. The education authorities say that the examination department has not yet been notified to release the results as the recruitments have to be done if the results of the relevant examination are released.
According to this year’s budget proposals, the recruitment of government employees has been suspended.