The Joint Leadership of Health Service Trade Unions today (16) organised a protest near the Colombo National Hospital demanding the continuous supply of medicines and surgical equipment, the provision of meals for patients and the reduction of the cost of living.
The ban on six overseas Tamil organisations was not lifted for the purpose of receiving foreign investments, said Cabinet Spokesman Minister Bandula Gunawardena speaking to the briefing held in announcing Cabinet decisions today (16).
The extraordinary gazette was about the affair of the Defence Ministry declaring and eliminating terrorist and non-terrorist organisations through gazette notifications in compliance with international standards established by the provisions of the United Nations Act No. 45 of 1968, the Minister noted.
Accordingly, the Defence Ministry has decided to lift a ban imposed on six international Tamil organisations which had previously been banned.
These organisations are;
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An unidentified body was discovered on the Ratmalana beach today (16), Police said. The victim was a male.
A number of unidentified bodies were found on the beaches near Colombo on several occasions in the last few weeks.
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By Yvette Tan
A Chinese research ship has docked in Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port despite Indian concerns.
The Yuan Wang 5 was given permission to dock on the condition it would not carry out research while in Sri Lankan waters, said port officials.
India had previously voiced concerns that the ship would be used to spy on its activities, said media reports.
Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry said the ship will be allowed to remain in the Chinese-run port until 22 August.
Foreign security analysts quoted by Reuters describe the Yuan Wang 5 as one of China’s latest generation space-tracking ships, used to monitor satellite, rocket and intercontinental ballistic missile launches.
Several Indian media reports described it as a “dual-use spy ship”. Shipping analytics websites call it a research and survey vessel.
One report by Indian news site NDTV said New Delhi was concerned about “the possibility of the ship’s tracking systems attempting to snoop on Indian installations while on its way to Sri Lanka”.
Earlier in July, an Indian foreign ministry spokesman said the government was monitoring the ship’s planned visit, adding that New Delhi would protect its security and economic interests.
According to a Reuters report, India had lodged a verbal protest with the Sri Lankan government against the ship’s visit.
Earlier this month, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry asked China to defer the ship’s port call, saying it needed to take “further consultations”.
China responded saying it was “completely unjustified for certain countries to cite so-called ‘security concerns’ to pressure Sri Lanka” – though it did not name any specific country. Sri Lanka later announced that the boat would be given permission to dock.
Vikas Pandey, BBC News, Delhi
The controversy over the ship reflects the diplomatic tight spot that Sri Lanka finds itself in every time it has to choose between India and China.
While India has denied that it put any pressure on Sri Lanka over the ship, it did say that it “carefully monitors any development having a bearing on its security and economic interests” – an indirect comment as to how it views the vessel.
Delhi has been at the forefront of sending aid to Sri Lanka in recent months to help it overcome its economic crisis, but this latest controversy could cast a shadow over this.
Many in Delhi’s diplomatic circles are wondering if the new administration in Colombo is again trying to find that elusive balance between India and China.
It will be interesting to see how Delhi reacts to this in the coming days – both privately with Sri Lankan leaders and in their public statements.
India’s concerns come amidst Beijing’s increasing influence in Sri Lanka – which is currently in a severe economic crisis.
Beijing has loaned billions of dollars to the country as part of its Belt and Road Initiative to build infrastructure in Asia. However, not all of the funding has worked in Sri Lanka’s favour.
For example, in 2017, China Merchants Port Holdings took a majority share with a 99-year lease in Hambantota port – where the Yuan Wang 5 is currently docked – after Colombo struggled to repay the debt incurred to build it.
A technological development should take place in every field starting from the school system in order to save the country from the current recession, said Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, speaking to the Pelmadulla Electorate Authority Board meeting organised by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Pelmadulla Electorate Organiser, Attorney-at-Law Samitha Attygalle yesterday (15).
Accordingly, the SJB together with the ‘Samagi Jana Sandhanaya’ will carry out a technological revolution in the country and by doing so, every field will be developed thereby rescuing the country from the current crisis, the Opposition Leader promised.
He reminded that despite the difficulties befallen the country, the situation is being controlled to some extent because of the 200 Garment Factories initiative established by late President Ranasinghe Premadasa in the late 80’s and early 90’s.
However, leaders emerged after did not implement the initiative due to their narrow political objectives, he went on, adding that had they continued to implement the export-oriented garment industry programme, the country would have easily overcome the recession it suffers from today.
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The hospitals are suffering from not only a shortage of medicines but also a shortage of medical equipment and the Ministry of Health is maintaining a silent policy in this regard, alleged Executive Member of the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) Dr. Prasad Kolambage, speaking to media yesterday (15).
“Not only medicines, but also some medical equipment required to run hospitals, the chemicals needed those equipment, as well as other management materials, have run out creating a severe crisis. As we can see now, the Ministry of Health has not made any statement in this regard. They are keeping their mouths shut. If medicines were issued in hospitals for a month’s period earlier, now they are issued for a week.”
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Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday (15) said that history has brought India and Sri Lanka together like two sides of the same coin and the two countries must forge ahead together.
The President made this comment during an event to hand over a Dornier 228 Reconnaissance aircraft to Sri Lanka by India.
The President called for both countries to commit to further strengthening their relationship as India and Sri Lanka share many commonalities and the two countries have to build on it.
Addressing the gathering, President Wickremesinghe emphasized on the importance of ties between the two countries.
“He aid that the two countries are two sides of a single coin. It is not possible to split a coin for one face to fall one way and the other face to fall the other way.
For whatever it is, history has put us together and we have to stay together. The two countries are both marking our 75th anniversaries. let us commit ourselves to further strengthening our relationships,” he said.
The first ever Dornier Reconnaissance Aircraft from India to enhance the maritime surveillance capabilities of Sri Lanka was inducted to Sri Lanka Air Force Fleet yesterday (15th August 2022) in a ceremonial procession.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe was welcomed at the Sri Lanka Air Force Base in Katunayake by Air Force Commander Air Marshal Sudharshana Pathirana. The President was also accorded a special Guard of Honour by the Air Force troops.
The two countries have common viewpoints in many areas. Sri Lanka is a small country in the middle of the ocean, while India, while looking after its own interests must also look at its role as a global power.
After all India is our closest neighbor and there are many issues that are common to us of which we are understanding, of which we have to resolve. Not only issues pertaining to Indo-Lanka relations but to the region and to the world.
So in these areas it is possible for us, and it has been on many occasions for us to come to an agreement or have a similar viewpoint with India. It is with those that we consolidate.”
Congratulating India on its 75th Anniversary of independence, President Wickremesinghe noted, “India today is becoming a world power and it is still on the rise and by the mid-century when we are no longer there, you could see a powerful India playing a dominant role on the global stage.”
Standard and Poor’s (S&D), one of the world’s leading credit rating agencies, has downgraded Sri Lanka’s international sovereign bond rating to grade D.
The country has been downgraded to grade D, the lowest rank issued by the S&D which is equivalent to being bankrupt, due to non-payment of international sovereign bonds.
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A decision has been made to slash the prices of all types of rice issued by the Paddy Marketing Board by Rs. 05.
Accordingly, the price drop will be in effect from today (16), revealed the Agriculture Ministry.
Below are the revised prices of rice.
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The controversial Chinese defence vessel Yuan Wang 5 has arrived at the Hambantota Port a short while ago.
The vessel has anchored at the port and photographs have been made available to media.
Photos: BBC Sinhala
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