Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who according to foreign reports is currently in Bangkok, Thailand is expected to return to Sri Lanka on August 20, political sources disclosed.
The ousted Sri Lankan head of state is expected to return to the island on a private jet, following concerns on his safety due to which security officials were deployed outside the hotel he was residing.
Meanwhile, the question of who paid off the private jets utilised by the former President is currently among the hot topics on the political arena, and even a group of lawyers are preparing to question the government in this regard, sources added.
Even as China’s spy ship ‘Yuan Wang 5’ is back on course towards the Hambantota Port of Sri Lanka, India is set to gift the island nation a Dornier 228 maritime patrol aircraft soon, subtly reasserting its role as the net security provider to the Indian Ocean region.
New Delhi had over the past couple of weeks repeatedly conveyed its its concerns over the arrival of the ship in the Indian Ocean nation,
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had on August 5 written to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Colombo, requesting for postponement of the visit of the ship until further consultations between the two sides.
Later it has asked India to inform them in writing about the threat that will be caused to India by the entry of the Chinese ship into SriLanka.
Indian Authorities are still to respond to this request,official sources said, adding that the Sri Lanka President has not opposed the move to allow entry of the ship.
President Ranil Wickremasinghe has requested the US Ambassador Julie Chung at a meeting with President Ranil Wickremesinghe to provide firm reasons for opposing the ship’s arrival in writing when she expressed her concerns on the matter.
The same message was conveyed to Indian diplomats by Foreign Minister Ali Sabry on Tuesday. But they were keeping mom without responding to the request. , a top foreign ministry official said.
.The ship is one of the four currently used by the Strategic Support Force of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to track satellites and intercontinental ballistic missiles.
The ‘Yuan Wang 5’ is now likely to dock at Hambantota Port on August 16 – five days after it was originally scheduled to arrive at the port Sri Lanka leased out to China Merchant Ports, a state-owned company of the communist country, in 2016.
“Security and cooperation in the neighbourhood are of utmost priority,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sri Lankan government said in a statement in Colombo on Saturday, after giving its nod for the arrival of the ship in Hambantota Port.
Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has allowed the Harbour Master to grant permission to the Chinese ballistic missile- and satellite-tracking vessel Yuan Wang 5 to dock at the Hambantota Port from August 16 – 12.
It is reported that Colombo initially granted permission for the vessel to dock at Hambantota on July 12, a day before former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country giving in to months-long protests.
The much-disputed 730-foot-long ship was initially scheduled to dock at the Hambantota Port between August 11 and 17, however, Sri Lanka made a request from Beijing to defer the arrival.
The request for deferment came after India voiced strong concerns on the matter and said it carefully monitors any developments having a bearing on its security and economic interests, and takes all necessary to safeguard them.
China, in response to India’s concerns, said it hoped “relevant parties” would refrain from interfering with its legitimate maritime activities and stressed that it was “senseless to pressure” Colombo by citing the issue of security concerns.
As diplomatic tensions were growing, Sri Lanka clarified that permission and clearance were given to the Chinese vessel for “replenishment”. The vessel will conduct satellite control and research tracking in the north-western part of the Indian Ocean region through August and September, the Sri Lankan government said further.
Meanwhile, India on Friday (Aug 12) categorically rejected insinuation by China which claimed that Sri Lanka’s neighbour is pressuring the island nation over Chinese ballistic missile and satellite-tracking vessel’s planned visit to Hambantota.
Amidst the row over the Chinese vessel, Sri Lanka allowed a Pakistani warship PNS Taimur to make a port call in Colombo on Friday. According to Sri Lanka Navy, this Pakistani-guided missile frigate built by Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard in Shanghai, is in Colombo for a formal visit.
The global apparel industry issued a call to action regarding Sri Lanka’s economic crisis this week, urging the stakeholders across the world to step up efforts in ensuring the island nation’s high-performing sector does not lose momentum.
In a move to ensure their competitor from the South Asian region does not fall behind, due to the prolonged crisis in the country, the apparel industry organisations are mobilising worldwide.
As reported by Just-Style, a global apparel sourcing and industry news platform, the organisations are coming together to express their support for Sri Lanka’s garment industry and its workers, during the country’s ongoing economic crisis.
The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) sent a letter on behalf of the buyers to its counterpart association in Sri Lanka, the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), to reiterate the US apparel and footwear industry’s strong support for the Sri Lankan garment industry during what it calls this time of crisis and transition.
In the letter, AAFA President and CEO Steve Lamar said the organisation applauds the JAAF and its members for its “relentless efforts” to keep workers employed, safe and healthy amid an unprecedented economic crisis.
Similar action was also taken by the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), Fair Wear Foundation, Fair Labour Association and British Retail Consortium.
Just-Style reported that the agencies have signed a joint call to action, encouraging companies sourcing from Sri Lanka to take specific steps to support workers, suppliers and the sector at large, during this difficult period.
Sri Lanka plays an important role in supplying global apparel brands and retailers. It is crucial businesses support the country’s apparel industry during this difficult time, to keep workers and their families afloat and the Sri Lankan economy in motion, amid the current crisis,” said Ethical Trading Initiative Executive Director Peter McAllister, as reported by Just-Style.
In the call for support, the associations and agencies have stressed that they want to encourage the companies sourcing from Sri Lanka to take a series of actions.
The actions are to ensure there is a clear understanding of the risk to workers in the current situation; maintain regular communications with the suppliers to understand their current situation and ensure timely payment of orders; avoid cancellation of orders and assure suppliers of business continuity for the time being
It has to ensure all pending wages and severance payments are paid to all employees and workers; review negotiated prices and ensure future price negotiations include the increase in costs for energy, other raw materials and labour exposed to inflation
.It is essential to engage with unions and suppliers to explore innovative remedial solutions to support workers and work collaboratively to consider other actions to improve respect for human rights in the context of Sri Lanka’s economic crisis.
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has been given directives to take appropriate management decisions and distribution decisions on the filling stations that fail to adhere to the guidelines, Minister of Power & Energy Kanchana Wijesekera says.
The instructions were given at a progress review meeting held this morning (Aug 13) at the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited (CPSTL) in Kolonnawa to look into the ongoing process of fuel distribution.
According to the lawmaker, the data of the past two weeks were analyzed while the quantity of fuel distributed to each filling station and the quantity of fuel dispensed through the QR code system were also taken up for discussion.
Fuel distribution to essential services, public transport vehicles, fisheries harbours, agricultural requirements, industries, and tourism was also reviewed at this meeting.
MPs Indika Anurudda, Suren Raghavan and Madhura Vithanage, who are assisting with the fuel distribution process, also attended the meeting.
A crude oil cargo of 100,000 metric tons is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka later tonight (Aug 13) and will undergo quality sampling tomorrow, Minister of Power & Energy Kanchana Wijesekera says.
Meanwhile, another crude oil cargo of 120,000 metric tons is expected to reach Colombo between August 23 and 29, he said further in a tweet.Both cargos are Russia’s Urals crude oil, the lawmaker added
Sri Lankan government on Friday (Aug 12) has gazetted the Petroleum Products (Special Provisions) Amendment Bill.
The said Bill, published under the directives of Power & Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera, allows selected specific sectors of the economy to individually import necessary fuel quantities.
Accordingly, the government will issue licences to identified parties for importing petroleum products.
On April 25, the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was received for the proposal tabled by Minister Wijesekera in this regard.
As fuel is essential for all economic activities in the country, it is appropriate to issue licenses to selected specific sectors of the economy to import and use the fuel they require individually, the government has said.
Subsequently, the legal draftsman was advised to draft a Bill to amend the Petroleum Products (Special Provisions) Act, No. 33 of 2002, in order to make provisions to issue licence to properly identified parties.
The reversal of the decision of the Central Bank on the directions of Governor Dr NandalaL Weerasinghe to ban imports on open account transactions following the instructions of President Ranil Wickremasighe has everted a severe food shortage and the sky rocketing of prices, official sources said.
Central Bank Governor Dr. Weerasighe reluctantly agreed to the request of the government to relax his open accounts restrictions for Island nation’s essential imports with strict guidelines.
This non flexible attitude of the Central Bank has caused harm more than good in the practice of the monetary authority since the period of former Governor Prof W D Lakshman whose Modern Monetary Theory and other tools his yesmen in the CB played havoc in the economy.
This arrogant attitude is now taken forward by the new Governor with the aid of some of his friendly officials going even to the extent of criticizing the country’s head of state.
This attitude of the CBN governor and his handpicked officials should be stopped immediately as it was not their business and mandate.
He clearly displayed this attitude when responding to a question raised by a journalist at a recent monetary policy review media conference on the ban on open account transactions on essential commodity imports saying that they had to relax restrictions on the intervention of some government bigwigs.
Several importers representing Pettah Wholesale Market trade association together with trade Minister Nalin Fernando had sought CB approval to remove the existing open account ban that had been imposed on the importation of essential food items including rice, wheat flour, sugar, potatoes, red dhal, onions, dry chillies, dry fish, beans and milk powder.
After relaxing the Central Bank’s ban on open account transactions these food items became available in the local market , consumers claimed. .
Sri Lanka food prices have started to come down after open account imports were allowed, while more money has been allocated from an Indian credit line, Trade and Food Security Minister Nalin Fernando has said.
“We decided in the cabinet due to the breakdown of import activities due to forex shortages to permit open account imports,” Minister Fernando told parliament.
“We have had good results over the past month. This week we have seen a fall in the price of many essential items.”
Open account imports were barred in May in an attempt to reduce Undiyal premiums, which were driven by foreign exchange outflowing in the country.
Meanwhile Fernando said in addition to a 180 million dollars allocated from an Indian credit line for food, another 160 million dollars will be allocated this week.
We will be able to make more food available, reduce prices over the next few months
Sri Lanka only needs about a us$ 100 million a month for key food imports according to industry officials but a ban on open account imports in May threatened the country’s food supplies as the banks are unable to allocate foreign exchange on time for food, amid forex shortages driven by money printing.
Under open account trade, suppliers can send goods on credit which can be settled later based on their personal relationships.
Perishables have to be cleared quickly from the Port but banks are unable to give dollars in time for importers of most items.
“A big share of essential food imports come from India,” Trade Minister Nalin Fernando told reporters. “They need to get the food out of the exporting country in a day or two and clear them as quickly as possible.
“They give credit and delayed payment facilities because they cannot be kept for a long time. For example, onions and potatoes perish quickly.
Prices of foods moved up after open account imports were banned in May, he said
Due to the instability and the bankruptcy befallen the country, Sri Lanka has become a prey for power states of the world endangering the island nation’s national security, Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa said, speaking to a meeting of party activists in Homagama Electorate organised by Chief Organiser of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) in Homagama, Attorney-at-Law Eranda Weliange yesterday (13).
The Opposition Leader condemned the political conduct of the Rajapaksas saying that they have broken the country’s backbone and that Sri Lanka is suffering the consequences of choosing the ‘wrong path’ instead of the ‘United Path’ in the 2019 Presidential Election. Therefore, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) is the party that is capable of restoring the country, Premadasa claimed.
Despite Ranil Wickremesinghe being elected as the President being constitutionally accurate, it is completely a grotesque version of the public’s mandate and recognition, the Opposition Leader emphasised.
He added that the present is completely different from the past and pointed out that those days the elderly always had the priority in making political decisions, but today the youth have taken the lead, even in the home. The decisions at homes are influenced by the thoughts and wishes of the youth community and it is the responsibility of the rulers to understand their expectations, Premadasa stressed.
The Opposition Leader also claimed that there is no blood on his hands and that he is not liable to money stolen from banks, nor hypocrisy, promising that he will accept the challenge of building the country by coming together as a team.
If any political party opposes the formation of an all-party government, a government will be formed together with the parties that are willing to support it, said Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapaksa speaking to reporters in Kandy yesterday (13).
“We may have no option should a certain political party opposes the formation of an all-party government. We will form a government with the political parties that are willing to join. It may not be an all-party one, but we try to gain the support of as many parties as possible,” the Justice Minister said.
He added that there is no connection between the formation of an all-party government and the adaptation of a new Constitution.
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) former MP Samantha Viddyarathna speaking to a public gathering organised by the National People’s Power (NPP) yesterday (13) said his party does not agree to an all-party government and an election, therefore, must be immediately held.
“We do not agree with the all-party government that is ruining this country. We say, go back to a public vote. Win and rule if you can. When the people vote and appoint a government, the people will like it. Not only those who voted but also the ones in the opposition begin to think that no matter what happens now, the government what the people want. So they will think that it will not be appropriate for them to take to the streets.” Viddyaratna said.
He added: “Isn’t it good that the protests are stopped for at least a year? They will be stopped. The International Community will recognise that the people of Sri Lanka have voted for a government they like, democratic. Then some aid will come this way, the tourists will return, the investors too. The protests will stop. Then the country can rise again.”
No government has acted on conducting a proper investigation in connection with any murder or abduction in the recent history of Sri Lanka, and the Easter Sunday Massacre has met with the same fate, said the Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, addressing a religious ceremony held in Katuwapitiya Church yesterday (13).
“Sri Lanka practices a very bad tradition, which is, people tend to forget something in two weeks after it happened. The murders, abductions, bus bombings, disappearances, white van abductions that have happened in this country since time immemorial are forgotten in a matter of two weeks. None of them has been properly investigated by any government. Nor is any investigation allowed.” the Cardinal said.
He added: “Whenever a request was made to conduct an investigation, our leaders always worked to hide it under the carpet. The same thing happened to the Easter Attack. That is why the law and legal bodies of this country should be independent. The Police should be independent. The Police should not succumb to political pressure. I say that if justice is to be served to our people, our current system has to be changed. Otherwise, if there is an attack tomorrow, it will be meeting the same fate.”
