Anjana Priyanjith, General Secretary of the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association said that with the fuel price of IOC Fuel rising again to Rs. 93 per liter last night, the Private Bus Owners’ Association is requesting the government to provide a diesel subsidy through the depot of the Ceylon Transport Board as soon as possible to protect the private bus industry.
He was speaking to the media today (11).
He said that if the diesel subsidy is not provided, a 60% increase in bus fares will be required.
Priyanjith stated that if such a revision is made, the minimum bus fare would increase to between Rs. 30 and Rs. 35.
However, allowing IOC to increase fuel prices indicates that Ceypetco’s fuel prices are set to rise, and he stressed that the diesel subsidy should be given before then.
It is reported that the Milk Powder Importers Association is planning to increase the price of a kilogram of imported milk powder by Rs. 300.
Accordingly, the price of a 400-gram packet of milk powder will be increased by Rs. 120.
The Milk Powder Importers’ Association says that they have no choice but to increase the price of milk powder in Sri Lanka against the backdrop of the price of a metric ton of milk powder in the world market rising to US $ 5500.
The control price for milk powder was removed some time ago and companies have the ability to set the price as they wish.
Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa had participated in an interview telecast on Sirasa TV yesterday (10) and had taken a strong stand against the Rajapaksa family.
Weerawansa also accused Basil Rajapaksa of money laundering and said that the people of this country should unite and expel him from the country.
He said that Basil Rajapaksa had turned this government into his legacy, adding that neither President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa nor Mahinda Rajapaksa could do anything about it and that it could not be assumed that all this was happening without Mahinda Rajapaksa’s knowledge.
He also said that he would never contest an election with the Rajapaksas again and that family politics in this country would end with the Rajapaksa family.
Wimal Weerawansa is a politician who has been criticizing, insulting and attacking Sirasa TV for a long time.
At that time Wimal Weerawansa called Sirasa TV is a supporter of an imperialist conspiracy, a pro – LTTE channel and a puppet of the UNP. Also, Wimal Weerawansa then referred to the Rajapaksas as ‘Lee Kuan Yew’ and ‘Mahathir Mohamad’.
It is reported that UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has received a stern warning from several of his close political allies that the forthcoming national government could be a dangerous political gamble.
They pointed out to Wickremasinghe that consequences could be catastrophic if this goes on without very specific information about the support from the international community – without a full agreement on the role of a national government and the division of responsibilities and a clear mechanism for implementing that agreement.
Sources said that close associates had told Ranil Wickremasinghe that this too was likely to be the hazard in the wake of such attempts in the country so far, and warned that the political fate of those involved could be catastrophic if such a move was made.
According to sources, Ranil Wickremesinghe is currently vying for the post of Prime Minister.
However, as we have previously reported, the economic crisis will begin to affect the lives of the people in an unprecedented manner next week and there is no single solution that any party in the country can come up with. The people of the country will be able to avoid extreme hardships and bankruptcy of the country only if all the political parties come together with a common consensus and set aside their short-term power objectives.
Otherwise, many who are currently boasting about trying to save the country will not be left with a country to save in the end. That is the bitter truth!
The Asian Human Rights Commission welcomes the inauguration of the people’s commission for women in Sri Lanka. This new people’s commission was launched on the 8th of March. About 150 persons participated at the opening ceremony held at the Mahaweli auditorium.
Padma Pushpakanthi explained the aims of this people’s commission. The title ‘people’s commission’ was selected to distinguish from many types of commissions that are being launched from time to time by the Government but where the scope of these State commissions is very limited. Further, these State commissions are also subjected to various forms of controls and the possibility of airing the genuine grievances of the women themselves requires a much freer environment. It is for the purpose of creating this free environment for the participation of women with the view to represent 52% of the Sri Lankan population which constitutes women, that this initiative has been taken. Prior to this launching, many discussions have been held and many organizations and individuals have expressed their support for this venture. That this women’s and people’s commission has been formed at a time when national institutes for the protection of human rights including the national Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has been relegated to an insignificant position due to political control, is a significant move for women themselves in order to fill the vacuum by way of their direct participation in the protection of their rights.
In recent years, while the grievances expressed by women in almost every area has been met with the denial of protection, the State responses for the promotion of human rights have been confined mostly to public declarations. Meanwhile, serious grievances expressed by women do not even get properly investigated. There are several instances of rape or even gang rape and other forms of abuses reported by women but justice has not been meted out in any of these cases.
The central problem is that the very notion of justice is in a serious crisis in Sri Lanka. That applies not only for women but for everybody. Institutions that are supposed to be protecting the people from all forms of violence and are supposed to provide protection are not functioning. Serious defects of the criminal investigation system itself is being discussed all the time in the country, in the media as well as among the people. Many administrative and other problems also mar the justice system itself where through prolonged delays and other forms of harassment that result, seeking justice becomes difficult for everyone and of course the worse off victims are women.
The Asian Human Rights Commission welcomes this idea of a people’s commission because without the women themselves taking the initiative to protect themselves, it is not possible to expect that there will be great effort by the State in order to protect or promote the rights of women. We welcome this move and we wish the new commission success.
Consul General Anura Fernando paid a courtesy call on Deputy Director General Fu Jihong at the Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office (FAO), China on 23 February, 2022.This year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Sri Lanka and the 70th anniversary of the Rubber-Rice Pact. As sister cities, Shanghai and Colombo have close ties in many fields.
The two sides discussed the possibility of an economic and trade cooperation. The Consul General spoke of the economic development of China and commended the steps taken by Shanghai to prevent the spread of the epidemic. He further highlighted the Colombo Port City joint – venture project between the China Harbor Company and the Sri Lankan Government which will create more opportunities between the two countries. The Deputy Director General expressed his sincere wishes for the profound friendship between the two countries.
The newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung called on Foreign Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris today, 9 March 2022 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Colombo.
Minister Peiris extended a warm welcome to Ambassador Chung and stated that he looks forward to working closely with her during her tenure in Sri Lanka. Whilst noting that Sri Lanka considers the U.S. as an important partner, Minister Peiris reiterated that the GoSL is willing to work closely with the Biden Administration to elevate the longstanding relations between the two countries to greater heights.
Ambassador Chung assured that the U.S. remains committed to the promotion of a strong political and economic partnership with Sri Lanka that would contribute towards the country’s prosperity. She stated that the U.S. wishes to deepen relations with Sri Lanka and be a constructive and productive partner for mutual benefit.
Foreign Minister Peiris and Ambassador Chung held wide ranging discussions related to the multifaceted bilateral cooperation between the two countries and exchanged views on important global contemporary issues. Minister Peiris also apprised the U.S. Ambassador on the progress being made by the GoSL with regard to reconciliation and human rights. Both parties welcomed the arrangements being made to convene the 4th Session of the Sri Lanka – U.S. Partnership Dialogue later this month.
Senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of the United States of America in Colombo were associated with the meeting.
The stocks of coal required for this year should be collected as the off season is coming from mid April to September, but the supply of coal is at an uncertainty amidst the ongoing dollar deficit, warned the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB).
The unloading of coal should be carried out before April in the event that it cannot be carried out in off season, and the CEB went on saying that 07 ships of coal are required for power generation this year. But with the ongoing dollar crisis, paying off these vessels could be a problem befallen the government, it warned.
Should the government fail to find solutions to this crisis, the people may have to suffer the consequences. Sri Lanka is already facing hours-long power cuts amidst the diesel shortage and these outages are likely to be extended for few more hours on a daily basis, should the government fail to retrieve coal.
Nevertheless, Energy Minister Gamini Lokuge told media that the country has enough coal for power generation until December. Contradictory to the subject Minister’s opinion, the CEB noted that these coal stocks are sufficient only till September. Discussions have already been held with government leaders on how to raise the funds required to purchase coal for the remaining months, it added.
The government has granted companies the approval to surge medicine prices, revealed State Minister of Drug Production, Supply and Regulation Channa Jayasumana. The prices of medicines, accordingly, will increase by a certain percentage in proportion to the value of the US Dollar, the Minister added.
There is no shortage of medicines, Jayasumana went on, adding that the drug companies have agreed to supply and distribute medicines starting from today (10). These companies have sufficient stocks of medicines for four months, he added.
The decision comes in following a discussion held between the Minister and the pharmaceutical companies in Sri Lanka. Agreements have been reached during the meeting.
Accordingly, a guarantee can be made that there will be no shortage of medicines in the future, the State Minister further noted.
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has announced the plan for power cuts tomorrow (11).
Accordingly, a power cut of 02 hours and 30 minutes from 08 am to 06 pm and another power cut of 01 hour and 15 minutes from 06 pm to 11 pm will occur to A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K and L zones.
Meanwhile, a power cut of one hour from 05 pm to 09 pm will occur to P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, and W zones.
