High Commissioner Gopal Baglay held two separate meetings with Hon’ble Vidura Wickramanayaka, Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs on the implementation of USD 15 million grant by Government of India for the promotion of Buddhist ties and functioning of Jaffna Cultural Center (JCC) on 1 November 2022 in Colombo. Secretary, Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Mr. Somarathna Vidanapathirana, First Secretary (Development Cooperation), Mr. Eldos Mathew Punnoose and other officials representing the Governments of India and Sri Lanka attended these meetings.

2.      It may be recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a special grant of USD 15 million for the promotion of bilateral Buddhist ties at the Virtual Bilateral Summit on 26 September 2020 and the MOU governing the grant was signed on 28 March 2022, during the visit of External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar to Colombo. 

3.     High Commissioner and Hon’ble Minister Wickramanayaka agreed to immediately undertake steps for the quick implementation of jointly-identified priority projects under the grant in numerous areas pertaining to Buddhism.  Specific action points regarding installation of solar power facilities in places of worship and Pirivenas, spread across different parts of Sri Lanka were also identified. 

4.      The meeting on JCC focused on the establishment of an enabling joint-framework to make the state-of-the-art facility available for regular use by common public. This glowing example of India-Sri Lanka development partnership, which has been constructed under a Government of India grant of more than USD 11 million, consists of multiple facilities such as a museum of two floors, a latest theatre style auditorium for more than 600 people, a 11-storeyed learning tower, and a public square which could also act as an amphitheater, among others. 

5.     The two meetings underscore Government of India’s abiding commitment to bring about a palpable impact to the daily lives of the people of Sri Lanka through the implementation of people-centric grant projects. These projects are guided by the demands and needs of all sections of Sri Lankan society and the priorities of the Government of Sri Lanka. Till date, India has been associated with the implementation of more than 85 grant projects in Sri Lanka and the latest endeavours include the Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity Project.

The protest organized by the opposition political parties, trade unions and civil organizations against the state repression has now started near the Elphinstone Theater in Maradana.

The protestors are now peacefully marching towards the Technical junction.

The police had informed the organizers that they could not allow this march to take place as it would block foreign tourists, peddlers and passengers and legal action would be taken if the roads were blocked.

Borelle Sirisumana Thero, who has been arrested, has been remanded until November 16.

This is after Ehimian was presented to the Fort Magistrate Court today (02).

The thero was arrested yesterday by the Criminal Investigation Department based on the facts revealed during the investigation of Tilini Priyamali, who was arrested in connection with a large-scale financial fraud.

Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA) stands in solidarity with the protest on November 02

The Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA) stands in solidarity with the political parties, student organizations, trade unions, and civil society organizations that are staging a unified protest in Colombo tomorrow (November 02nd) against state repression and the arbitrary use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Earlier this year, Sri Lanka witnessed one of the most significant social and political uprisings in the history of this country when hundreds of thousands of people supported the aragalaya, demanding a substantive change in the political and governance culture in the country. While the aragalaya succeeded in forcing the resignations of the Prime Minister, Cabinet of Ministers, and the President, instead of the anticipated political change, a government led by current President Ranil Wickramasinghe, which succeeded the government of President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, has unleashed a wave of repression. Hundreds of people have been arbitrarily arrested; the police have attempted to indiscriminately block any form of protest in Colombo, and the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act has been used to arbitrarily detain student activists.

We would like to remind this government that the constitution of Sri Lanka guarantees fundamental freedoms for the citizens of this country. One of these cardinal freedoms is the right to dissent and peaceful protest. However, the government is attempting to use a narrow argument about economic rationality to stifle dissent and denounce legitimate public protests as attempts to destabilize the country and the economy. However, the government seems to have forgotten that it is due to governance failures by the government that Sri Lanka is facing the worst economic crisis in its post-independence history and that this current government and President are in power because people came to the streets and demanded political change.

While the government wants people to believe that it is effectively managing the economy and that the country is on the road to recovery, the facts and opinions of experts tell a different story. The government is currently engaged in a systematic attempt to suppress the truth, protect corrupt officials and politicians, and grant favors to a select cabal of crony capitalists that it favors. People do not want this corrupt political culture to continue. They are demanding change, and the protest taking place on November 02 is an indication that the aragalaya is emerging again. All over the country, we see micro-level spontaneous protests over issues ranging from lack of fertilizer to loss of livelihoods. These are all indications that the government is deeply unpopular and is failing at governance. The increasing repression the government has had to unleash is also an indicator of this failed governance. Therefore, FUTA demands that the government listen to the people and allow the people to exercise their right to peaceful protest. We urge the government not to interfere in any way with the protest organized for November 02 and would like to reiterate that, as FUTA, we stand resolutely in solidarity with all those agitating for substantive political change in Sri Lanka.


The Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA) stands in solidarity with the political parties, student organizations, trade unions, and civil society organizations that are staging a unified protest in Colombo tomorrow (November 02nd) against state repression and the arbitrary use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Earlier this year, Sri Lanka witnessed one of the most significant social and political uprisings in the history of this country when hundreds of thousands of people supported the aragalaya, demanding a substantive change in the political and governance culture in the country.

While the aragalaya succeeded in forcing the resignations of the Prime Minister, Cabinet of Ministers, and the President, instead of the anticipated political change, a government led by current President Ranil Wickramasinghe, which succeeded the government of President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, has unleashed a wave of repression. Hundreds of people have been arbitrarily arrested; the police have attempted to indiscriminately block any form of protest in Colombo, and the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act has been used to arbitrarily detain student activists.

We would like to remind this government that the constitution of Sri Lanka guarantees fundamental freedoms for the citizens of this country. One of these cardinal freedoms is the right to dissent and peaceful protest. However, the government is attempting to use a narrow argument about economic rationality to stifle dissent and denounce legitimate public protests as attempts to destabilize the country and the economy.

However, the government seems to have forgotten that it is due to governance failures by the government that Sri Lanka is facing the worst economic crisis in its post-independence history and that this current government and President are in power because people came to the streets and demanded political change.

While the government wants people to believe that it is effectively managing the economy and that the country is on the road to recovery, the facts and opinions of experts tell a different story. The government is currently engaged in a systematic attempt to suppress the truth, protect corrupt officials and politicians, and grant favors to a select cabal of crony capitalists that it favors. People do not want this corrupt political culture to continue. They are demanding change, and the protest taking place on November 02 is an indication that the aragalaya is emerging again. All over the country, we see micro-level spontaneous protests over issues ranging from lack of fertilizer to loss of livelihoods. These are all indications that the government is deeply unpopular and is failing at governance. The increasing repression the government has had to unleash is also an indicator of this failed governance. Therefore, FUTA demands that the government listen to the people and allow the people to exercise their right to peaceful protest. We urge the government not to interfere in any way with the protest organized for November 02 and would like to reiterate that, as FUTA, we stand resolutely in solidarity with all those agitating for substantive political change in Sri Lanka.

Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage today (02) ordered the release of the case filed against Member of Parliament Rishad Bathiudeen regarding the Easter Sunday bombing, when the inquiry was called today.

According to the instructions of the Attorney General, Bathiudeen has been released from the case.

He was arrested on April 24, 2021 in connection with this case, was detained for 177 days under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

1. Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera says Sri Lanka is struggling to procure country’s requirement of fuel: data shows procurement now limited to about 60% of usage in March 22: suppliers demand upfront payments after debt default.
2. Police Sergeant attached to the Kebithigollewa Police
   who was assaulted by residents of Rambakepuwewa village whike investigating the death of a person killed by an elephant attack, succumbs to his injuries.
3. Cabinet requests Finance Ministry’s Public Enterprise Restructuring Unit to submit recommendations for restructuring SriLankan Airlines and its subsidiaries.
4. President Ranil Wickremasinghe says Sri Lanka unlikely to finalise IMF deal by December as originally expected: cites delays in dealing with China and India which are out of the Paris Club: by December, it will be 9-1/2 months since seeking IMF help: since then, all bilateral lenders have withdrawn funding to Sri Lanka.
5. Analysts say Sri Lanka Rupee has been “fixed” around Rs.365 per USD for more than 5-1/2 months since 12th May 2022: IMF pressure to release the “peg” likely before an IMF programme commences: a wave of price increases and inflation to result.
6. SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella warns worsening economic hardships of the middle class paves way for social disturbances and violence: laments the middle class can’t cope with increased taxes and tariffs.
7. JVP Political Bureau Member K D Lal Kantha says the National People’s
   Power is not prepared to carry out any struggle with the SJB.
8. Several business chambers request all parties to call off protests that could undermine the resolution of the current economic crisis with the support of the international community: previously, many businesses had actively supported the Galle Face protests.
9. Reports emerge that Booker Prize winner Shehan Karunatilaka has substantially plagiarized his book from Rajpal Abeynayake, newspaper editor and Attorney at Law.
10. Sri Lanka win ICC T20 WC, Group 1 match against Afghanistan by 6 wickets: AFG – 144/8 (20 overs): SL – 148/4 (18.3 overs).