The bodies of those who died of the covid-19 virus infection have been allowed to be buried in any cemetery in Sri Lanka.
This permission has been granted by the new Health Guidelines issued on 02.03.2022 by the Director-General of Health Services.
The guidelines state that Covid19-bodies should be handed over to relatives and they should be cremated or buried at their own expense and that the government will no longer pay for their funerals.
Read the full Statement
Continuing its efforts to support the local small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs), Cargills has partnered with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to provide a series of SME training workshops.
The first workshop was conducted at the Central Bank’s Centre for Banking Studies Auditorium in Rajagiriya and the inaugural session was held under the patronage of the CBSL Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal.
The event was also graced by dignitaries from the Ministry of Agriculture, state institutions, foreign embassies, international organisations, and academia.
This initiative is an extension of the Cargills ‘Village to Home’ program through which the Company provides the country’s small and medium entrepreneurs with a platform to engage with a larger network of customers by offering stalls at Cargills FoodCity premises. To date, over 90 SMEs have taken part in the program.
Recognising the challenges faced by SMEs in bringing their products to market, such as a lack of financial literacy and awareness about market standards and technology, Cargills plans to offer training workshops for small business owners in collaboration with the Central Bank’s financial literacy training program.
Attending SMEs will gain a comprehensive understanding on basic financial literacy, packaging and product development, and quality assurance.
The Company intends to develop these small business owners into successful entrepreneurs who can meaningfully contribute towards the local economy.
Year 2021 ended with an onset of a transformational endeavor for small and medium enterprises (SME). Namely, Sri Lanka Small and Medium Enterprises (SLSME), a fully immersed initiative set up to enable Sri Lankan SME development through value creation by means of adopting the business model canvas for innovation (BMC).
The need of increasing SME contribution to GDP is imminent, considering the current economic status of the country.
They make up a large part of Sri Lanka’s economy, accounting for 90% of all businesses and are an essential source of employment opportunities contributing to 45% of jobs in the country, showing that SMEs play an important role in promoting inclusive growth.
Currently, the GDP contribution of SMEs in Sri Lanka is approximately 52% with only 5% contribution to exports while the total GDP contribution from SMEs in successful economies is over 90%.
According to scholars, the country will not be economically sustainable without reaching at least 75% GDP contribution by the SME sector alone.
Moreover, Sri Lankan SMEs are either reluctant or unable to grow a respective business or the venture fails to succeed within 3-5 years of its inception.
Thus, SLSME comes in as a platform that reaches out to businesses to be an active participant in providing solutions to their business-related queries and obstacles
Foreign Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris held a meeting with President of the Human Rights Council and Permanent Representative of Argentina, Federico Villegas at the Palais des Nations and discussed a range of issues relevant to Sri Lanka on the sidelines of the 49th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
He was accompanied by Minister of Justice Ali Sabry, Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle and Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Admiral Jayanath Colombage.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Colombo
04 March, 2022
A serious shortage of gas is expected in the market next week, domestic gas companies warned today.The gas companies said that they are unable to import gas as banks are not issuing Letters of Credit.
As a result, they said that a serious shortage of gas is expected in the market next week.The gas companies said that they had alerted Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa a few ago about the issue.
The gas companies Litro gas and Laugfs gas say that they are facing issues in opening Letters of Credit (LC).The gas supply of the country has encountered many issues due to the present gas crisis in Sri Lanka.
Litro Gas said steps are being taken to avert a crisis adding that a shipment of Gas has reached the Kerawalapitiya Gas Terminal and the distribution process could begin as early as tomorrow.
However, Chairman of Laugfs Gas, W.K.H. Wegapitiya said his company only has sufficient stocks to last the next three days.
He said despite the Finance Minister and other officials being informed regarding the opening of Letters of Credit, on several occasions, there was no positive response.
According to Laugfs Gas Chairman W.K.H. Wegapitiya, only 2000 Gas Cylinders are issued per day at present, compared to 40,000 Gas Cylinders that are issued usually.
Laugfs Gas, Sri Lanka’s privately owned cooking gas company is unable to import liquid petroleum (LP) gas due to a lack of dollars in the market making it difficult for the company to open letters of credit (LCs) with its banks, the company’s chairman said
“We are talking to all the banks, even Samurdhi banks, to see if they can give us dollars,” Laugfs Chairman W K Wegapitya added.
“Sri Lanka’s commercial banks and state-owned banks must organise dollars. It’s not just for us; it’s the same for importers of cement, milk powder and many others.”
“In the simplest terms any country should have foreign reserves to import products. Sri Lanka doesn’t print dollars; we print only rupees.”
He said that the company was supplying around 40,000 to 50,000 gas cylinders per day but now it’s only able to distribute around 10,000 to 15,000 cylinders after the Consumers Affairs Authority (CAA) and Sri Lanka’s Standards Institution (SLSI) increased the requirement of quality checks for gas distributors after a spate of domestic gas cylinder explosions.
Laughs Gas controls around 20 percent of the LP gas market in Sri Lanka while the state owned Litro Gas Lanka Ltd supplies 80 percent.
Litro said yesterday that the company will take at least three weeks to supply gas to reach normal market levels due to tightened safety regulations for gas distributors.
The distribution delay has already led to a black market for LP gas. A 12.5 kg cylinder, which is officially priced at 2,750 rupees, is being sold around 4,500 rupees in some places, local media reported
Australia cricket legend and the greatest leg-spinner of all-time, Shane Warne, has died, aged 52.
Warne’s management released a brief statement in the early hours of Saturday (AEDT), that he passed away in Koh Samui, Thailand, of a suspected heart attack.
“Shane was found unresponsive in his villa and despite the best efforts of medical staff, he could not be revived,” the statement reads.
“The family requests privacy at this time and will provide further details in due course.”
The news is the second devastating blow for Australian cricket within 24 hours with fellow great, Rod Marsh, also dying on Friday having suffered a major heart attack last week.
Affectionately known as ‘Warnie’ and adored by millions across the globe, Warne is considered by many as the greatest bowler to ever play the game.
His stellar international career spanned across 15 years and saw him take 708 Test wickets — the most ever for an Australian, and the second-most of all time behind only Muttiah Muralitharan.
By United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres
As the world moves ahead to mark International Women’s Day, the clock on women’s rights is moving backwards. All of us are paying the price.
The cascading crises of recent years have highlighted how women’s leadership is more crucial than ever.
Women have heroically confronted the COVID-19 pandemic as doctors, nurses, and public health and social care workers.
But at the same time, women and girls have been the first to lose out on jobs or schooling, taking on more unpaid care work, and facing skyrocketing levels of domestic and cyber abuse and child marriage.
The pandemic has highlighted even more starkly an age-old truth: the roots of patriarchy run deep. We still live in a male-dominated world with a male-dominated culture.
As a result, in good times or bad, women are more likely to fall into poverty. Their healthcare is sacrificed and their education and opportunities are curtailed.
And in countries enduring conflict — as we see from Ethiopia to Afghanistan to Ukraine — women and girls are the most vulnerable but also the most compelling voices for peace.
As we look to the future, a sustainable and equal recovery for all is only possible if it is a feminist recovery — one that puts progress for girls and women at its centre.
We need economic progress through targeted investments in women’s education, employment, training and decent work. Women should be first in line for the 400 million jobs we are called to create by 2030.
We need social progress through investments in social protection systems and the care economy. Such investments yield huge dividends, creating green, sustainable jobs, while supporting members of our societies that need assistance, including children, older people and the sick.
We need financial progress, to reform a morally bankrupt global financial system, so all countries can invest in a woman-centred economic recovery. This includes debt relief and fairer tax systems that channel some of the massive pockets of wealth around the world to those who need it most.
We need urgent, transformative climate action, to reverse the reckless increase in emissions and gender inequalities that have left women and girls disproportionately vulnerable. Developed countries must urgently deliver on their commitments on finance and technical support for a just transition from fossil fuels. The successful, stable economies of the future will be green, gender-inclusive and sustainable.
We need more women in leadership in government and business, including finance ministers and CEOs, developing and implementing green and socially progressive policies that benefit all their people.
We know, for example, that having more women in parliaments is linked with stronger climate commitments and higher levels of investment in healthcare and education.
We need political progress through targeted measures that ensure women’s equal leadership and representation at all levels of political decision-making, through bold gender quotas.
Gender inequality is essentially a question of power. Uprooting centuries of patriarchy demands that power is equally shared across every institution, at every level.
At the United Nations, we have achieved — for the first time in the organization’s history — gender parity in senior management at headquarters and around the world. This has dramatically improved our ability to better reflect and represent the communities we serve.
Every step of the way, we can take inspiration from women and girls pushing for progress in every sphere and every corner of our globe.
Young women climate campaigners are leading global efforts to pressure governments to live up to their commitments.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recommended a gradual return to a market-determined and flexible exchange rate to facilitate external adjustment and rebuild international reserves.
Making this urgent recommendation IMF Executive Directors called on the authorities to gradually unwind capital flow management measures as conditions permit
They suggested these recommendations at the conclusion of 2021 Article IV Sri Lanka urging the authorities to focus on monetary policy. .
Despite the ongoing economic recovery, international Monetary Fund Executive Directors noted that the country faces mounting challenges, including public debt that has risen to unsustainable levels, low international reserves, and persistently large financing needs in the coming years.
Against this backdrop, they stressed the urgency of implementing a credible and coherent strategy to restore macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability, while protecting vulnerable groups and reducing poverty through strengthened, well-targeted social safety nets.
Directors emphasised the need for an ambitious fiscal consolidation that is based on high-quality revenue measures.
Noting Sri Lanka’s low tax-to-GDP ratio, they saw scope for raising income tax and VAT rates and minimising exemptions, complemented with revenue administration reform.
Directors encouraged continued improvements to expenditure rationalisation, budget formulation and execution, and the fiscal rule. They also encouraged the authorities to reform state-owned enterprises and adopt cost-recovery energy pricing.
They agreed that a tighter monetary policy stance is needed to contain rising inflationary pressures, while phasing out the central bank’s direct financing of budget deficits.
The Directors also called on the authorities to gradually unwind capital flow management measures as conditions permit.
They commended the Sri Lankan authorities for the prompt policy response and successful vaccination drive, which have cushioned the impact of the pandemic.
Despite the ongoing economic recovery, Directors noted that the country faces mounting challenges, including public debt that has risen to unsustainable levels, low international reserves, and persistently large financing needs in the coming years.
Thereby, they stressed the urgency of implementing a credible and coherent strategy to restore macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability, while protecting vulnerable groups and reducing poverty through strengthened, well-targeted social safety nets.
Directors emphasised the need for an ambitious fiscal consolidation that is based on high-quality revenue measures. Noting Sri Lanka’s low tax-to-GDP ratio, they saw scope for raising income tax and VAT rates and minimising exemptions, complemented with revenue administration reform.
They encouraged continued improvements to expenditure rationalisation, budget formulation and execution, and the fiscal rule. They also encouraged the authorities to reform state-owned enterprises and adopt cost-recovery energy pricing.
IMF agreed that a tighter monetary policy stance is needed to contain rising inflationary pressures, while phasing out the central bank’s direct financing of budget deficits.
They also recommended a gradual return to a market-determined and flexible exchange rate to facilitate external adjustment and rebuild international reserves. Directors called on the authorities to gradually unwind capital flow management measures as conditions permit.
. Noting financial stability risks from the public debt overhang and sovereign-bank nexus, they recommended close monitoring of underlying asset quality and identifying vulnerabilities through stress testing. Directors welcomed ongoing legislative reforms to strengthen the regulatory, supervisory, and resolution frameworks.
Directors called for renewed efforts on growth-enhancing structural reforms. They stressed the importance of increasing female labor force participation and reducing youth unemployment.
In late 2018, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, the Archbishop of Colombo, publicly stated that there is no need to talk about human rights if one believes in religion.
“Human rights have become the new religion in the Western world. In the past, there was no such thing as human rights but people lived with love and respect and trust in God. This is like a wonderful new discovery they keep in mind and they always tell us that. Religion in European countries often referred to as human rights, is like wearing a coat. Somewhat which you can wear when you need it and throw it away when you don’t need it. Religion is practiced when an advantage is needed and religion is discarded when a sacrifice is needed. This is spreading in our country as well. Some of them are talking about a secular society. There is no secular society. People’s lives are not limited to food, clothing, and comfort. If we believe in religion, we do not need to talk about human rights. We can live beyond human rights. The religions we believe in have human rights. What else is needed? So dear brothers and sisters, we should not be deceived by this magic. We must act wisely here ”
The Cardinal made this public statement while addressing a service on September 23, 2018, at St. Matthew’s Church, Ekala.
More than three years later, the cardinal met with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on March 2, 2022, in Geneva, Switzerland. That is to get the UN Human Rights Council to do justice to the victims of the Easter attack.
The Easter Sunday attack has not happened in the country when the cardinal made his first statement, but the country has been plagued by a number of human rights abuses over the decades. But since they did not directly affect the cardinals, the clergy had no regard for human rights. That is why he appealed to his followers not to be deceived by human rights.
But shortly after the Easter attack on the Catholic Church, the cardinal’s situation changed. Now that the issue is directly affecting them, he too has to seek human rights. However, devotees who believed the Cardinal’s speech in 2018 are now facing a dilemma. That is because the cardinals now want the human rights that they did not want then. This is because it has become a big thing today for those who say that human rights are nothing new or big.
We stand for human rights then and today and will continue to do so. Those of us who opposed the Cardinal’s statement back then may have said today, “What happened to the Cardinal…?.” He said.
We have no peace with those who despise, insult, or ridicule human rights – a great achievement of human society in its long evolution.
And here is another point to keep in mind. In the aftermath of the Easter attack, the cardinal desperately wanted to overthrow the then Yahapalana government. Now it seems he too has been fed up with the current government.
It could not have gone unnoticed by the then Cardinal that the present government was formed in partnership with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, a major player in the previous government. Despite this, the present government was formed with his full blessings.
The question for us is whether the people will abide by the cardinal’s request to go and do their duty again in the next election. Should the people really overthrow the government to the point where the cardinal gets bored? How do people know exactly where the cardinal is wrong and where he is not, as in the case of human rights?
The European Union (EU) and EU Member States Ambassadors resident in Sri Lanka, travelled this week to Nuwara Eliya district in the Central Province for a two-day visit to EU-funded rural development projects.
During their visit, the EU Ambassadors visited and handed over a number of infrastructure facilities in the region, such as a new Business Service Center in Nuwara Eliya, a renovated tea estate water supply system in Ragala, and a potato seed production unit in Kandapola.
All these activities have been developed and funded under the EU programme ‘Support to integrated rural development in the most vulnerable districts of Uva and Central provinces’.
This programme, launched in 2017, was the first major European initiative in the region with approximately LKR 6 billion (EUR 30 million) of grant assistance provided to four districts of Nuwara Eliya, Matale, Badulla and Monaragala located in the Uva and Central Provinces.
Over the past 5 years, the EU has partnered with both the Government of Sri Lanka, private sector and civil society organizations to improve the situation of small businesses, provide infrastructure for better health, nutrition, hygiene and sanitation practices, and to strengthen socio-economic service delivery by local authorities, community organizations and the private sector in both provinces.
The EU Ambassadors were informed that over 600 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been supported, out of which over 200 are women-owned.
The SME development promotion initiatives have made an impressive impact on income and employment generation, market development, technology development and business skills development, ensuring private sector growth and sustainability.
The programme has helped to reduce the barriers women entrepreneurs encounter in accessing finance and other services. Through these efforts over 1500 jobs have been created, increasing women’s labour force participation.
During the visit, the group was informed that the EU has assisted in providing safe drinking water to over 35,000 people and renovated water systems and latrines in over 70 schools and 30 villages. This has allowed over 4000 children access to safe drinking water and improved sanitary facilities in their schools.
EU Ambassador,. Denis Chaibi said “Promoting local economic development and social inclusion has been at the heart of our support for years. Since 2014, the EU and its Member States have provided more than EUR 210 million (approximately 48 billion rupees) to improve the quality of life of Sri Lankans, including in the Uva and Central Provinces, which are among the poorest areas in the country.
As part of the two-day visit, the EU Ambassadors also participated in the opening of the “Thé Kahata” photography exhibition, organized by the Centre for Policy Alternatives, initially supported under the EU-funded project ‘Strengthening the Reconciliation Process in Sri Lanka’ and implemented by GIZ.
The exhibition, featuring over 100 photographs of daily life of upcountry Tamil communities, used art as a vehicle to promote dialogue and explore themes such as identity and inequality.Photo caption: EU and Member State Ambassadors at the opening of the Business Service Centre in Nuwara Eliya.
Ministers Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila were removed from their posts yesterday in accordance with the powers of President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.
They also held a media briefing in Colombo today (04) to raise awareness about the removal, after which Wimal Weerawansa had gone there to bid farewell to the ministry.
The former Minister stated at the time of leaving the Ministry premises that he would move forward as he had worked happily during his tenure as Minister.
Wimal Weerawansa said that he, Udaya Gammanpila and Vasudeva Nanayakkara would also meet the Prime Minister.
