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Sri Lanka embarks on an ambitious drive to promote rural industries 

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Sri Lanka embarks on an ambitious drive to promote rural industries 

Sri Lanka has embarked on an ambitious promotion drive of several traditional and rural industry projects that were launched last year, finance ministry sources said.  

The ministry has allocated Rs 1 billion in the 2022 budget proposals as well as another Rs.150 million r from budget estimates for the state ministry handling traditional and rural industries.

The funds will be used for the improvement of traditional domestic industries such as rattan, clay, brass, lacquer, masks, coconut shells, gold, stone carvings, jute and Dumbara matting patterns, etc.

A special programme will be implemented  to promote the cultivation of raw materials required for rural industries, and  to establish a National Raw Materials Bank, and  to  assist  in going from one entrepreneur to one village project ’.

A project to establish a fashion and process modification centre related to timber products, a local and overseas market promotion programme for rural industries has also been approved  by the cabinet of ministers. 

Rural and traditional industry villages consolidated development programmes, and a national lacquer industries development programme will also be launched to improve traditional domestic industries, the finance ministry sources said.

 The Government has kicked off a Rs. 100 billion revival at grassroots level on Thursday 03 in keeping with the 2022 Budget promise. 

Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa revealed that the initiative hopefully will unleash a revitalisation of livelihood, socio-economic infrastructure, environment and social development at village level sans politics. 

The grandiose initiative involves 100,000 people championing projects of Rs. 1 million each at village level bringing a 2022 Budget-allocated Rs. 100 billion into fruition. 

“This is a bipartisan initiative as it covers all districts and electorates even if the ruling party hadn’t won a seat,” Basil said. 

He cited Colombo and Jaffna where non-ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) candidates didn’t secure a clear victory. 

“For example, in Colombo, of the 49 elected representatives the majority (47) are from outside the Government. In Kolonnawa all five representatives are non-SLPP but the Government will support the projects,” Basil Rajaaksa added. 

The Budget 2022 allocated Rs. 85 billion for the village-level development as envisioned by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s “Gama Pilisandara” project as well as Rs. 15 billion allocated for the “shop-house” proposal. 

“What is unique is that these projects are championed by villages and implemented in collaboration with public servants. 

The Government is only supporting it via funding. It is important that these projects would eventually serve towards realising macro national development goals,” he added.

It is not a mistake to seek the assistance of the IMF in an emergency – Tissa (VIDEO)

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It is not a mistake to seek the assistance of the IMF in an emergency – Tissa (VIDEO)

Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Tissa Attanayake says that it is not a mistake to seek the assistance of the International Monetary Fund in an emergency and that it is not a private organization.

He says that it seems that the government is now on its knees before the International Monetary Fund due to borrowing money from moneylenders without seeking the assistance of such an international organization.

He says with the help of an institution such as the International Monetary Fund, the country has to maintain financial discipline and without it, a country cannot move forward.

District Court orders Kimarli Fernando to appear in person over Contempt of Court

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District Court orders Kimarli Fernando to appear in person over Contempt of Court

The Colombo District Court ordered Kimarli Fernando, chairperson of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), to appear in court in person on pursuant to an inter-parte inquiry held on the 02nd of February 2021.

It is a well-known fact that Kimarli Fernando has been misusing her privilege and political power over assets and properties of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) to advantage her family members and relatives for a long time.

Violation or disregard of a court order constitutes the Contempt of Court. In this most recent case, SLTDA higher officers including its chairperson acted in defiance of an interim injunction issued by the District Court over a land matter filed by Lanka Realty Leisure (Pvt) Ltd (LRL). Lanka News Web has published a series of articles in this regard.

During the inter-party inquiry into the violation of the interim injunction, the District Court dismissed all objections raised by SLTDA including Chairperson Kimarli Fernando, Director General Dhammika Wijesinghe and Additional Director General Anoma Nandani.

In fact, Kimarli Fernando erred in this way because of her own arrogance. She got herself in trouble as she tried to fiddle Lanka Realty Leisure (Pvt) Ltd (LRL), arbitrarily taking over land in the Yala tourism zone, which had been leased to the company for ninety-nine years, and trying to hand it over to her close relatives. While the company is still in possession of the land, she went to the extent of preparing a ‘Deed of Cancellation’ and continued her ploy.

On February 18, 2021, LRL again challenged Kimarli’s arbitrary conduct and obtained an injunction order against SLTDA from the Colombo District Court against the unlawful transfer of their land in the Yala Tourist Zone to a third party. The District Court granted them an interim injunction confirming that it was a justifiable request and what Kimali did then was to continue on her work in defiance of the District Court, without complying with the interim injunction. Consequently, Kimarli’s contempt of court is now arguing before the law, and in due process the Colombo District Court had issued notices to SLTDA Chairperson Kimarli and two other directors, this time, to appear in-person.

Kimarli did not appear in court at any of these proceedings related to LRL matter. One can say that this is the general procedure of government bodies to send someone before courts to represent themselves. However the government agencies should seek formal advice from the Attorney General’s Department on obtaining legal assistance in such court proceedings including but not limited to concluding from whom they should seek legal representation. The Attorney General’s Department has made it clear that SLTDA legal assistance should be sought from the lawyers affiliated to SLTDA. But Kimarli ignored that advice as usual, and paid hundreds of thousands of rupees of public money and enlist the help of President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva – a private lawyer. LNW have pointed this out in detail in a previous article.

Kimarli Fernando did not appear before the court this time as well, for contempt of court case, repeating her usual conduct. This time she had used the legal assistance of a team including again President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva and Harith de Mel for the SLTDA. The petitioner – LRL – was represented by a team of lawyers including Nishan Premathiratne, Ravi Karunaratne, and Vikum Jayasinghe on the advice of Attorney-at-Law Julian Pratheep.

After considering all the facts, the District Court on February 2, 2022, ordered Kimarli and the group to appear before the court in person. Colombo District Judge Aruna Aluthge ordered the re-issuance of notices to all the accused over contempt of court. He emphasized that no one is above the law, regardless of their official status or social status.

What is surprising here is that Kimali Fernando, as a lawyer who has been sworn in before the Supreme Court, so at least in this time she shall learn the meaning of the term ‘Rule of Law’ from the Colombo District Court.

Accordingly, at the next court date ie; March 16th, Kimarli will not be able to escape this scandal by sending lawyers representing herself or the SLTDA. She has to put aside her arrogance and so-called privilege and appear in person before the Colombo District Court.

As we have repeatedly said, SLTDA, the pioneer and the apex bosy in promoting the tourism industry in Sri Lanka, has never been so humiliated in past history in Sri Lanka. This is all because of nobody but Kimarli. The team, including Kimarli, now only has a limited duration to enjoy her privileges until March 16th. If proved guilty for the charge, she will serve up to two years in prison.

Kimarli will have to answer to the Lanka Realty Leisure (Pvt) Ltd and the country one day or another for this whole saga. This ugly game must end now.

LRI-Order-02-02-2022-compressedDownload

Karnataka hijab row deepens as students petition court

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Karnataka hijab row deepens as students petition court

A high court in the southern Indian state of Karnataka is set to hear two petitions that argue that Muslim women wearing headscarves should be allowed to attend classes.

The development comes after weeks of protests by six teenage students at a government-run pre-university college – equivalent to a high school.

The protesters have been barred from attending classes by the college’s management, who say students can wear the headscarf on campus but must remove it inside the classroom.

The stand-off has increased fear and outrage among India’s minority Muslims, who say the country’s constitution guarantees them the freedom to wear what they want.

The issue has also snowballed to other colleges in the state – on Thursday, a video showing college gates being shut on a group of young hijab-clad women had led to outrage.

It was shot at a pre-university college in Kundapur in Udupi district in Karnataka. The earlier protest had also taken place in Udupi, one of three districts in Karnataka’s communally sensitive coastal belt.

Commentators often describe the region – a stronghold of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – as a laboratory for majoritarian Hindu politics. The BJP is also in power in Karnataka.

In the video, a student could be heard pleading with authorities to let them attend classes to help them prepare for exams.

But the principal refused to let them enter the campus wearing the hijab.

BBC

Beijing Olympics: Winter Games start amid Covid and boycotts

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Beijing Olympics: Winter Games start amid Covid and boycotts

The most divided Olympic Games in decades gets under way in China on Friday as Beijing becomes the only city to host both the Summer and now the Winter Games. As well as tight Covid-19 controls, the Games are fraught with political tensions over allegations of human rights abuses and boycotts.

Most of the snow on the slopes where the Olympic events will take place is man-made. 

But inside an indoor rink where the icy climate is maintained by massive freezers at the side of the dome, six-year-old ice skater Yiyi doesn’t care how Beijing is making the Winter Games happen. 

She just can’t wait to see it. She wasn’t even born the first time the Olympics came to town. Now she’s inspired by it. 

“It’s very exhausting but she presses on,” her mum told me, after we’d watched her daughter in a lesson with a coach. “She won’t leave until she learns how to do all the moves. She doesn’t quit.”

But this is as close to the action as she is going to get.

Yiyi and her mum can’t go to any of the events. The Winter Olympics is happening in Beijing, but almost everyone here is excluded from it. 

China is in the middle of a renewed effort to maintain “zero Covid”. 

So authorities have decided that no tickets will go on sale to the general public. Only members of the ruling Communist Party or staff from government-controlled companies are being invited, and even they have to abide by strict testing and restrictions. 

As Yiyi’s mum was telling me how disappointed she was that they could only watch the Games on TV, the six-year-old jumped in, making sure I knew that she was definitely going to be watching.

National Day Message of the Foreign Minister

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National Day Message of the Foreign Minister

On the happy occasion of the National Day of Sri Lanka, marking our country’s 74th anniversary of independence from four and a half centuries of foreign colonial rule, it is with immense pride and pleasure that I extend my warm felicitations and sincere greetings to fellow citizens, both in Sri Lanka, as well as spread across all parts of the world.

Today, we commemorate our nation’s journey to regain our freedom and the inalienable rights of our people from foreign political, economic and socio-cultural subjugation. We recall with reverence and profound gratitude, the dedication, sacrifice, determination and the struggle of our gallant forefathers to liberate our motherland.

The independence we gained on 4th February 1948 enabled the country to initiate the political, economic and socio-cultural transformation of our people. Since independence, Sri Lanka has had its fair share of significant successes, especially in achieving near universal literacy and a healthy society, manifested by low infant mortality and increasing longevity of the population, directly attributable to the provision of free education and free public health services to the people by successive governments. However, it has to be admitted that we, as a nation have also had to face a number of formidable challenges along the way, including two bloody insurrections, as well as a costly and debilitating internal armed conflict lasting almost three decades which ended in May, 2009.

On this important day, we bow our heads in humble tribute to all our national heroes who had fought against foreign colonial rule and the gallant members of our brave armed forces, the Police and civil security personnel who had paid the supreme sacrifice in defending Sri Lanka’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity.

Today, we are at a critical juncture in this journey, where all Sri Lankans should re dedicate themselves to strive hard to overcome the adverse impact of the current global COVID-19 pandemic that has plagued the entire world. In particular, the pandemic has severely and disproportionately affected the economies of developing countries, including Sri Lanka and the lives of the lower income groups. Therefore, I believe, it is vital that all Sri Lankans in the country and abroad unite and support the efforts of the government to defeat the pandemic and revive the economy.

In celebrating the 74th anniversary of independence, we are determined to fulfil the pledges of the government of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, under ‘The Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’ policy framework, and build a peaceful and prosperous nation, maintaining friendly relations with all the countries in the world.

Prof. G. L. Peiris, M.P.
Foreign Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Basil says that they have reached IMF but the Governor of CBSL says they have not! – Harsha(VIDEO)

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Basil says that they have reached IMF but the Governor of CBSL says they have not! – Harsha(VIDEO)

Although Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa had mentioned at a recent media briefing that he was seeking assistance from the International Monetary Fund, the letter sent to the institute had stated that a delegation from the International Monetary Fund had been sent to Sri Lanka for a training program, said Samagi Jana Balawewa MP Harsha de Silva.

Dr. Harsha de Silva stated this while expressing his views to the media yesterday (03).

Sri Lanka and Denmark to Explore Potential Collaborations in the Renewable Energy Sector

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Sri Lanka and Denmark to Explore Potential Collaborations in the Renewable Energy Sector

Sri Lanka and Denmark have both expressed interest in exploring the possibilities of collaborating on projects in the renewable energy sector. The discussion took place when the newly appointed Ambassador of Denmark to Sri Lanka Freddy Svane called on Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa this morning at Temple Trees.

Ambassador Svane told the Prime Minister that there is a lot of interest in Denmark to pursue investment in Sri Lanka. He said that in addition to manufacturing and dairy sectors, the renewable energy is another sector that could be explored.

The Sri Lankan delegation briefed the Ambassador about the Government’s policy to have 70% of the country’s energy consumption generated from renewable energy sources by 2030.

The Prime Minister encouraged the ambassador to promote Sri Lanka as an investment destination among Danish investors. The Ambassador said there are already plans to bring a business delegation from Denmark to Sri Lanka.

Ambassador Svane is resident in New Delhi, India, and this is his second time being accredited to Sri Lanka. He served as Denmark’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka from 2010 to 2015 as well.

Prime Minster’s Independence Day Message

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Prime Minster’s Independence Day Message

This year, we celebrate Sri Lanka’s 74th Independence Day amidst many great challenges. The challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has plagued the world for two years, are not insignificant.


Whilst historically, the people of this country had lost their freedom due to foreign invasions and separatist terrorism, today we have lost our freedoms due to the Covid pandemic which deprived us of the opportunity to develop the country for two years. The economy, education and livelihoods were completely overturned. However, as a nation that has sacrificed for freedom, we cannot allow this frustration to overcome us.

Although the world faced massive setbacks, we have also used all the positive steps taken globally to recover from the pandemic. We have already taken steps necessary to provide the population with all three vaccinations as a solution to the pandemic. It is this approach that has enabled us to recover from the pandemic to a great extent and return public life to a sense of normalcy.

Freedom is not something that ends with the victory. It is something that should be won day by day, and it is this fact that we must highlight on each Independence Day. However, I firmly believe that a nation inspired by hundreds of years of relentless struggle for freedom, is fully capable of remaining undaunted and facing up to this challenge as well. As a nation accustomed to unceasingly fighting for independence, on this Independence Day, let us resolve to overcome these challenges as well.

Mahinda Rajapaksa
Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

A Couple seriously injured after falling off a train, while attempting to take a selfie by hanging on the door (VIDEO)

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A Couple seriously injured after falling off a train, while attempting to take a selfie by hanging on the door (VIDEO)

A couple has been injured after falling off a train near the 31st tunnel between Ohio and Idalgashinna on the ‘Udarata’ Railway.

It is said that the French couple had met with this accident last evening (03).

The two were admitted to the Diyatalawa Hospital with serious injuries after falling from the train. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the girl had fallen while attempting to take a selfie by hanging on the door of the train and that the young man had jumped to save her.

After the accident, they were taken to the Haputale Railway Station by the same train and from there they were taken to the Diyatalawa Hospital by ambulance.

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