The exaggerated negative portrayal of the current situation in Sri Lanka is taxing the hard-hit tourism sector, making it increasingly difficult to move towards the path of revival.
Despite several attempts by the industry stakeholders to share the improved situation for tourists, where effective measures are taken to ensure they are cushioned against the prevailing challenges in the national economy.
Campaigns were being carried out by certain non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to assist the island nation in its time of need are proving to be counter-effective, a senior official of Tourism Ministry said.
The tourism industry stakeholders noted that due to the said campaigns, it is rather unfortunate that the key source markets are under the impression that Sri Lanka is not equipped to cater to the needs and wants of international travelers.
The participation at the IFTM in Paris was an eye-opener for the tourism sector, as it showcased the perception of destination Sri Lanka in the international platform.
“Having just attended the IFTM in Paris and having visited tour operators in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and other key source markets, it is disappointing to report that the one salient common question being asked is ‘does Sri Lanka have a food shortage?’
This question is then followed by ‘aren’t children facing malnutrition?’” said the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) sharing an update on its participation in the travel show it attended in France this month
The campaigns carried out by the UNICEF, Lions Clubs International in Sri Lanka and various INGOs to collect funds to feed the children in Sri Lanka, using pictures of undernourished African children on their publicity material, have worsened the image of the island nation, the association said.
The SLAITO asserted that irresponsible statements from local government bodies together with images of street protests being quelled using force, the negative images going out into the world far outweigh any positive publicity efforts.
“All this is at a time when the need of the hour is earning foreign exchange for our basic requirements, for which tourism is the ideal industry.
We need the collective support of all Sri Lankans to help rebuild the tourism industry and in the process, to help to come out of this economic crisis, in a sustainable manner, by earning the required foreign exchange as opposed to depending only on handouts,” the SLAITO said.
Tour operators claim Sri Lanka’s negative portrayal hits tourism sector hard
State Pharmaceutical Corporation’s drug procurement irregularities exposed.
Sri Lanka State Pharmaceutical Corporation has failed to maintain adequate pharmaceutical supplies to provide quality patient care and prevention services during the economic crisis period arising out of the exchange deficit and other factors as at 13 May 2022 , Auditor General Department’s special audit report revealed.
The main reason for the pharmaceutical shortage at hospitals was the failure of the corporation to carry out a medicinal drug procurement in accordance with a proper time table and its lack of constant monitoring process on the progress of pharmaceutical procurement orders and its activation for the past several years.
The State Pharmaceutical Corporation has to pay around Rs.4.28 billion to suppliers, Peoples’ Bank and Bank of Ceylon by April 2022 for medical supplies ordered by the Corporation from the local market, audit inspection detected .
The total amount payable was Rs 3.11 billion for suppliers, Rs 920 million for Peoples Bank and Rs.250 million for Bank of Ceylon for pharmaceutical supplies by 2022 April 20.
According to Corporation’s information provided to the Auditor General that there was a total financial requirement of Rs. 23,123 million as at 2022 May 25.
The State Pharmaceutical Corporation has disbursed Rs. 7,135 million for issuing letters of credit, payments to suppliers and imports and clearances for orders in the Medical Supplies Division and Rs. 15,988 million for settling bank overdraft facilities for medical supplies as at 2022 April 20.
The report recommended to avoid delays in the procurement process and that responsibility be delegated to the relevant officials by effectively executing the activities related to the files sent by the State Pharmaceutical Corporation of Sri Lanka.
It has to be submitted to the Ministry Procurement Committee and the Cabinet Procurement Committee according to a proper procurement plan and procurement schedule.
A safe stock of 03 months should be maintained for each medical supply for effective control, the report suggested adding that the procurement lead time is about 11 months and although it is necessary to maintain a safe stock of 06 months.
It is recommended that consideration be given to reducing the level of secured stock by minimizing procurement time due to the lack of adequate storage facilities and the high cost.
The Auditor General’s report has suggested that action be taken to implement a re-order stock level based ordering system to reduce the lead time required for medical supplies.
It has been directed to pay attention to maintaining stock levels for appropriate medical supplies items and properly update and use the computer system.
Nearly 130 killed as hell breaks loose at Soccer Pit in Indonesia
At least 129 people have been killed after a riot at a football match in Indonesia.
The violence broke out at a stadium in East Java during a game between Arema and Persebaya Surabaya.
Chaos broke out after Persebaya Surabaya won 3-2 – and according to local reports, thousands of Arema fans went on to the pitch after their team lost.
It is also claimed that several Arema players who were still on the field at the time were attacked.
A stampede began when the police fired tear gas into the crowd.
Images showed people who appeared to be unconscious being carried away by other fans.
In what appears to be one of the world’s worst stadium disasters, more than 300 people were rushed to nearby hospitals, but many died on the way or in treatment.
East Java Police Chief Nico Afinta said about 180 people are injured, but many of them are in a deteriorating condition.
Some of the victims have sustained brain injuries – and one doctor told local media that a five-year-old was among those who had died.
A local health official said many of the victims died of “chaos, overcrowding, trampling and suffocation”.
Two of those killed at the Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang are reportedly police officers.
FIFA regulations state that no firearms or “crowd control gas” should be carried or used by the police.
Indonesia’s chief security minister, Mahfud MD, has said on social media that the stadium was filled beyond capacity.
While the sporting venue is only supposed to hold 38,000 people, he claimed 42,000 tickets had been issued.
President Joko Widodo has instructed the authorities to thoroughly evaluate security standards at football matches.
Indonesia’s football league had said games would be suspended for a week – but Mr Widodo has ordered all matches to be postponed until the investigation is concluded.
Arema has also been banned from hosting matches for the rest of the season. Further sanctions could follow.
Officials involved in Chinese fertilizer scam face prosecution
A special audit report has recommended prosecuting officials who were responsible for the transaction of USD 6.9 million (Rs 1.38 billion) for an unsupplied fertilizer stock and directed to claim compensation from the Chinese company for attempting to unload a stock of unsterilized fertilizer that contained destructive bacteria.
The special audit report by the National Audit Office on the controversial procurement of 96,000 metric tons of organic fertilizer from a Chinese supplier reveals that the Sri Lankan government has incurred a loss to the tune of Rs. 1.38 billion in the process.
In 2021, then-government granted approval to import organic fertilizer from Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd. in China as its attempts to transform the island’s agriculture into entirely organic were unsuccessful.
The audit report revealed that Sri Lanka’s National Plant Quarantine Services (NPQS) had observed the destructive bacteria Erwinia and Bacillus which causes diseases and that the fertilizer samples had not been sterilized.
Against the backdrop of such report, the special technical evaluation committee appointed by then-Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture had given recommendations to import the relevant organic fertilizer shipment.
Based on these recommendations, Ceylon Fertilizer Company and the Colombo Commercial Fertilizer Company Limited had opened Letters of Credit (LOCs) to facilitate the importation of this fertilizer shipment, the report added.
The report also made many observations on the shortcomings in the procurement process and technical evaluation because not Technical Evaluation Committee members participated in the evaluation process and only the chairman of the committee had signed the documents related to pre-qualification evaluation from each bidder.
After that, the relevant supplier company had been informed by Shipping Advice on September 23, 2021 that the 20,550MT of fertiliser was sent from the Qingdao Port in China to the Colombo Port.
Last September, a controversial situation arose when Hippo Spirit, the ship that carried the fertiliser cargo was anchored off the Colombo port but could not unload the stock as it had not been sterilised in accordance with the Plant Quarantine Act and found to be consisting of harmful bacteria in the samples.
By refusing to accept and pay for the shipment, the importers, the two state-owned companies Ceylon Fertilizer Company Limited and Colombo Commercial Fertilizer Company Limited, filed cases at the Colombo Commercial Court to secure payment injunction orders against the People’s Bank.
After the issue was raised through diplomatic channels, a Cabinet Memorandum was submitted to resolve the issue through mediation on the advice of the Attorney General.
Accordingly, approval was granted to pay an advance of US$ 6.9 million for 75 percent of the cost of the fertilizer stock. Later, the two cases had been settled and withdrawn with the condition that the fertilizer should be resupplied with the desired composition and quality in accordance with the court settlement.
“Nonetheless the expected standard of stock of fertilizer has not been obtained until now. Although the period of the letter of credit and the performance bond should be extended and kept valid as per the settlement terms, those documents expired on March 12 and on March 24 respectively.
As a result, the ability to encash the money paid on settlement has been lost if the supplier will not provide standardized fertilizers. Resulting in all of the above, the entire amount paid for fertilizers has become a loss to the government,” the report said.
Bandaranaike International Airport modernization to be completed in 2024
Aviation infrastructure facility Development of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) is progressing well even amidst the economic crisis and that the enhanced facilities would be available for use by the end of 2024, Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva disclosed.
He was speaking at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) meeting at Montreal – Canada on Saturday 01 2022.
,He said “Development of aviation infrastructure facilities, which include expansion and modernization of the main International Airport of Sri Lanka – the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) terminal building, apron, and access roads are progressing well even amidst the economic crisis.
He expressed the hope that the enhanced facilities would be available for use by the end of 2024 to serve the industry and our travel partners better”
Sri Lanka has published the National Civil Aviation Policy removing numerous legislative, administrative, and operational barriers easing active private sector participation in the establishment and operational of aviation infrastructure facilities and services.,” he said
The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) is to construct the second phase of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA); project costing around SLR 37bn, to be funded by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The Cabinet approved the project and every effort would be made to expedite it within three years; the current terminal building designed to accommodate only 6.5 million passengers is handling at present 10.9 million passengers.
The new massive Terminal Building with both departures and arrivals facilities is expected to house departures facilities on the upper floor while the arrivals will be on the lower floor and the building is expected to include a rail facility linking it to the Colombo Fort Railway Station.
The BIA modernization programme is expected to enhance its passenger handling capacity significantly.
Under Phase II of the BIA expansion project, the passenger handling capacity will be doubled to 12 million passengers per annum.
Upon completion, BIA will be equipped with elevated roadways and roads, a new pier with 8 gates, a remote apron and taxiways.ri Lanka has the potential to emerge as an aviation hub in the region.
The second phase of the BIA modernization project would reinvigorate the aviation industry to serve the growing number of tourists visiting the country.
The growth in the air transportation is expected to create a demand for aircraft maintenance, repairs, re-building, bunkering and catering services which would provide an opportunity for development of an efficient aviation industry in the country.
Sri Lanka has been striving to meet the international standards of the aviation industry and adopt recommended practices with a view to emerge as an aviation hub in the region.
Furthermore, Sri Lanka has taken steps to develop domestic airports at Ampara, Koggala, China-Bay, Jaffna and Ratmalana. These will then be developed as “City Airports” aimed at developing the market for charter flights and private jet operations.
On completion of the second Terminal building, BIA will be able to handle total capacity of 20 million passengers per annum; with the number of Terminal Gates increasing twofold by 2023.
It would have modern baggage handling facilities; more space for passengers and new Immigration/ Emigration facilities with a bigger apron to accommodate 36 aircrafts.
Showers likely to continue in several parts of island: Dept
Showers will occur at times in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts and fairly heavy rainfalls above 75 mm may occur at some places, said the Department of Meteorology today (02) in a statement.
Several spells of showers will occur in North-Western province and in Hambanthota district.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at a few places in Uva province and in Ampara district during the evening or night.
Strong winds about (50-55) kmph can be expected at times over the western slopes of the Central hills, Northern, North-Central and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Marine Weather
| Condition of Rain: |
| Showers will occur at times in the sea area off the coast extending from Puttalam to Matara via Colombo. |
| Winds: |
| Winds will be south-westerly and wind speed will be (30-40) kmph. Wind speed may increase up to (50-60) kmph at timesin the sea areas off the coast extending from Galle to Trincomalee via Puttalam and Kankasanturai and up to (60-70) kmph from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota. |
| State of Sea: |
| The sea areas off the coast extending from Galle to Trincomalee via Puttalam and Kankasanturai will be rough and from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota will be very rough. There is a possibility to increase swell waves about (2.5 m – 3.0 m) in the sea areas off the coast extending from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota and about (2.0 m – 2.5 m) in the sea areas off the coast extending from Galle to Mannar via Colombo. Therefore, it is advised not to venture into fishing and naval activities in the sea areas off the coast extending from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambanthota and requested to be vigilant, in the sea areas off the coast extending from Galle to Mannar via Colombo during next 24 hours. |
MIAP
No change in power cut schedule despite Norochcholai Unit being restored: PUCSL
Despite the Unit 03 of the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant being restored after malfunction and its generation of power being added to the national grid, there will be no changes in the power cut schedule, said the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL).
Accordingly, the daily power cut of two hours and twenty minutes (02hrs 20mins) will continue from thereon, said Commission Chief Janaka Ratnayake.
The PUCSL added that investigations related to filling stations over the increased number of complaints received on the quality of fuel will continue.
MIAP
We hope to do a significant amount of work in the future for the betterment of the children – Chairperson of the Children’s Caucus
The Parliamentary Children’s Caucus intends to do a significant amount of work in the future for the betterment of the children of Sri Lanka, its Chairperson, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Rohini Wijeratne said, in a message coincided with the World Children’s Day (Oct 01), a statement by the Department of Government Information said.
The MP noted that her association hopes to pay attention to health and nutrition, safety, education, rights of children in this country, as well as the quality of the professions operating in child-related institutions.
The Caucus is also expected to work more actively with the Ministries that have direct responsibility regarding children such as the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and the institutions operating under them in the future, she added.
MIAP
Actor Darshan Dharmaraj passes away
Actor Darshan Dharmaraj has passed away at the age of 41, Chief Nurse of the Colombo National Hospital Pushpa Soysa confirmed.
Dharmaraj is known for his works at a number of Sri Lankan movies including Matha, Machan, Sandapana, No Address and Aloko Udapadi (Light Arose).
The exact cause of his death is yet to be announced.
MIAP
Sri Lanka Original Narrative Summary: 02/10
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe revokes High Security Zones Order declared under Official Secrets Act, with effect from 1st October.
- Secretary, Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwardane says rumours on social media that government employees will be paid only half of their salaries, are false.
- Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission Janaka Ratnayake says no need to impose extended power cuts until next January: points out the two generating units at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant which suffered a breakdown recently, are expected to be reconnected to the national grid.
- Minister Kanchana Wijesekara confirms that the breakdown in the Norochcholai Power Plant Unit 3 has been repaired and re-connected to the National Grid. Both Units 1 & 3 are also operating at full capacity.
- Foreign investors driven to convert their dividend receipts into share investments as they can’t get forex to repatriate the dividends: leads to USD 40.8 mn net foreign inflow into the Colombo Stock Exchange.
- Urban residents use limited space in Colombo city to plant vegetables: move prompted by rising food prices, shortage of food, reports of malnutrition, and government drive to promote cultivation: Colombo Municipal Council and several temples also join effort.
- Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera says price of Petrol 92 reduced by Rs.40 per litre and Petrol 95 by Rs.30: new price for Petrol 92 to be Rs.410 per litre and Petrol 95 to be Rs.510: prices of other petroleum products to remain same.
- Social media goes viral on stories that CB Governor Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe has “ordered” Peoples’ Bank Chairman and Sri Lanka Telecom Chairman to discontinue advertising in certain popular websites: stories abound that the owner and editor of a weekly newspaper was also “spoken to” by the Governor.
- Colombo Stock Market ends week with losses amidst waning investor appetite: ASPI dips by 20 points or 0.2%: however, ASPI gains 9.5% for the month.
- Indian Legends beat Sri Lankan Legends by 33 runs to win the Road Safety World Series tournament: Indian Legends – 195/6 (20) Naman Ojha 108*: Sri Lankan Legends – 162 all out.