At the invitation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore, Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister Foreign Affairs Prof. G. L. Peiris undertook an official visit to Singapore from 8-9 June, 2022. An official visit of a Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka to Singapore is taking place after four years. 

During the visit, a bilateral meeting was held with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore, following which Minister Peiris was hosted to an official lunch. Minister Peiris also met with Singapore’s Minister of Finance Lawrence Wong, who is due to assume the post of Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore on 13 June, 2022. Minister for Law and Home Affairs K Shanmugam hosted the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister for lunch on 8 June with the participation of the Minister for Trade and Industry of Singapore S. Iswaran with many other dignitaries.

The discussions with the Singapore side centred on the current economic crisis in Sri Lanka. Minister Peiris sought assistance from the Government of Singapore for Sri Lanka to secure bridging financing, increase foreign direct investments and increase opportunities for Sri Lankan exports to Singapore. The Minister also sought the support of the Government of Singapore to obtain more employment opportunities for Sri Lankans in Singapore. At present, the two countries are closely working on deploying healthcare workers, in particular, nurses to Singapore.

Minister Peiris also met with Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies of Singapore, Tharman Shanmugaratnam and also had interactions with Senior Minister of State for Healthcare and Manpower of Singapore Dr Koh Poh Koon, Non- Resident High Commissioner of Singapore to Sri Lanka Chandra Das, Benedict Cheong, CEO of Temasek Foundation International, Vice Chairman (Asia) of the Temasek Group, and senior representatives of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Singapore.

During these interactions, the Foreign Minister thanked the Government of Singapore and Temasek Foundation International for the extensive assistance extended throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to support Sri Lanka’s healthcare response by providing much needed medical supplies and equipment and also collaborating on overcoming supply chain disruptions by producing facemasks in Sri Lanka for distribution by Temasek in Singapore and overseas. The Minister also expressed appreciation for the recent appeal by the Singapore Red Cross for humanitarian assistance for which the Government of Singapore pledged USD 100,000. The first consignment of medical supplies from the Red Cross appeal has already reached Sri Lanka. 

The delegation of the Foreign Minister’s official visit included High Commissioner Sashikala Premawardhane, senior officials of the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Singapore, and Private Secretary to the Minister T.N. Gamlath and Chairman of the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) of Sri Lanka.

Following the official visit, Foreign Minister Peiris is scheduled to attend the IISS-Shangri-La Dialogue 2022 to be held from 10-11 June, 2022. The Official visit was coordinated by the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Singapore.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Colombo

10 June, 2022

Engineer Vijitha Herath has reportedly resigned from his post as the Chairman of LITRO Gas Company.

Accordingly, Herath has tendered his letter of resignation today (10).

Herath who also serves as the Chairman of Sri Lanka Insurance was appointed as the Chairman of the state-run gas company on April 21, 2022.

MIAP

The Election Commission has issued an extraordinary gazette declaring Business Magnate Dhammika Perera as a National List MP of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).

LNW earlier exclusively disclosed that Perera was to be appointed as a MP upon the departure of Basil Rajapaksa.

MIAP

June 13 (Monday) has been declared as a special public holiday.

The holiday has been declared via a circular issued by the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government.

With the coming of the Poson Full Moon Poya Day on June 14, the public servants will be able to spend a long holiday.

MIAP

The Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Mr. M. Siriwardena, today (10), signed an agreement with the EXIM Bank of India to obtain a Dollar Credit Line.

The Government requested a credit facility from the Government of India for the importation of Urea Fertilizer of 65,000 MT in order to cater the immediate requirement of Urea fertilizer demand during the Yala cultivation season. In response to the request, Government of India agreed to offer a Dollar Credit Line amounting to USD 55 million for procurement of Urea Fertilizer from India.

The signing of the agreement was overseen by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Minister of Agriculture Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera and High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, H.E. Gopal Baglay.

The Prime Minister has previously indicated that ensuring food security for the populace was his priority as the country is facing grave shortages of essential food items. This credit facility could help to ensure the availability of Urea for the upcoming Yala season.

Prime Minister’s Media Division
10th June 2022

Business Magnate Dhammika Perera has become a member of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).

He received the Party membership at the hand of SLPP Secretary General MP Sagara Kariyawasam yesterday (09).

MIAP

The Supreme Court today (10) ordered that the Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed against 39 persons including former Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa be taken up for consideration on July 04.

The petition was filed by three lecturers of the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL) including Dr. Mahim Mendis on the basis that fundamental rights of the people have been violated by the government’s insufficient economic management and short-sighted decisions, leading to an economic crisis and intolerable inflation in Sri Lanka.

The above decision was made as the petition was taken up before the five-member Supreme Court Bench comprising Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya and Justices Buwaneka Aluvihare, Priyantha Jayawardena, Vijith Malalgoda and L.T.B. Dehideniya.

MIAP

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) today (10) demanded that a three-member High Court Bench be appointed to investigate the murder of Amarakeerthi Athukorala in Nittambuwa during the unrest awakened by the mob attack on the peaceful protests held in front of Temple Trees and in GalleFace on May 09.

Chief Opposition Whip SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella made this request addressing the Chambers as the proposal to express ondolences for the slain MP was taken up for debate today.

The appointment of such a bar would expedite the investigations into the murder of Athukorala, the MP noted.

MIAP