Veteran Singer Neela Wickremasinghe has passed away at the age of 71.
Her demise has been confirmed today (17) in Milan, Italy, due to a heart attack.
Mrs. Wickremasinghe was recently appointed as the Consul General for Milan, Italy.
MIAP
Foreign remittances further declined – dollar crisis mounts
Foreign remittances have reportedly declined by US$ 1600 million in comparison of the values of 2020 and 2021.
Sri Lankans living overseas have remitted US$ 7,100 million in 2020, but only US$ 5,400 million in 2021.
Sri Lanka received US$ 812 million in December, 2020 but the figure dropped to US$ 325 million in December, 2021.
Nevertheless, dollar inflows indicate a slight rise in December compared to November last year.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) also decided to set an allowance of Rs. 10 per dollar to encourage Sri Lankans abroad to remit monies. Despite the CBSL’s campaigning on the offer, no significant improvement has seemingly been made.
Recent reports also claimed that Sri Lankans living overseas remit dollars through various channels, including brokers, without trusting the banks. The Governor of the CBSL commented that the amount of dollars remitted via such informal channels is only a small percentage, making no effect.
MIAP
Government’s decision to import rice has nothing to do with any shortage: Trade Minister
The government’s decision to import rice has nothing to do with any shortcoming of rice production in the country, said Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena.
Rice is being imported in a move to defeat the mafia in rice production aided by certain mill owners in Polonnaruwa who purchase rice stocks from the farmer and sell at their own discretion, Gunawardena said.
These mill owners have planned to soar the price of rice up to Rs. 300, which must never be allowed to happen, he added.
The Trade Minister further said that rice had been imported even during the tenure of the Good Governance Regime, when there were no such crises.
600,000 metric tonnes of rice was imported in 2014, 286,000 metric tonnes in 2015, 26,000 metric tonnes in 2016, 745,000 metric tonnes in 2017, 249,000 metric tonnes in 2018 and 16,000 metric tonnes in 2020 under the present regime, Gunawardena revealed, adding that the amount, in comparison, would be very small.
Those who had imported millions of tonnes of rice back then are spreading false information against the government’s objective of relieving the public and saving them from the mafiamen, he noted.
MIAP
Power crisis: Fuel sufficient for three days only, trying to seek IOC’s help, says Lokuge (VIDEO)
The fuel available for power generation is sufficient for only three days and therefore, attempts will be made to obtain fuel from the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) Company, Power Minister Gamini Lokuge said, speaking to media today (17)
Accordingly, instructions have been given to the Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to hold discussions with the IOC in this regard, the Minister revealed, adding that he too will take participation in this discussion, if necessary.
Fuel has to be located for an uninterrupted supply of power until January 22, he added, pointing out that maximum efforts will be put to provide an uninterrupted supply.
MIAP
New Parliament session to commence tomorrow – no parades, gun-salutes
The second session of the 09th Parliament of Sri Lanka is due to commence tomorrow (18) morning under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The President is due to table the Policy Manifesto of the government in Parliament at about 10 am tomorrow.
There will be no parades and gun-salutes in commencement of the new Parliament session as per the instructions of the President. The opening, accordingly, will be carried out in very simple terms, said the Parliament authorities.
Only a few cultural events have been organised to welcome the President with the contribution of the Police Cultural Division.
MIAP
Modi’s BJP paints campaign for upcoming Uttar Pradesh Polls with Yohani’s ‘Menike Mage Hithe’
The hit single ‘Menike Mage Hithe’ covered by Sri Lankan singing sensation Yohani has now been accounted for direct politicisation in India, as the Ruling Party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has copied the song’s melody for its political campaign for the upcoming State Election in Uttar Pradesh.
The song’s melody has been rearranged into ‘Yehi Modi, Yehi Yogi, Upyogi, Sahayogi,’ a Hindi theme song for the BJP’s political campaign, appealing to the public to vote for its Chief Ministerial Candidate Yogi.
The State Election at Uttar Pradesh, the largest state in India, is due to be held on February 10.
The hit single became a craze all over India in recent times and was sung by various artists in different languages in India as well as in neighbouring countries.
The foundation to the song being politicised in India was laid last year as the country’s Prime Minister Modi explicitly praised Yohani, saying that she was able to win the hearts of millions in India.
Earlier, ‘Menike Mage Hithe’ was used for the West Bengal State Election. Chief Ministerial Candidate Mamtha Banerjee used a Bengali adaptation of the song for her political campaign.
Unloading of fuel stalled amid dollar deficit – late fee exceeds Rs. 60 million
About four ships carrying fuel have arrived at the Colombo Port but the unloading of fuel has stalled due to the non-issuance of dollars for fuel amid the ongoing dollar deficit in the country.
The circumstance has led to summing up a late fee of US$ 300,000 (over Rs. 60 million).
As of now, two ships carrying 40,000 metric tonnes of diesel, one ship carrying 30,000 metric tonnes of jet fuel and one ship carrying 30,000 metric tonnes of petrol have arrived at the Port, but the unloading of fuel has started only on the ship carrying petrol.
Despite the order, the unloading of fuel may not be carried out until the required amount of dollars are issued, and the crisis could worsen given the rising late fee amidst the ongoing standstill.
MIAP
Opposition Leader comments on ‘Grenade Drama’ (VIDEO)
Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa speaking to a rally held in Maskeliya yesterday (16) stated that the government has failed to capture the masterminds of the Easter Sunday Massacre, nor has it been able to conduct the investigations properly even to date.
The suspicions surrounding the grenade discovered inside the All Saints Church in Borella are becoming worse given observation to how the investigations are being carried out, he pointed out.
The government is not even giving in to the appeal by His Eminence the Cardinal’s regarding the grenade discovery, Premadasa reminded, adding that the government, which came to power in depiction of the Easter Sunday Massacre, has forgotten its promises today.
The Opposition Leader also noted that serious suspicions are being raised in the Society regarding the Easter Attack and that the government’s suspicious behaviour and the slow pace of the investigations prove them.
Promising that he would not hesitate to deliver the maximum punishment for those responsible for the massacre, including the masterminds, through a fair and independent investigation, Premadasa stressed that it would be ridiculous to expect such an action under this regime.
MIAP
CEB electrical engineers on sick leave in objection to new General Manager
The Electrical Engineers Association of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) revealed that their members will be on sick leave tomorrow in objection to the appointment of the new General Manager of the board.
However, the Senior Electrical Engineers Association of the CEB revealed that they will not be endorsing this trade union action, stating that they will report for duty tomorrow as usual.
MIAP
SLFP Central Working Committee concludes to contest polls separately
The Central Working Committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has concluded that it will be contesting any upcoming election as an alliance separated from the Ruling Party Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).
This has been confirmed by Party Senior Vice Chairman Prof. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa during a briefing held in Galle.
MIAP