The newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung called on Foreign Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris today, 9 March 2022 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Colombo.
Minister Peiris extended a warm welcome to Ambassador Chung and stated that he looks forward to working closely with her during her tenure in Sri Lanka. Whilst noting that Sri Lanka considers the U.S. as an important partner, Minister Peiris reiterated that the GoSL is willing to work closely with the Biden Administration to elevate the longstanding relations between the two countries to greater heights.
Ambassador Chung assured that the U.S. remains committed to the promotion of a strong political and economic partnership with Sri Lanka that would contribute towards the country’s prosperity. She stated that the U.S. wishes to deepen relations with Sri Lanka and be a constructive and productive partner for mutual benefit.
Foreign Minister Peiris and Ambassador Chung held wide ranging discussions related to the multifaceted bilateral cooperation between the two countries and exchanged views on important global contemporary issues. Minister Peiris also apprised the U.S. Ambassador on the progress being made by the GoSL with regard to reconciliation and human rights. Both parties welcomed the arrangements being made to convene the 4th Session of the Sri Lanka – U.S. Partnership Dialogue later this month.
Senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of the United States of America in Colombo were associated with the meeting.
The stocks of coal required for this year should be collected as the off season is coming from mid April to September, but the supply of coal is at an uncertainty amidst the ongoing dollar deficit, warned the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB).
The unloading of coal should be carried out before April in the event that it cannot be carried out in off season, and the CEB went on saying that 07 ships of coal are required for power generation this year. But with the ongoing dollar crisis, paying off these vessels could be a problem befallen the government, it warned.
Should the government fail to find solutions to this crisis, the people may have to suffer the consequences. Sri Lanka is already facing hours-long power cuts amidst the diesel shortage and these outages are likely to be extended for few more hours on a daily basis, should the government fail to retrieve coal.
Nevertheless, Energy Minister Gamini Lokuge told media that the country has enough coal for power generation until December. Contradictory to the subject Minister’s opinion, the CEB noted that these coal stocks are sufficient only till September. Discussions have already been held with government leaders on how to raise the funds required to purchase coal for the remaining months, it added.
The government has granted companies the approval to surge medicine prices, revealed State Minister of Drug Production, Supply and Regulation Channa Jayasumana. The prices of medicines, accordingly, will increase by a certain percentage in proportion to the value of the US Dollar, the Minister added.
There is no shortage of medicines, Jayasumana went on, adding that the drug companies have agreed to supply and distribute medicines starting from today (10). These companies have sufficient stocks of medicines for four months, he added.
The decision comes in following a discussion held between the Minister and the pharmaceutical companies in Sri Lanka. Agreements have been reached during the meeting.
Accordingly, a guarantee can be made that there will be no shortage of medicines in the future, the State Minister further noted.
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has announced the plan for power cuts tomorrow (11).
Accordingly, a power cut of 02 hours and 30 minutes from 08 am to 06 pm and another power cut of 01 hour and 15 minutes from 06 pm to 11 pm will occur to A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K and L zones.
Meanwhile, a power cut of one hour from 05 pm to 09 pm will occur to P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, and W zones.
The economy of this country can be boosted by generating computer and digital technology related jobs and a targeted programme should be implemented in this regard, said Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa joining the occasion of donating digital screens and computer equipment worth Rs. 846,000 to classrooms of WP/Jaya Mahamaya Balika Vidyalaya today (10), as part of the 17th phase of the ‘Sakwala’ Program, an initiative undertaken by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) for a bright digital future for Sri Lankan children with technological and sophisticated computer skills and state of the art technology based knowledge.
These digital equipment were handed over to school Principal M. Chamila Kumari.
Premadasa noted that ‘Sakwala’ will be implemented throughout the country and that his aim is to expand the initiative to at least 50 schools this year and to equip the children of Sri Lanka with five computers using digital technology.
Through Sakwala, steps will be taken to make the children of this country an intelligent and talented group, the Opposition Leader added.
The aim of providing buses to schools was to provide the necessary facilities for the children to go to school, Premadasa commented about his act of donation, adding that this distribution will continue despite whoever criticises him.
Italian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Rita Giuliana Manella and representatives of the Samagi Vanitha Balawegaya, the women’s wing of the SJB, also graced the occasion with their presence.
The ‘Sakwala’ initiative is also holding a special programme aiming the International Women’s Day as well.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has declared March 15, 2022 as a date to hold a discussion with the Parliamentary group of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).
There had been previous occasions in which the two parties sought a discussion, but for various reasons it did not take place.
The plans to convene an all-party conference to resolve the crisis facing the country are also believed to be discussed during this meeting.
A silent protest and a petition was organised in support of former Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Shani Abeysekara in front of the Hulftsdorp (Aluthkade) Court premises today (10).
The demonstrators said there is a political attempt to silence Abeysekara via conviction in connection with the Easter Sunday Massacre and the abduction of Pradeep Ekneligoda and many other crimes.
Accordingly, this intervention is being made in protection of Abeysekara’s life, they added.
Last week, Mr Abramovich announced that he intends to sell Chelsea after almost 20 years of ownership, with net proceeds from the sale to be donated to “all victims of the war in Ukraine”.
Roman Abramovich has been sanctioned by the UK government as part of attempts to crackdown on wealthy Russians with assets in the country.
The Chelsea Football Club owner is one of seven more Russian oligarchs who have had sanctions placed on them by ministers on Thursday.
In a statement, he said the decision was “in the best interest of the club” amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The sanctions will come into force before the sale of the football club, which was previously estimated to be worth around £3bn, is able to take place.
Mr Abramovich will have his assets frozen under the move, will also face a prohibition on transactions with UK individuals and businesses and a travel ban forbidding him to enter the UK.
Jets and yachts owned or chartered by Mr Abramovich can been seized.
The outgoing premiership side owner’s net worth is an estimated £9.4bn and he is one of the few oligarchs from the 1990s to maintain prominence under Mr Putin.
The UK is the first nation to sanction Mr Abramovich, who the government has described as a “pro-Kremlin oligarch”.
Image: Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Roman Abramovich and the other six oligarchs have ‘close links to Putin’ and are ‘complicit in his aggression’ With their close links to Putin they are complicit in his aggression.
The other six Russian oligarchs who have been sanctioned by the UK government on Thursday are:
• Oleg Deripaska, who has stakes in En+ Group – a major extractives and energy company
• Igor Sechin, chief executive of Rosneft – a Russian state oil company
• Andrey Kostin, chairman of VTB bank – the second largest bank in Russia
• Alexei Miller, chief executive of energy company Gazprom
• Nikolai Tokarev, president of the Russia state-owned pipeline company Transneft
• Dmitri Lebedev, chairman of the board of directors of Bank Rossiya – widely considered to be The Kremlin’s private bank
The seven latest individuals to be sanctioned have a collective net worth of around £15bn.
The government has now sanctioned more than 200 individuals and entities.
Image: Roman Abramovich can no longer profit from the sale of Chelsea and faces a travel ban to the UK
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Mr Abramovich and the other Russian oligarchs sanctioned are “complicit” in Putin’s aggression.
“The blood of the Ukrainian people is on their hands. They should hang their heads in shame,” she said.
“Our support for Ukraine will not waver. We will not stop in this mission to ramp up the pressure on the Putin regime and choke off funds to his brutal war machine.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson added: “There can be no safe havens for those who have supported Putin’s vicious assault on Ukraine.”
Meanwhile, Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries acknowledged the decision would have an impact on Chelsea Football Club, but said a special licence would enable it to continue operating.
However, according to Ms Dorries, the licence for continued operation is very narrow:
• Chelsea fixtures will be fulfilled
• Only people who already have tickets to upcoming matches at Stamford Bridge can attend
• Contracted staff and players will continue to be paid
• Mr Abramovich cannot profit from the sale of his club
• No new players can be signed
“To ensure the club can continue to compete and operate we are issuing a special licence that will allow fixtures to be fulfilled, staff to be paid and existing ticket holders to attend matches while, crucially, depriving Abramovich of benefiting from his ownership of the club,” Ms Dorries posted on Twitter.
“I know this brings some uncertainty, but the government will work with the league and clubs to keep football being played while ensuring sanctions hit those intended. Football clubs are cultural assets and the bedrock of our communities. We’re committed to protecting them.”
A statement issued by the government confirming the latest sanctions said the licence published will allow Chelsea to “continue playing matches and other football related activity which will in turn protect the Premier League, the wider pyramid, loyal fans and other clubs”.
It adds that the licence will be kept “under constant review”.
A Chelsea Supporters’ Trust (CST) spokesperson said: “The CST notes with concern the government’s statement regarding the owner. Supporters must be involved in any conversation regarding ongoing impacts on the club and its global fan base.
“The CST implores the government to conduct a swift process to minimise the uncertainty over Chelsea’s future, for supporters and for supporters to be given a golden share as part of a sale of the club.”
Earlier this week, MPs worked fast-pace to pass the Economic Crime Bill which will come into force next week.
The Bill will significantly simplify the process of imposing sanctions and allow the UK to more easily sanction individuals and “stop oligarchs threatening the UK with multi-million pound lawsuits for damages at the taxpayers’ expense and allow the UK to mirror allies designations”.
Sky Sports News understands that Chelsea and government officials will meet on Thursday.
A severe foreign exchange crisis has been devastating the country for several months. As a result, shortages of milk powder, wheat flour and gas occurred from time to time, eventually leading to shortages of fuel and occurrence of power cuts.
In the midst of this crisis, opposition parties, including the Samagi Jana Balawegaya and the National People’s Power, as well as some parties of the Ruling Party, began to level the idea that the foreign exchange crisis had occurred due to the government’s move of artificially controlling the Rupee value and that the Rupee, therefore, should be allowed to float immediately; not to mention that they did not forget to ridicule Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Ajith Nivard Cabraal in what they claimed as inability to understand such a simple solution.
Bearing all criticism, the Central Bank Governor stated that allowing the Rupee to float was not a simple task and that it would have a severe effect on inflation. He thereafter tried to lure foreign remittances into the country’s banking system by barring migrant workers from remitting money through illegal means such as Hawala and Undial, however, to no avail.
At the end, the Rupee was allowed to float, fulfilling the request by hundred thousands of devotees of the Ruling Party and the Opposition.
Their criticism has taken another route against the Finance Minister and the Central Bank Governor in the event that the Rupee is depreciating sharply. According to their theory, it would be both wrong to do and not to do what they are asked.
The prices of commodities have not yet begun to soar in comparison of the Rupee’s depreciation against the Dollar. Commodity prices too will skyrocket in a matter of days. Only then those who had demanded the floating of the Rupee will continue to blame more and more as if they were not aware of what they had previously asked for.
This is the nature of the people of our country; especially those who master politics and economy only on Facebook.
Declaring decisions about the country’s economy to be the simplest choices even they can take, these critics initially blame the government for not implementing them, and then continue to blame it for the consequences of these decisions being implemented.
We recall the recent times in which a similar issue had arisen regarding the lockdown of the country amid the Covid pandemic.
Nonetheless, facing an economic crisis with a people complaining about the inevitable consequences of an action taken based on their own demand for which they do not even bear responsibility is not a difficult task, but an impossible one.
There is no doubt that various parties have different opinions of how this economic crisis came to play in the first place. But pointing fingers at each other and wasting time will not work for anyone, nor will gain even a cent instead of a Dollar.
Therefore, we reiterate that all political parties, first of all, shall be coming together and reaching onto a common ground in the establishment of a political stability in view of facing this crisis.
But the popular practice of petting people and blaming ‘the 225’ will never provide any solution to the country’s problems.
Probes into allegations of misuse of vehicles belonging to the State Engineering Corporation by Ruling Party MP Wimal Weerawansa have reportedly resumed, weeks after the former minister’s act of rebellion against the current regime.
The Transport Manager of the Corporation has been summoned to the Corruption Investigation Division of the Commission Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) related to the case today (10).
The probe into the vehicle misuse allegedly committed during the period of 2010 – 2014 was initiated during the period of the previous Good Governance regime and Weerawansa was arrested in 2017 on the charge thereby being subject to remand imprisonment for nearly three months.
As the current regime came to power, the investigations were stalled without any update, but have resurfaced upon Weerawansa’s removal from the Cabinet over his act of rebellion against the government.
At the time of the alleged vehicle misuse, the State Engineering Corporation was operating under the Ministry of Construction, Engineering Services and Housing under Weerawansa.
