Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has launched a pilot program to donate digital computer boards (Smart Boards) and computers to the school system in Sri Lanka with the aim of accelerating the transition to a digital economy through information technology.
Nearly 75% of students entering government schools do not have computers at home. Internet access is limited to about 35% of the population, with only 1.67 million regular Internet subscribers. A LIRNEAsia study conducted in 2020 showed that online-based educational access (even in the form of notes distributed using PDF and WhatsApp) was available to only 45% of school-age students. Although 96% of households have only one mobile phone, it can be challenging to have the device shared with the children for regular educational purposes, provided the parents own it.
The growing digital divide in Sri Lanka has been further exposed even as the epidemic began to spread. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has said that it will not be easy for the children of this country to deal with the modern world of technology in the future with the current situation. Hence the Smart Board and Computer Donation Pilot Program will be launched with the sole aim of creating a future generation of children.
MP Vijitha Herath says that the JVP is not ready to enter into any alliance with the defeated political parties except with the people who love the country. The people have no faith in political alliances and the expectations of the people have not been fulfilled by the alliances formed in history, he said.
He was responding to a statement made by SLFP Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara regarding a SLFP-JVP alliance.
He also points out that an alliance that wins the country and the people can be formed not with the defeated political parties but with the people who respect new ideas. Therefore, they will not enter into any alliance with political parties again.
However, Vijitha Herath says that he is grateful to Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara for inviting him to a political alliance.
Earlier, JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva as well as JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake had refused to form an alliance with political parties.
The Government of the Republic of Indonesia with the concurrence of the Government of Sri Lanka has appointed Ms. Dewi Gustina Tobing as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia to Sri Lanka based in Colombo. She has presented credentials to H.E. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka on 21 December 2021 at 5.30 p.m. at President’s House, Colombo 01.
The Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt with the concurrence of the Government of Sri Lanka has appointed Mr. Maged Mosleh as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Sri Lanka based in Colombo. He has presented credentials to H.E. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka on 21 December 2021 at 5.30 p.m. at President’s House, Colombo 01.
The Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana with the concurrence of the Government of Sri Lanka has appointed Mr. Charrandass Persaud as the High Commissioner of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to Sri Lanka based in New Delhi. He has presented credentials to H.E. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka on 21 December 2021 at 5.30 p.m. at President’s House, Colombo 01.
The Government of Hungary with the concurrence of the Government of Sri Lanka has appointed Mr. Andras Laszlo Kiraly as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Hungary to Sri Lanka based in New Delhi. He has presented credentials to H.E. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka on 21 December 2021 at 5.30 p.m. at President’s House, Colombo 01.
Sri Lanka and India discussed ways in which the two countries could further enhance bilateral cultural relations when Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda met with Minister of State for External Affairs & Culture of India Smt. Meenakashi Lekhi on Sunday (19).
The discussion focused on enhancing cultural relations between the two neighboring nations, particularly through the promotion of Theri Sanghamitta and Sita of Ramayana – two iconic historical figures who played unique roles in the relations between India and Sri Lanka.
Both dignitaries noted that Theri Sanghamitta and Sita of Ramayana were two extraordinary figures who have contributed immensely to Indo-Lanka relations, and agreed to explore ways and means to promote modern bilateral cultural ties revolving around them.
Collaboration possibilities between Sri Lanka and the National Museum of New Delhi and the National Gallery of Modern Art were also discussed at this meeting. High Commissioner Moragoda invited State Minister Meenakashi Lekhi to visit Sri Lanka as well.
High Commissioner Moragoda also shared a copy of his policy document, the “Integrated Country Strategy for Sri Lanka Diplomatic Missions in India 2021/2023”, which includes a detailed road map for bilateral cultural cooperation, with the State Minister of India, alongside a copy of the Hindi version of the booklet “The History of the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya”, published by the Anagarika Dharmapala Trust.
High Commission of Sri Lanka New Delhi 22 December 2021
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa who left for India yesterday (23) on a private visit has visited Tirupati today. The Prime Minister’s wife Shiranthi Rajapaksa and several others were present at the occasion.
According to Indian media reports, when the Prime Minister arrived at the Tirupati, there was tight security around the premises.
Sri Lanka ranks 16th in the world in terms of food inflation. The Trading Economics website has made this ranking. According to the relevant ranking, we are in the 6th place in Asia. In the Asian region, only Lebanon, Iran, Syria, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia have higher food inflation than Sri Lanka.
The rating is based on inflation of 9.9% in Sri Lanka last month. However, inflation in Sri Lanka has now risen to 11.1%, further elevating Sri Lanka’s position in the Trading Economics rankings.
These rankings show that even in countries such as Afghanistan, Nigeria, Haiti and Somalia, inflation is lower than in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan “Dumbara Rata Kalala”, or Dumbara mats, are traditional hand-made mats used as wall hangings, tapestries or cushion covers. The mats are made in a few villages, such as Kalasirigama and Alokagama, by a community called “kinnara” that traditionally supplied ornamental mats to the royal palace as part of their obligatory service to the crown and to ruling elites between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries. Today, artisans weave the mats for local buyers and tourists.
The Dumbara Rata Kalala were recently inscribed by UNESCO on its prestigious Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The announcement was made by UNESCO on 15 December, 2021 at the 16th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee – the organ that implements the 2003 International Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage held from 13 to 18 December, 2021 at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
UNESCO made this decision after examining a nomination prepared by a committee of experts appointed by, and working with, the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs in Sri Lanka, in association with the National Library of Sri Lanka, the Documentation Services Board of Sri Lanka, the Divisional Secretariat Offices of the two relevant districts, and the traditional crafts families of the two villages.
The inscription of the element will improve its visibility, enrich the craft practice, empower the crafts families, and ensure the viability of this important element. At the same time, potential dangers such as commercialization and over-exploitation were made aware, and steps to protect the element are already in place in the safeguarding plans.
On behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka and its people, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Sri Lanka to UNESCO Kshanika Hirimburegama expressed her immense appreciation and gratitude to UNESCO for inscribing the “Traditional craftsmanship of making Dumbara Ratā Kalāla” on the Representative List.
Further, she thanked the Ministry of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs, crafts families, members of the nomination preparation team, well-wishers, who helped in numerous ways to prepare a successful nomination dossier, as well as the Evaluation Body for their excellent work done.
Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage has stated that he, as the Minister of Agriculture, he can responsibly state that there will be no food shortage next year.
“Representatives of chemical fertilizer companies say there will be food shortages. Today I reviewed with agriculture officials in all 25 districts of Sri Lanka. 800,000 have been planted, there will be a slight reduction in production, but they vowed that there will be no food shortage.
We have imported fertilizer for vegetables. It will arrive in January. Therefore, as the Minister of Agriculture, I responsibly say that there will be no food shortage in this country next year. “
Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage stated this in a statement issued to the media yesterday (23).
Oh, now they have woken up. Most of the ‘big businesses” became “big” through government contracts, government lands, artificially created monopolies, and protectionism; so basically out of public funds, except perhaps the IT sector. During elections they go around making donations to all camps without taking a stance and giving a signal to the public as to what type of policies that people must vote for or indicating the policies the private sector stands for.
Do you, “Leading Biz Chambers”, realise that you kept silent when the 20th amendment abolished the Audit Commission (Accountability) and the Procurement Commission (Public financial Management) and took away the teeth of the National Police Commission (rule of law).
You kept silent when political lackeys were appointed to regulatory bodies and key posts that need independent technocrats. You dined and entertained the corrupt endorsing their self serving policies, pseudo qualifications and shenanigans endangering this country.
They needed your endorsement and you gave it. Now we all face the consequences. For example, talk of Forex crisis, did any one of you raise any issues for the blatant violation of the Monetary Law? It was always a member of the “civil society” that came forward.
Your CSR initiatives dont even support those civil society organisations cos they are, in your opinion, “political sensitive”. But you have the option to “relocate” to other countries (just like some of the rulers). At least now you are issuing a whimper of a threat !!!! I guess better late than never. Attorney at Law Harsha Fernando
Foreign Minister Prof. G. L Peiris met the newly appointed envoys representing 17 countries at the Foreign Ministry on 22 December. The meeting followed the presentation of credentials to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on 21 December by the envoys. Most of the envoys are non-resident Heads of Mission based in New Delhi.
Minister Peiris welcomed the Heads of Mission and stated that the Sri Lankan Government looked forward to strong and substantial relationships with all of them. He further stated that during his previous tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs under the leadership of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Government felt that there was insufficient representation in the African continent and deliberate efforts were made to strengthen relations with the African countries. The present Government under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is also looking towards forming close bonds with the African nations as well as consolidating relations with the African Union, Minister Peiris said.
The Foreign Minister briefed the Ambassadors on the current situation and developments in Sri Lanka. He stated that the country has achieved substantial success even after the country’s structural plans, priorities and frameworks planned by the present Government were disrupted by the Covid19 pandemic. He stated that 90% of individuals above the age of 30 have been double vaccinated and the country is now providing booster shots. The Minister spoke of Sri Lanka’s efficient health care and delivery system as well as the support given by the armed forces who made that sure vaccines reached remote areas of the country. The Ambassadors were briefed on the resilience of the private sector which changed the nature of products, like the apparel industry producing PPE kits to suit the environment affected by the pandemic, making sure the export income of the country did not get affected and people continued to be employed. In the case of remittances, Minister Peiris acknowledged that remittances were affected due to a large number of Sri Lankans living abroad returning to their home country due to the pandemic. He stated that the government was in discussions with many countries since many now want to return.
The Foreign Minister also explained that the country was ravaged by a 30 year conflict and a conflict of such magnitude is bound to leave residues. He stated that it has taken other countries decades to recover and that Sri Lanka has made every effort to deal with the residual issues. He spoke of mechanisms set up by the Sri Lankan Government like the Office of Missing Persons, Commissions of Inquiry, ONUR, and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka all working towards tackling the remnants of the conflict. Referring to Sri Lanka’s commitment to gender empowerment and gender equality, Minister Peiris mentioned that the Human Rights Commission is headed by a former female judge of the Supreme Court and that Sri Lanka is working towards more female representation in decision making.
Minister Peiris stated that Sri Lanka has always engaged and will continue to engage purposefully and cordially with the United Nations but objected to the excessive interference into the internal affairs of the country. The Minister objected to the setting up of a ‘special mechanism’ by the UN whose sole purpose was to collect data to use against Sri Lanka. He stated that there was no way of knowing what the data was and therefore had no opportunity to test the truth in these allegations.
The Minister called for the empathy of the Ambassadors and High Commissioners present and their backing to Sri Lanka in the international platforms stating that it was important for the UN to support the efforts made by a country to get back on its feet and not tear it down. He pointed out that local institutions must be given the space and time to carve out solutions that sustain the culture and ethics of an individual country.
He concluded the meeting by inviting the Ambassadors to Sri Lanka join the celebration for the upcoming National Day in February 2022 and stated that Sri Lanka looks forward to stronger bilateral relations and cooperation in the UN arena.
The heads of Missions of the 17 countries present were:
I. The Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone – High Commissioner Ernest Mbaimba
II. The Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan – Ambassador Mohammed El-Kayed
III. The Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea – Ambassador Choe Hui Chol
IV. The Government of the Republic of Rwanda – High Commissioner Mukangira Jacqueline
V. The Government of the Republic of Botswana – High Commissioner Gilbert Shimane Mangole
VI. The Government of the Republic of Malta – High Commissioner Reuben Gauci
VII. The Government of Hungary – Ambassador Andras Laszlo Kiraly
VIII. The Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania – Ambassador Muhammad Ahmad Rara
IX. The Government of the Republic of Tunisia – Ambassador Hayet Talbi Bilel
X. The Government of the Argentine Republic – Ambassador Hugo Javier Gobbi
XI. The Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana – High Commissioner Charrandass Persaud
XII. The Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt – Ambassador Maged Mosleh
XIII. The Government of the Dominican Republic – Ambassador David Emmanuel Puig
XIV. The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – High Commissioner Ahmed Sule
XV. The Government of the Republic of Indonesia – Ambassador Dewi Gustina Tobing
XVI. The Government of the Kingdom of Spain – Ambassador Jose Maria Dominguez
XVII. The Government of the Republic of Slovenia – Ambassador Mateja Ghosh
