Sri Lankan witchcraft practitioner Gnanawathi Jayasuriya aka ‘Gnana Meniyo’ or ‘Gnanakka’ calling in what it appeared to be her very first press conference yesterday (22) said she has never benefitted from politicians, nor has she ever gained a single rupee from them.

Jayasuriya, who claims herself to be gifted with the possession of Goddess Paththini, a Hindu deity, denied the allegations levelled against her involving leaders of the government.

“People who come to me – I am very happy on one hand – talk in a wonderful way, saying that they will build a new house for me and not to worry. Those who called me were not those engaged in politics, but the innocent people who come to me. I am a mother who strongly stood up, no matter what people say. Have I ever gained a single rupee from any politician, I am ready to submit myself before any law. I have never benefitted from any politician. May they be brought before me and questioned, I have never. Nor do I need such a thing. I am a human who stood up with much effort,” she said.

Contradictory to her denial on the allegation of having affairs with high-profile political figures in the country, Jayasuriya did acknowledge that politicians pay occasional visits to her monastery for spiritual advice and that she ‘does not‘ remember what she had talked with the politicians she had encountered, for the talks always carried out between the Goddess herself and the politicians.

Jayasuriya’s high-level political affiliations have recently been exposed to media and the unrest provoked by the May 09 assault also led to the burning of her house.

MIAP

The G.C.E. Ordinary Level examinations commence today (23) at 3,844 examination centres islandwide, the Department of Examinations said.

Accordingly, 517,496 eligible candidates are sitting for the OLs exams this year, with 407,129 school candidates and 110,367 private applicants.

The examinations will be held till June 01, 2022.

All candidates are requested to arrive early at their designated examination centres with their admission and valid identity cards.

Despite the ongoing economic crisis and shortages of essential commodities in the island, the examinations will be held without any shortage.

MIAP

Sumith Wijesinghe has decided to tender resignation to his post as the Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO).

Accordingly, he has handed over his letter of resignation to the President.

MIAP

Sri Lanka is about to face a severe essential food crisis following the imminent decline in the importation of commodities like rice, sugar, dhal, chickpeas, coriander and other lentils etc as a result of the ban on imports via open account payment terms, essential food commodity importers and traders complained.

This catastrophic situation erupted due to the dollar crisis coupled with a socio-political calamity and indirect restrictions of the government by banning open account imports has become an unbearable stumbling block for food commodity importers, they pointed out.

The open account payment terms was a method frequently used by importers to bring down essential food commodities bypassing the formal banking channels due to procedural delays and dollar shortage, they pointed out.

This method has been followed by food commodity importers for urgent imports specially when there was sudden shortage of essential food item from a long time even before the dollar crisis, a leading commodity importer said.

The Finance Ministry issued a gazette notification with necessary guidelines recently banning the imports using open account payment terms with effect from May 20.

The Central bank recently announced that around 25 per cent of the country’s imports (US$1.6-1.8 billion dollars a month) were carried out by using open accounts and over 12 per cent through documents against payment (DP) terms and documents against acceptance (DA) terms.

The aim of banning the open account system which was in operation for a long period is to make all payments on imports to Sri Lanka through a banking system compulsory for local importers, it added.

An open account transaction is a sale where the goods are shipped and delivered before payment is due providing an advantage for the importer in terms of cash flow and cost and the extension of credit by the seller to the buyer is more common abroad.

The goods, together with all the necessary documents, are shipped directly to the importer who has agreed to pay the exporter’s invoice at a specified date under this method.

Sri Lanka imports around $200 million of food a month including onions, potatoes, sprats, lentils and cereals and rice to meet the needs of consumers.

The clampdown on the dollar buying from markets, open account food imports and forcing Pettah traders to open Letters of Credit (LCs) or set Customs authorities to crack down on food importers who do not fully settle bills through official channels will be creating an unprecedented food shortage within the next two months, traders said.

The noted that this will also create an unbearable price hike of food items until the authorities take remedial measures they added.

Before the dollar crisis, importers used to make payments for their overseas supplier’s via dollar transactions from banks and sometimes buying dollars from the market at a higher rate for emergency imports and delays in bank transactions,

P.M. Abeysekera, Consultant of Essential Food Commodities Importers and Traders Association said that several leading importers use open accounts for the importation of essential food commodities based on their relationships with suppliers.

This system is being used frequently in recent times as there is limited foreign exchange available to fund letters of credit (LCs), he disclosed

A large humanitarian grant assistance consignment worth more than SLR 2 billion from the people of India is scheduled to reach Colombo on 22 May 2022. The consignment, which consists of 9,000 MT of rice, 50 MT of milk powder and more than 25 MT of drugs and other medical supplies, will be handed over by High Commissioner Gopal Baglay to the senior leadership of Government of Sri Lanka. 

2.     The consignment was flagged off from Chennai port by Thiru M.K Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 18 May 2022. This is the first incoming consignment under a larger commitment of 40,000 MT of rice, 500 MT of milk powder and medicines by Government of Tamil Nadu. This commitment translates to more than SLR 5.5 billion. 

3.     The incoming consignment shall be distributed among beneficiaries across the country including Northern, Eastern, Central and Western Provinces by Government of Sri Lanka. These beneficiaries cover diverse sections of the society. 

4.      The assistance from people of India complements multi-pronged efforts undertaken by Government of India by standing with their brethren in Sri Lanka. Several private and social organizations from India have sent assistance to Sri Lanka to meet various urgent requirements. This outpouring of support for Sri Lanka among common Indians is apart from the economic assistance by Government of India which has been to the tune of around USD 3.5 billion since January this year. In addition, medicines, dry rations etc have also been sent by Government of India on grant basis. 

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Colombo

20 May 2022