- President Ranil Wickremesinghe leaves for London to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on 19th September.
- Former President Maithripala Sirisena ordered to appear before the Fort Magistrate’s Court on 14th October in relation to a private plaint to name him as an accused for failing to prevent the Easter Sunday attacks.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe says the Indo-Sri Lanka FTA will be upgraded to a Comprehensive Economic & Technological Partnership soon: also says all related committees that obstructed it have been abolished to speed the process.
- Unloading starts of 2 fuel shipments out of 4, following prolonged delay of ships waiting outside the port since 23rd August due to non-availability of Forex: struggle to import fuel still on, since no credit facilities are now extended by suppliers after the declaration of sovereign debt default on 12th April.
- Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dassanayake says steps are being taken to establish a separate budget office in Parliament to monitor financial affairs of the government.
- Colombo International Book Fair commences at the BMICH for the 23rd consecutive year: over 400 local and international stalls participate: ends on 25th September.
- Central Bank’s T-Bill holdings face value increases by a staggering Rs.631 billion after 5th April 2022: increase is 77% over the T-Bill issues in the previous year: inflation @ 64%: 3-month T-Bill rate @ 32.9%: growth for 2Qtr22 @ -8 4%.
- Agriculture Department recommends use of 30% organic and 70% chemical fertilizer for cultivation in the upcoming 2022/23 Maha season.
- New Hindi version of “Menike Mage Hithe” by Sri Lankan singer Yohani de Silva released for the Hindi movie “Thank God”: movie features Bollywood’s Ajay Devgan, Sidharth Malhotra and Nora Fatehi.
- Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe approves 15 member squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia: Dasun Shanaka (Captain): Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Kumara recalled to the squad.
Sri Lanka Original Narrative Summary: 17/09
USAID grants additional US $65 million to SL under new five year program
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Sri Lanka reached a new five year bilateral agreement providing additional financial assistance of US$ 65 million to meet humanitarian needs of the suffering people of the dollar starved island.
This funding is in addition to over $60 million (21 billion Sri Lankan rupees) of new humanitarian and fertilizer assistance that Administrator Samantha Power announced last week in response to the current economic and political crises in Sri Lanka, the US Embassy said.
It will support the Government of Sri Lanka’s efforts to provide welfare assistance for vulnerable communities and also meet the fertiliser needs of farmers.
Most USAID funds are fully committed to its current program. Only in exceptional cases are unsolicited proposals funded.
These programs focus on two areas important to the country’s long-term, equitable growth:including a strengthened partnership between the state and its citizens and equitable economic growth, especially in former conflict areas in the North and East.
US Ambassarder to Sri Lanka Julie Chung announced that the United States, through USAID, will provide an additional estimated $65 million (more than 23 billion Sri Lankan rupees) in assistance to Sri Lanka over a five-year period.
The assistance falls under the Development Objectives Assistance Agreement (DOAG) signed by Mr. Gabriel Grau, Mission Director for USAID Sri Lanka and Maldives and Mr. Mahinda Siriwardena, Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies..
In celebration of the start of this new bilateral agreement, Ambassador Julie Chung remarked, “The United States and the American people are proud of our enduring and robust partnership with the people and government of Sri Lanka.
We remain fully committed to supporting locally led initiatives to advance a stable, prosperous, and peaceful Sri Lanka – critical to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific in which all nations are connected, prosperous, resilient, and secure,”
The U.S., through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is committed to supporting Sri Lanka to advance market-driven growth, environmental sustainability and resilience, and good governance.
All USAID funding for Sri Lanka is provided as gifts or grants and is implemented by local and international organizations that adhere to strict monitoring standards.
The U.S. has provided more than $2 billion (approximately 720 billion Sri Lankan rupees) in development assistance to Sri Lanka since 1956.
Ranjith Bandara nominated for the post of Pohottu Chairman
Since the President of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, Prof. GL Peiris, is currently working as an opposition member of parliament, it has been suggested that a new president should be appointed. The ministers who submitted the proposal have said that a person who continuously intervenes in the party’s affairs should act as the chairman.
Accordingly, it has been suggested that GL Peiris should be removed, a professor should be appointed for the vacancy, and that Ranjith Bandara, Member of Parliament, is suitable.
Meanwhile, it has been suggested that he should be given the position of Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises, which is currently vacant. Professor Charitha Herath was the chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises and he is currently in opposition with the GL group.
Another government institution chairman removed from office!
Hashan Dissanayake, the chairman of the Agriculture and Rural Insurance Board, has been removed from that position since yesterday (16).
He says that he has been removed from his position without any prior notice.
Hashan Dissanayake has stated to the media that when he reported to work yesterday morning, the Ministry Secretary contacted him and informed him to give the opportunity to a new chairman to take over.
Accordingly, it is said that WMB Weerasekera, who was a former chairman of that board, has taken over as its chairman yesterday.
A new revelation about the cost of an average family to get a balanced meal!
According to the current food prices in Sri Lanka, an average family of four has to spend a minimum of 2500 rupees a day to get a balanced meal, says Dr. Chamal Sanjeeva, Registrar of Hospital Administration of the Ministry of Health.
He said that this information has been revealed according to a survey conducted targeting social groups in selected districts.
“In the practical calculations we have made, we have realized that in order to have a balanced meal, an average family in our country has to spend at least 1400 rupees for one meal a day. Then dinner costs usually less than this so we thought it was around 1000 rupees. And nearly 500 rupees for breakfast. That means, with today’s food prices, an average middle-class family of four would have to spend at least 2500 rupees a day to have a balanced meal. You can see what I’m saying how tragic it is to have to spend 2500 rupees a day just for food. Then if we take it for a month, we can see that an average family needs to spend at least 75,000-90,000 rupees to take balanced meals.
Dr. Chamal Sanjeeva, the registrar of hospital administration at the Ministry of Health, said this while speaking to the media yesterday (16).
President Ranil leaves for England
President Ranil Wickramasinghe has left Katunayake, Bandaranaike International Airport for England this morning (17).
It is to participate in the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, which will be held on the 19th.
Cannabis was to be legalized for export, not for anyone to consume on the street – Diana
The Minister of State for Tourism Mrs. Diana Gamage says that some people are distorting her proposal to legalize cannabis and that she proposed to legalize the cultivation of cannabis for export.
Diana Gamage said this while speaking to the media after the meeting of the ruling party members held yesterday (16).
Two firearms found in the house of a Pohottu local councilor
Police have seized two firearms and a sharp weapon from the house of a Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna member of the Ambalangoda local council.
Based on information received by the police, the two firearms and the sharp weapon found at the house of the concerned MP located in Batapola, Pollavwa area have been taken into police custody.
Govt seeks AG’s advice to resolve legal tangle of US $ 1.5 billion coal procurement
The Cabinet Ministers, at its meeting on Monday, has decided to seek the advice of the Attorney General to resolve the legal dispute concerning the $ 1.5 billion coal procurement, to avoid longer power outages from the latter part of October.
“The matter was discussed at length at the Cabinet meeting on Monday. It was decided to seek advice from the Attorney General and to make a submission to the Supreme Court highlighting the importance of a quick resolution to avoid adverse impact on the economy at large,” Acting Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said in response to a query at the post-Cabinet meeting media briefing yesterday.
Lanka Coal Ltd., called for tenders for the procurement of 4.5 million tons of coal and the revelations thereafter have stirred much controversy since then.
Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobhitha Thero last week filed a Fundamental Rights petition in Supreme Court seeking an order staying the purported award made to a company incorporated in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the procurement of 4.5 million tons of coal to the Lakvijaya Power Plant.
The petitioner is challenging the decision of the Special Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee to award the coal tender to the Black Sand Commodities Company and subsequent approval issued by the Cabinet Ministers.
Sobhitha Thero maintained that the price per ton of coal for which the tender has been awarded to the Black Sand Commodities Company, is exorbitantly high, vis-à-vis the current Russian prices, thus, giving an unjustifiably and indeed unconscionable profit margin to the above company.
The Petitioner also said that Black Sand Commodities Company is not registered with Lanka Coal Company Ltd. as a supplier of coal.
Separately in response, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera also officially requested Committee of Public Finance (COPF) Chairman and MP Dr. Harsha de Silva to conduct an inquiry on the procurement of coal.
“False allegations levelled against the awarded tender have created questions on transparency and pricing. I hope COPF will expedite the inquiry,” Wijesekera opined via Twitter.
Last week, Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka Chairman Janaka Ratnayake warned that Sri Lanka might lose 900 MW of coal power generation due to the unavailability of sufficient stocks and the ramifications of it will have to be borne by the public with long power outages.
He said the remaining coal stocks are only sufficient till the last week of October and if the Government or the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is not allowed to import, there is a high possibility that the plants will be forced into a shutdown resulting in long power cut hours.
“We need to ensure that the current power generation plan is not confused for the benefit of all citizens. We must procure sufficient coal at least by early next month for the sake of the public and the economy at large,” Ratnayake stressed.
Indian-owned Jay Jay Mills Lanka comes up at Eravur Textile Zone
US $ 35 million worth textile mill by Jay Jay Mills Lanka Ltd. will be the first project to be undertaken at the dedicated textile manufacturing zone in Eravur, Batticaloa with the ground-up development commencing at the site The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) announced
The facility will feature state-of-the-art technology with knitting, dyeing and finishing capacities of 50 tons of fabric per day once in full operation and is designed to adhere to the latest environmentally sustainable norms.
The baby wear manufacturer has committed $ 35 million for the project and the facility is planned to be completed in three phases over five years. Commencement of commercial operation of the first phase is expected to be within two years. The new project is to generate 460 direct employment opportunities.
Jay Jay Mills Lanka, the parent company of Jay Jay Textiles Lanka, was incorporated in Sri Lanka as a BOI Company and commenced commercial operations in the year 2004 by engaging in the manufacture and export of Apparel.
The ultimate parent company, Jay Jay Mills India is a well-established textile and apparel manufacturer in India with over four decades of experience in the industry and with this investment, the company plans to bring that expertise to Sri Lanka.
The company currently has an extensive network of operations in the country with facilities in Avissawella, Matara, Monaragala, Trincomalee and Mannar with over 9,500 full-time employees.
Jay Jay Mills Lanka Managing Director Srikumar said: “The country as a whole will benefit from this project because a major portion of foreign exchange outflow on the importation of fabric can be curtailed to a considerable level by fulfilling the fabric demand of our Group consisting of ten manufacturing plants.”
“Further, this will enable us to improve service levels for our existing and future customers by enabling speed and flexibility, allowing us to win additional business which will greatly benefit the economy of Sri Lanka,” Srikumar added.
BOI Chairman Raja Edirisuriya said: “In the context of the current global conditions, disasters and pandemics are frequent and evident.
Therefore, international leading brands always look for a counter sourcing strategy, which is all about sourcing textiles and clothing from the country of manufacturing. Against this backdrop, the newly unveiled zone is going to be an ideal manufacturing ecosystem for international brands that are interested in investing in Sri Lanka.”
“The Jay Jay Mills, has been at the forefront in the textile and yarn manufacturing in the world and their decision to invest in Sri Lanka signifies that the country is recognized as a destination, with 360% facilitation of apparel manufacturing in the world.
his will also provide a solution for the much-needed import substitute strategy implementation of the BOI and the Government of Sri Lanka,” he added.
BOI Director General Renuka M. Weerakone said: “The 300 acre dedicated textile manufacturing zone in Eravur, was established by the Government of Sri Lanka as a Strategic Development Project to enhance the textile manufacturing footprint in the country.”
“It is indeed a pleasure and honour to see a giant and renowned company like Jay Jay Mills Lanka joining hands with the BOI. Given the country’s current status, the involvement of Jay Jay Mills Lanka in the zone operation, is sure to bolster the confidence of other local and foreign investors to start ventures in the zone so that they could also make their contribution to the country’s economy,” she added.