- President Ranil Wickremesinghe says Sri Lanka has turned into a regional “punching bag”: asserts that Sri Lanka will not join any big power as it wants to avoid conflict in the Indian Ocean.
- Elections Commission Chairman Nimal Punchihewa says Sri Lanka’s electoral system is corrupt: also says the Commission cannot monitor or regulate expenditure of candidates.
- China and Russia slam Western double standards at the Human Rights Council: demands that the HRC desists from deviating from the standards of non-selectivity, objectivity and impartiality.
- GDP Growth rate for the 2Q 2022 estimated as 8.4% (negative) against 2Q 2021: Agriculture (-8.4%), Industries (-10.0%) & Services (-2.2%): 1Q 2022 was 1.6% (negative).
- JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva says burdens are being heaped on people according to the dictates of the IMF.
- India says it does not plan to provide fresh financial support to Sri Lanka on top of the nearly USD 4 billion it has extended this year: awaits IMF programme implementation.
- Sri Lanka Amadyapa Maha Sabha says nearly 40,000 people die yearly due to tobacco and alcohol.
- Sri Lanka’s wild elephant population has increased to 7,000 says the Ministry of Wildlife.
- Hundreds throng to see the newly opened Lotus Tower.
- CSE’s ASPI exceeds 10000: Bank shares up on hopes of domestic government debt not being subject to restructuring.
Sri Lanka Original Narrative Summary: 16/09
Sri Lanka’s economy contracts in second quarter of 2022
Sri Lanka’s Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) states that the year-on-year GDP growth rate for the second quarter of 2022 has been estimated as 8.4 percent of negative growth rate, against the value reported in the same quarter in the year 2021.
The DCS has released the estimated Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at current price and at constant (2015) price in the Production approach and the other macroeconomic indicators for the second quarter (April 01 – June 30) of 2022.
According to the report, the Gross Domestic Product for Sri Lanka for the second quarter of year 2022 at current price reported as Rs. 5,374,716 million.
The Gross Domestic Product for Sri Lanka for the second quarter of year 2022 at constant price (2015) reported as Rs. 2,782,114 million.
In the second quarter of year 2022, the percentage change of current price GDP reported as 33.3 percent and the year on year GDP growth rate reported as negative 8.4 percent.
The overall Agriculture, Industry and Services activities declined by 8.4 percent, 10.0 percent and 2.2 percent respectively, in the second quarter of 2022.
Issuing a communique, on releasing National Accounts Estimates, the DCS states that the year-on-year GDP growth rate for the second quarter of 2022 has been estimated as 8.4 percent of negative growth rate, against the value reported in the same quarter in the year 2021.
Further, the Gross Domestic Product for Sri Lanka for the second quarter of year 2022 at constant price (2015) has declined up to Rs. 2,782,114 million from Rs. 3,038,855 million which was recorded in the second quarter of year 2021.
However, the GDP at constant price (2015) reported in the second quarter of 2022 is higher than the GDP at constant price reported in the second quarter of year 2020 which amounted to Rs. 2,612,069 million.
In the second quarter of year 2022, the year on year GDP growth rate is calculated based on the real GDP value reported in the second quarter of previous year.
Accordingly, the following Figure reflects the changes in the real GDP levels in the second quarter GDP series from the year 2018 to the year of 2022.
LOLC’s Group’s Browns Investments eyes coal supply deal
Browns Investments, a unit of LOLC Group, expects to enter into negotiations with the Sri Lankan authorities to secure an unsolicited bid to supply coal to Norochcholai power plant after the party who was awarded the contract to supply coal backing out.
Browns Investments in a filing to the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) yesterday said it submitted an unsolicited proposal together with China Machinery & Engineering Corporation (CMEC) on August 12 in line with a Cabinet decision to call for solicited, unsolicited and government to government proposals for the procurement of 4.5 million MT of coal for Norochcholai power plant through Lanka Coal Company.
Having learnt of the failure of the selected bidder to supply, Browns Investments had written to the Minister of Power and Energy on September 8, 2022 that CMEC-Browns consortium is able to ensure uninterrupted supply of coal to the country.
In the unsolicited proposal submitted on August 12, 2022 CMEC-Browns had expressed willingness to accept 50 percent of the contractual price in rupees coupled with the option of paying that 50 percent within a period of five years.
Also, according to Browns Investments’ filing to the CSE, it had offered a lower price per metric tonne of coal compared to the failed selected bidder.
However, during a recent press conference the Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said the lowest price was offered by the selected bidder at the time of the closing of the tender.
He said CMEC-Browns sent another proposal two days after the tender was closed offering a lower price per metric tonne compared to the selected bidder. “After closing a tender, we can’t go and give the order to another person,” Wijesekera was quoted as saying in a media report.
Meanwhile, Browns Investments in its filing to the CSE said in its letter to Power and Energy Minister dated September 8, 2022, it reiterated its commitment to adhere to the same terms offered in its unsolicited proposal dated August 12, 2022 even after the failure on the part of the selected awardee.
“In the above circumstances, considering the terms offered in its proposal, the company reasonably expects to enter into negotiations with the relevant authorities in order to secure supply of the required volume of coal,” the filing by the Browns Investments said.
Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka Chairman Janaka Ratnayake last week said current coal supplies were enough to generate power till October 2022
Gautam Adani becomes second richest man in the world: Report
Billionaire tycoon Gautam Adani has now become the world’s second richest man, replacing Bernard Arnault by a whisker on the Forbes list. The Adani Group chairman’s net worth now stands at $155.5 billion ( ₹12.37 lakh crore). According to the Forbes Real Time Billionaires List, Adani’s net worth rose by $5.2 billion, a hike of 3.49 per cent. He is narrowly ahead of French tycoon Bernard Arnault and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Tesla founder Elon Musk continues to occupy the top position in the rich list. In the top 10 list, Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani is the second Indian with a net worth of $92.2 billion. The other billionaires in the top ten list include Bill Gates, Larry Ellison, Warren Buffett, Larry Page and Sergey Brin. On August 30, Adani had surpassed Louis Vitton boss Arnault to become the world’s third richest man. It was the first instance when an Asian was ranked among the top three billionaires.
The Adani Group’s kitchen essentials firm Adani Wilmar Ltd is now scouting for local and overseas acquisition targets to boost its food operations business, Bloomberg reported. The company’s chief executive officer and managing director Angshu Mallick told Bloomberg that the company is looking to acquire brands in staple foods and distribution companies to boost its consumer goods offering and reach.
Adani Wilmar has earmarked ₹500 crore from its initial public offering for the purchases. The additional funding will be sourced from internal accruals and the 30 billion rupees of planned capital expenditure for next year starting April, he said. The food company’s shares have more than tripled since its $486 million debut in February.The announcement comes after Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries announced its foray into FMCG business through its subsidiary Reliance Retail in August.
HINDUSTAN TIMES
Unloading of new fuel stocks commenced – Energy video
Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera says that the unloading of 37,000 metric tons of 92 octane petrol started today (16). In addition, unloading of 100,000 metric tons of crude oil has also started.
The unloading of 40,000 metric tons of diesel had started two days ago and the work is scheduled to be completed by tomorrow morning.
Two ships carrying fuel and crude oil to Sri Lanka were anchored in the port of Colombo for three weeks and another ship for two weeks. Unloading of fuel and crude oil from the ships was delayed due to inability to find the required dollars for payment.
In the meantime, the minister says that another 40,000 metric tons of diesel is ready for unloading and the necessary payments for the respective diesel stock will be made in the future.
Roger Federer to retire after Laver Cup in September
Roger Federer, one of the greatest players of all time, will retire from top-level tennis after the Laver Cup in London this month.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion has not played since Wimbledon 2021, after which he had a third knee operation.
“My body’s message to me lately has been clear,” Swiss Federer, 41, said.
“I have played more than 1,500 matches over 24 years. Now I must recognise when it is time to end my competitive career.”
He added: “To the game of tennis, I love you and will never leave you.”
Federer has struggled with a knee problem for the past three years that has restricted him to only three of the 11 Grand Slams staged since the start of 2020.
He has not played a competitive match since losing to Hubert Hurkacz in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon last summer.
He subsequently announced he needed more surgery on his knee having previously had two operations in 2020.
BBC
International Book Fair 2022 commenced at BMICH
The International Book Fair, which is being held for the 23rd time by the Book Publishers’ Association at the Colombo International Bandaranaike Conference Hall premises, opened with a celebration today (16).
The exhibition is open to the public from today (16th) to the 25th of this month from 9 am to 7 pm every day.
Visit the link to see all photos.
Ministers given 02 months to pay the arrears water bills while water supply was suspended for 21,527 customers
Piyal Padmanatha, Assistant General Manager of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board says that the water supply of 21,527 customers was suspended during the month of August. Due to the non-payment of dues to the board, measures have been taken to suspend the water supply.
He points out that the amount to be collected from these customers is close to 5.2 billion rupees.
Meanwhile, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has been informed by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board about the ministers who have defaulted in paying their water bills. The Speaker has said that he has obtained a list of the names of the relevant Ministers from the Water Supply Board and will inform them about this problem.
The Speaker has requested that ministers be given to pay the arrears bills and has asked to disconnect the water supply of the Ministers who do not settle the arrears bills within that period.
Minister Herath prepares to scientifically find the true cost of an egg
State Minister DB Herath says that the crisis situation that has arisen regarding the price of eggs will be resolved as soon as possible. The minister also mentions that efforts will be made to set a fair price for eggs while protecting the producer and the consumer.
Accordingly, he further states that he is looking into the cost of producing an egg and using a scientific basis to calculate it correctly.
DB Herath says that after calculating on a scientific basis, the price of eggs will be fixed in consultation with the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.
Jazz music tour organized across Sri Lanka celebrating the 2022 European Day of Languages
MEDIA RELEASE
Photo Caption:
- Eliane Amherd (L) and Amanda Ruzza
COLOMBO (13 September 2022): The European Union (EU) together with the Embassy of Switzerland, Italian Embassy, French Embassy, Alliance Française, Goethe-Institut and the British Council will be hosting a multilingual jazz music tour across three key cities in Sri Lanka, with the view of celebrating this year’s European Day of Languages falling on 26 September.
As part of the broader EU Campaign on a Peaceful and Inclusive Society, the multilingual jazz music tour will feature mainstream, pop rock, jazz fusion, jazz pop and Latin jazz. The tour will begin in Colombo, travel to Kandy, and conclude in Jaffna, sharing the diversity of linguistic heritage with the people of Sri Lanka, to encourage intercultural understanding.
The inaugural concert will be held in Colombo at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute on Saturday 24 September, from 6.30pm onwards. It is a free event open to everyone on a first come first served basis. This concert will be followed by a jazz evening in Kandy on Monday 26 September at 7pm, at the Slightly Chilled Lounge Bar and Restaurant. The final concert will be held at the Jaffna Public Library on Wednesday 28 September, from 5.30pm onwards.
The event will feature performances by singer, guitarist and songwriter Eliane Amherd and bassist, bandleader, composer, and producer Amanda Ruzza in German, French, Italian, Portuguese and English.
Born in Switzerland, Eliane Amherd lives in New York and the city’s savvy multicultural energy has had an influence in the unique sound of her original compositions which are jazzy, groovy and rooted in African, Brazilian and Latin music. A talented composer and lyricist and a graduate of The New School University for Jazz and Contemporary Music, Eliane performs as a leader or a featured artist in New York’s premiere clubs and tours in North and South America, Canada, Europe and Asia, where she appeared in international Festivals in China, Thailand, the Philippines, Myanmar, Malaysia, Nepal and Mongolia. She plays guitar in several NYC bands and collaborated with greats such as Marcus Strickland, Bashiri Johnson, Bill Ware, Hagar Ben Ari, Randy Brecker etc.
Born in São Paulo, Brazil to a Chilean mother and an Italian father, Amanda Ruzza grew up in a house humming with music. Amanda began playing bass and engaging in professional performance early. Eventually, in Brazil, she worked with distinguished Brazilian producers and arrangers, including Grammy Award winner Moogie Canazio, Maestro Jobam and Sony
Music Japan’s Osny Mello. She is based in New York at present. Besides being a musician fluent in an array of styles, Amanda is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, and English.
Press contacts:
Le-Anne FERNANDO
Political, Press and Information Section
Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives
Email: [email protected]
Tel.: + 94 11 2674413-4
Nina FERNANDO
Communications Section
Embassy of Switzerland to Sri Lanka and the Maldives
Email: [email protected]
Tel.: +94 11 269 51 17 Ext.853099