The Australian government has announced it will provide AUD $50 million to support Sri Lanka amid its worst economic crisis in 70 years.

This grant is in addition to its bilateral allocation and official development assistance (ODA) of US$ 77.4 million provided to the island nation for the period of 2021-2022 -2023, Finance Ministry statistics showed.  

Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong announced the Official Development Assistance will be provided to “support Sri Lanka meet urgent food and healthcare needs”.

In her statement Ms Wong said there are “deeper consequences for the region if this crisis continues”.Sri Lanka currently faces its worst economic crisis in seventy years, leading to shortages of food, medicine and fuel.

The Foreign Minister said Australia has a close and long-standing relationship with Sri Lanka. “Not only do we want to help the people of Sri Lanka in its time of need, there are also deeper consequences for the region if this crisis continues.”

She said “We will contribute an immediate $22 million to the World Food Programme for emergency food assistance to help three million people in Sri Lanka meet their daily nutritional needs.”

“Australia will also provide $23 million in development assistance to Sri Lanka in 2022-23.”“This will support health services, and economic recovery, with a strong emphasis on protecting those at risk, especially women and girls.”

These contributions are in addition to $5 million recently provided to United Nations agencies for Sri Lanka.

Australia’s development program will support Sri Lanka’s efforts to enhance health security, stability and economic recovery through flexible and responsive approaches that meet Sri Lanka’s emerging needs, building on our long-term development cooperation partnership with Sri Lanka.

In the longer-term it will support stability in Sri Lanka through a range of governance and social inclusion programs. These programs are aimed at supporting Sri Lanka’s efforts to increase economic growth, reduce poverty and inequality, and strengthen the capacity of relevant authorities.

Australia’s programs aim to support a robust, inclusive and sustainable Sri Lankan recovery from the pandemic.

It has redesigned the skills building element of our portfolio to assist with faster economic recovery in selected value chains such as tourism, agriculture and aquaculture.

Australia’s  private sector development work will address the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on those most vulnerable, particularly women and people with disabilities.

Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will leverage its partnership with the World Bank to assist recovery of Sri Lanka Small to Medium-sized Enterprises through economic policy reforms.

Australia’s and Sri Lanka’s economic recoveries will be boosted through increased trade and education linkages over the longer-term, as we pursue the objectives of our bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement.

Strategy for the Restoration and Rebuilding of the Agri-Food Sector of Sri Lanka has been devised by the members of the Faculties of Agriculture of the State Universities of Sri Lanka includes two sections of activities.

The proposal addresses the present food crisis by identifying immediate actions to address the most pressing needs of the current moment and also identifies actions requiring immediate attention that if unaddressed can exacerbate the crisis in the long-term.

This  strategic plan of action for protecting the Agri-Food Sector was presented to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe through a letter dated 15 June 2022 and signed by the Deans of  all Faculties of Agriculture.

The action plan is designed to address the two objectives of ensuring food and nutrition security and of protecting and sustaining livelihoods and employment in the agri-food sector. It focuses on the entire food system considering all economic factors and priority sub-sectors in the agriculture value/supply chains.

The prevailing situation has brought to the forefront serious concerns, especially relating to increases in food prices and shortages in food. Food inflation in Sri Lanka during May 2022 (year-on-year basis) has stood at an all-time high of 57.4%.

The recent appeal from the United Nations (UN) to the global community for $ 47 million in humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka to provide lifesaving assistance to 1.7 million people indicates, to some extent, the extent of the crisis.

It is estimated that 4.9, 3.5 and 2.4 million people are in need of food security, agriculture and livelihood, and nutrition, respectively (UN, 2022). 

The problems confronted by society today are a result of a lack of a consistent long-term policy and action programs for agriculture, which could have prevented a crisis of this nature from occurring.

Such a policy must be developed and must include mechanisms to address future crisis situations by effectively using knowledge, other resources, and institutional structures (state and others) the plan of action indicated.  

It must use consultative processes in a holistic manner that ensures that a system to address pressing issues, over the long term, in a sustained manner, is developed in which relevant institutions and bodies are represented with nominees identified through proper channels of communication.

The Faculties of Agriculture are committed to addressing the problems faced by the people of this country and will gladly extend support to any follow up actions of the State in implementing this plan.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) today (20) lodged a complaint with the Police Headquarters against the harassment that recently took place at fuel queues by Police officers, demanding a disciplinary action against the officers responsible.

Although the Police should act to protect the people, some officers are working to protect the rulers, SJB MP Mujibur Rahuman attending the event said.

The government is implementing a programme for repression, allowing the Police to act to beyond their duties in serving the government’s desired, the MP went on, adding that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) is requested to conduct a probe into such officers.

MIAP

The Cabinet has approved the draft 21st Amendment to the Constitution, revealed Minister Harin Fernando in a tweet.

The SJB MP turned Minister added that the draft 21A will be tabled in Parliament soon.

MIAP

Dhammika Perera has informed the Supreme Court through his lawyers that he will not appear for the swearing in as a MP of the Ruling Party or a Minister of the Government until the conclusion of the hearing of the fundamental rights (FR) petitions challenging his appointments.

Accordingly, the five FR petitions filed against Perera’s appointment are to be taken up for further consideration tomorrow as well.

MIAP

The 21 protesters arrested during an agitation blocking Gate No 01 and Gate No 02 of the Presidential Secretariat this (20) morning were granted bail as ordered by the Fort Magistrate Court.

Among the arrestees were one Buddhist monk, four women and 16 men.

MIAP

The fundamental rights (FR) petitions filed against the appointment of Dhammika Perera as a National List MP of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) are currently being considered at the Supreme Court.

Five FR petitions were filed demanding the nullification of Perera’s appointment as a Ruling Party MP.

Perera is represented by Senior President’s Counsel Gamini Marapana, President’s Counsel Harsha Amarasekera and President’s Counsel Mohammed Ali Sabry, while the petitioners are represented by President’s Counsel M. Sumanthiran and several other lawyers.

The decision on whether the petitions should be heard will be announced this evening (20).

The Election Commission had issued an extraordinary gazette declaring the Parliament membership of Perera and the former business mogul is to be sworn in in Parliament tomorrow.

MIAP

The case filed before the Colombo District Court seeking a ruling that Maithripala Sirisena’s appointment as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) is against the Party Constitution was taken up before District Judge Purnima Paranagama today (20).

Dates have been set for the respondents to file objections to the case.

The case was filed by SLFP Working Committee member Montagu Jayawickrama, citing Sirisena and Party Secretary General Dayasiri Jayasekara as respondents.

MIAP

Australia will provide $50 million in Official Development Assistance to support Sri Lanka meet urgent food and healthcare needs.

Sri Lanka currently faces its worst economic crisis in seventy years, leading to shortages of food, medicine and fuel.

Australia has a close and long-standing relationship with Sri Lanka. Not only do we want to help the people of Sri Lanka in its time of need, there are also deeper consequences for the region if this crisis continues.

We will contribute an immediate $22 million to the World Food Programme for emergency food assistance to help three million people in Sri Lanka meet their daily nutritional needs.

Australia will also provide $23 million in development assistance to Sri Lanka in 2022-23.

This will support health services, and economic recovery, with a strong emphasis on protecting those at risk, especially women and girls.

These contributions are in addition to $5 million recently provided to United Nations agencies for Sri Lanka.