It is reported that the two power plants Sapugaskanda and Yugadanavi have been shut down due to lack of fuel.
Accordingly, it is stated that the power loss to the national grid today (20) is 370 MW. 270 MW from Yugadanavi power plant and 100 MW from Sapugaskanda A and B power plants.
The shortage will be covered by hydropower during the day but it is reported that it could disrupt the power supply during the night.
US Company Textron Aviation has been awarded an $11 million contract for its new Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft. Built in Wichita, Kansas, the plane will be delivered through a foreign military sales contract to Sri Lanka with production set to be completed by September 2025.
The aircraft will be handed over to the US Army, which will install sensors before delivering it to the Sri Lankan Air Force.
Textron Vice President of Sales for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa Tom Perry said “The King Air has been the turboprop of choice throughout this region for more than five decades, and the new 260 and 360 will build on that legendary reputation.”
“We have incorporated innovative and next-generation technologies that enhance the flying experience for an already proven aircraft,” he added.
The Beechcraft King Air family of planes is among the twin-turboprops manufactured by the company since 1974, the longest-ever production run for any civilian turboprop aircraft.
It has been developed to offer flexible and reconfigurable interiors to accommodate passengers and cargo, function as an air ambulance, or conduct other missions.
The aircraft includes three 14-inch touchscreen displays, a multi-scan weather radar system, a dual flight management system, graphic flight planning, and a crew alert system.
Introduced in 2020, the jet has a maximum range of 3,345 kilometers (2078.4 miles) and can carry 11 people. It has a top speed of 560 kilometers (348 miles) per hour and a maximum altitude of 35,000 feet (10,668 meters).
Textron Aviation also manufactures the 350ER for government, military and commercial purposes, aerial survey, and surveillance.
In September last year, the aircraft received certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency, enabling the company to deliver to customers throughout the EU.
Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena says that the present government has been able to bring fuel and provide electricity in this manner despite the dollar crisis and that the people should understand the situation and use electricity sparingly.
“Between 2015 and 2020, nobody thought about new power generation. There was no talk of a renewable energy program. Despite the dollar crisis, we have been able to bring in some of this fuel and carry it this way.
Now let’s say if the Opposition took over this responsibility tomorrow, how would they do this? Will they print dollars all at once?
We have to make a decision on our own. We have to turn off one light bulb in our house and use it sparingly at this time. ”
Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena stated this addressing a women’s meeting of the SLPP held yesterday (19).
The price of a liter of petrol will increase by Rs. 20 today and the price of diesel by Rs. 22 a liter today or tomorrow, says Samagi Jana Balawega MP Ashok Abeysinghe.
“I predict that today or tomorrow petrol will increase by 20 rupees and diesel by 22 rupees. It may even increase tonight.
Remember when those MPs used to go to Parliament on bicycles when petrol was increased by 2 rupees? It has increased by 20 rupees for months now. Now it is increasing by 20 again.
Yesterday Gammanpila said ‘I have nothing to do now, our country is the lowest country in the world, the Central Bank says they cannot give dollars to bring fuel, there are no rupees either, so this cannot continue for more than a month and a half’ But he is laughing when he is telling all this. Whose fault is it? Who came to power to bring prosperity? Is this the vision of prosperity? ”
Ashok Abeysinghe stated this addressing a meeting of the Samagi Jana Balawega held yesterday (19).
Sri Lankan banks are likely to face continued asset-quality pressure in 2022 as rising macroeconomic stresses stemming from the sovereign credit profile pose a threat to borrowers’ repayment capacity, alongside the conclusion of most relief measures in 2021, says Fitch Ratings.
Fitch-rated banks’ stage 3 (impaired) loans ratio has remained broadly unchanged since 2019 (9M21: 9.4%, 2019: 9.5%), as relief measures prevented deterioration in lending quality.
However, asset-quality pressure was evident in elevated loan-impairment charges and a rising share of stage 2 loans in gross loans. The share of loans under moratorium at Fitch-rated banks declined, estimated at 10% of gross loans at end-September 2021 (end-1H20: 26%).
Fitch expects Sri Lanka’s economic performance to weaken in 2022, forecasting growth to slow to 2.0%, although downside risks to forecasts remain. Stage 3 loans are likely to increase in 2022 but a sharp rise in the ratio may not be apparent due to robust loan growth. Credit costs are likely to remain high, although below 2021.
We believe Sri Lankan banks face added asset-quality pressure from their government securities holdings, particularly those denominated in foreign currency which accounted for around 6.5% of Fitch-rated banks’ total assets at end-9M21.
The Ceylon Motor Traders Association (CMTA) raised concerns on the unofficial restrictions made by banks to cripple the country’s vehicle fleet maintenance, which would have a direct impact on goods and people transportation as well as the overall economy.
The association revealed the plight of opening Letter of Credit (LC) facilities with regards to spare parts orders and difficulties faced by the vehicle users in the country.
“If the transportation sector grinds to a halt, it would have a severe impact on the main revenue lines of the country such as exports, tourism, which are heavily reliant on the availability of transport,” the CTMA said.
It urged policy makers to pay attention to the plight of the automotive industry and identify spare parts as an essential goods category to keep Sri Lanka’s ageing vehicle fleet functioning.
Noting that many vehicle owners are resorting to dangerous patch repairs, usage of non-genuine spare parts and used spare parts imported from overseas junkyards, they cautioned that these practices place the safety of vehicle users and the public in great danger.
In addition to public safety concerns, these restrictions and delays of LC facilities have resulted in the inability for legitimate franchise holders to predict the supply or price of spare parts creating uncertainty and panic across the automotive market.
The franchise holders who have been battered by the import ban of almost two years, are now facing difficulties in managing their after-sales operations, which is the only revenue stream left to sustain their staff and overheads.
“Inability to maintain these vehicles according to their manufacturer recommended schedules will result in greater repairs and breakdowns in the future, causing even greater foreign currency drain,” the association warned.
Founded in 1920, the CMTA is the only Ceylon Chamber of Commerce affiliated trade body that represents vehicle manufacturers through their locally appointed franchise holders (commonly called ‘agents’). It is the most senior automotive trade association in the region.
The members of the CMTA collectively employ and train thousands of Sri Lankan citizens while bringing in international best practices in engineering and management, developing a talent pool that is trained and employable internationally.
CMTA members are all audited by the manufacturers they represent, and the vehicles they import are shipped directly from the factory, designed to meet country specific requirements.
Udaya Gammanpila, Minister of Energy has stated that the loss incurred by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation in the sale of fuel will not be covered by the President or his comrades from Medamulana and that the people will have to bear the burden in the end.
Minister Udaya Gammanpila stated this addressing a meeting held yesterday (19).
Udaya Gammanpila, the most failed Minister of Energy in history, is not preparing to provide relief to the people but to increase fuel prices and further oppress the people. At the same time, he wants to be a hero by poking Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family. He is doing all this while imposing the burden of the luxury of his ministry on the people.
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Sri Lanka handicrafts and handloom textiles and ready made garments are to be popularised in China under the government’s special programme of local traditional products in foreign countries. Foreign Ministry announced.
The Foreign Ministry and the State Ministry of Batik, Handloom and Local Apparel Products will implement this programme to promote Sri Lankan batik, handloom and local apparel products through Sri Lankan Missions worldwide.
Under this initiative `Laksala’ franchise outlets are to be opened in those selected countries and the first such handicrafts and handloom soutlet was set up in in Miami, Florida in the USA in early September last year.
The Boom Lanka Batik and Gifts LLC, USA (Ceylon Gallery) is the official franchisee of the Franchise Show Room outlet, at 1381, NW45 Street, Miami, FL 33142, USA.
The sixth Laksala franchise outlet is to be set up in China under this initiative to sell traditional handicraft items including handloom products including batik costumes, gem and jewellery products, Ceylon tea, coffee, local ayurvedic products, organic products and Cosmetic products, produced by Sri Lankan rural craftsmen and also to promote the sale and marketing Sri Lankan handicrafts abroad.
The agreement to establish this shopping centre in Zheejian China was signed ata ceremony held at the State ministry auditorium on Friday 18 between Zhejiang Boswin Technology Private Limited and ‘Laksala –Sri Lanka Handicrafts Board.
State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera was the Chief Guest at the signing ceremony held in the presence of SLHB, Chairman Attorney at Law Lakmal Wickramaarachchi and senior officials.
All Sri Lankan traditional products that are supplied at the franchise outlet are sold under the world-renowned Laksala brand which has been highly recognised among foreign tourists visiting Sri Lanka annually.
Sri Lanka Handicrafts Board’s Laksala will receive foreign exchange revenue from from the exports of local handicraft and handloom textiles apparel and other items, a percentage from the monthly sales of products and a Royalty Fee for using’ Laksala’ world renowned brand name in China, state minister Dayasiri Jayasekera said.
He added that Laksala is the country’s only State-owned pioneer gifts and souvenir shop and it was established in 1964 during the tenure of former Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike. Currently, Laksala has a 12-Showroom island-wide network.
February 19 marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
The Russian Embassy, while emphasising that bilateral relations between the two countries has always been developing in an environment of friendship, mutual understanding, amiability, stated that it is based on equality, goodwill, and respect for each other’s interests.
Although the diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and Ceylon were established in 1957, links between the two countries were existed long before the Sri Lankan Independence.
The time-tested nature of the close Russian–Sri Lankan relations and their current status serve as an indicator that the bilateral political ties, the Embassy states, as the mutually beneficial cooperation in the trade, economic, educational and tourist spheres, as well as people-to-people contacts are expected to grow and intensify in the future.
The Russian-Sri Lankan Intergovernmental Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation effectively contributes to the strengthening of bilateral business ties. Its next meeting is planned to take place in Colombo this April.
The number of Russian tourists visiting Sri Lanka increased after direct flights between Moscow and Colombo were resumed in July 2021. Since the start of 2022, Russia is the leader of tourist arrivals to the Island.
Thousands of Sri Lankan citizens have got higher education in Russia and USSR throughout the last six decades, many becoming high ranking officials, prominent businessmen and top-level specialists in various fields
First mention of Ceylon is found in the 15th century’s memoirs of Russian merchant and traveler Afanasiy Nikitin.
In the 18th and the 19th centuries many Russian dignitaries, scientists, geographers, writers, and artists visited the Island. Most notable among them were the great playwright and short story writer Anton Chekhov, novelist and poet Ivan Bunin, and painter Vasiliy Vereshchagin.
The Russian consulate in Sri Lanka was opened in Colombo at the end of the 19th century. In 1891 Russian Crown Prince, future Emperor Nikolai II himself visited Ceylon and planted a tree in the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens.
In the late 1950s-1980s the Soviet Union and Sri Lanka developed close trade, economic cultural, scientific and technical cooperation.
In 1958, the first bilateral agreement between the USSR and Ceylon, “On Development of Cultural Cooperation” was concluded. Moscow and Colombo signed agreements on opening air and sea travel routes.
The Soviet Union assisted Sri Lanka in setting up a metallurgical plant in Oruwella, tyre-producing enterprise in Kelaniya as well as milling and house constructing plants.
Several mutual visits were undertaken by the delegations of the two countries which further expanded our ties. In December 1961 Yury Gagarin, first man in space, came to Ceylon during his world Peace Tour. In 1963 Prime Minister of Ceylon Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the first Sri Lankan leader to travel to the Soviet Union.
She visited the USSR again in 1974. In April 1982 Minister of Foreign Affairs A.C.S.Hameed went on a working visit to the Soviet Union, marking the first-ever trip by a Sri Lankan chief diplomat to the USSR.
In October 2009 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov undertook a working visit to Colombo, first by a Russian chief diplomat, met with then President Mahinda Rajapaksa and held talks with Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama.
The first working visit by a Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, to Russia took place in 2010. Negotiations were held with then President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev.
In 2011 the Sri Lankan leader participated in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
In 2017 President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena was in Moscow on an official visit and met President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
In June 2019 Vladimir Putin and Maithripala Sirisena had a short meeting on the sidelines of the 5th summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia.
In January 2020 Sergey Lavrov paid a working visit to Colombo for the second time and held talks with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.
In 2021 Russian-Sri Lankan relations continued to expand as Russia extended its full support to the Government of Sri Lanka during the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council, made every effort to oppose the anti-Sri Lankan Resolution and voted against it.
In November Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev visited Colombo, met with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and held consultations on security issues with Defence Secreatry Kamal Gunaratne.
In December the Russian Government took a decision to transfer $5.5 million to World Food Programme to finance the development of sustainable school feeding projects in Sri Lanka.
Russia is an important trading partner of Sri Lanka and one of the main importers of Ceylon tea. Despite the COVID-19 situation the volume of bilateral trade has not dropped significantly and the import from Sri Lanka increased by over 10%.
It has not even been a year since Hon. M. K. Stalin became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, yet the mark that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader has made in his state and among Tamils worldwide is unmistakable.
Whether it was ably handling the second wave of the pandemic, or the progressive social justice agenda that includes economically uplifting the underprivileged while removing caste and gender barriers in many aspects of lives, or the bold vision of making Tamil Nadu ‘a one-trillion economy’ by 2030 – Chief Minister Stalin has become the envy of many leaders across India.
With the theme of ‘let Tamil bind us together’, Chief Minister Stalin has taken many meaningful steps towards promoting the commonalities and cohesiveness of the global Tamil community, arguably more so than any other Tamil leader in recent history. Appointing a dedicated Minister, viz., Hon. K. S. Masthan, whose portfolio includes Welfare and Rehabilitation of Non-Resident Tamils; declaring January 12 as the World Tamil Diaspora Day with Chief Minister Stalin inaugurating the event; taking steps to institute Tamil studies in international universities, including through donations towards the establishment of Tamil Chairs at Harvard University and the University of Toronto – are just a few examples.
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the predominant and authentic representatives of the North-East origin Tamil people in Sri Lanka, and the Global Tamil Forum (GTF), an organisation which strives for the interests of the Ilankai Thamizhar through its engagement initiatives in many countries, hold Chief Minister Stalin in high esteem for his inspiring leadership of the global Tamil community.
From the perspective of Tamils from Sri Lanka including those living in Sri Lanka and in the Diaspora – the approach adopted by the present Tamil Nadu government is commendable. They are grateful for the invitations extended to the Member of Parliament from the TNA, M. A. Sumanthiran, and the President of the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC), Sivan Ilangko for the inaugural World Tamil Diaspora Day event last month. The participation and felicitation by the Tamil Nadu Minister Hon. K. S. Masthan at the annual Thai Pongal Celebrations conducted by the CTC on January 29, 2022 is equally pleasing.
Chief Minister Stalin’s announcement last August regarding Ilankai Thamizhar refugee camps, stating the following was a welcome gesture of notable significance. “They are not orphans; we are there for them and hereafter they will be called Ilankai Thamil rehabilitation camps” This announcement was backed up with a generous allotment of Rs. 317 crores for their welfare schemes, with a promise to improve their living standards further. We also note with gratitude Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s strong public statements, in his capacity as opposition leader, exerting pressure on India to support the UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka during the March 2021 session.
Chief Minister Stalin’s supportive approach towards the Tamil struggle in Sri Lanka is consistent with the long tradition of Dravidian political leaders of Tamil Nadu, particularly his illustrious father, late Hon. Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi. Tamil people in Sri Lanka and their political leaders looked upon the leaders of Tamil Nadu for guidance, support and inspiration. Their support – directly, as well as through the Government of India – has always been a great source of comfort for the Tamil people living in Sri Lanka.
We remember with gratitude, the leadership shown by the late Hon. M. Karunanidhi – the initiatives to protect lives, property, and political rights of the Tamil people following the 1983 anti-Tamil riots; the late Chief Minister using his influence to prod different Indian Prime Ministers to find a political solution to address the Tamils’ quest for equality, justice, peace, dignity, and devolution of power; and DMK MPs’ consistently voicing for the Ilankai Thamizhar in the Lok Sabha over decades. We are also conscious that the DMK support for the Tamil cause continued despite many challenges it faced in the Indian Union, including the dismissal of the DMK government in 1991 relating to the Tamil peoples’ problems in Sri Lanka.
We are acutely conscious of the difficulties and degrading treatments encountered by the leaders of the mainstream Dravidian Movements in Tamil Nadu, many of such regrettable actions originating from unrealistic and hardline positions adopted by some from both sides of the Palk Strait. However, the overwhelming majority of the Tamils of Sri Lankan origin have always been appreciative and grateful for the support provided by the leaders of Tamil Nadu, and also recognise their limitations in shaping every event of the past. Such understanding is growing in strength and will help solidify the bonds and mutual respect enjoyed by the people and the leaders of both communities.
Tamils in Sri Lanka are, once again, at a critical point. Twelve years after the end of the war, their economic prospects are dismal. The progress on war related accountability is marginal at best. Tamils face many existential challenges – to protect their land and to preserve their identity in the Northern and Eastern Provinces against rampant militarization and state sponsored initiatives aimed at altering regional demography. It is feared a new constitution under preparation could further weaken the status of the Tamil people, especially by abolishing or weakening the Provincial Councils – the only constitutional power devolution arrangement Tamil people achieved with direct Indian involvement.
It is in such a dire situation that we are looking for guidance and support from India and Tamil Nadu.
Tamil people in Sri Lanka aspire for a degree of self-rule in the areas of their historic habitation (the North-East) and believe this empowerment is fundamental for their equal citizenship in Sri Lanka and to protect their unique identity in the island – a position that always resonated with Tamil Nadu and Indian thinking and policy positions.
India has significant leverage over Sri Lanka and has repeatedly called upon Sri Lanka to address the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil people for equality, justice, peace, dignity, and meaningful political devolution. India has emphasized on many occasions, including during the March 2021 UNHRC sessions, about its two-pillar policy of supporting Sri Lanka’s unity and territorial integrity, and its commitment to Tamils’ aspirations, and that these were not mutually exclusive choices.
Tamil Nadu has always been critical in setting Indian policies towards Sri Lanka, and it is in this context that a path setting and pragmatic approach adopted by Chief Minister Stalin will give us enormous comfort. A continued focus on this issue at this critical time is crucial for the long-term peace and prosperity of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. It is also intrinsically linked with the interests of Tamils on both sides of the Palk Strait, and the greater India.
The TNA and the GTF, as organisations that have always adopted a sensible, pragmatic, and consensus building approach to settle the Tamil national question in Sri Lanka, look forward to establishing direct engagements with the Tamil Nadu government and to further strengthen the engagement with the Government of India.
