Lanka IOC has once again increased a hike in its retail selling prices of petrol with effect from midnight today (March 25).
Thereby, the prices of all types of petrol have been increased by Rs. 49.00.
Accordingly, the new price of a liter of 92 octane petrol is Rs. 303 and the new price of a liter of 95 octane petrol is Rs. 332.
However, the company has not increased its diesel prices.
Sri Lanka and the Netherlands plan to sign a bilateral aviation services agreement with the aim to launch direct passenger and cargo flights between the two countries.
At the International Civil Aviation Negotiation Conference held in Nairobi, Kenya in the year 2018, Sri Lanka and Netherlands reached consensus regarding the relevant steps necessary for the air services arrangement between the two countries and the text of an Air Service Agreement was initiated.
In accordance with the same, the KLM Royal Dutch Airline and the Sri Lankan Airlines have been designated to operate to and from Sri Lanka.
Accordingly, the proposal made by the Minister of Transport & Civil Aviation, to enter into the said Air Services Agreement, which had been agreed upon at the official level in the preliminary discussions, and to take appropriate steps for the effective implementation of the said Agreement, was approved by the Cabinet in 2019.
Although approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been granted to sign a bilateral aviation agreement between Sri Lanka and Netherland at their meeting on the 30 July 2019, no such accord has been signed so far.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal furnished by the Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga to sign the aviation services agreement with the objective of further enhancing the relationship between the two countries on aviation sector activities, a statement on cabinet decisions said.
Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga says the initiative will further enhance tourism, education, trade, investment, agriculture and cultural ties between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands.
Minister Ranatunga said it is planned to sign this agreement targeting economic development.
The Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, signed in 1944, mandates entering into aviation agreements to operate international commercial flights between two or more states.
There are currently 193 countries registered with the International Civil Aviation Organization. The Minister pointed out that by entering into agreements with those countries, it will be possible to engage in aviation activities when required.
During the preliminary discussions it was decided to operate 14 flights a week between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands.
SriLankan Airlines and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines in the Netherlands are also planned to be used for this purpose, said Minister Ranatunga.
Sri Lanka mesmerised visitors to the Dubai Expo recently, showcasing its inimitable Ceylon Sapphire at a special event titled ‘Day of Sapphires’.
Members of the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA) showcased gems worth $ 100 million, including sapphires hitherto unseen in public.
Renowned world jewellery specialist, Helen Molesworth, graced the Sri Lankan pavilion that day and offered visitors exclusive insights into the history, trade and mining practices behind these stones from Sri Lanka, which she said are over half a billion years old.
Sri Lanka’s ‘Day of Sapphires’ at the Dubai Expo drew visitors from all over the world, who were enthralled by the precious stones on display including the history, process and stories revolving around the exclusive and sought-after Ceylon Sapphire.
Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Sapphires have adorned the crowns of royalty across ancient Rome, Europe and Russia, and as detailed SLGJA Vice Chairman Promotion and Trade Fairs Altaf Iqbal: “no two sapphires from Ceylon share the same characteristics; they are distinctly unique unlike diamonds.”
Addressing a media briefing to detail the success of the promotion of the Ceylon Sapphire and destination Sri Lanka, the SLGJA said the program had garnered over $ 1 million in publicity globally thus far.
The program aimed to boost awareness and global sales of Ceylon Sapphires, and give prominence to Sri Lanka as one of the top five gem-bearing destinations in the world.
Speaking during the event, SLGJA Chairman Ajward Deen, appreciated the efforts of the State Ministry on Gem and Jewellery Related Industries for the support lent to the sector so far, and called for enhanced policy to further promote and protect the gem industry in Sri Lanka.
He said several attempts had been made by foreign parties, including one of the largest gem companies in the world to acquire thousands of acres of gem-bearing land, which had been thwarted by industry action.
He said the state together with the sector must stay vigilant of such attempts to infiltrate and acquire local land and resources by foreign parties.
The SLGJA together with support from Sri Lanka Tourism and its media partners also developed a series of videos promoting the destination and Ceylon Sapphires to promote the country and industry, which was broadcast during the event and its subsequent marketing events.
Tourism industry specialists from Sweden, UK and Sri Lanka came together on Tuesday (15th March) in Stockholm to make the Swedish and Scandinavian Tourism markets to Sri Lanka more robust.
Sweden and the UK joined hands with Sri Lanka in presenting Sri Lanka’s destination to an influential group of tour operators and travel consultants in a targeted effort to enhance partnerships to promote the Sri Lanka tourist Industry .
In this context Sri Lankan culinary experience was presented during the evening with Carola Magnusson while Johan Berndtsson and Jeanette Bolin of Kastanj Collection Sweden introduced the presenters with a profile of their involvement in Sri Lanka.
Alex Chambers – Hummingbird UK & Sri Lanka, Eleanor Milner – The Sri Lanka Collection UK, Marcelline Paul – Uga Escapes Sri Lanka and Swedish filmmaker Stephan Quinth presented the Island’s exquisite facets and unique experiences which awaits a discerning traveler.
Major airlines which facilitate connectivity to Sri Lanka, namely, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Sri Lankan Airlines shared their current and future partnership with Sri Lanka and outlined increasing frequency and destination support, which is indicative of the strong and positive value they attach to the destination.
The evening was a result of the partnership between the Embassy of Sri Lanka Stockholm, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kastanj Collection Sweden, which brought together the presenters and the audience to Stockholm.
Sri Lanka’s envoy to Sweden Ambassador Dharshana Perera addressing the gathering encouraged the industry partners to establish inter alia sound and mutually beneficial business partnerships with Sri Lanka which has placedSweden and Scandinavia as emerging priority markets.
In his remarks, the Ambassador outlined Sri Lanka’s open, safe,muliti-faceted and multi-sectoral, all-year-round destination, which he captured as being “Asia in one Island” Flavors of Sri Lanka.
This initiative was presented through cuisine crafted by a Sri Lankan Chef together with Carola Magnusson, a well-known Swedish Chef and culinary expert in Stockholm, who having spent several years in Sri Lanka, had gained special insight to the Island’s unique spices and tastes.
The high impact event brought together over 32 major Swedish industry specialists, tour operators, travel consultants from across the country andpresenters and who are now expected to establish even stronger partnerships to elevate the Swedish and Scandinavian clientele to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka Tourism strongly supported the event which is seen as a significant initiative to enhance respective markets.The evening, presented in a warm Sri Lankan ambience, provided an excellent space and atmosphere for sharing of insights, focused business interactions and a unique culinary experience through an array of Sri Lankancuisine and Ceylon Tea.
Indian Navy Ship Sharda, entered Colombo harbour on 23 March 2022 with the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) embarked onboard.
The Commanding Officer of the Offshore Patrol Vessel Sharda, Commander Yatish Badoutiya, called on the Commander Western Naval Area, Rear Admiral AUC De Silva during the visit. Further, in line with the Government of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’ the Deputy High Commissioner of India, Mr Vinod Jacob handed over SLNS Sagara spares, provided on grant by GoI to Deputy Chief of Staff, Sri Lanka Navy Rear Admiral AUC De Silva, in a ceremony onboard the ship on 24 March 2022. The timely availability of spares would ensure optimal operational availability of the SLN platform.
The ship also embarked Sri Lanka Navy manufactured 10 Tonnes Wave Rider Boat for transshipment to Seychelles for their Defence Forces. The efforts of the Indian Navy are in keeping with its core ideology of ‘Bridges of Friendship’, towards strengthening it’s relations with friendly neighbours.
By Kyle Knight
Landmark Case Highlights ‘Sodomy’ Law’s Impact on Women
In a major judgment issued this week, a United Nations treaty body called on Sri Lanka’s government to repeal its law criminalizing adult, consensual same-sex conduct – including between women.
The case was brought under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) by Rosanna Flamer-Caldera, an LGBT rights activist who faced harassment and discrimination for her sexual orientation and human rights advocacy on behalf of sexual and gender minorities.
The judgment by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women concerned Sri Lanka’s Penal Code, a relic of British colonial rule that dates to 1883. Section 365 punishes “carnal intercourse against the order of nature” with up to 10 years in prison and a fine. Section 365A punishes “any act of gross indecency” with up to two years in prison and a fine.
These provisions are widely understood to criminalize consensual sex between same-sex partners. Section 365A originally criminalized same-sex relations between men; however, the provision was amended in 1995 after the law was criticized for being discriminatory on the basis of sex, to include same-sex relations between women.
Many countries only criminalize same-sex relations between men, and at least 38 countries criminalize same-sex conduct regardless of sex or expressly criminalize sexual conduct between women. At least 10 countries have, since 1986, explicitly enacted laws that criminalize sex between women as well as men, sometimes perversely framing this as a gesture toward equality – such as in the case of Sri Lanka.
Around the world, laws that criminalize same-sex relations are being repealed as courts and governments recognize they are discriminatory and harmful – including the Indian Supreme Court striking down penal code section 377 in 2018.
In a 2016 report, Human Rights Watch documented that Sri Lanka’s penal code casts a shadow over LGBT people’s lives, impacting their ability to access health care and housing, and creates pressure to conceal and conform their identities.
The CEDAW committee judgment noted that “the criminalization of same-sex sexual activity between women in Sri Lanka has meant that [Flamer-Caldera] has had difficulties with finding a partner, has to hide her relations and runs the risk of being investigated and prosecuted in this context.”
With this call for change from the CEDAW committee, Sri Lanka should urgently repeal its outdated and discriminatory law.
The Sri Lankan community in Norway alleges that Godfrey Cooray, the current Sri Lankan Ambassador to Norway, has pressured the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs to close the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oslo, Norway.
It is said that the reason for this is that a 30 year old woman named Sujeewa, whom Godfrey Cooray had taken from Sri Lanka to work at the Ambassador’s house, could not bear his harassment and ran away from the embassy and complained to the Norwegian government authorities.
The Norwegian government is currently investigating but the allegations of serious human rights abuses that have been made cannot be denied even under diplomatic privileges.
Accordingly, the Sri Lankan community in Norway alleges that the ambassador himself provided false information to Sri Lanka to close the embassy as the only tactic to get rid of these allegations.
As a result, thousands of Sri Lankans are at risk of losing their jobs.
It is now being revealed that Godfrey Cooray, during his tenure as ambassador, has been pursuing a private business rather than serving the country as a diplomat.
Meanwhile, it is reported that a woman named Sujeewa has been given special protection by the Norwegian authorities.
(We would also like to point out that LNW would provide the opportunity for comments from any party, including Godfrey Cooray.)
UN convenes stakeholder groups to review progress and urgent follow-up action to step up sustainable development in the region
| The Ninth Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) will be held from 28 to 31 March in Bangkok, with governments, civil society, private sector, academia, youth, UN bodies and other stakeholder groups set to address the theme “Building back better from COVID-19 while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Asia and the Pacific,” ahead of the High-Level Political Forum at the United Nations Headquarters in July. This year, delegates will undertake an in-depth review of five Sustainable Development Goals including Goal 4 (quality education), 5 (gender equality), 14 (life below water), 15 (life on land) and 17 (partnerships for the Goals). Organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the forum will provide an inclusive platform for countries to share regional best practices and lessons learnt, support the presentation of their voluntary national reviews and assess progress made towards implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Members of the media are invited to participate via the webcasts on https://www.youtube.com/unescap. For more information and the full timetable of events: https://www.unescap.org/events/apfsd9 |
By Uditha Jayasinghe and Devjyot Ghoshal
COLOMBO/NEW DELHI, March 24 (Reuters) – Sri Lanka will seek World Bank assistance to stave off a severe economic crisis in addition to an International Monetary Fund (IMF) rescue plan to be discussed next month, two sources said.
A 70% drop in foreign exchange reserves since January 2020 has left Sri Lanka struggling to pay for essential imports, including food and fuel, leading to the growing unrest and even military deployments at gasoline stations. read more
Holding paltry reserves of $2.31 billion as of February, the country must repay about $4 billion in debt over the rest of this year, including a $1 billion international sovereign bond that matures in July.
To seek a way out of the crisis, Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa will fly to Washington DC next month to hold talks with the IMF and also officials from the World Bank, two sources with direct knowledge of the plans told Reuters.
“What we need is budgetary support,” one of the sources said, referring to the financial assistance that the Sri Lankan government will ask the World Bank for.
The source was unable to provide the size of World Bank assistance that Sri Lanka could seek.
The World Bank typically extends support to boost exports, improve economic competitiveness and aid growth, analysts said.
In heavily indebted Argentina, for example, the World Bank is working on approving a $2 billion loan package for 2022 that includes support for infrastructure, health, social inclusion and environment projects.
Both sources, who declined to be named, since discussions were confidential, said such assistance would likely come after Sri Lanka entered into an IMF-supported loan programme.
In response to questions from Reuters, the World Bank said it was not currently in talks with Sri Lanka to provide budget support.
“We are engaging with the authorities to identify a comprehensive structural reform program needed to ensure sustainable growth, and around which such support may be possible in the future,” the World Bank said.
Sri Lanka’s Finance Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
‘DAMN TOUGH’
The amount of funding would depend on the specific goals set by an IMF programme as well as Sri Lanka’s trade and fiscal deficits, analysts said, estimating an annual requirement of up to $3 billion from several multilateral and bilateral sources.
“If they have a credible IMF programme then there will be a period, perhaps six months to a year, maybe two, when it will be damn tough,” the second source said.
“So how will people survive? That is where institutions like the World Bank will come in with budget support.”
An IMF programme will likely focus on external debt restructuring, greater exchange-rate flexibility and better targeted subsidies, which may hit the poor, analysts said.
Transparent energy pricing is also likely to drive up fuel and electricity costs.
The World Bank could promote direct subsidy transfer, push green energy and develop human capital through improvements in health, education, and social protection, the second source said.
Register Reporting by Uditha Jayasinghe and Devjyot Ghoshal; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani and Bradley Perrett
Reuters.com
Restrictions have been placed on a wide range of essential items sold through Sathosa outlets. A circular has been issued instructing Sathosa branch managers in this regard.
According to the relevant circular, the maximum amount of rice that can be sold per consumer is 05 kg. Imported Nadu can be purchased for Rs. 100 and imported Ponni Samba for Rs. 130 through Sathosa outlets.
In addition, one consumer can buy 1 kg of sugar and 500 g of dhal. The price of one kilogram of sugar is 160 rupees.
However, consumers say that some stores do not even have that amount to buy. It is reported that many other essential food items including wheat flour are not available in the CWE outlets.