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High Commission celebrates Capacity Building Partnership with Sri Lanka

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High Commission celebrates Capacity Building Partnership with Sri Lanka

High Commission of India, Colombo celebrated ‘Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation’ (ITEC) Day on 23 March 2022 at Hotel Taj Samudra. The function was attended by about 125 guests comprising ITEC Alumni and professionals from various sectors who have participated in various training courses in India as well as in e-ITEC courses, and officials from various Ministries of the Government of Sri Lanka. Hon’ble. Dr. Seetha Arambepola, State Minister of Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research & Innovations was the Chief Guest at the event. High Commissioner H.E. Gopal Baglay also graced the occasion. 

2.     Recalling the historically strong multidimensional ties between the two countries, Hon’ble. Dr. Seetha Arambepola, lauded Indian support for human resource development in multiple areas for growth and development in Sri Lanka. She expressed keenness to further strengthen bilateral collaboration in the areas of Skill Development & Vocational Training for creating employment generation for youth.    

3.     Deputy High Commissioner Mr. Vinod K. Jacob reiterated India’s continued support to Sri Lanka in skill development. Underlining the philosophy of ‘Vasudeva Kutumbakam’, he said that India has been helping countries across the world to enhance skill sets of their personnel. He said that on account of COVID pandemic, Government of India in meeting the requirements of the times, began conducting online Courses in early April, 2020 and since then, more than 600 participants from Sri Lanka have benefitted from online training courses. Several ITEC alumni from Sri Lanka who pursued various training courses also shared their experiences. 

4.     The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme was instituted in 1964 as a bilateral programme of assistance of the Government of India. Training and capacity building of professionals is one of the major activities under ITEC. With its Civil and Defence components, ITEC offers a wide variety of courses in 25 streams ranging from Accounts, Audit, Banking and finance to Cyber technology; Environment and climate change to Management and leadership; Human resource development and planning to Logistics and Management; Media and journalism to Urban planning; Marine and Aeronautical Engineering to Women empowerment and many more. Sri Lanka is among the most important ITEC partner countries and 402 fully-funded slots are offered every year to Sri Lankan Government personnel/nationals for short term training courses towards enhancing their skill-set. For more information on the ITEC, please visit www.itecgoi.in

Mitra Innovation announces dollar-pegged salaries for Lankan employees

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Mitra Innovation announces dollar-pegged salaries for Lankan employees

Mitra Innovation, which celebrates its 10th year in business this year, yesterday announced that it rolled out a dollar-pegged salary scheme as one of its key financial wellness initiatives for all employees in Sri Lanka.

The company attributes its tremendous growth to its market differentiated services and strong focus on its people – a value that the company has continued to foster since its inception in March 2012. 
The decision to implement a dollar-pegged salary scheme comes from an understanding that employers need to find creative ways to ensure the financial wellness of their teams. 

In an ideal situation with a good economy, employers need happy, healthy and skilled employees, while employees expect great opportunities, career growth and a good source of income. 
However, when faced with an economic crisis, it is critical to explore different and innovative ways to uphold employee wellness.

“At the start of this year, upon careful consideration, the Board of Mitra Innovation made a swift decision to peg all salaries to the dollar effective Q1 2022,” Chief Executive Officer Chinthi Weerasinghe said.

Furthermore, the Global Leadership Team stated that this decision was taken in the best interests of their employees in Sri Lanka, considering how best to help the existing team, given the current economic environment in the country. 

“With this rollout, all employees of Mitra Innovation SL will receive a remuneration package that proportionally increases in value as the dollar appreciates against the rupee,” added Chief Operating Officer Sanjeev Palihawadana.

Research shows that financial wellness programs can increase employee satisfaction and help reduce employee stress. While the company’s ‘hyper growth’ provides its employees with great opportunities, lowered financial stress is key to retaining employees and to reduce brain drain, especially during trying economic times.

Mitra Innovation, which grew its top line and bottom line exponentially in FY2021, increased its global headcount from 180 to 300 during the same period, with most of the additions being recorded in Sri Lanka, where its main software development centre is located.

As the company continues with industry leading growth this year and expands its global presence, the number of opportunities it creates for overseas employment will also increase exponentially. 
In keeping with the People First mantra in the company, Mitra prefers to give opportunities to its team members first, before looking for external options, through the ‘Grow With Us’ initiative.

Mitra Innovation is one of Sri Lanka’s foremost innovative business solutions providers. Headquartered in London, with over 300 employees located worldwide, Mitra Innovation offers scalable solutions with the right level of resources, at the right price, with minimal risk. 

The company uses secure internal and external collaboration to draw better insights and turn business requirements into strategic, innovative solutions, generating growth and customer engagement.
 With expertise across multiple systems and platforms and across all business and public sectors, Mitra Innovation strives to help companies at all stages of their digital journey.

Gammanpila compares Basil Rajapaksa to ‘Rambo’

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Gammanpila compares Basil Rajapaksa to ‘Rambo’

Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa is a person like the Rambo character who came all alone and destroyed the whole of Sri Lanka, says Parliamentarian Udaya Gammanpila.

“In the past movies show, a lone American named Rambo comes and destroys Vietnam. Like Hanumantha came and set fire to India. A single American like that has come to Sri Lanka and is destroying this whole country. People are suffering in fuel queues and gas queues. This is a deliberate crisis ”

Parliamentarian Udaya Gammanpila stated this while visiting the Malwatta Anunayake Dimbulkumbure Wimaladhamma Thero yesterday (24) and engaging in a discussion with him.

Hospitality industry associations oppose changes to Tourism Act

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Hospitality industry associations oppose changes to Tourism Act

Association of Small and Medium Enterprises in Tourism Sri Lanka (ASMET) and Colombo City Restaurant Collective (CCRC) on Tuesday strongly opposed any necessity to change the existing Tourism Act No. 38 of 2005 completely. 

“We collectively remain steadfast in our opinion that the majority of the new proposals brought forward by the regulator can certainly be implemented within the current Tourism Act No. 38 of 2005,” the two industry bodies said at a joint media briefing yesterday under the ‘One Industry One Voice’ umbrella.

Despite the dire economic circumstances that require urgent attention and actions to repair and restore what’s being lost, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) attention is sadly displaced, the industry bodies claimed.

“The regulator is more worried about changing the Tourism Act, rather than addressing these burning issues in the tourism industry, which is grappling to survive in aftermath of a global pandemic. Both ASMET and CCRC stand strong and united against the repealing of the Current Tourism Act No. 38 of 2005,” the industry stakeholders said.

Both CCRC and ASMET pointed out that the repealing of the current Tourism Act will not result in generating a single tourist more to the country.

“There are more important and burning issues on which, the regulator should focus attention to, which has not happened. Unfortunately, neither the opinions are sought from the business generators nor do they engage in any discussion to get over the challenging times together,” the industry bodies asserted. 

In an unprecedented economic crisis, the regulator should unify the industry, they said, claiming that instead divisions are created among the tourism related associations, which is detrimental to the revival of the battered tourism industry.

ASMET stakeholders said the tourism industry continues its efforts to survive in the post-COVID era, but the authorities have failed to provide proper solutions towards the extension of the financial moratorium beyond 30 June.

They also lamented that the visible lack of tourism promotions is one of the main issues the industry, including the formal SMEs, continue to face as the regulatory bodies focus more on consumer based marketing than the business-to-business (B2B) promotional activities such as trade fairs, road shows and market-centric promotions.    

“It is indeed noteworthy that Destinations Management Companies (DMCs) in Sri Lanka are responsible for nearly 65% of the total tourist arrivals, accounting to nearly 55% of the total revenue generated by tourism to Sri Lanka. DMCs spend around Rs. 1.5 billion of their own funds to promote Sri Lanka as a lucrative holiday, meeting, incentive, wedding, honeymoon destination in numerous overseas markets with the trade fairs and road shows organised by SLTPB,” they added.

ASMET said unlike the ‘wealthy hotel chains,’ and boutique resorts, formal SMEs are unable to participate in foreign trade fairs without the assistance of the regulatory bodies. 

“It was mentioned by regulator that there are several SME associations struggling under the current dire economic circumstances of the country. Many of the members in these associations are not registered with SLTDA. The associations themselves are mostly recently formed and have registered by the regulator who is clearly driving a division within the tourism sector,” they claimed.

They said almost all members of those associations are suppliers of the DMCs who are licensed and registered with the SLTDA. “We strongly feel that priority should be given to those members who are registered with the SLTDA, who are in-fact, the establishments paying the Tourism Development Levy (TDL),” ASMET suggested.  

They also said the negative foreign travel advisories of their significant source market countries have been weighing heavily on the negative impact made on the tourism industry. 

CCRC pointed out that they were still recovering from the Easter Sunday attacks  whilst they were harbouring expectations of considerable growth and stability in the sector in 2022. 

Two shot dead on Colombo-Kandy Road

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Two shot dead on Colombo-Kandy Road

Two unidentified gunmen have shot dead two motorcyclists in the Kadawatha area.

The shooting had taken place last night (24) in the Kadawatha, Mahara 9th Mile Post area on the Colombo – Kandy main road by two motorcyclists using T-56 assault rifles, police said.

One of the injured was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital and the other to the Kiribathgoda Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The victims were a 30-year-old man and a 31-year-old who are residents of Peliyagoda.

No information has been revealed about the killers who carried out the shooting and Kadawatha Police are conducting investigations.

US Under Secretary assures fresh support for Sri Lanka

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US Under Secretary assures fresh support for Sri Lanka

The Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland assured fresh support for Sri Lanka when she held discussions with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday.

The President briefed Nuland on the issues raised at the All-Party Conference this morning, its progress, and the discussion to be held with the Tamil National Alliance on Friday.

Appreciating these efforts, the Under Secretary pointed out the importance of holding talks with the Diaspora in Canada, the United States, and European countries. President Rajapaksa said that he was keen to hold discussions with the Diaspora and invited them to invest in the development process of the Northern Province.

Nuland said that steps will be taken to introduce American green technology to Sri Lanka and to support the development of the cyber and information technology sectors. Focusing on educational facilities in the country, the Under Secretary pointed out that higher education opportunities could be expanded with the participation of the private sector.

President Rajapaksa said the decision to go to the International Monetary Fund was taken to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and various developments taking place in other countries, on Sri Lanka’s economy.

Nuland praised this decision, as well as the steps taken towards a truth-seeking mechanism and the amendments of the Prevention of Terrorism Act. The President requested the delegation to assist in expanding the capacity for power generation through renewable energy sources.

While saying that it is a courageous step by the Sri Lankan Government to reach out to the International Monetary Fund, US Under Secretary for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland underscored that the US is encouraging Provincial Council elections in Sri Lanka.

Nuland made these remarks speaking to media following a meeting held with Minister of Foreign Affairs Prof. G. L. Peiris in Colombo yesterday (24).

She also commended Foreign Minister G.L Peiris and his partnership with Justice Minister in moving forward on all of the issues of national healing and justice.

“We come at a particularly difficult and pivotal moment for Sri Lanka and you are a vital partner of the United States and at a key crossroads in the Indo-Pacific and we are eager to support you at this critical moment.” she added.

Sri Lanka and the US convened the Fourth Sri Lanka – U.S. Partnership Dialogue on 23 March, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, renewing their shared commitment to economic prosperity, sustainable development, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

The meeting was co-chaired by Foreign Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and U.S. Department of State Under Secretary for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland.

Both delegations reaffirmed their commitment to the bilateral relationship, firmly rooted in shared values as fellow democracies, and their intent to work together to further strengthen the partnership.

Sri Lanka expressed its deep appreciation to the US for the donation, in partnership with COVAX, of 3.4 million vaccines, and the provision of over $ 18 million in health equipment and other relief to address the COVID-19 pandemic in the past year.

Acknowledging that the US is already the largest market for Sri Lankan exports, both delegations reiterated their intent to explore new opportunities to enhance market access, bilateral trade, investment, and tourism.

The US expressed its commitment to enhancing opportunities for the economic empowerment of women.

To that end, Sri Lanka welcomed the role of the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), which has increased its portfolio to $ 265 million in loans designed to support Sri Lanka’s small and medium enterprises, particularly women-owned businesses

Wimal-Maithri prepares to abolish the 113-majority in the government soon (VIDEO)

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Wimal-Maithri prepares to abolish the 113-majority in the government soon (VIDEO)

Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa says that the alliance of 11 small parties in the government including himself will soon abolish the majority of 113 members of the current government and end the rule of this government.

Q. Is the government preparing for something like using Ranil Wickremesinghe to overcome the crisis in which the government is embroiled?

“I do not think it is important to know whether Ranil Wickremesinghe is being used or not. The Minister of Finance also showed that he was arrogant enough to address a former Prime Minister in the term ‘you’. He does not want unity, he wants conflict there too. So this country cannot move forward with such an arrogant and ugly American. We will soon abolish the 113 majority this government has to end that arrogant rule ”

Wimal Weerawansa was speaking to the media after visiting the Mahanayake Theras yesterday (24) with the leaders of the 11 small parties in the government. Although Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila stand out as frontline speakers, the largest party in this small party alliance is the Sri Lanka Freedom Party led by Maithripala Sirisena. They have 14 parliamentary seats.

Earlier, Maithripala Sirisena had publicly stated that he was attacking those who slandered him ‘like a hawk’.

Government to crack down on illicit mineral explorations 

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Government to crack down on illicit mineral explorations 

 Sri Lanka government is to take stern action against companies which are violating the Mines and Minerals Act No. 33 of 1992 misusing the mineral exploration licences and delaying  their ongoing activities causing severe damage to the environment in exploration areas.

This directive was issued by  Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera when he  instructed the relevant authorities to expedite the ongoing exploration activities to identify places of valuable mineral resources in Sri Lanka.

He gave these instructions during a discussion with officials of the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) and the Sri Lanka Mineral Sands Company (SMSC)

He stressed that although the GSMB has issued exploration permits to certain individuals and companies, the exploration activities are not being carried out properly and efficiently.

“It has been about ten years since some companies and individuals obtained exploration licences. But they do not do proper or efficient explorations,” he said.

Therefore, the country loses a large amount of foreign exchange. We know that it was difficult for the government to find US$8 million to pay for the ship that freighted gas recently.

However, the GSMB and the CMSC have not been able to reap the benefits from a large number of valuable mineral resources. If you can’t make even a small amount of money, at least US$8 or US$10 million, there lies a serious shortcoming.”

The Minister further stated that this exploration should be carried out efficiently and extensively in collaboration with the GSMB and the CMSC.

GSMB senior officials  said the bureau has the power to cancel licenses that it had previously issued to any local companies, to carry out mineral exploration  activities  

She said the licenses have been cancelled under Section 37 of the Mines and Minerals Act No. 33 of 1992. 

It states the Bureau may cancel a licence issued under this Act, if it is found that the licensee has contravened any term or condition attached to said licence; has not carried out any lawful direction given to them by the Bureau.

If any company ; carries on wasteful mining despite prior warning given in writing by the Bureau against such mining is liable for  suspension , curtail, or cease to carry on any activity authorised by such licence.

The company has to surrender  their licence subject to satisfaction of the requirements of this Act; or has been convicted of an offence under this Act or of any regulation made thereunder.

Referring to mineral exploration in various areas they noted that  the Mannar Island scoping study released in June 2020 identified an area of heavy mineral concentration 8kms long and one-two kms wide in the interior of the island within which a heavy mineral sands mining operation may be feasible. 

This could result in mineral sand recovery operations – and development of commercial plantation agriculture in the post-mining rehabilitation process – growing to over 320 hectares over the course of 20 years, or double that if the project ran for 40 years. 

These potential scenarios represent just 2.5 per cent and five per cent respectively of the Mannar Island landmass, which totals 13,000 hectares. 

UNP to hold passive resistance in Colombo tomorrow

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UNP to hold passive resistance in Colombo tomorrow

The United National Party (UNP) is set to launch a passive resistance in Colombo tomorrow (25) in light of gathering every party for the mission of building the country.

The event will begin at 3 pm at the Hyde Park, Colombo.

The event will be participated by Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and all of its leaders and many UNP followers from all over the country.

The Party calls for a common policy, not a change of regime, to find a solution to the current crisis befallen the country, and invites all parties to join the passive resistance event, regardless of political differences.

MIAP

Government reverses decision on train ticket prices

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Government reverses decision on train ticket prices

Transport Minister Dilum Amunugama has decided to reverse the uninformed action to surge the prices of train tickets, stating that no final decision has yet been made on such a move.

He noted that the statistics related to the proposed price hike have been released to the media prior to being received by the Ministry which has caused the panic.

A special discussion will be tonight (24) regarding the revision of train ticket prices and any revision may be put into effect from Monday, he added.

Early reports claimed that the ticket prices on intercity express trains and long-distance special trains have soared, leading to mass panic that even the Railway Station Masters’ Association denounced the decision stating that these prices have risen in astronomical figures when the people are in dire straits.

However, Amunugama described otherwise stating that the train ticket prices may soar up to an affordable level, especially in the backdrop where fuel prices have soared. The ticket prices, therefore, may be increased to a point where the Department of Railway can recover the losses incurred amid the fuel price hike, he added.

MIAP

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