Foreign Minister Prof. G.L Peiris met with Minister Delegate for Trade and Economic Attractiveness Franck Reister at the Foreign Ministry in Paris to discuss French support for the expansion of economic relations with Sri Lanka in a variety of sectors. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the two Ministers at the conclusion of their discussion.

The Foreign Minister attended several meetings at the Chamber of Commerce of France. He met with Counsellor Bernard Quinet and Head of International Business Networks Estelle Gillot at the Chamber of Commerce. The main focus of discussion was networking arrangements between French and Sri Lankan companies and French expertise for educational programmes in entrepreneurship, business management and related subjects.

Minister Prof. Peiris held discussions with Francois Corbin of MEDEF International, the largest association of companies in France. Among representatives of the corporate sector he met in Paris were Secretary General of the company M21 Life Sciences Christian Leroux and Vice President of Marketing Strategy Thales DIS Jean-Claude Perrin.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

27 February, 2022

Power cuts are reportedly have to be carried out until the reservoirs used for hydroelectricity are sufficient filled. The power outages, therefore, are likely to continue for at least another three months, experts in the field warned.

The areas in which these reservoirs are located will not receive sufficient rainfall until the end of May, despite the intermittent showers before the month, revealed the Meteorological Department.

The water levels in the reservoirs used for power generation can only be used for another two weeks, and chances are high that the hydroelectricity generation may be disrupted if there are now showers.

The above circumstances appear in the midst of an escalating fuel crisis, further endangering the process of generating power in the future. Experts also warn that the existing power cuts are likely to be extend by a few more hours, should the crises continue.

MIAP

State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa speaking to a function held yesterday (26) stated that the Opposition is picturing an image of a commodity shortage in the country and proposes no practical solution to solve the economic crisis, but the President is putting his highest effort into solving problems.

“Bearing all the trouble, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is putting great effort to manage the country well. As the efforts are being put, the Opposition sometimes goes on saying that the ‘President failed’, ‘no fuel, power and gas in the country’ and is picturing an image of a commodity shortage in the country. But none of them are providing a recommending a proposal to solve the economic crisis. This is not something our country suffers from alone, for every country in the world is facing these economic crises.

As Sri Lanka, we too had to face this at a time when businesses, and all the sectors that can locate funds and generate revenue to the public sector have come to a standstill. However, His Excellency the President, the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister have never taken any action to make up for the lack of development activities at the district level and at the village level,” he said.

The government should be providing a special fuel subsidy for buses in the backdrop where Lanka IOC has surged the price of diesel by Rs. 15 per litre, said Chief Secretary of the All Ceylon Private Bus Companies’ Federation Anjana Priyanjith, speaking to media yesterday (26).

“The government should immediately be providing a special subsidy for buses. There is no other option but to revise the bus fares. We urge the government provide a diesel subsidy without letting the surging of the bus fares happen,” he said.

MIAP