December 24, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan government has given the green light for the long-term contract to purchase six Murban crude oil tankers, which will be used to supply the country with crude oil from April 2025 to August 2025.

This decision follows a procurement process initiated by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO), with bids invited from registered suppliers for the purchase.

A total of six bids were received for the procurement, and after careful evaluation, the proposal put forward by the Minister of Energy was presented to the Cabinet.

The recommendation, made by the Special Standing Procurement Committee, was to award the contract to M/s Aditya Birla Global Trading (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.

This recommendation has now been approved by the Cabinet, ensuring that the procurement process will move forward.

The purchase of the tankers will also help to strengthen Sri Lanka’s strategic energy infrastructure and support the operations of the CEYPETCO in meeting the country’s fuel requirements.

December 24, Colombo (LNW): The enforcement of a circular issued by the Provincial Ministry of Education in the Western Province, which prohibited schoolteachers from conducting private tuition classes, has been temporarily halted.

This move comes after the Governor of the Western Province intervened, responding to objections raised by various stakeholders regarding the new directive.

The circular, issued on December 20 by the Secretary of the Provincial Ministry of Education, had stirred controversy by forbidding teachers from offering paid tuition to students attending their own schools.

The ban was intended to address concerns over the ethical implications of teachers providing additional lessons to their own pupils outside of school hours, particularly when it came to matters of fairness and undue influence.

Following a wave of criticism, including concerns from educators, parents, and various unions, the Governor of the Western Province ordered a temporary suspension of the circular’s implementation.

The decision was made after careful consideration of the widespread objections, which highlighted the potential negative impact on both teachers’ livelihoods and the quality of education for students.

Deputy Minister of Labour, Mahinda Jayasinghe, confirmed the suspension, stating that the move was necessary to allow further consultation on the matter.

He acknowledged the concerns that had been raised, particularly regarding the practicalities and fairness of such a ban, and indicated that the government would be reviewing the issue before taking any further steps.

While the circular’s suspension has brought temporary relief to teachers, it remains uncertain whether a revised version of the directive will be issued or if the original ban will be reintroduced after further deliberation.

December 24, Colombo (LNW): A significant meeting was held yesterday (23) at the Presidential Secretariat, led by President Anura Kumara Disanayake, to review the crucial preparations for Sri Lanka’s upcoming Mutual Evaluation (ME) by the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG).

This evaluation is vital in assessing the country’s efforts to combat money laundering and terrorism financing, both key components of maintaining global financial integrity.

The meeting gathered a wide range of stakeholders, including cabinet ministers, senior officials from various ministries, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

In a detailed discussion, the focus centred on ensuring that Sri Lanka meets international standards for Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT), an area that has gained increasing importance globally.

The FIU provided an update on the immediate need to implement action plans that have already been approved by the Cabinet. These plans involve a coordinated effort from 24 vital institutions, including key regulatory bodies and law enforcement agencies.

Amongst the priorities identified were crucial legal reforms, capacity-building initiatives, and the fostering of stronger inter-agency cooperation.

Additionally, the maintenance of thorough records is essential to ensure compliance with the recommendations set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global watchdog for financial crimes.

The President stressed the urgency of setting up dedicated teams to oversee the implementation of these action plans. He emphasised that strict monitoring and adherence to the outlined timelines are crucial for the country’s successful evaluation.

The President further highlighted that collaboration across all sectors, coupled with clear accountability, is fundamental to fortifying Sri Lanka’s AML and CFT framework.

Addressing the challenges ahead, the President underscored the need for a resilient and efficient system to ensure a favourable outcome in the evaluation.

He pointed out that this is not only about fulfilling international obligations but also about securing Sri Lanka’s financial stability and enhancing international confidence in the country’s economic resilience.

The meeting also saw the presence of Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, and the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, who contributed to the discussions on the steps necessary to align Sri Lanka with global financial security standards.

December 24, Colombo (LNW): Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Uva province and in Hambantota, Rathnapura and Ampara districts during the evening or night, with mainly fair weather being expected to prevail elsewhere, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (24).

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern, North-western and Uva provinces during the morning.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Marine Weather:

1. A high-level meeting on Sri Lanka’s preparations for the upcoming Mutual Evaluation (ME) by the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering was held yesterday (23), led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake: Discussions focused on anti-money laundering and countering terrorism financing (AML/CFT) efforts, with an emphasis on legal reforms, capacity building, and inter-agency cooperation: The President emphasised collaboration and accountability to ensure compliance and improve Sri Lanka’s financial system.
   
2. SJB MP Nalin Bandara says preliminary investigations have revealed that the erroneous identification of Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara as “Dr” on the Parliament website originated from a document provided by the office of Leader of the House, Bimal Rathnayake: Bandara criticised the government’s previous claims of a conspiracy and urged Nanayakkara to clarify the matter: He also criticised the JVP’s General Secretary for restricting media access.
   
3. The first National Conference for Families of Missing Persons in Sri Lanka, organised by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), was held in Colombo, bringing together 51 families from diverse communities: The conference allowed participants to share experiences, discuss challenges in finding missing loved ones, and engage with authorities, including the Minister of Justice and officials from the Office on Missing Persons: Key issues raised included the need for answers, support, and acknowledgment of their suffering: This event follows the success of the ICRC’s Global Family Conference held last year.
   
4. The tri-forces security provided to former Presidents will be removed starting December 23, as announced by Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala: The Defence Ministry has instructed the tri-forces commanders to implement this change, with police security now being assigned to ensure the safety of former Presidents.
   
5. Deputy Minister of Labour Mahinda Jayasinghe has opposed a recent circular banning school teachers in the Western Province from conducting paid tuition classes for their own students during school hours, after school, or on weekends and public holidays: Jayasinghe stated that the Governor has instructed the suspension of the circular pending a review and policy decision: The circular, issued by the Western Province Secretary of Education, warns of disciplinary action for violations.
   
6. Sri Lanka’s export performance in November 2024 showed a marginal overall increase of 0.04% YoY, reaching US$ 1.269 billion: While merchandise exports fell 5.6% YoY, services exports grew by 20.89%: Notable export gains included tea, spices, and coconut products: Cumulatively, merchandise exports grew 6.44% to US$ 11.611 billion, and services exports rose 7.39% to US$ 3.174 billion, with strong performances from key markets like the USA, UK, and India.
   
7. Foreign reports indicate that a Sri Lankan organisation posing as an IT company is recruiting locals fluent in Japanese to target Japanese nationals with investment scams: A former employee revealed that victims had transferred up to 30 million yen ($192,000) to the organisation: The scam involved over 100 workers in Colombo, who made fraudulent investment calls to Japan while concealing their location using an app.
   
8. The Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL) will begin oral sessions for gathering public opinions on the electricity tariff revision from December 27: This follows a proposal by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to maintain current tariffs for the next six months, while the PUCSL suggests a 10%-20% reduction: Public submissions began on December 17, with the final report expected on January 17.
   
9. Veteran film director Sudath Mahaadivulwewa has been appointed as the Chairman of the National Film Corporation, with the appointment taking effect from December 23.
   
10. Moody’s upgraded Sri Lanka’s long-term foreign currency issuer rating to ‘Caa1’ from ‘Ca’ with a stable outlook, following the approval of a $12.55 billion debt overhaul by the country’s creditors: Moody’s noted improvements in Sri Lanka’s credit fundamentals, with reduced external vulnerability and government liquidity risk: Additionally, Fitch Ratings raised Sri Lanka’s rating to ‘CCC+’ from ‘Restricted Default’.