September 08, Colombo (LNW): National People’s Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake has responded to accusations of making threatening comments towards the Northern population during a recent visit to Jaffna.

Dismissing the criticism, Dissanayake pointed to Tamil National Alliance (TNA) spokesperson MP MA Sumanthiran’s defence as the ‘definitive response’ to the controversy.

The NPP’s Presidential Candidate emphasised that he sees no need to answer Wickremesinghe’s accusations, asserting that Sumanthiran has already provided the correct explanation.

“It is Ranil who should apologise for attempting to incite racial tensions,” Dissanayake alleged, revising the blame on the President, whom he accused of exploiting the situation to sow division.

The controversy arose following Dissanayake’s remarks during a public address in Jaffna, which were interpreted by some, most notably including President Wickremesinghe, as a veiled threat to the Tamil community.

Wickremesinghe had publicly called on Dissanayake to apologise to the Northern people, accusing him of coercive rhetoric.

However, TNA MP Sumanthiran earlier came to Dissanayake’s defence, asserting that the remarks were not racially motivated and praising Dissanayake for his consistent commitment to eradicating racism in the country.

Dissanayake’s rebuttal signals a continuation of tensions between the NPP leader and the government, particularly with Wickremesinghe, who has been vocally critical of Dissanayake’s political approach.

Meanwhile, Sumanthiran’s support for Dissanayake, despite the TNA’s pledged allegiance to the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has sparked dialogue within political circles about the future of alliances and how opposition leaders will navigate complex ethnic and regional dynamics during the upcoming election.

This incident has underscored the often-fragile relationship between political figures in Sri Lanka and the sensitivities surrounding ethnicity, particularly in the Northern region, which has long been at the heart of the nation’s conflict and post-war reconciliation efforts.

It also highlights the potential for such disputes to escalate into larger debates about racial politics, leadership, and the direction of national unity in the country’s future.

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September 08, Colombo (LNW): Families of fishermen in Jegathapattinam, Tamil Nadu, staged protests on Sunday following the arrest of 14 local fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, which also seized three mechanised boats.

The arrests took place on Saturday (07) night, sparking outrage within the fishing community, particularly in the Pudukottai district.

K.R. Manikantan, a local fishing leader, voiced the frustrations of the community, stating that the frequent arrests by the Sri Lankan Navy have left the fishermen in constant fear of venturing out to sea.

“Our livelihoods are at stake. The state and Central governments are ignoring the severe challenges we face,” he said.

He highlighted that whilst fishermen might be released after brief custody, the Sri Lankan authorities often hold on to their boats indefinitely, further exacerbating the crisis.

“Even after release, getting back our boats remains an impossible task, making it difficult for us to resume fishing,” Manikantan added.

The incident took place near the disputed waters of Neduntheevu in the Palk Strait, where the fishermen were accused of crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).

The arrested fishermen, including Pradeep, Ranjith, Prabakaran, and Ajith, were aboard three boats owned by local residents. They, along with 49 other fishermen, had ventured into the sea early on Saturday.

In response, the Tamil Nadu coastal police confirmed that the detained fishermen were transferred to the Kankesanthurai naval base in Sri Lanka.

The ongoing arrests have fuelled mounting tensions, with protests spreading to other coastal districts like Ramanathapuram, Nagapattinam, and Pudukottai.

The fishing community is also threatening to block major roads in protest, calling on both the state and national governments to intervene and secure the release of the arrested fishermen.

This incident has further intensified the long-standing dispute over fishing rights in the Palk Strait, an issue that has repeatedly strained relations between the fishermen of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.

Currently, around 84 Tamil Nadu fishermen remain in Sri Lankan custody, underscoring the dire need for a resolution to the conflict, which continues to affect the livelihoods of thousands along the Tamil Nadu coast.

September 08, Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Public Administration has introduced fresh guidelines for state employees returning from overseas leave, tightening regulations on compliance.

According to a recent circular, employees who fail to return to work on their scheduled date after the conclusion of their leave will be regarded as having vacated their position.

The guidelines emphasise that any extensions to overseas leave must be approved before the initial leave period expires.

If employees do not secure permission for an extension in advance, they are required to return to work as originally planned. Any failure to adhere to these rules may lead to significant professional consequences.

Moreover, the circular warns that heads of state institutions who do not enforce these new guidelines will also face disciplinary measures.

By clarifying the procedures for returning employees and setting stringent consequences for non-compliance, the Ministry aims to bring about more effective oversight of employee leave, thereby enhancing the accountability and functioning of public institutions.

September 08, Colombo (LNW): Tamil National Alliance (TNA) spokesman M.A. Sumanthiran has come forward in defence of National People’s Power (NPP) leader and presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake, following backlash over his recent comments in the North, which according to his political opponents ‘racially provocative’.

Dissanayake had remarked, “When the people of the South are rallying for change, if you oppose that change, imagine the mood of the people in the South. Do you want Jaffna to be seen as opponents of that change?”

The statement, viewed by some as a veiled threat to the Northern populace, drew sharp criticism, particularly from incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who condemned the remarks.

However, in a media address, Sumanthiran dismissed claims of racial intent behind Dissanayake’s words. “I know comrade Anura Kumara well,” he stated. “He is not someone driven by racist sentiment. In fact, he has consistently fought to eradicate racism from this country. His comments should not be misinterpreted.”

Sumanthiran emphasised that the TNA did not interpret Dissanayake’s statement as hostile towards the Tamil people, reaffirming his confidence in Dissanayake’s commitment to equality and unity.

Whilst the TNA has thrown its support behind opposition leader Sajith Premadasa in the upcoming presidential election, Sumanthiran highlighted areas of common ground between his party and Dissanayake’s NPP, particularly in addressing corruption and misrule.

“We may back different candidates, but on key issues like rooting out corruption, we stand together,” he said.

In contrast, President Wickremesinghe maintained a stern stance against Dissanayake’s remarks, arguing that they amounted to coercion of the Northern community. Speaking at a rally in Jaffna, the President assured the Northern population that their rights would be fully safeguarded under his leadership. “The people of the North will be protected by the law, and such threats will not be tolerated,” Wickremesinghe declared, demanding the NPP leader to publicly apologise to both the Northern Tamil people and the Southern communities for his rhetoric.

September 08, Colombo (LNW): Deputy Postmaster General Rajitha Ranasinghe has announced that September 08, 2024 has been designated as a special day for distributing official polling cards, despite it being a weekend.

In a public statement, Ranasinghe emphasised that the Department of Posts is committed to delivering these cards directly to voters’ homes from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Citizens are being encouraged to remain at home to receive their polling cards, which require signatures to confirm receipt.

This measure aims to ensure that voters have their documents in hand well ahead of the upcoming presidential election. The Department of Posts has already successfully distributed around 3 million polling cards to date.

The process, which commenced on September 03, will continue until September 14. Officials are urging residents to be mindful of the delivery schedule to avoid any delays or missed opportunities to receive their official cards, which are critical for participation in the election.

September 08, Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Finance has announced a reduction in the cess levy on imported cement, lowering the charge by Rs. 01 per kilogramme.

This adjustment took effect from September 06, 2024 and is expected to provide some relief to the construction sector, which has been impacted by rising material costs.

The decision to revise the levy was made under the authority of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who holds the portfolio of Minister of Investment Promotion. The change was implemented in accordance with Section 14 of the Sri Lanka Export Development Act, No. 40 of 1979, with the approval of the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilisation, and National Policies.

The reduction in the levy aims to promote investment in the construction industry by easing financial pressures and potentially encouraging increased activity in infrastructure development.

Given the importance of cement as a key raw material in construction, the government hopes this move will stimulate growth, especially in public and private construction projects.

September 08, Colombo (LNW): The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has eased the timeframe for exporters to convert their foreign earnings into Sri Lankan Rupees, providing additional flexibility for businesses.

This change comes under the newly issued “Repatriation of Export Proceeds into Sri Lanka Rules No. 01 of 2024,” which was formally approved by Parliament on 4th September 2024 and published in the latest Gazette Extraordinary No. 2391/02.

Under the previous regulations, exporters were mandated to convert their export earnings by the seventh day of the month following the receipt of proceeds.

However, the revised rules now extend this deadline to the tenth day of the month, but after a period of three calendar months from the date of receiving the export funds.

This change is intended to offer exporters more time and flexibility in managing their financial transactions while aligning with foreign currency inflows.

The CBSL has highlighted that the new rules aim to better accommodate the needs of exporters, particularly in light of evolving global market conditions and the operational challenges they face.

The amendment reflects ongoing efforts to support the export sector, which is critical to Sri Lanka’s economic stability.

Exporters can access the full set of updated guidelines through the CBSL’s Department of Foreign Exchange website at www.dfe.lk.