PRESS STATEMENT
24 January 2025, London

The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) is deeply saddened by the passing of Ven. Siyambalagaswewa Wimalasara Thero,
the Chief Sanganayake of Malwatte Chapter for the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Ven. Thero’s passing was
sudden and unexpected, and we express our heartfelt condolences to all those who were fortunate to have
associated with the Thero in many different capacities.
Ven. Siyambalagaswewa Wimalasara Thero was a key proponent and a signatory to the Himalaya Declaration
(April 2023), which aimed at promoting peace, reconciliation, religious harmony and equality among all the
peoples of Sri Lanka. Ven. Thero’s role in this initiative was crucial due to his long association with the Northern
and Eastern Provinces and his deep understanding of the fears and aspirations of the Tamil people. Ven. Thero
has built a solid inter-religious network in Vavuniya where he lived and played a pivotal role in preventing
violence in the local area even when the country was engulfed in a vicious civil war. When GTF representatives
visited Vavuniya in December 2023, we witnessed first-hand the respect with which the Thero was held by the
local religious and community leaders. When the Thero was admitted to the hospital recently leaders from all
religions visited him and paid their respects.
Ven. Thero was also instrumental in organising Mullivaikaal Remembrance events in 2023 and jointly organising in
2024, with the GTF in Vavuniya, well attended by all communities. Clearly, Ven. Siyambalagaswewa Wimalasara
Thero was a living embodiment of the mutual understanding and respect idealized among the adherents of all
religions and communities. For those of us who directly engaged with the Ven. Thero due to our joint efforts on
Himalaya Declaration, we feel the loss as that of a friend, colleague and a guide. The Thero was fluent in Tamil
and had a humorous side to him, and we cherish many memories of our many conversations with him.
We are confident that the Ven. Thero’s legacy and the impact he has had in promoting inter-religious and national
harmony, including the implementation of the Himalaya Declaration will endure. It is important that all of us
redouble our efforts to follow on the footsteps of Ven. Thero in promoting peace ethnic and religious harmony.
That will be our lasting tribute to Ven. Siyambalagaswewa Wimalasara Thero.
“May his soul attain supreme bliss of Nibbana”
-ENDS-
Media Contact: Suren Surendiran
Tel: +44 (0) 7958 590196
Skype: surendirans
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @GTFonline & @surendirans
Notes: Global Tamil Forum (GTF) is an influential Tamil diaspora organisation – established in 2009 following the end of the armed conflict
in Sri Lanka. GTF is absolutely committed to a non-violent agenda and it seeks lasting peace in Sri Lanka, based on justice, reconciliation and
a negotiated political settlement.
Media External Document

Sri Lanka’s poultry industry has secured a significant breakthrough with China opening its market for direct imports of poultry products, including chicken heads and feet, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath announced.

This development follows a request from the industry, which will now have the opportunity to directly export these by-products, boosting foreign exchange earnings for the country.

The Cabinet approved the proposal on January 6 to facilitate poultry exports to China, which includes health and quarantine procedures to meet export standards.

This move comes after years of advocacy and diplomatic efforts by the Sri Lankan government to overcome the barriers preventing access to the vast Chinese market. As part of the agreement, China has removed restrictions on Sri Lankan chicken, eggs, and pineapples, which is a significant win for exporters in these sectors.

The breakthrough marks the culmination of years of efforts by the previous government, which first initiated steps to secure access for Sri Lankan poultry products to China.

 Under the leadership of  ex President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the then government prioritized eliminating trade obstacles by engaging in high-level discussions with Chinese authorities.

 These efforts aimed at aligning Sri Lankan poultry exports with China’s stringent import standards, with the Agriculture and Plantation Industries Ministry playing a central role in facilitating the negotiations.

The importance of these earlier efforts cannot be overstated. Senior officials from the previous administration, despite facing challenges in the process, succeeded in creating the foundation for Sri Lanka’s eventual poultry export approval.

Their work has enabled the current government to capitalize on the fruits of these efforts and bring the poultry industry closer to reaching its full potential in the Chinese market.

Ajith Gunasekara, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Association of Animal Production, hailed the move as a major victory for the industry, pointing out that direct access to China had long been requested by industry stakeholders.

“This is a milestone after years of effort,” he said, emphasizing that access to the world’s largest poultry market will significantly boost profitability for Sri Lankan companies.

Sri Lanka’s bird flu-free status provides a unique competitive edge for its poultry products, making them particularly attractive in international markets. With the continued support of institutions like the Department of Animal Production and Health and the Export Development Board, the industry is poised for significant growth.

The next goal is to expand exports beyond by-products, with plans to penetrate the Chinese market for chicken meat in the future.

The World Bank has announced that it is providing renewed development project assistance to Sri Lanka, focusing on supporting the country’s economic recovery through initiatives aimed at improving economic governance, enhancing growth and competitiveness.

It is aimed at protecting vulnerable populations, particularly by providing funding for projects related to the financial sector and primary healthcare systems.

It has pledged $200 million to finance three major projects in Sri Lanka over the next three months, reaffirming its commitment to the country’s economic recovery and long-term development.

During a two-day visit, World Bank Vice President for South Asia, Martin Raiser, met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, and other key stakeholders to discuss Sri Lanka’s development priorities and strategies for sustainable growth.

Raiser expressed his gratitude for engaging with the new government and private sector stakeholders, highlighting the potential to foster growth and create jobs. Discussions emphasized poverty reduction, digital transformation, and the Clean Sri Lanka initiative.

 The three planned projects will support rural development, improve education, and establish a facility to attract private investment in renewable energy.

Earlier, on December 4, 2024, World Bank Executive Director Parameswaran Iyer met President Dissanayake to discuss ongoing projects and align them with government priorities.

Iyer confirmed that all existing World Bank initiatives would continue without interruption and announced the formation of an advisory group to focus on agriculture, fisheries, tourism, education, and health.

Martin Raiser stressed the importance of aligning World Bank assistance with Sri Lanka’s goals of reducing poverty, enhancing sustainability, and driving digital transformation.

He also discussed medium-term priorities such as boosting tourism, developing lagging regions in the North, improving logistics, enhancing service delivery, and equipping the workforce with skills for a rapidly evolving labor market.

Maintaining macroeconomic stability, improving governance, and attracting private sector investment were identified as essential to increasing incomes and creating jobs. Raiser highlighted significant opportunities in tourism, logistics, agricultural value chains, renewable energy, and the digital economy, while emphasizing the need to enhance the business environment to attract foreign direct investment.

Looking ahead, the World Bank’s engagement with Sri Lanka will be outlined in the mid-term review of the Country Partnership Framework (CPF), which is scheduled for completion in six months. This updated framework will integrate the government’s priorities and serve as a roadmap for continued collaboration.

Raiser concluded his visit by reaffirming the World Bank’s readiness to support Sri Lanka’s transition from recovery to sustained, inclusive growth. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors to unlock the country’s full economic potential.