By: Staff Writer

January 05, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh, as part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Economic Diplomacy Initiative, organized a high-impact trade, investment, and tourism promotion forum in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province on December 18, 2024.

Held at the Ashqariya Chamber of Commerce, the event aimed to showcase Sri Lanka’s export potential, investment opportunities, and tourism attractions to Saudi stakeholders. The forum also featured a catalogue exhibition, offering a closer look at Sri Lankan products and services, while emphasizing collaboration opportunities between the two countries.

The Vice Chairman of Ashqariya Chamber, Hamad Alamar, welcomed the initiative, commending the embassy for fostering economic cooperation and reaffirming the Chamber’s commitment to strengthening private-sector partnerships between Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ameer Ajwad, in his inaugural address, highlighted the deep-rooted historical trade ties and people-to-people connections between the two nations.

 He underlined the vast, untapped potential for trade and investment collaboration and encouraged Saudi travel companies to capitalize on Sri Lanka’s booming tourism sector.

Stressing the need for improved information sharing and bilateral engagements, the ambassador called for regular forums like this to address the knowledge gap and facilitate stronger business-to-business (B2B) relationships.

The forum featured key presentations by prominent Sri Lankan institutions, including the Board of Investment (BOI), Export Development Board (EDB), Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, and Colombo Port City. These presentations offered in-depth insights into Sri Lanka’s trade, investment, and tourism sectors.

Chairman of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, Mangala Wijesinghe, virtually presented an overview of the country’s diverse export potential, focusing on key sectors relevant to Saudi investors. Acting Director of the Market Development Division, Saumya Kannangara, followed with detailed insights into each sector.

Buddhika Hewawasem, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, emphasized Sri Lanka’s appeal as a travel destination, citing global accolades that named it the “most desirable island” for tourism. Meanwhile, BOI Executive Director Prasanjith Wijayatilake highlighted investment incentives in sectors ranging from manufacturing to renewable energy, appealing directly to Saudi investors.

Colombo Port City (PCC) Executive Director, Shalaka Wijeyaratne, outlined lucrative investment opportunities within the Port City, a 269-hectare reclaimed land project serving as a multi-service Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

The event attracted a significant number of Saudi business leaders, providing a platform to explore trade, investment, and tourism opportunities in Sri Lanka. The accompanying catalogue exhibition facilitated direct engagement between Saudi participants and Sri Lankan businesses, paving the way for potential collaborations.

In a bilateral meeting held prior to the forum, Ambassador Ajwad met with Ashqariya Chamber Chairman Dr. Bader S. AlReziza, Vice Chairman Hamad Alamar, and Secretary General AbdulRahman bin Abdullah Al-Wabel. Discussions centered on enhancing economic ties, with senior embassy officials Mohamed Anas and Tashma Vithanawasem in attendance.

The forum concluded successfully, underscoring the potential for Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia to expand their partnership in trade, investment, and tourism.

January 05, Colombo (LNW): The Constitutional Council has officially endorsed the appointments of two distinguished High Court judges, K.M. Sarath Dissanayake and Pradeep Hettiarachchi, to the Court of Appeal.

The nominations, which were submitted for approval by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, have now been confirmed, marking a significant move in the country’s judicial landscape.

Both judges, who are currently the most senior serving members of the High Court, have built distinguished careers and are widely respected for their expertise and impartiality.

Judge Dissanayake and Judge Hettiarachchi are expected to take their oaths as members of the Court of Appeal in the coming week, following the formal approval process.

This development comes as part of an ongoing effort to strengthen the judiciary and ensure that highly qualified and experienced judges continue to serve in key positions within the country’s legal framework.

With their wealth of experience in handling complex cases, the two new appointees are expected to bring valuable insight and stability to the Court of Appeal.

January 05, Colombo (LNW): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is scheduled to hold a crucial meeting with the Attorney General (AG) tomorrow (06) to discuss the ongoing progress of several high-profile legal cases, according to sources.

The meeting is expected to focus on the status of various controversial and sensitive cases that have captured significant public attention in recent months.

The discussion is likely to delve into the challenges faced by the legal system, particularly in handling complex criminal cases, with both the President and the Attorney General addressing key concerns regarding the speed and efficiency of legal proceedings.

This meeting comes at a time when the country is grappling with increasing public interest in the outcomes of certain high-stakes cases, which involve serious criminal allegations and significant political implications.

One of the key promises made by the current regime upon its coming is serving justice to these long-overdue unresolved criminal cases.

In addition to discussing the specific cases, it is anticipated that the President and the Attorney General will also explore potential reforms and improvements to the legal and judicial processes to ensure that justice is served fairly and promptly.

January 05, Colombo (LNW): Recent reports circulating on social media have raised concerns about a rise in respiratory illnesses in northern China, particularly amongst children.

In response, Sri Lanka’s Health Promotion Bureau has provided an official update to clarify the situation and reassure the public.

According to Chinese health officials, the uptick in cases is linked to common respiratory viruses, including influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and human metapneumovirus (HMPV).

Importantly, there has been no indication of any new or unusual pathogens behind the spike in cases, and these illnesses are being classified as part of seasonal trends.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has acknowledged that this increase is neither unexpected nor alarming, noting that similar patterns have been observed globally in different regions during this time of year.

Chinese authorities have further reassured the public, stating that the current surge in cases is less severe compared to previous years, and the healthcare system is effectively managing the patient influx.

Hospitals are reported to be coping well with the demand, and there is no evidence to suggest a more serious health threat.

In Sri Lanka, the situation is being closely monitored by local health authorities. Whilst there has been no direct impact on public health here, the Ministry of Health continues to stay updated on international developments to ensure the safety and well-being of the population.

Sri Lankan health experts stress that there is no cause for alarm, as the country has not witnessed any significant rise in similar respiratory illnesses thus far.

Public health officials are also reminding citizens to follow basic hygiene practices such as handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, and maintaining good respiratory etiquette, especially during flu season, as a precautionary measure.

January 05, Colombo (LNW): The National Youth Services Council spent more than Rs. 320 million on the “Smart Youth Night” music concert series, a major event organised by the council, an audit has uncovered.

The expenditure was revealed as part of a thorough audit review conducted by the Youth Services Council itself, shedding light on the significant financial commitment involved in this initiative.

The concert series, which aimed to engage and entertain the youth across the country, was held in numerous locations, including the Maharagama National Youth Services Centre, as well as cities such as Galle, Ampara, Kuliyapitiya, Puttalam, Dambulla, Jaffna, Mahiyanganaya, Hatton, Higurakgoda, Bandarawela, Walisara, and notable venues like the Colombo Race Course and Khettarama Stadium.

These events were designed to attract young audiences with music performances and entertainment, aiming to provide a platform for youth involvement and social engagement.

At the time of the concert series, the National Youth Services Council was operating under the supervision of Harin Fernando, who held the position of Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports.

The audit report, along with a set of recommendations, has now been forwarded to the Secretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs for further review and consideration.

In light of these findings, Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs Eranga Gunasekara has directed that a formal investigation be launched to assess the details of the expenditure and determine whether the funds were allocated appropriately.

The probe will focus on understanding the full scope of the spending and whether it aligns with the intended goals of the concert series, while ensuring that the financial resources were utilised efficiently.

January 05, Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Urban Development, Construction, and Housing has confirmed that it will resume work on housing schemes that had previously been put on hold.

In a statement, Ministry Secretary Ranjith Ariyaratne highlighted the government’s renewed commitment to ensuring that every citizen has access to secure home-ownership.

Ariyaratne further explained that the housing projects would be given top priority, in response to the identification of nearly one million individuals who currently lack access to adequate and comfortable housing.

Amongst these, approximately 65,000 people are residing within the urban confines of Colombo, where housing shortages have become an increasingly urgent issue.

The government plans to strategically launch these housing initiatives in areas where the demand is most critical, using comprehensive data from the national population and housing census to guide the selection of locations.

These projects aim to address both the quantity and quality of housing available, ensuring that developments are well-distributed across the country and tailored to the specific needs of each community.

By targeting both urban and rural areas, the government hopes to provide much-needed homes for the millions of Sri Lankans who have long struggled with inadequate living conditions.

January 05, Colombo (LNW): Litro Gas has confirmed that there will be no change to the prices of its domestic liquefied petroleum (LP) gas for the month of January, adhering to the company’s established pricing formula.

The announcement, made on January 04, comes as a relief to households across Sri Lanka, who will see no increase in their gas costs.

Chairman Channa Gunawardena revealed that the price structure introduced in December 2024 will remain in place for the foreseeable future.

As per the current rates, the price of a 12.5 kg gas cylinder will stay at Rs. 3,690, while the 5 kg cylinder will continue to be sold for Rs. 1,482. Smaller cylinders, such as the 2.3 kg variety, will retain their price of Rs. 694.

This decision is in line with the company’s ongoing efforts to ensure stability in the local market, despite fluctuations in global energy prices.

It remains to be seen whether the company will continue to uphold these prices in the coming months, or if external factors such as changes in global energy prices will prompt a future revision.

For now, the public can rely on the stability of their domestic gas costs, at least for January.