May 27, Colombo (LNW): Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon has announced the establishment of a special committee to determine if any individuals associated with the ISIS terrorist organisation are residing in Sri Lanka.
An immediate investigation has been initiated to address this concern, Tennakoon revealed during a media briefing in Kaduwela yesterday (26).
The new committee incorporates with the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID), Intelligence Unit officials, and the Special Task Force, under the oversight of the Deputy Inspector General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Tennakoon said.
He further mentioned that he meets with the committee daily to discuss progress and provide necessary instructions.
The investigation has made significant strides, and updates on its progress will be shared in due course.
When questioned about any connections between the four Sri Lankans recently arrested in Gujarat, India, and the Easter attacks, the IGP stated that the legal division of the Sri Lanka Police has been directed to thoroughly review the commission report and provide relevant details.
There are currently no reports confirming such links, he added, asserting that he will receive information on the matter today (27).
May 27, Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka has conveyed its deepest condolences on the sudden demise of Jean-François Pactet, the French Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
In an official statement, the Ministry expressed profound sorrow over the unexpected demise of Ambassador Pactet, affirming that all necessary assistance will be provided to the French authorities and the late Ambassador’s family.
The Foreign Ministry also stated that it is in close contact with the French Embassy in Sri Lanka during this difficult time and that details regarding the funeral arrangements will be communicated by the relevant authorities in due course.
Ambassador Jean-François Pactet, aged 53, passed away on Sunday at his official residence in Rajagiriya, reportedly due to a sudden illness.
May 27, Colombo (LNW): The prevailing windy conditions is expected to continue further, due to the South West Monsoon condition, and showers or thundershowers, therefore, will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western and Southern provinces, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (27).
Fairly heavy showers about 75 mm are likely at some places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Nuwara-Eliya district, the statement read.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in Uva and Eastern provinces in the evening or night.
Strong winds of about (50-60) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central, Western, Southern and North-western provinces and in Trincomalee district. Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times elsewhere of the island.
Marine Weather:
Condition of Rain:
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the sea areas extending from Puttalam to Hambantota via Colombo and Galle. Showers or thundershowers may occur at few places in the sea areas off the coast extending from Hambantota to Batticaloa via Pottuvil.
Winds:
Winds will be south-westerly in the sea areas around the island. Wind speed will be (40-50) kmph and wind speed may increase up to (60-70) kmph at times in the sea areas extending from Trincomalee to Pottuvil via Kankasanthurai, Mannar Colombo, Galle and Hambantota. Wind speed will be (30-40) kmph and can be increased up to (50-60) kmph at times in the other sea areas around the island.
State of Sea:
The sea areas extending from Kankasanthurai to Pottuvil via Mannar, Colombo, Galle and Hambantota will be very rough at times and Naval and fishing communities are advised not to venture into these sea areas, until further notice. The other sea areas around the island will be rough at times, therefore, naval and fishing communities in this sea area are requested to be vigilant in this regard. The swell waves (about 2.5–3.0 m) height (this is not for land area) may increase in the sea areas off the coast extending from Kalpitiya to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle, and Hambantota. Temporarily strong gusty winds and very rough seas can be expected during thundershowers.
The sea areas extending from Trincomalee to Pottuvil via Kankasanthurai, Kalpitiya, Colombo, Galle and Hambantota will be very rough at times with very strong gusty winds up to (60-70) kmph. Naval and fishing communities are advised not to venture into the above sea areas, until further notice.
Wind speed will be (30-40) kmph and can be increased up to (50-60) kmph at times in the other sea areas around the island.
There is a possibility that near shore sea areas off the coast extending from Kalpitiya to Matara via, Colombo and Galle may experience surges due to swell waves.
Naval and fishing communities are also requested to be attentive to future forecasts issued by the Department in this regard.
Meanwhile, the Meteorology Department warned of the cyclone storm named “Remal” (pronounced “Re-Mal”) over the North Bay of Bengal, which has been intensified into a severe cyclone storm at 05.30 a.m. on May 26.
It is located near 19.5°N and 89.3°E, to the north-east of Sri Lanka, and 1500 km away from Kankasanthurai.
It is very likely to move nearly northwards, intensify further, and cross Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal (India) coasts by May 26th at midnight.
Very strong winds (60-70) kmph, accompanied with heavy rainfalls and very rough seas are likely over the sea areas around the country and over the South-eastern Arabian Sea areas and Bay of Bengal Sea areas.
Actions Required:
Those who are out at aforementioned sea regions are advised to return to coasts or moved safer areas immediately.
Fishing and naval community are requested to be attentive to future forecasts issued by the Department in this regard.
May 26, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s economy is set gain moderate growth of 2.2% in 2024, showing signs of stabilization in the wake of public investment disbursement acceleration under strict regulation
But, the country still faces elevated poverty levels, income inequality, and labor market concerns, says, following the severe economic downturn of 2022.the World Bank’s latest bi-annual update.
At the same time, private investment growth has slowed sharply in all South Asian countries and the region is not creating enough jobs to keep pace with its rapidly increasing working-age population
The government has allocated a massive sum of Rs 1.2 trillion for public investment projects in 2024 issuing guidelines require all project proposals utilising the Consolidation Fund to be submitted to the National Planning Department (NPD) where there undergo preliminary and detailed appraisal before moving to the funding arrangement stage
Break down of project investments this year for seven key sectors are social Infrastructure Rs. 210.64 billion, agriculture Rs57.72billion ,commercial infrastructure Rs.743.33billion governance Rs73 billion ,environment Rs7.14 billion Social Protection Rs13.29 billion and ,regional development Rs.71.47 billion, finance ministry data shows.
According to a latest department circular, a significant number of project proposals are directly submitted to the Cabinet for approval skipping appraisal by the NPD entirely.
Approval of the projects without NDP’s appraisal and recommendations creates major deviations such as duplication of similar projects by different institutions, inability to prioritise development initiatives, and mismanagement of constrained fiscal space, it added.
The government is to accelerate public investment disbursement for priority projects generating return on investment to further economic growth post-crisis period this year.
Disbursing public investment capital is vital for the country’s economic recovery as it looks to bounce back from the negative effects of the pandemic and slowdown in its economy.
A new public finance management (PFM) Law will be promulgated soon, with an integrated public investment management (PIM) section with provisions that establish a unified approach to prioritising capital investment projects based on explicit criteria early in the budget process
The Ministry of Finance is required to ensure that all projects included in budget documents are from the list of assessed and prioritised projects.
An enhanced regulatory framework will be established for treatment of unsolicited proposals including the manner in which such proposals can be received and evaluated. The ministry is to publish on a government website a list of funded projects that have originated as unsolicited proposals every 6 months
May 26, Colombo (LNW): The Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) Act No. 27 of 2003 will be repealed by introducing the Technology Promotion Act paving the way for the establishment of Digital Transformation Agency
Accordingly, the Legal Draftsman is to prepare a draft bill based on the proposed concept paper and the new act involves “introducing new laws for digital improvement/transformation” and the establishment of a technology innovation council along with a digital transformation agency.
The news comes after the president first announced plans some times back for such an agency with the idea of building government apps in-house. Additionally, the agency would collect and monitor numerous state institutions.
The Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) will be absorbed by the proposed Digital Transformation Agency, the State Minister of Technology reveals.
State Minister of Technology Kanaka Herath revealed that Cabinet approval had been granted subject to parliamentary approval to establish a new institution termed the Digital Transformation Agency, which would absorb the existing ICTA
The eventual transition from ICTA to a new governmental agency has been in the works since at least late 2022.
During the 2023 budget reading, the president declared plans to close ICTA and bring forward legislation instead, now classified as the Technology Promotion Act.
The amendments to the ICTA Act would also facilitate the creation of the proposed national AI center, as per a Cabinet briefing in December. Now, with Cabinet approval for the amendment and it’s increasingly vocal AI plans, it appears the government is moving forward.
The proposed Digital Transformation Agency is only one of few government bodies that are to be established over its national digitalization plans.
The Data Protection Act’s Data Protection Authority is expected to be fully operational by 2025. More recently, the upcoming Cyber Security Bill will set up a Cyber Security Regulatory Authority
“The Digital Transformation Agency will be charged with regulating policies. Also, certain services such as the Government network, cloud, and email will be provided by the agency. It will no longer carry out projects like before,” Herath explained.
He clarified that the existing staff of the ICTA would be absorbed into the new Digital Transformation Agency as per the bill that was being drafted nce passed into law.
Other particulars around the upcoming bill remains unclear, particularly with regard to the Digital Promotion Transformation Agency’s purview and scope of responsibilities.
It’s also unclear when the bill is intended to be made public. However, the president has publicly stated the government’s intentions to set up the necessary legislation in time for its proposed AI research by 2025.
This means the amendments to the ICTA Act and the Technology Promotion bill may potentially be processed in the coming months.
May 26, Colombo (LNW): A Master Plan is being implemented to develop Sigiriya, as the country’s first sustainable tourist destination with the contribution of all relevant parties while promoting it as a place of arts and cultural events and fashion shows, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau disclosed.
The special runway show in Sigiriya is expected to draw attention from international fashion enthusiasts, influencers and tourists, further enhancing Sri Lanka’s reputation as a vibrant and culturally rich destination.
Sigiriya, which is considered not only an important archaeological site in Sri Lanka but also a UNESCO world heritage, is a tourist destination with a high level of local and foreign tourist attractions.
The joint proposal to this effect submitted by the Tourism Minister Harin Fernando and the Buddhasashana, Cultural and Religious Affairs Minister Vidura Wickramanayake was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
Sri Lanka plans to bring down international artistes, and hold water festivals to boost tourists, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman, Chalaka Gajabahu said.
Tourism Promotion Bureau will be hosting a few international artists in September to December,”.he said adding a fashion show will also be conducted in Sigiriya.”
Sri Lanka is targeting 2.3 million tourists in the year 2024 with expectations that it may go up to 2.5 million Gajabahu said.
Sri Lanka is also planning on having a water festival in coastal towns such as Trincomalee, Arugambay and Kalpitiya in order to showcase Sri Lanka’s capacity for watersports
Tourism Minister Harin Fernando has unveiled plans to showcase Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage and natural beauty through a special runway show to be held at Sigiriya.
He announced that the iconic Sigiriya Rock will serve as the backdrop for one of the country’s premier fashion events, the Colombo Fashion Week.
“Along with our efforts to promote Sri Lanka, we are creating a lot of events. Colombo Fashion Week, which is one of the top 20 fashion shows, is going to have a special event in front of Sigiriya,” he said.
Describing the initiative as a unique opportunity to showcase Sigiriya to the world, Fernando pointed out the significance of leveraging Sri Lanka’s diverse attractions to promote tourism.
By hosting events like the Colombo Fashion Week against the breathtaking backdrop of Sigiriya, he implied that Sri Lanka Tourism aims to capture the imagination of visitors and highlight the unique experiences the country has to offer.
Highlighting the success of similar initiatives in other countries, Minister Fernando expressed confidence in Sigiriya’s potential to become a globally recognised tourism destination.
May 26, Colombo (LNW): For the first time in Sri Lanka, to promote entrepreneurship (Public/Private), the Industrial Development Board and the Ceylon Federation of MSME signed a memorandum of understanding at the Industrial Development Board head office before the unlocking of Rs 5 billion new loan relief package proposed in the budget 2024, leading members of the federation said.
The aim is to align our entrepreneurship with the global need to connect with the international community, not only the activities that can be done in the country for entrepreneurs.
The Ceylon Federation of MSME, which has been personally successful in setting up the mechanism for that, has built the necessary capacity and resources for that purpose, they added. .
Another task is to establish a link between the government institutions including the Industrial Development Board, which is essential for entrepreneurship and its existence, for the common purpose.
The finance ministry in collaboration with ministry of industries will provide credit facilities of Rs 5 million each to 1000 selected existing MSMEs for further expansion and recovery of their businesses via licensed commercial banks and licensed specialised banks at concessional interest rates.
Another special loan scheme amounting to Rs.3 billion will be implemented with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in addition to the 2024 budgetary support.
The government is also considering the possibility of upgrading the Sri Lanka Savings Bank a subsidiary of the National Savings Bank to a MSME Bank or to set up a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to disburse loans easing the burden on the banking sector.
Preliminary activities in the selection of eligible existing MSMEs are now underway and further information relating to this loan scheme could be obtained from the director (sectorial development division of the ministry of industries), President of the Ceylon Federation of MSME, Shashika De Silva disclosed.
Another purpose of this partnership with the Industrial Development Board is to build a government mechanism where entrepreneurs can effectively receive the resources and opportunities they create under a proper system.
In this way, it will be possible to get answers to many huge questions affecting entrepreneurship Vice Presidents of the Federation of MSME. Mahendra Perera said.
The micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) sector in Sri Lanka accounts for 90 percent of all businesses in the country, provides 45percent of employment, and contributes 52percent to the GDP.
A recent ILO study revealed that 79.8 percent of the one million MSMEs that operated in 2018 were still in operation.
Among the 20.2 percent businesses either permanently or temporarily closed, 8.3percent of closures were reported to be due to economic crisis while 11.9percent were due to reasons other than economic crisisChairman of the Industrial Development Board, Dr. Mr. Saranga Alahapperuma, General Manager of the Industrial Development Board and Mrs. Shashika De Silva, the President of the Ceylon Federation of MSME, Vice Presidents, Mr. Mahendra Perera, and Mr. S.N. Raghavan participated in this event.
May 26, Colombo (LNW): The Government Pharmacists Association has highlighted a significant shortage of approximately 2,000 pharmacists within Sri Lanka’s healthcare system.
The healthcare system should ideally comprise 4,000 pharmacists, and this shortfall could precipitate a crisis in the health sector, Thushara Ranadeva, Chairman of the Association, warned.
Ranadeva emphasised that the current number of pharmacists is not proportionate to the number of hospitals in the country.
The circumstance underscores the vital role pharmacists play in the effective provision of medications to patients, he added.
Ranadeva further criticised the Ministry of Health and other relevant officials for failing to implement sufficient measures to address this critical issue.
UN Report Calls for International Prosecutions for Enforced Disappearances
(Geneva, May 23, 2024) – Sri Lankan authorities have threatened and detained Tamils commemorating those who died or went missing in the country’s civil war, Human Rights Watch said today. On May 17, 2024, the United Nations human rights office issued a report calling for international prosecutions and other accountability measures to address the thousands of unresolved cases of enforced disappearances in the war, which ended on May 18, 2009.
“The Sri Lankan government is in denial about atrocities its forces committed during the civil war, so it tries to silence victims and their communities instead of providing truth, justice, and reparations,” said Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “It’s clear that more international action is needed to bring relief to victims and prevent a recurrence of abuses.”
Prior to the May 18 anniversary, police in Sri Lanka’s north and east attempted to disrupt commemoration events. In Trincomalee, they detained four people for seven days for serving “kanji,” a rice porridge symbolic of the starvation conditions many civilians suffered at the end of the war. The authorities also obtained court orders to prevent some relatives of forcibly disappeared people and others from attending events. At some locations, police intervened to prevent events from proceeding, or to block people from reaching them.
In the war’s final months in 2009, the Sri Lankan military bombarded “no fire zones” it had designated, killing tens of thousands of Tamil civilians, while the retreating separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) used civilians as human shields. After the LTTE’s final defeat, the Sri Lankan army forcibly disappeared an unknown number of people; many are believed to have been extrajudicially executed.
Enforced disappearances are defined under international law as the arrest or detention of a person by the authorities followed by a refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of liberty, or to reveal the person’s fate or whereabouts.
On May 17 the UN Sri Lanka Accountability Project, established in 2021 to collect evidence of international crimes for use in future prosecutions, published a report on enforced disappearances in Sri Lanka. It found that in 15 years there has been no “tangible progress in realizing victims’ rights,” and therefore “there remains a real risk of recurrence.”
The Accountability Project said that foreign governments should “use all available forms of leverage” to press the Sri Lankan authorities to ensure truth, justice, and reparations for victims. It also calls for “investigations and prosecution [in foreign courts] using universal jurisdiction,” and “the appropriate imposition of targeted sanctions.”
Under the legal principle of universal jurisdiction, countries can prosecute individuals for serious international crimes committed elsewhere. While no country has yet issued an arrest warrant in relation to enforced disappearances in Sri Lanka, prosecutors from several countries have contacted the Accountability Project seeking evidence that may support future cases.
Since the 1970s, tens of thousands of people have been “disappeared” in Sri Lanka, about 90 percent of them believed to have been abducted by state security forces. The Sri Lankan government has previously acknowledged that between 1988 and 1990 alone around 27,000 people were forcibly disappeared. Victims include people deemed to be members or supporters of opposition armed groups, as well as journalists, and human rights defenders.
Many relatives of the disappeared, often their mothers and wives, have campaigned for years to press the government to provide information about what happened to them and to see those responsible brought to justice. The relatives often face harassment and surveillance from security and intelligence agencies.
A woman campaigning for justice for her husband, who disappeared in 2000, told Human Rights Watch in 2023 that, “Since my husband was abducted, I lost my freedom to do routine activities.… Even if I go to the market or temple, [security officers] ask, ‘Where are you going?’”
In September 2023, a judge fled the country, having received death threats after ordering the investigation of a mass grave that had recently been accidentally uncovered. Among those appointed in recent years as commissioners of the Office of Missing Persons, the government agency that is supposed to establish what happened to the disappeared, was a former senior police officer who had responsibility for units accused of carrying out enforced disappearances.
Although reported disappearances have declined in recent years, in the absence of reform or accountability, the practice remains entrenched within security forces. On March 14, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka asked the attorney general to investigate evidence that police had held a man in secret detention in April, assaulted him, and threatened to kill him.
The Sri Lankan government should immediately carry out the UN report’s recommendations, Human Rights Watch said, including acknowledging the scale of enforced disappearances, pursuing prompt and credible investigations, seeking international technical assistance to investigate mass graves, establishing an independent prosecutorial authority, and repealing legislation that enables abuses, including the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
Foreign governments and UN agencies should also implement the report’s recommendations, including “using all forms of leverage” to press the Sri Lankan government to act, providing technical assistance for exhumations, pursuing prosecutions abroad under universal jurisdiction, and stricter vetting of Sri Lankan personal involved in UN peacekeeping operations, Human Rights Watch said. “Sri Lanka has a horrific record on enforced disappearances that causes profound suffering to victims’ families and puts the country at risk of future violations,” Pearson said. “It is vitally important for the UN Human Rights Council to renew the Sri Lanka Accountability Project’s mandate in September, and for prosecutors around the world to make use of the evidence gathered to bring those responsible to justice.”
