By: Isuru Parakrama

May 19, Colombo (LNW): Due to pre-monsoonal conditions over the country and surrounding sea areas, prevailing showery and windy conditions are expected to enhance further during the next few days, the Department of Meteorology said in its weather forecast today (19).

Heavy showers above 100mm are likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts, the statement added.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places elsewhere of the island after 01.00 p.m.

Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times in Southern province.

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:

Condition of Rain:

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the sea areas extending from Mannar to Hambantota via Colombo and Galle,heavy showersare likely at some places. Showers or thundershowers will occur atseveral places in the other sea areas around the island.

Winds:

Winds will be westerly to south-westerly in the sea areas extending from Kalpitiya to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle and Hambantota and wind speed will be (30-40) kmph. Wind speed may increase up to (60-70) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Beruwala to Pottuvil via Galle and Hambantota.   Wind speed may increase up to (50-60) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Kalpitiya to Beruwala via Colombo. Winds will be south-westerly and wind speed will be (20-30) kmph in the other sea areas around the island.

State of Sea:

The sea areas extending from Beruwala to Pottuvil via Galle and Hambantota will be very rough at times and the sea areas extending fromKalpitiya to Beruwala via Colombo will be rough at times. Temporarily strong gusty winds and very rough seas can be expected during thundershowers.

State Minister of Defence Hon. Premitha Bandara Tennakoon received the Spiritual Leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the Global Peace Ambassador at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) today (May 18).

Governor of Eastern Province Hon. Senthil Thondaman also joined State Minister on this occasion.

Gurudev will stay in Sri Lanka from May 18 to 20 and he will attend ‘Ekamuthuva: An Evening of Music, Meditation and Wisdom’ at Taj Samudra on May 19.

Here below is the Mullaivaikal message from the Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs, Rt Hon Lord Cameron PC.

15th anniversary of the end of Sri Lanka’s armed conflict: Foreign Secretary Statement

“As we mark the 15^th anniversary of the end of Sri Lanka’s armed conflict, my thoughts are with all those killed and disappeared, and with their loved ones who continue to search for answers. 

“I heard first-hand about the devastating consequences of the war when I visited Northern Sri Lanka in 2013. There I made a commitment that the UK would support truth, justice, and accountability for all. 

“The UK continues to lead international efforts on human rights and transitional justice in Sri Lanka, working with our partners to support meaningful progress that will allow the Sri Lankan people to engage on these issues and remember their loved ones freely. 

“Sri Lanka is an important Commonwealth partner, and we will continue to work with all communities to make the most of the country’s extraordinary potential.”

Saturday, 18 May 2024 

SECRETARY OF STATE 

FOREIGN, COMMONWEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT AFFAIRS

May 18, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan Government must take decisive action to determine and disclose the fates and whereabouts of tens of thousands of individuals subjected to enforced disappearances over the decades and hold those responsible accountable, according to a UN Human Rights Office report released on May 17.

The report calls for the Government to acknowledge the involvement of state security forces and affiliated paramilitary groups and issue a public apology. “This report is yet another reminder that all Sri Lankans who have been subjected to enforced disappearance must never be forgotten,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. “Their families and those who care about them have been waiting for so long. They are entitled to know the truth.”

The report emphasizes that the Government owes it to those who have been forcibly disappeared to fully investigate these crimes, which continue to haunt not only their loved ones but also entire communities and Sri Lankan society.

Despite some positive formal steps by successive governments, such as ratifying the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, and establishing the Office on Missing Persons and the Office for Reparations, tangible progress towards resolving individual cases has remained limited.

The report highlights that from the 1970s to 2009, enforced disappearances were primarily carried out by Sri Lankan security forces and affiliated paramilitary groups. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam also engaged in abductions described by the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances as “tantamount to enforced disappearances.”

Based on individual and group interviews, the report details the enduring psychological, social, and economic impacts of enforced disappearances on families, particularly women, who often become the sole income earners in challenging labor environments prone to sexual harassment and exploitation.

Many women at the forefront of efforts to find the disappeared have faced harassment, intimidation, surveillance, arbitrary detention, beatings, and torture by army and police forces. One woman reported threats to harm her family if she continued her search.

Under international law, the State is obligated to resolve cases of enforced disappearances, which remain continuing violations until the fate and whereabouts of the disappeared are clarified, said the High Commissioner. However, most victim families still lack such clarification. One man described waiting 32 years for news about his disappeared son.

The report notes that successive commissions of inquiry have been created by the Government, but few reports have been made public, and most recommendations, especially regarding criminal accountability, have not been implemented. Alleged perpetrators, including current and former senior officials and diplomats, continue to evade justice.

Nearly 15 years after the end of the armed conflict and many decades since the earliest waves of enforced disappearances, Sri Lankan authorities are still failing to ensure accountability for these violations, the report concludes.

May 18, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s tea exports in April in volumes have increased, whilst values have dipped, industry sources said.  

Forbes and Walker Research said tea exports in April reached a total of 16.38 million kilos, marking a steady increase of 0.21 million kilos compared to the same period a year earlier.

In April 2023, volume of tea exports was 16.16 million kilos, down by 2.13 million kilos compared to same period in 2022.

Interestingly, tea in bulk, instant tea and green tea stood as exceptions, demonstrating growth, while tea packets and tea bags suffered declines in comparison to the corresponding month in 2023.

The FOB (Free on Board) value for April 2024 was at Rs. 1,745.45, marking a decline of Rs. 111.17 year-on-year (YoY) compared to April 2023, which recorded Rs. 1,856.62. In terms of US Dollar value, tea in bulk, tea bags and instant tea saw marginal increases, while other categories witnessed negative variances.

In April 2023, recorded the highest ever FOB of $ 5.78 per kg, pushing the cumulative FOB figure to a record $ 5.80 per kg.

The cumulative exports for the period spanning January to April 2024 amounted to 78.70 million kilos, reflecting a notable increase of 8.45 million kilos compared to the corresponding period in 2023.

 January-April 2023 cumulative exports totalled to 70.25 million kilos, down by 11.74 million kilos from the corresponding period in 2022.

Instant Tea was the only category that did not exhibit steady growth during this period, while the other product categories exhibit negative variations. 

During the first four months the FOB value was reported at Rs. 1,772.36, reflecting a decrease of Rs. 223.93 compared to the same period in 2023, which recorded Rs. 1,996.29. 

Although most categories showed negative variances in LKR value, there was only a marginal decrease in USD terms for tea packets and instant tea, with other categories experiencing positive variances compared to 2023.

Among major importers of Ceylon Tea, Iraq secured the top position, importing a total of 10.24 million kilos during the first four months of 2024, marking a significant increase of 37% YoY. 

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Russia maintained their positions at second and third place respectively, with Türkiye experiencing a notable decline. 

 Iran saw a remarkable 198% YoY increase, moving up to the fifth position from the 15th position in 2023. Other notable importing countries include China, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Germany and Chile.

May 18, Colombo (LNW): Adding further momentum to the UPI services in Sri Lanka, PhonePe in partnership with LankaPay, launched the PhonePe UPI payments in Sri Lanka on May 15, 2024. 

The launch event of India’s leading digital wallet and  payments app in Sri Lanka was graced by the presence of Shri Santosh Jha, the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), along with a strong presence of banking sector executives, Payment System Providers, business associations and media.

   High Commissioner Jha in his remarks at the launch highlighted that the ease of a familiar digital payments systems would further encourage tourism from India. 

He also urged the companies in Sri Lanka to engage with Indian companies to build on the UPI stack for innovations in hotel bookings, cab bookings and delivery services.

Indian Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi along with the President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe jointly inaugurated the launch of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) services in Sri Lanka, in collaboration with LankaPay on February 12, 2024. 

Referring to the Vision Document that was adopted during the visit of President Ranil Wickremesinghe in July 2023, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had highlighted the strengthening financial connectivity as its key component.

  Since its launch, over 6000 transactions have taken place in Sri Lanka, with a value of over SLR 240 million.

 It is expected that the PhonePayUPI launch would further enhance the extant digital fintech connectivity, including through additional linkages for instance with PickMe, a leading taxi services and food delivery app of Sri Lanka.

Expanding linkages in digital spheres not only gives strength to people-to-people connectivity, it is also a stellar example of India-Sri Lanka partnership in new and emerging domains of technology, keeping pace with the aspirations and expectations of the people of the two countries.

LankaPay – Sri Lanka’s National Payment Network on Wednesday announced its partnership with PhonePe – one of India’s most popular fintech apps – towards accepting UPI payments at LankaQR merchant points.

PhonePe International Payments CEO Ritesh Pai said: “We are thrilled to announce our partnership with LankaPay. 

This collaboration offers unparalleled convenience to Indian tourists who can now use a familiar and secure payment method while traveling and pay across LankaQR merchant points. 

PhonePe has always been at the forefront of driving innovation in payments. We are incredibly proud to be driving UPI adaptation across India, and our expansion to Sri Lanka is another exciting step forward.”

LankaPay CEO Channa de Silva CEO said: “LankaPay is delighted to collaborate with PhonePe to revolutionise the cross-border payments between Sri Lanka and India. 

This partnership is bound to provide greater convenience to Indian tourists and business travelers in making seamless UPI payments at all LankaQR merchant points in Sri Lanka via PhonePe app. 

May 18, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has persuaded Vietnam-based leading Southeast Asian EV manufacturer VinFast to launch commercial operations such as outsourcing, manufacturing or setting up an assembly plant in the island.

, The Sri Lankan Embassy had a meeting with the top-most management of the iconic automobile manufacturer, VinFast, at their corporate Head Office in Ha Noi to discuss and explore commercial and investment opportunities, thus benefiting both Sri Lanka and VinFast. 

VinFast is the auto manufacturer under the parent company of Vingroup, one of the largest listed corporates in South-East Asia. 

Ambassador A Saj U Mendis stated  that he requested the company to consider Sri Lanka favourably, to have commercial operations such as outsourcing, manufacturing or assembly plant, thus facilitating and ensuring the smooth functioning of the global supply chains as well as complementing the manufacturing facilities of VinFast.

 Further, Ambassador Mendis listed out the compelling and appealing factors and attributes of Sri Lanka in order to be considered as an investment destination as well as to be engaged in commercial activity as pertinent. For all record purposes, VinFast has one of the most advanced state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in the entire region

Ambassador Dr. A Saj U Mendis along with the Minister Commercial Kishani Wickramasinghe, met with the Vingroup Chief of International and Government Affairs cum VinFast Deputy CEO Bui Kim Thuy, along with the senior management of VinFast..

VinFast is one of the very few auto manufacturers specialised in manufacturing Electric Vehicles (EVs) as well as other conventional vehicles.

 Being one of the largest auto manufacturers not only in the region but in the world, when VinFast was listed on the US Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, in August of 2023, the price of the shares soared to make VinFast the second most valuable auto company in the world just behind Tesla, yet another EV manufacturer. 

Ambassador Mendis commended the achievements and attainments of VinFast of Vingroup stating that today VinFast has basically become a household name mostly in Asia as well as in other countries. VinFast produces around 300,000 vehicles per year and has the potential to produce one million vehicles. 

Dr. Mendis impressed upon Deputy CEO, Thuy that given the number of FTAs and trade agreements Sri Lanka has as well as the strategic location with easy access to Central and South Asia and the Middle-East, Sri Lanka would be an ideal and quintessential location for commercial and economic activity for VinFast.