May 11, Colombo (LNW):President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized his recognition of the challenges women face in safeguarding their families amidst the economic crisis.

He highlighted the government’s swift action by presenting two bills to the Parliament aimed at empowering women during this initial phase of economic recovery.

The President indicated that these bills are anticipated to be ratified by the Parliament in June, thereby enforcing a national policy on gender equality and women’s empowerment, the President’s Media Division said. 

This includes the establishment of a National Commission on Women and mechanisms to protect women’s rights and prevent violations thereof, including legal recourse.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe made these remarks during his keynote address at the unveiling of three “Anti-Violence Global Gestures” handprints against sexual violence targeting women and girls in public spaces, organized by DP Education at the Nelum Pokuna Theater in Colombo today (10), the PMD reported.

Addressing the gathering President Ranil Wickremesinghe said:“Mr. Dhammika Perera has initiated a transformative movement. 

His initiative against violence towards women deserves recognition. Enterprises such as DP Education should play a pivotal role in shaping future education. Historically, education was conducted outdoors under trees, using stone slabs as tools.

Over time, buildings and books became integral to the educational process. However, the advent of mobile phones has introduced new dynamics. 

Education has evolved from traditional temple-based learning to modern classroom settings. Today, technology such as smart classrooms is revolutionizing education.

Mr. Dhammika Perera’s introduction of DP Education represents a new paradigm in education. This foundation has provided resources to 600 schools, reshaping tuition classes as well.

With the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), education stands poised for further revolution. It is imperative that children benefit from these advancements and efforts should be made to ensure universal access to quality education. 

While addressing violence against women, today’s event introduced techniques for prevention. Legislation against such violence is being introduced in parliament.

These hand signals serve as practical tools to combat violence against women, signalling our commitment to safeguarding women’s rights. Action must accompany words and through these signals, society can become more vigilant against violence towards women, fostering a culture of resistance.

In the wake of the introduction of the payment and settlement act, the evolution of the national digital payment ecosystem and many innovations have been facilitating digital transactions. LankaPay’s Channa de Silva, Chief Executive Officer, and Dinuka Perera, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, claimed. 

One of the key payment modes, JustPay addresses the needs of both individuals and corporate entities by offering versatile solutions such as on-delivery payments and streamlined bill payments. 

The introduction of PayMe further enhances convenience by enabling a secure messaging platform for payment requests, benefiting both businesses and individuals. 

Additionally, initiatives like Government Payments, digital signatures and the National Card Scheme underscore LankaPay’s commitment to providing reliable, secure, and efficient payment solutions for all.

De Silva said : At the end of 2015, approximately eight years ago, LankaPay primarily focused on tasks like cheque clearance and managing the common ATM switch. 

These activities mainly dealt with cheque and cash transactions. Additionally, we were handling slips for bulk payments, as CEFTS or Realtime Payments had just started rolling out.

The premise was clear: to encourage people to transition from cash to digital transactions, the process had to be simpler than using cash and achieving this required behavioural change, which we pursued through innovative solutions aimed at enhancing convenience and user experience.

Most of our innovations and solutions have been developed to address various gaps in the market, aiming to streamline the entire ecosystem and ensure that people find digital transactions more convenient than cash, he said.. 

This involved linking all key participants in the ecosystem and prioritizing convenience for everyone involved.

One of the most significant tasks at hand is to enhance the convenience of payment networks for everyone, particularly in the corporate sector aiming to streamline the ease of doing business, especially for exporters and importers. 

The LankaPay faced several challenges, notably conducting transactions, particularly for large payments such as customs and tax payments, which were predominantly done using cash or pay orders requiring physical visits to banks.

In enhancing the ease of doing business and making transactions seamless,the company  explored various solutions, extending beyond tax payments to other financial transactions. 

May 11, Colombo (LNW):The government has planned to set up an environmentally friendly industrial zone adjacent to the Kankesanthurai cement factory.

The current landmark investments include the Kankesanthurai cement factory site which is being converted into an industrial zone and information Technology University will be set up in partnership with the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) and a foreign private investment.

Sri Lanka is in talks with Canada-based entrepreneurs of Sri Lanka origin to build a 500 million dollar industrial park in Kankesanthurai in the Jaffna peninsula, State Minister for Investment Promotion Dilum Amunugama said.

The industrial park will be built on 700 acres by a defunct state-run cement factory.The investors will invest 500 million dollars to build infrastructure in the land given by the Board of Investment under a private public partnership model.

The Canadian entrepreneurs will build roads and other infrastructure and will attract investors into the zone to recover their costs.

The zone operators have the choice of also constructing buildings and offering plug-and-play factories.“It is entirely up to them,” Minister Amunugama said. “They can build factories or offer bare land.”

The defunct cement factory only has limestone in about 100 acres which will not be sufficient to sustain a cement factory for a long time, he said.

There was at one time about 500 acres of limestone but now settlements have come up and it was not practical to move people out of the area.

However, if an investor was willing to revive the factory with a smaller extent of limestone, the choice was left to them, Minister Amunugama said.

The Lanka Cement factory at Kankesanthurai (‘KKS Factory’) was a pioneering northern industrial development project in the post-independent era.

 The KKS Factory commenced in 1950 under the Department of Industries and was converted to a public corporation in 1956, named Kankesan Cement Works.

The KKS factory closed its production in 1991 due to the then raging northern war. At the time of its closure, its production capacity was 115,000 MT and around 400 factory employees lost their livelihoods when it ceased operations.

Existence of limestone deposits in Kankesanthurai for cement production was a major incentive in establishing the factory in KKS. 

It is reported that the huge limestone deposits exceeding 80 million MT in the area is sufficient for the manufacturing of cement for another 100 years – even if they are extracted at a rate of 3,500 MT a day.

May 11, Colombo (LNW): President Ranil Wickremesinghe made an appearance yesterday at the Housing and Construction International Expo 2024, organized by the Chamber of Construction Industry of Sri Lanka (CCISL) at the BMICH. Accompanied by CCISL Chairman Jayantha Perera and General Secretary/Chief Executive Officer Nishanka N. Wijeratne, the President visited various stalls during the event.

The Expo, showcasing advancements and innovations in housing and construction, will continue until Sunday, providing a platform for industry stakeholders to network and explore opportunities for collaboration and growth.

May 11, Colombo (LNW): Tragically, another individual from the Punnalaikattuwan area in Jaffna succumbed to excessive heat exposure on Thursday (9).

Sivagnanam Jayakumar, aged 45, had been consuming alcohol with friends in the afternoon before returning home. Police reports indicate that he was later discovered fallen in his garden.

Upon finding her father unconscious, the victim’s daughter rushed him to Thelippalai Hospital. Despite efforts, Jayakumar passed away shortly after admission. A post-mortem conducted at Jaffna Teaching Hospital revealed dehydration as the cause of death, attributable to the extreme heat.

Authorities handed the body over to the family for funeral arrangements, with Thelippalai Police overseeing proceedings. This unfortunate incident adds to a tally of six heat-related fatalities in the Jaffna district, reflecting the severity of the ongoing heatwave in the area.

May 11, Colombo (LNW): According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, a staggering 806,698 foreign tourists have graced Sri Lanka’s shores from January 1 to May 5 this year, indicating a remarkable increase compared to the corresponding period last year.

In the initial five days of May alone, 22,047 foreign tourists have arrived in the country. The majority of these visitors hail from India, constituting 4,351 arrivals, followed closely by 2,489 tourists from the Maldives.

Interestingly, during the first five days of May, 20 percent of the total tourist arrivals were from India. Noteworthy figures include 1,508 visitors from the United Kingdom and 1,460 from Russia. Notably, the Maldives ranks second among the countries contributing to tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka.

May 11, Colombo (LNW): A woman threatened with deportation and separation from her husband and 10-year-old son is celebrating after a Home Office U-turn allowing them to stay together.

The Home Office previously told Malwattege Peiris to leave the UK despite a court ruling that the family have the right to live together in the UK.

“We are so happy to have received this letter from the Home Office today changing their minds and saying that our family can stay together,” Peiris said. “Our son will be 11 in a few days and we will be having a double celebration.”

Peiris’s husband, Sumith Kodagoda Ranasinghage, an Italian citizen, was granted pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme (EUSS) in 2020. Peiris, who had Italian residency, and the couple’s son, Kevin, an Italian citizen, applied to join him under the EUSS family permit scheme.

The application was delayed by the pandemic and the Home Office refused it in April 2022, highlighting a lack of supporting evidence of the family relationship.

The family appealed to the immigration court, the first tier of the immigration tribunal, and a judge ruled in July 2022 that the family was genuine and had the right to live in the UK together. He said in his judgment: “This is a simple case whereby inadequate documentary evidence was provided at the time of the applications. Having heard a full explanation and having considered the original documents today, I find the appellants are close family members.”

The Home Office granted mother and son the right to enter the UK in December 2022 and confirmed the grant of the EUSS family permit in an email sent in May 2023. The following month Kevin received a further confirmatory letter from the Home Office and officials informed him he had the right to work, although he was only 10, and to access benefits including his pension.

In November last year Peiris received a further letter from the Home Office saying her case remained “under consideration”, despite the court having already granted her permission to live in the UK. In a further Home Office letter dated 7 February 2024 she was told she did not meet the requirements of the EUSS.

But after a legal challenge from the family’s solicitor, Naga Kandiah, of MTC Solicitors, against the Home Office’s failure to implement the tribunal’s decision, the Home Office granted Peirus pre-settled status in a letter dated to Friday.

Kandiah welcomed the move and condemned the previous failure to grant Peiris permission to stay. “This is a classic example of the Home Office misapplying the law and failing to implement tribunal decisions. This failure has had a disastrous impact on the family,” he said.

A Home Office spokesperson said officials did not routinely comment on individual cases.

THE GUARDIAN

May 11, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka›s automobile assembly is experiencing significant growth and development with the involvement of world-renowned brands including Hyundai, Proton, BAIC, DFSK, Wuling, Mahindra, TATA, Bajaj, TVS, JMC and Lanka Ashok Leyland emphasizing the favourable environment for investment.

The approval to assemble a wide range of vehicles including SUVs, Cars, Two-Wheelers, Double-cabs, Trucks and Buses has paved the way for a diversified automobile assembly industry in the country catering to various consumer needs.

 Nwow electric bikes, KD Rize, Dyno and Senaro are also involved in the local assembly of motorcycles.

Over four assemblers including JAC and FOTON will be starting assembly in Sri Lanka and by the end of the year over 30 assemblers will be in operation in the local automobile assembly industry.

These world-renowned assemblers must provide a domestic value addition of more than twenty percent by using locally manufactured automobile components. 

Many of the local component manufacturers have gone through an extensive product development and product approval process to maintain the global original equipment (OE) standards maintained by the international brands.

With an increase in both component manufacturing and assembly, the industry is poised for a period of further expansion.

Following the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) launched in 2021, t

Four more assembly plants are due to begin operations within the next three months and another eleven have been registered by the Ministry of Industries. A Special Cabinet appointed Committee oversees the SOP and its governance.

Industries Ministry Sector Advisory Committee for Automobile Chairman Dimantha Jayawardena said: “Sri Lankan automotive component manufacturers went through one of the toughest business cycles from 2020. 

The Sri Lanka Government is promoting automobile component manufacturing as a thrust sector for growth and has a plan to grow exports from $ 200 million to $ 1 billion.

The temporary suspension on motor vehicle imports has increased the market for locally assembled vehicles. 

The planned establishment of an R&D and testing facility by the Industrial Development Board (IDB) indicates a commitment to innovation and quality assurance within the industry, to further enhance Sri Lanka’s competitiveness in the global automotive market.

 The Automobile Industry Council (AIC) initiated by the Government is also laying out the curriculum for the required technical and vocational education for automobile assembly.”  

The Industries Ministry is sponsoring 50% of the cost of the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) certification for local automotive component manufacturers which is a mandatory requirement when manufacturing components for international brands.

 Sri Lankan companies with the IATF certification will have greater acceptance and trust from global brands for automobile assembly. 

1. President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized his recognition of the challenges women face in safeguarding their families amidst the economic crisis. He highlighted the government’s swift action by presenting two bills to the Parliament aimed at empowering women during this initial phase of economic recovery.
2. National Peoples Power (NPP) Leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake has held discussions with the Japan, South Africa, and Switzerland Heads of Missions in Sri Lanka. According to the NPP, MP Dissanayake met with Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Mizukoshi Hideaki, High Commissioner of South Africa Sandile Schalk, and Ambassador to Switzerland Siri Walt.
3. The US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu will visit Sri Lanka, alongside his travel to India and Bangladesh from May 10 -15. According to the US State Department, his trip will strengthen bilateral cooperation with each country and demonstrate US support for a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
4. The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has raised significant concerns regarding the prolonged delay in appointing judges to fill vacancies in the Court of Appeal. In a letter to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the BASL highlighted the pressing issue of as many as five vacancies currently existing within the Court of Appeal.
5. The Department of Examinations to file a complaint with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) over irregularities detected at two examination centers during the ongoing G.C.E. Ordinary Level examination. The Commissioner General of Examinations, Amith Jayasundara said the irregularities were detected during the English Language examination at the exam centers in the Colombo and Hasalaka areas.
6. Police have arrested a suspect, who was in possession of a stock of heroin in the Batalanda area of Walpola, Ragama. The apprehension was made during the inspection of a car at a police checkpoint following a tip-off received by Ragama Police. During the operation, police have seized 102 grams and 940 milligrams of heroin found inside the car in which the 45-year-old suspect was travelling.
7. The Sri Lankan military veterans, who had illegally joined Russian mercenaries and subsequently escaped from such groups in the conflict zones to returned to the island, claim that around 1,000 Sri Lankans are currently fighting in the Ukraine –Russia warfront.
8. President’s Counsel Shantha Jayawardena warned that the Minister of Power and Energy could transform into a “monster” due to the extensive powers granted by the proposed new Sri Lanka Electricity Act. He made this warning at the Supreme Court, during the hearing of 12 petitions challenging the Electricity Bill, which had been submitted to Parliament by Minister Kanchana Wijesekera, the Minister of Electricity and Energy, ostensibly aimed at restructuring the Ceylon Electricity Board.
9. A group representing children, youth, and civil society organizations voices their concerns regarding the Climate Summit hosted by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) under the theme “Code Red: Climate Risks and Opportunities for Sri Lankan Businesses.” Issuing a statement, a collective of 16 organizations argued that labelling a business-focused summit aimed at economic prosperity as a “Climate Summit” is misleading and constitutes greenwashing.
10. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced that it has increased player fees for all categories of Sri Lanka’s international players with immediate effect. Issuing a statement, SLC stated that accordingly, 41 players will be offered new contracts under six categories, namely, A1, A2, B2, C1, C2, and ’A’ Team.