By: Staff Writer

June 09, Colombo (LNW): Business magnet and the billionaire head of SpaceX and Tesla (TSLA) Elon Musk expressed his gratitude to President Ranil Wickremesinghe for the greenlight obtained to launch Starlink satellite internet services in Sri Lanka.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe posted a message on X saying the Telecommunications Regulators Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) has given the green light for Starlink to launch satellite internet services in Sri Lanka, pending a two-week public consultation period.

“Much appreciated,” Elon Musk said in response to Wickremesinghe’s post on X.

Wickremesinghe said the development will revolutionise Sri Lanka’s connectivity, opening up new horizons, especially for Sri Lankan youth.

“With faster and more reliable internet, our youth can access global education resources, collaborate on innovative projects, and thrive in this new digital age. We will introduce relief packages for the education and fishing sectors,” he said.

The President said Starlink’s implementation will be transformative for Sri Lankans, especially those struggling to stay connected with reliable, high-speed internet.

“This advancement will significantly improve connectivity across the country, which is crucial for inclusion in the digital economy and maintaining communications in remote areas and during natural disasters,” he said.

Director General of the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, Madusanka Dissanayake, had said this week that the initial setup or the registration cost for the service will range from between US$ 400 and US$ 600, with a monthly fee of US$ 99

Musk is aggressively marketing Starlink around the world: He says that the service is now available in 99 countries. (In 2021, that figure was just 14.)

It isn’t yet available in South Asia, which is an especially attractive market due to its large and young population, its emerging technology sectors, and government pledges to ramp up digital economies. But financial, legal, and logistical constraints pose challenges that could hurt Starlink’s prospects in the region.

In the last few decades, internet penetration rates increased rapidly across South Asia. India and Pakistan rank in the world’s top 10 countries for total internet users.

However, this masks the massive number of South Asians—989 million people, including more than 683 million in India—who remain offline. Only 47 percent of South Asia’s total population uses the internet, according to DataReportal.

This presents an opening for Starlink, especially given that the service’s low-orbit satellites are intended to reduce connection problems and better serve remote regions, which Musk describes as a key investment target. Despite rapid urbanization in recent years, most of South Asia’s population remains in rural areas.

1. President Ranil Wickremesinghe has left for New Delhi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi: His attendance departure comes in at the invitation of Modi.
   
2. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, referring the JVP to ‘red elephants’ alleges the leftist party made a deal with the President in what he described as ‘a bid to challenge him for debate on air at state media’: claims the JVP has no economic council and brags about a debate between leaders detouring the SJB’s original proposition of a debate between the two parties’ economic councils: reiterates his position that two separate debates should be held on two separate dates between the economic councils of the NPP and the SJB, and between the Party leaders: further accuses NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake of playing ‘a solo drama’ on state-media, after what he described as ‘a plea’ before the President.
   
3. Three MPs’ statements have been recorded regarding an alleged assault on MP Gunathilaka Rajapaksha, with plans to present them to court: No statement has been taken from the accused, Mahindananda Aluthgamage: A complaint filed with the Fort Police Station details the incident, claiming Aluthgamage caused Rajapaksha’s broken leg after a meeting at the President’s office: Rajapaksha is currently receiving treatment at the Army Hospital.
   
4. Elon Musk thanks President Ranil Wickremesinghe for approving Starlink satellite internet services in Sri Lanka, aiming to revolutionise connectivity: The move promises faster internet access, particularly benefiting youth and remote communities: The initial setup cost is estimated between $400 and $600, with a monthly fee of $99: Starlink’s expansion targets underserved regions like South Asia, where large rural populations lack reliable internet access despite rapid urbanisation.
   
5. Remittances to Sri Lanka rose by 13.5% in May 2024, reaching $544.4 mn, attributed to more expatriates using official banking channels: Total remittances for the first five months of the year hit $2,624.4 mn, up by 11.8%: The growth follows the Central Bank’s abandonment of parallel exchange rates, encouraging expatriates to use formal banking channels: In 2023, remittances through formal banking surged by 57%, reaching $5.97 bn: This growth is linked to the removal of parallel exchange rates: Sri Lanka’s external sector is recovering, aided by a halt in money printing.
   
6. Sri Lanka sees a surge in dengue cases, with 700 reported in the past week, likely due to rainy conditions creating more mosquito breeding sites: In 2024, there have been 25,619 cases, with the Colombo district reporting the most at 5,554: Urgent measures are advised, including cleanliness and eliminating breeding sites, as the Western Province has recorded the highest number of cases.
   
7. Sri Lanka secures a 3-year term on the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) starting January 1, 2025, following its election by the UN General Assembly: With 182 out of 189 votes, Sri Lanka ranked second in its region and seventh overall: This marks Sri Lanka’s fourth consecutive victory in multilateral elections: As an ECOSOC member, Sri Lanka will contribute to various initiatives, including poverty eradication and climate justice.
   
8. Sri Lankan rubber exporters ought to comply with EU deforestation regulations by December 31, 2024, leading to a decline in rubber production and cultivated areas: CH17 Digital offers a solution for seamless EU compliance, ensuring continued access to the EU market: The programme includes monitoring worker performance and tree data collection, supporting the rubber industry’s digital transformation: CH17 also collaborates with the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka to reward and empower rubber tappers through certification and loyalty programmes.
   
9. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka (CBCSL) denies involvement in an alleged plot to extend the term of Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, amidst reports linking the Easter Sunday attacks to the extension request: refutes claims of a meeting with the President to discuss the matter and asserts that Rajaratnam has not acted on recommendations from the inquiry into the attacks: The Constitutional Council is reportedly considering a six-month extension for Rajaratnam, but no decision has been reached.
   
10. Sri Lankan bodybuilding champion Vishwa Tharuka won Bronze in the Men’s Sports Physique category at the 14th South Asian Bodybuilding Championship: Supported by Sri Lanka’s sports federation, Vishwa dedicated the win to his late wife, whose support motivated his success.

June 09, Colombo (LNW): Statements from three Members of Parliament have been formally documented concerning the purported assault on MP Gunathilaka Rajapaksha.

According to police sources, these statements were recorded within the Parliament complex. MPs Sahan Pradeep, Madhura Withanage, and Lalith Warnakumara are among those whose statements have been acquired.

Authorities have indicated their intention to promptly present these statements to the court.

However, it has been noted that no statement has yet been taken from Mahindananda Aluthgamage, who is alleged to have carried out the assault.

The Fort Police Station received a complaint detailing the incident, which reportedly occurred subsequent to a meeting held at the President’s office on Monday evening.

The complaint alleges that MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage inflicted injury upon MP Gunathilaka Rajapaksha, resulting in a broken leg.

MP Gunathilaka Rajapaksha, the purported victim of the assault, is presently undergoing medical treatment at the Army Hospital.

June 09, Colombo (LNW): The lower Kadugannawa section of the Colombo-Kandy main road will be closed temporarily due to the ongoing removal of hazardous rocks along the route, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said.

According to DMC Director Pradeep Kodippili, the closure of the road is essential to ensure the safety of motorists.

Whilst the inconvenience the move might cause to the public is understood, vehicle drivers are encouraged to seek alternative routes until the work is completed, Kodippili noted.

The DMC advises drivers travelling from Colombo to Kandy to consider using the Colombo-Kurunegala Highway, accessing Kandy via the Galagedara Road through Rambukkana.

Alternatively, drivers can opt for the Gampola-Kandy Road through Hemmathagama and Mawanella.

June 09, Colombo (LNW): With the growing tendency of dengue cases, a total of 700 cases have been reported in Sri Lanka in the past seven days, provisional data disclosed.

This rise can be attributed to the current rainy conditions and the subsequent increase in mosquito breeding sites due to receding floodwaters.

As of June 07, the total number of reported cases for the year 2024 stands at 25,619, with the Colombo district reporting the highest number at 5,554.

The Western Province has recorded the highest number of cases among provinces, totaling 9,348.

With several areas in Sri Lanka experiencing prolonged rainfall recently, health officials are urging the public to exercise caution and maintain cleanliness in their surroundings and eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites to mitigate the spread of Dengue fever.

June 09, Colombo (LNW): Foreign Minister Ali Sabry is set to depart for Russia to participate in the BRICS Ministerial Session, scheduled to take place in Nizhniy Novgorod on 11th June 2024.

This invitation stems from an offer extended by his Russian counterpart.

As the incumbent Chair of the IORA Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Foreign Minister has been specifically invited to attend the Ministerial Meeting.

Under the theme “Strengthening Multilateralism for Fair Global Development and Security,” Russia is hosting the BRICS Ministerial Session.

During the gathering of Foreign Ministers from Global South nations, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry is slated to deliver a statement on the “role of BRICS and Global South in reforming global governance, ensuring sustainable development, and enhancing global security,” as per the statement.

Additionally, it is anticipated that on the sidelines of the event, the Foreign Minister will engage in bilateral discussions with counterparts from several countries, including the host nation.

June 09, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has secured a position on the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for a three-year term starting on 1st January 2025, following its election by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

During the elections conducted in New York on Friday, 7th June, Sri Lanka garnered 182 votes out of the 189 member states present and voting.

This achievement placed Sri Lanka with the second-highest vote count from its region and the seventh-highest overall, as reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Previously, Sri Lanka held positions on the ECOSOC from 1985 to 1989 and from 2006 to 2008.

As a member of the ECOSOC, Sri Lanka will actively contribute to the Council’s initiatives and programmes, focusing on a range of issues including poverty eradication, food security, development financing, international financial system reform to support vulnerable nations, climate justice, gender equality, empowerment of women, rights of persons who are differently-abled, advancement of science and technology, and bridging the digital divide.

Among the 18 countries elected on 7th June 2024 to the 54-member ECOSOC, were Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, and Saudi Arabia from the Asia Pacific region.

This successful election to the ECOSOC marks Sri Lanka’s fourth consecutive triumph in multilateral elections, underscoring a significant achievement in the country’s diplomatic endeavours led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its overseas Diplomatic Missions.

Established in 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations, the ECOSOC stands as one of the UN’s six principal organs, serving as the central platform to coordinate economic and social matters, promote international cooperation and development, and address issues related to the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted the pivotal role played by the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York, in collaboration with the Ministry itself and Sri Lanka’s overseas Missions, in spearheading the election campaign.