May 03, Colombo (LNW): Chairman of Litro Gas, Muditha Peiris, has declared a reduction in the prices of Litro domestic LP gas cylinders effective from midnight today (May 03).
The price of the 12.5 kg cylinder has been slashed by Rs. 175, now priced at Rs. 3,940, while the price of the 05 kg cylinder sees a reduction of Rs. 70, bringing it down to Rs. 1,582.
Additionally, the price of the 2.3 kg cylinder has been decreased by Rs. 32, with the new price set at Rs. 740.
May 03, Colombo (LNW): The sick leave campaign initiated by government executive officers from 18 sectors persists into Friday (03), according to Chairman of the Joint Committee of Government Executive Officers, H. A. L. Udayasiri.
Udayasiri stated that the trade union action was commenced on Thursday (02) due to the failure to address their demands, particularly concerning salary issues. Despite requests for a discussion with the President’s Secretary on Thursday (02), Udayasiri lamented that their requests were disregarded.
The sick leave campaign is reported to be ongoing across all 25 districts, involving government executive officers from various fields such as the state engineering service, agriculture, veterinary, science, ayurveda medicine, education, administrative, surveying, postal, fisheries, and information technology.
May 03, Colombo (LNW): Ambassador Julie Chung reiterated the United States’ commitment to assisting Sri Lanka in its efforts to alleviate prison overcrowding, modernize court processes, and improve the efficiency of the judicial system. Her remarks came following the donation of 35 video conferencing units and the inauguration of new facilities in Agunakolapalessa and Galle prisons. Ambassador Chung emphasized that these initiatives will facilitate virtual proceedings, thereby enhancing prisoners’ access to legal services, expediting trials, and reducing judicial backlog.
In a tweet posted on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), Ambassador Chung underscored her participation alongside the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Sri Lanka’s Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe in a significant milestone for the Ministry of Justice’s virtual courts initiative in Sri Lanka.
She stated, “The United States State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) is committed to supporting Sri Lanka’s initiatives that aim to reduce prison overcrowding, streamline court automation, and enhance the overall effectiveness of judicial processes.” This reaffirms the US government’s dedication to collaborating with Sri Lanka in advancing its judicial reforms.
May 03, Colombo (LNW): Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane attended the ‘Humanity at the Crossroads: Autonomous Weapons Systems and the Challenge of Regulation’ Conference at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria, last week, upon the invitation of the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs.
The conference, aimed at addressing concerns and challenges associated with the use of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS), drew over 1,000 participants from 144 countries. Representatives from various states, the United Nations, international and regional organizations, academia, think tanks, industry, and civil society were in attendance.
During the panel discussion titled ‘Geopolitics and Machine Politics: How to Move Forward on LAWS?’, Foreign Secretary Wijewardane reiterated Sri Lanka’s longstanding commitment to advocating for conventional and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) disarmament and applying humanitarian principles in warfare. She expressed support for a legally-binding instrument regulating and prohibiting the use of LAWS. Other panelists included Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania Igli Hasani, Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Minister of Sierra Leone Timothy Musa Kabba, and United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu. Sri Lanka played a significant role as a main sponsor of the first-ever UNGA resolution on LAWS adopted last year.
Following the conference, Foreign Secretary Wijewardane engaged in bilateral discussions with Foreign Policy Advisor to the Chancellor of Austria Peter Launsky and her Austrian counterpart Nikolaus Marschik, Secretary General of the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria. These discussions were particularly significant as both countries commemorate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year.
During her meetings, Foreign Secretary Wijewardane briefed Secretary General Marschik on Sri Lanka’s recent economic progress and covered various bilateral matters including investment, energy transition, migration and mobility, visa, and tourism promotion.
Additionally, the Foreign Secretary met with Chairman of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Professor Daniel Froschauer to discuss potential musical collaborations between the two countries.
Accompanying Foreign Secretary Wijewardane were the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Austria and officials from the Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Vienna.
May 03, Colombo (LNW): During a press conference at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) themed ‘Collective Path to a Stable Country’ yesterday, State Minister for Plantation Industries and Mahaweli Development, Lohan Ratwatte, reiterated the firm stance of the Mahaweli Authority against any illegal activities on its land.
Highlighting the pivotal role of the Mahaweli Authority in contributing to Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector, State Minister Ratwatte emphasized that the Ministry oversees key agricultural products such as tea, rubber, coconut, and minor export crops. He underscored the authority’s oversight of 10 major dams crucial for electricity generation, stating that effective utilization of these resources could potentially lead to agricultural self-sufficiency.
Under the leadership of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Ratwatte mentioned the consolidation of the Ministries of Agriculture and Plantation Industries into a unified entity, aimed at enhancing efficiency in advancing the agricultural sector. He also noted the ongoing agricultural modernization program.
Addressing challenges related to land ownership under the Mahaweli Development Authority, Ratwatte outlined efforts to resolve these issues alongside the implementation of the ‘Urumaya’ program. This initiative, guided by President Wickremesinghe, aims to provide free land titles to individuals lacking them, with approximately 25,000 freehold deeds already issued. Ratwatte announced plans to distribute an additional 6,000 freehold deeds in the Polonnaruwa district by the week’s end.
Emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal activities on Mahaweli Authority lands, Ratwatte reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to upholding the law and ensuring the integrity of its properties.
May 03, Colombo (LNW): Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong, convened a meeting with Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at Temple Trees yesterday (2) to deliberate on the expeditious execution of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) established between the two nations during the Prime Minister’s official visit to China in March 2024.
Expressing optimism, the Prime Minister emphasized that the commencement of these MoUs would usher in a new era of enduring friendship and economic collaboration between Sri Lanka and China. Representing Sri Lanka, Prime Minister’s Secretary Anura Dissanayake inked the agreements, while the secretaries of nine Ministries signed on behalf of China in the presence of both Prime Ministers and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
In addition to the implementation of these MoUs, the Prime Minister conveyed Sri Lanka’s receptiveness to direct private investments from China. He further welcomed investments in diverse sectors including agriculture, renewable energy, IT, education, and water supply, aimed at providing sustainable solutions to economic challenges.
Ambassador Qi Zhenhong expressed satisfaction at Sri Lanka’s resilience in overcoming adversities and pledged China’s unwavering support for Sri Lanka’s ongoing endeavors in debt restructuring and addressing economic hurdles.
The discussion was attended by the Chinese Economic Counsellor alongside key officials.
May 03, Colombo (LNW): President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced the appointment of two new Governors for the Southern and North Western Provinces yesterday (2).
Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena was officially sworn in as the Governor of the Southern Province, while Nazeer Ahamed took the oath of office as the Governor of the North Western Province.
Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake graced the occasion with his presence.
May 03, Colombo (LNW): Showers or thundershowers will occur at a few places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts after 2.00 p.m.
Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts during the morning.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
By: Staff Writer
May 02, Colombo (LNW): In a move set to enhance passenger experience and expand commercial offerings, the Government announced plans to set up a gold shop in the departure/transit area of Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake.
“At present, the departure/transit area of BIA does not feature a gold shop, leaving a gap in the range of retail options available to travellers.
Recognising this untapped potential, the Airports and Air Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd., aims to capitalise on the lucrative business opportunity presented by the absence of such facilities within the airport premises,” Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardena said at the post-Cabinet meeting media briefing on Tuesday.
The decision to proceed with this venture was endorsed by the Cabinet of Ministers, following a proposal submitted by the Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva.
“The Cabinet approved to float tenders through the international competitive procurement method to select a suitable operator for the operation of the gold shop, in line with the principles of transparency and fair competition,” he added.
He noted that by inviting tenders from qualified operators, the aim is to ensure that the gold shop meets the highest standards of service excellence and product quality.
“The introduction of such a facility is expected to not only enhance the retail offerings at the airport but also provide passengers with a convenient avenue to purchase premium gold products during their transit or departure,” Gunawardena said.
Authorities in Sri Lanka have limited the import of gold jewellery to 22 carats per person in a bid to curb illegal gold smuggling operations.
A special permit is now required for any individual to enter Sri Lanka carrying gold jewellery weighing more than 22 carats.
Sri Lanka remains in the midst of economic chaos with inflation reaching a record of 70 per cent. Months of significant food shortages, as well as a lack of access to medicine, fuel, and electricity have plagued the country.
State minister of finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said that approximately 50 kilograms of gold is smuggled into Sri Lanka each day. The cost of these practices was estimated at $US360 million annually.
The report also revealed details of a police raid in early December 2023 which led to the recovery of 22 kilograms of gold, the second largest gold smuggling seizure in Sri Lankan history.
