August 28, Colombo (LNW): The system of issuing passports by booking a time and date in advance has been suspended starting today. Minister of Public Security, Tiran Alles, announced that passports will now be issued on a first-come, first-served basis, with a daily limit of 750 passports.
This decision follows the large crowds that gathered outside the Immigration Department yesterday morning, causing significant inconvenience due to restrictions on passport issuance. The Department of Immigration and Emigration explained that these restrictions were necessary because of a limited supply of passport booklets.
The new system aims to streamline the process and better manage the high demand for passports.
August 28, Colombo (LNW): The Election Commission is scheduled to convene this morning to discuss the implications of the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding the local government elections. According to Chairman RML Ratnayake, the commission will carefully review the court’s decision and determine the most appropriate course of action.
In addition to addressing the court’s ruling, the commission will also focus on planning and preparations for the upcoming presidential election during today’s meeting.
On August 22nd, the Supreme Court found that the President, acting as the Minister of Finance, had violated the fundamental rights of citizens by failing to ensure the 2023 Local Government Election was held, citing arbitrary and unlawful actions. The court also criticized the Election Commission for inadequate planning and failure to secure necessary cooperation from other government agencies.
The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission to proceed with the local government elections at the earliest possible date, with the full support of other government institutions, as mandated by its powers.
August 28, Colombo (LNW): Sajith Premadasa, the presidential candidate for the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has announced a comprehensive poverty alleviation program aimed at transforming existing welfare initiatives to better support the nation’s poor. The program seeks to integrate the best features of initiatives like Janasaviya, Samurdhi, Aswasuma, and Gamidiriya.
Premadasa emphasized that his plan is designed with the understanding that the poor in Sri Lanka do not wish to remain dependent on subsidies indefinitely. The proposed two-year program aims to eradicate poverty by providing substantial financial assistance and support for essential services.
Key aspects of the program include:
Monthly Subsidy: Each poor family will receive a monthly subsidy of 20,000 rupees for 24 months, providing a financial safety net while encouraging self-sufficiency.
Subsidized Fertilizer: To support agricultural productivity, high-quality fertilizer will be made available at a subsidized rate of 5,000 rupees, ensuring farmers have access to the resources they need.
Affordable Fuel Distribution: A transparent system will be implemented to prevent black market exploitation and ensure that essential sectors receive affordable fuel. A QR code system will be introduced to manage fuel subsidies for farmers, fishermen, three-wheeler owners, school transport service providers, and mill operators.
Debt Relief: Premadasa committed to writing off agricultural loans, which has been a long-standing burden on farmers, and addressing the issue of fair pricing for agricultural produce to ensure that farmers are compensated justly for their efforts.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized the strength and talent of his team, asserting that they are well-equipped to overcome any challenge facing the country. Speaking at the 37th Annual Conference of the Organization of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka (OPA) at the Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo, the President highlighted the critical role of public support in ensuring the success of the government’s economic recovery program.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake, leader of National People’s Power alliance and its presidential candidate, says he’s serving those who were part of public protests that ousted then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022. Dissanayake says the people’s wishes for a change were not realized because the protesters did not have a plan beyond ousting the president and weren’t equipped to take charge.
The presidential election manifesto of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) is scheduled to be unveiled on Thursday (August 29). The SJB Senior Vice President, Sujeewa Senasinghe said that the policy statement has now been finalized.
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) is set to unveil its presidential election manifesto in the first week of September. SLPP media spokesperson Sanjeeva Edirimanna said that the party is currently in the final phase of preparing the policy statement.
A hardline Tamil nationalist party has launched a campaign to boycott the September 21 presidential election, saying that no major candidate has pledged for the federal set-up for political autonomy for Tamils in the North and East of the country, local election monitoring groups said. Moreover, Selvaraja Kajendran, the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) general secretary, has lodged a complaint against the police for obstructing their leaflets distribution campaign on Saturday in the eastern region of Thirukkovil.
The Chief Medical Officer of Kandy, Dr. Pasan Jayasinghe revealed that around 50 tuberculosis (TB) patients have been diagnosed within the Kandy city limits during the period which has elapsed so far this year. Dr. Jayasinghe also highlighted that the most pressing infectious disease threat in Kandy is not dengue, but tuberculosis.
The Department of Meteorology announced that on the apparent southward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka during August 28 to September 06 this year. The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead on 28th are Delft Island, Pooneryn, Thadduvankoddi and Chundikkulam around 12.11 noon, it said.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, says any political or social uncertainties or reversals of hard earned achievements that exerts significant pressure on the economic reforms agenda could lead to a deviation from the intended policy trajectory.
The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to the proposal to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill based on the improved fundamental draft in relation to introduction of a new law in relation to the rights of Sri Lankan indigenous community.
Jay Shah, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), was elected unopposed as the new chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
August 28, Colombo (LNW): Several spells of showers may occur in Northern province and several spells of light showers may occur in Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.
Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the evening or night.
Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Hambantota and Trincomalee districts.
The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka during 28th of August to 06th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion. The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (28) at about 12.11 noon are Delf Island, Pooneryn, Thadduvankoddi and Chundikkulam.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
August 27, Colombo (LNW): The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Kuala Lumpur has hosted a fruitful engagement with the Malaysian Indian Tour & Travel Association (MITTA), in order to explore avenues for promoting the Ramayana Trail tourism in Malaysia.
MITTA, which encompasses over 200 Indian-Malaysian travel and tour agencies, plays a pivotal role in advancing outbound and inbound tourism, with a particular focus on Tamil-speaking travelers, the Sri Lankan High Commission in Kuala Lumpur said in a statement.
Accordingly, the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka Air Chief Marshal (Rtd.) Sumangala Dias met with MITTA representatives and built upon discussions previously initiated with the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KLSICCI) in July 2024, the statement mentioned.
High Commissioner Dias highlighted the growing potential for tourism between Sri Lanka and Malaysia, noting that approximately 10,000 Malaysians visited Sri Lanka last year, while around 60,000 Sri Lankans traveled to Malaysia. This provides a unique opportunity to project Sri Lanka as an appealing tourist destination especially for Malaysian travelers of Indian origin, who have historical connections through the Ramayana epic.
During the meeting, a video documentary on the Ramayana Trail was screened, showcasing Sri Lanka’s historical monuments and Hindu deities linked to the Ramayana. High Commissioner Dias requested MITTA’s support in promoting these tourism opportunities among Malaysian agencies and outbound travelers, it added.
The President of MITTA, Dato’ Aruldas expressed appreciation for the opportunity offered to explore the Ramayana Trail and affirmed MITTA’s commitment to disseminating necessary information within the Indian-Malaysian travel community.
The High Commission of Sri Lanka is dedicated to fostering the ongoing development of trade, investments, and tourism between Sri Lanka and Malaysia and looks forward to strengthening its collaboration with MITTA to achieve these objectives, according to the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Kuala Lumpur.
August 27, Colombo (LNW): A plan to cultivate and make and export value added products from cannabis has drawn 30 investors, State Minister for Investment Promotion, Dilum Amunugama said.Sri Lanka has made a set of regulations for cannabis cultivation.
“We have got about 30 applications and they are being processed by a committee,” Minister Amunugama said.” No one has come to the growing stage yet. But land allocation is being done.”
The committee is made up of officials that include representative of the Department of Ayurveda and the Board of Investment.
Canabidiol, (CBD or cannabis oil), is one of the primary products of the industry which is used in medicinal and other applications
Govt’s cannabis investment plan: 30 parties express interest, projects to be based in Mirigama and Kandy
The government expects to attract an investment of around USD 1.5 billion to the Kappalthurai Industrial Zone in Trincomalee, the second industrial zone in the country, connected to key infrastructure facilities such as ports, railways, and airways in Sri Lanka. State Minister of Investment Promotion Dilum Amunugama said.
Addressing a media briefing, the Investment Promotion State Minister also said that the cannabis investment plan of the government has so far received 30 applications, which are currently at the committee stage.
3BD extraction or oil extraction will be the minimum value addition. If they go beyond that, whatever the final product is, they can also produce that within the dedicated source”, the State Minister added.
In response to a question raised by a journalist, Amunugama mentioned that the cannabis projects will be located within Mirigama and Kandy.
The State Minister, who also commented on the Kappalthurai Industrial Zone, stated that it will be connected to ports, railways and airways. “That is what happens with the industries and of course the Trincomalee city development plan has been reactivated.”
“The only thing is that we don’t have necessary funds to activate the whole project at once, so gradually part by part, they will be engaged”, he highlighted.
Furthermore, Amunugama expressed that heavy industries will operate in the Kappalthurai Zone, adding that it will be the most attractive industrial zone where all three modes of transportation through sea, air and railway cargo will be available.
August 27, Colombo (LNW): Digital banking has just become financially rewarding, with the Commercial Bank of Ceylon launching a ground-breaking industry-first initiative to award -reward points for transactions on ComBank Digital.
The Bank has announced that even a simple utility bill payment via ‘ComBank Digital’ can now earn rewards points from the Bank’s ‘Max -Rewards’ scheme, which hitherto awarded points only on purchases paid for by credit or debit cards.
Encompassing all new registrants as well as existing users of ComBank Digital, the Bank’s single omni-channel digital banking platform, the Max Rewards will award up to 300 points for a single transaction, enabling users to accumulate points that can be redeemed for purchases or other benefits.
The Bank said ComBank Max Rewards offers a comprehensive points structure combining one-time payments and monthly rewards, and the process of redeeming points would be similar to the redemption of points accrued on credit and debit cards issued by Commercial Bank. A single Max Reward point is equivalent to Rs 1.
“The Max Rewards points scheme for ComBank Digital users is designed with our customers’ best interests at heart,” Commercial Bank’s Assistant General Manager – Digital Banking Mr. Pradeep Banduwansa commented.
“By introducing this scheme, we aim to make the digital banking experience more rewarding and enjoyable for over one million Commercial Bank customers who are already using ComBank Digital, and to provide one more compelling reason for many others to register.”
ComBank Digital is an integration of all online and mobile banking channels of Commercial Bank of Ceylon, and is offered via a responsive web application and three native mobile applications (iOS, Android and Huawei), enabling access across all devices such as desktop PCs, laptop computers, tabs and smartphones.
It also offers customers the functionality of investing in a range of Fixed Deposit products in both Rupees and foreign currencies, obtaining loans against Fixed Deposits and applying for personal loans.
Adjudged the ‘Best Mobile Banking App’ in Sri Lanka by Global Finance in 2023, ComBank Digital is one of the top five financial apps in use in Sri Lanka, and was launched in 2020. The app has undergone numerous enhancements, and is now enabled for the Bank’s business clientele too. It is powered by Fiserv, the US-based global provider of financial services technology.
Sri Lanka’s first 100% carbon neutral bank and the first Sri Lankan bank to be listed among the Top 1000 Banks of the World, Commercial Bank operates a strategically-located network of branches and 964 automated machines island-wide, and is the largest lender to Sri Lanka’s SME sector.
Commercial Bank has the widest international footprint among Sri Lankan Banks, with 20 outlets in Bangladesh, a Microfinance company in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, and a fully-fledged Tier I Bank with a majority stake in the Maldives.
August 27, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s exports are expected to rise by 8.4% in 2024, reaching $12.9 billion, following a decrease in 2023. This forecast is detailed in the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s (CBSL) Annual Economic Review of 2023, which was released last week. In 2023, the country’s exports fell by 9%, dropping to $11.9 billion from $13.1 billion in 2022.
Imports, on the other hand, are projected to rebound to $20 billion this year, recovering from $16.8 billion in 2023, which was a decline from $18.3 billion in 2022.
In the first two months of 2024, exports reached $2 billion, a 3.6% increase compared to the same period in 2023, while imports surged by 18% to $2.89 billion.
In July 2024, Sri Lanka’s merchandise export earnings surpassed the $1 billion mark, bringing the total export value for the first seven months of the year to over $9 billion. July alone saw a 6.58% year-on-year increase in merchandise exports, totaling $1.08 billion, a 5.5% rise compared to June 2024.
The growth in earnings was driven by key sectors such as apparel and textiles, tea, coconut-based products, spices and concentrates, and seafood.
In addition to merchandise, services exports for July 2024 were estimated at $293.26 million, a 16.44% increase over July 2023. This includes sectors like ICT/BPM, construction, financial services, transport, and logistics. Total exports for June 2024, encompassing both goods and services, amounted to $1.9 billion, reflecting a 9.52% growth compared to the same period in 2023.
For the first seven months of 2024, total merchandise exports grew by 4.94% year-on-year to over $7.23 billion, while service sector earnings increased by 12.28% year-on-year to $1.67 billion.
This brought overall export earnings for the January to July period to $9.13 billion, marking a 5.86% year-on-year growth.
CBSL noted that the growth outlook for Sri Lanka is positive, with sustained external demand for domestic services, especially tourism.
Additionally, if ongoing efforts to enhance export capabilities succeed, there could be a renewed demand for exports, driven by improved economic conditions among Sri Lanka’s key trading partners.
However, the merchandise trade deficit is expected to widen in 2024 due to a potential increase in import demand.
This reflects the relaxation of import restrictions, heightened economic activity, and increased spending power among consumers and businesses, despite the moderate growth expected in export earnings.
August 27, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s apparel sector exhibited positive growth in July compared to the same month last year, reflecting an improvement in order volumes.
According to provisional figures, the sector’s export earnings rose by 3.29 per cent year-on-year (YoY), reaching US $414 million. This marks an increase from US $401.18 million in July 2023.
Exports to major markets showed varying trends. Shipments to the United States increased by 5.47 per cent YoY to US $183.21 million.
The United Kingdom and other regions saw rises of 8.19 per cent YoY and 3.40 per cent YoY, respectively, amounting to US $55.72 million and US $60.82 million.
However, exports to the European Union declined by 2.16 per cent YoY, totalling US $114.63 million.
Despite a month-on-month growth, the apparel sector has faced some challenges this year. It recorded a decline in export earnings in three of the first seven months. Cumulatively, export earnings up to July totalled Rs.2.67 billion, a slight decrease of 0.51 per cent YoY from US $2.68 billion in the January-July 2023 period.
For the year-to-date, exports to the United States and European Union contracted by 1.52 per cent YoY and 4.09 per cent YoY, respectively.
Conversely, exports to the United Kingdom grew by 7.18 per cent YoY, and other markets saw a 2.05 per cent YoY increase.
Yohan Lawrence, Secretary General of the Joint Apparel Association Forum, highlighted the need for consistent government policies to foster stable growth in the sector.
He pointed to the rising interest in sustainable and ethical manufacturing practices as a promising development.
Lawrence emphasised the importance of adapting to market shifts, enhancing value, and utilising trade agreements to boost export performance in the months ahead.
