April 16, Colombo (LNW): The US’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has initiated a criminal probe into the tragic collapse of a Baltimore bridge last month, which occurred when a vessel collided with one of its supports, the bureau announced yesterday (15).

FBI agents boarded the cargo ship Dali to conduct court-authorised law enforcement activities related to the crash, according to a spokesperson cited by Reuters.

However, no further details were disclosed, and the FBI declined to provide additional comments.

The incident, which transpired in the early hours of March 26, involved a substantial container ship en route to Sri Lanka losing power and striking a support pylon, resulting in the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsing into the Patapsco River.

Tragically, six individuals lost their lives while working on the bridge during the collision.

The investigation into the bridge collapse will scrutinise various factors, including whether the crew of the cargo vessel Dali departed the port despite knowing about significant issues with its systems, according to Washington Post.

Safety investigators have retrieved the ship’s “black box” recorder, which contains critical data on its navigation, communications, and alarms, among other parameters.

Additionally, the US National Transportation Safety Board has conducted interviews with essential personnel from the cargo ship as part of its inquiry.

Efforts to clear the wreckage and restore traffic in the port’s shipping channel are ongoing. While replacing the bridge is expected to be a multi-year endeavour, authorities have established temporary channels to accommodate shallow-draft vessels navigating around the obstructed container vessel.

The US Army Corps of Engineers aims to open a new channel to the Port of Baltimore by the end of April.

It is noteworthy that at the time of the collision, the Dali was departing Baltimore bound for Colombo, Sri Lanka, with a crew of 21 members and two pilots to assist in navigating out of the port.

The vessel, registered under the Singapore flag, has been associated with previous incidents, including a collision in the port of Antwerp, Belgium, in 2016.

An inspection conducted in San Antonio, Chile, in June 2023, identified deficiencies in the vessel’s propulsion and auxiliary machinery, according to data from the Equasis website.

Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority reported that the vessel passed inspections at foreign ports in June and September of the previous year.

Grace Ocean Pte Ltd is listed as the registered owner of the ship, which is managed by the Synergy Marine Group, with Maersk chartering the vessel.

April 16, Colombo (LNW): Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s upcoming visit to Sri Lanka in May is poised to mark a significant milestone, as he is set to inaugurate the Uma Oya Multipurpose project, foreign media reports claimed.

The Uma Oya project encompasses the construction of two dams, Dyraaba and Puhulpola, along with a 25-kilometre water transmission tunnel and two hydroelectric power plants, each boasting a capacity of 60 megawatts.

Considered a monumental engineering feat, the Uma Oya multipurpose project represents a pinnacle achievement for Iranian companies operating in Sri Lanka.

The project’s objectives are multifaceted, aiming to enhance irrigation across 5,000 acres of agricultural land, facilitate the transfer of 145 million cubic metres of water annually, and generate 290 GW/h of power.

It is noteworthy that the project’s intricate and diversified components underscores its complexity and scale.

Furthermore, it stands as one of the largest endeavours undertaken by Iranian contractors on foreign soil.

This forthcoming event follows a significant diplomatic exchange between Sri Lanka and Iran in August 2023, during which Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Ali Sabry visited Tehran and engaged in discussions with his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir Abdollahian.

Abdollahian characterised the visit as a “turning point” in Iran-Sri Lanka relations during a joint press conference, highlighting the significance of bilateral ties between the two nations.

April 16, Colombo (LNW): The Agriculture Department is poised to issue crucial recommendations for the cultivation of the MD 2 pineapple variety, renowned globally for its exceptional sweetness, in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka has potential to produce some of the world’s most delicious pineapples, making it possible to generate a substantial demand for locally grown pineapples in the global market, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amraraweera disclosed.

Despite the high demand for the MD 2 pineapple variety worldwide, efforts to cultivate it within Sri Lanka have been lacking.

Successful research endeavours aiming to cultivate this pineapple variety, characterised by its sweet taste and low acidity, have been conducted in the country, he noted.

In light of these advancements, Amaraweera instructed the Agriculture Department to expedite the process of recommending the MD 2 pineapple variety for cultivation in Sri Lanka, following the directives of the Crop Release Committee.

Furthermore, the Agriculture Minister underscored the success of research initiatives conducted under the government’s Agriculture Sector Modernisation Programme, affirming farmers’ keen interest in cultivating the MD 2 pineapple variety in Sri Lanka.

April 16, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka Railways announced the cancellation of at least 11 commuter trains on the morning of the 16th, citing the absence of locomotive operators and train guards who failed to report to work.

This disruption in train services affected routes departing from Colombo Fort to various destinations including Moratuwa, Panadura, Wadduwa, Negombo, Ambepussa, Padukka, and Ragama.

Commuters relying on these train services faced inconvenience due to the cancellations, highlighting the importance of adequate staffing and operational readiness within the railway system to ensure seamless transportation services for the public.

April 16, Colombo (LNW): During the IMF-World Bank Group (WBG) Spring Meetings 2024 in Washington, D.C., Sri Lanka’s Finance State Minister Shehan Semasinghe met with Kenji Okamura, Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Okamura commended Sri Lankan authorities for their robust programme implementation and remarkable progress in reforms.

Semasinghe led the Sri Lankan delegation, accompanied by Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe and Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana.

They discussed recent socio-economic developments and reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to maintaining the gains achieved under the IMF programme while ensuring strong ownership and policy consistency.

In a productive exchange, Okamura emphasised the importance of preserving these achievements and maintaining momentum in reforms.

Semasinghe shared insights into Sri Lanka’s macroeconomic landscape and investment opportunities during a roundtable with the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU).

Discussions focused on sectors like education, tourism, renewable energy, agriculture, and technology, highlighting their potential for sustainable economic growth.

Furthermore, Semasinghe engaged in discussions with Dr. Krishnamurthy Subramanian, IMF Executive Director for India and Sri Lanka, and Parameswaran Iyer, World Bank Executive Director for India and Sri Lanka.

Iyer assured Sri Lanka of his full support, updating Semasinghe on internal restructurings within the World Bank and their potential benefits for the country.

By: Staff Writer

April 15, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka, economic crimes perpetrated by politically exposed persons (PEPs) have received critical attention at present, where there have been discussions on plausible interventions to address the culture of impunity and the human rights implications of economic crimes.

This report compiled by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), highlited  key issues concerning addressing economic crimes in Sri Lanka, mapping out several interconnections between economic crimes perpetrated by PEPs in Sri Lanka and the human rights implications of such crimes.

The CPA study reveals Sri Lanka’s weak Institutional structures linked to political elites with ’ vested interests.

Politically connected persons who declare commitments to address various types of economic crimes, often during election cycles, have vested interests in institutions that investigate and prosecute economic crimes, a recent study by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) has found.

“Therefore, once these political elites are in office, they are often reluctant to invest in building capacities as any form of institutional strengthening could lead to their private gains being investigated as well.”

The study, Understanding Connections between Human Rights and Economic Crimes, combines the findings of key informant interviews (KIIs), and analysis of the challenges to the country’s efforts to combat corruption and ensure accountability within its governance framework.

“The key impediment to setting up a powerful, independent investigative and prosecutorial arm to address economic crimes is a direct result of the lack of commitment to capacitate and invest in existing institutional structures,” the study said.

The study further broke down the reasons for the continuous deliberate attempts to dismantle structures of accountability to address economic crimes in Sri Lanka as; vested interests in institutions, concerns regarding independence and integrity, and deliberate attempts to dismantle systems of accountability.

On institutional structures’ integrity and independence, the study found that combating economic crimes presents a challenge to the independence and integrity of institutional structures.

“Fundamental concerns regarding the impartiality and transparency of investigations exist, particularly as to what extent these inquiries are conducted without external interference.

This also relates to a range of other issues such as securing the resourcing for any establishment/s to carry out independent investigations and prosecutions as well as investing in obtaining specialist knowledge,” the study found.

The skills, specialisation, and technical proficiency gaps between investigators and prosecutors are substantial, as this investigation found, particularly when it comes to handling intricate matters like economic crimes.

Even though there have been attempts to enhance the capacities of investigators in the past, such efforts have also been “deliberately undermined”.

“For example, the immediate transfer of the 60 officers, who were trained to investigate financial crimes under the former Financial Crimes Investigative Division (FCID), to other unrelated tasks evinces the deliberate obstruction of the efficiency and effectiveness of investigations.”