August 11, Colombo (LNW): Gampaha District Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Sudarshini Fernandopulle has reportedly declared her support for Sajith Premadasa, the Leader of the Opposition and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya’s (SJB) Presidential candidate, in the forthcoming election.

She made this announcement during a press conference in Colombo this (11) morning.

Meanwhile, former Minister Vijith Wijayamuni Soysa has pledged his support for President Ranil Wickremesinghe, having previously contested under the Samagi Jana Balawegaya banner but failing to secure a parliamentary seat.

August 11, Colombo (LNW): The Election Commission of Sri Lanka has published a special gazette specifying the election symbols allocated to recognised political parties and independent groups.

This notice, endorsed by the Commission’s Chairman, confirms the symbols that will appear on ballots in the forthcoming elections.

The gazette categorises symbols into those currently assigned to political entities and those reserved for future use, in accordance with the Parliamentary Elections Act, No. 01 of 1981.

August 11, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s official poverty line has experienced a significant threefold increase over the past decade, according to a recent report by the Department of Census and Statistics.

The poverty line rose from Rs 5,223 in 2012-2013 to Rs 17,014 by January 2024. The economic crisis of 2022 accelerated this rise, pushing inflation to unprecedented levels.

By May 2024, Colombo had the highest poverty line at Rs 17,608, followed closely by Gampaha at Rs 17,517 and Nuwara Eliya at Rs 17,169.

Districts such as Monaragala, Kilinochchi, and Hambantota recorded lower figures.

The official poverty line reflects the minimum income required for basic living expenses.

August 11, Colombo (LNW): Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty, met with his Sri Lankan counterpart, Ali Sabry, in Cairo to discuss enhancing trade and investment relations, as well as recent developments in the Gaza conflict.

Abdelatty praised the progress in bilateral cooperation, particularly the political consultations held in Colombo and the reactivation of the Egyptian-Sri Lankan Parliamentary Friendship Association.

He encouraged further Sri Lankan investment in Egypt’s manufacturing sector.

Sabry expressed interest in deepening economic, cultural, and counter-terrorism cooperation, with both sides agreeing to bolster tourism exchanges and benefit from Egypt’s expertise in training tourism and archaeology professionals.

August 11, Colombo (LNW): Atmospheric conditions are favourable for development of evening thundershowers in the island during the next few days, and showers or thundershowers, therefore, may occur at times in Western an Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (11).

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places elsewhere of the island during the evening or night as well, the statement read.

Fairly heavy showers above 75 mm are likely at some places in Northern, North-central, Eastern and Uva provinces.

General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Marine Weather:

August 10, Colombo (LNW): The Central Environment Authority (CEA) is urging devotees attending the Kandy Esala Perahera to dispose of waste responsibly, emphasizing the importance of environmental protection during the festival. Director General Hemantha Jayasinghe highlighted that the Perahera typically generates around three tons of polythene, plastic, and other solid waste daily.

To address this, a comprehensive waste management program, led by various institutions, has been in place for many years. Jayasinghe encourages devotees to use designated waste disposal sites and reduce the use of non-biodegradable materials like polythene and plastic, helping to minimize the environmental impact of the event.

August 10, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka Customs has officially opened an Internal Affairs unit to address and investigate public complaints. This unit, inaugurated by State Minister for Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, is part of the Internal Affairs Division at Sri Lanka Customs (SLC).

According to Minister Siyambalapitiya, the new unit will play a crucial role in enhancing the relationship between the public and the SLC. 

The establishment of this unit was recommended by a corruption diagnostic report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which noted that globally, customs and tax administrations typically have dedicated Internal Affairs units to investigate cases of staff misconduct.

The launch of this unit comes amid increasing demands from the private sector for the full digitization of SLC operations. These businesses argue that the current manual processes are vulnerable to corruption by some officers, which negatively impacts the business environment. The IMF report also pointed out a prevailing culture of corruption within the SLC.

Minister Siyambalapitiya defended the SLC, stating that the new unit would help improve public trust in the organization. He acknowledged that while the SLC plays a unique role in the country, it is subject to both praise and criticism. He also stressed the importance of enhancing public trust as a key goal moving forward.

The IMF report suggested that small Internal Affairs units could be established in each department, with direct reporting to the department head. These units would investigate allegations of corruption and refer cases to the Public Service Commission or the bribery commission as appropriate.

Public complaints to the Internal Affairs unit can be made through several channels, including phone numbers 0112-221 331, 0112-221 333, 0704-752 803, email ([email protected]), and WhatsApp (0704-752 803).

Analysts have noted that Sri Lanka’s high import duties contribute to corruption at the border. The country began to intensify trade controls following the establishment of the central bank in 1950, which led to increased money printing. 

Additionally, the selective imposition of progressive taxation on different public sections can undermine the principle of equal treatment, potentially leading to corruption.

In balancing trade facilitation and regulatory control, Customs manages the dual risks of failing to facilitate international trade and non-compliance with Customs laws. 

To address these risks, the Compliance and Facilitation Directorate was established, comprising the Post Clearance Audit Branch (PCAB) and the Refund Branch. Consignees, declarants, transport providers, shipping agents.

The directorate also included , banks, logistics providers, forwarding agents, and clearing agents are expected to comply with Customs laws, regulations, and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in their financial reporting.

August 10, Colombo (LNW): The Department of Immigration and Emigration at the airport is currently grappling with significant challenges related to visa checks for incoming passengers, primarily due to the suspension of the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system. 

A senior department official highlighted that immigration officers in the arrival lounge are struggling to verify the online visas that were previously submitted before the suspension. 

This issue has also affected passengers during their boarding process, as many have faced difficulties with visa verification.

In response, the department has shifted to issuing only on-arrival visas. However, the online visa verification system for arriving passengers has yet to return to normal.

 It’s important to note that on-arrival visas are not available for nationals from specific countries, including Afghanistan, Syria, Ghana, Nigeria, Pakistan, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, North Korea, and Myanmar. This restriction adds another layer of complexity to the already strained system.

Further complicating the situation is the fact that many foreign tourists have already paid for their visas through VFS Global, raising concerns about additional charges for on-arrival visas. The department has made it clear that without issuing these visas, they cannot permit passengers to enter the country.

As of now, the department’s official website has posted a notice regarding the suspension of the visa issuance system, effective from August 2 at 17:00 Sri Lanka Standard Time. Passengers whose visa applications were in process or submitted after this time are eligible for a refund and are instructed to share their application reference number with [email protected].

In a related development, Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) filed a fundamental rights violation petition (SC/FR/221/2024) in the Supreme Court on July 30. The petition, filed in the public interest, calls for accountability in the procedural violations and misuse of public trust by officials involved in procuring private entities to handle the ETA system for tourist visas.

The petitioners argue that the lack of transparency and adherence to proper guidelines in the decision-making and procurement processes has significantly impacted the tourism industry, the national economy, and national security. 

They contend that the actions and inactions of the respondents have violated the citizens’ fundamental rights to equality and information, as enshrined in Articles 12(1) and 14A of the Constitution.

Among the respondents named in the petition are the Minister of Public Security, the Controller General of Immigration, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, several private companies, and the Attorney General. The petition highlights several key issues, including agreements with private entities that could lead to substantial financial losses and harm to the tourism sector.

A notable incident at the Bandaranaike International Airport in May 2024 brought to light the problematic nature of appointing private entities for visa processing. 

The petition emphasizes that the existing partnership with Mobitel (Pvt) Limited, which has been in place since 2012, ran smoothly without major issues. In contrast, the private entities involved in the current arrangement have charged significantly higher fees and have been linked to several operational problems.

The petition calls for the respondents to be held accountable for their illegal, arbitrary, and unreasonable actions or omissions in the procurement process

August 10, Colombo (LNW): Golden Island Hospitality (Pvt) has partnered with India’s prominent Majestic Group Hotels & Casinos to introduce the Majestic Pride Casino in Sri Lanka. This new gaming facility will be located at the Lotus tower premises in Colombo, offering a premier gaming experience.

The Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization, and National Policy of Sri Lanka has granted a casino business license to Golden Island Hospitality under the Casino Business (Regulation) Act No. 17 of 2010. Following the completion of necessary agreements on July 4th, the Majestic Pride Casino is poised to become a key player in Sri Lanka’s gaming industry.

Further solidifying this venture, an agreement was signed on August 1, 2024, between Golden Island Hospitality and the Sri Lanka Board of Investment under Section 17(2) of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka Law No. 4 of 1978.

Golden Island Hospitality announced that the Majestic Pride Casino will be established in the iconic Lotus Tower in Colombo 10, promising a world-class gaming environment. This venture marks a new chapter in Sri Lanka’s gaming and hospitality sector.

Majestic Pride Casino aims to become a leading destination for tourists, enhancing Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, contributing to the economy, and providing job opportunities for local youth in the gaming and hospitality sectors.

For over 15 years, the Majestic Group has been a leader in luxury and entertainment in Goa, India, drawing tourists from across the country with their exceptional offerings and commitment to excellence.

Ranked the 19th tallest tower in the world and 11th tallest in Asia, Colombo Lotus Tower opened to the public with its main function as a radio and television broadcasting antenna for more than 100 stations and telecommunications service providers.

It also boasts six floors of retail and tourism offerings including a museum, restaurants, a food court, MICE facilities, an observation deck and one floor of luxury hotel rooms.

While details of the casino itself are light, a senior official said that Kreate Design would lease out one floor of Colombo Lotus Tower covering 44,000 square meters and that the floor would be used to create an entertainment area comprising a casino and a water park, among other attractions. The initial agreement is for 10 years.

Kreate Design’s Business Development Director Cyntia Chan is quoted as saying, “This investment agreement includes development of water sports and an entertainment zone, one of the best to be developed at world class standard at the Lotus Tower in Colombo.”

“This will enable Colombo Lotus Tower as a hub to develop trade, investment and tourism activities between Singapore and Sri Lanka.”

Sri Lanka currently has five legal casinos, of which three are owned by Dhammika Perera and two by Ravi Wijeratne.