January 27, Colombo (LNW): Colombo University Chancellor and Public Service United Nurses’ Association President, Venerable Murutthettuwe Ananda Thera, expressed strong support from the Maha Sangha for President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s efforts in promoting the Sambuddha Sasana order and the welfare of the country. Speaking during a ceremony at the Narahenpita Sri Abhayarama Purana Viharaya to mark his birth on the 26th, Venerable Ananda Thera urged the President to formulate a program aimed at safeguarding the five virtues policy within the nation.

Highlighting concerns about certain actions of the Maha Sangha causing distress among true Buddhists, Venerable Murutthettuwe Ananda Thera called for urgent amendments to the Sasana, with due consideration to the Maha Sangha’s insights. He emphasized the need for a Sasana Shodhana (cleansing of the Buddha Sasana) through a Sangayana to address the emerging challenges.

Addressing the President directly, Venerable Ananda Thera expressed concerns about events conflicting with Buddhist principles, both in media and through some religious figures. He raised the alarm about individuals hastily claiming Buddha and Rahat status, posing a significant threat to the Buddhist order. As the Chief Sangha Nayaka, he earnestly implored the President to intervene and resolve the crisis within the Sambuddha Sasana.

Acknowledging Abhayarama’s association with politicians, Venerable Ananda Thera singled out President Wickremesinghe as the primary supporter of the temple, embodying true Buddhist values. He stressed that no other politician has contributed to the temple in the same way.

In addressing the President’s role as the de facto leader of the nation, Venerable Ananda Thera expressed confidence in President Wickremesinghe’s ability to take reflective action, known for aligning deeds with words. He urged prompt consideration of the Maha Sangha’s insights and a revision of the constitution to address the distress among true Buddhists.

The Thera further emphasized the Maha Sangha’s role in fostering national improvement, seeking the President’s assistance in creating an enlightened discourse to counter divergent opinions affecting public perception.

Closing his address, Venerable Ananda Thera affirmed the Maha Sangha’s support for the President’s efforts in maintaining order and protecting the people. He urged the President to devise a comprehensive program to uphold the Pancha Sheela policy. Additionally, he commended President Wickremesinghe for his role in awarding diplomas to nursing officers and his contributions to the progress of the university, despite past challenges.

The event witnessed the presence of members of the Mahasangha, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Industry and Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, MP Wajira Abeywardena, and other dignitaries.

 High Commission of India, Colombo celebrated India’s 75th Republic Day in Colombo on 26 January 2024. It may be recalled that it was on 26 January 1950 that the Indian Constitution-the world's largest written Constitution-entered into force. The Preamble to the Constitution declares India to be a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic.

2. On the occasion, High Commissioner Santosh Jha unfurled India’s national flag at India House – residence of High Commissioner of India – and inspected the Guard of Honour. High Commissioner also read out excerpts of President of India’s Republic Day address.
3. The event featured songs by the Sri Lanka Navy band and a cultural programme organized by High Commission’s cultural arm, Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center. India’s rich diversity was showcased at the cultural event with performances of several folk dances. These included Garba of Gujarat which is India’s most recent inscription on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List of Humanity. Members of the Indian community attended the ceremony in several hundreds.
4. Earlier in the day, High Commissioner also paid tributes to the fallen heroes of Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) at the IPKF memorial.
5. A ceremonial reception would be organized in the evening at India House. Several dignitaries from all walks of life in Sri Lanka are expected to attend this event.
6. This Republic Day marks over six months to the adoption of the India-Sri Lanka Economic Partnership Vision by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and President Ranil Wickremesinghe during the latter’s visit to India in July 2023. Both sides continue to work towards enhancing connectivity in all its dimensions, identified as the key enabler for shared and sustainable economic prosperity.
7. Consulates General of India in Hambantota and Jaffna and the Assistant High Commission in Kandy also observed the 75th Republic Day of India by organizing special events.

Colombo
26 January 2024

January 27, Colombo (LNW):The Small-Scale Agri-Entrepreneurship Participation Programme (SAPP) in Sri Lanka has earmarked Rs. 4 billion for maize cultivation during the upcoming Yala season. Having allocated Rs. 10 billion for cultivating 40,000 acres of maize in the previous Maha Season, the program aims to support farmers by providing financial allocations for maize cultivation, seeds, fertilizers, and land preparation costs on a non-recovery basis.

The financial assistance and support will be extended to farmers in the Anuradhapura, Hambantota, Badulla, Ampara, and Monaragala districts to promote maize cultivation.

Agriculture and Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, during a visit to observe maize cultivation in the Kasagala area, directed the Small-Scale Agri-Entrepreneurship Participation Programme to offer necessary concessions to farmers for the Yala Season cultivation. Despite reports of the Fall Armyworm epidemic affecting maize cultivation in various areas, the Minister noted the successful cultivation in the Kasagala region.

For the last Maha Season, the Small-Scale Agri-Entrepreneurship Programme supported the cultivation of 5,000 acres of maize in the Hambantota District through concessions. Minister Amaraweera emphasized the importance of continuing and expanding such initiatives to boost maize production in the country.

In the previous Maha Season, a total of 80,000 acres of maize were planted nationwide, with an expected harvest of 350,000 metric tons, according to the Agriculture Department.

January 27, Colombo (LNW): We as a nation currently trying to recover from the present economic crisis by wooing foreign tourists to our country, meanwhile some of our own health care workers who are paid by tax payers money are in the racket of extorting money from innocent foreigners who seek emergency treatment from our Government hospitals. So called socialist, free health care loving workers of hospitals along southern coastal belt hospitals are hell bent on charging & demanding money from foreigners who come to get treatment.

Recently a European Couple who had walked in to a southern base hospital to seek emergency treatment after a road traffic accident was demanded cash by Nurses and attendants on duty and were insisting on keeping their travel documents until they pay. Apparently this sort of thing has been going on for sometime. You could see many tourists who patronise Home stays are frequently visit our hospitals to avail themselves of medical treatment. Actually we could be advertising to the world about our health service and it’s quality. Instead of that certain elements are tarnishing our reputation by resorting to such low level of extortion. Hence Foreigners need to be warned of this racket at entry point to the country.

This is the real pathetic situation in our rural hospitals especially southern coastal belt and their administration had gone to dogs.

Superintendents of these hospitals are spineless in the eyes of these unqualified attendants & some of the Nurses. Many of them are scared of union action. It’s classic case of tail wagging the dog.

They tarnish the good image of Sri Lanka and our humble way of life and hospitality. These cheap rascals need to be brought to books and punished. If not our efforts of promoting Sri Lanka tourism are futile.

To mention another important thing is health administration must insist a proper dress code to our Doctors to prevent an out sider to identify our doctors from the nurses & attendants, because from their dress, patients cannot identify the difference of a doctor and others except for female nurses.

It is high time that our Director General of Health Services and the entire administration step in to avoid such indecent behaviour by these unscrupulous elements. 

1. President Ranil Wickremesinghe prorogues Parliament: next session of the 9th Parliament to begin on 7th February’24.
2. President Ranil Wickremesinghe urges political parties to unite for discussions with IMF on potential “alternative proposals”: expresses readiness to extend invitation to IMF MD to visit SL: former CB Governor & State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal had repeatedly warned that it is highly risky to assume there’s no option other than IMF proposals: he had also urged the consideration of alternative policies to deal with the economic crisis.
3. CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe gives evidence before the Parliamentary Select Committee investigating the Bankruptcy of the country: retracts Treasury Sectetary Sirwardene’s and his own previous statements that SL had become a bankrupt state: analysts contend that the previous announcements of the Governor and Treasury Secretary had prompted the President, Cabinet and entire country to believe SL is bankrupt.
4. Wayamba University Professor of Economics & Statistics Aminda Methsila Perera says it is very likely the inflation rate in January’24 will rise above 9% although CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe has claimed it will rise to 7% only.
5. Chief Executive Director of the Free Trade Zone Investors Federation Dhammika Fernando says the country’s garment exports have shrunk by 20-23% in 2023: laments many small & medium scale factories have closed: also says most large-scale garment industry investors have closed their factories and are investing in Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar & India.
6. State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa says the Uma Oya project will add 120 MW to the national grid by 25th February’24 and boost SL’s energy security.
7. Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake appoints a new Board of Directors to SL Telecom which is to be privatised shortly: Chairman – A K D D D Arandara: Board Members – Dr K A S Keeragala, Dinesh Vidanapathirana, Professor K M Liyanage, Dr D M I S Dassanayake & Chathura Mohottigedara.
8. President Ranil Wickremesinghe says the Govt is considering leasing state-owned plantations to SL companies or SL companies with foreign shareholders for the development of the food industry including confectionery: asks the confectionery industry to explore inter-cropping with cocoa; pledges Rs.8 bn for research & development.
9. Police in Thailand arrest woman Sawangjit Kosoongnern, whose pet lion was videoed going on a joy-ride in the streets of Pattaya: the viral video shows the chained lion cub seated in the back of a white, open-top Bentley driven by a SL man who has since left the country, and is believed to be a friend of the woman.
10. Colombo International School’s Reshan Algama, 15, recognised as the Most Outstanding Schools Golfer of 2023: accordingly, he will be chosen to be part of the Vision 2036 ‘Lion Warrior’ programme to develop SL athletes to take part in the 2036 Olympics.