The country’s manufacturing sector saw an upturn in May, whilst services sector showed a sluggish expansion, judging by the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI).

Following the seasonal dip in April, the Manufacturing PMI recorded an index value of 58.2 in May, indicating an expansion in manufacturing activities. 

In the first three months the Manufacturing PMI turned positive, after a dip in December 2023.  In April the Manufacturing PMI April failed to sustain the strong upturn recorded in the first quarter of 2024.

PMI compiler Central Bank of Sri Lanka said new orders and production sub-indices were mainly attributable to the manufacture of Food and Beverages sector increased during the month, resulting in an overall increase in the index.

As per the respondents, the considerable increase in production activities was due to more working days prevailed in May compared to the previous month. 

Stock of purchases increased considerably during the month, in line with the increase in new orders and production. However, suppliers’ delivery time further lengthened in May. 

“The industry expectations for the next three months remain positive, anticipating a gradual increase in demand. However, many respondents are cautious about the existing issues related to container availability in the global shipping industry,” CBSL said.

It also said the Services sector PMI indicated a slower expansion in services activities in May 2024 as reflected by the business activity index, which recorded an index value of 55.0.

The expansion in business activities was driven by the improvements observed across most sectors. Accordingly, business activities in the financial services continued to grow in line with the reductions in market interest rates. 

Further, business activities in the transportation services experienced a considerable growth, while telecommunication, real estate, health and professional services also recorded positive developments during the month. 

Nevertheless, business activities in the accommodation, food and beverages services declined further during the month in line with the decline in tourist arrivals on a month-on-month basis. Moreover, business activities related to wholesale and retail trade also declined with end of the festive season.

“New businesses increased in May, particularly with the increases observed in financial services,” CBSL said.

Employment increased in May due to new recruitments made by several companies. Meanwhile, backlogs of work continued to decline during the month.

“Expectations for Business Activities for the next three months continued to improve, at a higher rate, supported by favourable macroeconomic conditions,” CBSL added. 

June 21, Colombo (LNW): In a bid to rejuvenate the Sri Lankan film sector declaring it as a formal industry whilst positioning the country as a major tourist hub in South Asia, the Government has decided to host the Colombo International Film Festival. 

Organised under the sponsorship of the National Film Corporation (NFC) and the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), the film festival is set to take place from 8-14 July in Colombo.

Sri Lanka’s film production, distribution and screening at cinema halls will be given an official recognition as an industry by overhauling and modernising the outdated national film corporation, Finance Ministry sources divulged.

A cabinet memorandum will also be presented soon giving prominence to the entertainment sector including cinemas for its consideration as a formal industry while scrapping the entertainment levy on the directions of President Ranil Wickremesinghe. This would include entertainment taxes on hotel events and open-air shows.

The aim is to transform the National Film Corporation into a film and tele-drama industry development company by leveraging modern technology to provide state assistance to boost local cinema attracting foreign direct investments

The Cabinet of Ministers on Wednesday approved the joint proposal by Mass Media Minister Bandula Gunawardena and Tourism Minister Harin Fernando to host the Colombo International Film Festival. 

Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardena announced the festival will feature over 34 award-winning films from a variety of countries, including Iran, France, India, South Korea, China, Japan and Germany.

“The primary objective is to popularise global cinematography in the country by creating a revival in the Sri Lankan film industry, as well as making the destination a tourist hub in South Asia by gaining high tourist attraction,” he stated.

The film festival promises a rich cultural experience for Sri Lankan audiences and film enthusiasts, offering them access to a diverse array of international films. 

In addition to the screenings, the Cabinet Co-Spokesman said the festival has attracted the participation of many international judges, further underscoring its significance on the global film festival circuit. 

The involvement of these judges is expected to enhance the festival’s prestige and provide insights into the standards and trends of global cinema.

“This initiative also provides an invaluable opportunity for film students to gain a deeper understanding and experience of global cinematography,” Gunawardena added. 

He said the Colombo International Film Festival is anticipated to not only boost the local film industry but also significantly contribute to the tourism sector by drawing movie buffs and tourists from around the world. 

June 21, Colombo (LNW): Police have announced a comprehensive security program across the island for Poson Poya.

Police Spokesperson Deputy Inspector General of Police Attorney-At-Law Nihal Thalduwa stated that key areas where people traditionally gather during Poson, such as Mihintale, Anuradhapura city limits, Thanthirimale, Avukana, Vijithapura, Namal Uyana, and Kekirawa, have been identified for heightened security measures.

In response to anticipated large gatherings, nearly 20,000 police officers will be deployed to ensure the safety and security of temples and the public during Poson Poya.

June 21, Colombo (LNW): The proposal to revise the current Education Ministry circular instructions for the admission of children to the first grade of schools in 2025 has received Cabinet approval.

The government emphasized that the admission process for first grade is conducted transparently and aims to minimize irregularities, ensuring equal access to education in line with the Ministry of Education’s circular.

The Cabinet approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Education to amend the existing circular instructions based on experiences and feedback from past years. The revised circular instructions will guide the admission process for the first grade starting in 2025 and in subsequent years.

June 21, Colombo (LNW): In a significant diplomatic exchange, President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar led bilateral discussions at the President’s House today (20). The joint energy projects between India and Sri Lanka took centre stage during these discussions.

Following their official meeting, President Wickremesinghe and Dr. Jaishankar delved into various initiatives aimed at enhancing energy connectivity and developing the renewable energy sector. Significant attention was given to plans for an LNG supply, a proposed petroleum pipeline linking the two countries, and advancing oil and gas exploration projects. Additionally, the construction of the Sampur Solar Power Plant is set to commence in July 2024.

The discussions also focused on enhancing the efficiency of projects supported by the Indian government, aimed at bolstering Sri Lanka’s liquid milk industry and fertilizer production. Furthermore, they covered projects under India’s support for developing Trincomalee and expanding the Kankasanthurai port.

The meeting also addressed the ongoing development of Jaffna Airport and Colombo Airport with Indian assistance, as well as the acceleration of Sri Lanka’s unique digital identity card project, marking a significant step towards the country’s digitization efforts.

Notable attendees included Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry, Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera, Senior Adviser on National Security and Head of Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayaka, Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake, along with an Indian delegation including Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha.

1. President Wickremesinghe and Indian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar jointly unveiled a digital plaque commemorating the inauguration of 106 houses constructed under the Indian Housing Project in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, and Matale districts. Additionally, they handed over 24 houses from model villages in Colombo and Trincomalee to their respective beneficiaries.
2. Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Sarath Fonseka strongly criticized his party leader Sajith Premadasa, stating that Fonseka’s request to speak in Parliament had been rejected by the Chief Opposition Whip. “I made the request to speak three days ago and was informed that instructions had been given to prevent me from making any speeches. I was asked if I would work for Sajith Premadasa in the Presidential Election,” Fonseka said.
3. The Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health says that 5,000 Leptospirosis cases have been reported within the first six months of the year. Health officials advise the public to promptly seek medical advice if they experience a fever or exhibit symptoms related to rat fever.
4. Former President Maithripala Sirisena alleges that the Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has not distributed any of the funds or financial aid received to assist the victims of the Easter Sunday terror attacks.
5. The Women’s Empowerment Bill was passed in Parliament with amendments, following its third reading. This was announced to the House by the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Ajith Rajapakshe. The third reading of the bill was passed without a vote.
6. The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for the procurement of 2.3 million pre-printed Polycarbonate cards for printing National Identity Cards (NICs).
7. Arrangements have been made for the Colombo International Film Festival to be held from 08-14 July this year, under the joint initiative of the National Film Corporation and the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.
8. The Cabinet of Ministers has approved proposal to amend the current circular related to the admission of children to the Grade 01 classes of government schools. Cabinet Spokesman, Minister Bandula Gunawardena stated that the admission of children to the first grade of schools is done transparently and in a manner that minimizes irregularities, in order to ensure equal access to education consistent with the circular issued by the Ministry of Education.
9. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia for cooperation in promoting direct investment between the two nations. Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia reached an agreement to enter into a MOU to attract direct investment to the country and improve the investment environment of the two countries through policy and legal reforms, provision of advanced and integrated infrastructure facilities, process redesign, etc.
10. National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader MP Wimal Weerawansa demanded that the Government maintain transparency in its discussions with the visiting Indian Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar. Addressing Parliament, Weerawansa said that at least 10 to 12 projects are expected to be agreed upon during Jaishankar’s visit.

June 21, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lankan High Commissioner Kana Kananathan met with Prime Minister of Niger Ali Lamine Zeine to discuss the enhancement of bilateral relations between the two nations.

The discussions underscored Sri Lanka’s commitment to strengthening its cooperation with African nations, particularly focusing on fostering economic ties and exploring mutual opportunities.

During the meeting, both officials emphasized the importance of bolstering economic cooperation. They highlighted the significant potential for Sri Lankan businesses to invest in and engage with Niger’s renewable energy and mining sectors. Niger, known for its vast natural resources, including large deposits of uranium, gold, iron ore, and coal, presents lucrative opportunities for Sri Lankan entrepreneurs.

Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine welcomed the interest of Sri Lankan businesses and assured High Commissioner Kananathan of his government’s support in facilitating these ventures.

This meeting marks a pivotal step in reinforcing the longstanding friendship and cooperation between Sri Lanka and African nations. Both countries are committed to exploring new avenues of collaboration, contributing to the economic prosperity and development of their respective nations.

Additionally, Prime Minister Zeine and High Commissioner Kananathan reiterated their commitment to supporting each other in international fora, reinforcing their positions on global platforms and advocating for shared interests.

June 21, Colombo (LNW): Livestock Development State Minister D. B. Herath emphasized that under the effective leadership of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the country, which had suffered collapse in every sphere, has experienced significant reconstruction.

During a press briefing at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) on Wednesday (19) under the theme “Collective Path to a Stable Country,” State Minister Herath urged the public to carefully consider the current Government’s concessional programmes aimed at bolstering the economy. He questioned whether these programmes should be jeopardized by entrusting them to an inexperienced party.

He stated that the Ministry acted responsibly to implement vital programmes aimed at revitalizing a country that had suffered across all sectors. During a period of food scarcity, decisive actions by the Ministry successfully mitigated the risks involved. Under the leadership of President Wickremesinghe, the Government and its Cabinet dedicated themselves to rescuing the country from the crisis.

Substantial efforts were made to steer the country in the right direction through the enactment of essential laws to reform the legal system. Measures were also taken to combat corruption and uphold the rule of law. These initiatives were successfully implemented with crucial international support. The guidance of President Wickremesinghe and fostering international relationships proved invaluable.

State Minister Herath highlighted that while many countries are still struggling to recover from the global economic collapse caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Sri Lanka successfully emerged from this crisis within two years. With support from allied nations, including the International Monetary Fund, the country overcame fuel and electricity shortages, eliminating long queues. The positive impacts of these actions have been evident to the people.

However, he noted that ahead of the Presidential Election, certain Opposition figures are making statements aimed at disturbing the country’s development process. Therefore, it is crucial for the public to evaluate whether assigning the responsibility of economic recovery to inexperienced parties could lead to setbacks in the country’s progress.

June 21, Colombo (LNW): Indian External Affairs Minister, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, met with Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at Temple Trees .

The Prime Minister congratulated Dr. Jaishankar on the election victory of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance and reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations. He expressed gratitude for India’s support during the difficult times following the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic crisis.

Dr. Jaishankar emphasized the importance of neighboring countries like Sri Lanka to India, highlighting the significant goodwill for Sri Lanka within India. He reiterated India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and stated that the primary purpose of his visit was to underscore India’s continued commitment to Sri Lanka as its closest maritime neighbor and time-tested friend.

The discussions between the Prime Minister and Dr. Jaishankar covered Indian investments, development projects, connectivity projects, and other mutually beneficial cooperation areas.

The Indian delegation included Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha, Additional Secretary (Indian Ocean Region) Puneet Agarwal, Joint Secretary Sandeep Kumar Bayapu of the External Affairs Ministry, and Deputy High Commissioner Satyanjal Pandey.

Sri Lankan attendees included Minister Douglas Devananda, MP Yadamini Gunawardena, Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake, Prime Minister’s Advisor Sugeeswara Senadhira, and the Foreign Ministry’s Director General (South Asia) Niluka Kaduragamuwa.

Strong winds of about (40-50) kmph can be expected at times over the Western slopes of the central hills, Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Trincomalee, Hambantota and Monaragala districts.

June 21, Colombo (LNW): The Urumaya National Operations Secretariat has organized a mobile initiative across the country from June 26 to 30 to expedite the “Urumaya” national programme, which aims to provide two million freehold land deeds.

Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Chandra Herath, announced that government officials responsible for issuing freehold deeds will visit villages to gather information from residents and expedite the issuance of the freehold deeds. Herath shared these views during a press conference held at the Presidential Media Centre on June 20.

She elaborated that large numbers of land deeds have already been distributed under the “Urumaya” programme, and this mobile service aims to accelerate its progress. The mobile programme will be implemented nationwide from June 26 to 30. All government officials responsible for issuing freehold land deeds will participate, handling necessary measurements and documentation. The Registrar General’s Department, Survey Department, Divisional Secretariats, and District Secretariats are involved in this programme, and no fees will be charged from land licence holders.

Irrigation Ministry Secretary, Saman Darshana Pandikorala, mentioned that there are over 280,000 licences within the Mahaweli Zones. The Urumaya programme aims to provide freehold land deeds to all licensees residing in fifteen districts across ten Mahaweli zones. Currently, preparations are underway to issue deeds to around 60,000 people.

Land Commissioner General, Bandula Jayasinghe, noted that although the “Urumaya” Freehold Land Deeds programme has made significant progress, many rural residents have not fully understood its benefits. Some individuals keep their landowner’s licences at home, missing the opportunity to obtain a freehold deed. Licence holders are now advised to promptly meet with their Divisional Secretary to submit their licences and apply for a freehold land deed without any conditions.

To enhance efficiency, the Presidential Secretariat, Land Commissioner General’s Department, Mahaweli Authority, Survey Department, and the Registrar General’s Department have jointly organized this mobile service to cover every Divisional Secretariat and Grama Niladhari Division. Officials, including the Divisional Secretary, will visit villages. Residents are required to submit their land documents and receive a receipt, ensuring they secure their freehold land rights promptly under the Urumaya programme.

Mahaweli Authority Director General, Mahendra Abhayagunawardena, and Additional Director of the Survey Department, K.R. Sarath, also addressed the gathering.

Strong winds of about (40-50) kmph can be expected at times over the Western slopes of the central hills, Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Trincomalee, Hambantota and Monaragala districts.