IMF officials led by Mission Chief Peter Breuer tour the Jaffna District: meet Provincial Governor P M S Charles and discuss economic growth in the Province, de-mining, resettlement of conflict-displaced individuals & compensation for conflict victims: also discuss educational matters related to the Jaffna University, post-Covid operations, and effects of climate change in the region.
Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera reveals that over one million electricity disconnections occurred in 2023, marking the highest number in history: says that out of nearly 7 million users, defaulted payments led to 1,064,400 disconnections: CEB was responsible for 965,566 disconnections and LECO for 98,834 disconnections.
Consumers experience profound misery as the relentless surge in the cost of living reaches new & distressing heights: vegetables at staggering prices: Carrots Rs.2,200 per kg, broccoli Rs.7,000, Beans Rs.1,400, Beetroot Rs.1,200, Green chillies Rs.1,400: Central Bank says Inflation has moderated to less than 5%, and IMF praises the outcome.
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena says the 4th Session of the 9th Parliament will be ended on 24th January ’24: the termination date to be confirmed through a gazette issued by the President.
Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader & MP Udaya Gammanpila says the process of insulting Buddhism in the country is now a highly organized process and colossal amounts of money is invested by certain foreign countries for this purpose: also says those who insult Buddhism receive massive sums of money.
Govt. seeks 3 weeks to respond to the health sector non-medical employees’ unions’ who are demanding the “Disturbance, Availability and Transport” allowance of Rs.35,000 as provided to doctors.
Elections Commission Chairman R M A L Rathnayake says the Commission had already initiated work related to the Presidential Election: also says he hopes the necessary funds for the preliminary work will be received by the end of June’24.
Recent Govt audit report reveals that the Prisons capacity has exceeded by 232%.
Met Dept says polluted air from India has caused haze in Bandarawela & Badulla: explains that the wind flow from New Delhi comes in a circular motion where it travels from Delhi towards Bay of Bengal, and that this wind flow curves from Bay of Bengal thereby entering SL from the East.
Zimbabwe wins the 2nd Cricket T20I against SL, by 4 wickets: SL – 173/6 in 20 overs: Charith Asalanka 69, Angelo Mathews 66*: Zimbabwe 178/6 in 19.5 overs.
January 17, Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Education has released the revised schedule for the second phase of the 3rd academic term of 2023 for government and government-approved private schools. The updated start date for this term is now set for Monday, February 05, 2024.
Originally, the Education Ministry had planned to commence the second phase on February 01, 2024. However, this date had to be rescheduled due to a decision made by the Examinations Department. The department opted to reconduct the Agriculture Science paper for the ongoing 2023 GCE Advanced Level Examinations on February 01, 2024. The decision was prompted by concerns of paper leaks on social media, leading to the nullification of both papers 1 and 2 of the Agriculture Science examination. Consequently, the Ministry of Education adjusted the academic term schedule to accommodate the changed examination dates.
January 17, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s Colombo port has experienced a significant increase in container volumes in recent weeks, attributed to vessels diverting from tensions in the southern Red Sea. Shipping companies are opting for Colombo as a transit point, avoiding the conflict-ridden Red Sea route.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have targeted ships in the Red Sea since November, disrupting a crucial route accounting for approximately 12% of global shipping traffic. In response, some shipping companies are rerouting vessels around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, despite it being a slower and costlier alternative.
Colombo’s strategic location has made it a preferred hub for ships seeking access to the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia. Lal Weerasinghe, a senior official at the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), explained that Colombo is the first hub ships encounter after passing South Africa, making it a convenient port for access.
The Port of Colombo, a key link between Africa, the Middle East, and East Asia, recorded a 2% increase in container volumes, handling 6.94 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2023, with a notable 15% jump in TEUs in December alone.
Over the past four to six weeks, shipping lines have sought additional berthing windows, and transshipment volumes from neighboring India have also risen. Weerasinghe noted an increase of approximately 1,000 TEUs per day, leading to a need to decline requests from some shipping lines to avoid delays for existing customers.
Mediterranean Shipping Company accounts for up to 50% of the increased traffic. Colombo is increasingly being utilized as a relaying port, with ships offloading their entire cargo to different vessels.
January 17, Colombo (LNW): A shortage of essential stents required for heart surgeries at the Colombo National Hospital is causing difficulties for patients, raising concerns about potential risks for those dealing with cardiac conditions.
Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe, spokesperson for the Government Medical Officers’ Association, emphasized the critical situation, expressing worries about the lives of heart patients being at risk due to the unavailability of necessary stents.
In an effort to verify the situation, News 1st reached out to Dr. Kumara Wickramasinghe, Director of the National Hospital, who confirmed the shortage of stents. This acknowledgment underscores the gravity of the situation, as a reliable supply of these medical devices is crucial for heart surgeries.
Dr. Palitha Mahipala, Secretary of the Ministry of Health, further confirmed the ongoing shortage. However, he provided reassurance by stating that orders have been placed to replenish the necessary medical supplies.
January 17, Colombo (LNW): In a recent announcement, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has once again sounded the alarm regarding an escalating number of financial scams associated with promises of high returns through cryptocurrency investments.
The bank emphasizes that it has neither granted licenses nor provided authorization to individuals or businesses for engaging in activities such as cryptocurrency operations, Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), mining, exchanges, deposit-taking or custody services, or advisory services related to cryptocurrencies.
Highlighting the alarming surge in fraudulent activities linked to crypto investments, the Central Bank urges the public to be vigilant and acquainted with the tactics employed by fraudsters to protect their finances.
The bank’s message warns against the various tactics employed by scammers, including the exploitation of social media platforms to promote schemes with high returns, often accompanied by boasts of claimed earnings. It underscores the use of communication channels like Whatsapp and Telegram by scammers to interact with potential victims.
The announcement sheds light on how scam advertisements often lead individuals to professional-looking websites, designed to mask their fraudulent nature. Some scammers even go so far as to conduct classes or awareness sessions on fabricated platforms, disseminating misleading information about earning high returns or trading cryptocurrencies.
Once an investment is made, scammers may swiftly seize funds or continue the deception to attract more victims. The announcement emphasizes the importance of recognizing potential scams, as victims may not realize they’ve fallen prey until attempting to divest from their investments.
Providing insights on protecting oneself from scams, the announcement highlights that cryptocurrencies are unregulated in Sri Lanka, not recognized as legal tender, and lack regulatory safeguards.
The Central Bank identifies several entities found promoting the involvement of cryptocurrencies, including Sport Chain App, Sports Chain ZS Society Sri Lanka, OnmaxDT 3, MTFE App, MTFE SL Group, MTFE Success Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, and MTFE DSCC Group (Pvt) Ltd.
January 16, London, UK (LNW): The High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the United Kingdom, Rohitha Bogollagama, paid a gracious courtesy call on the Archbishop of Canterbury, Right Reverend Justin Welby, on 11 January 2024 at the Lambeth Palace in London. the Sri Lankan High Commission in London said in a statement today (16).
Prior to their meeting, an Anglican paternity led by the Archbishop convened at the St-Mary-at-Lambeth church, offering prayers for the well-being of Sri Lanka.
During their interaction, High Commissioner Bogollagama and Archbishop Welby delved into the historical significance of the Church of Ceylon, established in 1845 as an extra-provincial jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The discussion extended to exploring proposed reforms for the Church of Sri Lanka.
Archbishop Welby fondly recalled his visit to the Temple of the Tooth Relic during his tour to Sri Lanka in 2019.
In turn, High Commissioner Bogollagama provided a comprehensive briefing on the Buddhist heritage and the evolution of Buddhist institutions in Sri Lanka.
The dignitaries engaged in an extensive dialogue covering various facets relevant to Sri Lanka, including the country’s current economic and political landscape, international relations, economic ties between the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka, and the ongoing reconciliation process.
Archbishop Welby expressed the opinion that an effective reconciliation process must emanate from within the relevant community.
Archbishop Justin Welby, serving as the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury since 2013, holds the esteemed position of being the Primate of All England and the symbolic head primus inter pares of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
The High Commission of Sri Lanka looks forward to continued collaboration and strengthened ties between Sri Lanka and the Church of England.
January 16, Colombo (LNW): A demonstration was staged in front of the Ministry of Health this (16) afternoon, marked by a fervent demand for the arrest of former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.
The protesters alleged that the former minister jeopardised patient lives by permitting the importation of substandard medicines.
The roots of this protest trace back to January 1, when individuals, including Dr. Chamal Sanjeeva, laid a wreath in protest in front of Rambukwella’s residence in Colombo.
This act was a response to the ex-minister’s alleged involvement in allowing substandard medicines into the country. A complaint was filed against three individuals, including Dr. Chamal Sanjeeva, following this demonstration.
As part of the protest today, two replicas of corpses were brought to the site, symbolising death, in addition to wreaths. A street play condemning the ex minister’s actions was also added to the demonstration.
The protesters initially intended to march from the Ministry of Health to the police station with the effigies and wreaths. However, due to police restrictions, they opted to transport the symbolic elements in a vehicle to the Kuruduwatta Police station.
Tensions arose between the Police and protesters as they were not permitted to proceed on foot. Consequently, replicas of wreaths and corpses were placed in front of the Police station, resulting in additional confrontations.
Notably, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP, Dr. Kavinda Jayawardena, arrived at the scene to express his solidarity with the protest. However, he faced severe opposition from the demonstrators, who asserted that a robust opposition would prevent the government from engaging in activities detrimental to human welfare.
Despite the protests, Jayawardena left the scene.
The demonstration garnered support from civil society activists and various individuals concerned about the alleged actions of the former Health Minister.
January 16, Colombo (LNW): Milinda Moragoda, Founder of the Pathfinder Foundation, has urged political parties to prioritize the abolition of the Provincial Council (PC) system in their upcoming campaign manifestos for the national elections. Moragoda reiterated his proposal to eliminate Provincial Councils, advocating for the direct devolution of power to strengthened and reconfigured Local, Urban, and Municipal Councils.
Emphasizing the proximity of these local bodies to the citizenry, Moragoda asserted that they are better equipped to address and resolve community-level issues. He argued that for a country with a population of 22 million, an additional layer of administration in the form of Provincial Councils is unnecessary.
Moragoda proposed this measure as part of a broader strategy to restructure and modernize Sri Lanka’s governance and economy. He envisioned a small, efficient, and people-centric Government, suggesting the removal of the Provincial Council layer. Instead, he proposed achieving necessary coordination through a district-level framework involving relevant Members of Parliament, key figures from existing Local Government offices, and other stakeholders.
The original purpose of the 13th Amendment, enacted in 1987, was to enhance provincial autonomy and address Sri Lanka’s ethnic issues. However, Moragoda argued that this structure has proven to be redundant, costly, divisive, and inefficient. In lieu of the Provincial Council layer, he recommended establishing an empowered Senate or Upper House to handle matters related to religious, ethnic, and regional diversity.
Moragoda believes that a representative and properly composed forum, such as an empowered Senate, would be better positioned to identify solutions for the complex issues facing the nation.
January 16, Colombo (LNW): The Secretary of the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA), Dr. Haritha Aluthge, strongly criticized the ongoing strike by primary and secondary level health service employees demanding an allowance that, according to him, they are not entitled to. Dr. Aluthge labeled the strike as a concerning precedent, deeming it both absurd and unethical.
Speaking on the matter, Dr. Aluthge emphasized that the dispute revolves around the increase in the Disturbance, Availability, and Transport (DAT) allowance, which is exclusively designated for doctors as the most senior officials in the health sector. He pointed out the constitutional principle of treating equals equally and stressed that there is no provision for equal treatment of unequals.
While noting that the GMOA typically refrains from intervening in actions initiated by other professional groups, Dr. Aluthge considered this situation exceptional. He questioned the basis on which primary and secondary officers in the health field are seeking a special allowance reserved for doctors.
In response to the strike, the Health Secretary has communicated in writing to the Alliance of Health Trade Unions, informing them of a scheduled discussion chaired by the Minister at 11 am on the 16th to address the workers’ grievances.
January 16, Colombo (LNW): The All Ceylon Nurses Union, currently engaged in a strike as of today, organised a demonstration in front of the Colombo National Hospital, expressing their urgent demand for the immediate resolution of issues related to allowances within the health service.
With a commitment to maintaining professional unity and avoiding conflicts within the health service, the All Ceylon Nurses Union emphasised the importance of justice in addressing the concerns surrounding allowances.
The paramedical services, aligned with the nurses’ stance, appeal to the government to consider providing an allowance of Rs 35,000 for their services, ensuring parity with the increased allowance granted to medical professionals.
It is noteworthy that 72 health unions have extended their support to today’s strike, underscoring the widespread concern within the health sector regarding allowance disparities.
The root of this issue stems from a decision by the Cabinet to approve the increase of the Disturbance, Availability, and Transport allowance (DAT) for doctors from Rs 35,000 to Rs 70,000, leading to a call for equitable treatment across all healthcare professionals.
The All Ceylon Nurses Association remains committed to fostering a collaborative environment within the healthcare sector and urges swift attention to this matter for the overall benefit of the healthcare workforce and, ultimately, the well-being of the public.
