June 19, Colombo (LNW): Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena highlighted the critical need to protect wetlands as a vital resource to address future flood prevention challenges in Colombo. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the First Wetland Link International (WLI) Asia-Oceania Conference 2024 at Water’s Edge, the Prime Minister stressed the collective responsibility of safeguarding urban wetlands.

Addressing the conference attendees, the Prime Minister urged academics to develop common solutions for wetland management, recognizing the universal nature of the issues affecting urban wetlands.

“This conference is of utmost importance as wetlands are fundamental to the well-being of residents in major cities, and Colombo is no exception. Even the most degraded wetlands provide a range of benefits that contribute to human well-being in the city. The Colombo wetlands complex spans six local authorities, including the Municipal Councils of Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, Colombo, Kaduwela, Kolonnawa, Maharagama, and Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia,” the Prime Minister stated.

He noted that urban wetlands in these areas have been integrated into the city’s development planning. The 150-year-old wetlands have been reclaimed and managed to ensure their sustainability for another 150 years. As both the Minister of Local Government and the Prime Minister, Gunawardena expressed his special interest in this subject.

The First WLI Asia-Oceania Conference began at Diyasaru Park on June 16 and will continue until June 22 under the theme “Wetlands and Wetland Centres for Ecotourism.” The event features representatives from wetland centers in over 15 countries, including members of the Ramsar Regional Centre East Asia (RRC-EA) and the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust (WWT) from the UK.

The conference is organized by the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation (SLLDC) in collaboration with the Western Province Tourist Board and the Climate Change Office of the Presidential Secretariat.

June 19, Colombo (LNW): Justice, Prison Affairs, and Constitutional Reforms Ministry Secretary M. N. Ranasinghe announced on Monday that the country’s dispute settlement process outside of court has been significantly strengthened, with an impressive settlement rate of nearly 70%, gaining international recognition.

At a press conference at the Presidential Media Centre, Ranasinghe detailed several initiatives aimed at improving access to justice. The Judicial Zoning Committee has proposed the establishment of new courts to serve rural areas. Consequently, a Tourism Court has been set up in Morawewa, with plans for additional courts in Medawachchiya, Kahatagasdigiliya, Nochchiyagama, Kalavanchikudi, Narammala, and Kalawana. Over the past two years, several new courts have been established.

Ranasinghe emphasized that from 2022 to 2024, Sri Lanka has seen unprecedented legal reforms, with 59 reforms passed in Parliament and more in progress. The Legal Draftsman Department prepared 273 drafts in 2022 and 299 drafts in 2023, supporting various ministries.

Efforts to digitize the judicial system have been highlighted as a major solution to expedite legal processes and foster economic development. The amendment of the Constitution increased the number of Supreme Court judges by 14, and 76 judicial officers were recruited in the last two years. Additionally, 34 individuals were promoted to High Court Judges, facilitating the establishment of new courts.

Significant legislative actions over the past two years include the enactment of the Anti-Corruption Bill, the Hydrology Bill, and amendments to the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. The recently enacted Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill mandates that candidates report their expenditures within 21 days of election results.

Additional Secretary (Legal) Piyumanthi Peiris noted that the Commercial High Court now allows proceedings entirely in English, and online hearings are underway. A new arbitration law has been submitted for approval to resolve cases outside traditional court settings.

Further advancements include the implementation of a Court Community Platform software and electronic systems for bail applications and payments. Digital display boards have been installed in several Colombo courts to manage courtroom crowds effectively.

Additional Secretary (Engineering) S. A. K. Subasinghe reported significant budget allocations for judicial infrastructure, resulting in the opening of court complexes in Ratnapura, Welimada, and Teldeniya, among other projects.

Government Analyst D. Seneviratne highlighted substantial increases in report issuances, reflecting departmental growth. Prisons Commissioner General H.M.T.N. Upuldeniya noted successful prison reforms aimed at reducing overcrowding and modernizing facilities.

The press conference underscored the Ministry’s commitment to legal reforms and the digitization of the judicial system, which are expected to enhance efficiency and support economic development in Sri Lanka.

Public Security Minister Tiran Alles announced in Parliament that a total of 58,304 individuals were granted dual citizenship in Sri Lanka between 2015 and 2020. This announcement was made in response to a question posed by SJB MP Gayantha Karunathilaka.

Minister Alles provided detailed statistics on dual citizenship applications and approvals over the six-year period:

• 2015: 17,126 applications received, 16,184 granted.
• 2016: 14,802 applications received, 13,933 granted.
• 2017: 9,549 applications received, 8,881 granted.
• 2018: 9,750 applications received, 8,747 granted.
• 2019: 8,702 applications received, 7,405 granted.
• 2020: 3,988 applications received, 3,154 granted.

In total, 63,917 applications were submitted for dual citizenship during this period.

The Minister also addressed issues related to the passport application process, highlighting that while a one-day service is available for a fee of Rs. 20,000, standard passport issuance under normal procedures takes about two weeks. He noted challenges in the online application system, such as incorrect contact details and unmonitored email addresses, which can cause delays.

Minister Alles emphasized the importance of accurate data entry and communication to ensure a smooth and timely passport application process.

June 19, Colombo (LNW):The prevailing rainy conditions in the southwestern part of the island are expected to intensify over the next few days, starting from today (19th).

Showers will occur intermittently in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, and North-western provinces, as well as in the districts of Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Galle, and Matara. Some areas in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces, along with the Galle and Matara districts, may experience fairly heavy showers exceeding 75 mm.

In the evening or night, showers or thundershowers may occur in a few places in the Eastern and Uva provinces.

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

June 18, Colombo (LNW): The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of Sri Lanka has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) for the exchange of information related to investigations and prosecutions of money laundering, bribery, corruption, and other related offences.

According to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), the new Anti-Corruption Act, No. 9 of 2023, authorises CIABOC to share relevant information with local law enforcement or other government authorities.

Under the Financial Transactions Reporting Act, No. 6 of 2006 (FTRA), the FIU is permitted to enter into MOUs with domestic government institutions for information exchange.

This agreement with CIABOC will facilitate the sharing of information crucial for the prevention, detection, and prosecution of money laundering, bribery, corruption, and related crimes.

Since 2008, the FIU has signed 44 MOUs with foreign counterparts and 13 with domestic government agencies, including Sri Lanka Customs, Department of Immigration and Emigration, Inland Revenue Department, Department for Registration of Persons, Sri Lanka Police, and the Excise Department of Sri Lanka, to enhance the country’s AML/CFT framework.

The MOU was signed by Mr. Chethiya Goonasekera, PC, Commissioner of CIABOC, and Mr. Kanishka Wijeratne, Director General of CIABOC, along with Dr. Subhani Keerthiratne, Director of the FIU.

The signing ceremony was chaired by Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the CBSL and Chairman of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) National Coordinating Committee. Mrs. K. M. A. N. Daulagala, Deputy Governor of the CBSL and member of the AML/CFT Task Force, also attended the event.

By: Staff Writer

June 18, Colombo (LNW): Within the scope of the Justice Ministry, 59 legal reforms have been passed in Parliament: 29 in 2022, 17 in 2023, and 13 so far in 2024.

 Additionally, seven more drafts are set to be adopted by Parliament soon. It is also important to note that work on 44 other crucial legal amendments is nearly complete it added.

The Secretary to the Ministry of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms, Mr. M. N. Ranasinghe stated that the period from 2022 to 2024 will be historically significant for the highest number of law reforms in Sri Lanka.

He highlighted that since 2022, a total of 59 legal reforms have been passed in Parliament, with an additional 07 drafts and 44 legal amendments slated for future approval.

Mr. Ranasinghe made these remarks during a press conference titled “Two Years of Progress and Advancement” at the Presidential Media Centre yesterday (17).

He emphasized the ministry’s pivotal role in drafting laws across various ministries. He noted that the Department of Legal Draftsman prepared 273 drafts in 2022 and 299 drafts in 2023, encompassing all three languages.

Secretary to the Ministry of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reform, Mr. M. N. Ranasinghe further said:

“The Ministry of Justice, Prison Affairs, and Constitutional Reforms has made significant progress in legal reforms over the past two years.

This period will be remembered as the time where the largest number of legal reforms were implemented.

The Ministry of Justice plays a major role in drafting laws for every ministry. Consequently, the Department of Legal Draftsman prepared 273 draft laws in 2022 and 299 in 2023, in all three languages, for other ministries.

By making the judicial system more efficient, people’s cases can be resolved quickly. This allows property related to litigation to be utilized for economic development and fosters a favourable investment environment. Clearly, there is a direct relationship between delays in the legal system and economic growth.

According to the report issued by the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Legal Affairs in 2017, it typically takes about 17 years to conclude a criminal case. Various studies indicate that it can take more than a generation to complete land, partition, and testamentary cases. We have planned the necessary activities to change this situation.

Digitization of the judicial system has been identified as a major solution. Accordingly, digitization and a large number of reforms have already been carried out in the ministry as well as in the judicial sector.

By: Staff Writer

June 18, Colombo (LNW): Global cybersecurity company Kaspersky said yesterday approximately 2,650 ransomware incidents were detected and blocked by its solutions for businesses in Sri Lanka from January to December 2023.

Experts from the global cybersecurity company insist on organisations, regardless of shape and size, to beef up their IT security posture as ransomware, especially the targeted type, continues to be a damaging menace for organisations in the region.

“The era of widespread mass attacks by encryptors on both individuals and businesses is gradually fading away. Instead, we are witnessing a shift towards organised groups that execute hacks involving data theft and encryption, commonly referred to as double extortion.

The rationale behind this evolution lies in the perpetrators’ ability to operate with greater efficiency, thereby enabling them to demand significantly higher ransom sums,” said Kaspersky Lead Malware Analyst Fedor Sinitsyn.

Last year, ransomware incidents in Sri Lanka include the compromise of 5,000 Government-related emails as well as attacks on telecom servers.

“It is evident that the threat actors behind ransomware attacks target all sectors in Sri Lanka. The total number of attempts may be low, but organisations need to realise the real impact of each successful ransomware infection, both on the financial and reputation fronts.

 It is imperative for businesses here to look into cybersecurity technologies that provide absolute anti-ransomware effectiveness in third-party exams.

Because not all cybersecurity solutions are created equal,” added Kaspersky General Manager for Southeast Asia Yeo Siang Tiong. Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business,

Kaspersky Small Office Security and Kaspersky Standard demonstrated complete protection against ransomware in 10 different real-life attack scenarios during regular Advanced Threat Protection assessments held by AV-TEST.

To combat ransomware and assist those affected, Kaspersky, alongside Europol, the Dutch National Police, and others has the No More Ransom initiative, launched in 2016.

On the official website, participants provide decryption tools, guidelines, and instructions to report cybercrimes, irrespective of the location of the incident.

By the end of 2023, Kaspersky marked the seventh anniversary as a key contributor to the “No More Ransom” initiative. This period witnessed expanded access to Kaspersky’s free decryption tools, in line with its commitment to combating ransomware.

These tools, targeting 39 ransomware families, have been integral in assisting nearly 2 million victims globally, as reported by Europol, underscoring the profound impact of the “No More Ransom” initiative supported by Kaspersky.

To protect business from ransomware attacks, consider following the rules proposed by Kaspersky experts:

Do not expose remote desktop/management services (such as RDP, MSSQL, etc.) to public networks unless absolutely necessary and always use strong passwords, two-factor authentication and firewall rules for them.

Promptly install available patches for commercial VPN solutions providing access for remote employees and acting as gateways in your network.

Always keep software updated on all the devices you use to prevent ransomware from exploiting vulnerabilities.

Focus your defence strategy on detecting lateral movements and data exfiltration to the Internet. Pay special attention to the outgoing traffic to detect cybercriminals’ connections.

Back up data regularly with special attention to offline backup strategies. Make sure you can quickly access it in an emergency when needed.

By: Staff Writer

June 18, Colombo (LNW): All Ceylon Traditional Coconut Oil Manufacturers Association convener Buddhika De Silva attributes price hike to importers hoarding stocks anticipating higher demand during festive season.

Accuses importers of arbitrarily inflating prices; warns prices could soar to Rs. 1,000 per bottle if situation remains unchecked.

Criticises lack of regulatory action on coconut oil importers from Finance Ministry, Plantation Industry Ministry, Coconut Development Authority.

National Consumer Front Chairman Asela Sampath says price hike of over Rs. 150 per litre is unjust to households grappling with economic challenges.

Asserts Govt. must ensure fair pricing, transparency in market to protect consumer interests.

All Ceylon Traditi-onal Coconut Oil Manufacturers Association and the National Consumer Front (NCF) have voiced strong concerns over the recent surge in coconut oil prices, labelling the increase as unfair to consumers and local industries already struggling with a high cost-of-living.

Speaking to the media All Ceylon Traditional Coconut Oil Manufacturers Association Convener Buddhika De Silva attributed this increase to coconut oil importers hoarding stocks in anticipation of higher demand during the festive season.

He accused these importers of arbitrarily inflating prices and warned that prices could soar to Rs. 1,000 per bottle if the situation remains unchecked.

De Silva criticised the lack of regulatory action from key Government bodies. “To date, the Finance Ministry has not imposed taxes on coconut oil imports, the Plantation Industry Ministry has not implemented any regulations to curb this situation and the inept Coconut Development Authority remains silent,” he claimed.

He suggested that the Government could mitigate the price hike by allowing the importation of essential raw materials for local industrialists, which would counteract the unfair pricing strategies employed by oil importers.

Separately, NCF Chairman Asela Sampath highlighted that the price of a litre of coconut oil has risen by around Rs. 180 to Rs. 200, bringing the current retail price to a range of Rs. 550 to Rs. 880, depending on the quality.

“This substantial price hike of over Rs. 150 per litre is pushing consumers into deeper financial misery,” Sampath stated.

The NCF called for immediate action to address the issue, urging authorities to investigate the reasons behind the price hike and to implement measures to stabilise the cost of essential goods.

He questioned the Government whether the Customs had increased their taxes by around Rs. 150 overnight, insisting on an immediate inspection over the whereabouts of hidden stocks by traders.

“Consumers are already burdened with rising living costs and this additional increase in a staple product like coconut oil suddenly with a higher rate is unacceptable and unjust,” Sampath claimed.

June 18, Colombo (LNW): The Constitutional Council has declined the President’s proposal to extend the term of office of Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC.

Reportedly, the President had suggested a six-month extension for the Attorney General.

According to the Lankadeepa, this proposal was rejected during a meeting of the Constitutional Council chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena in Parliament today (18).

There had been recent objections to the President’s proposal to extend the Attorney General’s term.

By: Staff Writer

June 18, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka is in talks with investors to set up a cannabis growing and export processing zone, Investment Promotion Minister Dilum Amunugama said.

A committee has been appointed to look in to growing cannabis for export, and a report has been completed. Authorities have tapped international experts to help devise a set of rules to govern cannabis growing and processing.

Canabis has multiple uses, including medical applications linked to the active ingredient cannabidiol.

The Government has called for project proposals from local and foreign investors interested in the cultivation and manufacturing of medicinal products from cannabis (Triloka Vijayapathra) for export purposes.

The initiative aims to tap into the global demand for medicinal and allied products derived from cannabis.

The move comes into light after the Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardena on 6 February 2024 dismissing claims that a proposal had been presented to the Cabinet of Ministers on cultivating cannabis for export purposes.

The projects will fall under the joint oversight of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) and the Department of Ayurveda (DOA). The BOI will facilitate and implement the projects within a dedicated BOI zone, while the DOA will manage the cultivation, production, regulation and licensing processes.

As per the BOI, the project proposals will be evaluated according to the Ayurveda Act No. 31 of 1961, the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka Law No. 04 of 1978 and other applicable laws.

“Qualified applicants must make a minimum investment of $ 500,000. Upon meeting the required criteria and receiving a recommendation from the BOI, the DOA will issue the necessary licenses for the projects,” the BOI advertisement noted.

An initial license fee of $ 100,000 is required, with an annual renewal fee of $ 200 thereafter.Additionally, qualified applicants must place a security deposit of $ 2 million with the BOI prior to signing the agreement and it will be held for the duration of the license’s validity.

Prospective applicants must also pay a non-refundable application fee of $ 400 to the BOI and a project evaluation fee of $ 1,250 to the DOA. Applications must be submitted to the BOI before 20 June 2024.

Following the denial of Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Minister Gunawardena, on 7 February 2024, former State Minister of Tourism Diana Gamage confirmed that the Cabinet had already approved the export of cannabis in 2023.