January 16, Colombo (LNW):Amid an island-wide strike initiated by health sector employees, the Ministry of Defence has deployed tri-forces personnel to support hospital operations. The 24-hour token strike, launched by approximately 72 trade unions in the healthcare service (excluding doctors), began at 6.30 a.m. The unions have opted to carry out only essential duties during this period.

The primary demand of the striking trade unions is the extension of the Rs. 35,000 allowance increase provided to doctors to other health sector employees. In response to the strike, Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana has invited the striking trade unions for discussions on the matter.

Acting Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe has announced plans to meet with Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana later in the evening to address the concerns raised by the health sector and work towards finding suitable solutions.

1. President Ranil Wickrmasinghe expected to highlight SL’s commitment to sustainable development and green energy solutions at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Klosters, Switzerland.
2. SLTPB Chairman Chalaka Gajabahu says SL has earned low tourism revenue despite having 1.5mn arrivals in 2023 due to the arrival of low to medium-end travellers from the top two tourist markets to SL, namely, Russia & India.
3. State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe says the new Micro-finance bill will be introduced soon: also says lenders are providing Micro-finance credit at over 360% interest: laments 95% of struggling borrowers are women whose financial literacy is very low: asserts that according to the new bill, no one will be able to grant Micro-finance loans without a licence.
4. Ministry of Public Security says 1,468 “wanted suspects” out of the list of 42,248 such suspects as shared with all police stations in connection with various crimes, have been arrested so far under the ‘Yukthiya’ operation.
5. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch & International Commission of Jurists, together with several other “international human rights organisations” attempt to pressure the Govt to halt the ongoing “Yukthiya” operation which is targeting narcotics & underworld organized crime: express concern over alleged “drastic intensification of anti-drug operations, leading to significant human rights violations”.
6. Telecom arm of India’s Reliance Industries, “Jio Platforms” expresses interest in buying a stake in SL Telecom: Govt names Jio Platforms, Gortune International Investment Holding Ltd, and Pettigo Comercio International LDA as the 3 potential bidders for SLT: SL’s IMF programme is currently pushing hard for the privatisation of several State Owned Enterprises.
7. Telecom Engineers’ Union questions the presence of only 3 bidders for the proposed divestiture of the Govt’s stake of over 50% in SL Telecom: write to the President expressing their concerns.
8. Police arrest self-proclaimed “Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva” Mahinda Kodituwakku: accuse Kodituwakku of “committing irreligious activities that are contrary to Buddhist teachings”: Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court imposes an overseas travel ban on the suspect: complaint filed by the President of the Buddhist Information Centre, Ven. Agulugalle Sri Jinananda Thera.
9. Sectetary of the Govt Medical Officers’ Assn Dr Haritha Aluthge says the island-wide strike action organized by health sector employees is unjustified: also says only 50% of the “Disturbance, Availability and Transport” allowance and 15% of the requested increments have been received by the Doctors.
10. Senior Chartered Accountant and Tax Expert N R Gajendran says the current tax system is neither fair nor reasonable: also says any tax system had to be based on the “principle of capacity to pay”: lamebts that taxes have now become “unbearable”; previously, several Chartered Accountants and Chambers of Commerce had been at the forefront of advocating the increase in taxes.

January 16, Colombo (LNW): A team of senior officials from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), overseeing Sri Lanka’s USD 2.9 billion bailout program, recently visited the Tamil-dominated Northern district of Jaffna for the first time under the current agreement. Led by Peter Brueur, the IMF senior mission chief for Sri Lanka, the team engaged in discussions with Northern Province Governor PMS Charles and other officials on various issues.

The topics covered during the meetings included economic growth in the province, demining programs, resettlement of conflict-displaced individuals, compensation for conflict victims, educational matters related to Jaffna University, post-COVID operations, and the adverse effects of climate change in the northern region.

After their visit to Jaffna, the team returned to Colombo and is scheduled to engage with the finance ministry. Talks are expected to take place with Shehan Semasinghe, the state minister of finance, who leads the local IMF engagement under President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Discussions in Colombo are anticipated to focus on the targets outlined in the current IMF program, which advocates significant economic reforms in Sri Lanka.

During a meeting with President Wickremesinghe, Peter Brueur expressed satisfaction with Sri Lanka’s progress in implementing reforms aimed at revitalizing the economy. The IMF has commended Sri Lanka for its advancements in policy-oriented variables and fiscal consolidation. Sri Lanka, having declared its first-ever debt default in April 2022, secured the USD 2.9 billion IMF bailout agreement in the last quarter of 2022. The first tranche of USD 1.5 billion was released in March 2023, with the second installment of USD 337 million arriving in December 2023 following the first review.

January 16, Colombo (LNW): Mainly fair weather will prevail over the island.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva, North Western, Southern and North-central provinces during the morning.

There is a possibility of ground frost at some places in Nuwara-Eliya district during the early hours of the morning.

January 15, Colombo (LNW): Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda engaged in discussions with ministry officials and representatives from the National Aquatic Resources Development Authority (NAQDA) to deliberate on the strategic plan formulated by the Fisheries Ministry and NAQDA. The plan, initiated at the Minister’s directive, aims to propel the freshwater fishing industry’s growth in 2024.

Minister Devananda announced the allocation of Rs. 100 million for the enhancement of key fish breeding centers located at Udawalawa, Dambulla, Sevanapitiya, Rambodagalla, and Inginiyagala. Directing officials to promptly initiate and conclude ongoing fish breeding projects, the Minister emphasized the importance of efficient project management.

In addition, the Minister instructed officials to swiftly devise projects utilizing the Rs. 500 million earmarked in the last budget, particularly for the Northern Province. He urged them to submit these projects promptly, highlighting President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s commitment to developing freshwater fish culture and earning foreign exchange for the country. Minister Devananda expressed confidence in the officials’ dedication and assured them of full support in facilitating the development initiatives.

The meeting, attended by Fisheries Ministry Secretary Kumari Somarathne, NAQDA Institute Chairman Prof. B. Wijerathne, NAQDA’s Director General Asoka, and Fisheries Department Director General Susantha Kahawaththa, focused on collaborative efforts to realize the President’s vision for the growth of the freshwater fishing industry.

January 15, Colombo (LNW): Agriculture and Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera commended Sri Lankan farmers for preventing the importation of rice in 2023, despite facing challenges. Speaking at the inauguration of a coconut by-product village for export in the Kachchigalara area of Barawakumbuka on Saturday (13), the Minister highlighted the significant achievement that saved the country foreign exchange.

Minister Amaraweera revealed that in 2022, Sri Lanka had imported 800,000 metric tons of rice at a cost of US$ 300 million. However, due to the efforts of local farmers, not a single grain of rice was imported in 2023, marking a substantial saving for the country.

The Minister acknowledged the demand for coir and other coconut products in China, along with the growing industry’s contribution to generating foreign exchange, particularly from Dubai. He inaugurated the production factory for the coconut by-product village in the presence of Chinese representatives.

Despite challenges such as floods affecting rice cultivation in the current season, Minister Amaraweera expressed confidence, based on Agriculture Department inquiries, that overall rice harvest would not be significantly impacted. He assured that there would be no need to import rice in 2024 and urged immediate action to commence cultivation for the upcoming Yala Season.

To diversify agricultural activities, the Minister instructed the Agriculture Department and the Agricultural Development Department to inform farmers about the cultivation of additional crops such as green gram, cowpea, and maize in lands under small-scale tanks. This strategic approach aims to enhance agricultural productivity and further contribute to the nation’s self-sufficiency.