Colombo (LNW): The Appeal Court yesterday (17) ordered the Police not to arrest pastor Jerome Fernando during any of his arrivals at the airport or any other place in the country.

The order was made after considering a writ petition filed by the self-proclaimed prophet by the two-member Appeal Court bench comprising Justices Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne (Chairman) and Chamath Morais.

Fernando, however, must produce a statement to the Digital Forensic Division of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) within 48 hours after arriving in Sri Lanka, the Court ordered.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW):

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in most provinces of the island after 01.00 p.m, and heavy showers about 100 mm are likely at some places in Central, Uva and Sabaragamuwa provinces, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (18).

Showers may occur in Western and Southern provinces and in Puttalam district during the morning too, the statement added.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Marine Weather:

1. Finance Ministry says a policy decision has been taken to include 87 of the 137 items that are presently exempted from VAT, into the VAT net, in order to increase revenue generation from VAT and increase the efficiency of VAT: this new imposition of tax based on the agreement with the IMF to be effective from 1st Dec’23.
   
2. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa says he will always stand for the people: also says there will be a time in the future to make explanations with regard to the recent Supreme Court decision.
   
3. Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera meets officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency: says the Govt intends to include the use of nuclear energy as a part of the long-term generation plans: affirms the Govt will call for EOIs for establishing nuclear power plants: previously, Wijesekera had said the Govt was assessing nuclear power plant offers from Russia, US, India & some European countries.
   
4. CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe says the Govt has shared the terms of a USD 4.2bn China debt deal, with other creditors: hopes official Creditors Committee led by Japan, India & Paris Club nations will now propose an agreement to restructure SL’s debt: expects which will allow the IMF to approve the next tranche of USD 330mn.
   
5. President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasizes the importance of expanding language knowledge beyond Sinhala & Tamil: announces the implementation of the “English for All” programme in all schools and universities across the country by 2030.
   
6. Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana says it is not possible to provide tax relief as SL continues to be behind the revenue targets set by the IMF, although the Govt is able to increase the salaries of State employees in the upcoming year: also says the Govt has decided to allocate Rs.450bn to recapitalise the State banks in order to secure stability & provide security as the Govt is in the process of restructuring local debt.
   
7. Education Minister Susil Premajayantha warns 74 school buildings across the country have been identified as unsafe, posing potential threats to the safety of students: also says all Principals have been informed to evacuate school children out of buildings in the event any building is found unsafe.
   
8. Chairman of the Garment Industries Assn Dhammika Fernando says the income of the garment industry has fallen by about a quarter (25%) due to the decrease in orders received by SL & increase in costs.
   
9. Court of Appeal orders the CID not to arrest Pastor Jerome Fernando upon his arrival at the BIA: also orders the self-styled ‘prophet’ should record a statement with the CID’s Cyber Crime Investigation Division within 48 hours of his arrival.
   
10. Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera says President Ranil Wickremesinghe has discussed the disappointing state of Cricketing affairs in SL with the Asian Cricket Council President Jay Shah: responds to the claim by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa who said that Jay Shah’s father is the right-hand man of Indian PM Narendra Modi.

Dr. Janaka Adassuriya, an esteemed astronomer from the Physics Department at Colombo University, has announced a rare celestial treat for Sri Lankans this weekend. The peak of the Leonid meteor shower is expected to grace the skies on both Saturday (18) and Sunday (19).

Dr. Adassuriya advised enthusiasts that the prime viewing window for these meteors will commence post 2 am on both days. For optimal sightings, observers are encouraged to gaze toward the Leo constellation along the eastern horizon.

However, he tempered expectations by noting that this particular meteor shower typically offers a modest display, showcasing an estimated count of 10-15 meteors per hour.

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has scored big this year, amassing a substantial Rs.220 million from fines imposed on errant traders. Asela Bandara, the CAA’s media spokesperson, revealed that these fines were a consequence of cracking down on various illegal practices rampant among traders.

Bandara highlighted that the fines were levied on traders engaged in activities such as price gouging, illegal stockpiling, failure to display prices, and the sale of expired products. The crackdown has been extensive, with a staggering 22,000 raids conducted nationwide to ensure compliance with regulations.

Of these raids, a significant portion—19,000 cases—resulted in prosecution, signaling the strict enforcement and zero-tolerance approach adopted by the CAA.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe made a resounding declaration at the R.I.T. Alles commemoration, advocating for a significant overhaul in Sri Lanka’s education system. Highlighting the launch of the “English for All” program aimed at schools and universities by 2030, the President underscored the need to diversify language education beyond Sinhala and Tamil.

Emphasizing the late R.I.T. Alles’s vision of “Education for all,” President Wickremesinghe outlined a multifaceted strategy to realize this ambition. This included plans to establish new universities in both public and private sectors to ensure equitable access to higher education for all Sri Lankan students.

President Wickremesinghe also urged the Sinhala and Tamil Diasporas to return and contribute to the establishment of new universities, underscoring a shared responsibility for the nation’s educational progress.

In addition to the “English for All” initiative, the President highlighted the necessity to adopt successful education systems worldwide, emphasizing the importance of quality higher education without compromising on accessibility. Plans to increase the number of universities within five years, including the establishment of three technology universities akin to General Sir John Kotelawala University, were also revealed.

The President expressed the government’s commitment to alleviating financial burdens on students by providing concessional loans, aiming to curb the trend of selling property or sending students abroad for higher education. He invited private sector participation, echoing R.I.T. Alles’s example in establishing new educational institutions.

In tandem with the President’s vision, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Education Minister Dr. Susil Premajayantha lauded R.I.T. Alles’s legacy and outlined initiatives to modernize education. Dr. Premajayantha detailed advancements in D.S.Senanayake Vidyalaya and efforts to ensure technological integration, pandemic resilience, and educational material accessibility for students.

The event, attended by prominent figures and stakeholders in education, signified a unified effort toward revolutionizing Sri Lanka’s educational landscape. The collective commitment to advancing education showcased a shared determination to propel the nation toward a brighter educational future.

Sri Lanka clinched a spot on the UNESCO Executive Board for the 2023-2027 term during the 42nd General Conference in Paris on November 15. Out of 188 member states voting, Sri Lanka garnered 144 votes, aligning it with the third-highest count in the region, shared with Bangladesh. The election saw six members from the Asia-Pacific Region, including Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Republic of Korea, and Australia, making it to the Executive Board out of nine candidates.

The UNESCO, dedicated to fostering international cooperation in education, sciences, culture, communication, and information, stands as a beacon for global peace and security, contributing significantly to the Sustainable Development Goals. Sri Lanka’s steadfast commitment to UNESCO’s values and principles dates back to its membership in 1949, shortly after gaining independence. This commitment reflects the country’s dedication to promoting collaboration among nations through education, science, and culture, furthering universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and fundamental freedoms.

Since its inception in UNESCO, Sri Lanka has played a pivotal role and actively contributed to advancing the organization’s objectives. The Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO, operating under the Ministry of Education’s guidance, serves as the government’s arm for implementing UNESCO’s agenda in the country.

The successful election to the UNESCO Executive Board was spearheaded by collaborative efforts between the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Sri Lanka Embassy in Paris, and the Education Ministry, serving as the national focal point.

Noteworthy is Sri Lanka’s recent streak of success in securing positions in three UN bodies/committees: the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (CMW), and now, the UNESCO Executive Board.

Extreme, a world-leading, purpose-driven adventure brand, has announced a strategic collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) aimed at transforming Sri Lanka into a world-class adventure and leisure destination.

Extreme is a world-leading, purpose-driven adventure brand whose vision is to drive positive change through extreme and adventure sports.

This exciting partnership will leverage Extreme’s expertise in adventure sports, hospitality, and tourism to enhance the appeal of Sri Lanka for global adventure enthusiasts and leisure travellers.

The partnership was sealed last week during a short ceremony that took place on the Sri Lanka Tourism stand at the World Travel Market in London, where a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Extreme CEO and Founder Alistair Gosling and SLTPB Chairman Chalaka Gajabahu.

With over 25 years’ experience in the global extreme and adventure sports industry, Extreme will support the Sri Lankan Government’s agenda to drive an active, healthy lifestyle, sport participation, positive mental health, job creation, infrastructure investment as well as support local communities and tourism through adventure sports in the destination.

“This partnership is testament to Extreme’s commitment to drive positive change through extreme and adventure sports, across global destinations, regardless of their size or location.

Sri Lanka’s renowned natural beauty, rich ecosystem and culture and amazing topography, offers the perfect canvas to cater to adventure tourism and hospitality.

The Extreme Destinations development team is looking forward to being part of the journey to bring adventure sports hospitality and experiences to this destination,” said Alistair Gosling.

Adventure tourism is playing a key role in helping Sri Lanka rebuild its economy after a turbulent few years for the South Asian nation.

The country’s tourism sector was particularly affected in recent years due to a foreign currency crisis resulting from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic which led to months of food and fuel shortages, along with runaway inflation and prolonged blackouts.

One of the main strategies is to diversify their offerings and target those seeking adventure holidays.

“We are not going to try and make Sri Lanka expensive but we want to make it the destination of choice when it comes to affordable luxury”, said Harin Fernando, Sri Lankan Minister of Tourism and Lands.

“We have just launched the Pekoe Trail, a 23-day hike through the mountains — that’s just one of the adventures we are offering,”.“We’re also investing in marine diving, mountain climbing and hiking, he said,

“Another activity we are looking to bring to Sri Lanka is ski diving.”Visitors from the GCC will play a key role in ensuring Sri Lanka continues to rebound from its troubles in recent years, the minister added.

Economic expert MP Dr. Harsha de Silva dissected Budget 2024, emphasising three critical pillars for Sri Lanka›s recovery: eradicating corruption, creating economic opportunities, and ensuring social equity.

The seasoned politician delved into each point, offering a pragmatic assessment and proposing viable alternatives.

He underscored the need for robust measures to combat corruption across various sectors.

He criticised the absence of tangible anti-corruption initiatives, citing examples like the cricket scandal, sugar tax scam, and fraudulent activities in the liquor industry.

The SJB parliamentarian questioned the Government’s inaction and proposed the implementation of the Stolen Assets Recovery (STAR) program and the establishment of an independent prosecutor’s office, as outlined in the SJB blueprint.

Moving to the second point, de Silva highlighted the importance of creating economic opportunities for youth in rural areas, empowering entrepreneurs, supporting small and medium businesses, and ensuring fair prices for farmers.

He argued that eradicating corruption alone is insufficient and advocated for a broader economic vision.

In his exploration of the third key aspect, the SJB MP shed light on the complexities of fiscal consolidation and expenditure reduction, emphasising the profound implications for social equity.

Despite the President’s focal point on revenue-based fiscal consolidation, concerns surfaced regarding the comparatively meagre attention given to reducing overall expenditure.

He acknowledged challenges in curtailing expenditure, particularly in vital sectors like Health and Education, allocated a modest 1.7% of GDP. However, he expressed reservations about funding directed to loss-making SOEs, exemplified by SriLankan Airlines, which sought Rs. 110 billion to settle liabilities to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) recently.

This raises concerns about fairness in comparison to the total expected revenue from PAYE of Rs. 100 billion annually or essential needs like children’s uniforms, a significant 27 times less.

Criticism was directed toward the extension of tax breaks, citing the Strategic Development Projects (SDP) Act and recent Supreme Court rulings on preferential tax treatment for associates, resulting in substantial losses to the Treasury.

However, concerns were articulated regarding proposed tax changes, especially their disproportionate impact on citizens through heightened consumption taxes. For example, the VAT hike from 15 to 18% and the removal of VAT exemptions for items like petrol, diesel, gas, and fertiliser could drive inflation up and consumption down.

He called for fairness and transparency advocating for the disclosure of tax changes to Parliament, ensuring public awareness amid talks of Government giveaways.

De Silva proposed the Government implement his revised PAYE tax structure, significantly reducing the burden on professionals while still achieving the expected income. The MP lamented the lack of response from the Ministry of Finance to their

In a dramatic climax, de Silva concluded that the proposed tax burden is excessively high, risking a decline in consumption, business failures, and an exodus of professionals from Sri Lanka.