By: Isuru Parakrama

October 03, Colombo (LNW): The Excise Department has announced that liquor producers who fail to settle outstanding tax payments for the 2023-2024 period by 30th November 2024 will not have their licences renewed for the upcoming year.

This directive follows a decision to recover Rs. 1.8 billion in tax arrears from alcohol manufacturers who are yet to meet their financial obligations.

Excise Commissioner General M.J. Gunasiri revealed that the department had resolved to take a firm stance against defaulters during the year’s fourth revenue review meeting.

This gathering, held in Colombo on 2nd October, included representatives from all 27 liquor production companies in Sri Lanka.

The department conducts quarterly discussions with alcohol manufacturers to review revenue targets, assess progress, and address challenges faced by the industry.

Gunasiri emphasised that the government remains committed to ensuring the collection of excise tax revenues and maintaining the independence of the Excise Department.

He assured attendees that there would be no undue interference in the department’s efforts to manage tax collection and regulatory affairs.

Amongst the key decisions made at the review meeting was the introduction of new security stickers for toddy and sake products, aimed at improving traceability and ensuring compliance.

This system will also be extended to other alcoholic beverages from next year. Liquor producers have been instructed to either use their existing security stickers by 31st December or destroy any remaining stock under strict supervision to prevent misuse.

In addition to tax collection, the department intends to take stringent measures against the production of illicit alcohol, particularly Kasippu, which remains a prevalent issue. Gunasiri highlighted that stricter enforcement and legal action would be implemented to curtail the illegal liquor trade.

Furthermore, the meeting addressed the need to eliminate obstacles hindering the export of locally produced alcohol.

By: Isuru Parakrama

October 03, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka commemorated the 155th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi yesterday (02) with a ceremonial event at the Prime Minister’s Office in Colombo.

The occasion saw Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha paying homage to Gandhi by garlanding his statue, a symbolic gesture highlighting the enduring legacy of the Indian leader’s philosophy of peace and non-violence.

The bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi, gifted by India in 2019 to mark his 150th birth anniversary, stands at 42 inches tall and portrays Gandhi in a meditative pose.

Crafted by renowned sculptor Ram Vanji Sutar, the statue is a testament to Gandhi’s profound influence on global leaders and movements.

Sutar, a recipient of the prestigious Padma Bhushan award, is also credited with creating the world’s tallest bronze statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Gujarat, India.

Following the tribute ceremony, the Indian High Commissioner met with Prime Minister Amarasuriya to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two nations.

The commemoration was also accompanied by a Gandhi Oration, organised by the Sri Lanka India Society (SLIS) in partnership with the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, the cultural wing of the Indian High Commission.

Former Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India, Austin Fernando, delivered the oration, which delved into the enduring relevance of Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings in today’s world.

The annual event, part of the celebrations for Gandhi Jayanti, continues to serve as an important platform for reflecting on the powerful messages of truth, justice, and non-violence that Gandhi espoused, and how they continue to resonate amidst modern global challenges.

By: Isuru Parakrama

October 03, Colombo (LNW): Showers or thundershowers will occur at a few places in Eastern and Uva provinces during the afternoon or night.

A few showers may occur in the coastal areas of Southern and Western provinces during the morning.

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. A high-level IMF delegation arrived in Sri Lanka on 2 October to engage with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s government, discussing progress on the $2.9 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the release of its fourth tranche: The meeting, featuring Sri Lanka’s Economic Policy Council, reviewed IMF programme achievements, with the IMF praising recent positive developments in Sri Lanka’s economic outlook.
   
2. Samagi Jana Sandanaya (SJS) leaders announce their willingness to cooperate with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake if they win a parliamentary majority in the upcoming General Election: Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Kabir Hashim, Mano Ganesan, Dayasiri Jayasekera, and Dullas Alahapperuma emphasise they would not undermine Dissanayake’s efforts and urged voters not to grant the ruling party a parliamentary majority.
   
3. Political parties that supported ex President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the recent Presidential Election plan to contest the upcoming General Election under the New Democratic Front (NDF) with the ‘Gas Cylinder’ symbol: If the Election Commission denies this, they may contest under the ‘Elephant’ or another common symbol: Former MPs gathered to finalise their decision at Wickremesinghe’s Election Operations office.
   
4. Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong met with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, congratulating him on his recent election victory: reaffirms China’s commitment to enhancing bilateral relations and supporting Sri Lanka’s development projects: highlights China Development Bank and EXIM Bank’s involvement in debt restructuring, underscoring China’s dedication to Sri Lanka’s economic stability and growth.
   
5. Senior Professor Raj Somadeva reveals excavations at Colombo Port uncover eight human skeletons, with two already excavated and under police protection: The skeletal remains were first discovered on 13th July, leading to two excavation phases: The third phase is set for 17th October, as investigations continue to uncover the origins and context of these remains.
   
6. To celebrate World Children’s Day 2024, Sri Lanka Insurance Life (SLIC) provides a free Rs. 1 million life insurance cover to parents of every child born on 1st October 2024 across all hospitals in Sri Lanka: This initiative, now in its third year, aims to promote life insurance and offer financial security to families, ensuring protection and stability for the nation’s children.
   
7. The Foreign Employment Bureau (SLBFE) advises Sri Lankans planning to travel to Israel to suspend their plans due to escalating regional conflict: Approximately 12,000 Sri Lankans work in Israel, mostly in construction and caregiving, with no reports of casualties: urges Sri Lankans to stay in contact with embassies for assistance, especially those seeking repatriation.
   
8. Buddhist Affairs Co-ordinator Chairman Ven. Dr. Sasthrapathi Galagama Dammaransi Nayaka Thera says the recent Presidential election showed a shift away from voting based on religion, race, or clan: emphasises that people rejected racism, religious division, and corruption: highlights the worsening social and economic issues and called for efforts to promote religious harmony and unity across the nation.
   
9. A delegation from the University of Jaffna’s Medical Faculty, led by Prof. R. Surenthirakumaran, visits Singapore to discuss advancing healthcare in Northern Sri Lanka, particularly focusing on maternal, child healthcare, and day surgery services: Collaborating with SingHealth, the delegation aims to enhance healthcare infrastructure through international partnerships: The visit is part of ongoing efforts by the Jaffna Regional Collaborating Centre to transform healthcare outcomes in the region.
   
10. Sri Lankan cricketer Praveen Jayawickrama has been banned by the ICC for one year, with six months suspended, after admitting to breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code: He obstructed an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Unit and deleted relevant evidence: The charges stem from his failure to report a fixing approach during international matches and the 2021 Lanka Premier League.

October 02, Colombo (LNW): Russian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Levan S. Dzhagaryan met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday. During the meeting, Ambassador Dzhagaryan extended his congratulations to President Dissanayake on his recent election and conveyed a personal message from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In his message, President Putin expressed his expectation that bilateral relations between Russia and Sri Lanka will strengthen under President Dissanayake’s leadership. The discussions focused on enhancing the longstanding relationship between the two nations, with both parties emphasizing the importance of deepening cooperation in trade, investment, culture, and education. They reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening diplomatic ties for mutual benefit.

October 02, Colombo (LNW): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday, focusing on enhancing diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the United States. Their discussions emphasized the importance of strengthening both economic and social ties between the two nations.

Ambassador Chung congratulated President Dissanayake on his recent inauguration and highlighted the value of fostering robust bilateral relations. Both leaders placed particular emphasis on deepening cooperation in areas of mutual interest, aiming to strengthen diplomatic, economic, and social partnerships.

October 02, Colombo (LNW): The Court of Appeal yesterday (1) amended the interim injunction that had previously prevented the purchase of 750,000 ordinary passports from two companies. This modification came after submissions by Additional Solicitor General Sumathi Dharmawardhana, representing the Controller of Immigration and Emigration and the Attorney General.

Dharmawardhana highlighted the severe passport shortage created by the original order, a concern that the petitioner’s representatives agreed with, leading to the amendment. Authorities are now permitted to purchase the 750,000 ordinary passports, alleviating the crisis. However, the injunction against the purchase of five million e-passports remains in place until November 6.

The original interim order, issued on September 26 based on a writ petition filed by Epic Lanka Pvt. Ltd., had halted the purchase of both ordinary and e-passports. The case was heard before Justices Mohamed Laffar Tahir and P. Kumaran Ratnam, where the Court recognized the urgency of the situation, noting that only 13,880 passports remained available for issuance, enough for just 30 working days.

While the Court allowed the immediate procurement of ordinary passports, it extended the injunction on the e-passports and ordered the respondents to file objections before the next hearing on November 6. The petition argued that the initial passport procurement decision bypassed proper procedures and was illegal, naming several officials, including former Public Security Minister Tiran Alles, as respondents.

October 02, Colombo (LNW): Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is set to visit Colombo this week, marking the first high-level engagement between India and Sri Lanka since President Anura Kumara Dissanayake assumed office last week. This visit will provide India with a key opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s development.

During the visit, which is expected to begin on October 4, Jaishankar will also meet with President Dissanayake. This will be the first official visit by a foreign minister to Sri Lanka following the recent presidential election. Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha had already met with Dissanayake soon after the election results were declared.

The visit by Jaishankar will further India’s efforts to strengthen ties with Dissanayake, continuing the diplomatic outreach that saw the Sri Lankan leader visit Delhi earlier this year.

October 02, Colombo (LNW): Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) has made significant progress toward establishing itself as one of Asia’s top port facilities with the recent arrival of its first two semi-automated Rail Mounted Quay Cranes (RMQCs) and three additional fully automated Cantilever Rail-Mounted Gantry Cranes (CRMGs). 

This delivery is part of a series of shipments as CWIT prepares for Phase 1 operations, which are set to commence in February 2025.

This follows the earlier delivery of five CRMGs on September 3rd, and by the time the terminal officially begins handling cargo next year, CWIT will have a total of nine operational cranes. These advanced automated cranes are engineered to boost efficiency and improve safety by minimizing human involvement and enhancing operational accuracy.

CWIT’s phased development will eventually see the terminal equipped with 30 fully automated CRMGs and 14 semi-automated RMQCs upon completion. This makes CWIT a cornerstone in the expansion of Sri Lanka’s port infrastructure. 

The terminal’s cutting-edge technology and modern infrastructure will substantially increase the container handling capacity at the Port of Colombo (POC), helping it meet the growing demands of global trade.

The significant investment in CWIT and its enhanced capacity will strengthen the Port of Colombo’s position in terms of throughput and connectivity.

 Once fully operational, CWIT will play a vital role in driving economic growth, providing essential capacity for mega-vessels, and boosting regional trade. Its forward-thinking design ensures scalability and efficiency, aligning with POC’s vision to establish itself as a major gateway hub in the Indian Ocean.

Poised to become one of the most advanced and strategically important container terminals in the Indian Ocean region, CWIT is set to become a key player in the global maritime industry. 

By utilizing cutting-edge technology, the terminal aims to improve container handling efficiency and stands as a major step in Colombo’s path to becoming a leading maritime hub. CWIT’s motto, “Connect. Collaborate. Contribute,” reflects its vision of driving economic growth and facilitating international trade across Asia and beyond.