Three prominent Sri Lankan companies, PT Expo Freight-EFL, PT Advantis Akaza, and PT David Roy participated in the “Indonesia Sharia Economic Festival – HALAL Expo Indonesia (ISEF-HEI) 2023” held from 25 to 29 October at the Jakarta Convention Center. Sri Lanka booth at the event, touted as Indonesia’s largest Business-to-Business (B2B) Halal Industries Exhibition & Conference was organized by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Jakarta.
PT Expo Freight-EFL and PT Advantis Akaza represented logistic services and PT David Roy represented the Dilmah tea in the Sri Lanka’s booth. Their presence at the exhibition which features 793 exhibitors from Indonesia and 20 friendly countries, is expected to forge new business connections and expand their global reach.
The Vice President of Indonesia KH Ma’ruf Amin inaugurated the exhibition on 26 October and Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Indonesia Admiral Professor Jayanath Colombage graced the event as a VIP guest. This marks the second consecutive year that Sri Lanka has actively participated in the ISEF-HEI.
On 19 October 2023, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation Prof. Janitha A. Liyanage met with the Principals of Moscow schools and delivered a lecture on the platform of the Moscow Metropolitan Governance Yury Luzhkov University.
The event was organized at the invitation of the Rector of the University Vasily Fiveysky, in the framework of the MPA program “Management in Education” held by the University for the Directors of Moscow schools.
Delivering the lecture, the ambassador spoke about the development of the education system in Sri Lanka, shared her personal experience of working in the national sphere of education, and the modern trends in the education sector.
Prof. Liyanage compared the Sri Lankan and Russian systems and noted many similarities between them. Further, the ambassador described the steps undertaken by the government of Sri Lanka to improve the quality of education in the country and underlined the importance of equal distribution of resources between all schools and students.
At the end of the lecture, School Principals showed keen interest in the Sri Lankan educational practice and raised a number of questions about popular specialties, peculiarities of formation of requests for training from the government and, employment prospects for graduates.
Prof. Liyanage expressed confidence that such meetings strengthen relations between the countries, contribute to the joint development of educational systems and, enrich the experience of both sides.
The Ambassador also held a meeting with the Rector of the University Vasily Fiveysky and discussed further steps to boost cooperation in the spheres of education and healthcare including exchange of experience in those key areas.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Türkiye arranged Sri Lanka tourism and cultural promotional event, “SRI LANKA in Bursa” in Bursa commemorating Sri Lanka’s 75th Anniversary of Independence celebrated on 4February 2023, anniversary of establishing the Republic of Türkiye on 29 October 2023 and the 75th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Türkiye in 2023.
The third such event was arranged by the Embassy together with the Hony. Consul for Sri Lanka in Bursa and was held on 19 October 2023 at Hotel Anatolia in Bursa.
While welcoming guests, Hony. Consul of Sri Lanka in Bursa Ahmet Yildiz mentioned that the objective of organizing the event was to increase bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Bursa in economic and cultural spheres. He said that the event aims to establish a bridge with businessmen, travel agencies, and hoteliers who wishes to do business with Sri Lanka.
Speaking at the event, Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Gökhan expressed that bilateral cooperation between the two countries will be increased by organizing this kind of activities. Bursa Deputy Governor Halil Serdar Cevheroğlu appreciated renowned Ceylon Tea which is popular among Turkish people.
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Türkiye Hasanthi Urugodawatte Dissanayake delivered the keynote address highlighting Sri Lanka’s unique export basket, bilateral relations with Türkiye and tourism potential. She noted that the direct flights to operate between the two countries by Turkish Airlines starting from November 2023 would increase connectivity and contribute to the growth of bilateral economic cooperation.
The event was attended by over 100 invitees attracting diverse attendees comprising of officials from the public sector, chambers and leading private sector organizations in Bursa, representatives from the tourism sector in Bursa and, media.
Tourism presentations, videos, Sri Lankan music, batik décor, and banners provided a beautiful Sri Lankan ambiance to the event. In addition, a Sri Lankan photo exhibition depicting nature and climate change impact and culture with photos by award-winning professional photographers Ravi Ranasinghe and Dr. Umberto Binetti and a selection of paintings by renowned Sri Lankan artist Vasantha Perera were displayed at the venue, together with Sri Lankan gem-studded jewellery.
Guests were also treated to sumptuous Sri Lankan delicacies, Turkish food and Ceylon Tea. All enjoyed a range of experiences and insights offered at the event which gave a brief glimpse into what Sri Lanka offers to the world and created a unique platform to promote Sri Lanka as a promising destination among Turkish travelers in Bursa.
Prior to the event, the ambassador called on the Governor of Bursa Mahmut Demirtaş and discussed potential areas for collaboration in trade, investment and, tourism sectors between Sri Lanka and Bursa.
The Governor noted that Bursa is one of Türkiye’s most developed cities in economic terms, and is also rich with natural and historical attractions. In terms of population, Bursa is the 4th largest city in Türkiye and well known for its automotive, textile, machinery and, food industries. Türkiye’s first olive oil laboratory was also established in Bursa.
During the meeting, the ambassador elaborated on the potential in Sri Lanka in areas such as tourism, apparel & textile, IT services, rubber-based products, coconut based products and, other agricultural products. She also highlighted the availability of highly trained human resources and natural resources in Sri Lanka.
The ambassador also had a successful meeting with Deputy Mayor of Bursa Gökhan Dinçer and his team. The discussion focused on possible cooperation between Bursa and Sri Lanka to increase business tourism and, cultural cooperation.
Hony. Consul of Sri Lanka in Bursa Ahmet Yildiz and Minister (Commercial) of the Sri Lanka Embassy in Türkiye Thavishya Mullegamgoda were also present at the meetings.
Colombo (LNW): On October 31, 2023, the 11th Inter-Parliamentary consultations between Sri Lanka and the Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia of the European Parliament (DSAS) took place at the Sri Lanka Parliamentary premises, the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry said in a statement today (02).
A multi-party delegation, headed by SL Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, engaged in an interactive discussion with a visiting EU delegation.
This European Union delegation was led by Heidi Hautala, a Finnish Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from the Greens group, who also holds the positions of Vice-President and Rapporteur for the New GSP Regulation of the European Parliament.
“The discussion centered on matters related to bilateral cooperation in the context of further consolidating ties between the two legislatures. Sri Lanka side apprised the MEPs of the current economic and political developments in the country and also on overall progress in reconciliation and human rights situation including proposed Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). The EU Co-chair HAUTALA welcomed progress in EU – Sri Lanka bilateral relations and briefed on issues of importance to the EU such as new climate friendly regulations being adopted in the EU (European Green Deal), Ukraine conflict, inflation in the European region and future EU integration,” the statement read.
The Sri Lanka delegation also highlighted the importance of GSP+ concessions which provides duty free access for Sri Lanka’s exports to the EU market and requested support of the European Parliament for continued access to the concessions.
The State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya, and eight (08) MPs representing the Government and the Opposition parties of Sri Lanka, including theSri Lanka Podujana Peramuna(SLPP), the Samagi Jana Balawegaya(SJB) and the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi(ITAK) participated in the meeting.
The visiting delegation also comprised Zdzislaw Marek KRASNODEBSKI Polish MEP from the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR), Karsten LUCKE German MEP from Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S & D), and Ausra MALDEIKIENE Lithuanian MEP from the Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats/EPP).
Senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Department of Commerce of Sri Lanka, and officials from the EU Delegation in Colombo were also associated with the meeting.
The Sri Lanka High Commission in Malaysia played a pivotal role in facilitating a generous donation of medicines valued at US$70,000 (approximately Rs 23 million) from Unimed Sdn Bhd, a well-known Malaysian pharmaceutical company, aimed at supporting Sri Lanka’s healthcare system.
Recognizing the significance of this humanitarian initiative, SriLankan Airlines, in a commendable gesture, provided free transportation for the consignment to Sri Lanka. Geetha Rubasundram, an Exco member of the Federation of Malaysia-Sri Lanka Organizations (FOMSO), generously sponsored the local freight forwarding charges associated with this endeavor.
This substantial donation of medicines will make a significant impact on the ongoing efforts to address healthcare challenges in Sri Lanka, particularly in ensuring the availability of specific essential drugs for the benefit of the nation’s citizens.
Colombo (LNW): State Minister Janaka Wakkumbura has revealed a significant initiative under the Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government.
An allocation of Rs. 9 billion has been earmarked to bolster the health and education sectors in all nine provinces.
Furthermore, he unveiled plans for the transition of 8,400 non-permanent employees in local government agencies under the Provincial Councils to permanent government service, pending cabinet approval.
State Minister Wakkambura made these announcements during a press conference at the Presidential Media Centre, themed ‘Collective Path to a Stable Country’ on the 2nd of November.
Full Statement:
“The use of “GIS” and “GPS Mapping” technology enables us to capture the coordinates of all the roads within local government jurisdictions, facilitating the creation of a comprehensive road inventory in accordance with the Local Government Act of 1987/No. This system has already been successfully implemented in the North Western Province. A Cabinet paper was submitted and approved on the 09th of October marking a significant step towards extending this method to cover all provinces. Remarkably, we have managed to accomplish road mapping that eluded completion for 36 years, within a relatively brief span of one and a half years.
Notably, the North Central and Northern Provinces have made substantial progress in identifying roads and mapping their coordinates. We have set a target to complete this work in these two provinces by the 31st of December this year. Subsequently, a timeline will be established for the remaining six provinces, along with training initiatives to achieve our goals in 2024.
In addition to our mapping efforts, we are actively engaged in a project supported by the World Bank through our ministry. This project allocates Rs. 09 billion to enhance the health and education sectors across all nine provinces. Out of this amount, Rs. 4,500 million will be dedicated to improving healthcare services. By the end of June next year, we aim to address the health-related issues in the respective provinces.
Furthermore, we are committed to providing another Rs. 4,500 million to address deficiencies in schools across these provinces. This project is slated to commence in January and is expected to be completed within a six-month timeframe.
Additionally, we have a plan to transition 8,400 non-permanent employees currently working in local government agencies under the provincial councils into permanent government service once the cabinet grants approval. These dedicated individuals have served for approximately 15 years. With a vacancy of 10,000 positions within the provincial councils, over 6,000 have already been designated as multi-purpose workers. By the 10th of this month, we are actively working to fill the remaining vacancies with multi-purpose development officers.
Furthermore, we anticipate the completion of software development related to the online system for assessment payments, fines and property transfers within the next two weeks. The initial phase will see the introduction of online payment methods in the Central Province and Western Province by the end of this month.
In addition, a noteworthy project is on the horizon. Under the financial support of the Korean Government, the solid waste processing and sanitary landfill project is set to commence in January 2024. This project aims to address the waste management challenges faced by the districts of Badulla and Vavuniya, as well as all local government bodies.”
Colombo (LNW): The Indian government has revealed plans to construct an additional 10,000 houses for estate workers in Sri Lanka as part of ‘Phase 4’ of the Indian Housing Project.
Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made this announcement during the ‘Nam 200’ event, which marks 200 years since the arrival of Indian Origin Tamils (IOT) in Sri Lanka.
She praised the success of ‘Phase 3’ of the project and noted that 3,700 houses out of the 4,000 agreed upon have already been provided to the beneficiaries.
The foundation stone for the first batch of the 10,000 houses under ‘Phase 4’ was laid during the ‘Nam 200’ celebrations, emphasising India’s commitment to supporting the wellbeing of IOTs in Sri Lanka and enhancing connectivity between the two nations.
Colombo (LNW): Seventeen Sri Lankans are among 596 foreign and dual nationals authorised to depart Gaza through the Rafah border crossing, located between Palestine and Egypt.
15 of these individuals are expected to cross into Egypt by noon today (02), according to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).
This permission to leave Gaza was granted to the Sri Lankans who had been stranded in the region due to the armed conflict between Israel and Palestine.
A list published by CNN reveals those released by the Gaza Borders and Crossings Authority, comprising 596 foreign and dual nationals from 15 different countries who are allowed to leave Gaza.
The crossing was opened on Wednesday (01), permitting over 500 people to exit the region. The updated list was posted by the Ministry shortly before 2 a.m. local time, specifying that individuals listed should arrive at the crossing by 7 a.m.
The 596 foreign and dual nationals are from various countries, including Sri Lanka (17), Azerbaijan (8), Belgium (50), Bahrain (6), Chad (2), Croatia (23), Greece (24), Hungary (20), Italy/United Nations (4), North Macedonia (4), Mexico (2), Netherlands (20), South Korea (5), Switzerland (11), and the United States (400).
The conflict has resulted in a significant loss of life, with over 8,805 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since October 7, and more than 1,400 casualties in Israel.
PMD: President Ranil Wickremesinghe has announced his intention to prioritize the inclusion of proposals from the private sector in this year’s budget and to separately examine related areas. He made these statements while attending a 2024 pre-budget -discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (01) with the leaders of private sector institutions.
During the meeting, the President discussed reform programs designed to help the country recover from the economic crisis it is currently facing and move towards sustainable growth.
Leaders of private sector institutions presented proposals to the President, focusing on increasing government revenue and efficiency, as well as measures to support various industries, including attracting investors, the tourism industry and the garment industry.
They also urged the President to prioritize measures aimed at overcoming the current economic crisis and addressing the challenges faced by business people in various sectors in this year’s budget.
President Wickremesinghe expressed his commitment to giving careful consideration to the ideas and suggestions put forward by the leaders of private sector institutions. He intends to conduct separate discussions on each of these areas in the future.
The efforts made by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to achieve economic stability in the country were also commended by the leaders of private institutions.
The discussion was attended by Senior Advisor to the President on Economic Affairs, Dr. R. H. S. Samaratunga, Presidential Adviser Chandra Shafter, Secretary to the Finance Ministry Mahinda Siriwardena, Chairman Sri Lanka Planning Board Dinesh Weerakkodi and the leaders of various private sector organizations.
Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa, along with five others, has been acquitted from the Gowers Corporation money laundering case.
The Colombo High Court cleared them of the charges, which were filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The case alleged that they were involved in money laundering amounting to Rs. 30 million through Gowers Corporate Services (Pvt) Limited, which provided coordinating services to SriLankan Airlines.
The charges had been brought against Rajapaksa and five directors of the company on 11 counts related to money laundering between 2013 and 2014.
The investigations began after a complaint by Wasantha Samarasinghe, Convener of Voice Against Corruption, who claimed that Rajapaksa had purchased shares of a company called Hello Corp and established Gowers Corporate Services (Pvt) Limited, allegedly using Rs. 125 million earned through illegal means.
