Colombo (LNW): Under the guidance of Consul General Sandith Samarasinghe, the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Melbourne organised a mobile consular service for the Sri Lankan community on October 28, 2023, at the Box Hill Town Hall, the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Melbourne, Australia said in a statement.

The initiative was aimed at bringing essential consular assistance and services closer to communities, ensuring convenience and accessibility for all, the statement added.

“During the service, consulate staff provided range of services including applications for new passports, dual citizenships driving license, and certification of documents. The Consulate processed over 20 applications and provided on-site payment facilities and online appointment facility, for those who wished to follow up with appointments to the consulate,” it said.

Visitors to the booth praised the consulate for this initiative, noting its convenience for those who faced challenges coming to Melbourne on weekdays. They also requested that the consulate continue offering similar services in the future.

Colombo (LNW): The first-ever direct flight from the Czech Republic to Sri Lanka took off on 24 October from the Prague International Airport, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Vienna said in a statement.

LOT Polish Airlines offers direct charter flights from Prague to Colombo every Tuesday from October 24, 2023, to March 26, 2024, using Boeing 787 Dreamliners accommodating 251 passengers. This route is anticipated to bring approximately 5,800 Czech tourists to Sri Lanka throughout the winter season, providing a faster 10-hour one-way travel time.

“In coordination with the Sri Lanka embassy in Vienna, Austria, the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) has established a partnership with Čedok, a leading travel services provider established in 1920 in the Czech Republic on a co-marketing campaign, parallel to the commencement of direct charter flights,” the statement added.

The Counsellor of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Vienna and Chargé d’Affaires for Czechia, Charitha Weerasinghe, participated in the ceremony marking the launch of direct charter flights organized by Čedok and LOT Polish Airlines at Prague Airport. Other attendees included Čedok CEO Stanislav Zeman, Executive Director of Prague Airport Jiri Vyskoc, Spokesperson of LOT Polish Airlines Krzysztof Moczulski, Sri Lanka Honourary Consul in Czechia Marek Nĕmec, and various representatives from electronic and print media.

The people will hardly benefit from the aid and assistance Sri Lanka receives as long as corruption persists, Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) Executive Director, Nadishani Perera said.

She was addressing a discussion at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute in Colombo last week, focusing on the recommendations detailed in ‘The Civil Society Governance Diagnostic Report on Sri Lanka.’ The event was attended by a diverse group of civil society representatives who gathered to address the pressing need for governance reforms in the country.

“No matter how much aid we receive, it will be squandered or misappropriated if we do not tackle corruption head-on. It’s akin to pouring water into a leaky vessel. While there’s much talk about revitalizing the economy, there’s an alarming lack of focus on governance reforms and corruption prevention. The masses, who took to the streets in large numbers last year, demanded a “system change” because they recognized that the country’s crisis was not solely economic but rooted in weak governance and deep-seated corruption.

“Recognizing the public’s heightened interest in anti-corruption, civil society organizations collectively worked on a Governance Diagnostic Report, highlighting a series of governance reforms essential for the nation. By advocating for these recommendations, we can bring about a real system change and ensure sustainable economic development,” Perera noted.

The Civil Society Governance Diagnostic Report, unveiled on September 13, put forth 34 pivotal governance benchmark recommendations. This comprehensive report was presented by ‘The Civil Society Initiative on Anti-Corruption Reform for Economic Recovery,’ led by Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL), in collaboration with a core group including Verité Research, the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), and the National Peace Council (NPC).

Last week’s meeting was to raise awareness among civil society members regarding the Report’s recommendations. As part of the discussion, the civil society recommendations were compared with those made in the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) recently issued report titled ‘Sri Lanka: Technical Assistance Report-Governance Diagnostic Assessment’.

Dr. Nishan de Mel, Executive Director of Verité Research, emphasized the importance of good governance, drawing on historical data from 1975. He highlighted that countries with multiple episodes of debt restructuring often scored lower in governance assessments. “Without addressing Sri Lanka’s governance issues, our efforts to rebuild the economy are akin to building a house without a solid foundation. Enhancing transparency and minimizing discretionary powers are imperative for improving Sri Lanka’s governance indicators,” he underscored.

He further warned, “Being content with temporary solutions is a costly mistake we’ve made repeatedly. The future of Sri Lanka now teeters on a precipice, with governance playing a pivotal role in determining whether we tread the right path or venture into dangerous territory.”

Sankhitha Gunaratne, Deputy Executive Director of TISL, stressed the urgency of implementing the proposed governance reforms in their entirety and without delay. She pointed out that key measures, such as introducing new legislation for asset recovery and procurement, establishing a ‘Beneficial Ownership Registry,’ and making the Asset Declarations of high-ranking public officials accessible to the public, are emphasized in both reports.

Professor Arjuna Parakrama, the researcher behind the Civil Society Governance Diagnostic Report, emphasized that these recommendations hold significance not only from an economic perspective but also in ensuring justice and fairplay for the masses.

The discussion also saw active participation from leaders of various organizations, including Rohana Hettiarachchi, Executive Director of PAFFREL; Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne, President of Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement; Dr. Jehan Perera, Executive Director of the National Peace Council; Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, Executive Director of CPA; and Lasanthika Hettiarachchi, Advocacy and Research Manager at TISL.

The governance reforms proposed in the 34 Recommendations — derived from extensive island-wide consultation with grassroots citizens and experts alike — garnered the overwhelming support of the civil society representatives who attended the discussion.

Deportation of 31 Sri Lankans from Jordan

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Jordan in collaboration with the Public Security Directorate of Jordan,  facilitated the deportation of thirty one Sri Lankans who have been granted deportation order by the Jordanian authorities. The said Sri Lankans returned to Sri Lanka on 27 October 2023.

These Sri Lankans entered Jordan on 22 July 2023 on visit/tourist visas with the anticipation of finding job opportunities. Subsequently, they were arrested by the North Amman police station and detained in correction centers following a decision made by the North Amman court on 12 October 2023.

The issue of migrant workers arriving on visit/tourist visas and overstaying or attempting to cross international borders illegally has been a recurring trend in the past. From January 2023 up to the present, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Jordan has been actively involved in facilitating the deportation of approximately 120 stranded Sri Lankans, with the support extended by the Jordan authorities.

The Embassy officials visited the correction centers to ensure  the welfare and safety during their stay. The stranded Sri Lankans were provided essential humanitarian support including medical assistance and access to basic necessities by the Jordanian authorities.

The Embassy wishes to strongly advise Sri Lankans not to arrive in Jordan on visit/tourist visas without a confirmed job opportunity and required visa. Many male and female Sri Lankans continue to fall victims of human smuggling and are subsequently subjected to deportation after being held in correction centers.

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Jordan requests all Sri Lankans to seek overseas job opportunities legally and to register with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) before their departure.

Embassy of Sri Lanka

Amman

01 November 2023

Colombo (LNW): Marking an increase of the number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) compared to the previous year, 485 new infections of HIV have been identified in the past few months this year, disclosed Dr. Janaki Vidanapathirana, Director of the National STD/AIDS Control Programme (NSACP).

“The estimated number of HIV cases in Sri Lanka for this year is 4,100. Between January 1st and the end of September this year, we identified 485 new cases of HIV. This reflects an increase compared to the previous year. Our efforts have been enhanced through collaborations with non-governmental organisations. It’s noteworthy that 80 per cent of these cases are reported among men, particularly in the age group of 15 to 49 where HIV infections are increasing the most,” Dr. Vidanapathirana told media.

The national HIV response has established 40 STI clinics under the NSACP across the island, and HIV self-testing kits can be delivered through the Know4Sure app for at-home HIV testing, she noted.

She added that in conjunction with World AIDS Day on December 1st, the NSACP has launched a special campaign to educate the public.

“Most of our programmes are concentrated in the Colombo and Gampaha districts, as these areas have the highest vulnerability. The core message under the theme ‘Let Communities Lead – prevent AIDS’ is to encourage people to get tested for HIV and know their status. Throughout the island, there are 40 national STD clinics available under the National STD AIDS Control Programme. We also provide the option to use the Know4Sure app for at-home HIV testing.”