Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) indicates another slight depreciation against the US Dollar at leading commercial banks in Sri Lanka today (31) in comparison to yesterday.
At Peoples Bank, the buying price of the US Dollar has increased to Rs. 320.91 from Rs. 320.67, and the selling price to Rs. 332.67 from Rs. 332.41.
At Commercial Bank, the buying price of the US Dollar has increased to 321.15 from Rs. 320.49, but the selling price remains unchanged at Rs. 331.50.
At Sampath Bank, the buying and selling prices of the US Dollar remain unchanged at Rs. 322 and Rs. 332, respectively.
Colombo (LNW): The Ministry ports and aviation is planning to implement a new model for the Colombo Port East Container Terminal, making it a more private-sector-oriented terminal, with the sate official presence as far as the administration and other things are concerned. Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said.
“With the anticipated growth in the maritime sector, we may soon need additional terminals. Our ambitious North Port Development Project envisions four to six new terminals, all under private sector management, to attract further investment,” he added.
Moreover, the ministry recognizes the need for a Port Community System (PCS) in the Port of Colombo. The government is taking steps to address this, and expressions of interest from renowned organizations will be sought shortly.
He said “Additionally, we are aware of certain administrative issues within our ports, and we are committed to rectifying these concerns. Automation and closer collaboration with neighboring countries, such as Bangladesh and India, are essential for the efficient movement of cargo through Sri Lanka’s ports.”
He said that politically, we are actively fostering relationships with key players in the region to attract more shipping lines and container ships to Sri Lanka and through this the country aims to establish Sri Lanka as a strong hub in the Indian Ocean for transshipment.
Sri Lanka is looking at attracting investment for green hydrogen and green ammonia production in the Port of Colombo, Minister of Aviation and Shipping Nimal Siripala De Silva said.
“We have already reached out to institutions for expertise in this regard,” he said at the 26th AGM of the Sri Lanka Association of Vessel Operators (SLAVO) in Colombo last week and also commended their role in the industry. The Minister also said that the landscape of the maritime industry was rapidly evolving, with a strong emphasis on environmentally friendly practices.
Vessel owners worldwide are increasingly investing in green technology to reduce emissions. Consequently, our ports must be well-equipped to accommodate these eco-friendly vessels. Discussions in this regard have centered on green hydrogen, green ammonia, and enhanced connectivity.
While Sri Lanka’s economy may not be as extensive as others, we must align with these global trends and deliver accordingly. Furthermore, pragmatic policies are essential to attract foreign and private investors for port development. Even in countries with strong economies like India, the private sector and foreign investments play a pivotal role. Therefore, our government is committed to facilitating and supporting private sector growth.
“To remain competitive globally, we must also focus on nurturing a new generation of professionals in the maritime sector. While those present here today have accumulated vast experience, it is crucial to encourage young individuals to embrace this industry. Our educational institutions must produce professionals who can compete on a global scale,” he added.
Colombo (LNW): Electricity sector reforms bill aimed at restructuring the Ceylon enabling the power and energy ministry to enact it with the parliament endorsement, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera disclosed.
Minister Wijesekera informed yesterday that the proposed Electricity Sector Reforms Bill for the observations was submitted for the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers to open up the electricity industry for new entrants to offer competitive prices.
“The proposed reforms will unbundle the services of CEB, improve efficiency, transparency, competition and allow private sector participation in the electricity industry,” he announced via ‘X’ yesterday.
Wijesekera said the Bill was prepared over the past 10 months with the assistance of energy and legal experts from development agencies and industry stakeholders.
Following the incorporation of the Attorney General Department’s recommended revisions by the Legal Draftsman, the Minister stated that the Bill received the AG’s approval last week.
He noted that once the Cabinet of Ministers approves the Bill, it will be gazetted and tabled in the Parliament for approval.
The Sri Lankan Government intends to restructure the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) soon instead of running all the related entities under one institution and will unbundle all related institutions separately, he disclosed.
“Under the CEB restructuring process, the management structure of the CEB will be undergoing reforms and this would also enable renewable energy generation to be promoted in the country with the support of government and private and public partnerships,” he said.
Currently loss-making Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is to undergo a systematic restructuring process by unbundling it into eight separate corporate entities for power generation, transmission, and distribution, a recent CEB directors board paper on administration specified.
The board paper clearly indicated that it plans to reduce massive losses of the CEB by transforming it into efficient profit making institution by setting up these entities under eight new general managers.
These entities will undertake functions of the CEB relating to hydro electricity, thermal electricity, coal power and non renewable power generation, distribution, and other activities of CEB as well as Lanka Electricity Company (LECO).
The CEB trade unions were protesting against the restructuring process that is about to begin and the CEB Engineers’ Union is divided over the issue.
This state owned enterprise with its large staff of 23,000 with over 1,400 professionals are planning to continue their agitation against the government’s initiatives of entering into power deals including the controversial Yugadanavi LNG power project and attempts to privatise the institution under the cover of restructuring, he added.
The unbundling will also provide an opportunity for the government to get rid of the majority of staff giving them a golden hand shake, the trade union leader alleged.
Colombo (LNW): Two World Bank high officials’ present visit to Sri Lanka will pave the way towards revitalizing the ongoing Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP), the President’s Media Division (PMD) said in a statement.
The Managing Director for Operations of the World Bank, Ms. Anna Bjerde and Martin Raiser, the Regional Vice-President of the World Bank for South Asia, conducted a field visit to the Climate Smart Farmer Training School in Thirappane on Sunday (29).
The purpose of their visit was to assess the progress of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP).
Ms. Anna Bjerde made her first visit to the country in response to a request made by President Ranil Wickremesinghe during his special meeting with the President of the World Bank. Ajay Banga.
The CSIAP has undertaken an ambitious initiative to establish a comprehensive Farmer Training School known as “Deshaguna Suhuru Govi Puhunu Pasala” in Mannakkulama Village, Thirappane, in the Anuradhapura District.
This Farmer Training School will play a pivotal role in training and equipping farmers with hands-on experience in Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices and cutting-edge agricultural technologies.
This visit by Ms. Anna Bjerde and Martin Raiser, the Vice President for the South Asia Region and a delegation from the World Bank, Asia Development Bank, JICA and USAID underscores the World Bank’s and other partners’ commitment to supporting initiatives that aim to improve the agricultural sector and enhance climate resilience in Sri Lanka’s dry zone.
Following her visit to the Climate Smart Farmer Training School (FTS) in Thirappane, Ms. Anna Bjerde and the delegation of officials visited the Ambul Banana Cluster in Rajanganaya.
This project supports smallholder farmer clusters in the project districts to produce high value agricultural products in order to improve the farmer household income significantly as well as to increase the export earnings of the country, the statement added.
Expressing her views at the event, Ms. Anna Bjerde, Managing Director for Operations of the World Bank, highlighted the changing weather patterns caused by climate change and how this school is equipping farmers with techniques to enhance productivity and resilience in crop production.
Ms. Bjerde also mentioned three major benefits of this project: the transition to renewable energy, particularly solar power; increased and stable livelihoods, enabling children to access education, including higher education; and diversified and sustainable crop yields, ensuring better nutrition.
She expressed pride in the World Bank’s support for this project and emphasized the need for more initiatives like this to address the challenges posed by climate change, both through mitigation and adaptation efforts.
Colombo (LNW): Canwill Holdings parent company of Sinolanka one of the present majority stake holders of Grand Hyatt Colombo (GHC)” a 47 level skyscraper that was to house an iconic 5 star luxury class hotel and serviced apartments is on its way towards divestiture.
Expressions of interest have been called for for divestment of Grand Hyatt Colombo marred with corruption and controversies during the previous Mahinda Rajapaksa regime.
This an uncompleted building even after spending a staggering Rs. 21.6 billion is still to be completed. , official sources said.
The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) intends to divest all or part of equity shareholding in Canwill, the parent company to Sinolanka Hotels & Spa (Pvt) Ltd (Sinolanka) and Helanco Hotels & Spa (Pvt) Ltd (Helanco).
Sinolanka the owner of an under-construction top tier landmark hospitality asset in er Colombo, built to Grand Hyatt specks since Sinolanka has entered into a hotel management agreement with Hyatt International- Southwest Asia Ltd.
The property features an impressive 47-story structure with 458 rooms and an additional 100 serviced apartments, all situated on 2.32 acres of prime oceanfront real estate. The total built-up area encompasses a vast 1,340,562 square feet.
Helanco holds 9.42 acres of beachfront leasehold land in the southern city of Hambantota.
GoSL will implement this divestiture via its State-Owned Enterprise Restructuring Unit and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP (DTTILLP) has been appointed as the Transaction Advisor. The divestiture will be completed through a two-stage competitive bidding process.
The total GHC project cost has been estimated at approximately US $ 302 million (Rs. 45.3 billion) excluding interest cost (if) and CESS and NBT.
The physical progress of the project as it stands now is around 61.67 percent and the expected date of completion would be uncertain as the construction work has been halted owing to, ongoing legal issues and shortage of funds.
The cost for the completion of a room at this hotel was Rs 82 million whereas a similar room of Shangri-La hotel had been completed at a cost of Rs 42 million, a senior treasury official said.
The then good governess government had earlier planned to operate the Grand Hyatt project e as a five-star hotel with 458 rooms and 100 serviced apartments, once completed.
The management contract entered into with the Hyatt Group expires 20 years after the start of operation.
In an attempt to restructure the project ownership of Canwill Holdings Ltd. and divest the Government stake in the company, action has been taken to find a suitable investor by calling for proposals on 2018.
However restructuring process has to be suspended on the directions of 52 day unconstitutional administration headed by Mahinda Rajapaksa in the later part of 2018.
The 54th session of the UN Human Rights Council UNHRC began on the 11th of September in Geneva and was held until the 13th of October. In this 54th session of the UNHRC, the High Commissioner for Human Rights – HCHR published a report on Sri Lanka. It is to be noted that the HCHR’s reports will be published in future sessions as well.
Whatever the situation, another resolution on Sri Lanka is possible, only in the 57th session, September 2024. This not a good message for the victims who have been waiting for justice for a very long time.
The published report is titled “Situation of Human Rights in Sri Lanka….”, dated 6th September 2023 – A/HRC/54/20. It consists of 13 pages and 68 paragraphs.
Part I is the ‘Introduction’ and consists of three paragraphs. Part II is titled ‘Context’, paragraphs 04 to 07. Part III is ‘Human rights impact of economic crises’: paragraphs 08 to 15. Part IV covers ‘Human rights trends and developments’: paragraphs 16 to 40, followed by Part V ‘Reconciliation and accountability’: paragraphs 41 to 59. Part VI is ‘Conclusions’: paragraphs 60 to 63. The last part VII is ‘Recommendations’ from paragraphs 64 to 68.
Even though all thirteen pages are considered important, here below I highlight some crucial points:
Paragraph five says that the delay in holding the local government elections on 9 March 2023 due to financial constraints, has brought the Election Commission and the government closer to an institutional crisis. Provincial councils – a key element of devolution under the 13th Constitutional Amendment – have been suspended since 2017. Women’s political representation is low: there is only one woman in the 22-member cabinet.
Para nine insists that the poverty rate has increased in Sri Lanka as a result of the economic crisis. The World Bank estimates that the poverty rate doubled from 13 to 25 percent between 2021 and 2022.
Terrorism Bill
In para twenty-five, the government announced that it had received the President’s approval to release 11 long-term prisoners. On July 18, two LTTE members serving a life sentence, and a 200-years sentence were released on a presidential pardon.
Para twenty-six says that bail has also been granted in some cases related to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.
In para twenty-eight, on 13 January 2023, the Ministry of Defence stated that the Sri Lanka Army would be reduced from its current strength of 200,800 to 135,000 by 2024 and 100,000 by 2030.
Para thirty says that in previous reports, the Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed concern about the trend towards harsh nationalistic rhetoric that undermines harmony between ethnic and religious communities.
The president pledged to halt land acquisition for archaeological, forestry, or conservation purposes, which have been a growing source of local conflicts and tensions.
Para thirty-one says that complaints have continued to be made regarding land disputes between the state and citizens belonging to local communities. 26 such disputes were recorded between October 2022 and June 2023, mostly in the Northern and Eastern provinces.
Monitoring of victims
Para thirty-three recalls that the OHCHR continues to receive reports of surveillance, intimidation, and harassment of human rights defenders, activists, and persons engaged in remembrance efforts by unidentified persons associated with the intelligence services, the military, and the police or former paramilitaries.
Para thirty-five talks about family members of the disappeared in the Eastern and Northern provinces continuing to receive police visits with summons or restraining orders ahead of significant dates, preventing them from organizing or participating in protests, rallies, or commemorations.
Para thirty-eight recalls that on 28 May 2023, stand-up comedian Nathasha Edirisooriya was arrested for her comments on Buddhism. On 31 May 2023, a YouTube creator was arrested for airing a show by Edirisooriya.
On 28 May 2023, Buddhist Bhikkhu Rajangane Sattharadhana Thero was arrested following a complaint by another monk regarding his alleged offending of Buddhism.
Para thirty-nine, said that on May 12, a 41-year-old woman was beaten to death in Welikada while in police custody, following her arrest on a complaint of theft by her employer. On July 20, a 29-year-old murder suspect was killed in a shootout with the STF in Minuwangoda.
In para forty-one, the President has pledged to advance reconciliation, including plans to establish a fact-finding mechanism.
Para forty-four, in previous reports, the OHCHR has repeatedly mentioned the lack of progress in addressing the issue of missing persons. 14 years after the end of the war, many families are still demanding answers regarding the fate of their relatives.
Any strategy for transitional justice, reconciliation, and the establishment of the Office on Missing Persons – OMP and Office for Reparations must take into account the many unresolved issues. The OMP has held preliminary inquiries in 4,088 out of a total of 14,988 complaints.
Emblematic cases
Para forty-seven, On 31 March 2023, the case relating to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks in several locations across Sri Lanka, moved forward as the Colombo High Court trial commenced examining 23,270 charges of aiding, abetting, and conspiracy to commit terrorism.
Para forty-eight, on March 14, 2023, the UN Human Rights Committee, in a case against Sri Lanka, found that Sri Lanka had breached its international obligations and is under an obligation to provide adequate compensation to the complainant.
In para forty-nine, the OHCHR has established a special project team called the Sri Lanka Accountability Project – SAP. In October 2022, the Human Rights Council decided to extend and strengthen its mandate through resolution 51/1.
The Sri Lankan government has consistently rejected resolution 46/1 and resolution 51/1. Sri Lanka has also rejected the project team’s opportunity to provide explanations and exchange information with the authorities.
Para fifty-eight said the OHCHR continues to develop future accountability strategies that will be further elaborated in the comprehensive report of the 57th Session of the Human Rights Council.
In conclusion, para sixty-one said that lack of accountability at all levels is a fundamental human rights problem. This can refer to war crimes atrocities, post-war emblematic cases, torture and deaths in police custody, corruption, and abuse of power. Sri Lanka suffers from an extraordinary lack of accountability. Also urges the Government and Sri Lankan political parties to strive for and deliver on long-term democratic renewal, deep institutional reforms, and concrete progress on accountability, reconciliation, and human rights.
Para sixty-two insists on political solutions to the separation of powers presented in the 13th Amendment. However, accountability is an essential element of any genuine reconciliation agenda. International standards must be met, including a truth commission which must meet the expectations of victims and their relatives to provide a lasting political solution.
Recommendations
There are serious recommendations to Sri Lanka as well as to the member states of the HRC, to all UN Agencies funds and programs operating in Sri Lanka and to International financial institutions. The recommendations by the HCHR are summarised briefly here:
Para sixty-five: The Human Rights Commissioner recommends that the Government of Sri Lanka:
End all forms of harassment and illegal and arbitrary surveillance; support initiatives to acknowledge and memorialize the experience of victims; undertake comprehensive defence sector reform, including considerably reducing military spending; vetting and reducing military presence in areas affected by armed conflict; review procedures in the departments of archaeology, forestry, irrigation and other services dealing with ongoing land disputes; settle land disputes impartially and transparently, especially those of an inter-communal nature; ensure full compliance with Sri Lanka’s international legal obligations when regulating the broadcasting media.
Para sixty-six, recommends member states of the HRC:
Cooperate in investigating and prosecuting alleged perpetrators of international crimes committed by all parties in Sri Lanka, through judicial proceedings in national jurisdictions, and through relevant international networks in cooperation with victims and their representatives; explore further sanctions, such as asset freezes and travel bans, against those who are credibly accused of committing international human rights violations or grave humanitarian law violations; support Sri Lanka in investigating economic crimes affecting human rights, identifying, recovering and returning stolen assets and ensuring that recovered assets are allocated in an accountable, transparent and participatory manner.
Para sixty-seven recommends UN agencies, funds, and programs operating in Sri Lanka and international financial institutions:
Ensure broad cooperation and engagement with the OHCHR for Accountability in Sri Lanka, including providing the OHCHR with access to materials in the UN system regarding violations and related crimes committed in Sri Lanka.
On the 11th of September, following the release of this report in the UNHRC, twenty-four (24) UN member states and 10 NGOs made interventions on Sri Lanka. Out of the twenty-four UN member states, only nine countries spoke in semi-favour of Sri Lanka.
In such a situation, it is surprising that Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to UN Geneva claims that forty-three (43) countries supported Sri Lanka in the 54th session.. If we take it for granted that forty-three countries are in favour of Sri Lanka, will the ambassador accept that, out of one hundred and ninety-three (193) UN member countries, one hundred and fifty member countries were not in favour of Sri Lanka? (End)
Covid pandemic and the Financial crisis has caused severe liquidity issues in Sri Lanka making risks on the credit portfolios of the local SANASA cooperatives. FO4A project locally known as the ‘Smart farmer’ programme, enabled the managers and the leaders to support their members to improve their income through organized, market connected cultivation programmes.
Seventy members of Thirawala society were supported by ARISE 2 loan scheme to start protected vegetable cultivation projects in their village. Ms. R.K.S Priyangika, the Chairperson of the SANASA society, is eager to expand the project which has already supported to improve the income of the members and pay back the defaulted loans.
“While ARISE loan scheme enabled us to motivate farmers to think differently, we are hopeful to move to the next stage to support the farmers to market their products.”
Currently SEFEC is supporting Thirawala society to incubate a vegetable packhouse business to identify differentiated markets to gain a higher farmgate price for their members.
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Belgium and Head of Mission to the European Union Grace Asirwatham met with Heidi Hautala, Vice President of the European Parliament, and Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Finland representing the Greens/EFA Group at the European Parliament on 25 October 2023. This meeting took place ahead of the inter-parliamentary meeting scheduled for 31 October 2023, in Sri Lanka.
The discussion between Ambassador Asirwatham and MEP Hautala covered a wide range of topics, including the present economic situation in Sri Lanka, the status of bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and the European Union, compliance with the GSP Plus program, with a particular focus on human rights, and collaborative multilateral efforts. Progress on post-conflict issues and other mutual interests of the European Union and Sri Lanka were also central to the conversation.
Since MEP Hautala is also the rapporteur appointed by the Parliamentary Committee on International Trade (INTA) on the new GSP Regulation, which is being negotiated among the EU Commission, Council, and Parliament, the Ambassador and the MEP discussed the extension of the current GSP Regulation until December 2027 and the new Regulation under negotiation. Ambassador Asirwatham emphasized the significance of maintaining the EU GSP Plus benefits for Sri Lanka, especially in the current economic landscape. The Ambassador stressed that the GSP Plus trade privilege has played a crucial role in boosting exports to the European Union, contributing to economic development, and providing enhanced employment opportunities, especially for women in Sri Lanka.
The Delegation for Relations with the Countries of South Asia (DSAS) in the European Parliament and the Sri Lanka Parliament conduct annual inter-parliamentary meetings between the two Parliaments to promote bilateral relations. The last such meeting was held online on 17 November 2022.
Over the past several years, Sri Lanka and the European Union have nurtured close and constructive relations, marked by a series of high-level meetings and engagements.
Colombo (LNW): A commuter train on the Main Line experienced a breakdown near Veyangoda railway station this morning (October 31).
The train was traveling from Rambukkana to Colombo Fort, and this incident has led to delays for other trains operating on the Main Line, according to the Railway Control Room.
Colombo (LNW): To enhance the efficiency of the Aswasuma benefit programme and address ongoing concerns, the Ministry of Finance has introduced an ‘Aswasuma Week’ scheduled from November 06 to 11.
The primary objective of this initiative is to promptly resolve programme-related issues and ensure that deserving beneficiaries promptly receive the support they are entitled to, as stated by Finance State Minister Shehan Semasinghe.
Minister Semasinghe emphasised that this initiative is designed to provide immediate assistance to families who have yet to receive their entitled benefits.
It also extends support to relief beneficiaries who have been selected and those whose benefits have been delayed due to technical complications.
During a press conference held at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) yesterday (30), with the overarching theme of ‘Collective Path to a Stable Country’ State Minister of Finance, Shehan Semasinghe, unveiled the upcoming ‘Aswasuma Week’ and elaborated on its core goals.
State Minister Semasinghe stressed that ‘Aswasuma Week’ will facilitate the swift distribution of benefits to families who have encountered difficulties in receiving their entitled assistance. This includes both families who have not yet received any benefits and those who have experienced delays due to technical issues.
Moreover, the State Minister of Finance confirmed that various government departments, including the Presidential Secretariat, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Public Administration and Divisional Secretariats, are dedicated to resolving issues related to relief beneficiaries during this designated week. This concerted effort reflects the government’s dedication to addressing the concerns of those reliant on the Aswasuma programme.
In addition to the forthcoming resolution of existing issues, the State Minister announced that all payments for the month of July have been successfully distributed to beneficiaries, with payments for August set to commence from the upcoming Wednesday.
State Minister Semasinghe reiterated that ‘Aswasuma Week’ should not be mistaken for a call for applications for the upcoming year. Instead, it is an initiative aimed at addressing unresolved issues from the current year’s application submissions. The Welfare Board is collaborating with Divisional Secretariats to ensure that beneficiaries are informed about the progress made.
The State Minister of Finance also provided a financial outlook, indicating that Rs. 8.5 billion will be distributed to 1,365,000 beneficiaries within the next two days, enabling beneficiaries to access their funds starting from November 01 (Wednesday). Subsequently, payments for the month of September are expected to be completed before the end of the following month.
The State Minister acknowledged that while there haven’t been financial issues, technical complications, such as problems with bank accounts, have posed challenges. Nevertheless, the government is determined to resolve these technical issues promptly to expedite payments.
State Minister Semasinghe recognised the profound impact of the economic downturn on vulnerable populations and assured that the government is committed to mitigating their hardships. He emphasised the government’s commitment to accelerating the distribution of financial aid, with the goal of finalising payments for July through December by the end of the year. Additionally, the government plans to broaden its focus to address various other aspects when inviting applications.
In conclusion, State Minister Shehan Semasinghe acknowledged the less popular economic decisions taken by the President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the government and highlighted their vital role in achieving economic stability. He emphasised that the government’s efforts extend to benefiting both government employees and the general public, ultimately fostering a robust and resilient national economy.
