Colombo (LNW): The Public Health Inspector’s Union is set to launch a two-day strike starting tomorrow (30), citing multiple demands.
The Union plans to carry out their nationwide strike on both Monday and Tuesday (31).
In tandem, various state and provincial public service trade unions are preparing for a broad-based protest, scheduled for 12.00pm tomorrow.
This will see participation from Development officers, Management Service Officers, Grama Niladhari officers, Samurdhi officers, and other provincial public service personnel.
The core aim of this protest is to advocate for a Rs. 20,000 allowance or a wage hike in the upcoming 2024 Budget.
Colombo (LNW): Measures have been taken to expedite the hiring of 1,500 family health service officers (midwives) who have been awaiting appointments for three years after successfully passing their interviews, Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya.
The Management Services Department has been directed to finalise a decision regarding these recruitments in the coming days, noted the Minister.
This announcement was made during a meeting on October 27 with representatives of the Government Family Health Service Officers Association at the Finance Ministry.
Per a gazette notice issued in January 2021, interviews were conducted to fill 2,500 positions in family health services.
However, it was uncovered that only 1,000 of these individuals are currently in training, leaving the remainder still awaiting their postings.
Mrs. Devika Kodithuvakku, chairperson of the association, highlighted that due to a freeze on government jobs stemming from the economic downturn, those who passed their interviews but remained unappointed faced significant challenges.
Minister Siyambalapitiya acknowledged the challenges of covering costs in a climate of limited revenue. Nonetheless, he emphasised that recruitment in crucial sectors like health cannot be overlooked.
He has directed the Department of Management Services to explore the potential for such hirings.
He also stressed the possibility of leveraging aid from the World Bank for this purpose or, if that proves untenable, sourcing alternative funding methods.
The Minister added that there are also vacancies in departments like the Local Revenue, which contribute to government revenue. Still, priority is being given to recruitment within the health service.
Colombo (LNW): The government will not make decisions detrimental to the country’s economy, and the ongoing reforms, which are in line with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement, should have been introduced decades ago, Finance State Minister Shehan Semasinghe said.
Speaking at the North Central Province Outstanding Entrepreneurs Awards Night on Friday, the State Minister emphasised that these are reforms the government should have undertaken two or three decades prior.
Highlighting the government’s recognition of the increased strain placed on the Sri Lankan populace in the pursuit of addressing the economic crisis, the State Minister stressed that everyone, including policymakers, must play their part in ensuring Sri Lanka’s continued economic recovery.
Further discussing Sri Lanka’s arrangement with the IMF, Semasinghe pointed out that nations like India and South Korea flourished economically after IMF assistance, expressing confidence that Sri Lanka too will witness a robust economy after fully realising the reforms.
Colombo (LNW): Numerous state sector and provincial public service trade unions are preparing to initiate a nationwide strike tomorrow (30), in response to several demands.
In line with this, the co-ordinator of the trade union group, Chandana Sooriyarachchi, announced that the strike is scheduled to begin at 12.00pm tomorrow, with demands for a Rs. 20,000 allowance or a wage increase in the 2024 Budget.
Development officers, Management Service Officers, Grama Niladhari officers, Samurdhi officers, Office Services and other personnel from the Provincial Public Service sector are expected to participate in tomorrow’s strike, Sooriyarachchi added.
In a related development, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) is also planning a strike next week, according to GMOA spokesperson Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe.
Colombo (LNW): India has established a minimum export price of $800 per tonne for onions until 31st December, the government announced on Saturday, aiming to ensure sufficient domestic supply and stabilise prices, REUTERS reported.
“This action was taken to ensure ample availability of onions for domestic consumers at reasonable prices, given the dwindling stock of rabi 2023 onion harvested in winter,” the government clarified in a statement.
Furthermore, the government has decided to procure an additional 200,000 tonnes of onions for its reserve, in addition to the 500,000 tonnes previously secured, as mentioned in the statement.
Earlier in August, the South Asian country had levied a 40% export tariff on onions until 31st December to enhance the domestic supply of the vegetable.
Colombo (LNW): In the contemporary global landscape, achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is particularly challenging, especially for developing nations like Sri Lanka, stated the Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.
He emphasised that these challenges are amplified by the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the detrimental effects of climate change, and escalating conflicts, all of which have multifaceted impacts on both humans and the environment.
Despite these hurdles, Sri Lanka is actively working to surmount them. The Speaker conveyed these sentiments at the 147th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Luanda, Angola.
He also reflected on the previous year, noting that Sri Lanka navigated one of its most demanding periods in the face of global upheavals.
Amid widespread social discord and protests, the Sri Lankan government and its citizens ensured a tranquil political shift, preserving the stability of democratic establishments.
The 147th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, taking place in Angola from 23rd to 27th October, is centred around the theme “Parliamentary action for peace, justice and strong institutions”, aligning with the 16th of the 17 SDGs set in 2015 by the UN’s 193 member countries to eliminate global poverty soon.
Participating in this Assembly are MPs Naleen Bandara Jayamaha, Mohammed Muzammil, Chintaka Amal Mayadunne, Rajika Wickramasinghe, and the Secretary General of Parliament, Kushani Rohanadeera.
Colombo (LNW): The Royal Navy destroyer ROKS ‘Kwanggaeto the Great’, which had arrived in Colombo for an official visit, set sail from the island on 28th October 2023.
The Sri Lanka Navy extended a traditional send-off to the departing ship in line with naval customs at Colombo harbour.
Upon its departure, ROKS ‘Kwanggaeto the Great’ successfully undertook a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) alongside SLNS Vijayabahu.
This PASSEX included Communication Training and Tactical Maneuvering Training sessions, rounding off with the traditional cheer ship salute.
In the interim, the Commanding Officer of ROKS ‘Kwanggaeto the Great’, Captain Kim Hyoung Churl, paid a visit to the Commander of the Western Naval Area and Commandant of the Volunteer Naval Force, Rear Admiral Saman Perera, at the Western Naval Command Headquarters on 26th October.
Parallel to the ship’s stay in Sri Lanka, members of the Sri Lanka Navy were given the chance to tour the ship at Colombo harbour.
Such visits are pivotal in bolstering cooperation between naval forces. Furthermore, these interactions pave the way for naval drills and training endeavours, promoting the sharing of expertise and insights regarding their distinct maritime landscapes.
Such exchanges are especially advantageous when addressing mutual maritime issues.
Colombo (LNW): The owner of Eon Lanka Investment and Film Production Financial Company has been remanded by the Wariyapola Magistrate Court this week over an alleged financial misappropriation of around Rs10 billion of depositors money.
A group of customers who invested money in a firm called Eon Lanka has complained to the Inspector General of Police C.D. Wickramaratne that the owner of the financial institution which was sealed by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka two years ago has defrauded Rs.9.91 billion.
A large number of retirees, including those of the three armed forces and the police, have deposited money in the institution in Kurunegala which remained open from 2013 to 2020.
Wariyapola Magistrate Rasika Mallawaarachchi yesterday ordered the remand of owner of Eon Lanka Investment and Film Production Financial Company Attapattu Mudiyanselage Dhammika Attapattu over defrauding 8,000 people of money running into Rs 10 billion by promising higher interest, till November 1.
The suspected businessman, who is said to have been in hiding for almost two years after defrauding people of money, was arrested at a house located in Kandy by the Criminal Investigation.
The Police Media Spokesperson’s Office stated that this person had been the director and shareholder of this financial institution.
The suspect was arrested on Thursday (26) by the officers of the Financial and Commercial Crime Investigation Division of the CID. They also stated that Rs. 9,900 million had been defrauded by this person.
The Police Media Spokesperson’s Office stated further that charges of criminal misappropriation of money and breach of trust have been levelled against this person and he has also laundered the money thus earned.
Claiming to pay a high rate of interest, the suspected businessman had been operating the relevant financial institution at his home in Hanhamuna and taken cash deposits of various amounts ranging from Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 10 million and then committed this large-scale financial fraud by not returning the interest and money due for those deposits to the customers.
The Central Bank has imposed a ban on his illegal money transactions and published public notices banning those transactions in the newspapers.
A financial fraud case has also been filed against him in the Colombo High Court and it is currently being heard without the suspect’s attendance.
Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka and France have agreed to boost trade investment and tourism bilateral ties and friendly political relations this week at the inaugural bilateral consultations between the two Foreign Ministries at senior official level in Colombo.
The consultations were part of the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and France which took place on 27 October 1948.
The consultations focused on strengthening bilateral relations, supporting ongoing work on existing projects and initiatives, and identifying new areas of partnership and coordinated action between the two countries.
The consultations reflected the desire expressed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe and President Emmanuel Macron during their meeting in Colombo on 28 July, 2023, to strengthen the partnership between the two countries.
The two parties reviewed progress in political relations; security; cultural cooperation and people-to-people contacts. They expressed their shared commitment to the values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
The parties discussed the expansion of trade, investment, tourism and development cooperation between the two countries and between Sri Lanka and the EU, including the setting up of relevant modalities to facilitate economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and France.
The parties committed to strengthening cooperation in the field of education by welcoming the support of France towards the teaching of the French language in Sri Lanka as well as strengthening cooperation between the two countries through academic and research exchanges between institutions of higher education.
Sri Lanka appreciated the role played by France in bringing together the creditor platform under the aegis of the Paris Club in advancing the debt restructuring discussions.
The two parties discussed progress in Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring program. Reference was made to the need to ensure fair and equitable treatment of all creditors.
France commended the action and reforms undertaken by Sri Lanka as part of the program agreed with the IMF, and expressed its firm commitment and support towards the country’s economic recovery.
The two sides reiterated their shared commitment to cooperate on global issues, including the sustainable development goals, climate change and environmental protection, food security, reform of the multilateral financial architecture.
It has been agreed to deepen their joint efforts in the future, building upon their participation in the Paris Pact for the People and the Planet.
The parties expressed their willingness to work together in preparation for the Third United Nations Ocean Conference to be held in France in 2025.
