March 15, Colombo (LNW): In a significant move aimed at supporting farmers, Agriculture and Plantation Industry Minister Mahinda Amaraweera announced on Wednesday (13) that President Ranil Wickremesinghe has sanctioned Rs. 500 million to the Paddy Marketing Board for the purchase of paddy. This decision comes amidst challenges faced by the Ministry in securing funds from the Finance Ministry, which has so far been unresponsive to requests for Rs. 2 billion for paddy procurement during this Maha Season.

The allocated funds will facilitate the opening of at least 12 paddy stores across nine districts, including Hambantota, Monaragala, Ampara, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Kurunegala, Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, and Anuradhapura, starting from today (15). Additionally, Agriculture Minister Amaraweera has instructed the PMB Chairman to prepare another 100 paddy stores to be operationalized promptly for paddy procurement.

From tomorrow (16) onwards, warehouses including Kachchigal Ara, Weerawila, Dehigahalanda, Yodhakandiya, Aluthwewa, Weeragoda, Surangal, Manalpeddi, Nikaweratiya 2, Kilinochchiya, Park Road, Kilinochchi Economic Center, and Nochchiyagama will remain open for paddy transactions.

Despite facing reluctance from Finance Ministry officials, who did not respond positively to funding requests, the Paddy Marketing Board initiated paddy purchases by utilizing Rs. 250 million from the Farmer Trust Fund. Minister Amaraweera highlighted the direct involvement of the President in addressing this issue, emphasizing the urgent need for financial provision to support paddy procurement.

Under the government’s imposed maximum price regulations, paddy with 14 percent moisture content will be purchased at Rs. 105 per kilogram, while Samba and Keeri Samba varieties will be bought at Rs. 120 and Rs. 130 per kilogram respectively. Paddy exceeding 14 percent moisture content will be procured at Rs. 90 per kilogram, and Rs. 100 per kilogram for Samba and Keeri Samba.

Furthermore, the Paddy Marketing Board has initiated wholesale purchases of Red Nadu from farmers in the Hambantota District, utilizing a loan of Rs. 100 million from the Farmer Trust Fund. As of (12), approximately 75,000 kilograms of paddy have been procured, marking a significant step towards supporting agricultural livelihoods in the region.

March 15, Colombo (LNW): Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and Central provinces the evening or night.

Mainly dry weather will prevail elsewhere of the island.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Galle and Matara districts during the morning.

By: Staff Writer

March 14, Colombo (LNW): India and Sri Lanka held discussions on the progress of cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy at the Joint Working Group on Renewable Energy inaugural Meeting in Colombo.

The Indian side agreed to extend all possible technical assistance to the Government of Sri Lanka in the areas of solar, wind, biomass and grid connection by offering trainings in premier Indian institutions such as National Institute of Solar Energy, National Institute of Wind Energy and National Institute of Bio Energy

The Joint Working Group (JWG) on Renewable Energy was established under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy in July 2023, convened in Colombo.

Co-chaired by Shri Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, Secretary of India’s Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, and Dr. Sulakshana Jayawardena, Secretary of Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Power and Energy, the meeting aimed to bolster bilateral collaboration in renewable energy initiatives.

During the meeting, the Indian delegation gave detailed presentation on India’s achievements in the renewable energy sector, citizen-centric schemes offered by the Government of India to encourage investments in the renewable energy sector, the National Green Hydrogen Mission and India’s cross border electricity trade.

The Sri Lankan side highlighted the present status of the power sector in Sri Lanka and the contribution of renewables in the energy mix.

Secretary informed that since the Government of Sri Lanka was working towards achieving an ambitious target of 70% generation through renewable energy by 2030, there existed vast potential for investments by Indian companies.

Meanwhile Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera yesterday spearheaded a meeting where 49 shortlisted developers of renewable energy projects convened with the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority.

As per the Minister, a total of 535 project proposals were received for the EOIs and of that 430 projects were recommended to be shortlisted in 2022. After evaluating the initial requirements in 2022 and 2023, the Ministry identified 49 projects to be evaluated for approval.

On Monday, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a 100 MW Ground Mount Solar Project to be developed in Oddamavadi, Batticaloa. The power purchase agreement (PPA) will be entered with CEB for 20 years. Project development is to commence in 2024 and commissioned in 2025,” the Minister added.

On Tuesday, Minister Wijesekera met with top-level officials from India and the UAE to understand potential opportunities to attract investment into renewable energy projects.

These include meeting with the UAE Ambassador Khaled Nasser AlAmeri and a delegation led by India’s New and Renewable Energy Ministry Secretary Bhupinder Singh Bhalla.

By: Staff Writer

March 14, Colombo (LNW): A Chinese military delegation on Wednesday wrapped up a visit to three of India’s closest neighbours – the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Nepal – to boost bilateral defence ties, deepening relations in a region that New Delhi considers its sphere of influence.

Beijing is seeking to build closer ties in South Asia in a push to counter its strategic rival India for influence.

Last week, the Maldives said it had signed a “military assistance” deal with China after ordering Indian troops deployed in the small but strategically-placed archipelago to leave.

And Beijing confirmed Wednesday that a delegation had visited the country and met with pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu during a trip that also took them to Sri Lanka and Nepal from March 4 to 13.

In all three countries, “they exchanged views on military relations and regional security issues of common concern”, the Chinese military said in a statement on its official WeChat account.

The delegation of officials from the military’s international military cooperation department focused on “in-depth consultations on promoting bilateral defence cooperation”.

“A series of consensus was reached to further enriched defence cooperation between the PLA and the relevant countries,” it added, referring to the Chinese military by its official acronym.

India is suspicious of China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean and its influence in the Maldives, a chain of 1,192 tiny coral islands stretching around 800 kilometres (500 miles) across the equator, as well as in neighbouring Sri Lanka.

Both South Asian island nations are strategically placed halfway along key east-west international shipping routes.

Beijing also enjoys close ties with Nepal, led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, an ex-Maoist guerrilla known by his nom de guerre Prachanda.

Ties between Beijing and New Delhi have grown tenser in recent months, strained by disputes over how their borders should be drawn to the passage of Chinese survey vessels in the Indian Ocean. In 2020, relations nosedived after 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers were killed during a border skirmish.

 On Tuesday, India rejected Chinese objections to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s weekend visit to Arunachal Pradesh in the eastern Himalayas, which China claims to be a part of southern Tibet.

Adding to India’s unease, China has been trying to boost ties with nations in the Indian Ocean since the world’s second-biggest economy reopened its borders after three years of self-imposed pandemic curbs.

China this year elevated ties with the Maldives when its newly elected President Mohamed Muizzu pivoted from India and paid his first state visit to Beijing after winning on on “India Out” campaign platform, vowing to remove a small Indian military presence of about 75 personnel from the island nation.

China would provide it with “military assistance”, a media report cited the Maldivian defence ministry as saying earlier this month.Beijing’s interest in the Indian Ocean is also commercial.Half of its oil imports pass through the region.

1. President Ranil Wickremesinghe addresses the United Youth Union, stressing the need for realistic economic policies and collective efforts for the nation’s future: warns against unsustainable promises, highlighting the importance of building a self-sufficient economy: engages in dialogue on various issues and receives a commemorative gift in recognition of his participation, fostering discussions for national progress.
   
2. High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka meets former Finance Minister and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) national organiser Basil Rajapaksa: During the discussion, the two exchange views on bilateral relations, political developments and other subjects of mutual interest.
   
3. Member of the NPP Economic Council and former JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti urges foreign investors bidding for state-owned enterprises to refrain from buying the country’s government institutions: warns that they will have to deal with an NPP government later, should they continue to do so: laments these deals are being made under the current regime led by Ranil Wickremesinghe who has no people’s mandate.
   
4. The Postal Department warns the public about a scam involving fraudulent SMS messages claiming recipients need to pay for parcel clearance using bank cards: Scammers impersonate the department and request sensitive bank information: The department clarifies it never asks for bank details via SMS and advises people to avoid sharing such information in response to these deceptive messages.
   
5. The CID arrests Dr. A.T. Sudarshana, the Deputy Director of the Supplies Division at the Health Ministry, in connection with the substandard human immunoglobulin importation scandal: Concerns over the quality of medical supplies procured by the Health Ministry are increasing.
   
6. In response to the tragic murder of a Sri Lankan family in Ottawa, allegedly by a Sri Lankan student, Canadian authorities plan to enhance mental health support for students: The accused faces severe charges, and Canada views the incident as isolated, with no changes to visa policies expected: Efforts to strengthen support for students abroad are underway: Legal experts emphasise Canada’s commitment to fair legal processes, with potential life sentences for the accused if convicted.
   
7. Data from the Institute of Health Policy (IHP) shows consumer confidence in Sri Lanka saw a modest rise in February, driven by improved expectations for the future and better buying conditions: All three Consumer Confidence indices, including perceptions of personal finances and the national economy, showed increases: Despite this, confidence remains overall pessimistic: The data, based on over 15,000 interviews, reflects a cautious optimism among consumers.
   
8. SriLankan Airlines and Korean Air launch a codeshare partnership, effective March 15, 2024, offering more travel options between Colombo and Seoul: Passengers can now enjoy seamless connections via Singapore, expanding SriLankan Airlines’ reach to Korea and Korean Air’s access to India and the Maldives: The collaboration enhances flight choices, connectivity, and travel experience for passengers of both airlines.
   
9. Loan defaulters are requesting a three-year extension to the moratorium on parate rights suspension, following a recent temporary halt until Dec 15: The Sri Lanka United National Businesses Alliance (SLUNBA) expresses gratitude but stresses the need for a longer relief period: urges for comprehensive measures to aid recovery: Previously, the Sri Lanka Banks’ Association (SLBA) criticised the unilateral decision to suspend parate rights, defending its use as necessary for debt recovery and banking stability, calling for collaborative solutions to address economic challenges.
   
10. Bangladesh clinched an impressive six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in their first ODI with Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto’s unbeaten 122 and Musfiqur Rahim’s 73 securing a vital fifth-wicket partnership: Despite Sri Lanka’s promising start, their batting faltered, leading to a total of 255 runs: Kusal Mendis and Janith Liyanage provided notable contributions, but Bangladesh bowlers, including Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, and Tanzim Hasan, restricted Sri Lanka effectively: The second ODI scheduled for the 15th at Chattogram.

March 14, Colombo (LNW): President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasised the repercussions of political promises made without a comprehensive understanding of the country’s economy, noting the resultant hardships faced by citizens.

Speaking at a convivial gathering organised by the United Youth Union titled “Future of the Youth,” held at Thaprobane Entertainment, he highlighted the importance of facing reality and collectively working towards a positive future for the nation.

Addressing concerns regarding increasing prices of mobile phones and internet service charges, President Wickremesinghe attributed the collapse of the country’s economy to unsustainable practices of providing free services, leading to economic instability.

He stressed the government’s commitment to implementing measures aimed at creating an economy fostering self-sufficiency and financial resilience, cautioning against the temptation to offer free services, which could exacerbate economic challenges.

President Wickremesinghe underscored the need to transition swiftly to an export-oriented economy as a key aspect of economic development.

He acknowledged the challenges faced by various sectors and engaged in constructive dialogue with attendees, offering insights and solutions to pertinent issues raised.

In recognition of the President’s participation, Mr. Neomal Perera, advisor to the United Youth Union, presented a commemorative gift, marking the significance of his presence at the event.

The exchange of questions and answers encompassed various topics concerning the country’s future trajectory and challenges ahead, reflecting a concerted effort towards national progress and prosperity.