March 12, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) indicates further appreciation against the US Dollar today (12) in comparison to yesterday, as per leading commercial banks in the country.
At Peoples Bank, the buying price of the US Dollar has dropped to Rs. 301.21 from Rs. 301.60, and the selling price to Rs. 311.71 and Rs. 312.11.
At Commercial Bank, the buying price of the US Dollar has dropped to Rs. 300.48 from Rs. 301.15, and the selling price to Rs. 310.25 from Rs. 310.50.
At Sampath Bank, the buying price of the US Dollar has dropped to Rs. 302 from Rs. 302.50, and the selling price to Rs. 311 from Rs. 31.50.
March 12, Colombo (LNW): An opportunity has been organised for the Sri Lankan under-19 women’s cricket team to meet the under-19 teams of England and Australia, who have the highest level of playing style in the world women’s cricket arena, in Sri Lanka.
Providing international competition experience to the team as well as the under-19 team, as well as the organisation of national-level competitive matches, the spread of women’s cricket has also increased and as another rich step in the programme, the organisation of England, Australia and Sri Lanka under-19 women’s cricket tournament in Sri Lanka. It can be called being.
The tournament includes 6 T20 matches and 3 ODI matches.
The first T20 match starting on March 28 is scheduled to start at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota.
The one-day matches will be held at the Galle International Stadium on the 5th, 6th and 7th of April.
Sri Lanka’s T20 matches will be played on March 28 (vs. Australia), March 30 (vs. England), April 01 (vs. Australia) and April 03 (vs. England).
Sri Lanka’s ODIs will be held on April 05 (vs. Australia) and April 09. (with England).
Most likely the women’s national team will also leave for a foreign tour by this date, so it is possible that the Sri Lankan team, which won the Trilateral Under-19 Championship held in Bangladesh last time, will not be represented in this tournament.
Because of the performances seen in the National Women’s Cricket League matches held in and after, it is possible to think that the under-19 team can join the national team.
March 12, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka Rugby administration is becoming an irresponsible place, and it is also seen that different people can speak on behalf of the association based on different affiliations. An organization called “Adi Lumbini Rugby Association” sends a letter directly to Sri Lanka Rugby inquiring about the coaches recruited for Lumbini College rugby.
That union sent a letter to Sri Lanka Rugby on February 26. But according to our knowledge, no one else can have the legal authority to send such a letter except the principal who is the administrative head of the college. The principal has the discretion to delegate specific powers to an official Alumni Association but does not permit all Alumni Associations formed on the basis of supporting College sports to be responsible for that College sport. No matter who comes to train, a teacher will be appointed to take charge of the sport, the Ministry of Education holds the primary responsibility for all students in these schools, and individuals under its authority are accountable to the Ministry of Education. Now the issue is whether the Rugby administration can legally release the information to a non-liable union.
Sharing personal information with a friend, close associate, or a chosen service provider is often inevitable. (I won’t mention suitability) But if someone calls two organizations that they represent to the limits of privacy and uses them, there is a problem. If the transaction between “Lumbini Adi Sisu” and Sri Lanka Rugby happens like that, the Sports Development Department will also have to inquire about the irresponsibility of what Sri Lanka Rugby has done under the supervision of the Sports Development Department.
In response to a letter addressed to the President and Secretary of Sri Lanka Rugby, Real Admiral Udaya Hettiarachi, the chief of the tournament committee, initially provides inaccurate information. Isn’t it surprising that a senior officer in the Navy behaved in this way when there was a committee to provide information on trainers or other technical matters? During the time of Asanga Senaviratne and Lasitha Gunaratne, when problematic situations arose, or even when there were financial collapses, such actions that made dog’s work as a donkey did not take place. The administration that Udaya Hettiarachchi and others have gained power and is currently operating is an administrative system that fought relentlessly with Asia to preserve the personality of Sri Lanka Rugby. But for that personality, Rizly Illyas, who had no ambitions for positions, worked for the second time because he loved the sport so much that he left his positions. (There has also been a resignation from the post of secretary.) Following Illyas’ departure, the acting president himself has become directly involved in his actions, and the former real admiral, who is now approving the behavior of others to suit the leadership, has also become a hobbyist letter writer about what related to him and what does not relate to him.
Udaya Hettiarachchi, who uses his hobby in such a way that he can be cruel without even thinking about the death of the other, refers to the letters of three persons as “False documentation submitted” in the letter replying to Lumibini Adi Rugbi Association and that the documents are fake. This is an act of unrighteousness before an association of individuals.
It is proved the next day that it is a criminal defamation that should not be done by an officer of an irresponsible national association, with a letter that states that the fake documents are not such.t states that the fake documents are not such. The absence of information certifying certain documents and providing an opinion on others could be attributed to the possibility that Udaya Hettiarachchi is not affiliated with the relevant department as an officer.
After he has been quick to praise someone for others, he presented facts about the criminal impersonation of a person in the first article and accused him in front of a society, if he was not a person who has actually played and trained, he would have made a decision that could have been harmful to his life.
Therefore, it is not possible to allow a national sports association to behave in this way. We are not saying that under the leadership of the Sports Minister, politically influenced and let the consultants destroy rugby. If there was such a situation, the league championship and knockout championship that ended wonderfully this time and the order of the title of relegation would have been destroyed.
Officials such as Udaya Hettiarachchi, who engage in writing letters and making jest of matters unrelated to them, should be subject to control. Acting President behaves as if he has a need to see the beauty of the regular President. Therefore, he is behaving as if he has forgotten his own decisions. He is an Air Force officer, while Udaya is a Navy officer. It is difficult to imagine whether these retired people behave in the arrogant mentality that their subordinates should behave as they want.
But Secretary Jamaldeen, who was a police officer who has more professional competence in public law and a closer association with the society than the army, should also pay more attention to protecting Rugby while protecting the president before proposing to investigate the behavior of the officers of his union in a presidential commission.
Also, we believe that Professor Real Admiral Shemal Fernando, who held the administrative responsibilities of the Navy, will be able to explain to the Real Admiral of the Sri Lanka Rugby that he is doing improper work and making irresponsible statements on behalf of a responsible association that endangers human lives without responsibility.
Also, we are curious to know what the principal and the Main Alumni Association, which is mainly responsible for the alumni, have to say about the actions taken by this union in a way that brings disrepute to Lumbini College.
Also, if the principal authorized the Adi Lumbini Rugby Association for this purpose, then the Principal should also say why the Sri Lanka School Rugby Association, which deals with the National Association in such an event, did not intervene in obtaining this information.
Also, we reserve our space to present evidence on how Udaya Nanayakkara can be assigned the responsibility regarding the rugger coaches in this incident. Also, if information is provided to an association claiming to be a group of Sri Lanka Rugby about a person who has submitted false data and that person creates any harmful situation based on that wrong information, we would like to know whether Sri Lanka Rugby is responsible for it, or Udaya Hettiarachchi who pretended to be Sri Lanka Ruby and spread the false information.
We do not publish related documents. That’s because the coaches who tried to be prejudiced by it are embarrassed by it. However, we are attaching photos of the Rugby President, who seems to alter decisions made on principle, and Udaya Nanayakkara, working with official fervor while disregarding matters unrelated to him, potentially causing harm to someone’s life through the responses he provides. We emphasize that the tumultuous events occurring within Rugby should be scrutinized with the same commitment to safety as that of the President. Failure to do so will be viewed as negligence of responsibility, and we have attached the photo of the secretary to underscore this point.
March 12, Colombo (LNW): In a recent media statement, the Sri Lanka Banks’ Association (SLBA) representing all licensed banks, including state banks, public listed companies, and branch offices of international banks, emphasised that the suspension of parate execution would not safeguard mortgaged assets of defaulters.
This is because banks would continue to pursue mortgage actions through legal channels.
The SLBA clarified that the mortgage action process involves presenting individual cases to bank boards of directors and publishing notices in the media.
It cannot be unilaterally implemented by bank officers.
Parate execution, one option available to banks in debt recovery, helps mitigate delays in the process.
However, it is utilised as a last resort before resorting to legal action, until laws are amended to incorporate the proposed suspension approved by the Cabinet.
Highlighting the parate rights of banks as a crucial legal remedy for debt recovery, the SLBA emphasised its necessity when borrowers fail to cooperate in developing feasible debt repayment plans.
Continuing unsustainable businesses is not viable, it noted, especially considering the interests of bank depositors.
Expressing concern over state intervention in debt recovery laws without consulting banks, the SLBA warned of increased borrowing costs for all borrowers due to government decisions.
It argued that unilateral interventions weaken banks’ ability to support economic revival.
Key Issues Raised:
Some defaulters seek amendments to existing debt recovery laws.
Good borrowers may face funding constraints as banks become cautious.
Borrowing costs may rise due to added risk premiums.
Banking sector efforts to support economic revival could be hampered.
Inability to recover funds risks public deposits.
Banks have already absorbed costs to support borrowers during recent crises.
Warning on Project Interruptions:
The SLBA cautioned that suspending parate action could disrupt ongoing projects with international donor agencies such as the IMF, World Bank Group, ADB, and the Central Bank.
These agencies collaborate with banks to resolve distressed debts and rehabilitate borrowers, preserving residual business assets.
The SLBA urged policymakers to base decisions on data and national economic interests rather than the lobbying of a small group of defaulters.
March 12, Colombo (LNW): 92 per cent of the sanitary towels needed in the country are domestically manufactured, with no tax imposed on them, Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya asserted.
Speaking at an event in the Thalduwa area, Siyambalapitiya highlighted that the remaining 8 per cent of imported sanitary towels are brought into Sri Lanka by a single company as finished products, subject to a 22.5 per cent tax.
He clarified that this tax is solely aimed at safeguarding local producers.
March 12, Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Agriculture has announced the suspension of a recent gazette notification permitting the importation of various spices, including pepper, for re-export.
Initially, the government had issued a gazette notification allowing the importation of locally grown spices such as pepper, nutmeg, mace (Vasavasi), turmeric, ginger, and cardamom for subsequent re-export.
Following deliberations during yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Agriculture and Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera voiced his reservations regarding the aforementioned gazette notification.
Permitting the importation of these spices for re-exportation would adversely impact local spice farmers, potentially leading to the decline of domestic spice cultivation, the Minister emphasised.
Furthermore, he underscored concerns about the potential deterioration in the quality of Sri Lankan spices, which currently hold a premier position globally.
Considering these factors, the Cabinet decided to suspend the relevant gazette notification, thereby halting the importation of spices intended for re-export.
Minister Amaraweera further highlighted the Cabinet’s commitment to conducting comprehensive studies aimed at preserving the quality of local spices and enhancing the government’s role in promoting the cultivation of indigenous spices as vital plantation crops.
March 12, Colombo (LNW): President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday (11) led a significant gathering of party leaders at the Presidential Secretariat to deliberate on proposals put forth by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The meeting convened various stakeholders, including TNA MP M. A. Sumanthiran, to delve into the intricacies of ongoing negotiations with bilateral creditors, commercial creditors, and ISBs.
Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena provided a comprehensive overview of the negotiation process, expressing optimism about its culmination by June’s end.
During the discourse, MP Sumanthiran raised pertinent queries regarding the absence of published technical assistance reports from the IMF, essential for informed parliamentary deliberations.
President Wickremesinghe, acknowledging the imperative of transparency, pledged to furnish the requisite data to the TNA and Parliament, fostering informed debates and decisions.
Additionally, the Central Bank Governor highlighted the government’s commitment to adhering to recommendations delineated in the governor’s diagnostic report, stressing the importance of a structured roadmap for implementation.
President Wickremesinghe affirmed the government’s willingness to share technical assistance reports with parliamentarians, extending an invitation to Sumanthiran and other Opposition members to engage with the IMF directly.
In response, MP Sumanthiran expressed readiness to participate constructively in the dialogue, advocating for constructive measures while pinpointing areas necessitating attention and rectification.
President Wickremesinghe’s proactive initiative underscores the government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and bipartisan collaboration in navigating crucial economic decisions for the collective welfare of citizens.
Among those present at the meeting were Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardane, Leader of the House Susil Premajayantha, State Ministers of Finance Shehan Semasinghe and Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayaka, Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake, Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, and Secretary to the Treasury Mahinda Siriwariwardena, representing the government. TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran represented the Opposition.
March 12, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s health authorities have refuted recent findings published in The Lancet, a British medical journal, regarding child malnutrition and underweight girls, asserting that the portrayal of Sri Lanka in the study is inaccurate.
The study, published on February 29 and covering data from 1990 to 2022, asserts that approximately 410,000 girls in Sri Lanka are classified as underweight, constituting a prevalence of 16.4 per cent.
Despite ongoing efforts to enhance nutrition and healthcare accessibility, the report alleges no discernible improvement in this concerning statistic since 1990.
Furthermore, The Lancet ranks Sri Lanka second globally, after India, for the highest prevalence of severely underweight girls aged 5 to 19 years.
Conducted by the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the study underscores a stagnation in the situation over the past three decades, contrasting with a decrease in underweight individuals observed in India during the same period.
However, Sri Lankan health officials have strongly contested the study’s conclusions regarding the Sri Lankan context.
Dr. Palitha Mahipala, Secretary of the Ministry of Health, dismissed the findings, asserting that they do not align with the actual situation in Sri Lanka.
Similarly, Dr. Chithramalee De Silva, Director of the Family Health Bureau, expressed dissatisfaction with the data utilised by The Lancet.
According to the latest health ministry report, Sri Lanka recorded severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in 15,763 children (1.2 per cent) in 2023, compared to 18,420 children (1.4 per cent) in 2022.
This dispute follows the health ministry’s earlier rejection of a report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on child malnutrition in Sri Lanka.
March 12, Colombo (LNW): In anticipation of the upcoming national elections, the government has initiated fresh endeavours to amend the Parliamentary Elections Act, a Minister disclosed.
Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe recently tabled a Cabinet paper proposing the adoption of a mixed electoral system. Under this proposed system, 160 MPs would be elected through the First Past the Post (FPTP) System, while another 65 MPs would be elected via proportional representation (PR).
The FPTP system entails that the candidate securing the highest number of votes in a local constituency clinches a seat in the House. Conversely, PR aims to allocate parliamentary seats to parties in proportion to the total votes they receive.
Following its submission, the paper has been slated for discussion among representatives of various political parties in the legislature.
While some parties have expressed support for the proposals, others have voiced opposition, Rajapakshe told Daily Mirror.
Previous administrations have also endeavoured to reform the existing electoral system of proportional representation, yet legislative enactment has been elusive due to disparities among political factions.
Proportional representation has faced criticism for electoral irregularities. Consequently, there is speculation within political spheres regarding the timing of the government’s initiative to amend the electoral system, particularly with elections looming on the horizon.
March 12, Colombo (LNW): Healthcare workers have scheduled a series of protests outside specific hospitals today (12).
Ravi Kumudesh, the Convenor of Health Service Trade Unions, announced that the demonstrations are in response to prolonged delays in salary increments and the lack of action against healthcare administrators impeding their duties.
These protests are set to commence in front of designated state hospitals from noon onwards, Kumudesh said.
