March 10, Colombo (LNW): SLIC transferred its insurance operation to two new fully owned subsidiaries – Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation General Limited and Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Life Limited – on 1 February 2024.
SLIC is now a holding company with no direct insurance operations, while the two new subsidiaries will be regulated by the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka
Leading global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) has been appointed by the Government of Sri Lanka’s State-Owned Enterprise Restructuring Unit (SRU) to advise on the divestiture of the Government’s shareholding in the state-owned Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC).
A&M has been mandated in partnership with Capital Alliance (CAL), the Colombo-headquartered investment bank, to manage the divestment of all, or part of, the shareholding of SLIC, one of seven state-owned enterprises currently being targeted for divestiture of government ownership by the SRU.
The mandate is part of the government’s overall reform program to enhance competitiveness, productivity and efficiency across the economy and to assist in the country’s socio-economic development and fiscal consolidation efforts.
The Request for Qualification (RfQ) for the sale of the segregated life and general insurance business of Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC) has attracted five bidders, four of which are local firms.
For Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Life Ltd., those who responded to RfQ are LIC (Lanka) Ltd., Union Assurance PLC and Asiri Hospital Holdings PLC.
For Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation General Ltd., the respondents are Fairfirst Insurance Ltd., and Euro Exim Bank Ltd., a global financial institution with Head Office in St. Lucia and Representative Office in London.
The Government on 26 January, via international and local media called for RfQ from potential investors for the divestiture of its shares in the two insurance entities. The deadline for submission of proposals was on Wednesday.
The RfQs received were considered by the Opening Committee appointed by the Special Cabinet Appointed Negotiation Committee. The SOE Restructuring Unit said the RfQs will be evaluated as per the Special Guidelines on Divestiture of State-Owned Enterprises approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in July 2023.
March 10, Colombo (LNW): The ITC Hotel, opposite Galle Face Green in Colombo, a flagship BOI project, is expected to add to the city’s skyline and boost its appeal as a destination for both business and leisure travelers.
Investment Ministry Secretary M.M. Nayeemudeen and Board of Investment Chairman Dinesh Weerakkody visited the ITC Hotel, on an inspection visit recently.
ITC subsidiary WelcomHotels Lanka Ltd., Managing Director Subi Kishore George and General Manager Sujeet Kumar welcomed the delegation.
Official sources said the Indian government has approved ITC Ltd’s plan of investment in the Sri Lankan hotel sector as it hopes that the presence of ITC in Sri Lanka will be a significant contribution towards promoting Foreign Direct Investment and tourism in the country.
A senior government official said that the conglomerate which has assets from tobacco to hotels will invest US$ 300 million to build an up-market luxury hotel with the world-renowned Sheraton brand name on land that was earlier assigned to CATIC from China.
Wide-ranging tax incentives and the proposed tax exemptions will be issued to ITC after receiving the full payment of US$75 million, he said
ITC Colombo One Hotel and Residences was a new luxury development in the heart of the capital city Colombo, the hotel is poised to become a landmark in the city, attracting foreign visitors and contributing to the economic development of the country..
A Kolkata-based Indian public conglomerate, ITC Limited begins the construction work of a multi-faceted mixed use development project in a prime land in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, a top official said.
The Welcome Hotels Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, a newly incorporated ITC unit in Sri Lanka has paid US$ 73.5 million an up front payment for a 99 lease of a 5 acre block state land near Colombo’s main Galle Face beachfront.
ITC Limited ha spledged to invest US$ 140 million to build the proposed complex consisting of luxury hotels, high quality residencies and shopping malls at a block of land of the property of former Army Headquarters premises facing the Gall Face Green in Colombo,
The Cabinet of ministers has granted this project a Strategic Development Project status providing necessary tax exemptions.
The firm has been given a 10 year tax holiday starting from the first year of profits or three years after operations, the gazette notification revealed.
The firm will also get a tax concession of 6 percent or half the rate of tax for hotels (whichever is lower)within the next fifteen years.Up to 20 expatriate staff will be exempted from Pay As You Earn tax for five years .
Interest on foreign loans taken for capital expenses, technical fees to consultants, management fees up to 3 percent of revenues, royalty and marketing fees up to 1.5 percent of revenue will be exempt from withholding tax.
ITC is a diversified conglomerate that has a presence in Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) and Hotels among other businesses.The Company is the second largest hotel chain in India with over 100 hotel.
March 09, Colombo (LNW): Many people in Sri Lanka are experts at pawning the reputation of others at abroad to reach their goals. Such people who put the country second and want to appear first, they also attempt to silence Those who try to unmask them with the help of their influential connections. It is not wrong to say that Colombo Zahira is the main school for Muslim boys in this country.
It is a respectable college where even a Sinhala child who is a minority studying there has no obstacle to reach the top of his ability. In a place as clean and smooth as milk, when dung is close, its dirt is not visible from a distance. The dung can also be deceptively with its white color. However, the ultimate consequence is that the milk pot itself becomes rendered useless.
Zahira started as far back as 1892. It is 100 years since the game of rugby itself. It is sad how those who try to invade that golden moment in another way and get on the horn and get ready to eat the ear.
We are aware that the Asia Rugby President is entangled in a personal conflict with the former President of the current administration. While it may seem personal on the surface, it is actually a gesture made for the country.
It is an intervention made especially for the preservation of the independent personality of the Rugby Administration in Sri Lanka.
The Asia President assumed that position with a frustrated by the state of Sri Lankan rugby. Sri Lanka was not his Partisan country. That’s because he did not secure the vote of Lasitha Gunaratne, who was the president of Sri Lanka Rugby at that time. But it did not harm the Sri Lankan named Asanga Senaviratne in this photo and the friendship with Asia President Qais Al Dalai.
He already holding the position of the head of the tournament committee at Asia Rugby. In the meantime, when Namal Rajapaksa came to the ministerial chair, Asanga had made a path to infiltrate the rugby administration without the prestige he had lost in Sri Lanka Rugby.
Accordingly, Namal and the Asia President connected and tried to make decisions about rugby in Sri Lanka, and Asanka took the ministerial favor of the rugby administration and gave up.
The then Sports Director General Amal Edirisuriya carefully matched the letters to say that the letter was based on the knowledge of the Sports Minister and the Asia President.
The friendship between Namal and Asanga is also not small. During Namal’s tenure as the head, Asanga served as the President of Sri Lanka Rugby. The most amazing thing that happened at that time was that players from other countries were caught playing in Sri Lanka as Sri Lankan citizens.
Therefore, Sri Lanka Rugby is already paying a fine of 50,000 pounds.
At that time, the government under Mahinda Rajapaksa wanted to win, not how to win, and had no shame in using its eminence to somehow make his son a winner. Hence, things like writing the infamous law exam, the victory written in front of their names was more important than the shame added to history.
Due to this circumstance, and with Sri Lanka Rugby’s accounts depleted and burdened with debt, despite Namal exerting political influence to create an environment where Asanga Rugby could not rely on support, Illyas, the president at the time, resisted allowing the then-politician, let alone the President of Asia, to exert influence on Sri Lanka Rugby beyond acceptable limits.
Namal knew that he was not a person who could be bent on anything. because he and Namal Rajapaksa were entrusted with the big responsibilities of running Carlton Rugby. So it was important for Namal to infiltrate him as Asanga was the right person to make the game a political pawn.
Since then, many steps have been taken to bring down the behavior of Sri Lanka Rugby players with political power and the glory of the blessings of the Asia President. At least the Asia Tournament President did not go to tell his President that it was wrong to take revenge on the Sri Lanka Rugby for the sake of taking revenge on the Sri Lanka President. Asanga, who attempted to exclude the Sri Lankan team from the Asian Games by challenging the Olympic Council of Asia, is ironically part of the same association.
The end result was the removal of the hood of the president of Asia Rugby, who went to blow the snake hood to the Olympic Council of Asia. Sri Lanka participated in the Asian Games with the scars of sports politics, lacking adequate training and preparation.
The ultimate outcome was a withering and collapse of Sri Lanka’s reputation among Asia rugby in history, as the home country of the Asia President emerged with a significant lead over Sri Lanka.
For personal interests, Asanga has quietly facilitated the ascent of the Asia President’s country over his own homeland. It doesn’t matter if it happens only through the tournament. It is a tragedy that Sri Lanka is being handcuffed and wasting the training time. In a sense, it amounts to a betrayal of one’s own birth country.
Asanga imposed a fine of £50,000 on Sri Lanka Rugby, burdening it with substantial debt. The subsequent chairman, faced with the challenge of clearing the path for Sri Lanka Rugby, further increased the financial burden. Meanwhile, the people who banned rugby due to the various misconducts of the officially appointed rugby administration, and in order to find a way to reduce the distrust of the people due to the existing voting system, are now trying to make a loophole in the Sri Lanka constitution where they can enter.
There, an amendment is being spying with the aim of tapping the franchise used at the regional level and giving more power to the votes of the sports clubs. Asanga has also secured the blessings of the Asia President. Through Zahira, he is gearing up to make his debut in the arena, showcasing the prestige and influence he has cultivated at the Asian level.
While the Asian president of a sport claims it to be an honor for a school, the associated fame brings with it the individual who elevated his country’s rugby to the pinnacle in Asia but simultaneously tarnished the image of Sri Lanka Rugby.
Also, Asanga Senaviratne, who sat in his arms silently or more and more and supported the Asia President to crush Sri Lanka Rugby as he wished, and who wanted to take revenge on Sri Lanka Rugby for the appointment of the Minister of Sports who had fulfilled his ambitions, considered the selfishness bigger than the motherland.
On the one hand, Asanga Rugby has used Zahira to get close enough to give a kiss to sports clubs belonging to the elite club. In its second step, the aspiration is to amend the constitution in a way that significant victories can only be achieved through the decisions of those sports clubs. For this purpose, the purpose of these discussions may be for the sports minister to get the points he wants from Zahira’s century by taking the opportunity to talk with the Sri Lanka Rugby club, who are of two minds at the moment. This may have been a moment to approach the Asian chairman and tell the minister the same thing.
The shape of Sri Lanka’s rugby system is changing, and local leaders are gaining power, based on the development and expansion of rugby in Sri Lanka. It is also prepared by a New Zealander. Under this system, had Sri Lanka Rugby invested more authority in the development of regional rugby and formalized a decentralized approach to promote and establish the game, it is conceivable that more sports clubs could have emerged, surpassing the current ones vying for prominence.
Otherwise, the power of rugby should not be taken away from the village unless the arrangement of space is regularized. The major sports clubs do not field a B team for B division matches.
Some clubs do not have the talent they can field in both the league and knockout stages.
Some sports clubs do not play at all. It is crafty to propose closing that space at the lower level if the necessary space is widened to look for talented young players and refer them to sports clubs of that group without depending only on the talent coming from rugby schools.
A program should be devised to nurture players, allowing them to progress step by step until they reach a top sports club.
With this tricky, they are trying to stop the activities necessary to come to power, the wide of the country’s sports. In some way in history there were tribal characteristics of reserving administrative space for a certain group for their elitism among the classes. But this situation, for the sake of the power of an advanced social system, is a disgraceful way of making room for the guilty and the unbelievers who fail to win over the majority of the society.
Despite Namal Rajapaksa establishing sports clubs in the name of Hambantota and formulating business plans for sports, they did not build rugby players in Hambantota. Roshan Ranasinghe reminisced about what people were saying shortly after a president emerged from Polonnaruwa. The person who came out of the ground said that the whole Polonnaruwa should be concreted to prevent another one from coming out of the ground. Roshan Ranasinghe matched the game and Polonnaruwa in the same way. Harin Fernando also lifted Uva more confidently than there. Uva has a history of rugby. The white imperialists had also fostered their own sports within their estates. But the blacks and whites made the facilities Colombo and left the difficulties in the village. Today or tomorrow, that tradition will change and it should be related to the village to find the talent of the village and develop them to the national level.
It seems that Harin is suffering from some thirst to give his blessing as the Minister of Sports to develop the game in the village in a new way by securing the existing model of the rugby game. Harin, who has a lot of political goals in sight, is doing it for the political game. In spite of that, it is doubtful whether Harin will be trapped by the anesthetic injection of Asanga Senaviratnala, who is trying to make a path for his needs from Zahira.
But now Harin, who currently prefers to hand over the work to the rugby management, has the ability to discuss these two ideas and understand its national value as the sports authority, collect his own legal advisors and the facts on the ground and talk to the World Rugby.
Here, the World Rugby has no legal or moral right to suggest to a country that only these guys are allowed to stay in power and play rugby and remove people from other parts of the country from this game. Harin has no problem talking about it.
But it is not easy to deal with Asanga’s tackls. We will wait and see if it works. Harin also has a responsibility to prevent Rugby from declining.
Also, attempts to make some changes in the present due to the events of history create nightmares about the future. If you can prove that the facts, we say about this history are wrong, you have the right to write about it. For example, if the £50,000 fine we’re levying is false and we’ve mis-stated when it happened, we’ll give you the opportunity to correct it and send it to us in writing. If there is any mistake in this article written based on the data we have, you can refer to us with the relevant data.
March 10, Colombo (LNW): The United States is committed to supporting women entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka, Dennis Wesner, Deputy Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Economic Growth said.
USAID and the Women’s Development Federation (WDF) marked the successful culmination of the “Capacity Building Program on Trade and Market Access for Women Entrepreneurs” by honoring forty resilient women entrepreneurs from Sri Lanka’s southern districts, including Hambantota, Galle, Matara, and Monaragala, at a ceremony in Weerawila.
These women entrepreneurs have completed a year-long journey, during which they received training and mentorship from USAID and WDF, equipping them with essential skills to effectively manage their micro and small businesses.
Moreover, they have gained invaluable insights into expanding their market reach and accessing both domestic and international trade opportunities.
This program, supported by the United States, stands as a significant milestone in empowering women-led and women-owned enterprises and driving socio-economic development in the region.
The United States support for the collaboration through USAID’s Partnership for Accelerating Results in Trade, National Expenditure, and Revenue (PARTNER) initiative and WDF underscores a shared commitment to fostering inclusive economic growth and empowering women in Sri Lanka’s growing SME sector.
Dennis Wesner, Deputy Director of USAID’s Office of Economic Growth, reiterated the United States’ commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs, emphasizing the pivotal role they play in advancing Sri Lanka’s economic agenda.
“Successful entrepreneurs take advantage of all available resources and support. This is where the linkages you gained through this program, including peer support, will assist you through hard times,” noted Wesner.
Sriyani Mangalika, Managing Director of WDF, commended the perseverance and dedication exhibited by these women entrepreneurs, acknowledging the challenges they have overcome on their entrepreneurial journey.
“Running a small business is not easy, demands unwavering commitment and resilience, especially for women entrepreneurs juggling multiple responsibilities,” remarked Mangalika.
“We applaud their tenacity and remain confident in their ability to achieve their aspirations while serving as catalysts for positive change in their communities.”
March 10, Colombo (LNW): Health authorities have issued a warning regarding the heightened risk of rabies transmission attributed to the absence of a comprehensive programme for managing the population of free-roaming dogs nationwide.
Recent statistics released by health authorities reveal a concerning figure of over six million stray dogs roaming freely across the country.
The sterilisation programme aimed at addressing this issue has encountered significant obstacles, exacerbating the problem.
The sight of a considerable number of stray dogs roaming freely, particularly in urban areas like Colombo and public spaces, underscores the severity of the issue, which health authorities classify as a pressing health and social concern.
Despite past efforts to curb rabies and regulate the dog population through various programs, the inadequate execution of these initiatives has contributed to the current predicament.
Tragically, sixteen fatalities were reported last year resulting from stray dog bites.
Health authorities caution that without the implementation of a scientifically-driven program to address this issue effectively, the number of fatalities may escalate.
March 10, Canada (LNW): Residents of the Ottawa area and members of the local Sri Lankan community came together in solemn remembrance on Saturday (09), offering flowers, gifts, and prayers at a vigil honoring the victims of a tragic crime, described as one of the worst mass killings in the city’s recent memory.
Gathered beneath rainy skies at Palmadeo Park in Barrhaven, mourners paid tribute to a young mother, her four children, and a family friend who tragically lost their lives on Wednesday night.
A 19-year-old Sri Lankan national, residing with the victims at the time, faces charges in connection with their deaths.
Among the attendees at the somber gathering were Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, Police Chief Eric Stubbs, and the Sri Lankan High Commissioner.
The ceremony included floral presentations and prayers, with Bhante Suneetha, a resident monk at the Hilda Jayewardenaramaya Buddhist Monastery, offering words of solace.
In the gazebo, a poignant display featured flowers, toys, notes, and candles, each bearing the names of the victims: Darshani Ekanayake (35), her son Inuka Wickramasinghe (7), daughters Ashwini (4) and Ranyana (3), infant Kelly (2.5 months), and family friend Ge Gamini Amarakoon (40).
Dhanushka Wickramasinghe, the children’s father and sole survivor, remains hospitalised, recovering from injuries allegedly sustained during a confrontation with the suspect, who resided with the family.
Community leaders at the vigil expressed the profound impact of the tragedy on the Sri Lankan diaspora, acknowledging the rarity of such events within their community.
Naradha Kodithuwakku, representing the Buddhist Congress of Canada, conveyed gratitude to first responders, officials, and organisations offering support to the family.
Kodithuwakku shared that Wickramasinghe, still in shock, finds strength in the solidarity shown by the community. Wickramasinghe has authorised the local temple to arrange a funeral following the completion of autopsies on the victims.
Anzul Jhan, deputy high commissioner at the Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa, indicated that family members from Sri Lanka are expected to attend the funeral, while arrangements are made to repatriate Amarakoon’s body to Sri Lanka at the request of his relatives.
Chandra Hapuarachchi, of the Buddhist Congress of Canada, expressed appreciation for the support extended beyond the Sri Lankan community, noting the widespread impact of the tragedy.
March 10, Colombo (LNW): Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Ratnapura, Kalutara, Galle and Matara districts in the evening or night, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (10).
Mainly dry weather will prevail in the other areas of the island.
Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts during the morning.
Marine Weather:
Condition of Rain:
Mainly fair weather will prevail over the sea areas around the island.
Winds:
Winds will be easterly or north-easterly in the sea areas off the coast extending from Kankasanthurai to Matara via Trincomalee, Pottuvil and Hambantota, and winds will be variable in direction in the other sea areas around the island. wind speed will be (20-30)kmph.
State of Sea:
The sea areas around the island will be slight to moderate.
March 09, Colombo (LNW):Sri Lanka is planning to enhance domestic production linkages with the mineral resources sector in Central Africa.
The aim is to develop the capacities of implementing participatory strategies for the creation and strengthening of lasting national economic linkages to mineral-exploitation-related activities.
This would involve, inter alia, stimulating dialogue among political leaders and local business organizations and professional associations, as well as foreign investors, on ways and means to ensure investment in mineral activities that facilitate the creation of new activities, jobs and subcontracting opportunities between foreign companies and local enterprises.
It will also contribute to the design of appropriate policies and regulatory frameworks of relevance to the optimization of the development impact of the mineral sector.
High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Kenya, Kana Kananathan, engaged in a significant meeting with the President Faustin-Archange Touadéra of the Central African Republic at his country residence recently .
The discussions primarily revolved around elevating bilateral relations, focusing on avenues for collaboration, particularly in the context of Sri Lankan businesses capitalizing on the rich mining opportunities in the Central African Republic.
The dialogue emphasized fostering economic ties and exploring strategic partnerships to facilitate the effective utilization of the abundant mineral resources in the region by Sri Lankan entrepreneurs.
Central African Republic”s minerals include diamonds. Gold, uranium, iron ore, copper, and manganese
The meeting between President Faustin Touadéra marks a pivotal step towards enhancing economic cooperation and opening new avenues for mutual growth and prosperity.
Kananathan said the meeting was exploring rich mining opportunities and strengthening bilateral ties for mutual growth .
Sri Lanka seems to have impressed the Central African Republic with infrastructure and other developments to mine its abundant natural resources ranging from oil, uranium and lithium to gold, diamonds, iron ore and copper.
The SL government needs to feed its now strengthening economy and we need their technical know-how. It’s a win-win partnership for both he said
Central Africa has massive reserves of a wide range of minerals, most of which are untapped. From aluminium to zinc, Central Africa has enormous potential to develop into a mining powerhouse, and with the recovery in commodity prices as well as the mining super cycle period, the country is seeing more mining projects being developed.
March 09, Colombo (LNW):The government is set to enact new Public Procurement Law to end the practice of accepting unsolicited proposals without competing bids and there is a lack of clarity in the government procurement which leads to reports of large-scale corruption, official sources said.
Many government purchases are made by public tenders, usually advertised in the local media and increasingly through government websites.
The government has publicly committed to follow international government procurement standards but often implementation of international procurement standards is weak, especially for projects and goods not funded through international financial institutions.
Well-informed local agents can be the key to winning these tenders, though even the most connected local firms have trouble navigating the labyrinth of the government-tender process.
Local agents also often represent more than one foreign supplier, so when they encounter difficulties, including charges of possible corruption, they are reluctant to voice concerns fearing it will jeopardize other business interests. It can sometimes be difficult to get an objective appraisal from local agents.
Sri Lanka’s current public procurement system based on comprehensive National Procurement Guidelines issued in 2006/7 is being replaced by a new Public Procurement Law in December 2024, public finance department sources proclaimed.
The country currently lacks a formal legislative basis for procurement. All government procurement are being carried out in accordance with Cabinet approved guidelines.
The Procurement Guidelines 2006, sets out various procurement methods, bidding procedures, and rules for awarding contracts.
The proposed law is aimed at enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency and transparency in the public procurement system making it more accountable, streamlined and cost effective, a high official of the department said.
This will be a fulfillment of International Monetary Fund conditions under its public reforms and management of public resources.
The government authorities recognise that public procurement remains an area of governance weakness, with associated corruption vulnerabilities, despite attempts to improve its effectiveness.
The reports of the Finance Ministry, the Auditor-General’s Department, and the Department of Management of Audit have indicated procurement malpractices and corruption that have led to inefficiencies and waste of scarce state resources.
These reports have identified issues including lack of procurement planning, not using relevant procurement procedures stipulated by the Procurement Guidelines, inadequate competitiveness in the selection procedure, accepting unsolicited proposals for high value projects.
The other short comings were poor contract management, lack of knowledge and capacity of the officials in procurement, poor monitoring and weak external oversight, and the incomplete coverage of independent complaints mechanisms.
A regulatory body will be established under the new law with necessary authority and competency for the modernisation of the legal framework, public finance department high official disclosed.
Necessary action will be taken to design and operate a designated website containing information on al public procurement contracts above Rs 1 billion while updating it in every 6 months.
A list of contracts above a designated threshold that were assigned without a competitive tendering process will be published in the web site Information is to be updated every 6 months.
All public procurement transactions will be carried out under an e-Government Procurement System by the end of 2025 in accordance with recommendations made by the IMF, he said.
March 09, Colombo (LNW): The government has accelerated the World Bank funded US$434 million Climate Resilience Multi-Phased Programme to be expedited as it was carried out in slow pace since 2021, irrigation ministry announced.
“This project is all about protecting people’s lives, property, and public assets,” said Faris Hadad-Zervos, Country Director of the World Bank for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
“Investments to modernize existing systems with state-of-the-art technology and to international standards will help the Government realize its vision of a disaster-resilient Sri Lanka”he said , noting that public support and coordination among core stakeholders will lead to the success of this project.
The Government and the World Bank signed a US $92 million financing agreement for the Phase I of the project which was expected to benefit around 11.2 million people across the country by modernising the weather, flood, and landslide forecasting and early warning systems.
The project builds on the successful collaboration between the government and World Bank in flood-risk mitigation and long-term resilience to climate risks, which began in 2010 with the Dam Safety and Water Resources Planning project, followed by the Metro Colombo Urban Development Project in 2012 and through the Climate Resilience Improvement Project in 2014.
The COVID-19 pandemic, and the country’s economic crisis have received the government’s attention and priority making other important issues, like the effects of climate change less important , a senior official of the ministry said.
A progress review meeting of the project was held at the irrigation ministry recently with the participation of minster Pavithra Wanniarachchi, state minister Sashindra Rajapaksa, several senior officials and World Bank representatives.
The South Asia Regional Director for Sustainable Development at the World Bank. Dina Umali-Deininger and other representatives have suggested a strategic plan to achieve the objectives of project expeditiously.
The two sides agreed to award relevant contracts for projects up to the amount of $ 51million giving priory to economically productive areas as soon as possible under the phase 1 which will be completed by 2026. .
The project will support the government departments to better forecast weather-related hazards, improve early warning systems, and invest in flood resilient infrastructure. It will also lay the foundation for reducing flood risks in the Kelani River basin in the long run.
Measures will be taken to ensure safe and reliable drinking water supply for Colombo by improving the salinity barrier at Ambathale, and long-term climate resilience in the Kelani River basin through studies and detailed investment proposals for multi-purpose flood resilience infrastructure in the next project phases
It will also be improving the salinity barrier at Ambathale,. The project builds on years of experience, technical studies, and close consultation with stakeholders – relevant government departments, project affected people and civil society groups.
A sum of $15 million will be allocated for 25 districts to maintain and rehabilitate rural tanks and canal ways for the benefit of farmers effected by economic crisis.
