News

The Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong, met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake this afternoon (22) at the Presidential Secretariat. During their meeting, Ambassador Qi made a donation of LKR 30 million (USD 100,000) as emergency flood relief to assist those affected by the recent flooding in the country.

In addition to immediate relief measures, the discussion also extended to a dialogue about long-term flood prevention and management strategies. They discussed sustainable approaches to enhance the resilience of communities against future flooding.

Recent reports indicate that heavy rains have led to significant flooding in several provinces, displacing thousands of families and causing extensive damage to infrastructure and agriculture.

The Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Sri Lanka, Carmen Moreno, has paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, at the Prime Minister’s Office in Colombo.

The meeting was an opportunity to reaffirm the strong and enduring relationship between the European Union and Sri Lanka, which is built on mutual respect and cooperation, the Prime Minister’s Office said.

Prime Minister Dr. Amarasuriya highlighted the importance of the EU’s continued support for the GSP+ trade scheme, which has been instrumental in boosting Sri Lankan exports and also outlined her government’s vision to attract more foreign investment by eliminating corruption and strengthening institutions such as the Board of Investment (BoI).

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Takafumi Kadono, has also met with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya at the Prime Minister’s Office yesterday (18) for a discussion.

The Prime Minister expressed her gratitude for the support provided by the Asian Development Bank for various development projects in Sri Lanka.

She conveyed her hopes for continued support from the Bank to help achieve Sri Lanka’s future development goals, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.

The meeting was attended by Cholpon Mambetova, Head of Sri Lanka Operations for the Asian Development Bank; Herathbanda Jayasundara, Senior Social Development Officer; Udeni Udugahapattua, Director of the Asian Development Bank Division; and Pradeep Saputantri, Prime Minister’s Secretary.

The International Monetary Fund says that the global battle against inflation has largely been won, even if price pressures persist in some countries.

Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, Economic Counselor and Director of the Research Department of the IMF presenting the World Economic Outlook on Tuesday (22) said the prediction is that headline inflation will fall to 3.5 percent by the end of next year, slightly below the average during the two decades before the pandemic.

This project comes after headline inflation peaked at 9.4 percent year-on-year in the third quarter of 2022.

Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas says that global economy remained unusually resilient throughout the disinflationary process.

Growth is projected to hold steady at 3.2 percent in 2024 and 2025, but some low-income and developing economies have seen sizable downside growth revisions, often tied to intensifying conflicts.

In advanced economies, growth in the United States is strong, at 2.8 percent this year, but will revert toward its potential in 2025.

For advanced European economies, a modest growth rebound is expected next year, with output approaching potential.

The growth outlook is very stable in emerging markets and developing economies, around 4.2 percent this year and next, with continued robust performance from emerging Asia.

"The decline in inflation without a global recession is a major achievement,"said Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, Economic Counselor and Director of the Research Department of the IMF.

Despite the good news on inflation, downside risks are increasing and now dominate the outlook, he warned noting that an escalation in regional conflicts, especially in the Middle East, could pose serious risks for commodity markets. He noted that shifts toward undesirable trade and industrial policies can significantly lower output relative to the baseline forecast. Monetary policy could remain to tight for too long, and global financial conditions could tighten abruptly.

The Government Information Department clarified that none of the official privileges provided to former Presidents have been withdrawn.

In a statement, the department confirmed that perks and vehicles have been provided to former Presidents in accordance with the provisions of the Presidents’ Entitlements Act No. 4 of 1986.

It further clarified that a request had been made to both Mahinda Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe to return additional vehicles. As a result, former President Rajapaksa has returned 8 out of 16 vehicles, while Wickremesinghe currently has 11 vehicles for his use.

Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando, Director of Communications for the Archdiocese of Colombo, says that they reject the report of the Committee of Inquiry, chaired by retired High Court Judge A.N.J. De Alwis.

He made this statement in response to comments made by Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader and former MP Udaya Gammanpila during a press conference held in Colombo yesterday (21) where he disclosed the contents of a previously unreleased report regarding the Easter Sunday terror attacks.

Speaking at a press conference held today at the Archbishop’s House in Borella, Rev. Fr. Gamini stated: “It is clear that a conflict of interest will immediately arise by appointing A.N.J. De Alwis, the sister of Prasanna De Alwis, who is accused of concealing and destroying evidence in a murder investigation, as the head of this committee.”

He further stated that a report produced under these circumstances cannot be regarded as impartial or independent.

“Therefore, we completely reject this report,” Rev. Fr. Gamini said.

The Ministry of Finance has issued a clarification stating that reports of increased taxes on several imported goods, are inaccurate.

The clarification comes after it was reported that taxes on certain imported goods were increased effective from October 14 to December 31, 2024.

The Finance Ministry said that the previous gazette on the special commodity levy expired on October 13, prompting a renewal of the gazette on October 14, 2024.

Accordingly, The Ministry reaffirmed that the concessionary tax on imported lentils, set at 25 cents, remains unchanged, along with the rates for the other four products.

This extension is designed to support local industries, such as fishing and fruit cultivation, while also considering foreign exchange concerns.

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader, former MP Udaya Gammanpila has called for the immediate removal of Ravi Seneviratne from the post as the Public Security Ministry Secretary, as he has been named as a main accused in the Easter Sunday bomb attacks investigations by a Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) report.

Convening a special media conference today (21), Gammanpila said, “A PCoI report which probed the 2019 Easter Sunday bomb attacks has revealed that the State Intelligence Service (SIS) had informed former senior DIG of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) about the imminent attacks on Easter Sunday in 2019.”

“According to page 43 of the report, the SIS Director had informed the CID Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police on April 9, 2019, that the National Thowheed Jamaath terrorists, including Mohammad Saharan, were planning to carry out suicide attacks on several locations, including prominent Catholic churches. Who is this Senior Inspector General of Police? It is the current Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, Ravi Senaviratne,” he stated.

“I had given the President until 10 a.m. today to release the PCoI report. Since the deadline has passed, I am disclosing one of the reports today and the second one next Monday,” he added.

Senior Professor Kapila Seneviratne has been appointed as the new Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Professor Seneviratne, a distinguished scholar in the field of chemistry, is an alumnus of the University of Kelaniya.

He earned his Ph.D. from Wayne State University in the United States in 1997.

Throughout his career, he has led numerous research projects focusing on the chemical and nutritional properties of edible oils, establishing himself as a leading academic in this area.

Prior to his new appointment, Senior Professor Seneviratne served as the Dean of the Postgraduate Institute at the University of Kelaniya.

Trains between Colombo – Fort and Maradana have been delayed, Sri Lanka Railways announced today.

According to the department, the delay is caused due to a technical issue on the railroad switch at the Fort Railway Station.

The department further said that as a result, all trains travelling towards Maradana have been halted, causing delays.

Ranil Wickremesinghe, the former President and Leader of the United National Party said today (17) that the new government will face the challenge of increasing the state revenue to fifteen per cent of the Gross Domestic Product by 2027 when Sri Lanka will start repaying its foreign debt. Mr Wickremesinghe said that an increase of one per cent in economic growth is required every year in order to reach that goal and emphasized that the next parliament needs an experienced team that will not shirk from their responsibilities.

The former President said that the group that worked with him to ensure the recovery of the country in the face of the economic crisis will run for the general election under the symbol of the gas cylinder. He added that in order for the parliament, which holds the financial power, to be strong, the Cylinder should win.

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who made a special statement at the New Democratic Front office in Colombo, said: I took over the country as President when we were unable to pay our debts and had declared bankruptcy. My primary goal at that time was to restore debt sustainability and to take Sri Lanka out of the state of bankruptcy. In those two years, I reached an agreement with the International Monetary Fund, the eighteen countries that had given us loans, and the private bondholders.

Accordingly, we reached an agreement that would ensure we became debt-sustainable and then removed our country from the state of bankruptcy. All these procedures were completed, and the approval of the private bondholders was received in the first week of September of this year. Due to the measures we have taken, we can now engage with foreign banks. Foreign aid is also available. We are no longer bankrupt due to our debt sustainability.

I worked with the last parliament to rescue the country from bankruptcy. I would like to express my thanks to all the members of that parliament. I also express my thanks to the officials who worked with that parliament.

Now, we have to implement that sustainability agreement. It has been reported that the current President will submit amendments in this regard. If so, the parliament has the fiscal power to implement the revised agreement. It is the responsibility of the new parliament to implement it. We have several goals that must be implemented to achieve sustainability.

First of all, we have to begin repaying our debt from the year 2028. By the year 2027, our government revenue should be 15 per cent of the gross domestic product. Currently, that figure is 12 per cent. To reach this goal, one per cent growth should be achieved every year.

By the end of this year, we can regain the levels of gross domestic product that were achieved in 2019. At the same time, we have to increase our foreign exchange reserves. Our foreign exchange reserve should be in the range of 10-14 billion dollars. After meeting these goals, we have to pay off the debt. We have to achieve the above goals within this period. For that, we need to ensure rapid economic development. Another important aspect of this program is the implementation of a number of anti-corruption measures. Parliament is responsible for all these matters. According to the Presidential election results, no party will get a majority in the parliament. Somehow, in order to fulfil the responsibilities of the new parliament, the negative experiences of the previous parliament cannot be repeated. During the last parliament, no one came forward to accept their responsibilities. I came forward and gathered members of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, United National Party and the Pohottuwa and worked to form a Government.

Such incidents should not be repeated in the next parliament. There are three main groups in this parliament. Among those three groups, I want to mention one group here.

I ran for the presidential election under the symbol of the gas cylinder. The Pohottuwa, United National Party, Sri Lanka Freedom Party, New Alliance and all other groups came together and supported me. These people have worked under my leadership. Now, all of them have come together once again.

A part of those MPs, as well as a part of the officials of the United National Party who worked with me, are coming together again in this election. They are running under the New Democratic Party. They are going to contest this election under my leadership. All these people have the necessary experience. They have carried out the required work properly in the past.

Those who have worked with me for the past two years have the experience to face economic crises, so they must be in the parliament. Whether you are in the opposition or the government, you cannot run the parliament without this experience; if you try, you will fail to achieve the goals.

Therefore, those who worked in the United National Party, those who supported us in Pohottuwa and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party as well as the new alliance, request their members to support our candidates. Also, a request was made to those who had not voted earlier. In order to solve the country’s economic problem and move forward, these experienced people should be in the parliament.

Your future will be decided by the new parliament. If we do this work successfully, we can recover as a country. Therefore, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that everyone is requested to give their valuable vote to the gas cylinder.

The Commissioner General of Elections, Saman Sri Ratnayake, has announced that no new nominations will be called for the upcoming local government elections.

He clarified that the election will proceed based on the nominations that were previously submitted.

Speaking at a news conference held in Kandy, Ratnayake further noted that any party who feels this decision has caused them injustice has the option of seeking legal recourse through the courts.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized the need for a long-term, unified national plan to organize Sri Lanka’s currently disordered agriculture sector.

He made this statement during a progress review meeting of the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Livestock, Irrigation, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources held today (16) at the Presidential Secretariat.

The meeting included extensive discussions on the ongoing projects under the Ministry.

The President reviewed the rural development initiatives completed so far and noted that, despite their success, questions remain about the extent to which these projects have reduced rural poverty.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized that the primary objective of rural development projects should be to eradicate rural poverty.

He further pointed out the need for a comprehensive new plan to eliminate poverty nationwide.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also highlighted that poverty extends beyond mere financial hardship; it also involves the marginalization of certain groups within society, constituting a serious social crisis. He underscored the necessity for a targeted program to effectively eradicate rural poverty.

Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, and Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Livestock, Irrigation, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources M. P. N. M. Wickramasinghe, along with Senior Officials of the Ministry, Project Directors and other Officials of the Ministry participated in this discussion.