News

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government will face a no-confidence vote in parliament amid deadlock with the opposition over violence in the state of Manipur.

A lawmaker from the opposition Congress party tabled a no-confidence motion on Wednesday.

Mr Modi’s government won’t lose the vote as his party and its allies have a clear majority in parliament.

But opposition leaders say the move will force Mr Modi to speak on Manipur.

They have been demanding that he address parliament on ethnic clashes in the state which broke out in May between the majority Meitei group and the tribal Kuki minority.

At least 130 people have been killed and tens of thousands displaced in the violence.

Last week, a video that showed two women being paraded naked by a mob had sparked global outrage and condemnation.

It also forced Mr Modi to break his silence on Manipur: he said that the incident had “shamed India” and that the attackers wouldn’t be spared.

Federal home minister Amit Shah told the Lok Sabha - the lower house of parliament - earlier this week that the government was ready to discuss the violence and accused the opposition of preventing this.

This is the second time that Mr Modi’s government is facing a no-confidence motion since it came to power in 2014. In 2018, a lawmaker had moved a motion over the issue of granting a special category status to Andhra Pradesh state. It was defeated after a 12-hour debate.

A no-confidence motion can only be moved in the Lok Sabha and will be accepted if at least 50 lawmakers support it. Once accepted, the speaker will announce a date for a vote within 10 days. If the government is unable to prove its majority, it will have to resign.

On Wednesday, two motions were moved by MPs from the Congress party and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi - the first was accepted.

Speaker Om Birla said he would announce a date for the debate and vote after speaking with leaders of all parties.

“We are well aware that the numbers are not in our favour,” Manoj K Jha, an opposition MP, said on Wednesday. “But it is not about the numbers, the PM will have to speak in parliament following a no-confidence motion.”

The opposition was “forced to move the no-confidence motion as it was the last weapon”, Congress leader Manickam Tagore said.

Source - BBC

-Agencies

President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced that the government will be unveiling a new tourist plan called ‘Visit Sri Lanka’ that will be released in the upcoming months. He claimed the proposal is in the final stages of development and would be made public as soon as it is complete.

President Wickremesinghe made this statement while attending the Award Ceremony and a Gala dinner of the ‘Bocuse d’Or 2023’ competition held at the Waters Edge Grand Ballroom yesterday (23) evening, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

The government aims to bring in 5 million tourists, of whom 2.5 million will be high-end visitors, President Wickremesinghe said while emphasizing the industry as a significant economic driver. According to Indian estimates, Sri Lanka can host up to 10 million tourists, of whom most will be tourists from Asian and the Indian Ocean region, he continued.

Transformation of the tourism industry is required to make Sri Lanka competitive in the global travel market place and the government has recognized the potential in promoting the country as a tropical nation with a diverse culinary style. Hence attention will be given to develop the culinary tourism in the country, the President said.

The government is prepared to launch a Culinary School in collaboration with the private sector, the travel industry, and the hotel industry, the President added, noting that there is a need to train more personnel in the hospitality field, particularly in culinary tourism. Attention will also be paid to aid private Culinary Schools in accomplishing this task, he added.

The President expressed admiration for the late Mr. Merrill J. Fernando, a prominent business figure and founder of Sri Lanka’s renowned ‘Dilmah Tea’ brand. He praised Mr. Fernando’s valuable contributions to the country’s tourism industry, it added.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe further commented;

“There’s a void in our room. We all feel it. These functions would not have been possible without Merrill, and we meet here today for the first time without him. We all feel the loss, we all feel the sadness. For me, it’s also been a personal loss. All the articles on Merrill referred to the tea industry, Dilma, and what he had done. He made a similar contribution to the tourism industry; our hotels would not have been the same without him. I remember in the beginning, it was when I was Prime Minister in 2002, Merrill was one of those within a small circle. I used to consult on economic matters. That was the time Adrian Zecha had come. He was talking about tourism, how we could expand tourism.

And there was a Geoffrey Dobbs who came along talking about Boutique Hotels. This concept of Boutique Hotels came on how we could turn the planters’ bungalows into Boutique Hotels. Merrill used to follow it though he was not in the industry. And then I lost the election, I didn’t think we could see Boutique Hotels again, and one day Merrill came out and said, ‘Look, I am starting ‘Tea Trails,’’ and he invited me to one of the first Boutique Hotels, and he established such a standard that we can all be proud of him.

Later on, he went to Cape Weligama and set another standard. So you have to remember, not merely the contribution he made to tea, but also the contribution he’s made to tourism. He started the hospitality school in Kalkudah. I think I have been lucky enough as a politician.

For 40 odd years, I have been going around the country and eating different types of food. Yesterday I was in Anuradhapura, and we had a delicious tank fish curry. Some time back, I was in Trincomalee, and they gave me Biriyani with Venison. It was quite delicious. There was a time when you talked of Seaweed. I could tell a story that goes back about another 40 years when the hygiene standards outside the hotels were not that high. Today it is good everywhere, even in our small restaurants. It was not so in the 80s. We once went to the Kalpitiya restaurants, which had the best crab curry on the West coast. So I went along with a few others, and we had this delicious crab curry. I think that was true. It was the best you could get on the West coast. Afterwards, we had a Seaweed jelly. This Seaweed jelly was made by the Muslim ladies from a recipe left behind by the Portuguese. So if you go there to Kalpitiya, you can learn how to make Seaweed jelly. Before I left, I asked them why they don’t have a white tablecloth, why they had one that was a yellow mustardy colour. And then they told me that the tablecloth hadn’t visited the laundry for some time. So despite these risks, it’s really worth going around Sri Lanka. It’s how you can make fusion food.

So, I think that’s one of the reasons why we are now on a new journey. Because once we hit rock bottom and we are bankrupt, and as we are coming out of it, we still need sufficient foreign exchange. All of that won’t come easily. Some of the debt carries with it repayment terms and investments, while one source that doesn’t incur debt is tourism; through tourism, you can earn this money.

So the question is, how much can we earn from tourism which dropped last year? What will it be this December and next year? We want to go ahead. 2.5 million tourists are not enough. We are now aiming for 5 million, of which 2.5 million should be high-end tourists. Indian estimates are that Sri Lanka can take up to 10 million tourists, most of them from Asia and the Indian Ocean region.

So there will be a change. But we have to ensure that we go upmarket. If you want, today you find a fast turnover staff. Most of the young people here who took part in the competition will most probably be serving outside of Sri Lanka in about another three years’ time. If you want to keep them, we have to at least match the salaries of the Maldives hotels. If you have to match the salaries of the Maldives hotels, then you must charge the same as Maldives hotels. To charge so, you must give that service, and that is essential.

Now, if you’re looking at 5 million tourists or 10 million tourists, there have to be different types of tourism. And one that we can do well is culinary tourism. And that’s what we should focus on. Not merely in our hotels, but any place. And if you’re having culinary tourism, remember, bulk is going to come from Asia. So there has to be fusion food from different parts of Asia, not only Europe. That’s what we should focus on.

Therefore, I think we must now train more and more personnel in the hospitality field, especially in the field of tourism and culinary tourism. So let’s get ready for it. I have been talking with some of my planners and others, and we feel, firstly, we have to upgrade our hotel school, and it must become a genuine hotel school. But more than that, together with the private sector, the travel industry, the hotel industry, the government is prepared to start a culinary school just for that, for large numbers. But you can’t stand on the side and say, let the government do it. Then you know what you will get. So, therefore, if you all get together, we will plan that. And some of the private culinary schools are there. I said we’ll see how we can help them too. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a government school or a private school, as long as they do it.

We are prepared to go ahead and back them. I will talk with the industry.

We’ll be announcing a new tourism plan called ‘Visit Sri Lanka,’ which will most probably be released in August or September. We are giving the final touches, but you are ready to go along. So at this stage, first, I have to thank all those, especially all of you who have organized this competition this time, and you’ve been doing it for a long time. I hope Bocuse d’Or will not only be organizing the competitions here, but they will also help us to set up a good culinary school. You all are always welcome to raise our standards. There is a good future. Let’s train more and more people, and let’s all get used to it. Not merely in hotels, but the time will come when most of you will be running restaurants or supplying food. And that’s what the trade has to be. Services have taken over. This is now an important part of our economy. And like an army, the travel industry also marches on. It travels on its stomach. So let’s look after the stomach. Others will look after the tablecloth.”

Bocuse d’Or 2023 competition is an esteemed culinary event of global repute, which serves as a beacon for showcasing the exceptional talents and skills of renowned chefs from around Sri Lanka. Previous Bocuse d’Or winners have been victorious in representing Sri Lanka on the international stage in Lyon, France. The judging panel of Bocuse d’Or 2023 comprised esteemed culinary experts, including the globally renowned Chef Otto Weibel and Chef Frank Widmann, evaluating the dishes based on their exquisite taste, impeccable presentation, and outstanding originality.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Chief of Staff and National Security Advisor to the President Sagala Ratnayaka presented trophies and certificates to the Bocuse d’Or 2023 Competition winners.

First Lady Prof. Maithree Wickramasinghe, Chief of Staff and National Security Advisor to the President Sagala Ratnayaka, The French Ambassador to Sri Lanka Jean-François Pactet, President of Bocuse d’Or Sri Lanka Rohan Fernandopulle, CEO of Dilmah Tea Dilhan C. Fernando esteemed culinary experts and personnel representing the hospitality industry attended the event, according to the PMD.

The second death anniversary of R. Rajamahendran, chairman of Capital Maharaja, was marked yesterday (25).

A Buddhist religious function took place in his memory at the Group’s head office at Baybrook Place in Colombo.

Another event was organised in Mihintale.

Born on 19 May 1943, Rajamahendran was educated at Royal College, Colombo.

At the age of 21, he and his brother took over their father’s business following his death.

He transformed it into a major conglomerate covering various fields to contribute immensely to the national economy.

He pioneered the MTV/MBC media network, while leaving his mark in music, arts, cinema etc too.

As the then deputy chief of the local cricket board, he played a key role in getting Test status for Sri Lanka in 1982.

Trade Minister Nalin Fernando has revealed that imported eggs will be sold at a price of Rs. 35 at all Sathosa outlets.

Accordingly, he explained that measures in this regard are underway, and stated that the process is likely to commence within the upcoming week.

Speaking further in this regard, Minister Fernando noted that they expect to release a stock of 100,000 eggs to the market, per day.

Sri Lanka began importing eggs earlier this year, amidst a severe shortage, in response to the high prices of eggs being sold within the local market.

The Government will introduce the luxury train service, ‘Yaal Nila’, from Kankasanthurai to Mount Lavinia, from August 04, 2023.

Targeting the Northern Province, the ‘Yaal Nila’ train service will offer first-class tickets at a cost of Rs. 4000, second-class tickets at Rs. 3000, and third-clas tickets at Rs. 2000.

Leaving the Mount Lavinia station at 10.30 pm on Friday night the train will reach Kanakasanthurai at 06.00 am on Saturday.

The train will return from Kankasanthurai at 10.30 pm on Sunday and reach Mount Lavinia at 06.00 am on Monday.

The luxury train consists of 106 seats in first class, 128 seats in second class, and 336 seats in third class. The seats can be reserved via the online booking system.

Minister of Transportation Bandula Gunawardena stated that the ‘Yaal Nila’ will join other tourism-related train services such as the ‘Ella Odyssey’ and ‘Seethavaka Odyssey’.

The Minister made the remarks while addressing a media briefing in Colombo yesterday.

The government has issued a Gazette notification declaring the public and bank holidays for the year 2024.

The Gazette notification has been authorized by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in his capacity as the Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs.

The Gazette notification is as follows;

Former president Maithripala Sirisena has been appointed to head the International Summit Council for Peace (ISCP).

He was made the council’s chairman on the sidelines of the Global Summit for Peace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The ISCP was launched in South Korea during the 2019 World Summit organized by the UPF with the aim of bringing together current and former h

eads of state.

It continues to work on the foundations of the World Peace Summit, established in 1987 to promote democracy, sustainable human development, security and peace.

Meanwhile, Sirisena observed several polling centres in Cambodia, where he is part of international observers for the general election.

A new circular has been issued by the Ministry of Health to all health officials, regarding providing information to the media without prior consent of department heads.

The circular signed by the secretary to the Health Ministry Janaka Shri Chandraguptha, states that disciplinary action will be taken against any official that provides information to media, without the consent of the Department head.

It was issued for all officers including Provincial Health Secretaries, Heads of institutions of the Ministry of Health, Provincial Directors of Health Services and Regional Service Directors.

Attention has been drawn to the judgement issued under supreme court case number SC/FR/371/2022, and that state officials do not have the legal right to release information to the state media without the prior permission of the department head.

NEWS 1ST

The Gazette notification issued earlier this year stipulating a Maximum Retail Price (MRP) for eggs will be withdrawn at midnight today (25 July), according to the Ministry of Trade.

The announcement comes following Trade Minister Nalin Fernando’s comments that the stock of eggs imported from India will be sold at Rs. 35 per egg at all Lanka Sathosa outlets from today.

Meanwhile, another Extraordinary Gazette notification was issued in April this year, stipulating a MRP for eggs by weight.

Accordingly, the MRP for a kilogram of white eggs is Rs. 880 while the MRP for a kilogram of brown eggs is Rs. 920.

Ex-president Maithripala Sirisena has attended the inaugural ceremony of the Global Leadership Summit in Cambodia.

He has participated in the event at the invitation of the Global Peace Conference.

Sirisena is also due to serve as an international observer at the upcoming elections in Cambodia.

Sri Lanka's Attorney General informed the Supreme Court that the clauses in the Private Members' Bill that was presented to make amendments to the law to empower the subject minister to recall Local Government Institutions for a time period he desires, violates the constitution.

The private member's bill in question was put forward the SLPP MP Jayantha Ketagoda.

An Additional Solicitor General appearing for the Attorney General informed that if the bill is passed, it should be by way of a special majority in parliament, and by a public referendum.

27 petitions were filed with the Supreme Court seeking an order that the Private Member's Bill by MP Ketagoda violated the constitution.

The Additional Solicitor General made the announcement in court when these petitions were called up for examination on Monday (24).

At the same time, the petitions that were filed with the Supreme Court seeking a ruling that the people's fundamental rights were violated when the Local Government Elections were not held as planned on the 9th of March, were postponed to the 26th of July for consideration.

These petitions were filed by the Jathika Jana Balavegaya and the People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (Paffrel).

The petitions were to be examined in the presence of a five-judge bench led by Justice Buvaneka Aluvihare.

However, the consideration of these petitions was postponed as Justice Priyantha Jayawardena, a member of the bench, was attending a separate legal matter.

News 1st

Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, the Central Bank Governor, is urging licensed banks to promptly take necessary actions to sufficiently decrease lending rates.

This call comes in light of the recent reduction of Policy Interest Rates.

He emphasizes that any insufficient and delayed adjustments by the banking and financial sector may lead the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) to consider implementing administrative measures