News

P.S.M. Charles has resigned as a member of the Election Commission.

She has tendered her resignation to the president, said sources at the Presidential Secretariat.

When contacted, the Election Commission said it was yet to be informed about the development.

The Constitutional Council that met yesterday (25) decided to call for membership applications for all the independent commissions.

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) contributed a sum of Rs. 03 billion to the Treasury. Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara officially handed over the cheque to President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat today (23).

Considering the current economic situation of the country, the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau has provided this amount from the operational surplus received last year, to use for essential services such as to purchase of medicine, to purchase of paddy and the payment of government employee salaries.

Previously, the total amount of money given to the Treasury by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment was Rs. 3.38 billion, and this is the first time in history that Rs. 03 billion has been given in a single contribution.

The Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau has taken steps to make a grant of Rs. 500 million for the purchase of the necessary medicines for the Cancer Hospital, of which a cheque of Rs. 100 million was also presented to the President.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe handed over the cheque to Heath Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.

--PMD

Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay says cooperation and working together would be very important for Sri Lanka and India on the journey that lies ahead for the two nations to celebrate the centenary of independence in 2047 for India and 2048 for Sri Lanka.

He made this observation on Tuesday (Jan. 24) addressing the gathering at the Rhythm of Harmony held at the Concert Hall of the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) to mark the 74th Republic Day of India with the participation of President Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Chief Guest and the Guest of Honour, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

The UDX, a globally acclaimed musical band from Nagaland in the Northeastern part of India performed at the show along with the Sri Lankan Heavy metal Quintet Band Stigmata.

The high commissioner further stated that the two bands from Sri Lanka and India were selected to perform at the event to mark the close relationship between the two countries, shared civilization, shared aspirations of peace, progress, prosperity, friendship, and close ties between the two countries.

India is a vibrant growing economy and vibrant diverse democracy like Sri Lanka, high commissioner said further, adding that diversity and democracy are two things that Sri Lanka and India lived by and live for.

The high commissioner also mentioned that Sri Lanka is going to mark its 75th Independence Day early next month. “So as close friends, we should celebrate this event together signifying the real rhythm of harmony. It is not only the harmony of separate bands and music but also the harmony and symphony of India and Sri Lanka. So we celebrate our togetherness in celebrating 75 years of independence, and 75 years of diplomatic relations and also recommit ourselves to the journey ahead of both countries to celebrate the centenary of independence.”

He added that it is not only political leaders, professionals, scientists, diplomats, bureaucrats, and civil servants who should corporate and work together but also every section of society that would play a very crucial role in the shared prosperity that we are going to forge with everybody’s participation.

High Commissioner Baglay appreciated President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s presence at the event which was attended by ministers, state ministers, parliamentarians, and Indian and Sri Lankan nationals.

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) says it has approved power cuts of 2 hours on 24th January (Tuesday).

Rolling power cuts had been imposed for 2 hours and 20 minutes over the past couple of days.

Accordingly, the two-hour power cuts will be imposed tomorrow as follows;

Groups ABCDEFGHIJKLPQRSTUVW - 40 minutes during daytime and 1 hour 20 minutes during night

Lanka Sathosa has slashed the prices of six essential food items, including dried chillis and lentils.

Accordingly, the revised prices will be effective from tomorrow (26 Jan.), at all Lanka Sathosa stores across the island.

Listed below are the price revised prices; Dried Chillis – Rs. 1,700/kg White Raw Rice (local) – Rs. 169/kg Red Kekulu Rice – Rs. 179/kg White Nadu Rice – Rs. 184/kg Keeri Samba Rice – Rs. 235/kg Red Dhal – Rs. 365/kg

None of the decisions taken without the full quorum of the Election Commission are considered valid, said Dr. Prathibha Mahanama Hewa.

The former chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka noted the May 09 date announced for the local government polls is yet to be gazatted.

People will know for certain if the Election Commission’s decision was unanimous or divided, only after the issuance of the gazette.

According to the law, the election date becomes valid only after it is gazetted, and an announcement through the media does not carry any weight, he said.

The Election Commission is in limbo in the background of the Constitutional Council’s meeting due to January 25, he said.

Mahanama Hewa said the gazette should contain the names of all its five members, as in the case of the gazette that had announced the calling in of nominations.

The Export-Import Bank of China has offered Sri Lanka a two-year moratorium on its debt and said it will support the country's efforts to secure a $2.9 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund, according to a letter reviewed by Reuters.

India wrote to the IMF earlier this month, saying it would commit to supporting Sri Lanka with financing and debt relief, but the island nation also needs the backing of China in order to reach a final agreement with the global lender.

China's Jan. 19 letter, sent to the finance ministry, however, may not be enough for Sri Lanka to immediately gain the IMF's approval for the critical loan, a Sri Lankan source with knowledge of the matter said.

Regional rivals China and India are the biggest bilateral lenders to Sri Lanka, a country of 22 million people that is facing its worst economic crisis in seven decades.

According to the letter, the Export-Import Bank of China said it was going to provide "an extension on the debt service due in 2022 and 2023 as an immediate contingency measure" based on Sri Lanka's request.

At the end of 2020, China EXIM bank had loaned Sri Lanka $2.83 billion which is 3.5% of the island's debt, according to an IMF report released in March last year.

"...you will not have to repay the principal and interest due of the bank's loans during the above-mentioned period," the letter said.

"Meanwhile, we would like to expedite the negotiation process with your side regarding medium and long-term debt treatment in this window period."

Sri Lanka owed Chinese lenders $7.4 billion, or nearly a fifth of its public external debt, by the end of last year, calculations by the China Africa Research Initiative showed.

"The bank will support Sri Lanka in your application for the IMF Extended Fund Facility (EFF) to help relieve the liquidity strain," the letter said.

The Sri Lankan source, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the confidential discussions, said the island nation had hoped for a clear assurance from Beijing on the lines of what India provided to the IMF.

"China was expected to do more," the source said, "This is much less than what is required and expected of them."

Sri Lanka's foreign and finance ministries and China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters.

Sri Lanka's central bank chief P. Nandalal Weerasinghe said on Tuesday that the country hoped for assurances from China and Japan, another major bilateral lender, soon and complete debt restructuring in six months.

Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) has been suspended by FIFA from January 21st 2023 until further notice.

The suspension is reportedly due to third party interference in matters related to the FFSL as the Sri Lankan authorities had deviated from the agreed roadmap and complaints over the Sri Lanka football elections held on January 14th.

Consequently, The FFSL representative and club teams are therefore no longer entitled to take part in international competitions until the suspension is lifted.

A committee is to be appointed to probe into issues that have arisen in connection with the white water rafting water sport in Kithulgala due to the Broadlands hydroelectric project, the President’s Media Division (PMD) reported.

Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake has issued instructions to appoint the committee to look into the problems that have arisen in connection with the water sport around the Kitulgala area and to make recommendations on possible solutions.

The President’s Secretary issued these instructions during the discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (23) to find possible solutions to the said issues.

He also advised that this committee, comprising officials from the Ministry of Tourism and line institutions, conduct a field investigation into the issues raised and submit a report within two weeks.

White water rafting in the Kitulgala area has drawn a large number of local and foreign tourists.

According to those who provide related services, the Broadlands hydroelectricity project has had a significant impact on the operation of the Kithulgala water rafting industry. As a result, their livelihoods have been greatly impacted, and they have requested the authorities to help save this sport, which has the potential for earning foreign exchange for the country.

The Director of Broadlands Hydropower Project, who participated in this discussion, stated that steps have been taken to cooperate with the Kithulgala white water rafting service provider community in accordance with existing technical arrangements.

However, the President’s Secretary drew attention to the practical issues raised by the community providing relevant services and directed officials to provide solutions as soon as possible.

Member of Parliament Rajika Wickramasinghe, Secretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs K. Mahesan, Secretary of the Irrigation Ministry U.D.C. Jayalal, and officials from the Ministry of Tourism, Ceylon Electricity Board, Central Environment Authority, and other line institutions took part in this discussion.

Thushara Sanjeewa Vitharana has been removed as mayor of the Kurunegala Municipal Council effective from December 31, 2022.

Northwestern province governor Wasantha Karannagoda has issued a gazette notification to this effect after the 2023 budget of the Kurunegala MC was defeated.

Now, the position of its mayor is deemed vacant, according to the notification.

The Supreme Court today (24) sentenced retired Army Major Ajith Prasanna to four years of rigorous imprisonment and fined him Rs. 300,000 after finding him guilty to a contempt of court charge.

Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional six months behind bars, a three-member judges panel decided.

The attorney general filed the case against Prasanna over his criticism of a ruling by a five-member SC judges panel at a media briefing on January 19, 2020.

The upcoming Local Government (LG) election will be held on 09 March 2023.

This was announced by the Election Commission of Sri Lanka today (21 Jan.).

The accepting of nominations for the upcoming election commenced at 08:30 a.m. on 18 January, and closed at 12 noon today.

The acceptance of cash deposits for the election also closed yesterday (20 Jan.), after it began on 18 Jan.

Meanwhile, the Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill was also passed in Parliament on Thursday (19 Jan.), with a majority of 61 votes.

The Bill was passed in Parliament with 97 votes in favour, while 36 MPs voted against the Bill.

Several political parties in the opposition including the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), however, expressed their discontent about scheduling the debate for today, citing the government’s attempts to pass the bill hastily in a bid to postpone the local government election, while various election monitoring organisations too, have raised concerns pertaining to the Bill, deeming the law inadequate.