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Italy has joined several countries including China, India and several European countries in relaxing a travel ban to Sri Lanka.

In a statement today (03), the Italian Embassy in Sri Lanka said it has updated its travel advisory on its website for all Italian nationals travelling to Sri Lanka.

“Lowering the level of security previously advising against travel to Sri Lanka, the new update advises Italian nationals intending to travel to Sri Lanka during this period, to exercise the utmost caution, keeping the attention threshold in all circumstances,” the said.

Furthermore, the improved outlook of the update adds that the security situation in Sri Lanka is gradually returning to normal.

Sri Lankan authorities have used anti-hate laws to imprison a Muslim woman for wearing a dress displaying the wheel of a ship.

47-year-old M. R Mazahima was arrested by police who describe the printed motif on her Kaftan as the ‘Dharmachakra’ wheel symbolising Buddhist teachings.

The wheel print on the dress offended Buddhists, court was told.

Ms Mazahima in her kaftan with a wheel of a ship motif

Acting Magistrate Gamini Rambakenpura in the central town of Mahiyanganaya ordered to further remand Mrs Mazhima until June 3 after the police informed the courts that the controversial dress has been sent to the Department of Buddhist Affairs to verify the identity of the symbol.

Attorneys at law, AM Mohammed Zarook and Nusra Zarook appeared for the defendant.

Police had charged the Muslim woman under Sri Lanka’s adoption of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) - a law designed to safeguard human rights.

Local judges have no mandate to grant bail to suspects charged under the ICCPR act. Suspects must appeal to the high courts, which is a costly deterrent.

'Punished in Ramadan'

On 18th May M.R Mazhima was arrested on the streets of Hasalaka, 180 kilometres away from the capital, Colombo, on her way to the bank to withdraw money sent by her husband, a construction labourer stationed in Colombo.

She had been dressed in the Kaftan with the controversial wheel motif on the day of arrest after being forced by majority Sinhala Buddhists in the area to give up her customary Abaya.

Police officers displaying the kaftan Ms Mazahima was wearing at the time of her arrest

Muslim women throughout the island are being coerced to give up the Abaya following the Easter Sunday bomb attacks allegedly by Islamic militants.

“My wife doesn’t know the difference between the Dharmachakra or a ship’s wheel,” said Mazhima’s husband, Abdul Munaf.

“We are very poor people. Why are we who did not commit any crime, punished in this manner in the holy month of Ramadan?”

Most recently the ICCPR was used to imprison an award-winning writer who was accused of insulting Buddhism by writing a short story. (JDS)

Two Muslim governors resigned on Monday in the wake of protests in the country which demanded their removal over their alleged links to the Easter Sunday bombings.

Accordingly, Western province Governor Azath Salley and Eastern province Governor MLAM Hizbullah have resigned.

A tweet issued by the President’s media division confirmed that President Maithripala Sirisena accepted the resignations.

The temporary ban imposed by the National Security Council on issuing explosives has been lifted upon the directives of the President, after considering the country's security situation, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said today (29).

The Media Centre of the MoD said commercial explosives, firearms and ammunition will be released to public and private institutions aiming to conduct projects for government agencies based on the permits issued by the District Secretary on the quantity required.

Further information could be obtained by reaching out to:

Commercial Explosive Fire Arms Procurement Unit (CEFAP) : 011 295 8227

Civil Security and Development Unit of the Defence Ministry : 011 233 5798

In a bilateral meeting today, President Sirisena congratulated the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the re-assumption of office following the resounding victory of his party in the recently-held General Elections and reiterated his desire to work together to strengthen relations between the two countries for peace, prosperity and security in our region.

President Maithripala Sirisena travelled to India yesterday to attend the swearing in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Indian Premier warmly thanked President Sirisena for his gesture of attending the Ceremony and also for his good wishes. He conveyed his government’s continued commitment to further foster friendly bilateral ties with Sri Lanka.

The leaders noted that terrorism and extremism continue to pose threat to humanity and committed to closer bilateral cooperation for peace and security in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara, who was sent on compulsory leave following the Easter Sunday attacks, has filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court.

In his petition, Jayasundara has sought an order to cancel the decision to send him on compulsory leave. He also noted that the President has violated his fundamental rights through his directive to remove him from the post of IGP.

Acting IGP C.D.Wickramaratne, Former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, the Attorney Genenral, the Speaker and the Constitutional Council are named as respondents in the case.

Minister of Housing, Construction and Cultural Affairs Sajith Premadasa said that Sri Lanka requires a leadership that can understand the needs of the poor and one who could survive any force.

The deputy leader of the UNP made these remarks at an event held on Thursday to vest the 193rd model village in Ahatuweva with the public.

Premadasa added that that the programme to transform Sri Lanka into another Singapore, requires the blessings of the general public.

"What the country needs is a leadership that is efficient and not idle, a leadership that understands the problems of the poor, and feels the heartbeat of the under privilege, a leader who can survive any force," Premadasa said.

The minister also noted that he is only intimating the opinion of the general public, the voice of the people and the hope and expectations of the general public.

Sri Lanka targets at least 2.5 million tourists this year after several countries eased their travel advisories which were issued after the deadly Easter Sunday attacks that killed over 250 people last month, Minister of Tourism Development, Wildlife and Christian Religious Affairs John Amaratunga said.

Amaratunga said that Sri Lanka is now a safe destination for travel after security forces apprehended at least 98 percent of suspects who were, directly and indirectly, involved in the Easter Sunday terror attacks.

He said security forces have ensured that further attacks and a radical uprising of this nature will not happen, and Sri Lankans can go back to their normal lives.

"After the terrorist attacks, many countries issued travel advisories asking travelers not to travel here. This is understandable," Amaratunga said.

"Last week, I met the Chinese ambassador and assured him that Sri Lanka is a safe destination. I thank China, as they were the first country to ease the travel advisory and this will immensely benefit Sri Lanka tourism," he added.

Switzerland, India and Germany have followed suit in easing their travel bans while advising potential tourists to 'travel with caution' instead of 'do not travel'.

The Government yesterday announced a special relief package with a total interest subsidy cost worth Rs. 1.5 billion for the country’s informal tourism sector which was affected by the April 21 Easter Sunday terror attacks.

In addition, several other sectors that were directly affected by the terrorist attacks, such as transportation and entertainment will also be given similar financial concessions from next month. Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera speaking at a press briefing held at the Finance Ministry premises yesterday, said that the government will, as a part of the relief package, introduce a loan scheme titled Sancharaka-Poddo from June 10, for individuals who were making their living from providing goods and services to the informal tourism sector in the country.

“Accordingly, such individuals will be able to obtain a loan facility of a maximum of Rs. 500,000 at a zero percent interest rate, along with a 12 month grace period and three year loan repayment period,” the Finance Minister said. The loan facility will be granted via the state-owned Regional Development Bank only, Minister Samaraweera explained.

Minister Samaraweera expressed confidence that a one year grace period is sufficient for these borrowers since the country’s tourism industry will thrive again by that time.

“A large number of individuals were gainfully employed in the informal tourism sector within the last few years. Ella and Mirissa would be the best examples for such places where the informal tourism sector thrived.

People ran restaurants, surfing stations, ornament shops and offered Home-Stay facilities. Following the Easter Sunday carnage, these people were drastically affected.

Since we are a government concerned about the wellbeing of the common people, we are introducing the Sancharaka-Podda loan scheme, in order to save these people from loan sharks,” Minister Samaraweera pointed out.

“In addition, the government will also give a short term special grace period for private bus owners considering the severe impact that the Easter Sunday terror attacks had on the transportation sector,”the Minister said.

Accordingly, a grace period will be granted for the installments due on the months of April and May this year on the loans or leasing facilities obtained by private bus owners.

Minister Samaraweera said that the Circular pertaining to the said decision has already been sent to the respective banks and finance companies.

Minister Samaraweera also said that the government has decided to give a concessionary loan facility to the members of musical bands, as an initiative by Housing, Construction and Cultural Affairs Minister Sajith Premadasa.

The Minister said that musical band members will be given a working capital loan facility, a maximum of Rs.500,000 at a 3.46% interest rate and a two year repayment period.

“These working capital loans can be obtained from June 10, from the Bank of Ceylon,” Minister Samaraweera further said. “The government shall bear 75% of the total interest rate of these loans,” he pointed out. Similarly, the individuals who are in the Vesak pandol construction industry will also be granted a similar concessionary loan facility,” the Minister also said.

“The government will take the respective decisions by next Wednesday,” the Minister said.

The Finance Minister also pointed out that the government is able to give such extended concessions for the people even when the economy has suffered a significant setback due to the terror attacks. This is because of its deliberate economic planning.

Asked if the construction industry would also receive a similar concession form the government, Minister Samaraweera pointed out that he personally believes that the Construction Industry was not severely affected by the terror attacks. However, the Minister said the government will carry out discussions with those who are in the Construction Industry to lift the ban on drones, that has in fact affected the industry.

“Now, we should remember the whole country was directly or indirectly affected by the terror attacks. However, everyone cannot join the concessionary- bandwagon. Or else, we will have to give loans to the whole country,” Minister Samaraweera observed.

The Turkish Embassy in Colombo has refuted allegations made by Ven Galagodaththe Gnansara Thera regarding a Turkish fund, which the Thera alleged was contributing to inciting tensions in the country.

The Embassy while referring to the Thero's remarks during a television programme, said that such allegations were "utterly false and baseless".

Gnanasara Thero, who was recently granted presidential pardon while serving time for contempt of court, had stated during a television programme that a Turkish fund has been set-up to allow USD 40 million to flow into the country.

During the programme, he had also said that this money is used in creating tensions, propagating false ideas and endangering media outlets which are against such false ideologies.

"Turkey has maintained strong ties with Sri Lanka and provided humanitarian and technical assistance on many occasions since 2004. Sending direct funds to beneficiaries was never a method adopted by parties carrying out assistance activities," the statement from the Turkish Embassy read.

Further, the Embassy said that it had also supported local journalists by providing them with equipment to facilitate independent and impartial reporting.

This was in addition to sending journalists for professional training in Turkey while also organising vocational training course for school dropouts, the statement pointed out.

"All these assistance projects are being conducted with total transparency, and with the fullest cooperation from local authorities," the Embassy emphasised. (Sunday Times)

A little over a month after Sri Lanka was rocked by a series of eight coordinated blasts that killed at least 253 people, India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) has begun aiding the island nation in the probe into the bombings.

A person familiar with the development said the NIA was “likely to share and discuss with Sri Lankan authorities all details of its probe in India against various IS (Islamic State) modules, including evidence collected from searches in Kerala, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu. This could include pamphlets, documents, hard drives, laptops and CDs that were recovered by the agency."

At the same time, NIA’s operations against the Coimbatore module of the Islamic State (IS) will also be of key interest.

On 26 February, after months of investigation, the NIA chargesheeted six IS recruits –Mohamed Ashiq, Ismail S., Samsudeen, Mohammed Salauddin S., Jafar Shadik Ali and Shahul Hameed— in India after it was found that the arrested accused “had got radicalized on the violent extremist ideology of the proscribed terrorist organization--ISIS/Da’esh--and they had been propagating the same ideology over social media."

While the IS had claimed responsibility for the attacks in Sri Lanka, prior investigations by the NIA had revealed that the Coimbatore group had gone through videos of the National Thowheed Jamaat leader Zahran Hashim, who had been calling for the establishment of Islamic law in Sri Lanka, following which on 26 February India had passed on the intelligence to Sri Lankan authorities.

The development comes after the Kerala coast was put on high alert, late last week, following intelligence reports that boats carrying nearly 15 IS terrorists had set sail from Sri Lanka to India’s Lakshadweep slands.

There has been significant and growing movement of Islamic State cells and workers in pockets of Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Kerala and any suspicious movements are being closely monitored, according to intelligence units.

Earlier this month, both the Union home ministry and the state authorities from Tamil Nadu and Telangana said India was always on “a state of high readiness."

The Ministry of Finance has introduced a new electronic government procurement system (E-GPS) to address the existing shortcomings and to facilitate fast tracking procurement decisions, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said.

At the launch of the new E-GPS system at the Ministry of Finance today (29), Samaraweera said that Sri Lanka annually spends around a quarter of government expenditure on public procurement, which amounts to nearly 15% of the GDP. Considering the magnitude of that total annual expenditure, it needs closer attention and scrutiny from all the stakeholders in the public management systems as procurement plays a major strategic function.

"Corruption, misappropriation and mismanagement of public assets must be tackled with a policy of zero tolerance, which from my point of view, remain difficult in our part of the world because of systemic weaknesses," Samaraweera said.

The Minister pointed out that in Sri Lanka, the decisions of implementing many important projects are lagging behind because of the manual system that links to the decades’ old complicated governance mechanisms.

"Now in the first quarter of the 21st Century, Sri Lanka as a modern nation, must look forward to utilize new technologies to make our decisions faster, transparent and more accountable. I am convinced that this new E-GPS will save nearly Rupees 30 billion to the Treasury, while improving the public financial management to a greater extent," the Minister added.