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President Maithripala Sirisena called upon the international community to look at Sri Lanka with a fresh perspective and consider the tremendous progress made by the government towards reconciliation, restoration of democratic freedoms, human rights and the rule of law and extend the fullest support to the build a progressive, democratic, free and equal society.

Addressing the 73rd Session of the United nations General Assembly in New York on September 25 (26th morning in SL time), he said Sri Lanka is taking action to consolidate peace and forge ahead to develop the economy, and such a nation deserves the support and understanding of the international community. “I urge the international community to allow Sri Lankan people to solve their problems on their own,” he said.

As an independent country we do not want any foreign power to exert influence on us. We want to appeal to the international community to give us the room to resolve the problems that we are facing so that the right of the Sri Lankan people to find solutions to their problems is respected, he said.

The President  said that the government is working to eliminate fear and suspicion among different communities.

Quoting from the Buddha’s preaching in the Sallasutta of Samyuktha Nikaye in Thripitaka, he said if a man is pierced with a dart, he will suffer physical pain. When he worries about it, he suffers more pain. Hence, there are two kinds of pains suffered by the man. When it comes to Sri Lanka, it is the people who suffered pain due to war and they continue to feel pain when they think about it. Therefore, I take this opportunity to call upon your support and cooperation, he said.

The President pointed out that the exodus of refugees is a major issue in international politics and urged the United Nations to play a bigger role because of the paramount importance of the issue.

Sri Lanka is following a nonaligned policy. In fact, Sri Lanka hosted the Non-aligned Summit in 1976 and it was the most successful summit. Sri Lanka has a policy of friendship with all and the country does not have any enemy nation in the world, he said.

President Sirisena said that Sri Lanka’s Executive President had been vested with more powers than any other leader in the world, and he had curtailed those excessive powers of the Executive Presidency and transferred those powers to the Parliament.

President Sirisena emphasized the need to eradicate poverty. At present, the whole world is engaged in an attempt to free itself from poverty and he said the United Nations must play a bigger role in the endeavour.

“I must mention that, today, the whole world is facing challenges posed by severe changes in climate. I would like to propose that the community of nations must focus on implementing the Paris Accord that the world reached in 2015, by further improving the unity that we reached by signing that accord. We must remember that the Paris Accord is critically important to the future of the entire biosphere and humanity,” he said.

The President categorically stated that the government is committed to work tirelessly to achieving reconciliation by fostering understanding among all ethnic and linguistic groups, while eliminating mutual suspicion and hatred in order to create a society where all can live freely and harmoniously. “Further, we are dedicated to ensure that the country will accomplish economic prosperity. Specially, my government is committed to the creating a fair and just society by strengthening the rule of law”, he said.

He said that during the last three and a half years, the government has taken several important steps that are necessary to consolidate democracy, freedom, good governance, media freedom and independence of the judiciary. “Through such transformative steps, we have laid the foundation necessary to forge national reconciliation, communal harmony and ensure non-recurrence of conflict in our country,” he said.

“As a country that has suffered violent conflict for 30 years, we are drawing from experience and lessons learned to strengthen national reconciliation, and we are determined to prevent the recurrence of conflict. We have given priority in this context to consolidate freedom and democracy in our country, and through a strong foundation of national reconciliation forged through unity and friendship among communities,” the President said.

President Sirisena pointed out that the most ruthless terrorists were defeated by the armed forces and the nation honour the valiant soldiers who made many sacrifices to bring peace to the country and safeguarded then unity and sovereignty of th nation with utmost commitment.
He emphasized that the vision of the government is to ensure sustained economic development through the increase of domestic agriculture and industry under an environment friendly policies and programs. He emphasized the imperative need to adhere to the Paris Protocol on Climate Change for the sake of the future of the human beings as well as flora and fauna.

“Sir Lanka has always been a country that has respected its treaties and conventions, agreements and rules and regulations of the United Nations. As such, in our country’s journey where we protect our independence and sovereignty, we respectfully request the support of the international community for us to go on a moderate but steady path to achieve our targets in order to find sustainable solutions to the allegations leveled against us,” the President said.

President Sirisena called on the world leaders to take a collective action for eradication of narcotic drugs and illegal pharmaceuticals. He said he wanted to draw the attention of the respected General Assembly of the United Nations to the problem of drugs that poses a serious threat to human society and asked the world body to play a bigger role in eliminating drugs.

The President said that in the international politics, the issue of Palestine is very important and reiterated Sri Lanka’s support to the people of Palestine.

Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews has handed over a letter to the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) addressing the decision to dismiss him as the Captain of the ODI Captain.
 
Sri Lanka’s selectors removed Angelo Mathews as ODI captain, last night (23) and appointed Test captain Dinesh Chandimal in his place. The move comes after Mathews attracted a hail of public criticism over the team’s performance in the Asia Cup, where they were knocked out following first-round defeats to Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
 
Following the announcement, Angelo Mathews has officially resigned from the captaincy f the ODI team through his letter to SLC. In the letter, Mathews expresses that he “initially surprised” by the decision but then made it feel he had been made “the scapegoat in the entire saga of Sri Lanka’s dismissals performances against Bangladesh and Afghanistan in the Asia Cup”.
 
“I’m willing to take part of the blame but at the same time, feel betrayed and let down if the blame is solely put on me. As you know all decisions are taken tough the a mutual understanding with Selectors and the Head Coach,” wrote Mathews. “And though I do not agree with the reasoning that the losses should be carried single handedly to the Captaincy, I however eagerly and wholeheartedly respect the request of the selection committee and the head coach asking me to step down and do so with immediate effect.
 
“I wish to put it on record that though Sri Lanka had suffered these heavy defeats in the Asia Cup, which is shocking to say the least, especially in the backdrop where we had a reasonable series against South Africa, I had no intention of quitting and running away from the issues at hand especially owing to the World Cup being a dozen games away.”
 
Mathews went on to ask the selectors whether the find him suitable for the ODI and T20I teams, in which case he would retire from these two formats. He also added that he was Sri Lanka’s highest run-getter in the home series versus South Africa this summer, while wishing the team all the best.

Source : Ada Derana

The Sri Lanka government is grappling to revitalize the state-run national carrier, SriLankan Airlines, by entering into a public-private partnership (PPP) with a foreign airline or an aviation company. 

The negotiations with US private equity firm TPG Capital to restructure the airline collapsed following due diligence of the struggling airline that is saddled with a US$ 1billion debt burden.   The Ministry of Finance will seek preliminary bids for SriLankan Airlines by next month, ministry sources said.

The government expects to be in talks with at least two prospective investors by the first quarter of next year. The government has called for bids and offered to absorb all the company’s debt in 2016 and eight parties have expressed their interest so far, ministry sources said. 

The interested parties include the buyout firm Blackstone Group LP as well as TPG. The company’s accumulated losses have increased to LKR 141.1 billion (USD 879 million) as of March 2017.

Noting that in the Western World, Human rights has become almost like a religion Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith during a sermon today noted that Sri Lankan society has lived without this concept in peace and harmony. He was addressing a sermon at the St. Matthew's Catholic Church today when he made the comments. 

“They now act as if Human Rights is a novel concept and carry it on their heads” the Cardinal said adding that those Western countries only adhere to religion now when it suits them and its beneficial to them. 

“This is spreading now in Sri Lanka as well with people only going after material comforts” the priest said. However he also noted that if people follow our respective religions Sri Lanka does not need to speak specifically about human rights. “Religions consist of Human Rights, What else?” he said.

The government has given close to 23,000 loans under its 'Enterprise Sri Lanka' concessionary credit schemes aimed at reviving entrepreneurship and private enterprise in the island.

The Ministry of Finance and Media in statement said that 22,957 people have been granted these concessionary loans amounting to more than LKR 49 billion.

All of these loan amounts are distributed through state and private banks with Bank of Ceylon awarding the most loans to 11,711 applicants.

Regional Development Bank has provided loans to 5,612 individuals and institutions while the People’s Bank have provided loans to 1,402 applicants.

Spearheaded by Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera, the Enterprise Sri Lanka programme will aim to create 100,000 entrepreneurs in the country within the first year of the programme which consist of 16 collateral free concessionary loan schemes for aspiring and established entrepreneurs alike.

Rather than provide employment based on personal connections employment is now being provided according to talents and qualifications thereby strengthening the country’s economy, Minister of Finance and Mass Media Mangala Samaraweera said. 

The Minister pointed out that providing jobs based on race, religions or political allegiance is now over. Samaraweera made these comments while providing appointment letters to 77 Grade II Customers Officers on Friday at the Ministry’s auditorium. 

“The customs is one of the main sources of income for the country along with the Department of Excise and the Department of Inland Revenue.

We provide free education because of these Departments. So you are joining one of the most economically important agencies for the country” the Minister further added. 

He also claimed that only talent was looked at in providing these positions after receiving almost 7400 applications. “In a different time 99 per cent of the jobs would go to Matara,” he said adding that however times have changed. “We didn't care for religions, race, area or political party to provide these jobs,” the Minister said.

Sri Lanka will be implementing worldwide brand promotion campaign with the aim of finding new markets and strengthening existing ones for Ceylon Tea.

Sri Lanka Tea Board will provide financial assistance for registered tea exporters under the Brand Promotion Scheme for promotion of pure Ceylon tea brands with Lion Logo in selected overseas markets for the year 2019.

Only Sri Lankan owned tea brands which have been registered in Sri Lanka by the Director General, National Intellectual Property office will be eligible for promotional assistance under the scheme.

Applications for financial assistance for brand promotion projects with lion logo were closed  on September 21.  

As the facilitator, Sri Lanka Tea Board is assisting the private sector companies to improve their performance in terms of exports. The government has set a target of USD 5 billion by 2020.

In order to achieve these targets and since the country’s production capacity is limited, the Tea exporters will have to bring a higher dollar value per kilo of teal.

The Tea board has launched this campaign involving marketing, branding, value addition and attracting a higher consumer level than the mass-market consume. 

Former Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa is not qualified to receive protection, says Minister of Sustainable Development, Wildlife and Regional Development Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka.
 
The Minister made this statement while speaking to the media following a public meeting held in Kelaniya, yesterday (22). “Gotabaya Rajapaksa is not a public servant anymore and he currently does no service for the public” Fonseka pointed out.
 
He further said that he only has 17 police officials for his protection while 25 army officials are deployed for the protection of Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

A JO provincial politician using a Diplomatic passport is said to have travelled to South Korea and is being accused of human smuggling social media sources say. 

According to Lanka E News, Chairman of the Baddegama Pradeshiya Sabha and Sri Lanka Podhu Jana Peramuna Politician Anura Narangoda is said to be involved in this racket. 

Sources say he has acquired Rs. 600 000 each from three people on the promise that he will safely drop them off to Korea and has left the country now for this purpose.

Gunmen have opened fire on an Iranian military parade in the south-western city of Ahvaz, killing at least 24 people, including civilians, and injuring more than 50, state media say.

The attackers shot from a park near the parade and were wearing military uniforms, reports say.

An anti-government Arab group, Ahvaz National Resistance, and Islamic State (IS) have both claimed the attack.

The foreign minister has blamed "terrorists paid by a foreign regime".

Javad Zarif added that "Iran holds regional terror sponsors and their US masters accountable".

Iran has previously accused its regional rival, Saudi Arabia, of supporting separatist activity amongst Iran's Arab minority.

Meanwhile, an Iranian military spokesman claimed the attackers were not from IS but "were trained and organised by two Gulf countries", and had ties to the US and Israel.

Source : BBC

The currency depreciation in the face of the US Dollar is not a phenomenon particular to Sri Lanka, but common in many countries in South and East Asia. Therefore, it is very unfair to interpret this tendency as a fault of the Government, SLMC Leader and City Planning and Water Supply Minister Rauff Hakeem said.

He said the currency depreciation rate is much higher in countries such as, India and Indonesia than in Sri Lanka. Minister Hakeem said so after participating in a ceremony held at the Badi-ud-Din Mahmud Vidyalaya in Kandy on September 22.

Minister Hakeem said the only way we could arrest this tendency is by increasing foreign investments and boosting exports. He said increased purchase of imported goods may also jack up prices.

“As such, there was no cause for anxiety thinking that the rupee depreciation was a problem endemic to our country only,” Minister Hakeem said.

He said the economic policies of U.S. President Donald Trump had caused this situation. “America’s economic war with China and the European Union had caused the currency depreciation in several countries,” Minister Hakeem said.

He said the present IGP is an efficient and talented officer but the manner in which he expressed his ideas had caused some problems.

“A government should bring in a new Constitution within its first year in office. Prolonging it had caused objections. In this situation no one could expect the 20th Amendment to succeed,” he said.

Source : Daily News

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday appointed eight new Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) electoral organisers by removing the electoral organisers who failed to support the party’s reorganisation drive, SLFP General Secretary Prof. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa said.

Prof. Piyadasa added that eight SLFP organisers representing the SLFP 15 Group, lost their organiser posts as they had failed to support the party’s reorganising drive by establishing electoral organisations in their respective areas.

He said that new organisers were appointed to five districts including Ratnapura, Kurunegala and Colombo.

They received their appointment letters from the President last evening.

Piyadasa added that electoral organisers should actively get involved in the Party’s reorganising process. “Establishing electoral organisations (Pradeshiya Balamandala) at electoral level is a part of this reorganising process and all electoral organisers should extend their fullest cooperation to the party reorganisation drive to achieve success. Eight Parliamentarians representing the 15 Group were expelled from the post of organisers for failing to form Pradeshiya Balamandalaya (Electoral Organisations) as part of the reorganisation drive.

Therefore, Parliamentarians Susil Premajayantha, W.D.J Seneviratne, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, Chandima Weerakkodi and three others lost their electoral organiser posts. “So far, more than 150 SLFP Pradeshiya Balamandala have been established countrywide. Establishing Pradeshiya Balamandala is important so as to strengthen the party and to go to the next elections” he added.

When asked whether the SLFP hopes to go to the next elections by forming a broad alliance with the United National Party (UNP), Piyadasa said that such a decision has not been taken as yet.

The party is being strengthened to face the forthcoming elections, including the Provincial Council Elections to be held in January.