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The Office on Missing Persons (OMP) which commenced its outreach program with a meeting in Mannar on May 12th, will hold its next regional meeting in Matara on Saturday May 19th. 

The seven commissioners of the OMP met with families of the missing and disappeared, civil society organisations and activists working on the issue of disappearances and the media in order to share the OMP’s organizational plan and strategies, as well as to hear public views and incorporate suggestions on OMP measures in the future. The meeting in Matara will be held at the District Secretariat. 

Chairperson of the Office of Missing Persons, Presidnet's Counsel Saliya Pieris said that they will first meet with families of the disappeared first to be followed by meetings with the civil society organisations working on the disappearances and media.

Sri Lankan and U.S. surgeons conducted the first ever robot-assisted surgery aboard the USNS Mercy, The US Embassy in Sri Lanka said.  The joint team of multinational surgeons and medical professionals successfully completed a cholecystectomy, or gall bladder removal, on a Sri Lankan citizen using a Da Vinci XI Robot Surgical System.

“This landmark surgery advances the boundaries of what is possible through collaboration, skill, and technology,” said U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Atul Keshap.  “We are proud to partner with Sri Lankan medical professionals on this ground-breaking achievement for the international medical field.”

“This was the first time I have ever operated aboard a ship,” said Dr. Vyramuthu Varanitharan, a general surgeon at Base Hospital Mutur.  “It is very stable and doesn’t move around.  It felt as if I was doing surgery in an operating room in a hospital.  It was a fantastic experience to have been able to do surgery on a hospital ship and it is something my team and I will never forget.”



Cmdr. Tamara Worlton (right), a surgeon assigned to Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy and Dr. Vyramuthu Varanitharan (left), a Sri Lankan general surgeon at Base Hospital Mutur, discuss robotic surgery techniques during the first robot-assisted surgery.

Intensive planning and preparation resulted in a smooth and routine surgery.  After the successful completion of the surgery, the patient transferred to the Mercy’s post-anesthesia care unit to recover and was later discharged from the ship in excellent condition for routine post-operative follow up care by Dr. Varanitharan. 

Surgical staff assigned to Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy and the Sri Lankan surgical team from Base Hospital Mutur perform the first robot-assisted surgery on a patient while aboard the Mercy using the Da Vinci XI Robot Surgical System. 

Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multilateral disaster response preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific.  This year’s mission includes military and civilian personnel from Sri Lanka, the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, France, Peru, and Japan.  Pacific Partnership 2018 consists of more than 800 U.S. and partner nation military and civilian personnel working side-by-side with host nation counterparts to better prepare for potential humanitarian aid and disaster response situations.

Hundreds of Sri Lanka's wild elephants now scavage at rubbish dumps, risking their health due to plastic scraps mixed with rotting food.

At a garbage dump in central Sri Lanka a herd of wild elephants forage among a mountain of rubbish, swallowing dangerous scraps of plastic mixed with rotting food in what experts warn is an increasing problem for the revered animals.

Due to illegal dumping near wildlife sanctuaries, hundreds of Sri Lanka's estimated 7,500 wild elephants now scavenge at rubbish tips and many are being made sick by what they eat, Jayantha Jayewardene, an expert on Asian elephants, said.

"Sri Lanka considers elephants to be a national treasure, but we see these animals reduced to eating rubbish," Jayewardene told AFP Thursday.

"They have become docile and got so used to tractors bringing them garbage."

A herd of 20 wild elephants at Habarana in the east of Sri Lanka has become totally dependent on rubbish and behaved almost like domestic animals waiting for tractors to tip the garbage.

Some wild elephants have become accustomed to scavanging in rubbish dumps instead of foraging in the jungle  

"These elephants no longer forage in the jungle. They are like zoo animals. It is a sad sight to see national treasures picking through rotting rubbish," he said.

The animals can be seen covered in smelly garbage and rooting among piles of plastic bottles, a far cry from the majestic jumbos portrayed in travel brochures.

Jayewardene said the solid waste included plastic scraps despite a government ban on non-biodegradable polythene. Hundreds of elephants elsewhere are also known to forage at dozens of rubbish tips near elephant habitats.

"Elephants are getting sick by eating plastics," he said. "We don't, however, have post mortem evidence yet of polythene causing deaths, but this is a real concern."

The government last year banned the open dumping of garbage near wildlife sanctuaries to discourage elephants from risking their lives by foraging for rotting food.

Electric fences have not stopped elephants from searching rubbish dumps for food. 

At one dump in Digampathana, 160 kilometres (100 miles) northeast of Colombo, an elephant was recently seen trying to open a plastic sack to get at an onion and ended up swallowing the plastic as well.

The government has ordered electric fences be erected around more than 50 dumps near elephant habitats to keep the roaming beasts away. Some have not been put up while others are ineffective, according to local residents.

"Around 300 wild elephants are hanging around them (dumps)," the government said in a statement issued last year. "When elephants consume bacteria-infested waste... it shortens their lifespan."


Prosecutions been threatened for illegal dumping but enforcement remains a problem.

The problem is worse for a herd of spotted deer at Koneswaran in the northeastern district of Trincomalee where frequent deaths have been reported due to plastic poisoning.

Local wildlife officials told AFP that there was no effective enforcement of the garbage ban.

Sri Lanka cracked down on haphazard disposal of garbage after 33 people were buried alive when a huge 90-metre (300-foot) rubbish tip at the edge of the capital Colombo collapsed destroying more than 100 homes.

Since then, plastics have been banned and prosecutions been threatened for illegal dumping. But enforcement remains a problem.

Elephants are venerated in Buddhism, the majority religion in Sri Lanka, and are protected by law.

Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Cheng Xueyuan met Prime Minister Ranil Wickeremesinghe yesterday to inform that the Chinese Government has approved USD 1 billion for phase I of the Central Expressway construction. Ambassador Cheng said that instructions have been given to Chinese EXIM bank to process the loan and requested the Sri Lankan side to expedite administrative and legal formalities. 

The Chinese ambassador also discussed Hambantota port project and Colombo Port City project. With regard to Hambantota Port, Chinese ambassador mentioned that they encourage investors to set up factories for producing high end products. The ambassador said once started the two projects will become the engine of growth for Sri Lanka.

The Chinese ambassador also requested to expedite the negotiations for signing of Chinese free trade agreement.

Minister of Finance and Media Mangala Samaraweera has instructed State media heads to send non-performing officials in their respective organisations to a ‘Siberia’ within the organisation while commencing their work with talented individuals. 

The Minister made these comments at an event held to hand over appointments to several new State media institutions. He was also quoted as saying that despite holding the Media portfolio several times before, the current tenure as the Minister in charge of media under the Yahapalana government has been the most challenging one yet.

Managing media under the Yahapalana government a challenge 

According to him, with two ideologically different parties now heading the government, holding the portfolio of Media Minister has been a tough challenge as it must be controlled in a manner where no party is treated unfairly. The Minister called on the heads to act in the same manner going forward. 

He also said that despite some Ministers accusing State media for not promoting the government's work, they should not proceed to violate media ethics or whitewash the government. Samaraweera said that State media should not be a 'mouthpiece' for the government as seen during the Rajapksa regime where blatant disregard to media ethics was rampant.

Send non performing staff to Siberia

Samaraweera asked the new media heads to send non performing officials to Siberia just like the Soviets once practiced with non performing officials. Furthermore, he reiterated the need to work with talented and dedicated individuals. 

News and current affairs heads warned! 

Samaraweera also said that he cannot be satisfied with the news and current affairs divisions of the channels over the last three years. He said these failures must be addressed while asking for a report to be submitted regarding the action to be taken on under-performing divisions. 

The list of new State media heads are as follows : 

Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation:

1. Chairperson             - Inoka Keerthinanda
2. Working Director -  Nawaz Mohammed 
3. Director                - Saranga Wijeratne 

Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation:

1. Chairman - Siddhi Farook 
2. Working Director        -  Dr. M.J.R David 
3. Director                      - Naveen Shanaka
4. Director                       - Mahishini Colonne 
5. Director                        - Saman Muthukumarana

Independent Television Network  :

1.  Chairperson  - Thilaka Jayasundara
2. Working Director - Wimal Katipearachchi
3. Director          - Nalin Aponsu 
4. Director                     - Methsiri Paranavithana
5. Director                      -Selyna Peiris 
6. Director                     - Subash Pinnapola 

Selacine Television Institute :

1. Chairperson            - Uma Rajamanthri 
2. Director               - Thushara Wanniarachchi 
3. Director                 - Yureka Welaratne

Minister Mahinda Samaraweera taking over as the new Minister of Agriculture has appointed new chairmen to three government agencies operating under the Ministry. 

Accordingly, Attorney at Law Upali Mohotti has been appointed as the chairman of the National Food Promotion Board (NFPB). He was the former Chairman of the National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA).  

Meanwhile a former Ministry Secretary, Amaranath Abeygunasekara has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Ceylon Fertilizer Company. 

Also, the former Chairman of Ceynor, of the Department of Fisheries Jagath Perera has been now appointed as the Chairman of the Colombo Commercial Fertilizer Company.

President Maithripala Sirisena advised the National Economic Council (NEC) to hold a special one-day workshop on the government’s comprehensive economic development plan for Ministers, Members of Parliament representing the government, Ministry secretaries and Central Bank and Treasury officials.

He said such a workshop will be helpful to make them aware of the plans and also to obtain their views and suggestions.

The President suggested this at the NEC meeting, chaired by him, at the Presidential Secretariat on Tuesday, where the National Economic Programme, comprising long term, short term as well as structural reform strategies was taken up for discussion.

Minister of Finance and Mass Media Mangala Samaraweera today appointed new heads for three new state media institutions.

Accordingly Film Director, Inoka Sathyangani has been appointed as chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation while Ministry additional secretary Thilaka Jayasundara has been appointed as the Chairman of the Independent Television Network. 

Meanwhile, Uma Rajamanthri has been appointed as chairman of the Selacine Television Institute. 

However, Mohamed Farook will continue to be chairman of the SLBC with no change in the post imminent.

Minister of Finance and Media Mangala Samaraweera said that the United National Party should immediately announce UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa as the party’s candidate for the post of Prime Minister at the next presidential election.

Samaraweera called for this at the UNP politburo meeting held yesterday (15). The Minister emphasised the importance of announcing Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sajith Premadasa as the UNP candidates for the post of President and Prime Minister respectively and stressed on the need to launch a major promotional campaign across the island.

While noting that he has severely criticised Sajith Premadasa in the past over discrepancies with regard to policy, Samaraweera underscored the need to capitalise on Sajith’s immense popularity among the rural population to help secure UNP’s victory.

To further the defence cooperation between the 2 countries and discuss issues of bilateral relevance, Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army, General Bipin Rawat arrived in Sri Lanka Sunday (13) afternoon on a seven-day long official visit at the invitation of his Sri Lankan counterpart, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake.

Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Army, together with Mrs Chandrika Senanayake, President, Army Seva Vanitha Unit (ASVU) were at the venue to extend a warm welcome to the visiting India’s Army Chief, General Bipin Rawat and his spouse, Mrs Madhulika Rawat.

General Bipin Rawat began his first-day itinerary by saluting memories of fallen Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) War Heroes at the Battaramulla IPKF monument this morning (14).

At the IPKF memorial premises, Major General Ajith Kariyakarawana, Deputy Chief of Staff received the visiting Indian Army Chief as the troops of the Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police, remained vigil to kick off the proceedings after inviting the day’s chief guest to the special dais.
 
Amid honours presented by troops of the Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police, General Bipin Rawat walked to the memorial and solemnly placed a floral wreath and saluted his fellow-Indian soldiers who had laid their lives in Sri Lanka’s fight against terrorism.

Source : Sri Lanka Army

Former Parliamentarian Anuruddha Polgampola was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) over his alleged involvement in the fraud of LKR 8 million. The CID said that he was arrested yesterday (15) based on a warrant issued for failure to present himself for a case filed over financial fraud.

Anuruddha Polgampola was recently appointed as the Chairman of the State Timber Corporation (STC) by President Maithripala Sirisena but his appointment was suspended due to allegations of corruption.

President Maithripala Sirisena who is on a two day state visit to Iran met with President Hassan Rouhani yesterday (13), in Tehran. During bilateral discussions, Presidents Rouhani and Sirisena reviewed long standing bilateral relations in political, trade, economic and socio-cultural spheres.

President Sirisena expressing his views said that Sri Lanka expects the Iranian government's assistance in the development of Sri Lanka and agreed to enhance mutual cooperation in the fields of oil, tea and tourism.

“Sri Lanka welcomes and supports the presence of Iranian investors,” he said, adding that Tehran and Colombo can boost ties in various fields including energy, tourism, transportation, banking, power transfer and construction of oil refineries. 

Iranian President stated that under the Joint Commission for Economic and Technical Cooperation, bilateral trade between the two countries will continue in the future in a stronger manner.

Both leaders also agreed to continue with the agreement signed in 2004 with the objective of further enhancing economic and trade ties.

5 MoUs signed

Following bilateral discussions, President Sirisena and his Iranian counterpart witnessed the signing of five MoUs with a view to enhancing bilateral cooperation.
1. Health, Medical Science, Pharmaceutical and Medical Equipment: 
2. Metrology, and Training.
3. Combating illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs. 
4. Cinema and Television
5. Culture, Science and Technology