News

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

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.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe, on his maiden official visit to India after assuming Presidency, conveyed a resolute commitment to strengthen the bilateral ties between India and Sri Lanka.

Addressing an esteemed gathering that included Prime Minister Narendra Modi and dignitaries from both countries, President Wickremesinghe expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality extended during his visit and underscored the significance of this diplomatic mission.

Emphasizing the remarkable progress witnessed under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership in India, the President commended the strides made in economic, infrastructure, and technological domains. He highlighted that India’s growth serves as a positive force for the entire region, including the Indian Ocean region.

In return, the President briefed Prime Minister Modi about the challenges faced by Sri Lanka in the past year and the extensive reform measures implemented to overcome them. He expressed profound appreciation for the solidarity and support extended by India during Sri Lanka’s trying times.

During their discussions, the President outlined his vision for economic recovery and sustainable growth in Sri Lanka. He shared comprehensive proposals for reconciliation, power-sharing through devolution, and the Northern development plan, inviting all party leaders to work towards consensus and national unity.

Furthermore, both leaders emphasized the significance of enhanced connectivity between the two nations to foster economic partnership.

They recognized the deep-rooted historical, cultural, and commercial ties and believed that the present moment presented an opportune time to embark on a joint vision for the future.

Both leaders expressed optimism that the discussions held would pave the way for a prosperous and secure future for the people of India and Sri Lanka.

The joint vision forged during this momentous occasion is set to reinforce trust, strengthen geographical and civilizational links, and propel the Indo-Lanka relationship to new heights for the next 25 years.

Following is the statement delivered by President Ranil Wickremesinghe during the official visit to India;

“I am honoured to be in New Delhi at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is my first visit to India since assuming office as President last year and it is a visit to which myself and my government attach the highest importance.

I thank the PM Modi and the Government of India for the hospitality extended to me and to my delegation.

This morning PM Modi and I had the occasion to review at length recent developments in our countries as well as in our bilateral relations. I have congratulated PM Modi on the great strides India continues to make under his leadership in economic, infrastructure and technological progress in ensuring growth and prosperity for the people of India. We believe that India’s growth will be beneficial to the neighbourhood and Indian Ocean region.

I have also apprised with Prime Minister Modi of the extraordinary challenges that Sri Lanka had experienced in economic, social and political terms in the past year, and of the reform measures I have spearheaded on a number of fronts, in overcoming these challenges.

I have conveyed to PM Modi and to the government and people of India our profound appreciation for the solidarity and support rendered to Sri Lanka in what was undoubtedly the most challenging period in our recent history.

Friends,

In reviewing recent developments in Sri Lanka, I shared with Prime Minister Modi my commitment to bring about economic recovery leading to sustainable and stable growth with justice and equity which will benefit all segments of Sri Lankan society in all parts of the country.

In moving forward, I have explained that I have set Sri Lanka firmly on a path of economic reform and that Sri Lanka is already witnessing the stabilizing outcomes of these measures and the revival of confidence internally and externally in the progress of the country.

I also shared with him the comprehensive proposal I presented this week for furthering reconciliation, power sharing through devolution and the multiple elements of the Northern development plan. I have invited all party leaders in Parliament to work towards consensus and national unity on these measures. Thereafter the Government will place the relevant legislation before Parliament.

Prime Minister Modi has expressed his solidarity and goodwill in these endeavours.

Friends, We now need to put our economy on a growth path bringing greater revenue for the country, which requires enhanced investment in all parts of the country.

As a supportive and solid foundation for the realization of these objectives, we have agreed on a Joint Vision of the future India -Sri Lanka economic partnership through enhanced connectivity.

Today, in this 75th year of our bilateral diplomatic relations, our Vision will propel us towards a more secure future through mutually beneficial interactions, to bring tangible benefits and greater opportunities for our future generations in the coming decades.

The foundations of our joint vision of greater future connectivity have already been laid through millennia-old civilizational, cultural, human and commercial interactions between our two countries.

The thread of connectivity is woven through our history.

In our view, the present time is a most opportune moment to embark on such a vision for the future.

We recognized that modern-day connectivity plays a crucial role in realizing our vision of economic partnership. The recent recommencement of Chennai and Jaffna air services is an important step towards air connectivity. We believe that expansion of aviation connectivity to other destinations and further development of Palaly airport will complement this initiative.

Ferry services between Talaimannar-Rameswaram and Nagapattinam-Kankesanthurai will add more impetus to sea travel between the two countries. Examining other forms of connectivity between Sri Lanka and India could become a further catalyst to boost economic growth.

We agreed that the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement between Sri Lanka and India is critical to enhance bilateral trade and investment in new and priority areas. Sri Lanka is pleased to welcome Indian assistance in digital tech driven service delivery and citizen centric services.

We agreed that enhanced connectivity will also a play a crucial role in strengthening our cooperation in tourism, people-to-people exchanges and cultural relations. The tourism industry in Sri Lanka is poised to reap the benefits of the post-pandemic world and India is currently the top market for inbound tourism for Sri Lanka. Enabling UPI based digital payments in Sri Lanka would immensely facilitate further growth in this and other sectors.

In keeping with Sri Lanka’s national priorities and global commitments towards a greener economy, and also to ensure energy security, Sri Lanka sees valuable opportunities in partnering with India in green and renewable energy development.

In this context, I am pleased to note the conclusion of the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy. Establishing the high-capacity power grid interconnection between Sri Lanka and India would enable two-way electricity trade between the two countries.

The development of Trincomalee as an energy hub with the support of India is a crucial step towards Sri Lanka’s goal to elevate Trincomalee as a hub for industry and other economic activities. Prime Minister Modi and I believe that the construction of a multi-product petroleum pipeline from Southern part of India to Sri Lanka will ensure an affordable and reliable supply of energy resources to Sri Lanka.

We also discussed how to improve our cooperation in the dairy and animal husbandry sectors to realize our common interest in achieving greater socio-economic development, and enhance the nutrition status of our people.

Cooperation in the education sector is one of the key elements in our bilateral relationship. We believe that establishing new higher education institutes with the assistance from India is important. This will contribute towards upgrading the knowledge and skills of our youth and include them in the nation’s development drive.

I believe that my visit to India has provided an opportunity to review our bilateral relationship, leverage the strength of geographical and civilizational links, and reinforce trust and confidence for our future prosperity in the modern world. I am confident that the discussions we had today will lay the foundation for the next 25 years of Indo-Lanka relations and contribute to my vision for sustainable growth national unity and reconciliation for all segments of the people of Sri Lanka and for a prosperous and secure future for the people of India and Sri Lanka.”

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.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe called on the President of India, Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday (21).

Welcoming President Wickremesinghe to India, the Indian President said that Sri Lanka occupies a special place in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ Policy and SAGAR (Security and Growth of All in the Region) Vision.

She emphasized that India has always stood with Sri Lanka during its hour of need and would continue to do so in future as well.

The two leaders noted that India and Sri Lanka are working on many key projects in several sectors, and that India-Sri Lanka development partnership has touched the lives of Sri Lankans in a positive way.

The Indian President said that India looks forward to continuing and strengthening its developmental partnership with Sri Lanka under the leadership of President Wickremesinghe.

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;

The Central Bank Bill, which is among the goals given according to the agreement made with the International Monetary Fund, was passed in Parliament on Thursday (20).

The bill was considered to be one of the most serious pieces of legislation introduced to the Sri Lankan Parliament in recent times, however, 113 Sri Lankan legislators from the ruling faction and the opposition were not present in the house during the second reading vote. The bill was passed without a vote in the third reading.

The Second Reading of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Bill was passed by a majority of 42 votes in Parliament during the second reading.

66 votes were cast in favor, while only 24 votes were cast against it.

113 MPs including Mahinda Rajapaksa, Namal Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, Sajith Premadasa, G. L. Peiris, Venerable Athuraliye Rathana Thero, M. A. Sumanthiran, Gajendrankuram Ponnambalam, Champika Ranawaka, Jeevan Thondaman representing the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, Samagi Jana Balavegaya, and the Tamil National Alliance were not present in the chamber for the vote.

When the debate took place on Thursday (20) morning, opposition MPs requested more time to study the bill, citing that there were a plethora of amendments.

They called for a vote to take place later, after proceeding with a debate.

However, the speaker was compelled to ring the bell and summon MPs due to the lack of quorum, twice during the debate.

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

Restrictions imposed on imported goods will be further relaxed later today (July 20), State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says.

Thereby, import restrictions on 328 more items will be eased.

The lawmaker said the gazette notification announcing the import restriction relaxation would be published tonight.

The announcement comes a month after the government relaxed import restrictions on 300 other items including electronic equipment, sanitaryware and food items with effect from June 09.

However, import restrictions on vehicles are unlikely to be lifted anytime soon. Speaking on the matter last month, Siyambalapitiya had said vehicle imports could not be allowed yet under the existing economic conditions.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Customs recently raised concerns with the Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on National Economic & Physical Plans about reaching its target revenue as the task would prove difficult as long as the import restrictions on vehicles are in place.

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.

In a ground-breaking move, Chandani Wijewardena has been appointed as the Acting Presidential Secretary, marking the first time in Sri Lanka’s history that a woman has assumed this esteemed position, the President’s Media Division (PMD) says.

The appointment comes as President’s Secretary, Saman Ekanayake, accompanies the President on an official visit to India.

The decision was announced today (July 20) and will remain in effect until Ekanayake returns to the island.

Chandani Wijewardena, an accomplished senior civil servant, is currently serving as a Senior Additional Secretary to the President, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to her new role.

Her illustrious career spans back to 1994 when she joined the Sri Lanka Planning Service. Over the course of 22 years, Wijewardena has held various critical positions within the Treasury and ultimately rose to the position of Director General of the Planning Department.

Notably, Wijewardena has also held significant leadership roles in various ministries. From 2015 to 2019, she served as the Secretary to the Ministry of Development Strategy and International Trade, contributing her insights and skills to the nation’s economic development.

Wijewardena’s academic journey is equally impressive. After completing her secondary education at Galle Southland Girls’ College, she pursued her Master’s Degree at the University of Ruhuna. Additionally, she holds a postgraduate degree in Regional Economic Development from The Hague University in the Netherlands, showcasing her commitment to continuous learning and professional growth.

As Acting Presidential Secretary, Wijewardena is poised to bring her wealth of experience, strategic acumen, and dedication to the service of the President and the nation. Her appointment represents a significant milestone for gender equality and serves as an inspiration for women across the country.

--PMD