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Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe accompanied by his wife Prof. Maithree Wickremesinghe and SL Ambassador Saroja Sirisena paid their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Hall, London.

The Core Group on Sri Lanka is planning to present a draft resolution to the 51st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) seeking the promotion of reconciliation, accountability and human rights on the island nation.

The Core Group consists of the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, Canada, Malawi, North Macedonia and Montenegro.

In its draft proposal, the Core Group has called upon the government of Sri Lanka to fulfil its commitments on the devolution of political authority, which is integral to reconciliation and the full enjoyment of human rights by all members of its population.

It also encouraged the Sri Lankan government to respect local governance, including through the holding of elections for provincial councils, and to ensure that all provincial councils, including the northern and eastern provincial councils, are able to operate effectively, in accordance with the thirteenth amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka.

The Core Group went on to underscore the importance of addressing the underlying governance factors and root causes which have contributed to this crisis including deepening militarization, lack of accountability in governance and impunity for serious human rights violations and abuses.

However, the Core Group expressed concerns at the human rights impacts of the economic crisis, including as result of increased food insecurity, severe shortages in fuel, shortages in essential medicines and reductions in household incomes, while stressing the need to promote and protect the rights of the most marginalized and disadvantaged individuals, including daily wage earners, children, older persons, and persons with disabilities.

It also raised concerns over other human rights developments since April 2022 including violence against and arrests of peaceful protestors, as well as violence against government supporters, resulting in deaths, injuries, destruction and damage to houses of members of Parliament and stresses the importance of independent investigations into all attacks and for those found responsible to be held to account.

The Core Group further noted that it remains concerned at continued militarization of civilian government functions; the erosion of the independence of the judiciary and key institutions responsible for the promotion and protection of human rights; lack of progress in addressing longstanding grievances and demands of Tamil and Muslim populations; surveillance, intimidation and harassment of journalists, human rights defenders, families of the disappeared and persons involved in memorialization initiatives, and sexual and gender-based violence.

Core Group on Sri Lanka - Draft Resolution for 51st UNHRC Session

The Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera says that every paddy farmer will be given a bundle of 50 kg of urea fertilizer for free in the upcoming harvest season.

He stated that the proposal received the President's approval.

Joining a small-scale agribusiness program held in Agunukolapalasse on Saturday (17), the Minister said that bundle will be provided to farmers with less than 2.5 acres of farmland.

Veteran Actress Damitha Abeyratne, a prominent voice of the people’s struggle against the government, who was arrested and remanded last week, has been granted bail.

Abeyratne was produced before the Court today and accordingly, she has been released on two sureties of Rs. 500,000 each.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe says that cricket team captain Dasun Shanaka and the team took advantage of their defeats and made themselves stronger to advance forward to the Asian Cup.

The President, speaking further, said that it is not difficult to lead the country towards victory in the face of the world if the team continues to think in the same way.

The President also pointed out that working together as a team helped them to win.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe was addressing the felictation ceremony held for the Sri Lankan athletes who won their respective Asia-level wins; the Cricket team and the team which won the Asian Netball Championship, in addition to the medalists of Commonwealth Games.

Meanwhile, at the request of Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe, Sri Lanka Cricket took steps to present Rs. 2 million to each player in the Netball team symbolizing its support towards the sport.

Sri Lanka won 4 medals in the 22nd Commonwealth Games held recently in Birmingham, Britain.

Palitha Bandara won the silver medal in the discus throw event in the para sports category, while Yupun Abeykoon won the 100m event, Nethmi Ahimsa Poruthota in the women's 57kg wrestling competition and Dilanka Isuru Kumara won the bronze medals in the weightlifting 55kg category.

The silver medalist was awarded Rs.10 million from the sports fund, each bronze medalist was awarded Rs. 05 million and their coaches were awarded 25% of the same value.

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A preliminary discussion was held on Monday (12) between the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Sri Lanka focusing on several areas where the ADB can provide support and bilateral cooperation to the Government of Sri Lanka to overcome the current crisis, said the President's Media Division.

The discussion was held at the President's Office in Colombo.

The discussion was held with a group of representatives including President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Director General of the South Asian Department of the Asian Development Bank Kenichi Yokoyama.

This discussion was attended by Chen Chen, Director of the Sri Lanka Mission, Utsav Kumar, Deputy Director of the Sri Lanka Mission, and Sagala Ratnayake, Chief of Staff to the President.

Gautam Adani became the world's second richest person today, but only for a brief period. The tycoon surpassed Amazon boss Jeff Bezos and Louis Vuitton's Bernard Arnault to grab the second spot with a net worth $154.7 billion, showed Forbes' real-time billionaires list, before he was pushed back to the third position by Arnault.

Elon Musk remains the richest person with a net worth of 273.5 billion.

Last month too, Mr Adani had overtaken Arnault to grab the third spot, but was behind Musk and Bezos. This time he overtook Bezos for a brief period.

With him occupying the second spot, Arnault was pushed to the third with his family's net worth falling to $153.5 billion as it slumped by $4.9 billion. He has reoccupied the position with his wealth totalling $152.8 billion though it fell further.

Mr Adani's wealth, meanwhile, slumped to $151.3 billion as his gains were slash to $1.1 billion from over $4 billion, and he settled at the third position.

Bezos stands fourth with a wealth of $149.7 that declined by $2.3 billion.

Mukesh Ambani, who heads the Reliance Industries Ltd, is at the eighth spot and is worth $92 billion.

Mr Adani, a first-generation entrepreneur, heads the Adani Group which comprises of seven publicly listed companies spanning infrastructure, mining, energy, and other sectors.

Over the past five years, Adani Enterprises has invested heavily in new growth sectors including airports, cement, copper refining, data centres, green hydrogen, petrochemical refining, roads and solar cell manufacturing.

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It also plans to foray into the telecom space and has massive plans to grow its green hydrogen and airports businesses.

Adani Group has also committed $70 billion for green energy infrastructure.

Sri Lanka claimed their sixth gold medal at the Asian Netball Championships, winning the latest edition against the hosts Singapore, while also booking their spot at the 2023 Netball World Cup.

Defending their title from 2018 - after the 2020 competition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic - Sri Lanka delivered against the four-time winners, with the score finishing 63-53.

It came after a slow start for the victors, who trailed Singapore after the first quarter, before pulling in front for the remainder of the game.

Both teams secured their places at the World Cup in Australia after making the final.

Well deserved victory amidst challenges faced under a crisis at home - President

President Ranil Wickremesinghe congratulated the unbeaten Sri Lankan Netball team that won the Asian Netball Championship 2022 by defeating the Singaporean team.

The President in his congratulatory message stated that this deserved victory could be achieved by the Sri Lankan Netball team due to the team and its leader's dedication and team spirit despite the challenges levelled by the difficulties under the crisis situation in the country.

He said further that the perseverance made by the netball team to attract the attention of all netball fans including those of the international sphere set an example to all the sportsmen and sportswomen.

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has approved 01-hour power cuts for the next 03 days.

PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said that the power cuts will be enforced from Saturday, the 17th of September to Monday, the 19th of September.

Thereby, Groups A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, and W will experience the power cuts from 6.00 pm – 9.00 pm during this period

The Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on Sunday announced a $60 million funding package for Sri Lanka while highlighting that assistance alone will not put an end to the country’s problems.

USAID chief Samantha Power said it would provide $40 million for fertilizer imports and $20 million for humanitarian needs to tackle the country’s financial crisis.

“I want to reiterate that the United States is right here standing with you in your hour of need,” she said during a press conference in Colombo on Sunday.

“Yesterday I announced that the United States is providing an additional USD 40 million to get fertilizer into the hands of as many as one million farmers ahead of the upcoming planting season. Crucial assistance that will meaningfully boost the country’s harvest production and yields.”

“Today I am pleased to announce an additional USD 20 million to provide humanitarian assistance to Sri Lankans battling hunger and malnutrition throughout the country.”

With these new announcements the United States has now committed nearly USD 240 million since June this year to meet the urgent needs of Sri Lankans, Power said. “Money that is being used today to get food to the most vulnerable, support meals for children in the country’s schools, help farmers plant new fields and make sure mothers and newborns are adequately nourished.”

“The United States has long stood with the people of Sri Lanka, Asia’s oldest democracy, and this latest assistance demonstrates that we will continue to do so,” she said.

However, the USAID chief emphasized that assistance alone will not put an end to this country’s woes.

“I stressed to the Sri Lankan President in my meeting earlier today that political reforms and political accountability must go hand in hand with the economic reforms and economic accountability.”

Sri Lanka’s vibrant civil society must have the space that they need to raise their voices and hold the government accountable, she stressed.

She said international investor confidence will increase as the government tackles corruption and proceeds with long sought governance reforms. “As citizens see the government visibly following through on the commitment to bring about meaningful change that in turn will increase societal support for the tough economic reforms ahead.”

Sakvithi Ranasinghe, who pleaded guilty to 11 charges of criminal breach of trust for maintaining an unauthorized financial institution and promising high interest rates, has been sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment for each charge suspended for five years.

When this case was called before Colombo High Court Judge Amal Ranaraja today (14), the charges related to the case were read in the open court.

Accordingly, Mr. Ranasinghe, a former popular English teacher, had informed the court that he pleads guilty to the related charges.

Accordingly, the High Court Judge, who sentenced him to two years of rigorous imprisonment for each charge, ordered that the sentence be suspended for 5 years.

In addition to that, the judge imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 for each charge and also ordered that in case of failure to pay the fines, he will be sentenced to 06 additional months of lenient imprisonment.

The High Court Judge also sentenced the wife of Sakvithi Ranasinghe to one of the charges leveled in this case and ordered it to be suspended for five years. In addition, she was fined Rs. 25,000.

The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Samantha Power has announced ad additional USD 40 million in development assistance to help farmers purchase fertilizer and other vital agricultural inputs.

Accompanied by a delegation of four, Power arrived in Sri Lanka this morning (Sep 10) for a two-day official visit.

She later engaged in a cordial discussion with farming communities in Ja-Ela area to talk about the issues faced by them.

Power is expected to call on Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe and political party leaders tomorrow (Sep 11) to discuss how to ride out Sri Lanka’s crisis situation.

According to reports, Power also expects to meet with representatives of the private sector in Sri Lanka.