News

The European Union (EU) has provided funding amounting to Euro 40 million to Sri Lanka for the implementation of Strengthening Transformation, Reconciliation and Inclusive Democratic Engagement (STRIDE) Project.

The agreement was signed between Finance Ministry Secretary Dr. R. H. S. Samaratunge and Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives for the Delegation of the European Union Tung Lai Margue.  

The Finance Ministry said in a statement that the project will be implemented in the Northern, Eastern, North Central and Uva provinces with the indirect management of the World Bank (WB), UNDP, and the British Council.

“In partnering with the World Bank (WB), the EU will allocate Euro 22.5 million from its grant funds of the STRIDE Project to the ‘Performance Grant Scheme’ of the “Local Development Support Project” which is financed by the World Bank (USD 70 million). Local Development Support Project aims to support development in war-affected and lagging provinces, improve coordination in local service delivery and promote economic opportunities, inclusiveness and social cohesion,” the statement said.

A national security strategy based on a sound national security policy (NSS/NSP) will be crafted to deal with specific security challenges, a senior defense ministry official said.

With the objective of providing continued and secured alternative communication network similar to the modern communication system existed between the tri forces, the Strategic Defence Communications Network consisting of 37 microwave links connecting 22 terminal points in the island wide had been planned to complete under the mid-term expenditure framework implemented during the period from 2014 to 2016 .

However, the term of the project had been extended up to 2018. Further, the initial estimated cost of Rs 1,192 million had been revised as Rs 1,854 million without obtaining the approval from relevant parties.

It was observed that 22 electricity generators including generators procured and installed at a cost of Rs.15.7 million in 2016 and other 12 generators procured at a cost of Rs 10.8 million in 2017 had remained idle at the premises without being utilized for intended purposes with the guarantee periods also expiring, an audit inspection revealed.

Rajapaksa has yesterday (7) posted an image on his official Facebook account of him greeting Premadasa at the National Elections Commission after handing nominations.

“Meeting and greeting Mr. Sajith Premadasa, the UNP presidential candidate today at the Elections Office endorses my genuine belief that; contenders can and do disagree on principles and policies but still remain respectful of one another. Ultimately, it’s the People and the Nation who must be victorious,” Rajapaksa has said in the Facebook post.

He said the cost has increased due the record number of candidates who have come forward to contest the presidential elections.

A total of 35 candidates have handed over nomination papers for the presidential elections, the Elections Commission announced.

Rajapaksa said, “We will give free fertiliser for all farmers and write off the loans they have obtained. On the very next day of becoming president, we will exonerate all military men who had been sent to jail after having been charged with false accusations. We will also create a pension fund for all civil defence force personnel who had served over 20 years.”

He said he was often accused of being a ‘military karaya’ or ‘hamuda karaya’ by his political opponents. “We ended the era where military men were called hamuda karaya. At the same time, I would like to remind that it was this militaray karaya who helped spearhead the war against the LTTE and defeat it. This militaray karaya brought peace to the country,” he said.

While thanking the SLFP for pledging their support to him, Rajapaksa said the SLFP had never turned their back on the Rajapaksas.

“With all of your support, we will win the election. We aspire to create a safe, disciplined, worry-free and a prosperous nation,” he said.

Meanwhile, it has been noted by several civil society activists that most of the military personnel currently custody are facing criminal charges.

Military personnel have been implicated in cases of abductions, assaults, disappearances as well as murders of persons during the previous Rajapaksa regime.

The district based rallies in support of Sajith Premadasa will begin on the 13th, a front line organiser of the campaign said.

Over 200,000 UNP supporters from all corners of the island are expected to attend the inaugural rally of Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa. "We expect to pack the Galle Face Green that would be a clear indication that he is the first choice of the people.

Security has also been beefed up with the deployment of hundreds of policemen to prevent any unruly incidents.