The International Monetary Fund said on Thursday (16), that Sri Lanka’s overall program performance, has been strong.

Julie Kozack, Director of Communications at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) speaking to reporters in Washington D.C., said that the completion of the review by the IMF Executive Board requires two critical components.

“First, the implementation by Sri Lankan authorities of the agreed prior actions. Second, the completion of the financing assurances review. This review will confirm contributions from multilateral partners and assess adequate progress in debt restructuring,” she said in reponse to question raised by News 1st’s Zulfick Farzan.

Kozack noted that Sri Lanka’s macroeconomic policies are beginning to yield positive results.

She said that commendable outcomes include a rapid decline in inflation, robust reserve accumulation, and initial signs of economic growth, all while maintaining stability in the financial system

Looking ahead, Kozack outlined the next steps for Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring efforts, noting that the primary focus now is to conclude negotiations with external private creditors and to implement the agreements in principle with Sri Lanka’s official creditors.

She noted the challenges in reaching a consensus with external bondholders, stating, that the initial debt restructuring negotiations with external bondholders ended in mid-April without an agreement.

However, she said that discussions are ongoing with the aim of reaching an agreement in principle.

A British town’s new mayor is a refugee from Sri Lanka who will be the first Hindu to hold the position.

Labour councillor Elango Elavalakan has taken over the ceremonial role after a unanimous vote at Ipswich Borough Council’s annual meeting.

“I’m so happy today, and very proud to be mayor of this great town,” said Mr Elavalakan.

Council leader Neil MacDonald, who proposed the nomination, said Mr Elavalakan would get to read out a general election result during his year in office.

“The announcement by a refugee who fled war and persecution, and who has made a new life and contributed to society here, will send a message,” he said.

Members of Ipswich’s Hindu community attended Wednesday evening’s ceremony, with celebrations at the nearby temple planned for later in the week.

Dr Sachin Karale, chair of Ipswich Hindu Samaj, said: “It shows the great diversity and multiculturalism of Ipswich town that a Hindu man is becoming mayor. I’m really proud.”

Mr Elavalakan’s wife, Manchula Elavalakan, will be his consort.

The mayor’s theme for the year will be “support and wellbeing” with his two chosen charities Genesis Orwell Mencap and Cancer Support Suffolk.

‘Ipswich is my home town’

Having left Sri Lanka, Mr Elavalakan lived and worked in India, Uganda and Rwanda before moving to the UK.

He initially moved to Ilford in east London, before moving to Ipswich in 2006.

“When I came for one project here, in Ipswich, I felt the people were very friendly,” he said.

“So I decided, Ipswich is my home town.”

He became a Labour councillor for St John’s ward in 2014.

“Having lived in many different countries and experienced many different lifestyles, I have always been interested in helping those that need it,” he said.

“I am passionate about empowering communities and representing those in need.”

Mr Elavalakan is not the first Ipswich mayor from the Indian sub-continent, however.

Kavas Jamas Bashah was born in Mumbai and was a senior officer of the Indian Civil Service.

He retired to Ipswich and became mayor in 1925.

The town elected its first mayor, Benjamin Brame, in 1836 following the Municipal Corporations Act the previous year which reformed local government and made Ipswich a municipal borough.

Its first female mayor was Mary Whitmore, in 1946.

She was a suffragette and member of Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), and was made MBE in 1951 for her contribution to public services.

Albert Grant became Ipswich’s first black councillor and mayor of Ipswich in 1995.

He moved to the UK in 1955 at the age of 21 and has dedicated his life to tackling racism and fighting to secure equality and justice.

He was awarded an OBE in 2000 for his services to ethnic minorities and in 2021 received an honorary degree from the University of Suffolk.

Source: BBC News

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) in a letter to the Attorney General this week has stressed that it is imperative that an independent and impartial criminal investigation be launched into the alleged enforced disappearance of Gonapinuwala Kapila Kumara De Silva, a resident of Horowpathana, Anuradhapura in March 2024.

The HRCSL urged the Attorney General to review the evidence and allegations and decide whether a separate criminal inquiry should be initiated by the Sri Lanka Police under the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance Act, based on the Attorney General’s counsel.

The HRCSL observed that De Silva was reported missing on 27 March 2024. According to De Silva’s account, he was allegedly abducted by a group in civilian attire in a white van who identified themselves as law enforcement officers.

“He alleged that the persons who took him into custody interrogated him for several days in relation to a shooting incident. He alleged that his interrogators assaulted him and that, on one occasion, informed him that he would be executed. He claimed that he had informed the interrogators that he was not involved in the said incident,” the HRCSL said.

The HRCSL reported that it had contacted the Special Task Force (STF) to ascertain if De Silva was in their custody, as his family suspected. It said however, the STF denied having arrested him and said that De Silva was a suspect in a shooting incident and was wanted by the STF, but he was currently evading capture.

The HRCSL said it found on 22 April that De Silva was in the custody of the Pitigala Police and had been presented to court before being remanded. According to the victim, the HRCSL said he was handed over to the Pitigala Police on 20 April by those who abducted him.

The HRCSL told the Attorney General it is of the view that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the key elements of the offence of ‘enforced disappearance’ according to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance Act may have been satisfied in De Silva’s case.

“The HRCSL accordingly urges you to consider providing the requisite advice to Sri Lanka Police to initiate such a criminal investigation into the possible enforced disappearance of de Silva. We also urge you to consider, if applicable, the initiation of proceedings before the High Court under and in terms of the Act,” it said.

Sri Lanka will dispatch a high-level delegation to Russia to investigate the fate of hundreds of nationals reportedly fighting in the war in Ukraine, a top official said on Thursday.

Social media campaigns via WhatsApp have targeted ex-military personnel with promises of lucrative salaries and promises of citizenship, the Defence Ministry has said, warning its nationals not to be duped.

The messages, sent by Sri Lankan nationals, provide a number to agents, who then arrange the documentation and the flights.

The campaigns have proved appealing as Sri Lanka struggles to emerge from its worst financial crisis in more than seven decades, which has doubled poverty rates from pre-pandemic levels and pushed hundreds of people to migrate.

Earlier this month, Sri Lankan authorities launched investigations into reports of its citizens, mostly with military training, being trafficked to fight in the war in Ukraine, said State Minister for Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya.

“The primary challenge lies in determining the exact number of individuals in Russia. As per unofficial sources, approximately 600-800 Sri Lankan individuals are in Russia,” he told reporters.

Russia’s embassy in Colombo did not immediately reply to a request for comment and in the past Moscow has not responded to repeated requests from Reuters on this issue.

Sri Lanka’s authorities have received 288 complaints from family members of nationals who had left illegally to fight in Ukraine and have arrested seven people, including a retired major general, linked to the human trafficking, according to the island nation’s defence ministry.

At least 16 retired military personnel have died in Ukraine, the ministry said.

Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne, and a former ambassador to Russia will be among the delegates who will leave for Russia shortly, Balasuriya said.

In 2009, Sri Lanka ended a 26-year civil war between separatist Tamil insurgents and government forces. After the conflict many Sri Lankan military personnel retired from active service.

Source: REUTERS

The 39th anniversary of the Kumuthini boat massacre was solemnly observed on Delft island today, as people gathered to remember the 36 Tamils who were killed by Sri Lankan naval officers.

On May 15 1985, six plain-clothed Navy officers boarded the boat and pointed a gun at passengers before ordering them to come up to the main deck one by one and shout their name and destination. Each passenger was then hacked to death.

The commemoration took place at a monument on Delft island that is dedicated to the victims.

Religious observances were held at the St. Xavier Church and Veerapathra Pillaiyar Kovil, offering prayers and seeking solace for the souls of the departed. Relatives of the victims, along with religious leaders and members of the general public, laid flowers at a memorial dedicated to the victims who were murdered.

Sri Lanka’s defence ministry has so far received 280 complaints from family members of citizens who have been recruited to fight in the Russia-Ukraine warfront by mercenary companies, State Minister of Defense, Premitha Bandara Tennakoon said.

So far 16 persons have been confirmed dead, he told reporters in Colombo.

Sri Lanka’s Defence Ministry set up a hotline for family to members to lodge complaints after a few returnees exposed the deadly conditions facing mostly ex-soldiers who left to fight mainly for Russia.

No bodies recovered

Sri Lanka authorities have confirmed that 16 persons have died, Minister Tennakoon said.

But there was no information on their remains.

Local media reports quoting returnees and social media messages from Sri Lankans fighting in the Russia-Ukraine front said many more were dead from Ukrainian drone attacks.

On Tuesday a group of family members came to the Russian embassy in Colombo.

Sri Lanka’s Derana Television interviewed a woman who said her husband, who had served in the commando regiment had left for Russia on March 05 and last sent her message on March 29 his phone was taken away, and that completed a training course on March 28.

He had promised to call back in ‘a day or two’ but she had not heard from him since.

Another former commando, had later messaged a friend saying that her husband, Vishnu had died in a drone attack and pass the message to her her.

“Vishnu died on April 18,” the friend said according to the message broadcast on Derana Television. “A whole set, a boy called Silva from Galle who came with me, a Special Forces soldier called Chathura and Priyantha from Matara died.”

“A suicide drone hit their amoured car. Only Ratnayake was left.”

“No bodies are recovered. Their bodies are not brought, our bodies are also not brought.”

ECONOMYNEXT- Sri Lanka’s defence ministry has so far received 280 complaints from family members of citizens who have been recruited to fight in the Russia-Ukraine warfront by mercenary companies, State Minister of Defense, Premitha Bandara Tennakoon said.

So far 16 persons have been confirmed dead, he told reporters in Colombo.

Sri Lanka’s Defence Ministry set up a hotline for family to members to lodge complaints after a few returnees exposed the deadly conditions facing mostly ex-soldiers who left to fight mainly for Russia.

No bodies recovered

Sri Lanka authorities have confirmed that 16 persons have died, Minister Tennakoon said.

But there was no information on their remains.

Local media reports quoting returnees and social media messages from Sri Lankans fighting in the Russia-Ukraine front said many more were dead from Ukrainian drone attacks.

On Tuesday a group of family members came to the Russian embassy in Colombo.

Sri Lanka’s Derana Television interviewed a woman who said her husband, who had served in the commando regiment had left for Russia on March 05 and last sent her message on March 29 his phone was taken away, and that completed a training course on March 28.

He had promised to call back in ‘a day or two’ but she had not heard from him since.

Another former commando, had later messaged a friend saying that her husband, Vishnu had died in a drone attack and pass the message to her her.

“Vishnu died on April 18,” the friend said according to the message broadcast on Derana Television. “A whole set, a boy called Silva from Galle who came with me, a Special Forces soldier called Chathura and Priyantha from Matara died.”

“A suicide drone hit their amoured car. Only Ratnayake was left.”

“No bodies are recovered. Their bodies are not brought, our bodies are also not brought.”

How Many

Sri Lanka still does not know how many were recruited, though returnees have estimated that 600 to 800 have left since late last year. What was a trickle in the last quarter of 2023 became a flood in 2024, according to returnees.

One returnee said 15 to 20 visas were issued daily by the Russian embassy in Colombo in the week he got his visa.

He was asked whether it was not possible to track from the immigration data base, who left and did not return to the country within a week or two as tourists would normally be expected to do.

“They use different countries to go to Russia so it’s very tricky,” Tennakoon told reporters.

For example, some are leaving for Russia via Dubai he said.

Attempts are being made to bring back those who are injured and those who want to come back, he said.

Related Hundreds of Sri Lankans hospitalised in Russia-Ukraine war; legislator seeks special envoy

“Russia is a very important friend to us, so is Ukraine,” Tennakoon said. “It’s a diplomatic process and the foreign ministry is handling it.”

Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said that since Sri Lankans are recruited by mercenary companies it was difficult to negotiate with them.

Sri Lanka has already arrested two military officers who are running a recruitment team.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe invited former minister Dayasiry Jayasekera and Gamini Waleboda PM to the recent Security Council meeting. They both provided the information they had with them and that will be used for the investigations going forward.

Returnees said there were several teams recruiting, who were charging various amounts ranging from 350,000 to 1.6 million rupees before their were sent to the war front.