Author: TELO Admin

Sri Lanka’s is committed to pursuing progress on reconciliation and human rights through domestic institutions, its Minister of Foreign Affairs has said.

“I emphasized Sri Lanka’s commitment to pursuing tangible progress on reconciliation and Human Rights through domestic institutions while maintaining its constructive engagement with the United Nations,” Minister of Foreign Affairs M U M Ali Sabry said on social media platform X (twitter).

Sabry chaired the inaugural session of the Inter-Ministerial Standing Committee on Human Rights at the Ministry pf Foreign Affairs on Tuesday (13).

Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane, Sabri said, “explained the structure of the Committee as a permanent national framework to ensure efficient coordination and reporting on Sri Lanka’s voluntary international commitments regarding human rights and reconciliation.

Attributing President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s call for opposition political parties to support the Government’s programme to an opportunistic and dishonest invitation, Opposition Parliamentarian, Prof. G.L. Peiris said that they would never be a part of a programme under this President or this Government.

Speaking at a media briefing yesterday (12), he said that while the President is always inviting the opposition to support the Government’s programme, there is however a doubt regarding the motive behind it. “The President’s theme is ‘let’s get together as there’s no need for divisions’. He openly invites us to get together with him and work. However, a doubt arises as to whether this is an honest invitation or an opportunistic attempt.” Although Wickremesinghe is now inviting the opposition to present their proposals with regard to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, he charged that the Government had discarded their proposals when the staff level agreement was being reached with the IMF. “The President now says that he is ready to invite the top leadership of the IMF to Sri Lanka, and invites the opposition to participate in those discussions. However, the Government did not consider the proposals made by us and academics and trade unions when the staff level agreement was being reached.” Speaking further, Prof. Peiris said that there is a risk of the Government’s programme to stabilise the economy collapsing due to large-scale corruption including the provision of tax relief to tycoons who are loyal to the Government, adding that Wickremesinghe is inviting the opposition to join him in sharing that failure. “The Government has to date not achieved any progress. Instead, the entire programme is at risk of collapsing. It is to overcome that and share that failure that he invites us. There is no honest motive behind it, and it is completely an opportunistic invitation. We will not fall prey to it at all.”

Wickremesinghe, who was elected to the Presidency after former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigned amid massive public protests in 2022, has been maintaining the stance that his primary objective is to alleviate the economic crisis which has arisen in the country. For that, he is constantly calling on the opposition led by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya to join him regardless of party affiliations and the most recent invitation was made during his speech when the fifth session of the ninth Parliament was inaugurated on 7 February.

Sri Lankan MP Namal Rajapaksa appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the construction of the Ram Temple and said that it was a great experience to visit the historic place.

He visited the Ayodhya Ram Temple on Friday and said that he felt honoured and blessed to visit the shrine.

Speaking to ANI, Rajapaksa said, “It’s a great feeling to get blessings from Lord Ram in Ayodhya. And I think it’s beautifully done and we are glad that Prime Minister Modi and the Government of India have brought back the old glory and redone the history.”

He said that everyone should visit the Ram Temple not just to seek blessings but also to witness the architectural marvel.

“I think it is a historical temple and it’s good to see that it has got back its old glory thanks to the current government, Prime Minister Modi and his administration. It is something that I think everyone should visit and experience. Not only getting blessed from the Ram Temple but also get that experience and also to witness the architectural marvel that has been carved into the temple,” Rajapaksa said.

The Sri Lankan MP also applauded the strong cultural and religious bond between India and Sri Lanka.

“There is a strong cultural and religious bond between the two nations and which will last for generations and I am sure the Buddhists and Hindus in Sri Lanka and also the Hindu devotees and Buddhists in India will find a lot of similarities in our cultures,” he further said.

The ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of Lord Ram was held at 12:29 pm on January 22, with the main rituals performed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The idol of Prabhu Shri Ram Lalla was unveiled to devotees across the world after the rituals.

Earlier, on Thursday, a delegation from Fiji, led by Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad, embarked on a spiritual journey to Ayodhya to experience the divinity around the grand abode of Lord Ram.

The delegation, representing the Indian diaspora in Fiji, arrived at Maharshi Valmiki Airport in Ayodhya on Thursday, eager to partake in the religious and cultural significance of the sacred city.

In a media interaction, the Deputy PM of Fiji highlighted the profound connection of Fijian citizens of Indian origin to their roots during the visit to Ayodhya.

A delegation from Suriname also visited Ayodhya, the sacred city known for its cultural and religious heritage.

The delegation, led by Chairman of the National Assembly of Suriname, Marinus Bee, arrived in Ayodhya on Wednesday morning and engaged in spiritual and cultural activities. The delegation offered prayers to the Ram Lalla idol at the Ram Temple.

Source – First India

The US supports addressing Sri Lanka’s food security challenges, US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung has told Minister of Commerce, Trade and Food Security Nalin Fernando.

“The ambassador emphasized the importance of enhancing food security in the country. She also stated that to slash the food price increase and to adapt to the inflation, Sri Lanka needs to diversify the market,” a statement by the Ministry said.

The trade ministry focuses mainly on decreasing the cost of production, minimizing post-harvest wastage, and enhancing the quality of production, Fernando said after the meeting on Monday (12) at the trade ministry.

Fernando conceded that the country needs assistance with new technology to improve production, and assistance for SME sector productivity improvement.

In May 2023, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Program estimated that 17 percent of the country’s population are in moderate acute food insecurity.

“Discussed US support to address Sri Lanka’s food security challenges, including USDA’s school feeding program and USAID SriLanka’s initiative to boost paddy productivity,” Chung said on social media platform X (twitter).

“The United States continues to support training and financing to small businesses and entrepreneurs and expand trade between our countries.”