Author: TELO Admin

At least 56 Sri Lankans are reportedly held captive by terrorists in Myanmar after leaving for Thailand in search of employment, it was reported.

According to a report by News First, the group had been brought to Thailand for jobs related to the IT Industry.

However, it has been found that they are currently held captive at a camp in the Cyber Criminal area operated by a terrorist group in Myanmar.

The reports reveal that the group of Sri Lankans are being subjected to inhumane treatment by the terrorist group.

The terrorist group is also reportedly demanding US$ 8000 per person for their release.

When inquired in this regard, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Myanmar, Janaka Bandara acknowledged that they were aware of this particular situation.

Ambassador Bandara further said that following a discussion with the Myanmar authorities they were able to rescue 32 Sri Lankans who were held captive.

He further said that discussions are underway between Sri Lankan and Myanmar authorities to rescue the remaining 56 Sri Lankans who are currently held captive.

Ambassador Bandara warned Sri Lankans to refrain from attempting to enter Myanmar or Thailand via illegal visas due to such situations.

Relatives of the group of Sri Lankans held captive in Myanmar have requested the Sri Lankan authorities to retrieve their children and bring them back.

Over 21 metric tons of seed potatoes, a World Bank donation meant to revitalize local agriculture, have rotted away in a Jaffna warehouse, raising questions about negligence and jeopardizing the livelihoods of struggling farmers.

Sent with the promise of discounted, high-quality seeds, this Australian import was meant to be a lifeline for Jaffna’s agricultural sector. Yet, before farmers could even consider their purchase, a silent enemy had already taken root – a bacterial blight.

Dr. L. Rajesh Kanna, Assistant Director of the Thirunalveli Agriculture Research Centre, revealed the extent of the damage. “The bacteria was already present when the stock arrived,” he stated, further adding that over 40% of the potatoes were irredeemable by December 12th.

While the Jaffna District Secretary, A. Sivabalasundran, maintains he wasn’t officially informed of the situation, he confirms the stock’s destruction after an inspection and the research center’s findings. He has pledged to report the matter to the Governor and the Ministry of Agriculture.

The rotting potatoes represent more than just wasted food. They are a symbol of broken promises, wasted resources, and potentially lost income for Jaffna’s farmers. This incident raises critical questions about accountability throughout the entire process, from importation to storage.

Farmers, understandably, demand not just answers but guarantees that such a travesty won’t be repeated.

Sri Lanka will call for fresh bids to select a service provider to print Unique Digital Identity Cards by the end of this year and hopes to choose the tender winner by the first quarter of next year, Technology Minister Kanaka Herath said.

The call for fresh bids comes after President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government disqualified the two Indian bidders Madras Security Printers (MSP) and Protein Technologies which tendered in the previous bidding process.

“There were two bidders from India. None of them qualified,” Herath told reporters in Colombo at a media briefing on Monday.

“We had a JPMC (Joint Project Monitoring Committee) meeting last week and what we have decided is to advertise it again,” he said.

“So most probably at the end of this year we will be able to advertise and we will be able to select a bidder most probably in the first quarter of next year.”

Two top state officials have said the government was under “external pressure” to select Madras Security Printers, a company now being alleged of malpractices in several other countries.

Madras Security Printers won the tender to print revenue stickers for bottles of alcohol early this year, but its credibility has been questioned after a massive scam with forged stickers.

Some security analysts have raised concern over data privacy with Indian companies being selected to print the IDs.

However, Minister Herath has said Sri Lanka has already taken measures to ensure the digital security of the IDs.

India has already given an advance aid of 450 million Indian rupees to President Wickremesinghe’s government to fund the digital ID project, which aims to collect biographic and biometric information, including facial, iris, and fingerprint data.

The project is expected to store the personal data of every individual in a centralized system to issue identification cards as per the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), government officials have said, to effective and efficient delivery of government services, financial inclusion, and poverty reduction.

The project is being seriously considered to fast track to boost the tax revenue in bankruptcy declared by Sri Lanka with sovereign debt default.

“It will take time,” Herath said when he was asked when people will have their unique digital ID in their hands.

“First of all, you have to have the system and then you have to capture data. These are all in biometrics. It will take at least one-an-a-half year. “

“What we are trying to do now is to parallelly to capture data as well as to collect data.”

The first group selected for jobs in the Israeli agricultural sector left for Israel from the Katunayake Airport last night (18), the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) said.

Accordingly, thirty persons were included in this group. Another group of twenty will leave for Israel this morning (19), with an additional group of thirty scheduled to be sent to Israel tonight (19).

Air tickets for the first batch of workers were handed over by the Minister at a ceremony held yesterday to mark International Migrant’s Day.

During the event, the Minister stated that according to a bilateral agreement between the two countries, 10,000 workers will be able to fly to Israel in the next few weeks.

The Minister emphasized that there is no need to pay money to any party for these jobs. Therefore, even if it is discovered after going abroad that someone has paid money to obtain these job opportunities, they will be brought back, as both governments have reached an agreement on repatriating those who have paid money.

In addition, the Minister further said that Israel has agreed to hire 2,000 workers for job opportunities in the construction sector.

The contention to be the elected President of Sri Lanka yesterday got heated up with incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe’s United National Party expressing confidence of continuity amidst reports of business leader and MP Dhammika Perera being declared as the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) candidate.

UNP Chairman Vajira Abey-wardana yesterday expressed confidence that Wickremesinghe will secure a significant victory in the upcoming Presidential election, leading to his reappointment to the position. Addressing a press conference at Sirikotha, Abeywardana predicted that Wickremesinghe would secure 10 million votes, ensuring his victory in the forthcoming Presidential election.

“President Wickremesinghe would secure the Presidential seat once again, surpassing any President in history in terms of votes,” he said. “I express this confidence based on the positive direction we anticipate the country to be in April, thanks to the sound economic policies of President Ranil Wickremesinghe,” he added.

“People should grant the President the mandate to govern the nation for another 12 years. Sri Lanka has the potential to become a powerful nation under Wickremesinghe’s leadership,” he said. Abeywardana warned of potential destruction if this mandate is not extended.

Abeywardana also praised President Ranil Wickremesinghe as an economic expert and highlighted his clear vision and efforts to guide the country’s direction.

“The current Opposition is also ours. The people will choose the real Opposition party in an election,” he said. Abeywardena also claimed all political parties will come together in the final moments leading up to the polls.

Abeywardena’s remarks come amidst unverified reports that Wickremesinghe has decided not to contest the upcoming Presidential polls. Those who are close to Wickremesinghe dismissed the report widely circulated within social media as “hoax” and part of opponents› misleading campaign.

In a related development, there were reports yesterday that the SLPP has decided MP Dhammika Perera will be presented as its candidate at the upcoming presidential election. A group of active SLPPers have also urged prominent businessman – Dhammika Perera to be appointed as the National Organizer of the party.

Speculation rose after incumbent national organiser the US domiciled political maestro Basil Rajapaksa flying back after attending the SLPP 2nd convention over the weekend at which former President and political maestro Mahinda Rajapaksa was re-elected as the leader.

Reports claimed said that Dhammika Perera is the most suitable candidate for the national organiser post as well as presidential nominee

SLPPers is reported to have pointed out that Perera is also well known even in the grassroot levels and it would be instrumental in appointing someone to the post who has the full backing of Basil Rajapaksa, who is known as the ‘vote machine’ of the SLPP. In addition, Perera has also actively contributed to education through the ‘DP Education’ initiative, impacting over 1.5 million school children in Sri Lanka.

In the Presidential foray include business leader and lawyer Dilith Jayaweera and business tycoon and former Public Utilities Commission Chairman Janaka Ratnayake with the latter having openly declared he will contest. Separately, the main Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa and NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake are widely speculated to be keen on vying for the presidency.