Author: TELO Admin

The Government of India has announced plans to build another 10,000 houses for estate workers in Sri Lanka, as part of ‘Phase 4’ of the Indian Housing Project.

Delivering the keynote address at ‘Nam 200’ this afternoon (02 Nov.), celebrating 200 years since the arrival of Indian Origin Tamils (IOT) to Sri Lanka, Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman revealed that commending the success of ‘Phase 3’ of India’s flagship development project, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that a further 10,000 houses will be built for estate workers in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka.

Commenting on the success of the third phase of the Indian Housing Project, the Finance Minister revealed that 3,700 houses, of the 4,000 houses agreed to be established under the project, have already been handed over to the beneficiaries.

“This will remain a special moment for our bilateral relationship, as well as personally to me”, Minster Sitharaman said in this regard.

Accordingly, the foundation stone for the first lot of the 10,000 houses due to be built under ‘Phase 4’ of the project will be laid today, as part of the ‘Nam 200’ celebrations.

Finance Minister Sitharaman further highlighted India’s continued commitment and unwavering support to uplift the wellbeing of IOTs in Sri Lanka, and said, “India has consistently stood in solidarity with you, offering all the support within our means”.

She further stated that “Enhancing connectivity between India and Sri Lanka will build bridges of experience and opportunities for the people of both countries”.

The Second Reading of Appropriation Bill (Budget) for the fiscal year 2024 (the Budget Speech) is to be presented to the Parliament by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies, at 12 noon on 13 November.

Thereafter, the Second Reading of the 2024 Budget will be debated for a period of one week, from the 14 to 21 November.

The vote for the Second Reading of the Budget is scheduled to be held at 06:00 p.m. on 21 November, following which the Committee Stage debate will be held for a period of 19 days from 22 November – 13 December.

Accordingly, the vote on the Third Reading of the 2024 Budget is slated to be held at 06:00 p.m. on 13 December.

Accordingly, during the period in which the Budget is slated to be debated, the debate is scheduled to be held from 09:30 a.m. to 06:30 p.m. every day, while the Adjournment debate will be held from 06:00 p.m. to 06:30 p.m. everyday, except on the date of vote.

Ruling party MP Sarath Weerasekara who was denied a visa to travel to the United States, showered praise on China citing it as an indispensable and dependable friend of Asia.

Addressing the BOAO summit in China recently, he said the western world will never comprehend the bond among the Asian countries.

“It is evolved and nurtured through trade and mainly Buddhism. China has been an indispensable and dependable friend of Asia.
We are grateful to China, a permanent member in the Security Council, for the consistent support it has given to Sri Lanka at the Human Rights Council. When we defeated the most ruthless terrorist organization in the world we were vilified by the western countries, but China always stood by us,” he said.

Recently, Weerasekara was denied travel to the US for a programme meant for the Sri Lankan MPs heading parliamentary sectoral oversight committees. Weerasekara chairs the Committee on National Security.

The European Union (EU) has allocated 100,000 euros (over 34.5 million Sri Lankan rupees) for emergency humanitarian assistance to some 15,000 people affected by floods in Sri Lanka.

Families in the worst-hit localities in Sabaragamuwa, Southern and Western provinces will benefit from the aid, the EU’s Colombo mission said in a statement on Monday October 30.

“This EU funding supports the Sri Lankan Red Cross Society (SLRCS) in delivering emergency relief items, including drinking water, clothes, bed sheets and mosquito nets. In addition, affected families will receive cash grants to enable them to meet their basic needs. The assistance will also focus on cleaning up flooded areas and wells while delivering hygiene promotion campaigns. Medical camps will be set up to assist those injured in the wake of the floods,” the EU said.

According to the statement, the funding is part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

“The southern part of the island nation started experiencing a series of strong monsoon rains in early October, causing floods and landslides that affected more than 75,000 people in 13 districts. As a result of the continued downpours and strong winds, a number of houses, agricultural lands and crops in low-lying areas were damaged. Major traffic arteries to several districts were cut off by fallen trees. The floods left many drinking water resources contaminated. The worst affected areas were the coastal districts of Galle, Gampaha and Matara, with most parts flooded for more than a week.”

The European Union is signatory to a 10 million-euro humanitarian delegation agreement with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support the Federation’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF). Funds from the DREF are mainly allocated to “small-scale” disasters – those that do not give rise to a formal international appeal, the EU said.