Author: TELO Admin

China Exim Bank reaches preliminary debt deal with Sri Lanka: report

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The Exim Bank of China, the top Chinese lender to Sri Lanka has reached a “preliminary” agreement with the island, a media report said, raising prospects making progress on restructuring the defaulted island’s debt.

The debt agreement was reached at the end of September, Bloomberg Newswires quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Wang Wenbin was quoted as saying in Beijing on October 10.

Sri Lanka has to make progress acceptable to the International Monetary Fund to unlock a second 330 million dollar tranche and continue to be eligible for budget support loans from the Asian Development Bank and World Bank.

China is also talking to Sri Lanka’s other creditors known as the Paris Club, the spokesman was quoted as saying.

It is not clear whether the “preliminary” agreement on restructuring is acceptable to the IMF as sufficient progress.

Related Sri Lanka’s external debt restructure ‘progress’ decision by IMF exec board

Sources familiar with the talks said there appeared to be a ‘softening’ of China’s stance of late.

Out of 6,850 million dollars owed to China, the Exim Bank had loaned 3,992 million dollars.

China Development Bank had loaned another 535.2 million dollars classified as bilateral. The CDB gave another 2,185 million term loan classified as a commercial credit.

“All creditors are engaging positively with us,” State Minister for Finance Shehan Semasinghe said last month.

“We expect decisions from all our creditors. For us earlier the better.”

Related Sri Lanka expects restructuring decisions from all creditors: Minister

Sri Lanka’s Western lenders, known as the Paris Club has a well-oiled mechanism to restructure debt, which is a ‘done deal’ according to those familiar with the workings of the organization.

Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe is expected to visit China shortly.

SJB statement on Policy Platform

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The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), Sri Lanka’s main Opposition Party, is preparing a policy platform and manifesto that it says, shall seek to implement in the near future.

Issuing a statement, the SJB said its policy platform is being developed through close interaction and continuous dialogue with varied and relevant stakeholders.

“Thus far the SJB has engaged numerous worker unions, business chambers, entrepreneurial associations and professional organisations. The project to generate a viable plan for sustainable economic growth and human development in Sri Lanka requires a multi-pronged approach that considers the overlapping issues related to education, healthcare, business regulation, taxation, security and defence, social welfare and pensions, all with facets that are interrelated; Public Policy must consider such intersections. Sri Lanka’s foreign policy must be informed by both strategic imperatives and local political/ social dynamics which shape Sri Lanka’s relationships within the region as well as perceptions about our nation-state beyond. Sri Lanka’s education system must match the needs of the 21st-century technological era and complement Sri Lanka’s human capital development needs and industrialisation drive while addressing demographic challenges,” the statement said.

The SJB pointed out that for too long, Sri Lankan policy has veered from one extreme to another, captive to the whims of singular leaders and cabals of special interests.

“There has been no discernible overall strategy and whatever strategy has emerged has been reactionary, based on short-term necessity rather than longer-term strategic imperatives. In this regard, the recent evaluation by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding Sri Lanka’s progress has shown that international institutions are cognisant of Sri Lanka’s governance deficits and the impact of this deficit on policymaking and strategising. The Geopolitical context that Sri Lanka finds itself in, lacking a clear narrative to project, as evidenced by our President’s recent performances abroad, adds to the complexities around developing an overarching economic and social policy.

“This context, specific to the Indian Ocean region and the wider Western Pacific, requires subtle and delicate negotiation; managing our relationships while protecting our interests has never been more complex. With this in mind, the SJB’s policymaking team and wider membership will participate in a workshop under the title: “Policymaking & Governance: Navigating Geopolitical and Economic Challenges”, organised by the National Council of Professionals,” the party said.

The workshop will be highlighted with a keynote address by Canadian Academic and Public Intellectual, Dr. Irvin Studin; President of The Institute for 21st Century Questions, a leading Canadian think tank.

Dr. Studin is a much sought-after strategy consultant in Canada and has been an advocate for altering Canadian geopolitical and political strategy, criticising many facets of modern Canadian state discourse and strategy. He has participated in and contributed to various works of public policy development and was a member of the team that developed Canada’s first-ever national security policy, in 2004. During the John Howard premiership, Dr. Studin was the principal author of Australia’s 2006 national counter-terrorism policy and also worked in local government in Ottawa, Canada and Canberra, Australia.

Dr. Studin has a master’s degree from the University of Oxford and earned a PhD from the University of York in constitutional law, he also founded a magazine called the Global Brief and co-founded the Institute for 21st Century Questions in 2014. He has also held positions at the University of Toronto as well as being a visiting professor at leading schools of public policy in North America, Europe and Asia including the Lee Kwan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore.

Dr. Studin has been an advocate of education reform in response to the disruptions to children’s academic routines around the world, warning that this may constitute one of the most under-appreciated social disasters that is developing as a result of the global pandemic. Dr. Studin has also been critical of Canadian geopolitical strategy and the nature of its relationships with its close neighbour the USA as well as traditional allies such as the UK and those in Western Europe, specifically what he calls the consolidation of the colonial position; allowing local electoral imperatives driven by diasporic affections and affinities to set the Canadian International agenda.

The SJB emphasised that the Canadian dynamic might be useful in informing Sri Lanka’s own position in terms of its immediate neighbourhood and strategic alliances. Understanding how to position itself within the unfolding geostrategic maze is critical to succeeding in this new era.

“Sri Lanka is already far behind, having allowed policy to be determined by decades-old frameworks during a time that requires intense collaboration with our partners in the region. The SJB seeks to formulate and fine-tune its strategic perspectives by utilising the knowledge and experience of intellectuals and policy experts such as Dr. Irvin Studin,” it said.

The SJB said that under a future SJB Government, Sri Lanka will begin the challenge of addressing the ethical decay in our institutions and the governance deficits that plague society and hinder our economy.

“This workshop forms a small part of the SJB’s policymaking process and is intended to inform its members and officers of the intricacies and challenges of policymaking,” it added.

Three affiliates to leave TNA, form new alliance

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Three affiliates have decided to leave the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) led by R. Sampanthan and form a new political group.

They are Selvam Addaikkalanathan’s TELO, D. Siddharthan-led PLOTE and the EPRLF of Suresh Premachandran.

A new political alliance by them together with Tamil Congress led by Gajendra Kumar Ponnambalam and C.V. Vigneswaran’s party to contest future elections is expected.

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MP Dhammika Perera says, he is ready to contest the Presidential elections if Political parties guarantee 51% of majority

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MP Dhammika Perera says he is ready to contest the upcoming Presidential Election if the political parties can provide assurances that a 51% majority can be obtained at the election.

When inquired by Newsfirst he stated, that support is required from all the political parties including the Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna.

He noted that 1.5 million students from 1.1 million families out of the total 5.5 million families in Sri Lanka are benefiting from the D.P. Education initiative commenced by him.

Catholic Bishops want Ranil to give reports from FBI, others

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The Catholic Bishops’ Conference has asked President Ranil Wickremesinghe to share the reports on the Easter Sunday attacks he claims to have received from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), as well as the UK, Indian and Chinese intelligence services.

In a letter to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka noted that the claim he had received such reports was first made public by the President in his recent interview with Deutsche Welle.

In the interview the President had said that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference had wanted documents of all the proceedings of the commission which investigated the Easter Sunday attacks and those details have been handed over.

In the letter the Catholic Bishops’ Conference thanked the President for handing over all the volumes of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry Report into the Easter Sunday attacks.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka also noted that Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith is an integral and most vital member of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka.

During his recent interview, the President had said that he is not dealing with Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith but only with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

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Batti livestock farmers protest against pasture land encroachers

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While President Ranil Wickremesinghe was attending the 149th anniversary celebration of Chenkaladi Madhya Maha Vidyalaya in Batticaloa yesterday (8), livestock farmers staged a protest demanding the removal of encroachers from their pasture land.

During the event, the President unveiled an ambitious 10-year initiative aimed at boosting agriculture and tourism in the Eastern Province, with a focus on the development of Trincomalee.

There were protesters from two communities, one led by ITAK MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, who led a group of MPs and other organisations close to a venue where the President was attending an event in the school.

The issue has been highlighted since the Mahaweli Development Authority settled people for corn cultivation on pastoral land.

Protesters wanted to meet the President to express their grievances but Police objected and asked the protestors to leave the site which led to a tense situation between the Police and the public. The President later met some State officials to discuss the issue related to pastoral land. However, protesters said that discussions were futile as he did not speak to them. Banners were destroyed and several women were injured in the commotion with the Police

Rasamanickam accused the Government of allowing chena cultivators to illegally encroach on grazing land in the Mayilathamadu District, traditionally used by cattle farmers during the period, October to February.

“The State is responsible for capturing land for farming purposes without paying adequate heed to the 200,000 cattle that use the land for grazing and produce 17,000 litres of organic milk daily,” said Rasamanickam.

Meanwhile, Ven. Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thera protested by sitting on the road and confronted Police urging that pastoral land be given to corn cultivators.

BY Sulochana Ramiah Mohan

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Sri Lanka lawyers hold demonstration over Mulaitivu judge’s resignation

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Lawyers from Mulaitivu, Sri Lanka, held a protest walk followed by a demonstration in Aluthkade in connection with the controversial resignation of Mullaitivu District Judge T. Saravanarajah.

Tamil National Alliance (ITAK) parliamentarian M A Sumanthiran who also attended the demonstration on Monday October 09 said the government and the Judicial Services Commission said rule of law itself becomes a moot discussion in light of Saravanarajah’s resignation.

“We tell the government and the judicial services commission that this has to change. An investigation must be held and justice be done for this judge.

“Or this will make history as an instance where rule of law was lost,” said Sumanthiran.

The protest was also attended by southern, politically active lawyers such as Nuwan Bopage and Sunil Watagala.

The Mullaitivu judge sent a letter to the Judicial Services Commission on September 23 informing the commission of his decision to resign from the post of District Judge and a number of other judicial positions, citing death threats. The judge had previously issued an order prohibiting constructions at a controversial archaeological site.

Media reports said he had left the country upon his resignation citing threats and pressure from authorities to change his verdict

On October 02, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) wrote to the Attorney General, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Minister of Public Security to inquire into Saravanarajah’s resignation.

Minister Alles that same day ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate Saravanarajah resignation and subsequent departure from the country, according to media reports.

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Ferry service fees between TN, KKS announced

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The passenger ferry service connecting India’s Nagapattinam and Sri Lanka’s Kankesanthurai (KKS) will commence operations tomorrow (October 10), Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva announced.

Addressing the meida, he said the passenger ferry service experienced a delay of almost six months due to various reasons.

A trial session for the service was conducted on August 8.

As per the schedule, the passenger vessel named “Cheriyapani” is set to depart from Nagapattinam Port to Kankesanthurai Port tomorrow at 12:30 PM.

The maiden voyage will carry approximately 50 passengers, and the vessel is scheduled to return to Nagapattinam at 4:00 PM on the same day.

The high-speed vessel “Cheriyapani,” measuring 35 meters in length and 9.6 meters in height, is owned by the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) and has a capacity of accommodating 150 passengers.

The journey from Nagapattinam to Kankesanthurai Port is estimated to take approximately four hours, with a one-way ticket costing Rs. 26,750 and a round-trip ticket priced at Rs. 53,500.

The operators of the passenger ferry service have indicated that each passenger is allowed to carry up to 50 kilograms of luggage. The operation and marketing of this ferry service are managed by the Sri Lankan company “Asha Agency Ltd,” and a ticket sales agent has also been appointed in Jaffna.

Minister de Silva highlighted that the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has invested Rs. 450 million to construct a modern passenger terminal at the Kankesanthurai port.

This terminal is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including provisions for immigration, Customs and health services.

Furthermore, the Minister said that the initiation of the passenger ferry service was the result of extensive discussions between the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of India and the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation of Sri Lanka.

The vessel “Cheriyapani,” which undertook a trial voyage yesterday, was also inspected by the relevant authorities.

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Cardinal, Bishops’ Conference deny difference of opinion over Easter Sunday carnage

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President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference (CBC) Most Rev. Dr. Harold Anthony Perera said there was absolutely no difference of opinion between the CBC and Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm

Cardinal Ranjith on the responsibility on the part of the government to punish those who planned suicide attacks or neglected public security.

Bishop Perera reiterated their longstanding demand for the implementation of the recommendations made by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) in its final report handed over to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on 01 February, 2021.

Pointing out that incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe took over the Office of the President 14 months ago, Bishop Perera stressed the inordinate delay in addressing the issue.

Bishop Perera said so in response to The Island query whether the Catholic Bishops’ Conference differed from the Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith’s stand on the Easter Sunday culpability. Bishop Perera received the appointment as President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference in June last year.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe, during an interview with Deutsche Welle, Germany’s international news broadcaster, recently in Berlin, asked whether DW had raised the issue at hand with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

When the interviewer acknowledged DW hadn’t done so, President Wickremesinghe declared that a particular question shouldn’t be posed to him.

President Wickremesinghe categorically stated that no international investigation would be held into the Easter Sunday carnage.

Bishop Perera said that the President had visited him in early October last year, in Kurunegala, and he had on behalf of the Catholic Church emphasised the need to bring the investigations into a successful conclusion.

The Bishop said that there couldn’t be any issue whatsoever regarding the Cardinal’s stand and that of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference as the former represented the body consisting of 15. One position remained vacant.

Responding to another query, Bishop Perera acknowledged that the appointment of a six-member ministerial team to examine the PCoI report on 20 February, 2021 caused suspicions not only among the Catholic community but all other concerned parties as well.

The Bishop said that he was surprised by the controversy over the calls for an international inquiry as President Wickremesinghe himself declared his intention to seek the assistance of Scotland Yard over a year ago.

The Bishop stressed that the urgent need was to implement the PCoI recommendations.

The Bishop said that the government couldn’t, under any circumstances, absolve itself of the responsibility for implementing recommendations made by its own inquiring authority.

Top spokesperson for the Catholic Church Rev Father Cyril Gamini Fernando said that President Wickremesinghe’s dismissal of international inquiry during an interview with German broadcaster was quite surprising as the government repeatedly declared direct involvement of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the US, Australian Federal Police as well as the Maldivian Intelligence Services in the Easter Sunday investigations.

The priest said that President Wickremesinghe actually owed an explanation why the PCoI recommendations couldn’t be implemented. In fact, the ruling SLPP, too, couldn’t remain silent, especially against the backdrop of accusations that the Easter Sunday carnage facilitated their 2019 presidential polls campaign.

Rev. Father Fernando said that the US and Australian investigators were here in April/May 2019 and the government continued to receive international assistance at different levels. The crux of the matter is the government’s refusal so far to implement PCoI recommendations, the priest said. Had the government done so, the continuing hostile public view would change, the priest said.

The government recently proved its insensitivity in this regard again when Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena, who had been named by the PCoI and against whom recommendation to the Attorney General to the effect that he (AG) consider criminal proceedings against the Director, State Intelligence Service (SIS) under any suitable provision in the Penal Code was asked to brief parliamentarians as regards the status of the inquiry, the Church’s spokesperson said.

Rev. Fernando said that they were aware the US pointed out to Sri Lanka in April last year there wouldn’t be any purpose in an additional US investigation as they have completed a comprehensive inquiry into the attacks and criminal complaint filed against those responsible for the deaths of US citizens. Forty-five foreigners also perished in those multiple blasts.

(island.lk)

SLFP will not join hands with SLPP – Sirisena

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Former President Maithripala Sirisena, chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), has highlighted that there are no plans for the SLFP to join hands with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).

Speaking to the media in this regard, Sirisena noted, however, that the SLFP aims to present a manifesto targeting the upcoming election, and to expand its work at the district-level.