Author: TELO Admin

President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that he had recently discussed Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring with the Chinese Finance Minister and he is optimistic that the discussions in this regard would be concluded successfully.

The President further mentioned that the delegation headed by the State Minister of Finance, who is currently in Washington, held initial discussions yesterday (15) with the International Monetary Fund and the three main countries, China, India and Japan that have given loans to the country. He said that the government is giving priority to immediately solve the problem of the country’s bankruptcy and to ensure food security.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe made these remarks following an observation tour of the cultivated lands in Rathumada-Weerakandawala area in Siambalanduwa Divisional Secretariat this morning (16).

The President also discussed the progress of the implementation of the food security program in Monaragala district with government officials.

He said that there is no problem with having debates and also recalled the statements made by some people that they would come forward and shed blood and said that one should live before shedding blood.

The President mentioned that if a proper program is not implemented to provide food to the people, they will not have to shed blood but will starve to death. The President also stressed that politics should be discussed only in Parliament and that everyone should unite in the program to fulfil the needs of the people.

While visiting the cultivated lands in Rathumada-Weerakandawala area in Siambalanduwa Divisional Secretariat, the President also engaged in open discussions with the farmers.

The farmers had the opportunity to discuss the issues they were facing directly with the President and he was also informed by the farmers about the lack of fertilizer, insecticides and pesticides as well as land problems, water problems and the threat of wild elephants in the area.

The President immediately called the relevant officials to the agriculture lands and directed them to take steps to provide immediate solutions to the problems faced by these farmers. While thanking the President for visiting them and looking into their problems the farmers mentioned that this is the first time that a President had visited their areas.

The President noted all the issues presented here by the farmers through an officer of the President’s Office and stated that he will appoint a separate Additional Secretary in the President’s Office and take measures to provide immediate solutions to all these problems in coordination with the District political authority and District Government officials.

Also, many problems of the people of the area were presented to the President and among them were the problems of education, roads and housing.

The President, who listened to all those problems, said that he will provide the necessary facilities to ensure that the children of the area who are engaged in education activities in the midst of many difficulties are given the opportunity to receive university education.

While returning from participating in this event, the President also visited a Daham Pasala held at Dharmashoka Pre-School, Siyambalanduwa Kaluobba, without prior notice, and inquired about the well-being of the students.
Even though he arrived at the place without prior notice, the students welcomed the President by singing Jayamangala Gatha.

Governor of the Uva Province A.J.M. Muzammil, State Ministers Shashendra Rajapakse, Vijitha Berugoda, Jagath Pushpakumara, Member of Parliament Dr. Gayashan Navanandana, President’s Senior Adviser on National Security and President’s Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayake, former Member of Parliament Sumedha G. Jayasena, Former Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri, Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake, Adviser to the President on National Food Security Dr. Suren Batagoda, Monaragala District Secretary Gunadasa Samarasinghe, Siambalanduwa Provincial Secretary Asanka Dayaratne and a group of District and Local Government officials participated at this occasion.

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna says that they are ready for an election at anytime.

A public meeting in the series of public rallies of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, titled – ‘Let’s stand together’ – was held in Nawalapitiya on Sunday (16).

The public meeting was held under the chairmanship of SLPP Leader and the former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Speaking at the event, former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse admitted that although they may have made mistakes, there have been people in history who have made mistakes before.

“When something goes wrong, we have a chance to fix it. We don’t need to be ashamed,” he said.

He alleged that while many know the truth of what happened, many still act as if they do not know, and stick by their lies for the shame of not being able to take back their accusations.

Acknowledging the protest which took place at the same location today, the former Prime Minister said that it is unclear what they demand, and he has no idea as to what they expect.

“We know there is a section of this country against us. When we have an election, we know that we will have more. Even today, if there is an election, a general election, we will win. That is the truth,” he stressed.

Other speakers at the event included the Minister of Plantation Industries Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, who said that they were forced to take a difficult decision of banning chemical fertilizer imports with good intentions, however he admitted that the decision was hasty in being implemented.

The State Minister of Power and Energy, Indika Anuruddha said that what went wrong for the former administration was misunderstanding where professionals and scholars should be used or not.

Pointing out that the party frontline comprises of professionals such as doctors and lawyers, the State Minister said that they remain united with the party to carry on a political discourse.

However, he alleged that some who came from higher positions gave President the wrong advice, which painted a different picture, and the President allowed himself to be misled.

“We didn’t get enough time to come up with answers to the issues in the tea industry in the village, the agricultural industry,and the public infrastructure needs at villages,” he added.

SLPP MP Namal Rajapakse said that all Government changes much take place in a democratic manner, and reiterated that the party is not afraid of an election.

“We are ready to face an election in any case, at any time. We know that the young generation has huge expectations, and as a party which has identified them, we hope to reform and move forward,” he said.

SLPP MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage, the former Agriculture Minister stressed that the party is ready to face an election at any time, and challenged the President to hold an election as soon as possible, may it be provincial council, local council or even Parliamentary elections.

“We are giving the message today in Nawalapitiya that we are ready for any election,” he said. He also challenged the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna to win at least one division, and vowed to never engage in politics again if that is the case.

“That is how we made this constituency, Mr President,” Aluthgamage added.

The Minister of Health, Keheliya Rambukwella said that many people, including scholars and netizen rallied around former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, whose manifesto contained important points, and was beautiful.

However, it must be admitted, the Minister said, that they were some shortcomings in the execution of the manifesto, he said, adding that these shortcomings must be admitted.

“I am sorry that he was not able to live up to the challenge which he received at that time. I should publicly emphasize that he did not face up to his challenges, I have no regrets about that,” Minister Rambukwella said.

Although many reasons contributed to this downfall, the Minister said that even today, he respects Gotabaya Rajapaksa as a person.

Tamil Nadu has flagged serious security concerns over the increased presence of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China in Sri Lanka. An alert issued by the State’s intelligence agency a few days ago said the activities of the Chinese in the neighbouring country is a concern to national security and called for intensified vigil along the coastline.

The movement of PLA cadres and deployment of hi-tech gadgets such as satellites, drones and other communication equipment in northern Sri Lanka required constant surveillance in coastal districts, the advisory sent to all cities/districts in the State said. Citing sources, the alert claimed that the PLA deployed sophisticated gadgets in the garb of launching sea cucumber farming.

The security advisory comes days after an alert was issued by the same agency warning that a handful of Chinese nationals had clandestinely entered India via the sea route with the assistance of cadres belonging to a Sri Lanka-based political party.

The Tamil Nadu Coastal Security Group had also, citing a Central intelligence agency, issued an alert on the Chinese ship used to monitor satellites, rockets and inter-continental missile launches of China docked at Hanbanthota Port, and called for adequate security arrangements in view of vital installations such as nuclear establishments and seaports along the Tamil Nadu coast.

The free movement of Chinese nationals in many parts of northern Sri Lanka, including Mullaitheevu, Paruthitheevu, Analaitheevu, Meesalai, and Chavakkacheri, had triggered discontentment among Tamil fishermen. They had expressed the apprehension that the Chinese were exploiting the rich sea wealth, which is their only source of livelihood.

The fear of the local Tamils was that the prevailing situation might lead to a division among Sri Lankan nationals and curtail the influence of India on Tamils living in the northern and eastern parts of the island nation, the alert said.

Tamil Nadu had strengthened security arrangements along the southeastern coast after a Union government advisory on the arrival of Yuan Wang 5, a Chinese research vessel at Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port on August 11. With the vessel equipped with space/satellite tracking and intercontinental ballistic missile launch facilities, the State activated its intelligence machinery at vital installations along the 1,076-km long coastal belt, sources said.

After Sri Lanka cleared the arrival of a Chinese satellite-tracking ship to its Chinese-funded Hambantota port in August this year, India expressed its concern over the visit. The Ministry of External Affairs said India was carefully monitoring developments that had a bearing on its security and economic interests.

Asked for his comments, Additional Director-General of Police and Chief of Tamil Nadu Coastal Security Group Sandeep Mittal said it was not a disputable fact that the presence of Chinese nationals was increasing in Sri Lanka. The frequent visits of the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka to islands close to the International Maritime Boundary Line, and a drone survey conducted in the area in the guise of assessing prospects of harvesting sea cucumber, made the developments suspicious.

“While India is providing scholarships to Sri Lankan students pursuing undergraduate programmes in India, China is funding postgraduate Sri Lankan students studying in their own country. It is obvious that they [the Chinese] are trying to woo the youth in Sri Lanka to support their future plans,” he said.

Dr. Mittal, who is also the State Maritime Security Coordinator, said there is no guarantee that only Chinese would intrude into Indian waters. “Anybody cultivated by them to further their mission can also enter the porous border along the southeastern coast…Tamil Nadu has issued an alert to all coastal districts to activate their intelligence and intensify security along the coastline,” he said.

Security agencies in Tamil Nadu say there is an urgent need for the Union government to activate the Phase-III funding of the Coastal Security Scheme. After the Phase-II ended in 2020, funds and infrastructural support for the Coastal Security Group had stopped.

According to a senior police officer, the Centre should help Tamil Nadu raise a few Indian Maritime Reserve Battalions to be stationed at vantage points along the coast considering the increasing threat perceptions. Of the sanctioned strength of 800 personnel to the Tamil Nadu Coastal Security Group, there is almost 50% vacancy. The group was manning 42 Marine Police Stations, check-posts and territorial waters with limited manpower.

Preferring not to be quoted, the official said the Government of India was yet to approve the establishment of a Regional Maritime Coastal Security Training Academy though the Tamil Nadu Government had already allotted 240 acres of land near Rameswaram.

Courtesy The Hindu

United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu is expected to visit Sri Lanka next week.

A high-ranking delegation from the US government is also scheduled to visit the island along with Assistant Secretary Donald Lu.

Secretary Lu is likely to meet several senior Government and Opposition officials including the President during his visit to Sri Lanka, according to sources.

The visit comes in the wake of two high-profile visits by US Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power and US Permanent Representative to the UN Food and Agriculture Agencies in Rome Ambassador Cindy McCain to Colombo last month.

Secretary Lu had led a delegation to India aimed at deepening the US-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership last month, whilst the situation in Sri Lanka has also been taken up with the Indian authorities.

The Government is to proceed with the debate and vote on the proposed 22nd Amendment Bill in Parliament this week, despite doubts over securing the required two-thirds majority in the House for its passage, The Sunday Morning learns.

Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe told The Sunday Morning that the Cabinet of Ministers had last week decided to proceed with the 22nd Amendment Bill debate and vote in Parliament regardless of the objections raised by a group of ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MPs to the proposed piece of legislation. “The Cabinet decided to move ahead with the 22nd Amendment and go for a vote,” he said.

Accordingly, the 22nd Amendment Bill will be taken up for debate on Thursday (20) and for a vote on Friday (21).

When asked if the Government was confident of receiving the two-thirds majority in Parliament to pass the Bill, Rajapakshe noted that he was hopeful that the Members of Parliament (MPs) would support the first step of the political reforms programme. “If the MPs don’t vote in favour, the public will be able to see who is opposed to political reforms,” he added.

The Opposition political parties during the last parliamentary session had expressed concern over the possibility of moving ‘undemocratic’ amendments to the 22nd Amendment Bill during the committee stage of the debate when amendments are introduced to the Bill.

However, the Justice Minister observed that only the observations of the Supreme Court, as well as a few proposed by the Opposition, would be moved as amendments during committee stage.

However, a group of SLPP MPs, including the party’s General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam, has stated publicly on several occasions that the SLPP could not support the Bill since some of its clauses were in violation of the party’s policies.

The SLPP group that is objecting to the 22nd Amendment has been identified in political circles as the pro-Basil Rajapaksa (BR) group. The group has called on the Government to remove the clause preventing dual citizens from holding public office and to extend the time for the dissolution of Parliament to four-and-a-half years. The Government, however, has objected to the two proposals by the pro-BR group.

The SLPP group, it is learnt, had informed the Government that they would move the two amendments sought by them at the committee stage of the Bill and would go for a vote if needed to get these included in the 22nd Amendment. However, the Government had informed the group that the amendment would require a two-thirds majority to be passed and not a simple majority of 113.