Author: TELO Admin

The United Kingdom on Friday (June 10) relaxed the travel advisory issued to its citizens arriving Sri Lanka, announcing that its Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office no longer advises against all but essential travel to the island nation.

However, a notice issued by the UK government noted that the “economic situation in Sri Lanka is challenging with shortages of basic necessities including medicines, cooking gas, fuel and food because of a shortage of hard currency to pay for imports.”

It also cautioned that there may be long queues at shops and supermarkets, fuel stations, and pharmacies. There may be difficulties or delays obtaining taxis and other public transport and there are ongoing daily power cuts due to electricity rationing, the notice added.

“There have been a number of protests since 31 March 2022. There have been incidents involving violence against peaceful protesters resulting in injuries and loss of life.”

The statement went on to note that security authorities have used tear gas and water cannons against protesters. “There are ongoing protests in the Galle Road, Galle Face and Fort areas of Colombo. Further protests are likely to take place across the island. The Government of Sri Lanka may impose local restrictions including curfews at short notice.”

The UK government urged its citizens in Sri Lanka to be vigilant, avoid any demonstrations or large gatherings, and follow the advice of the local authorities.

The Election Commission is getting ready for the conduct of the local authorities’ election within a period of six months starting from September 20, this year in keeping with the law, an official said.

An official of the Commission told Daily Mirror that the term of the local authorities- Municipal Councils, Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas- had been extended for one year, and their new term would begin on March 20, next year.

He said the Commission is empowered to conduct the polls to these local bodies on a date within the six months’ period prior to that.

“It means we have to conduct the polls on a date between September 20, this year and March 20, 2023,” he said.
Earlier, Subject Minister Dinesh Gunawardana announced that the elections would not be postponed no matter what.

The Ministry is now planning for a few amendments to be incorporated into the election law shortly. The local authorities’ elections were conducted in 2018 for the last time.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has stated that he completely rejects the statement made by the Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) MMC Ferdinando before the parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Committee regarding a wind power project.

The President has stated in a post on his Twitter account that he denies the allegation that he used his authority to award the Mannar wind power project to a specific person or institution.

“Re a statement made by the CEB Chairman at a COPE committee hearing regarding the award of a Wind Power Project in Mannar, I categorically deny authorization to award this project to any specific person or entity. I trust responsible communication in this regard will follow,” the President said.

The COPE questioned CEB officials when they were summoned before the COPE Committee regarding the government’s decision to allow Adani Group to generate renewable energy.

CEB Chairman at the COPE meeting said the President summoned him and told him to award the wind power project to the Adani Group as “Indian Prime Minister Narendra Mod is pressing him (President Rajapaksa).”

COPE Chairman Prof. Charitha Herath questioned the Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board and Parliamentarians Dr. Harsha de Silva and Patali Champika Ranawaka also joined the discussion.

Re a statement made by the #lka CEB Chairman at a COPE committee hearing regarding the award of a Wind Power Project in Mannar, I categorically deny authorisation to award this project to any specific person or entity. I trust responsible communication in this regard will follow.

— Gotabaya Rajapaksa (@GotabayaR) June 11, 2022

Sri Lanka Police fired tear gas at the Inter University Students’ Federation protest opposite the Education Ministry in Pelawatte, Battaramulla.

The IUSF was protest against unjust actions at the Ruhuna and Kelaniya universities, and the unjust punishments on students.

The protest took a tense turn when the IUSF attempted to enter the Education Ministry premises, and pulled down the gate.

In response to an urgent request from the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL), the Government of India (GOI) has decided to extend a Line of Credit (LOC) of US$ 55 million to Sri Lanka for the procurement of urea fertilizer.

In this context, an LOC agreement was signed between GOSL and the Export-Import Bank of India on Friday June 10, 2 at Colombo, in the presence of the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera, and the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay.

Senior officials from the Sri Lankan and Indian side were also present during the signing ceremony.

This LOC will help GOSL secure urea fertilizer for the ongoing paddy sowing ‘Yala’ season. In view of the critical requirement, GOSL and EXIM Bank have agreed to complete all procurement procedures expeditiously so that urea supplies can reach Sri Lanka in a short span of time.

The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to GOI for the timely assistance. The High Commissioner highlighted that the speedy finalization of the LOC testifies to the importance GOI attaches to the welfare of the people of Sri Lanka.

It may be recalled that in line with its ‘Neighborhood First’ policy and as an earnest friend and partner of Sri Lanka, India has extended multi-pronged assistance to the people of Sri Lanka in the last few months. The support from India ranges from economic assistance of close to USD 3.5 billion to helping secure Sri Lanka’s food, health and energy security by supplying essential items like food, medicines, fuel, kerosene etc.