Sri Lanka Sunday reported 35 deaths due to COVID-19 after the figures were confirmed by the Director General of Health Services on Saturday, October 09.
Among the deaths reported today, 18 are of males and 17 of females. The majority of deaths – 30- are of elderly people in the 60 years and above age group.
According to the data reported by the Government Information Department, the total deaths due to Covid-19 since the pandemic began last year has now risen to 13,331.
The Sri Lankan High Commissioner Milinda Moragodain India, Milinda Moragoda called on India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval here on Friday.
The National Security Advisor extended a warm welcome to High Commissioner Moragoda and engaged in an extremely cordial conversation with him.
Doval and High Commissioner Moragoda discussed a range of issues pertaining to mutual strategic interests of the two countries.
Moragoda also presented a copy of his policy road map entoitled: “Integrated Country Strategy for Sri Lanka Diplomatic Missions in India 2021/2023”.
Doval is the fifth National Security Advisor of India. He holds the rank of a Cabinet Minister.
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) made representations before the Select Committee of Parliament to Identify Appropriate Reforms of the Election Laws and the Electoral System and to Recommend Necessary Amendments that the proportional representation system is appropriate for the country.
The party yesterday (07) pointed out that the proportional representation system could ensure fair representation of the people and that people’s vote would add value under this system.
The Parliamentary Select Committee met under the chairmanship of Leader of the House, Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.
The SLMC said that the new amendments should ensure the establishment of stable governments as well as the establishment of democracy.
They also stressed that the new amendment should provide representation, based on the geographical boundaries of the island. The people are able to elect their representatives through the preferential voting system. The party also raised the need to make the ballot paper easy for the people to understand. They also said that the stability of the electoral system is an essential factor.
The party members informed the Committee that the SLMC was of the view that new amendments should be made to the current system without changing the proportional representation system.
All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) also made representations before the Parliamentary Select Committee yesterday. They said in the committee that the electoral system should be amended to protect the rights of minorities. The party pointed out in the committee that the proportional representation system is more suitable for the country and that it will strengthen the representation of the people. The party also stated in the committee that proportional representation should be used for local government, provincial council and parliamentary elections.
Janatha Vimukthi Peranuna (JVP) also made representations before the Parliamentary Select Committee. They said that the proportional representation system is suitable for the country. If the amendments are made by changing the principles of the proportional representation system, the executive presidency will also have to be amended, said the party’s MP Vijitha Herath.
MP, Dr. (Ms) Harini Amarasuriya, pointed out in the committee the need to take action to ensure the women’s representation. She also suggested that 50 percent of the national list should be women.
She emphasized that women’s representation should be ensured at all levels of decision making and that women’s representation in politics has been reduced due to differences in political culture.
Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, M.U.M. Ali Sabri Members of Parliament Rauff Hakeem, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Mano Ganeshan, M.A. Sumanthiran, Madura Vithanage and Sagara Kariyawasam were also present at the committee meeting.
Officials from the Attorney General’s Department, the Delimitation Commission and the Election Commission were also present.
The next meeting of the Parliamentary Select Committee is scheduled to be held today 08th of October, said the Secretary to the Select Committee, Deputy Secretary General & Chief of Staff of Parliament Ms. Kushani Rohanadheera.
Leader of the House Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told the Parliamentry Select Committee on electoral reforms that the Attorney General has notified that the Provincial Council elections cannot be held under any system without passing a new act.
He said this during a meeting of the Committee held at the Parliament Complex.
He said even though it is vital to hold the provincial council elections, which have been functioning without people’s representatives for a long time, the legal situation stands an obstacle to do so.
He said it was not the task of the PSC to draft laws and that its task was to make recommendations.
“It is the task of the Government and Parliament to draft laws,” he said.
Sri Lanka’s gross official reserves fell to 2,581.3 billion US dollars in September 2021, from 3,543.5 billion in July official data showed, amid continued liquidity injections.
Sri Lanka’s gross forex reserves were 7.05 billion US dollars in July 2021 when inflationary policy (liquidity injections began) and the central bank lost its ability to collect forex reserves.
Policy deteriorated dramatically from around February 2020 as Treasury bill yields started to rise and taxes were cut in December 2019.
Price controls on Treasury bill were place in April 2021, and money was printed outside of auctions.
Sri Lanka was hit by a 2.3 billion US dollar balance of payments deficit in 2020 and 2.7 billion US dollars by July 2021, not counting the latest reserve losses.
Sri Lanka has lifted price controls on Treasuries auctions. Though volumes are smaller money is still being printed.
China has told Sri Lanka to respect science and facts with regards to the import of organic fertilizer from a Chinese company.
The Agriculture Ministry had recently announced that a decision was taken not to import organic fertiliser from the Chinese company after harmful bacteria was found in a second set of samples.
The bacteria was found during tests carried out by the National Plant Quarantine Service (NPQS).
The Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka noted that the “hasty” conclusion made by the National Plant Quarantine Service lacks scientific basis,
In response to controversy surrounding organic fertilizer samples imported from China, the Chinese embassy in Colombo said both the Chinese company and the Sri Lankan authorities should cooperate on the principles of respecting science and facts and the spirit of contract with the view to resolving this issue promptly, and address differences through dialogue in good faith for the mutual benefits of the China-Sri Lanka cooperation.
The Embassy said in a statement that it contacted the product supplier, Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd. to examine the issue, and found out that these reports and statements, which had already harmed the reputation of the company in question, directly contradict the facts.
The Embassy would like to clarify as follows:
1.Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co.,Ltd.(here after referred to as Seawin),is a high-tech enterprise focusing in the production of new-type seaweed organic fertilizer, found in 2000 with are gistered capital of 132 million RMB (approximately 4.1billion LKR).It’sproducts,which have passed the EUECOCERT Organic Certification, OMRI Certification,REACH Certification,and Australian Organic Input Certification etc.,have been exported to more than 50 countries and regions in the world,including Europe and the United States. It also set up oversea branch companies in the U.S. and Australia.
2. Seawin was selected by the Ministry of Agriculture of Sri Lanka through open tender to supply the urgently needed organic fertilizer.
3.Thecompany has undertaken obligations strictly in accordance with the signed contract.In their production process,the organic fertilizer must be sterilized at 600 °C, thus all harmful microorganisms are killed by the high temperature, which is in line with the standards required in the bidding documents,the contract,the letters of credit as well as the widely accepted international standards for organic fertilizers.
4.In the process of enforcing the contract,however,the Sri Lanka National Plant Quarantine Services(NPQS) claimed that the sample received contained harmful bacteria including Erwinia,after only THREE(3)days of test and analysis,which lead to the above-mentioned news reports.
It is noted that, according to the International Plant Protection Convention, it will take at least SIX (6) days to detect Erwinia. The hasty conclusion made by NPQS islack of scientific basis. As such,the decision made by the authorities to reject Seawin’s organic fertilizer based on the NPQS report is not only questionable but also causing great financial loss to the company.
5.Therefore,theEmbassy hopes that the related parties in SriLankan side and the Chinese company could coordinate on the principles of respecting science and facts and the spirit of contract with the view to resolving this issue promptly, and address differences through dialogue in good faith for the mutual benefits of the China-Sri Lanka cooperation.
COMSATS University Islamabad in Pakistan (CUI) and General Sir John Kotelawala Défense University (KDU) in Sri Lanka have inked a Document of Understanding to collaborate on advanced biomaterial research.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Tabassum Afzal, Rector CUI and Major General Milinda Peiris, Vice Chancellor, KDU signed the document of collaboration at a ceremony held online COMSATS said in a press release.
The Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Biomedical Materials (IRCBM), a state of the art research center at CUI Lahore campus will collaborate with KDU on respective national regulations on safety and security of sensitive materials, goods, technologies and equipment.
Prof. Afzal said that the core focus of partnership between CUI and KDU will be in the field of advanced biomaterials and allied areas that are much needed in Pakistan. “While there is a limited development of products such as synthetic skin substitute, wound dressings for foot ulcer patients, artificial bone fillers, disease monitoring and diagnostic devices and stem cells linked with therapies in our part of the world. The future is indeed bright with the kind of functional partnership such as the one we are signing today.”
Prof. Afzal also added that interdisciplinary research in IRCBM is globally recognized and transnational in nature. “It is our crown jewel because of its high impact factor research. While CUI continues to grow within Pakistan, we are also very keen on developing our international linkages and partnership with centers of excellence in developing world.”
The center was established in year 2008 to research and deliver indigenously-developed low-cost healthcare solutions to the local market.
Prof. Afzal conveyed his satisfaction that currently three brilliant and outstanding Sri Lankan students are studying in CUI doing their MS degrees. He desired hosting more international students from Sri Lanka, thus offered 100 percent tuition fee waiver to the Sri Lankan students particularly from KDU.
Major General Milinda Peiris said that the objectives of collaboration is to cooperate and develop the activities related to any field in which CUI and KDU have shared interests, such as biomaterials, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, sensors and biosensors and allied fields. In addition, both universities will explore possibility of exchange of programs for students, faculty members and scientists, joint supervision of PhD students, mutual organization of lectures, conferences, symposia and training programs.
Maj. Gen. Dr. Shahid Ahmad Hashmat (Retd.) former High Commissioner of Pakistan in Sri Lanka informed about efforts of the Government of Pakistan for the promotion of educational and research opportunities with Sri Lanka. He explained efforts of the Higher Education Commission, Government of Pakistan to offer fully funded scholarships to the students of Sri Lanka who wish to study BS, MS and PhD programs in leading universities of Pakistan.
UI Niyas, Counsellor (Political & Trade), High Commission of Sri Lanka in Pakistan thanked for giving opportunity to the Sri Lankan High Commission in Islamabad to witness signing of DOU between top universities of the both countries. He appreciated KDU as well as CUI’s development and growth. He said that he is very happy and confident that this collaboration will be the initial step and will open more avenues of partnership between the two universities.
Member of the National Election Commission, Jeevan Thiyagarajah, was appointed as the Governor of the Northern Province by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday (8). He replaces P.S.M. Charles, who was appointed last year. The letter nominating Thiyagarajah to the post has been issued by President’s Secretary P.B. Jayasundera.
He can accept the post, subject to his resignation from the Commission, the letter added. Accordingly he has stepped down from the post. He earlier served as the Head of the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies (CHA). Thiyagarajah was a member of GOSL delegation to Geneva twice in 2012 and has held several key positions in the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government.
Trade Union representatives met with Former President Maithripala Sirisena and members of political parties affiliated with the government, to discuss matters surrounding the controversial Kerawalapitiya Power Plant deal.
The meeting took place at the Sri Lanka Freedom Party headquarters in Colombo and saw representatives from 11 political parties affiliated with the government, present for the meet.
At the meeting, it was decided to discuss with the President on the need to protect national resources.
Ranjan Jayalal, the General Secretary of the CEB Employees Union said the political party representatives understood the government made a wrong move.
‘Yet, they are not in a position to say if it is right or wrong,” he said noting that all efforts will be made to defeat this effort undertaken by the government.
Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila who also attended the meeting said another meeting will be called for with the Trade Union representatives, however, declined to comment on his position against the sale of national assets.
Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara who is also the leader of the Democratic Left Front stressed national assets should not be sold and said that efforts will be made to ensure it does not happen.
Former President Maithripala Sirisena stressed the need to rebuild the country and there is no need to seize the power or topple a government.
The Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) has urged India to push Sri Lanka to fully implement the 16th Amendment to the Constitution.
The request had been made when the TPA led by former Minister Mano Ganesan met Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla recently.
In a media release, Ganesan said that the 13th Amendment to the Constitution must be fully implemented and the Provincial Council elections expedited.
“We want immediate elections for the Central, Western, Uva and Sabaragamuwa PCs along with the Northern and Eastern PC.
Ganesan added that the 16th Amendment must also be fully implemented to ensure the dignity of the Tamil language.
The TPA leader pointed out that the 16th Amendment has been completely ignored and forgotten, adding that it was through this amendment that Tamil language was recognized as an administrative language, an educational language and a judicial language.
“Both the 13th and 16th Amendments were incorporated into the Constitution of Sri Lanka through the Indo-Lanka Accord. Therefore, we believe that the Government of India has a responsibility in this regard,” Ganesan noted.
He also said that the rights enjoyed by other citizens of Sri Lanka should also be extended to the upcountry Tamils who are citizens of Sri Lanka.
The TPA pointed out that the families of Tamil workers living in the plantations have been denied land rights.
Ganesan urged India to raise the matter with Sri Lanka.
