Author: TELO Admin

A team of senior European Union (EU) officials who was in Sri Lanka to review Sri Lanka’s progress in implementing the 27 international conventions applicable under the Generalised System of Preferences Plus (GSP+), concluded the visit today.

These conventions, ratified by Sri Lanka, cover human and labour rights, environment and climate, as well as good governance principles. Over the course of ten days, the officials held wide-ranging meetings with representatives of the government, including President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, Justice Minister Ali Sabry, and Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa. The officials also met with the opposition, civil society including human rights defenders, trade unions and employers. They had exchanges with EU Member States Ambassadors and UN agencies.

The monitoring mission addressed issues impacting human rights and the rule of law, economic, social, and cultural rights, and labour relations. The visiting officials discussed the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), recalling that the amendment of the PTA was a key commitment in readmitting Sri Lanka to the GSP+ scheme in 2017. There was a significant focus on non-discrimination, the respect for the rights of all communities in Sri Lanka, the ongoing use of the PTA, impediments to the exercise of fundamental freedoms, and the development of draft legislation on Non-Governmental Organisations. The meetings also reviewed drugs policy, environment and climate change, as well as corruption. The utilisation and future development of the GSP+ scheme was the topic of a webinar organised by the European Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka, with the participation of EU representatives.

EU Ambassador Denis Chaibi said, “The effective implementation of international commitments forms the basis of Sri Lanka’s privileged access to the EU market. We have been working together with the Sri Lankan Government since 2015 to advance the issues of concern and welcome the continued engagement. The monitoring and engagement with the Government of Sri Lanka will be the subject of regular reports to the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers.”

The EU’s GSP+ scheme is a unilateral trade tool that removes import duties from products coming into the EU from lower middle-income countries, supporting sustainable development.

The ferry service proposed between the ports of Karaikal in the Union territory of Puducherry and Jaffna in Sri Lanka is awaiting clearance from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs to take off, Puducherry Lt Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan said on Tuesday

Shortly after flagging off Samudra Naukayan, an ocean sailing expedition by NCC naval wing cadets from Puducherry to Karaikal, she said shipping services between Karaikal and Jaffna were available in the past and were discontinued for various reasons, the New Indian Express reported.

The territorial government was pursuing the proposal to revive the service and the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner and ministers had recently held discussions with the Puducherry administration in this regard. According to Puducherry Transport Minister Chandira Priyanga who interacted with the Sri Lankan ministers, Sri Lanka wanted the ferry service to one more port on the island nation’s east coast.

As part of efforts to promote tourism, the Ministry for Shipping had mooted the proposal to start the ferry service between Karaikal and Jaffna, covering a distance of 56 nautical miles (103.7 kilometres), in February 2021. Union minister of state for shipping Mansukh Mandaviya held a meeting with the Puducherry administration at the Chief Secretariat in this regard.

He said many Tamils from Sri Lanka come to India for religious purpose. Besides, Sinhalese people also desire to visit Buddhist places in India. The ferry service will facilitate their visit for spiritual purposes. It will not only give a boost to tourism, but also improve bilateral cooperation between India and Sri Lanka, he said.

The project would be on private-public-partnership (PPP) basis, where the operator would operate the service, Karaikal Port will be the facilitator and the state and central government would extend support, he had said.

To take the proposal forward, a committee under the Chief Secretary along with Secretary, Port, and other officials had been constituted. The committee went into the nitty gritty and presented a report to the shipping ministry. Now, various clearances, immigration, customs and no objection certificates by agencies are being obtained.

It is a major tourism project that is expected to help in the development of Karaikal and bring business and economic development to Puducherry.

Earlier, after flagging off the ocean sailing expedition by NCC cadets at the Puducherry Port, she said it was part of an effort to infuse in the youth the spirit of courage and capability to tide over all challenges.

The expedition would be for 11 days between Puducherry and Karaikal, adding that the team had 60 cadets including 25 girls. The expedition would sail from Puducherry to Karaikal through Cuddalore, Parangipettai and Poompuhar. On each leg of journey, six cadets and one instructor will be sailing in non-motorized boats also called DK Whaler harnessing wing force. On the return leg, they would sail along the same route up to Kalapet and the expedition would culminate at Thengaithittu Harbour thus travelling a total distance of 302 km. The cadets underwent extensive training in rowing and sailing techniques before starting the journey. During the expedition, the team would undertake social service activities such as pollution awareness drives, coastal clean-ups, sapling plantation and adventure related activities including kayaking.

She said that the territorial government was ramping up facilities in hospitals to ensure that patients with complaints of dengue were taken care of without delay. The Lt Governor appealed to the people to maintain cleanliness at homes.

The Supreme Court has directed the Attorney General to instruct the Commissioner General of Prisons and the Superintendent of Prisons in Anuradhapura to ensure the safety of the eight prisoners who have filed a Fundamental Rights petition against State Minister Lohan Ratwatte.

The Supreme Court has also directed the Attorney General to instruct the Commissioner General of Prisons and the Superintendent of Prisons of Anuradhapura to provide the necessary access for their lawyers to meet the relevant prisoners.

The SC made the order after considering the FR petition filed by eight suspects detained at the Anuradhapura Prison by their lawyer alleging that Lohan Ratwatte had entered the Anuradhapura Prison and threatened a detainee with a pistol.

The petitions were filed today before Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Murdu Fernando and S. The case was taken up before a three-judge bench comprising Justices Thurairajah.

The petitioner further requests that an order be issued to release him on bail and finally release him from all charges.

Sri Lanka Tuesday reported 40 deaths due to COVID-19 after the figures were confirmed by the Director General of Health Services on Monday, October 04.

Among the deaths reported today, 22 are of males and 18 of females. The majority of deaths – 36- 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 13,142.