Category: Breaking News

Sri Lanka has already started “right sizing” its strong military gradually to 150,000 by 2030 without any impact on national security while strengthening them with modern technology, State Defence Minister Minister Premitha Bandara Tennakoon said.

He said the government is in the process of reducing the army to 100,000, navy to 30,000, and air force to 20,000 by 2030 from the current numbers, which he did not mention.

“This will be done without removing anybody from the military. The numbers are based on natural reduction,” Tennakoon said, referring to the reduction due to retirements.

“While doing the right sizing of the military, we will be acquiring modern technology. We will do this gradually and carefully with no impact on national security. It will be done responsibly and in a scientific way.”

Sri Lanka’s 2024 defence budget of 423 billion rupees has been already approved by the parliament and it has been reduced to 6.5 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024 compared to this year’s 7.5 percent, he said.

Soon after the end of a 26-year war against separatist Tamil Tiger rebels, the defence budget was 13.5 percent of the GDP in 2010.

In a heated session at the House of Commons, Labour MP Siobhain McDonagh raised serious concerns about the current Foreign Secretary David Cameron’s past professional engagements, claiming that he worked for a Chinese state enterprise sanctioned by the US Government and blacklisted by the World Bank for bribery. McDonagh asserted that the Foreign Secretary had been paid by the Chinese company to promote the construction of a port in Sri Lanka, a nation marred by accusations of war crimes and ongoing concerns about thousands of disappeared individuals since the end of the civil war in 2009.

During the parliamentary session, McDonagh posed a critical question to the Minister, emphasizing the British people’s right to know about the professional affiliations of their Foreign Secretary, especially when it involves employment by the Chinese government. The accusation raises questions about potential conflicts of interest and the impact on the UK’s foreign policy decisions, particularly regarding China and its investments in other nations.

Labour MP Pat McFadden furthered the inquiry by highlighting the Foreign Secretary’s role in promoting the Port City Colombo project in Sri Lanka, receiving praise from the China Harbour Engineering Company. McFadden pressed for clarification on the ultimate client when the Foreign Secretary received payment from KPMG Sri Lanka for his involvement in promoting the project, seeking to discern whether it was the Sri Lankan Government or the Chinese state-owned China Harbour Engineering Company.

Responding to the queries, Conservative MP and Minister for the Cabinet Office, John Glen, stated that the UK Government’s stance on China remains unaltered. Glen emphasized the commitment to engaging directly and robustly in the UK’s national interest. The response did not directly address the specific questions about the Foreign Secretary’s past employment and potential ties to the Chinese state enterprise.

Putting to rest speculation about uncertainty on the conduct of polls pending next year, President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced in Parliament on Wednesday that he would take steps for the conduct of both the Presidential and General Elections next year.

He made such an announcement against the backdrop of the political parties and politically savvy people raising concerns about the possible postponement of elections through legal and constitutional manipulations.

However, Article 31 (3) of the Constitution says (3) ‘The poll for the election of the President shall be taken not less than one month and not more than two months before the expiration of the term of office of the President in office.’

The Presidential Election is due by September or October in terms of the Constitution and therefore there is no requirement for making a fresh announcement. However, the President would have done it because many individuals were casting doubts about the timely conduct of it. In fact, he announced it previously in his address to the convention of his United National Party (UNP).

However, the question still lingers as to whether the President will attempt to postpone the Presidential Election next year through constitutional or legal manipulations.

Nevertheless, the parliamentary election can be called for by him at any time now though it is constitutionally scheduled to be held only in 2025, well after the Presidential Election.

No matter what, the key political parties and individuals harbouring presidential hopes have been expending their energy for some time in anticipation of the elections next year. In addition to the names of President Wickremesinghe, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake and individuals such as Dhammika Perera have already been floated as prospective candidates.

According to informed sources, the parties have done their own surveys to ascertain public opinion. As things stand at the moment, no party commands the clear-cut majority or 50 per cent mark of votes polled to win the elections. They will do a lot of strategizing in the months to come to fill the gaps needed to cross the mark at the election.

Things are slated to hot up starting from January, next year. In the meantime, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) is working on its convention scheduled for December 15. It will announce its vision and mission, probably with an indication about its plan for the Presidential Election. Besides, an SLPP group that is fully with the President will launch its political movement in January, next year, targeting the presidential elections.

The SLPP, as a party, has not yet decided to support President Wickremesinghe. It is highly unlikely that it will field its own candidate this time. Its electoral alliance with any prospective candidate will depend on the political outcome to be unfolded in the months to come.

The Rajapaksas have their share of responsibility for Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, President Ranil Wickremesinghe acknowledged during an exclusive interview with Indian media, Firstpost.

When inquired if the Rajapaksas should at the very least apologise for their actions, President Wickremesinghe said it was up to them and he believes they have done so, recalling that former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had previously issued a similar statement.

“The crisis took place during their time. When Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned as the Prime Minister and Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigned as the President, the whole political system collapsed. The Opposition which should have taken over shied away from the responsibility,” he explained.

The President further said that there were a lot of irresponsible actions by everyone, adding, “I think you have to look into all of that and not merely one part of it.”

Commenting to remarks of critics claiming that he was defending the Rajapaksas, President Wickremesinghe refuted the claims, stating “I am not defending the Rajapaksas. I am saying the Rajapaksas are responsible. But there is no one else to take responsibility thereafter. The critics are the ones who ran away from responsibility.”

Questioned on his attendance at former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s birthday celebrations recently, the President said he and Mahinda Rajapaksa have always exchanged birthday wishes and have also celebrated birthdays, which he claimed was common practice.

“I have always wished Mahinda Rajapaksa on his birthday and he has wished me for my birthday. This time Mr. Namal Rajapaksa asked if I could come to his house for a party, so I said yes. If any MP invites me and I have time, I go to the birthday party. Sometimes we also get a cake and cut it at the Parliamentary group meeting or Cabinet. That’s a tradition,” he said.

Stating that he was not a surrogate for the Rajapaksas as claimed by the critics, President Wickremesinghe revealed that the Rajapaksas’ party was currently divided.

“One half is working with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya and the other half is with me. If you ask me if the whole of Rajapaksas party is supporting me, I would say no. If you ask me if the whole of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya is supporting Sajith Premadasa, I would say no. All parties are split,” he said.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that he only appealed to all political parties to work together to pull the country out of the crisis, and he received the majority to be appointed as the President of Sri Lanka.

Ambassador of the United States to Sri Lanka Julie Chung, acknowledged the resilience of the Sri Lankan people, the abatement of inflation, and the gradual reduction of shortages at the seventh annual general meeting of the Sri Lanka – USA Business Council (SLUSABC) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

The Ambassador of the United States to Sri Lanka recognized the challenging journey that Sri Lanka has traversed since the previous annual general meeting in August of the previous year. She emphasized the importance of Sri Lanka’s commitment to long-term regulatory and economic reform, inclusive of equitable debt restructuring, fiscal transparency enhancement, the creation of an attractive regulatory environment, and the fortification of democratic governance.

SLUSABC elected Chief Operating Officer of WICHY Plantation Company (PVT) LTD, Charithra Hettiarachchi as President for 2023/2024 and he expressed the Council’s commitment to strengthening ties between Sri Lanka and the USA in the areas of trade, tourism and development.

He outlined the Council’s goals, which include creating networking opportunities, advocating for member companies, providing educational resources, and promoting corporate social responsibility and sustainable business practices. Hettiarachchi, expressed the council’s gratitude to the government of the United States of America for the support extended during Sri Lanka’s time of need especially during the last two years. The direct involvement of the embassy in facilitating the import of fertilizer, assistance through the IDFC fund and the numerous work done to develop the human capital of Sri Lanka were a few examples that were highlighted during his speech.

The 2023/24 Executive Committee includes Tilak Gunawardena from MAC Holdings and Tuan Farhath Noor Armith from Fanam International as Vice Presidents, Randeewa Malalasooriya from CBL Natural Foods as the Treasurer, and Sanji De Silva as the Immediate Past President. Dr. Asanka Ratnayake, a Past President, was unanimously honored as an Honorary Member of the council.

Newly appointed committee members include Aitken Spence Travels (Pvt) Ltd, Expelogix (Pvt) Ltd, Jafferjee& Sons (Pvt) Ltd, Sampath Bank PLC, and Spillburg Holdings (Pvt) Ltd.

Referring to the recent judgment given by the Supreme Court where former Presidents Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Mahinda Rajapaksa former Minister Basil Rajapaksa and others were held responsible for the economic crisis, President Ranil Wickremesinghe today said one has to look into whether others are also responsible for the economic debacle and have engaged in a breach of public trust.

“One must note that even the opposition has engaged in a breach of trust. It is the duty of the main opposition to take over the government once those in the existing government resign. However, the current leader of the opposition and the main opposition had engaged in a breach of public trust by failing to form a new government in 2022. We can also probe these matters,” he said.

He also referred to an error in the court case number in the question submitted by Opposition Leader MP Sajith Premadasa. “The number of cases which the Opposition Leader referred to a case in Trinomalee,” he said in a lighter vein.

Mr. Premadasa said error in the case number was not a major issue and accused the President of dodging his question.

SLPP MP Gevindu Kumaratunga who spoke later said the President should not have taken a question with regard to the economic crisis in a lighter vein. ‘ President should not have come up with dirty jokes,” he said.