Category: Breaking News

The Government of Japan has agreed to provide grant assistance worth Rs. 435 million (¥ 200 million) to empower the fisheries industry in Northern and Eastern provinces.

This funding is part of the Japanese Government’s Economic and Social Development Program to provide supportive equipment for the fisheries industry.

The objective of this grant aid to develop cold chain facilities and equip the fisheries sector with modern electronic equipment and, thereby realising high value-added marine products and contributing to the upgrading the living standard of the fishermen in Northern and Eastern Provinces.

Under this grant assistance, ice making machines, digital platform scales, sets of fishing net, refrigerator truck and prefabricated refrigerators/freezers will be provided.

This grant assistance will be a great patronage to reduce the constraints that exist in the value chain and increase the competitiveness, by promoting private sector investments in the fisheries industry.

The Exchange of Notes pertaining to the above grant was signed by Finance, Economic Stabilisation and National Policies Ministry Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, while Japanese Ambassador MIZUKOSHI Hideaki signed on behalf of the Government of Japan.

As one of the main development partners, the Government of Japan extends the hands of friendship to Sri Lanka whenever the help is needed. The Government of Japan has donated various aids to Sri Lanka to ensure food security, quality of health care facilities, and the social wellbeing of the people amid the ongoing economic crisis.

The fisheries sector in Sri Lanka has the potential to be competitive in the global markets and increase employment opportunities, food security and export earnings in a sustainable manner.

In line with the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy framework, the Government envisages achieving the objectives of increased per capita fish consumption, reduced post-harvest loss, generated employment opportunities, improved quality of life of the fisher community, increased foreign exchange and ensures long-term sustainability of the fisheries industry. Considering the above fact, the Government of Japan has agreed to provide grant assistance.

Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda and State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe were also present at the signing ceremony yesterday.

Switzerland has raised concerns over the death of a youth in Sri Lankan Police custody.

Ambassador Siri Walt posted a message on X saying Switzerland is deeply concerned about the death of the youth.

She also said that any case of alleged custodial mistreatment should be impartially investigated by the Sri Lankan authorities.

“Switzerland is deeply concerned about the death of a youth after he was in police custody. Any case of alleged custodial mistreatment should be impartially investigated by the Sri Lakan authorities,” Ambassador Siri Walt said.

Siri Walt assumed duties recently as the Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe says that the Presidential Election and the Parliamentary Election will both be held next year and that neither of the elections will be postponed.

He stated this while delivering a special statement in the Parliament today (22) regarding several matters including the existing cricket crisis.

“We have established democracy in this country. So, now how can you say that we are afraid of an election? We will hold the elections. The Presidential Election and the Parliamentary Election will both be held next year. None of them will be postponed.”

“The year after that, we can hold the Provincial Council and Local Government elections all that. There is no problem,” he said.

Meanwhile the State Minister for Plantations, Enterprise Reforms and Finance, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, had announced that a dedicated allocation of Rs. 10 billion has been reserved for potential future elections.

This provision, while not explicitly outlined in the budget proposals, has been included in the estimates, he said during a press briefing held at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) on Tuesday (21).

Sri Lanka’s budget for 2024 was passed with 122 of the 225 house voting in favour, Parliamentary Speaker Mahinda Abeywardana said.

There were 77 opposing votes.

The budget lays the foundation for the economy to grow by 1.8 percent in 2024, State Minister for Finance Shehan Semasinghe said.

Sri Lanka is hoping to boost revenues to 13 percent of gross domestic product in 2024 with value added tax raised from 15 to 18 percent, many exemptions removed, and broadening the income tax base.

The budget also creates a framework for investors to come to the country, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said.

Opposition legislator Harsha de Silva, who chairs the Committee on Public Accounts said the budget violated a Fiscal Management Responsibility Law and an amendment should be moved as the deficit was higher than 5 percent of GDP.

Semasinghe said a new Fiscal Management Law would be brought next year, but the issue can be discussed.

Multiple injuries had been found on the body of a Tamil youth from the war-affected north of Sri Lanka who died in custody.

His family believes that timely intervention by the country’s human rights commission would have helped save his life from police torture.

Nagarasa Alex was arrested on the 8th November by Police in Vaddukoddai and remanded by the Mallakkam magistrate court two days later.

He was found dead when brought to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital on Sunday (19).

“There were multiple injuries (abrasions and contusions) noted in the back of the trunk, both upper limbs and both lower limbs. These were no natural diseases directly or indirectly contributing to this death,” Dr. Uruthirapasupathy Mayorathan, Consultant Forensic Pathologist, Jaffna Teaching Hospital wrote in his report.

Dr. Mayorathan who is also the Judicial Medical Officer of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital says the case is “under investigation”.

The postmortem examination was ordered by Jaffna Magistrate A.A Anandarajah.

26 years old Alex was arrested by the police on burglary charges.

Family members of the deceased complain the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) did not take action in the proper way. His mother had complained to the HRCSL office in Jaffna on the 10th about her son being arrested and taken away for inquiry.

Nagarasa Alex was produced before the Mallakam magistrate court which ordered the suspect to be held under detention.

In a video posted by Tamil activists on social media, the deceased Nagarasa Alex purportedly speaks about the torture including waterboarding and severe assault by the police.

“Police arrested me on suspicion and beat me severely. My hands were tied behind and my face was covered and beat me repeatedly pouring water repeatedly. I was hanged upside down and beaten. Then they covered my face with a petrol choked plastic bag and beat me. I fell unconscious. Now I can’t lift both my hands. I was not given food on the first day. Next day they took me to their room and said not to file any case with the HRCSL. Then they gave me one packet of arrack to drink”.

Two persons including Nagarasa Alex were arrested in connection with a burglary in Vaddukoddai recently. Family members of the deceased told local journalists they were very much worried from the time he was arrested.