Category: News

An immediate aid freeze of US funding on many programmes aiming for diversity and inclusiveness is likely to hit funding for many local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Sri Lanka, sources who are aware of the impacts of the new US President Donald Trump’s decision have said.

The US State Department has issued a halt to nearly all existing foreign assistance and paused new aid, the BBC has reported, citing an internal memo sent to officials and US embassies abroad.

“This means there won’t be funding for diversity and inclusive programmes which also have been promoting LGBTQ,” one source, who has the knowledge on the impacts of the US funding freeze, told EconomyNext.

Officials in NGOs said some of their key projects including media training, inclusive democracy, rights, and diversity programmes are funded by the US.

“All the programmes are frozen with immediate effect. They have to file a report within 90 days from Trump’s declaration and justify their programmes focusing on diversity, inclusivity, and promoting LGBTQ,” the source said.

Soon after his taking oath, Trump under his executive orders said: “There are only two genders: male and female.”

His order will deprive large amounts of US funding for inclusivity and diversity projects around the world, sources said.

The 90-day pause in foreign development assistance pending a review of efficiencies and consistency with Trump’s foreign policy is already in effect.

The United States is the world’s biggest international aid donor spending $68 billion in 2023 according to the US government figures. The State Department notice appears to affect everything from development assistance to military aid, the BBC reported.

It makes exceptions only for emergency food aid and for military funding for Israel and Egypt.

It also orders a wide scale review of all foreign assistance to be completed within 85 days to ensure the aid adheres to President Trump’s foreign policy goals.

UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Catherine West, is in Sri Lanka for talks with the new Sri Lankan Government.

Inclusive economic growth, anti-corruption, human rights and national reconciliation are on the agenda as Catherine West meets key government ministers, including Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya.

The visit marks the first ministerial visit to Sri Lanka since the formation of new governments in both countries.

The Minister will strengthen valuable UK-Sri Lanka trade links, boosting growth for UK and Sri Lankan businesses. She will launch new export procedure handbooks, helping Sri Lankan businesses better access the UK market through the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS).

The minister will also travel to Jaffna to emphasise the UK’s ongoing support for human rights, reconciliation, climate resilience and minority rights.

She will meet with local political leaders and civil society organisations working on post-conflict rehabilitation, as well as visiting the only FCDO-funded climate adaptation project which directly addresses groundwater depletion and its impact on agriculture and local communities.

Minister for Indo-Pacific, Catherine West said:

“I am so pleased to make my first official visit to Sri Lanka and meet the new government so soon after they have taken office. I have heard a lot about the country from my UK constituents of Sri Lankan heritage; and I have experienced their warm hospitality.

The UK and Sri Lanka share a dynamic modern partnership. I look forward to exploring our potential to grow our relationship through trade, economic growth and education.”

I believe social and economic development are vital to sustained growth. The UK remains steadfast in our commitment to tackling corruption, supporting human rights progress including long-standing grievances, and taking action on the impacts of climate and nature.”

The Minister will meet the British Council to discuss the growing education partnership as Sri Lanka positions itself as regional hub for transnational education (TNE).

UK High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Andrew Patrick said:

“Minister Catherine West’s visit marks an important moment – the first meeting of our two new governments. To see the Minister visit so soon after elections underscores the UK governments commitment to strengthening our bilateral partnership. We’ll see lots of activity in the months ahead, as we work with the government on their agenda of reform.”

The visit highlights the shared ambition of our two governments to deepen collaboration, and address shared challenges such as economic growth, climate change and human rights.”

The Supreme Court has concluded the hearing of petitions filed challenging the constitutionality of certain clauses of the Local Authorities Elections Special Provisions Bill tabled in the Parliament by the government.

Accordingly, the court has declared that the confidential verdict, which has not been publicly revealed yet, will be sent directly to the Speaker of the House.

This order was issued after a two-day hearing of the petitions filed by four parties including President’s Counsel Nizam Kariapper, Member of Parliament and the General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC).

The petitioners had alleged that the government has introduced the bill in question to annul the nominations submitted for the previously scheduled local government elections.

He argued that some provisions of the proposed bill infringe on citizens’ voting rights, thereby violating fundamental human rights.

Thus, the petitioner has requested a ruling declaring that the provisions in question of the bill can only be passed with a two-thirds majority in Parliament and approved by a referendum.

The High Commission of India in Colombo is inviting applications for 200 fully-funded scholarships for Sri Lankan nationals, across various levels.

These scholarships are being offered for studies in prestigious Indian Institutes and Universities across subject domains but not including Medical/Paramedical, Fashion Design and Law courses.

The scholarships offered exclusively for Sri Lankan nationals are for 2025-2026 academic session, the Indian High Commission said.

The schemes under which these scholarships have been offered are:

a) Nehru Memorial Scholarship Scheme: This scheme covers Under Graduate/Post Graduate & PhD courses in various domains such as Engineering, Science, Business, Economics, Commerce, Humanities and Arts, among others.

b) Maulana Azad Scholarship Scheme: Masters Degrees courses with preference to Engineering, Science and Agriculture.

c) Rajiv Gandhi Scholarship Scheme: Under Graduate courses in specifically in the field of Information Technology, leading to a Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Technology.

d) Dr.A.P.J.Abdul kalam Commonwealth Scholarship scheme: This scheme also covers Under Graduate/Post Graduate & PhD courses in various domains such as Engineering, Science, Business, Economics, Commerce, Humanities and Arts, among others.

Each of the above schemes covers full tuition fees for the entire duration of the course, monthly sustenance allowance, and annual grant for books and stationary. In addition, air fare to the nearest destination in India and an annual grant for educational tours to various parts of the country, apart from several other auxiliary benefits are also offered, the Indian High Commission noted.

Selected candidates would also be provided hostel facility inside the respective campus, according to the Indian High Commission in Colombo.

Government of India selects meritorious Sri Lankan nationals for award of these coveted scholarships, the High Commission said, adding that the selection of candidates is done in consultation with Ministry of Education, Government of Sri Lanka.

Necessary details will be available on the website of Ministry of Education at www.mohe.gov.lk. Interested applicants and their parents are advised to approach the High Commission of India, Colombo (eduwing.colombo@mea.gov.in) or Ministry of Education, Government of Sri Lanka to learn more about eligibility criteria and selection procedure.

The Colombo Magistrates Court ordered the release of Yoshitha Rajapaksa on bail today (27).

Rajapaksa was granted bail on two surety bonds of Rs 50 million each.

The suspect, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, was presented before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court this morning.

He was arrested on Saturday (25) in the Beliatta area.

Following his arrest, he was presented before Additional Magistrate Pavithra Sanjeewani at the Hultsdorf No. 5 Magistrate’s Court that afternoon, and was subsequently remanded until today.

According to Police Spokesperson Senior SSP Buddhika Manatunga, Rajapaksa was arrested in connection with an investigation into the purchase of a property and house in the Ratmalana area for Rs 34 million, allegedly acquired through illegal means.

The arrest was made based on sufficient evidence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act No. 5 of 2006, following the advice of the Attorney General.