Category: News

PCoI on electoral reforms seek written proposals and opinions from interested parties

Posted on | by TELO Admin

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) to Make Recommendations on Election Law Reforms is now calling for written representations from the members of the public, political parties, organizations and interested individuals.

In a press release, the PCoI said it will accept written proposals or opinions pertaining to the following:
• Increasing the representation of women and youth
• Reducing the period between the time of declaration of an election and the release of results after concluding the election
• Providing opportunity for electronic voting
• Providing facilities for Sri Lankans living overseas to vote in elections
• Enabling a person to contest elections for both Provincial Councils and Parliament and represent both if elected
• Providing opportunity for postal voting for voters serving in Public Corporations/ State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs)/ Private Sector who are engaged in election-related services on election day
• Proportional representation, proposals on appropriate mixed election system reflecting the pluralistic nature of the society
• Strengthening the multi-party system
• Reducing the role of money in politics and prevention of policy capture
• Leadership’s accountability to political party members
• The role of political parties in strengthening national unity

Additionally, the PCoI is also calling for views and proposals on how political parties and independent groups should use the media, how they should connect themselves in carrying out public affairs, registering political parties and acting in a manner that is credible and accountable to the public.

Written proposals or opinions should be submitted on or before December 15, 2023 via e-mail to sec.coi@presidentsoffice.lk or to Secretary, Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Make Recommendations for Election Law Reforms, No. 21, SEMA Building, Janadhipathi Mawatha, Colombo 01.

The PCoI noted that the contact information or any personal data mentioned in the written proposals and opinions and would be treated as confidential.

A nine-member PCoI, headed by former Chief Justice Priyasad Gerard Dep, was appointed on October 15, 2023, to obtain information, investigate, inquire into and report on making recommendations for the amendment of election laws upon examining the existing election laws.

It consists of Suntharam Arumainayaham; Senanayake Alisandaralage; Nalin Jayantha Abeysekara, PC; Rajitha Naveen Christopher Senaratna Perera; Ahamed Lebbe Mohamed Saleem; Sagarica Delgoda; Esther Sriyani Nimalka Fernando; and Vitharanage Deepani Samantha Rodrigo.

However, in a special gazette notification published on November 02, Alan Carmichael Vere David was appointed as the 10th member of the PCoI, as it was observed that the number of commissioners holding office is not adequate to execute the functions of the commission more efficiently and speedily.

Through the said communiqué, President Ranil Wickremesinghe also increased the powers of the PCoI after identifying the necessity to expand the scope of the mandate of the commission.

Posted in Uncategorized

U.S. Embassy Celebrates Opening of a New American Innovation Hub (iHub) in Batticaloa

Posted on | by TELO Admin

Batticaloa, November 15, 2023: Today in Batticaloa, U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung inaugurated a new American Innovation Hub (iHub) and welcomed the Governor of the Eastern Province Senthil Thondaman to join as a special guest. A joint initiative between the U.S. Embassy and Dream Space Academy, the iHub in Batticaloa aims to empower the youth of the Eastern Province, foster knowledge exchange, and promote people-to-people ties between the United States and Sri Lanka. In addition to the American iHub in Batticaloa, the U.S. Embassy has interactive American Spaces in Colombo, Kandy, Jaffna, and Matara.

“The Batticaloa iHub, our fifth American Space in Sri Lanka, will be a key link to connect the Eastern Province with the United States, as well as to cultivate connections between young people across the entire island,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “As we celebrate 75 years of bilateral relations this year, this space holds great promise for the youth and academic institutions in the region, fostering innovation, leadership, education, and collaboration. This will be a space where all people feel comfortable and inspired, underlining the enduring and robust partnership between the United States and Sri Lanka.”

The Batticaloa iHub is designed to be a hub of intellectual engagement, providing access to a wide range of free-of-charge resources, including books, digital materials, multimedia content, and online databases. It serves as a space where students, researchers, and enthusiasts can gather to expand their horizons, engage in discussions, and collaborate on projects that contribute to educational and social development. The iHub also hosts a variety of free programs, workshops, and events focused on areas such as English language learning, entrepreneurship, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), and American literature and history. These activities not only enhance participants’ skills but also foster a deeper appreciation for the diversity of thought and ideas.

Located at 7A Saravana Road, Kallady, Batticaloa, the Batticaloa iHub will be open to the public from Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon. All skills development programs and activities at the iHub will be conducted free of charge.

Visit the U.S. Embassy’s American Spaces website for more information: https://lk.usembassy.gov/education-culture/american-spaces/

By U.S. Embassy Colombo | 15 November, 2023 | Topics: News, Press Releases

Posted in Uncategorized

Communist Party of China bolsters ties with political parties in Sri Lanka

Posted on | by TELO Admin

In conjunction of the tenth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Communist Party of China (CPC) enhanced its engagement with political parties, including those in Sri Lanka, in pursuit of further success of the project in the next decade.

The CPC concluded its BRI Dialogue with the representatives of political parties from South Asia and Southeast Asia in Kunming on November 10, the capital of China’s Yunnan Province considered the gateway to connectivity to these regions.

Representing Sri Lanka, General Secretary of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Sagara Kariyawasam, General Secretary of the United National Party (UNP) Palitha Range Bandara and Foreign Affairs Secretary of Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Thilina Peiris attended the function in which the CPC shared its insights on the success story of the BRI during the first decade of its implementation and the way forward for the next decade.

The CPC has already tied up with the political parties in Sri Lanka cutting across the divide with regular exchanges. Most of the key politicians from both sides of the divide have already visited China on programmes, while new programmes are also on the cards.

Sri Lanka is one of the countries that recognized the BRI at its inception. It is also a country that matters most for China given its strategic positioning in the Indian Ocean with easy access to key markets in the region. The political goodwill in the host country concerned is key for the successful implementation of the BRI.

At the Kunming BRI Dialogue, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee Liu Jianchao delivered the keynote speech. The political leaders of the countries such as Pakistan, Thailand, Indonesia and Nepal attended the function.

’Yet to decide if I will re-contest Presidency’ – Ranil says

Posted on | by TELO Admin

With a Presidential election scheduled for next year, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said he had still not made a decision if he would re contest the presidency as his focus presently was to terminate Sri Lanka from bankruptcy.

Responding to a question by the Daily Mirror at a meeting with the Editors at the Presidential Secretariat last evening, Wickremesinghe did not confirm nor deny his plans of a possible re-contest of the presidency but said he would wait and see.

“My primary focus right now is to terminate Sri Lanka from bankruptcy and then I will decide,” the President said.

When questioned on the future of his political party, the United National Party, Wickremesinghe said that UNP MPs were defeated at the last General Election as they were the only lot that spoke for the truth about the economy.’

Therefore he said the UNP will look at re-grouping and making a comeback before the elections next year.

Explaining how the country planned to exit from bankruptcy, Wickremesinghe said the aim of the government was to limit expenditure, increase efficiency and live within means. He said this was the intention of the budget that was presented on Monday.

The President indicated that the budget was presented with a view of economic recovery and in line with the IMF expectations and the confidence in the country’s economic recovery was apparent with the recent investment made by the US International Development Finance Corporation and Adani Group of India in the Colombo Port West terminal. The President pointed out that such investments would not come if they did not have confidence in the country’s economy.

The President also said that the country should aim at being competitive in international trade as they intend to increase trade opportunities with the RCEP block, India, Bangladesh and the EU.

When asked as to how optimistic he was about the revenue target and projections of the government as there were no new tax proposals included in the Budget, President Wickremesinghe noted that tax collection had increased by 55 percent over the last year and that tax administration and collection would be made more efficient with the establishment of a Revenue Authority.

Posted in Uncategorized

SLPP claims most of Ranil’s comms. not beneficial

Posted on | by TELO Admin

The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Party claimed that most of the committees including Parliamentary committees appointed under the direction of President and Finance, Economic Stabilisation and National Policies Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe do not benefit the people or the country’s economy in any way.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, the SLPP General Secretary and Government Parliamentarian, attorney Sagara Kariyawasam said: “President Wickremesinghe keeps appointing committees, but they don’t deliver any positive outcome to the people and the country’s economy. What we feel is that those committees are aimed at deceiving the people.”

Following the resignation of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the midst of the massive public protests that demanded the same, the SLPP endorsed Wickremesinghe as their candidate for the Parliamentary vote to elect the President. Although the SLPP fully supported Wickremesinghe in his programmes in the beginning, there have been recent instances of SLPPers criticising him over various matters, particularly the granting of more Ministerial posts to non-SLPPers.

Meanwhile, claiming that there were nearly 80 committees operating in the Parliament, Kariyawasam recently said that there were only six committee rooms for those committees to meet. He, being a member of several such committees, said that the lack of committee rooms has hindered the functions of the Parliamentary committees to a greater extent.

Posted in Uncategorized

Sri Lanka’s Asia-Beating Dollar Bond Rally May Be Approaching End – Bloomberg

Posted on | by TELO Admin

A bull run in Sri Lanka’s defaulted bonds may be nearing its end as investors turn skeptical over more gains with a successful debt revamp already priced in.

With a 70% surge, Sri Lanka’s dollar bonds are Asia’s best-performing trade this year following a $3 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund. The island nation is aiming to resolve its debt restructuring with investors and countries including China by next month.

“Estimated recovery values are in line with market prices, so I don’t see sufficient potential upside from here,” said Carlos de Sousa, portfolio manager at Vontobel Asset Management AG in Zurich, referring to the value of bonds once the government seals a deal with creditors.

Sri Lanka’s turnaround in 2023 —- the currency is up 11% and stocks have surged nearly 30% —- rewarded those who put faith in the South Asian nation after it defaulted in May last year. While it has completed an exchange of local debt, it’s still waiting on a proposal from creditors including India and Japan, and the government has yet to reach agreement with dollar bond investors.

A proposal in October by an ad hoc group of bondholders didn’t receive a favorable response from the nation.

“The government’s rejection of the proposal shows that there is a risk of negotiations dragging out or leading to less creditor-friendly terms,” said Patrick Curran, senior economist at Tellimer Markets Inc., which in October downgraded Sri Lanka bonds to hold from a buy.

He estimates the bonds due 2030 will be worth about 53 cents per dollar in the best case scenario, assuming a 16% exit yield. They were trading at about 51 cents per dollar on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka owes more than $12 billion in overseas bonds, according to the government’s quarterly debt bulletin.

Out of Crisis

Some investors still see room for gains, aided by progress in economic reforms such as boosting tax revenue, softening inflation, and a tentative deal for the disbursement of the next IMF loan tranche of about $330 million.

“Sri Lanka bonds are still relatively attractive because they are in an IMF program and restructuring talks are ongoing,” said Johnny Chen, fund manager at William Blair Investment Management in Singapore. “Eventually, you should reach a middle ground between bondholders and authorities.”

The government set aside $9 billion for bond restructuring in Monday’s budget.

The key for more gains in bonds lies in Sri Lanka’s ability to “deliver or over-deliver” on its fiscal consolidation plans, said Vontobel’s de Sousa.

US Ambassador visits Zion Church

Posted on | by TELO Admin

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung made a visit to the Zion Church in the east of Sri Lanka on Monday (13), as part of her visit to the Eastern Province.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Ambassador said that she was deeply moved by the visit to Zion church.

She also held a discussion with Pastor Roshan Mahesan about the impact of that horrific day in 2019 that claimed 25, mostly children, and support the community has received to promote healing.

It must also be noted that in recent weeks, envoys from India, China, and Pakistan also paid visits to multiple areas in Sri Lanka’s North and East

Posted in Uncategorized

Mahinda, Gota, Basil and others responsible for economic crisis -SC

Posted on | by TELO Admin

A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court has determined that a group including former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had violated the fundamental rights of the general public by mismanaging the economy between 2019 and 2022.

Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, and Justices Buwaneka Aluwihare, Vijith Malalgoda and Murdhu Fernando delivered the majority decision in the matter while Justice Priyantha Jayawardena dissented.

Other respondents in the case including former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, the Central Bank Monetary Board, former Finance Secretary P.B. Jayasundara, and former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal was also found to have violated the fundamental rights of the petitioners.

The petition filed with the Supreme Court pointed out that a tax relief of Rs. 681 billion for businessmen during Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s tenure as President was the main reason for Sri Lanka’s economic crisis.

They also pointed out economic mismanagement issues including the pegging of the Sri Lankan Rupee against the US Dollar, the delay in securing the IMF assistance, and the repayment of USD 500 million sovereign bonds during a forex crisis.

The petition was filed by Prof. Mahim Mendis of the Open University of Sri Lanka, Former Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chandra Jayaratne, Julian Bowling, Jehan Kanakaratne and Transparency International Sri Lanka.

The Supreme Court also ordered for the petitioners to be paid Rs. 150,000 each.

Sri Lanka has to work its way out of economic crisis on its own: Norwegian Ambassador

Posted on | by TELO Admin

Norwegian Ambassador May-Elin Stener who is accredited to Sri Lanka from New Delhi was in Sri Lanka to give credentials and shared her views on bilateral ties in an interview with Daily Mirror. Excerpts of the interview:

Q You came to Colombo to present your credentials. In the meantime you interacted with Sri Lanka leaders including the President and the Foreign Minister. What are the new aspects you discussed during these meetings?

My message has been quite clear that Sri Lanka has a place in the hearts of many Norwegians. We are still with Sri Lanka. We will be covering Sri Lanka with passion and dedication also from the Embassy in New Delhi.

The closing down of the embassy was part of a restructuring of the Foreign Service in Norway. Other embassies and missions were also closed.
We will keep having a special focus on Sri Lanka. We maintain the projects that we have had here in the country. We would also like to discuss with Sri Lanka how we can further the cooperation in particular areas like climate change and the green new technologies – how we can make Norwegian and Sri Lankan companies work together on developing green solutions. The Norwegian Climate Investment Fund has already invested in solar energy in Sri Lanka.

Also, when I met the President and the Foreign Minister, I thanked them for facilitating a very quick credential ceremony for me to take over my charge as Ambassador to Sri Lanka quickly.
I had only been in Delhi for 10 weeks when I delivered my credentials to President Ranil Wickremesinghe here in Sri Lanka. I also think that is a sign of both sides wanting to maintain a strong relationship.

Q How difficult is it for you to look after Colombo from New Delhi?

Our embassy in Delhi has been reinforced. We have staff that will specifically work and cover Sri Lanka.
We are putting more resources into Sri Lanka from Delhi. It gives us an opportunity to look at the overall and holistic picture.
It will of course not be possible for me to be as present as the previous ambassador who was physically here. But we will from the Embassy side have Sri Lanka as an important priority.

Q In the minds of many Sri Lankans, Norway is associated with its role in peacebuilding, and reconciliation apart from its development assistance. Now, because of Sri Lanka’s strategic positioning in the Indian Ocean, the countries look at Sri Lanka from a different perspective. Does Norway still stick to the same role in peacebuilding or has its scope widened further?

Well, the scope has widened over the last years, and I am sure you discussed that also with my predecessors and previous ambassadors.
So, we are now looking into how we can support the communities in their development, how we can work with Sri Lanka on the green transition, and how we can work with Sri Lanka on the business-to-business level.
We have also appointed a new Honorary Consul General here in Sri Lanka.
This is Mr. Mano Sekaram and he is very well-positioned to promote and look after the business-to-business cooperation that we have with Sri Lanka.
He is already cooperating with Norway on the business-to-business level and will help us identify where other Norwegian businesses can cooperate with Sri Lanka.

Q Now, you mentioned the cooperation in investment in green energy. During your meetings with the President and others, was there any concrete decision taken- any special amount of investments placed?

What is important for me is to encourage and support Norwegian companies that would like to invest or do green business in the country. I am not announcing any new investments during my visit, but I did inform the President and others about the recent investment of the Norwegian Climate Investment Fund of US $ 4 million into solar panels here in Sri Lanka. The first floating solar power plant was also launched some time back in cooperation between the University of Jaffna and the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. The Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund also has substantial investments in companies in the country. I discussed this with the President in Kandy and also with the Foreign Minister in a separate meeting we had in Colombo.

Q What kind of assistance can Norway extend to Sri Lanka to overcome its current economic crisis?

Firstly, through our humanitarian support when needed. We provided US $ 1.6 million in humanitarian aid through UN organisations last year.
Secondly, through our development cooperation and programmes in Sri Lanka. Norway’s development assistance is around US $ 5.3 million.
Finally, we follow closely the talks and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). As well as the ongoing discussions with big lenders such as India and China on their debt and also with the Paris Club.
Norway is a member of the Paris Club, so we will be discussing with Sri Lanka the best way out of the debt crisis.

Q There is a kind of transition in Sri Lanka. How do you look at this transition actually?

We want to support Sri Lanka out of the crisis. Sri Lanka has to, of course, work its way out of the crisis on its own. But if there are any possibilities for us to support Sri Lanka out of the crisis, we will do that.

Q When we talk about Sri Lanka’s strategic position in the Indian Ocean, you have seen different countries look at it from a different point of view. The US talks about the Indo-Pacific strategy. France is going to invest in Sri Lanka. India and China have strategic interests here. So, how does Norway look at this as a country interested in ocean affairs?

Beyond the view of China, the US, and India on Sri Lanka, we are interested in getting Sri Lanka’s own view on its position and vision. It is for Sri Lanka to carve out its own strategic vision and not for other countries to impose it on Sri Lankans. As a small country in the North of Europe, we are also dependent on international cooperation and multilateralism to carve out our own strategic vision – independent of large powers. This is why, we are very interested in the views of Sri Lanka on its own strategic position and discussed this with the foreign minister
We have also sought advice from Sri Lanka. We are in very different neighborhoods, Norway is far away but is useful for us to listen and learn from Sri Lanka’s own experience. We are both important Ocean countries and rely heavily on the safety and prosperity of our maritime sector.

Q Sri Lanka has taken steps to start a climate university. How does Norway intend to cooperate with that, actually?

Sri Lanka is vulnerable to climate change and there is a great need for research on climate change and solutions. So more international cooperation on climate research is always a good idea. I did not discuss this initiative during my visit, but we will look closer at how Norway can cooperate. In general, we would like to see how Norwegian universities and Norwegian hubs for innovation and technology could support Sri Lankans in their efforts.

Q What do you think about Norway’s traditional role in Sri Lanka’s peacebuilding and reconciliation?

As you know, we don’t have the same role now in Sri Lanka when it comes to peacebuilding, as we had before. But we remain active in promoting and supporting reconciliation. This is crucial.

Q In the post-war context, there are so many things being done. There is a call for reconciliation, a call for addressing accountability issues, and human rights issues. There is a resolution passed in the United Nations Human Rights Council. In that context, how active is Norway?

Well, we are quite active, considering our history here in Sri Lanka, and considering that Sri Lanka has a place in the heart of many Norwegians, we would be following the issues on the international scene very closely.
We had recommendations to Sri Lanka in their last review at the Human Rights Council, Universal Periodic Review and a couple of those recommendations were also supported by Sri Lanka itself, looking at some of the reconciliation and human rights issues here in Sri Lanka.
So, we play an active role there, and we also have roles in supporting community building. We are supporting community building in the North and also looking at the broader picture of how we can support communities wanting to build themselves up after the war.

Q In Sri Lanka there are a lot of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that operate with Norwegian assistance. Also, the Norwegian development arm- NORAD is in operation. How do you assess their roles?

Well, all the projects that we have here are supported by Norway, whether we call it NORAD, or its embassy, or its Norwegian support. And we are going to continue that support. We have no plans of radically reducing the support that we have had. It’s continuing.

Q Norway has a lot of expertise in the fisheries sector. Norway has extended a lot of assistance in the past. So, in that context, how do you look at that cooperation?

We still have Norwegian projects supporting the fisheries sector. This is an important sector to support. And also, as I mentioned, we are looking more into business-to-business cooperation. And if there are Norwegian businesses and Sri Lankan businesses also in the fisheries sector that can cooperate, this is something that we will encourage.

Q What kind of assistance can Norway extend to Sri Lanka to develop its tourism sector?

Well, Norwegian citizens and Norway are already looking to Sri Lanka in the tourism sector. So, there is already quite a broad range of people-to-people connections and business-to-business cooperation in this area.
And I would recommend that to continue. Sri Lanka is a beautiful and great country to visit. I look forward to visiting frequently in the years ahead.

Rishi Sunak’s reshuffle: David Cameron makes surprise return as foreign secretary

Posted on | by TELO Admin

David Cameron has been appointed as foreign secretary in a cabinet reshuffle.

The former prime minister, who was given the role while in Number 10 this morning, said he “gladly accepted” the offer from Rishi Sunak, despite having “disagreed with some individual decisions” by his successor.

Speaking to broadcasters, the now Lord Cameron said he accepted bringing back an ex-PM was “not usual”, but he “believes in public service” and has “useful experience” to bring to the table.

He also called his new boss a “strong and capable prime minister who is showing exemplary leadership at a difficult time”, adding: “I want to help him to deliver the security and prosperity our country needs and be part of the strongest possible team that serves the United Kingdom and that can be presented to the country when the general election is held.”

The ex-party leader is no longer an elected politician as he stood down as an MP in 2016, having called the Brexit referendum and his campaign to remain in the EU losing the vote.

But the government has confirmed he will now enter the House of Lords as a life peer, giving him the opportunity to serve as a minister once more.

David Cameron has twice written in the Tamil Guardian.

In 2013, Cameron said:

“Four years after the conflict no one has been held to account for grave allegations of war crimes and sexual violence, journalists are routinely intimidated and thousands of people have yet to find out what has happened to their missing relatives.”

“I want to see that change.”

Read his full piece: Why I am attending CHOGM – David Cameron

In 2015, Cameron wrote:

“I will never forget the faces of those I met in Jaffna.”

“Their stories of unbearable suffering and loss will stay with me forever and continue to drive me in pushing for change. What I saw and heard also underlined why I went there in the first place: to shine a light on the lack of progress and to help bring about international pressure for reform. We owe it to victims and survivors across Sri Lanka to ensure that those responsible are held to account.”

“And we will not forget them.”