Category: News

Andrew Patrick appointed the new British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka

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Andrew Patrick has been appointed as the new British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.

He will replace outgoing Sarah Hulton as the British High Commissioner in Colombo in August.

The British Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said Andrew Patrick has previously served as the UK Ambassador to Myanmar.

He is currently serving as the FCDO Migration and Modern Slavery Envoy.

According to the FCDO, Andrew Patrick has also served at British missions in Afghanistan and South Africa after joining the British Foreign Office in 1989.

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Video goes viral of SL Buddhist monk in Japan; Ranjan says his friend sent it

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A video circulated on social media over the weekend has caused a stir after it showed several Sri Lankans engaged in a heated argument with a Sri Lankan Buddhist monk at a Buddhist temple in Japan.

In the video, it can be heard that the brawl allegedly had broken out over an alleged sexual misconduct with another Sri Lankan male.

Former Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake told the Daily Mirror that he received the video from a friend living in Japan and had uploaded it on his personal FaceBook page.

Ramanayake told the Daily Mirror that he will maintain a ‘wait and see’ approach on this incident as those who pass information are usually criticized and faulted in Sri Lanka. “They usually shoot the messenger in Sri Lanka,” he said.

Ven. Magalkande Sudantha Thera, who is seen in the video, was one of complainants who made complaints to the Supreme Court seeking a contempt of court action against former Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake

Thai elephant flown home after alleged abuse in Sri Lanka -BBC

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A Thai elephant given to Sri Lanka in 2001 has returned to its birthplace after a diplomatic row over its alleged abuse.

The 29-year-old Muthu Raja arrived in Thailand on Sunday on a 19 million baht (£425,000; $540,000) commercial reparation flight.

Bangkok had demanded the return of the animal after claims it was tortured while kept at a Buddhist temple.

Sri Lanka’s prime minister said he had formally apologised to the Thai king.

The 4,000kg (8,800 pound) elephant was airlifted to Chiang Mai in a specially-built steel cage, accompanied by four Thai handlers and a Sri Lankan zookeeper.

It will undergo hydrotherapy to treat an injury on its front left leg.

Both Sri Lanka and Thailand consider elephants to be sacred animals.

In 2001, the Thai royal family gifted three elephants, including Muthu Raja, to Sri Lanka’s government to be trained as carriers of religious relics.

Muthu Raja was placed in the care of a temple in the south of the country.

Animal rights groups allege it was made to work with a logging crew in the temple, adding that it developed a stiff leg from a long-neglected injury.

Sri Lanka-based activist group Rally for Animal Rights and Environment (RARE) lobbied last year for Thai officials to intervene after months of unsuccessful attempts to get Sri Lanka’s government to act, the group’s founder Panchali Panapitiya said.

Ms Panapitiya said the failure of Sri Lankan wildlife officials to act had brought “disrepute” to the country, The Independent reported. RARE has also petitioned for authorities to prosecute those responsible for the elephant’s neglect.

Sri Lankan wildlife minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi told local media Thailand had been “adamant” in demanding that Muthu Raja be returned after its ambassador in Sri Lanka found it to be in poor health during a visit last year.

Muthu Raja was in pain and covered in abscesses when removed from the temple last November, AFP reported. Activists claim its handler inflicted some of those wounds.

It was temporarily transferred to Sri Lanka’s National Zoological Garden and most of its wounds have healed in recent months.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told his parliament in June that he had conveyed his regret to the Thai king Maha Vajiralongkorn over Muthu Raja’s alleged abuse and was able to “re-establish trust between the two countries”.

The Thai government stopped sending elephants overseas about three years ago following protests from activists, Thai environment minister Varawut Silpa-archa said in June.

Bangkok’s wildlife department said it is monitoring the condition of Thai elephants already sent overseas.

Sri Lanka’s president faces damning questions by Tamil activists

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Speaking at a conference by the Conservative Environment Network on 19th June, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe faced damning questions over his complicity in human rights violations; growing militarisation across the North and East of Sri Lanka; and, the imposition of Buddhist viharas.

Secretary of the British Tamil Conservatives, Gajan Raj, questioned why the Sri Lankan president was invited to speak at such a conference, given the island’s dire human rights record.

He asked the former President of Mongolia and former UK Minister Vicky Ford, whether his inclusion is appropriate

“We have on the panel a war criminal who has the blood of thousands of Tamil, he is attending the IDU conference, and has not been democratically elected. He’s been elevated to the presidency, being propped up by genocidal war criminals, Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa. How do you feel sharing a platform with him? Why is he on this panel? What credentials does he have?”

The Sri Lankan president faced direct questioning over the island’s dire human rights record by Tamil activist, TGTE Sockalingam Yogalingam.

The Sri Lankan president snubbed the questions raised by Yogalingam, interrupting him and stating, “if you can’t speak in English, speak in Tamil, I understand Tamil”.

Sockalingam asked:

“What is being done to stop happenings in the North, such as genocide, militarization, land grabbing, Buddhistization?,”

Young SLPP politicians discuss a new alliance

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Young politicians of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) are at talks to form a new political alliance, said political sources.

Involved in the discussions are several cabinet ministers, state ministers and MPs of the party.

They had several meetings last month to discuss their plans, said the sources.

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MoU to be signed for direct flights between Sri Lanka and Israel

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The Civil Aviation Authority of Israel has confirmed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed by the relevant authorities of Israel and Sri Lanka in order to commence the air service of providing direct passenger flights from Tel Aviv in Israel to Katunayake.

During a discussion held in this regard, Minister of Ports Shipping and Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva said that the new air service will provide convenience to Israeli tourists who are looking forward to travelling to Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, Israeli representatives said aircrafts belonging to Israel’s ‘Arkia’ airline are scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka by October.

A special discussion regarding the commencement of direct passenger flights from Tel Aviv in Israel to Katunayake was held recently between civil aviation authorities of the two nations at the Ministry of Ports shipping and Aviation under the patronage of subject Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva.

Representatives from the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel including Israel’s Air Transport Division Senior Director were present at the discussion.

During the meeting, the Civil Aviation Authorities of the two countries also held discussions regarding coming into an agreement by resolving the existing issues regarding the commencement of the new air service.

Accordingly, the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel said a memorandum of understanding between the authorities of the two countries is yet to be signed.

The Israeli representatives further said aircrafts belonging to its ‘Arkia’ airline are scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka by October.

Minister of Ports Shipping and Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva said the opportunity to commence direct flights between the two countries was obtained following a discussion between President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Government of Israel.

The Minister further said that Israeli tourists are looking forward to travelling to Sri Lanka adding that this air service will be very convenient to Israeli tourists.

The Minister also expressed that Sri Lankan workers who are engaged in various jobs in Israel will be given great convenience and financial benefit in purchasing air tickets.

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Asgiriya Chapter objects to ‘cardinal’s interference’ in IGP appointment

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The Asgiriya Buddhist chapter has raised objections to the ‘interference’ by a religious leader in the appointment of the next police chief.

The president should have the freedom to decide on the appointment, deputy registrar of the chapter Ven. Narampanawe Ananda Thera said, noting that uncalled for interference has denied an IGP for the first time.

He said that Colombo archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has written to the president, asking that certain persons should not be considered for appointment as the next chief of the police.

Ven. Ananda Thera conceded that there were instances that called for advice to the president by religious leaders, but insisted the appointment of the IGP was not one of them.

Cardinal Ranjith has sent a three-page confidential letter to the parliament speaker and the eight other Constitutional Council members, mentioning two senior DIGs by name, and asking that they be not considered if their names were proposed.

The cardinal accused both officers of having failed to fulfill their duties with regard to the Easter Sunday terror attacks and several other incidents.

In the name of the Catholic community, he urged, that they should not be considered for appointment as the next police chief.

‘Deshaya’ newspaper has spoken to several members of the Constitutional Council and they confirmed having received the cardinal’s letter.

They said advice or interference by an outside party is against the council’s independence, as it independently considers the president’s nominees and selects a suitable person to the position.

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Installation of boat service between India and Sri Lanka to be delayed

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Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva says that the commencement of passenger boat service between India and Sri Lanka will be delayed.

The minister says that India has changed the port it had chosen for the boat service.

The minister also says that India has requested for a few more days to increase the facilities at the Nagapatnam port which has been selected for that purpose.

The Minister also adds that due to the inadequate size of the runway of the Palali Airport, there are problems in landing planes carrying more than 65 passengers.

The minister says that 19 investors have come forward for the Mattala airport.

Rajapaksa clan absent during DDR vote

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Several Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MPs were absent during the vote on the Domestic Debt Restructuring programme today in Parliament.

SJB MPs Rajitha Senaratne, Mayantha Dissanayake, Rohini Kaviratne and Mano Ganesan were among the absentees from the Opposition while Mahinda Rajapaksa, Namal Rajapaksa and Chamal Rajapaksa from the SLPP were notable absentees from the ruling party.

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Proposed domestic debt optimization strategy passed in Parliament

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The Resolution on Domestic Debt Optimization (DDO) was passed in Parliament with amendments a short while ago (01 July).

Accordingly, the DDO strategy was passed in Parliament with a majority of 60 votes, with 122 votes in favour and 62 votes against.

Meanwhile, the Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera has informed the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, in writing, that the DDO strategy was passed in Parliament.

A full-day special parliamentary session took place today, during which lawmakers debated the restructuring of local debt, initially proposed in a bid to achieve debt sustainability and economic recovery.

On 28 June, the Cabinet of Ministers unanimously approved the proposed sovereign domestic debt restructuring strategy for restoring sovereign debt sustainability.

Following two days of extensive discussions on the strategy and its impact, the Committee on Public Finance (COPF), chaired by MP Dr. Harsha de Silva on 30 June, gave its approval for the proposed plan, with amendments binding the Finance Ministry to the proposed plan, ensuring adherence to the approved concept paper and addressing concerns about potential deviations.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), Secretary to the Finance Ministry and its officials, creditors including banks, superannuation funds EPF/ETF and insurance funds were invited to the COPF sessions to discuss the matter at length and to hear their views.

In response to questions on the DDO’s impact on superannuation funds EPF, ETF and the guarantee given to ensure 9% interest rates, CBSL Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe assured that their calculations indicate no net present value loss to the EPF. However, COPF chairman has advocated for legislating a minimum return, as done in the 1958 EPF Act.

Further, concerns were raised about the burden falling on the EPF, the largest superannuation fund in the country, without the consent of the depositors.

The COPF chairman, Dr. Harsha de Silva said the committee members called for balanced burden sharing among all creditors, not entirely on the superannuation funds, in order to uphold equity in the DDO.

Meanwhile, COPF members also raised concerns about the government’s commitment to the proposed plan and adherence to the principles of the resolution. Finance Ministry officials acknowledging these concerns, pledged to strengthen the Fiscal Management Responsibility Act (FMRA) for compliance.

Domestic debt restructuring is a key condition in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program, through which a bailout package of USD 3 billion was approved for Sri Lanka in March 2023. The IMF program unlocks more help from international funding agencies. Accordingly, the World Bank, earlier this week, approved USD 700 million in financing as budgetary and welfare support for Sri Lanka.

After defaulting on its foreign debt for the time in May 2022, Sri Lanka has been working to get the economy back on track and to meet the conditions set by the IMF. Sri Lanka aims to restructure its sovereign domestic debt before the second IMF review in September 2023 as the release of second tranche of the bailout package due in October would require notable progress on debt restructuring. The island nation received the first tranche to the tune of USD 330 million in March soon after the IMF Board approved the 48-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF).