Category: News

Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said that Adani Green Energy was issued Provisional Approvals for two Wind projects of 286 MW in Mannar & 234 MW in Pooneryn for an Investment of over USD 500 Million.

The Minister met officials of CEB & the Sustainable Development Authority today (16) to discuss the progress of renewable energy projects.

In addition, 21 of 46 Projects that were delayed due to CEB Act amendments will enter into Public-Private agreements next week, he tweeted.

“26 Renewable proposals from EOIs that were given Provisional Approvals to be expedited with Grid clearance & transmission plans,” he added.

Other proposals are to be evaluated within 30 days, Minister Kanchana tweeted.

Regional Director for Asia-Pacific from the United Nations Development Coordination Office (UNDCO) David McLachlan-Karr arrived in Sri Lanka today (16 August).

McLachlan-Karr is scheduled to meet with Government, the Opposition, civil society, the diplomatic community and others. He will also travel to Jaffna to meet with government and civil society groups there.

His discussions with officials in Sri Lanka will focus on the launch of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023-2027 which will guide the work of all UN Agencies in Sri Lanka over the next five years.

The Development Coordination Office’s objective is to support the capacity, effectiveness and efficiency of Resident Coordinators and the UN development system as a whole in support of national efforts for sustainable development.

The UN in Sri Lanka said Mr. McLachlan-Karr will meet with government, opposition, civil society and others in Colombo and Jaffna to discuss how the UN can support all Sri Lankans to recover from the Economic Crisis through a joint programme of work over the next 5 years.

Cabinet spokesman Minister Bandula Gunawardana today admitted that the Sri Lanka government footed the bill to provide former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to fly to Thailand from Singapore in a chartered flight last week.

Responding to a journalist at today’s post cabinet news briefing, Minister Gunawardana said the Sri Lanka government paid the bill as it was the responsibility of the government.

“Each and every executive president retired and widows of those passed away enjoy benefits, privileges and special facilities and they are also paid an allowance under the ‘President Entitlement Act No. 4 of 1986’. Therefore, the government is committed to pay former President Rajapaksa’s bills,” he added.

It was under the provisions of this Act, that former Presidents Maithripala Sirisena, Chandrika Kumaratunga and Mrs. Hema Premadasa are provided with a residence, allowance and other facilities, Minister Gunawardana stressed.

If and when former President Rajapaksa returns home in future, the government must provide him with all facilities and privileges entitled to a retired President from the public purse, he added.

Sri Lanka briefed Colombo based diplomats on the human rights issue ahead of the 51st session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry met the Colombo-based Ambassadors and High Commissioners at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a briefing on current developments ahead of the 51st session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, the Foreign Ministry said today.

Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane and Finance Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana also contributed to the briefing.

Minister Sabry outlined the current developments in Sri Lanka, including the democratic transition of office in accordance with the Constitution.

He outlined several areas of progress already visible in addressing some of the immediate challenges which has led to a greater degree of stability for the people. On the political front, the Minister briefed regarding the work underway towards forming an All-Party Government.

He also recalled that the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution which effectively restores the 19th Amendment, has been gazetted and is before the Parliament. This measure will contribute towards strengthening parliamentary democracy, oversight of the executive branches of government and the independence of key institutions. He also explained the progress that has been initiated towards a comprehensive review of the PTA.

The Government is taking focused measures to mitigate the adverse impact of the current economic situation on the vulnerable sectors of the population in order to ensure the economic and social rights of the people and to prevent further disparities. The Minister also noted that despite the unprecedented situation in the country in recent years, including in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic, advancements have been made in the area of human rights and reconciliation through domestic processes.

The Government is in the process of building consensus so that further progress can be made on matters related to human rights, justice and equity. The Foreign Minister emphasized that Sri Lanka will continue its constructive engagement with the Human Rights Council at the upcoming 51st session.

Finance Secretary Siriwardana made a presentation on the current economic situation, focusing on the social safety measures that the Government has adopted for vulnerable groups, with a view to mitigating adverse impacts.

The Attorney General elaborated on the legal framework related to the Government’s response to the recent incidents related to protests and the imposing of the State of Emergency. Foreign Secretary Wijewardane highlighted Sri Lanka’s continuing and extensive engagement with several procedures and processes of the United Nations human rights framework.

During the discussion that followed the presentations, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations Hanaa Singer-Hamdy expressed appreciation for the consistent efforts of the Government in facing the challenges and expanding the social safety net of vulnerable groups. She also acknowledged the review of the PTA. The UN Resident Coordinator announced that the UN will be partnering with the Government of Sri Lanka on a five-year framework of cooperation which will include areas of social and economic rights and social cohesion amongst others.

The writ application filed challenging the deportation order on UK national Kayleigh Fraser for participating in the recent protests in Sri Lanka has been dismissed without hearing by the Appeals Court today (16).

The order was issued when the petition was taken up for consideration before Appeals Court Judge Sobitha Rajakaruna.

Appearing on behalf of the petitioner, attorney-at-law Nagananda Kodituwakku stated before the court that although the minister in charge of immigration had the power to deport foreigners staying in the country, the action taken against the petitioner was completely against the law.

He mentioned that she had joined the Galle Face protest movement and expressed her opinion regarding the alleged use of expired tear gas by the security forces to disperse protesters. He also said that it cannot be claimed that she has brought the country into disrepute through this.

Mr. Kodituwakku also alleged that before canceling her visa, no fair investigation was conducted by the Immigration Controller and accused that this was an arbitrary decision taken by the Immigration Controller.

However, the state counsel presenting the facts before the court pointed out that the discretion to issue such a visa cancellation order rests with the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration.

The state counsel also drew the court’s attention to the fact that in a judgment issued by the Supreme Court,it was stated that the full discretionary power regarding the issuance, cancellation and extension of visas to foreigners has been assigned to the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration.

He further said that the Scottish tourist in question had arrived in Sri Lanka on a tourist visa and was issued a residence visa in 2021 and the visa was issued to receive medical treatment and the residence visa will remain valid until March 8 next year.

However, he alleged that the petitioner had not received medical treatment in Sri Lanka and she was engaged in business activities in Sri Lanka in violation of visa regulations.

He also pointed out that although the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration had only canceled the visa issued for the petitioner, no orders had been issued to deport her.

The state counsel also alleged that the petitioner has submitted the petition deliberately concealing these facts.

Therefore, he asked the court to reject the petition without hearing it as there is no reasonable legal basis for maintaining it.

After considering all the facts presented, the appellate court judge decided to reject the petition without taking it up for hearing.

Two leading Tamil political representations in Parliament, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) of the Opposition have welcomed the lifting of the ban imposed on six international Tamil organisations through an amendment to the proscript list of designated persons under Regulation 4(7) of the United Nations Regulations, No.1 of 2012 pertaining to sanctions against terrorism and terrorism financing. However, the National Freedom Front (NFF), led by MP Wimal Weerawansa, has condemned the decision taken by the Sri Lankan Government to lift this ban.

Releasing an official press statement yesterday (15), the TNA welcomed the decision taken by the Government to delist 316 individuals and six entities from the designated list. Furthermore, it stated that some of the entities named in the list have been so named without particular evidence, and that this process of re-evaluation and de-proscribing is encouraged to continue further. “We welcome the delisting of some diaspora organisations and individuals from the terrorism list. However, it must be noted that even others who remain on the list have been so named without any evidence connecting them to terrorism, and by not following the prescribed procedure. We urge the Government to at least continue this process of re-evaluating and de-proscribing all individuals and organisations who ought not to have been listed,” it said.

Speaking to the media yesterday (15), TPA Leader and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Opposition MP Mano Ganesan stated that a friendly request based on national unity should be forwarded to the Sri Lankan diaspora abroad, which accounts for 2,500,000 individuals that include Sinhalese, Tamils, and Muslims, to send foreign currency to the island in order to overcome the United States dollar (USD) shortage in Sri Lanka.

“The Government under President Ranil Wickremesinghe has lifted the ban that was earlier imposed on several diaspora organisations. Before this, the Government under former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa lifted the ban imposed on Qatar Charity, which is an organisation that used to send money to Sri Lanka, in an attempt to obtain oil. Now, after the ‘aragalaya’ (struggle), it’s high time to think in the correct perspective and listen, so this decision taken by Wickremesinghe is to be applauded.

“We are currently under a debt of $ 52 billion, and we are in need of $ 500 million monthly for the purchase of food, medicine, and oil. Now, Sri Lanka has the chance to bring in foreign currency from the 2,500,000 diaspora living abroad. The diaspora does not include only Tamils but also Sinhalese and Muslims. On the foundation of national unity, we should request them for their help in this moment of need,” said Ganesan.

However, speaking to the media, NFF MP Mohamed Muzammil relayed a contrary response. He requested an official statement by the Defense Ministry reasoning the lack of threat that these delisted organisations posed to national security. Moreover, he said that the ban on these organisations was placed due to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) terrorist organisation and questioned whether this threat has ceased with the recent change in the Government.

“At this moment, we should consider the reason behind the ban of the six organisations whose ban has been lifted by the Government. These were banned due to the threat imposed on Sri Lankan national security. Is that threat condition no longer valid? Have these Tamil diaspora organisations given up their ‘Eelam’ dream with the rather recent Government change? Has the collection of money by the Tamil diaspora and the attempt to activate the Tamil ‘Eelam’ through Constitutional provisions ceased? Has the attempt to bring this about through international organisations and countries by claiming that war crimes occurred during the civil war, stopped? We thus expect an official statement from the Defense Ministry stating the reasons for the loss of the threat that these organisations posed earlier.”

The Sri Lanka Podujana Party (SLPP) has reportedly recommended to President Ranil Wickremesinghe that 16 district leaders of the party should be given cabinet ministerial portfolios since several parties have refused to join efforts to form an all party government.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), National Peoples’ Power (NPP), Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) have expressed unwillingness so far.

Some of these SLPP members already hold Cabinet ministerial positions.

In addition, S.M. Chandrasena, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Johnston Fernando, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, C.B. Ratnayake and Namal Rajapaksa have been recommended for cabinet ministries by the SLPP.

However, it is said that SLPP Matara district leader Mr. Dallas Alahapperuma is not included in this list.

Reports also say that it is likely Chamal Rajapaksa will not accept a ministerial post although he is the leader of Hambantota district.