Former State Minister Ajith P. Perera says that China challenging the Government’s investigation into organic fertilizer is a threat to our sovereignty.

Speaking to media, Perera said that the Chinese Government’s official statement yesterday (09) shows a huge intervention in the sovereignty of our country and the authority of our Government, and that it is a serious interference in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka.

” China has no right, no power, no morals to take such a stand. We are not a Chinese province yet. China may try to do different things by paying commissions through various private companies but we will not surrender,” he said.

Meanwhile, State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara today (10) stated that the fertilizer issue is at risk of developing into an issue between two countries.

He said that when it was not possible to import fertilizer from China, the country prepared to import fertilizer from India, and now the issue has grown into a much bigger problem, where the two countries are conflicting.

Sri Lanka Sunday reported 35 deaths due to COVID-19 after the figures were confirmed by the Director General of Health Services on Saturday, October 09.

Among the deaths reported today, 18 are of males and 17 of females. The majority of deaths – 30- are of elderly people in the 60 years and above age group.

According to the data reported by the Government Information Department, the total deaths due to Covid-19 since the pandemic began last year has now risen to 13,331.

The Sri Lankan High Commissioner Milinda Moragodain India, Milinda Moragoda called on India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval here on Friday.

The National Security Advisor extended a warm welcome to High Commissioner Moragoda and engaged in an extremely cordial conversation with him.

Doval and High Commissioner Moragoda discussed a range of issues pertaining to mutual strategic interests of the two countries.

Moragoda also presented a copy of his policy road map entoitled: “Integrated Country Strategy for Sri Lanka Diplomatic Missions in India 2021/2023”.

Doval is the fifth National Security Advisor of India. He holds the rank of a Cabinet Minister.

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) made representations before the Select Committee of Parliament to Identify Appropriate Reforms of the Election Laws and the Electoral System and to Recommend Necessary Amendments that the proportional representation system is appropriate for the country.

The party yesterday (07) pointed out that the proportional representation system could ensure fair representation of the people and that people’s vote would add value under this system.

The Parliamentary Select Committee met under the chairmanship of Leader of the House, Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

The SLMC said that the new amendments should ensure the establishment of stable governments as well as the establishment of democracy.

They also stressed that the new amendment should provide representation, based on the geographical boundaries of the island. The people are able to elect their representatives through the preferential voting system. The party also raised the need to make the ballot paper easy for the people to understand. They also said that the stability of the electoral system is an essential factor.

The party members informed the Committee that the SLMC was of the view that new amendments should be made to the current system without changing the proportional representation system.

All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) also made representations before the Parliamentary Select Committee yesterday. They said in the committee that the electoral system should be amended to protect the rights of minorities. The party pointed out in the committee that the proportional representation system is more suitable for the country and that it will strengthen the representation of the people. The party also stated in the committee that proportional representation should be used for local government, provincial council and parliamentary elections.

Janatha Vimukthi Peranuna (JVP) also made representations before the Parliamentary Select Committee. They said that the proportional representation system is suitable for the country. If the amendments are made by changing the principles of the proportional representation system, the executive presidency will also have to be amended, said the party’s MP Vijitha Herath.

MP, Dr. (Ms) Harini Amarasuriya, pointed out in the committee the need to take action to ensure the women’s representation. She also suggested that 50 percent of the national list should be women.

She emphasized that women’s representation should be ensured at all levels of decision making and that women’s representation in politics has been reduced due to differences in political culture.

Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, M.U.M. Ali Sabri Members of Parliament Rauff Hakeem, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Mano Ganeshan, M.A. Sumanthiran, Madura Vithanage and Sagara Kariyawasam were also present at the committee meeting.

Officials from the Attorney General’s Department, the Delimitation Commission and the Election Commission were also present.

The next meeting of the Parliamentary Select Committee is scheduled to be held today 08th of October, said the Secretary to the Select Committee, Deputy Secretary General & Chief of Staff of Parliament Ms. Kushani Rohanadheera.

Leader of the House Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told the Parliamentry Select Committee on electoral reforms that the Attorney General has notified that the Provincial Council elections cannot be held under any system without passing a new act.

He said this during a meeting of the Committee held at the Parliament Complex.

He said even though it is vital to hold the provincial council elections, which have been functioning without people’s representatives for a long time, the legal situation stands an obstacle to do so.

He said it was not the task of the PSC to draft laws and that its task was to make recommendations.

“It is the task of the Government and Parliament to draft laws,” he said.

COMSATS University Islamabad in Pakistan (CUI) and General Sir John Kotelawala Défense University (KDU) in Sri Lanka have inked a Document of Understanding to collaborate on advanced biomaterial research.

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Tabassum Afzal, Rector CUI and Major General Milinda Peiris, Vice Chancellor, KDU signed the document of collaboration at a ceremony held online COMSATS said in a press release.

The Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Biomedical Materials (IRCBM), a state of the art research center at CUI Lahore campus will collaborate with KDU on respective national regulations on safety and security of sensitive materials, goods, technologies and equipment.

Prof. Afzal said that the core focus of partnership between CUI and KDU will be in the field of advanced biomaterials and allied areas that are much needed in Pakistan. “While there is a limited development of products such as synthetic skin substitute, wound dressings for foot ulcer patients, artificial bone fillers, disease monitoring and diagnostic devices and stem cells linked with therapies in our part of the world. The future is indeed bright with the kind of functional partnership such as the one we are signing today.”

Prof. Afzal also added that interdisciplinary research in IRCBM is globally recognized and transnational in nature. “It is our crown jewel because of its high impact factor research. While CUI continues to grow within Pakistan, we are also very keen on developing our international linkages and partnership with centers of excellence in developing world.”

The center was established in year 2008 to research and deliver indigenously-developed low-cost healthcare solutions to the local market.

Prof. Afzal conveyed his satisfaction that currently three brilliant and outstanding Sri Lankan students are studying in CUI doing their MS degrees. He desired hosting more international students from Sri Lanka, thus offered 100 percent tuition fee waiver to the Sri Lankan students particularly from KDU.

Major General Milinda Peiris said that the objectives of collaboration is to cooperate and develop the activities related to any field in which CUI and KDU have shared interests, such as biomaterials, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, sensors and biosensors and allied fields. In addition, both universities will explore possibility of exchange of programs for students, faculty members and scientists, joint supervision of PhD students, mutual organization of lectures, conferences, symposia and training programs.

Maj. Gen. Dr. Shahid Ahmad Hashmat (Retd.) former High Commissioner of Pakistan in Sri Lanka informed about efforts of the Government of Pakistan for the promotion of educational and research opportunities with Sri Lanka. He explained efforts of the Higher Education Commission, Government of Pakistan to offer fully funded scholarships to the students of Sri Lanka who wish to study BS, MS and PhD programs in leading universities of Pakistan.

UI Niyas, Counsellor (Political & Trade), High Commission of Sri Lanka in Pakistan thanked for giving opportunity to the Sri Lankan High Commission in Islamabad to witness signing of DOU between top universities of the both countries. He appreciated KDU as well as CUI’s development and growth. He said that he is very happy and confident that this collaboration will be the initial step and will open more avenues of partnership between the two universities.