Page 27 - Sri Lanka

Ex-prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa accused of destroying records of mass graves

Sri Lanka's former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa reportedly destroyed police records of a mass grave discovered in the country when he was the military coordinator during the Marxist rebellion of 1988-89, an international rights group has alleged. The report titled Mass graves and failed exhumations in Sri Lanka', authored by four organisations Centre for Human Rights Development (CHRD), Families of the Disappeared (FOD), International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) and Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka (JDS) was released on Thursday. The mass graves were discovered in the Matale district of central Sri Lanka in 2013. The report aims to analyse shortcomings in the Sri Lankan exhumations which include 155 bodies at Matale, and at Mannar where 81 bodies and 318 skeletons were exhumed. The report said that Rajapaksa's alleged action was a prime example of political interference. The report advocated that the Sri Lanka state should take action against Rajapaksa under Article 12

Sri Lankan Navy arrests 22 Indian fishermen, seizes their boats

The Sri Lankan navy arrested 22 Indian fishermen for allegedly fishing in their waters. The fishermen were arrested from near Neduntheevu late on Wednesday

Lanka grants over 100 electric vehicle import permits to migrant workers

Sri Lanka's Labour said on Sunday that it has granted 111 electric vehicle (EV) import permits under a new programme designed to facilitate Sri Lankan migrant workers in remitting

Change in China's stance on debt restructuring for SL in 2023 unlikely

The official statement released after the meeting only mentioned that China will give maximum support to Sri Lanka to recover from the economic crisis

Sri Lanka's economy shrinks by 11.5% in first quarter amid financial crisis

Sri Lanka's economy shrank 11.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2023 from the previous year, government data showed on Thursday, even as the cash-strapped island nation struggles to overcome the economic crisis. Sri Lanka is currently facing the worst economic crisis in the history of the island nation. The GDP for the first quarter of 2023 at the constant price has declined to Rs 3,114,187 million from Rs 3,519,400 million in the first quarter of 2022. The year-on-year GDP growth for the first quarter of the year 2023 has been reported as 11.5 per cent of negative growth rate, the statistics department said in a statement. While the agricultural sector had expanded by 0.8 per cent, the industry and service sectors had declined by 23.4 per cent and 5 per cent respectively during this quarter, it added. In 2022, the economy had contracted by over 7 per cent as the economic difficulties forced people to take to the streets with protests across the island nations that also led to the

Asia Cup to be held in hybrid model from August 31 to September 17: ACC

Ending months of speculation around the Asia Cup, the the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) on Thursday announced that the tournament will be staged in a hybrid model with four games in Pakistan and nine in Sri Lanka from August 31 to September 17. The deadlock over the staging of the 50-over tournament was broken last week when Jay Shah-led ACC accepted to host Pakistan Cricket Board's hybrid model of conducting four non-India games in Pakistan. The hybrid model was proposed as the BCCI had made it clear that it won't send its team to Pakistan due to the longstanding geo political tensions between the two countries. "We are delighted to announce that the Asia Cup 2023 will be held from 31st August to 17th September 2023 and will see the elite teams from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal, compete in a total of 13 exciting ODI matches. "The tournament will be hosted in a hybrid model with four matches being held in Pakistan, and the remaining nine matches bein

Asia Cup 2023 to be played in the hybrid model in Pakistan and Sri Lanka

Asia Cup 2023 will be hosted in a hybrid model, with four matches being held in Pakistan and the remaining nine matches being played in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's small tea growers contributes around 77% in total production

Sri Lankan minister Ramesh Pathirana on Wednesday said small tea growers contribute around 77 per cent of the island country's total production, and the government is providing subsidiy to the STGs. Speaking at a BIMSTEC event on tea organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce here, Pathirana said Sri Lanka is also trying to adopt technology to raise productivity. There is a need to protect the existing markets and also go for value addition. Our government is giving subsidy to the small tea growers to support replantation activity, adoption of technology and best agricultural practices," he said. Most of the tea produced in the island country is exported, and the major exporting destinations include Russia, Turkey and Iran, the minister said. Sri Lanka produced 250 million kg of tea last year, which is expected to go up to 280 million kg in this calendar year, he said. "The biggest challenge is the shrinking global market for tea, Pathirana added. Speaking on the occasion, MD of

Sri Lanka can't hold election this year due to economic crisis: Cabinet

Sri Lanka is not in the position to hold a snap presidential election this year because of the ongoing economic crisis and the government's focus is on debt restructuring, Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardena said on Tuesday. No election would be possible this year as the state finances have not improved, Gunawardena said while responding to speculation that the government might opt to hold a snap presidential election. He said the government's focus, for now, is centred on successfully ending the process of debt restructuring. Former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was elected as the President of Sri Lanka by the Parliament to serve the remainder of ex-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa's term, which was supposed to end in November 2024. The IMF extended a nearly USD 3 billion bailout facility to debt-ridden Sri Lanka to help stabilise the country's economy after it was jolted by a devastating economic crisis last year. Without restructuring our debt it will not be possible to obt

Adani Group's wind project in Lanka to be ready by 2024: Energy minister

The renewable energy project to generate 500 MW in Sri Lanka's north and eastern regions undertaken by India's Adani Group will be completed by December next year, Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara has said. Sharing the progress of the project, Wijesekara on Monday wrote on Twitter, "Progress of the 500 MW Renewable Energy Project in Mannar & Pooneryn was discussed with Anil Sardana, MD & CEO of Adani Transmission Ltd & project management team". We discussed the challenges, road map and timeline for the project completion and the commitment by Adani Green Energy to complete the project by December 2024, Wijesekara said after his meeting with the Adani Group officials here. This was the first review since the one carried out in February, officials said. In August last year, the Adani Group was issued approval to start wind power projects in Pooneryn, in the country's northeast. Adani Green Energy was issued provisional approval for two wind projects of 286 MW in Mannar ...

Sri Lanka takes action to accelerate investor laws as Adani Group waits

The Adani Group expanded its business activities in Sri Lanka in 2021, venturing into the port and renewable energy sectors.

Sri Lanka lifts import restrictions on 286 items as economic woes eases

Sri Lanka has lifted import restrictions on nearly 300 items with immediate effect, the Finance Ministry announced on Saturday, in a clear sign that the island nation is slowly but surely emerging from its worst economic crisis in decades. Last year, Sri Lanka plunged into its worst economic crisis since its independence in 1948 due to plummeting foreign exchange reserves that caused severe shortages of essential items and triggered massive public protests. In April 2022, Sri Lanka declared its international debt default due to the forex crisis. Sri Lanka's economic situation has improved after it secured a USD 3 billion bailout package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in March. The IMF lifeline helped Sri Lanka bolster its foreign exchange reserves and stabilise the spiralling inflation. With the economy stabilising, import restrictions on 286 items have been lifted from Friday midnight, the Finance Ministry said in a statement. Restrictions on 928 items will continue,

Plan to privatise Sri Lanka Telecom delayed over national security concerns

The committee went on to suggest that organisations or individuals that have been blacklisted or have helped terrorists and extremists in any form should not be allowed to buy any share

Wickremesinghe orders fast-tracking of policy on reconciliation with Tamils

Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed relevant government departments to expedite the drafting of legislation necessary for the implementation of the Action Plan for Reconciliation that seeks to address the thorny issue of ethnic reconciliation of Tamilians in the island nation. Sri Lanka has endured a three-decade conflict including a protracted and brutal armed conflict, between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the country's armed forces. On May 18, 2009, the separatist campaign led by the LTTE to establish a separate Tamil homeland in the northern and eastern province of the island nation came to an end with the killing of the LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabakaran by the Sri Lankan Army. In 2015, the Sri Lankan government renewed its commitment to reconciliation and thereafter embarked on several initiatives for national reconciliation. The Action Plan for Reconciliation was part of the government's need for a comprehensive national policy to resolv

Lanka signs petroleum pact with US fuel firm to ensure steady fuel supply

In a bid to address the forex crisis and ensure a steady supply of fuel, Sri Lanka on Thursday signed a deal with an American oil firm, allowing it to become the fourth player in the island nation's fuel retail business, which used to be a state monopoly. According to a statement, the US firm, RM Parks, in collaboration with Shell, will be involved in a long-term contract for the importation, storage, distribution and sale of petroleum products. An agreement was signed on Thursday at the Presidential Secretariat, between the Government of Sri Lanka and RM Parks Inc., a prominent international company operating in collaboration with Shell, marking a significant step towards securing a long-term contract for the importation, storage, distribution, and sale of petroleum products in the country. This development comes after the Ministry explored various strategies to overcome the challenges posed by the foreign exchange crisis and guarantee a continuous fuel supply to consumers, an ...

1st India-Sri Lanka defence exhibition in Colombo to boost bilateral ties

The High Commission of India organised the first India-Sri Lanka Defence Seminar and Exhibition here on Wednesday to promote and identify newer areas of cooperation and collaboration between the two countries in the defence sector. The event will witness participation from the Indian Defence Industry, Sri Lankan entrepreneurs, Sri Lanka Armed Forces, Police and Special Task Force, the High Commission said on Wednesday. "The grand event includes a seminar highlighting the capability and capacities of the two countries in defence equipment manufacturing and would also exhibit a wide variety of defence products," the release said. The exhibition organised with the aim to deepen ties with Sri Lanka through inclusive and collaborative engagement, aims to identify newer areas of cooperation for economic revival whilst ensuring capacity building of Sri Lanka Armed Forces. The High Commission also said that the Sri Lanka Armed forces have been successfully operating a wide range of Indian

Sri Lankan President expresses sorrow over tragic train collision in Odisha

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the people and the government of India following the tragic train accident in Odisha that killed around 275 people. Wickremesinghe extended his condolences to the Government of India and the bereaved families who have suffered an unimaginable loss, Daily Mirror Newspaper reported on Sunday. Addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the president said the thoughts and prayers of Sri Lanka were with the families of the victims and hoped that they would find the strength and resilience to overcome their grief. Several world leaders including US President Joe Biden, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emanuel Macron have expressed their condolences to the families and the Government of India over one of the country's worst train accidents that also left 1,175 persons injured. The Coromandel Express rammed into a stationar

Sri Lankan tourism revenue sees significant increase in month of May

Sri Lanka's estimated tourism revenue in May saw a remarkable growth of over 200 per cent year-on-year, reaching $131.5 million, according to the latest data from the country's central bank

Sri Lanka President mourns loss of lives in Odisha 3-train accident

Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe has conveyed his heartfelt condolences to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India following the tragic multiple train collision in Odisha

Sri Lanka President urges party unity to handle economic crisis

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has called for joint action by all parties for Sri Lanka to emerge from the unprecedented economic crisis. Wickremesinghe, who made the remarks while addressing a legal conference held at the Central Resort of Nuwara Eliya on Friday, said that none of the political parties in Parliament currently possess a 50 per cent voter base. The economic challenges faced by the country ten months ago as an "unprecedented situation in history," Wickremesinghe, also the debt-ridden island nation's finance minister said. It has been 10-11 months since our country faced a state of failure. However, we have managed to establish law and order, political stability, and economic stability in our nation. Yet, we are aware that this stability is only temporary, and we still have a long road ahead to overcome the challenges we face, the president stressed. Therefore the need is for unity among the parties, not solely for the purpose of elections, but to steer the country ..