2022 - Page 3 of 10 - Lanka Focus

Bopage tells UNHRC no prospect of meaningful HR and democratic reforms under Wickremesinghe Govt.

September 13, 2022September 13, 2022 admin

Bopage tells UNHRC no prospect of meaningful HR and democratic reforms under Wickremesinghe Govt. Calls on UNHRC to enhance scrutiny of the situations Informs council of arrests under PTA by Govt. Says Govt. has systematically subverted key accountability processes Aragalaya activist, Attorney-at-Law Nuwan Bopage addressing the 51st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) said the Government’s violent response to protests leaves no room for optimism about the prospects of meaningful human rights, democratic reforms and accountability under the administration of President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Bopage was representing the…

Bid to scuttle probes alleged

September 5, 2022September 5, 2022 admin

Bid to scuttle probes alleged By Shamindra Ferdinando The reappointment of two key parliamentary watchdog committees, COPE (Committee on Public Enterprises) and COPA (Committee on Public Accounts) has been further delayed for want of a consensus among political parties on who should head them.In spite of earlier indications that the ruling SLPP might go ahead with the original plan to give leadership of COPE and COPA, in addition to that of the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) to the Opposition, the government seems to have second thoughts, political sources said.…

CBK to open Nawa Lanka Nidahas Pakshaya HQ today

September 5, 2022September 5, 2022 admin

CBK to open Nawa Lanka Nidahas Pakshaya HQ today Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga will declare open the new party head office of the Nawa Lanka Nidahas Pakshaya (New Lanka Freedom Party) in Battaramulla today (5- 9-2022) morning. The new political party is led by Parliamentarian Kumara Welgama. He said the party is set to implement programs to train youth under the age of 40 and take steps to establish a corruption-free youth-led political movement in the future. Welgama formed the Nawa Lanka Nidahas Pakshaya on 6 March 2020, claiming…

IMF agreement gives confidence, grateful to India, says envoy Moragoda

September 3, 2022September 3, 2022 admin

IMF agreement gives confidence, grateful to India, says envoy Moragoda The preliminary agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), under which Sri Lanka nation stands to receive $ 2.9 billion to tackle the ongoing economic crisis, is a “first step” in the long haul of economic recovery but will provide the country and investors “confidence” to attract increased investments and remittances, Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda said on Thursday. Speaking at the Indian Express Idea Exchange, Moragoda said that with the IMF agreement taking shape, Sri Lanka…

UK ready to engage with international partners to support Sri Lanka: PM Johnson

September 3, 2022September 3, 2022 admin

UK ready to engage with international partners to support Sri Lanka: PM Johnson British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has commended the efforts of President Ranil Wickremesinghe for establishing an inclusive government which will bring the stability needed to address issues for the Sri Lankan people. In a congratulatory message to President Wickremesinghe on his appointment as the Head of State, the British Prime Minister said that upholding democratic principles and seeking democratic consensus will be vital to President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s success. Reiterating the British Government’s sincere commitment to Sri Lanka,…

‘IMF has spoken diplomatically about minimising corruption in Sri Lanka’

August 29, 2022August 29, 2022 admin

‘IMF has spoken diplomatically about minimising corruption in Sri Lanka’ Public appeal for economic reforms at an all-time high : economist By Sanath Nanayakkare It is time for Sri Lanka to make a series of economic decisions with important consequences, and making state owned enterprises (SOEs) directly accountable to the people rather than politicians is key among them, Shanta Devarajan, a professor of the Practice of Development at Georgetown University said on Saturday . “Economic reforms in Sri Lanka used to be a solitary concern weighing on the mind of the…

Exclusive-Japan seeks to organise Sri Lanka creditors’ meeting on debt crisis-sources

August 26, 2022August 26, 2022 admin

Exclusive-Japan seeks to organise Sri Lanka creditors’ meeting on debt crisis-sources (SWI Swissinfo.ch August 26, 2022 – 02:17) By Tetsushi Kajimoto and Takaya Yamaguchi TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan is seeking to organise a Sri Lanka creditors’ conference, hoping it could help solve the South Asia nation’s debt crisis, but uncertainties cloud the outlook for any talks, three people with knowledge of the planning said. Tokyo is open to hosting talks among all the creditor nations aimed at lifting Colombo from its worst debt crisis since independence, but it is not…

Sri Lanka Under-19 chase 273 to win

August 25, 2022August 25, 2022 admin

SPORTS Sri Lanka Under-19 chase 273 to win Rex Clementine in Chelmsford There’s much to like about Essex County Cricket ground. It may not have the aura of Lord’s, history of The Oval or character of Headingley, but Chelmsford has its own beauties. A ten minute walk from the train station, an underground tunnel has been built by the side of river Chelmer to give easy access to the ground. As you approach the tunnel, you see people of all age groups rowing boats with an eye on cricket. Once…

Committee on Public Finance new Chief Harsha promises transparency; holds first meeting

August 24, 2022August 24, 2022 admin

Committee on Public Finance new Chief Harsha promises transparency; holds first meeting The first Committee meeting of the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) for the Third Session of the Ninth Parliament was held yesterday under the chairmanship of SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva. In accordance with the Standing Order 121, the Committee of Selection appointed Dr. de Silva as the Chairman of the Committee recently. The Committee considered and approved the Appropriation (Amendment) Bill to amend the Appropriation Act No. 30 of 2021. Furthermore, the Social Security Contribution Levy…

Remittances continue to crash

August 22, 2022August 22, 2022 admin

Remittances continue to crash Worker remittances, Sri Lanka’s largest foreign-exchange earner, posted a decline, for the 14th consecutive month in July this year, as migrant workers only sent home USD 279.5 million during the month, down 38.3 per cent from USD 453.3 million a year earlier. According to data released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), during the first seven months of this year, migrant workers sent home USD 1,889.4 million, down 50 per cent from USD 3,777.6 million sent during the same period last year. In June this…