Month: March 2023

CPA Statement on the Anti-Terrorism Bill – 2023

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CPA Statement on the Anti-Terrorism Bill – 2023 The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) observes that the Government published an ‘Anti – Terrorism Bill’ in the Gazette, on the 22nd of March 2023. This Bill seeks to abolish the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and introduce an Anti-Terrorism Act. Such legal reforms must be studied in the context of the abuse of the PTA and Emergency Powers carried out by consecutive Presidential regimes, with the present draft providing broad powers to the executive with limited checks and balances. CPA notes that…

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Tourist arrivals top 100,000 in March marking historic hat-trick post-2019

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Tourist arrivals top 100,000 in March marking historic hat-trick post-2019 First 26 days of March draw 105,714 tourists, pushing Q1 arrivals to 315,898  Russia leads as top market with 22,038, followed by India, UK, Germany and US Tourism Minister Harin Fernando applauds industry stakeholders’ efforts for strong comeback in 2023 By Charumini de Silva With arrivals surpassing the 100,000 mark in the first 26 days of March, Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has welcomed over 300,000 visitors in the first quarter, starting 2023 on a positive note. This is also the…

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McKinsey mantra for Sri Lanka

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McKinsey mantra for Sri Lanka McKinsey Senior Partner Chair of Insights and Ecosystems Sven Smit moots likely Indian century ahead and says strategically located Sri Lanka stands to gain  Describes Sri Lanka’s potential as solid and this could be realised with right strategies, competence and competitiveness and make Sri Lanka grows better and bigger than it had in the past Stresses Sri Lanka must find its own positioning in the region and globally By Nisthar Cassim Renowned global management consulting firm McKinsey is urging Sri Lanka to use the strategic…

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Quick impressions on post-war development Jaffna revisited

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Quick impressions on post-war development Jaffna revisited The recent visit to Jaffna, after several years of forbidden travel due to the pandemic, provided an opportunity to revisit areas of interest and observe the changes, including positive and negative developments, in both the economic and social fronts. It was a quick visit and unexpectedly the timing of the visit coincided with the visit of the President who declared open the Jaffna Cultural Centre on 11 February 2023. The festive atmosphere that prevailed on that day was combined with a subdued celebration…

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Sri Lanka to seek competitive bids for state asset sales

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Sri Lanka to seek competitive bids for state asset sales ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka will adopt a competitive bidding process for asset sales and will shortly call for expressions of interest from transaction advisors to support the divestment program, the head of the state enterprise re-structuring unit Suresh Shah said. All assets will be sold through a competitive bidding process and no unsolicited bids will be accepted. The first step will be to select transaction advisors. “We will work with development financial institutions and qualified and experienced consultancy firms to…

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Karaikal-KKS ferry service to commence on 29 April

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Karaikal-KKS ferry service to commence on 29 April Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation, Nimal Siripala de Silva said the first ferry line, of the new ferry service, to be operated between Karaikal Port in Puducherry, India and Kankesanturai (KKS), is scheduled to call at the KKS Port on 29 April.  The Minister disclosed this information at a discussion, with the stakeholders of this new ferry service, held recently at the Ministry. A passenger terminal was built at the KKS Port as part of infrastructure development for the new ferry…

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Sri Lanka is in an interval in hell: Dr. Shanuka Senarath

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Sri Lanka is in an interval in hell: Dr. Shanuka Senarath If SL does not strengthen its finances, it may default on IMF loan Govt. needs to control inflation as gateway to economic recovery After Premadasa’s time, SL has never had a proper economic policy Population of 20 million in this country, but only 500,000 pay tax Sri Lanka is currently in what he would term an ‘interval in hell,’ says Economist, Attorney-at-Law, and University of Colombo Department of Economics Senior Lecturer Dr. Shanuka Senarath. “This is just the tip…

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Indo-Sri Lanka fisheries conflict: Restorative solutions the panacea

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Indo-Sri Lanka fisheries conflict: Restorative solutions the panacea CEA Environmental Impact Assessor recommends coral/mangrove restoration, fish population restoration via implantation of artificial reefs/structures, establishing mutually acceptable ‘no catch zone’ along the IMBL or maritime protected area, permitting licensed Indian fishermen with a levy, declaring cap values, only banning fishing during breeding, educating/sensitising fishermen on cross border issues through awareness creation In the context of the conflict over the overexploitation of fisheries resources beyond the Indo-Sri Lankan coastal borders, restorative solutions such as coral and mangrove restoration, the restoration of the…

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Why Sri Lanka could be the IMF’s most spectacular failure

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Why Sri Lanka could be the IMF’s most spectacular failure (Following is the excerpts of Dyan Jeyathilake’s article in the Sri Lanka Finacial Times of 16th March 2023) Much of the discussion in and on Sri Lanka has either been a shrieking chorus of ‘Go to the IMF yesterday!’ coming mainly from the rightwing economists of the main Opposition, the SJB, or a no less shrill chorus of ‘beware the IMF!’ from the Oppositional left. My own ‘third position’ is different. It stands on two legs: ‘beware Ranil plus the…

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Govt. agencies’ failure to hold the LG polls: SC grants leave to proceed with petition

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Govt. agencies’ failure to hold the LG polls: SC grants leave to proceed with petition Supreme Court today granted leave to proceed with a Fundamental Rights petition filed challenging the failure and refusal of several government departments to take the necessary steps to hold the Local Government Elections. Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Gamini Amerasekera and Janak De Silva granted leave to proceed with the petition under Articles 10, 12(1) and 14(1)(a) of the constitution.  The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) and its Executive Director Dr. Paikiasothy…

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