Category: Featured

Long-term investments in Sri Lanka are India’s plan to fix economic crisis, envoy Baglay says

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Long-term investments in Sri Lanka are India’s plan to fix economic crisis, envoy Baglay says. (NAYANIMA BASU 25 July, 2022 08:19 am IST (The Print)) High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay added that New Delhi will also work with the island nation’s new govt to facilitate talks for a bailout package from the IMF. New Delhi: After helping Sri Lanka with an unprecedented assistance of around $4 billion since January as the country plunged into a deep economic crisis, India is now planning to invest heavily in newer…

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Ranil: Not the man to lead Sri Lanka out of the crisis

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Sri Lanka’s Ranil Wickremesinghe is a schemer and the West’s stooge. Not the man to lead it out of crisis Asian Angle by Kalinga Seneviratne (South China Post) Ranil Wickremesinghe, a five-time PM who has never completed a full term in office, only gained the presidency via horse-trading and with Western help He claims he can schmooze the IMF, but Sri Lanka would be better served if India and China stepped up and worked with Russia to craft a BRICS bailout Sri Lanka’s newly elected president Ranil Wickremesinghe addresses the media in…

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Political and economic stability: President defying the people’s will: M.A. Sumanthiran

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Abolish Executive Presidency and go for General Elections System change can’t be done by tinkering with current Constitution  SLPP’s false majority in Parliament is not the people’s sentiment Unwarranted use of force does not bode well for political stability  Country needs a consensus government to move forward Going by current trend of governance, difficult to think of support But will support positive measures of new Govt. to ensure stability  By Asiri Fernando Unwarranted use of force by President Ranil Wickremesinghe does not bode well for reaching the political stability needed…

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Burning Questions of the Sri Lankan People’s Movement: What is to be Done?

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(This article is based on a talk delivered at the online session organised by International Solidarity with the People’s Movement in Sri Lanka on a 23.07.2022) The people’s movement in Sri Lanka has entered into a deadlock with the ‘(s)election’ of Ranil Wickremesinghe as President. Within hours of him assuming office, a mid-night crackdown on the Galle Face protest camp was unleashed. Only cowards attack in the dead of the night as they have much to hide during the day. Despite brutal state repression, the people’s movement shows a resilient commitment to…

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SL will have to bite the bullet or go down abyss: Dr. Coomaraswamy

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Former Central Bank Chief forecasts crisis to force contraction of economy by 8-10% Reveals around 750,000 people have slipped into poverty Data suggests half the population could fall below poverty line by end-2022 Suggests Govt. to strengthen safety net by enhancing cash transfers going to poor and vulnerable Opines given toxic populist politics and entitlement culture, economic recovery will require painful treatment Predicts IMF conditions will be ‘onerous’ Opines Sri Lankans now recognise that sacrifice is necessary and inevitable Lists SOE reforms, divestment of State assets, independence of Central Bank…

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India’s geopolitical concerns over Port City Colombo

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India’s geopolitical concerns over Port City Colombo By Sunimalee Dias View(s): 611 India’s concerns over the Colombo Port City Project discouraging its business community from investing here is likely due to geopolitical issues and a lack of awareness of the regulations that are still being finalised, Sri Lankan authorities state. A recent report in the Indian media said there are concerns expressed over the Colombo Port City Project citing it’s a possible “hub for money laundering and extra- legal activities,” extended tax holidays, the Chinese involvement and as a result of…

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DEW alleges US must have approved removal of Galle Face protesters

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warns electorate not to expect early general election By Shamindra Ferdinando Veteran politician DEW Gunasekera (22) said that there must have been a tacit understanding between the new Sri Lankan administration and the Western camp, regarding the deployment of the military and the police to remove Galle Face protesters in the early hours of yesterday. The former General Secretary of the Communist Party said so when The Island sought reconfirmation as regards his sensational declaration made in an interview with Asoka Dias on Sirasa ‘Pathikada’ earlier in the day that US Ambassador…

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BASL, Cardinal, HRCSL, etc., condemn attack on protesters

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BASL, Cardinal, HRCSL, etc., condemn attack on protesters By Rathindra Kuruwita (The Island) A number of professional associations, religious leaders, politicians and commissions yesterday condemned Friday’s attack on unarmed protesters opposite the Presidential Secretariet. SLPP MP Dullas Alahapperuma condemned the attacks stating that it was ‘the manifestation of a military mindset and will be hugely detrimental to Sri Lanka.” Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the Communist Party (CP), the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) and other parties too condemned the attacks. Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal…

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Fascists and democrats

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Saturday 23rd July, 2022 (The Island Editorial) The wee hours of Friday saw a massive shock and awe operation carried out by heavily armed troops and police commandos in Colombo. They descended on the unarmed Galle Face protesters, destroying as they did a large number of tents and other makeshift structures that had been there for more than 100 days. The ‘special operation’ was launched close on the heels of the swearing-in of President Ranil Wickremesinghe. This dastardly act of politico-military muscle flexing must be condemned unreservedly. It is just…

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Sri Lankan security forces raided a protest camp

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Sri Lankan security forces raided a protest camp occupying government grounds in the main city of Colombo early on Friday 22nd July. Protest organiser Chameera Dedduwage told Reuters they had planned to hand over the presidential secretariat to government authorities on Friday afternoon. USand British diplomats also expressed concern. “We urge restraint by authorities and immediate access to medical attention for those injured,” US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, said on Twitter. The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) said the crackdown could destabilise the country, which is in need of foreign…

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