Category: News

IMF chief welcomes Sri Lanka’s progress in taking policy actions, securing creditor assurances

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IMF chief welcomes Sri Lanka’s progress in taking policy actions, securing creditor assurances (Adederana 8- 03-2023) The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has welcomed the progress made by the Sri Lankan authorities in taking decisive policy actions and obtaining financial assurances from all major creditors including China, India and the Paris Club. In a statement, Kristalina Georgieva said she looks forward to presenting the IMG-supported program to the organization’s Executive Board on March 20. “The Extended Fund Facility (EFF) will support the authorities’ program of ambitious reforms,…

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Tamil parties in the North reject HRCSL’s ‘homegrown’ recommendations

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Tamil parties in the North reject HRCSL’s ‘homegrown’ recommendations The Morning (7-03-2023) TMTK’s Wiggy and TNA’s Sumanthiran say HRCSL has portrayed Northern demands inaccurately Responding to the recent recommendations made by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) that the Northern people are agreeable to an internal mechanism provided that the Truth Commission comprises members of competency and integrity, Tamil political parties in the Northern Province stated yesterday (6) that this does not fairly correspond to what the people in the North have been saying and noted that no…

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Indian fishermen issue: Permit talk gathers flak across the board

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Indian fishermen issue: Permit talk gathers flak across the board Move will violate sovereignty and affect all Sri Lankan fishermen: Annarasa Fisherfolk against this move, prepared to protest in the streets: NAFSO  A step back from progress made to resolve issue: Kadirgamar No decision taken to issue permits, only a proposal: Ministry  A proposal by the Government to permit Indian fishermen to fish in Sri Lankan waters has received widespread condemnation from Sri Lanka’s fishing community as well as from civil society groups.  The criticism comes as coastal fishermen, especially…

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Sri Lanka remains open to discussions with UNHRC – Sri Lanka’s UN envoy

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Sri Lanka remains open to discussions with UNHRC – Sri Lanka’s UN envoy Sri Lanka has once again expressed the country’s objection to resolution 51/1 adopted against the island nation by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in October last year. During a recent general meeting at the 52nd session of the UNHRC, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva Himalee Arunathilaka has noted that such resolutions are unhelpful to the people of Sri Lanka and will fail to serve the objective of promoting reconciliation…

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All Opposition parties demand EC hold election by 19 March

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All Opposition parties demand EC hold election by 19 March (The Morning 6-03-2023) NPP, SJB, SLFP, TNA unite in letter to Election Commission Say no need to consult Treasury Secretary after Supreme Court order All main Opposition parties – namely the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), National People’s Power (NPP), Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA), and breakaway factions of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) – jointly wrote to the Election Commission (EC) yesterday (5), demanding that the…

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Local Government elections. What happens next??

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LG Polls funding: Treasury to abide by Court order ( The Morning 5- 03- 2023) Following the interim order issued by the Supreme Court on Friday (3) preventing the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance from withholding the funds allocated through the 2023 Budget for the Local Government (LG) Polls, State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said the ministry would respect and act according to the decision. “We should abide by the court decision. It is our responsibility. Therefore, as the Finance Ministry, we respect the decision and will act…

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UNP fast eroding its Liberal image for power

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UNP fast eroding its Liberal image for power (MSM Ayub Mirror on line 4-03-2023) If the relevant authorities are to go by what President Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament on February 23 about holding Local Government elections that had then been scheduled by the Elections Commission to be held on March 9, those elections have been laid to rest.    The main argument in his speech was that the Local Government elections have not been legally announced on the Ground that the decision by the Elections Commission to hold the elections…

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US$ 36 billion of Sri Lanka’s export money held offshore

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US$ 36 billion of Sri Lanka’s export money held offshore (Daily Mirror  24-02-2023) If Sri Lankan can secure the 36 billion US dollars of export income owed by Sri Lanka it would be able to improve its economy The Sunday Times reported in July (2022) about an investigation carried out by the Global Finance Integrity (GFI); a think tank based in Washington, USA operating with government support. Its task is to keep an eye on the export trade of countries of the world. GFI observes whether money is properly exchanged between…

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13th Amendment should be implemented in three steps: Douglas

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13th Amendment should be implemented in three steps: Douglas Kelum Bandara Mirror on line (23-02-2023) Some powers devolved to the Provincial Councils have been taken through actions by the executive arm or through administrative decisions. I am asking for the transfer of such powers back to the Provincial Councils as the first step The TNA wants the problem unsolved. They work for it. The President openly said he is prepared to settle all the pertaining issues- political issues, land issues etc. We have to support him. But, the TNA is…

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SJB backs full implementation of 13A: Kiriella

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SJB backs full implementation of 13A: Kiriella  Mirudhula Thambiah (The Morning 23-02-2023)    The main Opposition in Parliament, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya yesterday (22) stated that the Party supports the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, noting that National Land and Police Commissions would control related provincial commissions so that no issues would arise. Speaking to The Daily Morning, Chief Opposition Whip and SJB Parliamentarian, Attorney Lakshman Kiriella said: “We are for the 13th Amendment. It was former President and incumbent Government Parliamentarian Mahinda Rajapaksa who said that…

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