Sep 13 (TM) United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power was in Sri Lanka recently on a two-day official visit, during which she announced that the US would be launching new assistance programmes to help Sri Lanka overcome the ongoing economic crisis. Following is the transcript of an interview conducted on Sunday, 11 September, which aired on TV Derana, more..

Sep 13 (DM) In SL, the suicide rate (which is the number of suicides per 100,000 population) had come down to 14.6 in 2019. But still, it was on the high side in comparison with many other countries. In India, the suicide rate was 12.7; in Pakistan, 8.9; in China, 8.1; in Bangladesh, 3.7; and the world average was 9 per 100,000 population. An increase in the suicide rate could well be an offshoot of deteriorating mental health or an increase in mental distress in the population, more..

Sep 13 (TM) Reiterating a cause for concern raised by a number of local and international parties, USAID Administrator Samantha Power on Sunday (11) stated that political reforms and accountability should progress in parallel to economic reforms. The bitter truth is that the root cause of the majority of the issues pertaining to the economic crisis have a great deal to do with the country�s selfish and corrupt political culture, which prioritises its own interests over those of the country. more..

Sep 13 (TM) How can a large-scale cash transfer programme be established from scratch, quickly, and during a deep economic crisis? The Govt of SL faces that challenge. New research reveals that the problem of selecting eligible households may be much less daunting than it appears. The answer lies in household electricity bills. Sri Lanka is facing an economic crisis. Foreign exchange is acutely scarce. more..

Sep 13 (Island) SL�s Constitution is like a poor man�s innerwear; it is full of holes. There has emerged so much opposition to the executive presidency mainly because the Constitution allows the Prez to push the envelope, undermining the other branches of govt and suppressing democracy. The incumbent govt has undertaken to introduce the 22nd constitutional Amendment, which, it says, will help curtail some excessive powers of the President and strengthen the legislature and other state institutions. more..

Sep 13 (CT) USAID Head Samantha Power, who made a whistle-stop tour of the island over the weekend, dishing out humanitarian grant aid totalling USD 60 million in the process, in an interview with a local TV channel on Sunday said, �The US, a creditor of SL and a member of the Paris Club � are willing to roll up our sleeves and work with Sri Lanka in helping support the country on its road out of this crisis. And we would hope that China and that all other creditors would do the same.� more..

Sep 13 (ST) Tomorrow SL�s new foreign minister Ali Sabry faces his baptism of fire. He faces a hard-hitting update on his country�s human rights record and the more recent aggressiveness of Ranil Wickremesinghe�s presidential dealings with activists demanding the ousting of the Rajapaksas and a political system change. Those who have read the relevant parts of the report of UN Human Rights HC Michelle Bachelet would have noticed the underlying concern over SL�s regression more..

Sep 13 (Island) 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill (22A) was showcased by the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa Govt as a restoration of the 19th Amendment (19A) of 2015. Most 19A provisions were removed by the 20th Amendment. Many, including the writer, have pointed out that not all the provisions of 19A are sought to be introduced by 22A. The 22A Bill was challenged in the SC, mostly by Sinhala nationalist groups, who consider the Prez form of govt to be one assurance of more..

Sep 13 (FT) An estimated 6.3 million people in SL are facing moderate to severe acute food insecurity and their situation is expected to worsen if adequate life-saving assistance and livelihood support are not provided, FAO & WFP warned yesterday in a new report. Two consecutive seasons of poor harvests led to a nearly 50% drop in production coupled with reduced imports of food grains due to foreign exchange constraints, more..

Sep 13 (DM) The Queen is dead. With her, the Second Elizabethan era came to an end. During her Seventy years on the throne, the world has changed beyond recognition; she might well have felt as if she had time travelled. At her coronation in 1953, Britain, though it was no longer the predominant world power, was still brandishing the glory of the victory of World War II. Its old hegemonic status had been cut to its size, yet it still returned to the global high table as a Veto-wielding permanent more..

Sep 13 (DM) SL�s struggle to expand its export market and basket due to the poor awareness of global market dynamics, the Export Development Board (EDB) said, asserting the need for exporters and the supporting stakeholder agencies to step up efforts in this regard. According to EDB Chairman Suresh de Mel, �awareness of markets, and market intelligence is what is lacking�. �There are new markets. There is a trade shift happening around the world, and new trends emerging. more..

Sep 13 (DN) We are very happy to enter the final and win the Asia cup for which we were waiting for a long time said SL skipper Dasun Shanaka after winning the sixth Asia Cup championship at the Dubai International cricket stadium. We had a plan and were ready to play against any opponent. After we lost the first match to Afghanistan we had a long chat and corrected our mistakes and played the next few games with confidence. Actually we knew our strength but we couldn�t enter the final of more..

Sep 13 (DM) Sri Lanka scored 0.782 points in the latest Human Development Index (HDI), ra​n​king 73 out of 191 countries. The HDI 2021 released by the UNDP recently showed that Sri Lanka has​​ improved its ranking by two places since 2020. For the year of the pandemic, SL had an HDI score of 0.780. According to the report, Sri Lanka ranks below Seychelles (72), and above Bosnia and Herzegovina (74). The island nation is listed under the High Development category. more..

Sep 13 (CI) Danushka Gunathilaka stumbles a touch, and looks back at an off stump. It is still convulsing, as if it has 10,000 volts run through it. Haris Rauf tears away in his follow through, his team-mates racing after him. The stadium is a riot of fluttering Pakistan flags, and noise. It is the most spectacular moment in an incandescent passage of fast bowling. Earlier, Naseem's Shah's vicious inswinger had also made an eruption out of more..

Sep 13 (DN) Chairman of the SL Cricket Selection committee Pramodya Wickramasinghe said, their plan was to play the winning combination for the final and Charith Asalanka who was not among the runs wanted to leave the team and get back to form before the T 20 world cup. Actually we had big challenge to use many young players to the National team. players like Pathum Nissanka, Dilshan Madushanka, Charith Asalanka, Praveen Jayawickrama, Matheesha Pathirana and more..

Sep 13 (Island) Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, has denied reports that the SLPP is planning to replace PM Dinesh Gunawardena. Calling Gunawardena an experienced politician who had proved his capabilities, Ranatunga said that there was no need to replace him. The assurance was given at a simple ceremony at his ministry when Thenuka Widanagamage assumed duties as the State Minister for Urban Development and Housing. Recently, SLPP rebel, Channa Jayasumana, more..

Sep 13 (Island) MP Nalaka Godahewa has accused the cash-strapped govt of planning to sell-off profitable state enterprises to raise funds. Comparing the proposed privatization of SriLankan Catering with the sell-off of the Hambantota port, in 2017, by Yahapalana govt, Dr. Godahewa pointed out that such strategies would be disastrous, in the long term, as the Treasury lost annual income from such highly profitable ventures. more..

Sep 13 (FT) India yesterday called for full implementation of the 13th Amendment of the Constitution of SL, delegation of powers to Provincial Councils and holding of PC elections at the earliest. India�s stand was conveyed at the interactive dialogue on the OHCHR report on Sri Lanka during the 51st session of the UNHRC yesterday in Geneva. Following is the full text of India�s statement. India has always believed in the responsibility of States for the promotion more..

Sep 13 (FT) SJB delegation to the 51st session of the UNHRC said it is concerned that SL has now been accused of economic crimes at the session. �It is for the first time we as a country are facing an accusation such as this. OHCHR is now accusing SL of committing economic crimes,� SJB MP Mujibur Rahman said in a live video from Geneva. According to Rahman, it was stressed that those who are responsible for such economic crimes must be brought before the law. more..

Sep 13 (FT) On 12 Sept, Permanent Representative of China to the UN Office at Geneva Ambassador Chen Xu, openly spoke for SL and opposed external interference during the Interactive Dialogue on the island nation at the 51st Session of the UNHRC. Ambassador Chen stressed that China appreciates SL�s continued efforts in enhancing and protecting its human rights, especially in reconciliation, reconstruction and counter-terrorism. As a traditional friendly neighbour of Sri Lanka, more..

Sep 13 (TM) The upcoming programme by the IMF on SL should seriously look at the expenditure side of the Govt apart from raising revenue and to not take perfunctory soft attempts similar to the previous IMF programme in 2015/16, stated Centre for a Smart Future Co-Founder, economist Anushka Wijesinha. He said the IMF programme implemented in the 2015/16 period by the SL Govt included a revenue-based fiscal consolidation, where the emphasis was on raising greater tax revenue. more..

Sep 13 (FT) SL�s tourism industry is ramping up efforts to achieve the set target of one million arrivals and boost foreign exchange inflows to overcome economic woes. Despite limited financial resources for global promotions, the authorities along with private sector players are working tirelessly to explore various alternate cost-effective avenues to make this winter season a great comeback for the industry, as well as for more..

Sep 13 (EN) SL plans to expand the cabinet a govt minister said on top of 38 junior ministers, as opposition slammed the move which comes as taxes are imposed on the public amid a currency collapse and steep inflation. �I think the cabinet ministers should be appointed,� Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said. �Another 10 ministers can be appointed to take it to 30. At the moment each minister has many institutions under them. If this is done quickly these institutions are distributed more..

Sep 13 (Island) The country�s sole coal fired power plant complex at Norochcholai which generates nearly 900MW to the national grid would have to be shut down unless fresh coal shipments are received before 25 Oct 25, according to a top CEB official. The official said that the plant should not be stopped because the restarting process would cost nearly Rs. 50 million and take seven to 10 days. PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said that the Treasury, Central Bank and the CEB should act fast. more..

Sep 13 (FT) The visiting Asian Development Bank�s (ADB) Director-General for South Asia Kenichi Yokoyama held discussions with PM Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday. DG has assured ADB�s support for the country�s development and its efforts to overcome economic and fiscal challenges. PM briefed him about the steps taken by the Govt to revive the economy and requested the ADB to extend support to the programs aimed at protecting the vulnerable groups of the society and more..

Sep 13 (Island) The country�s sole coal fired power plant complex at Norochcholai which generates nearly 900MW to the national grid would have to be shut down unless fresh coal shipments are received before 25 October 25, according to a top CEB official. The plant should not be stopped because the restarting process would cost nearly Rs. 50 million and take seven to 10 days. PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said that the Treasury, the Central Bank and the CEB should act fast. more..

Sep 13 (TM) Due to the increase in fuel prices and vehicle spare parts, the shortage of fuel, and the increase in interest rates pertaining to bank loans and leasing installments, nearly 400 of the 48,000 vehicles that transport schoolchildren across the island have withdrawn from providing their services, stated the ACSCTA. ACSCTA Secretary said that in addition to the fuel prices that went up on a number of occasions, vehicle spare parts more..

Sep 13 (AD) SL�s six-times winners of the Asian Netball Championship and six-time title-holders of the Asia Cup cricket tournament triumphantly returned to the island this morning (13). The netball champions were accorded a warm welcome by State Minister Rohana Dissanayake upon their arrival at the BIA at around 12.50 a.m. from Singapore. Meanwhile, the Asian cricket champions returned from Dubai in UAE to SL at around 5 a.m. and were welcomed with a rousing reception. more..

Sep 13 (FT) Aragalaya activist, Attorney-at-Law Nuwan Bopage addressing the 51st session of the UNHRC said Govt�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 Prez Wickremesinghe. Bopage was representing the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development at the session. Bopage said many peaceful protestors including himself have been arrested more..

Sep 13 (TM) The delegation of the SL Govt to the 51st session of the UNHRC headed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry PC assured the UNHRC yesterday that the Govt endeavours to establish a credible truth-seeking mechanism within the framework of the Constitution, and that the contours of a model that would suit the particular conditions of SL, are under discussion. Minister Ali Sabry, addressing the UNHRC more..

Sep 13 (DM) Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka for the first eleven days of September have crossed the 10,000 mark, indicating a slow but steady increase in the number of visitors entering the country. Provisional data by the SLTDA showed that for the 1 � 11 September period a total of 10,796 tourists arrived in Sri Lanka. With the September arrivals so far, the cumulative arrivals for the year have reached 507,226. The daily arrival rate for the said period is 979 tourists per day. more..

Sep 13 (FT) Govt has stopped most construction projects without settling contractors� bills. The total amount due is over Rs. 130 billion. Simultaneously, contractors owe banks around Rs. 200 billion. The finances of the contractor trickle down to the smallest of Sri Lankan labourers. The construction supply chain too is vast and includes many industries and businesses, such as cement and steel manufacturers, brick makers and such, each of which are affected. more..

Sep 13 (AD) Cabinet has given the go-ahead to appoint a committee to identify the priorities in essential recruitments and to recommend suitable timelines for them while making appropriate recommendations for the issues in the state sector in order to carry on the public service more efficiently and effectively. The proposal was presented by PM Dinesh Gunawardena, as the Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, PCs & LG to review the recruitment process in the public service. more..

Sep 13 (FT) The Sunday papers in Colombo gave a heads-up on the new resolution (currently at the stage of the Zero Draft) on Sri Lanka reportedly being negotiated at the UNHRC in Geneva, revealing that the Zero Draft resolution seeks to recommend action against political leaders and state officials responsible for economic crimes that have adversely impacted on human rights in Sri Lanka. The news reports indicate that ��The names of ex-Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brother, more..

Sep 13 (DM) As calls are growing for the independence of SL�s Central Bank, which was also clearly laid out in the staff-level agreement with the IMF, there are growing concerns among certain sections whether total independence would mean lack of accountability for the actions the monetary authority takes to maintain price stability. JSB MP and economist, Dr. Harsha de Silva last week pushed back against such concerns more..