• Sri Lanka will be more united under federal system says TNA MP

    Apr 10

    The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP, Mavai Senathirajah called for the new Sri Lankan constitution to push a federal solution to the ethnic conflict, stating that the country would be more united under such a system.

    "Under the present unitary resolution, we cannot find an answer to our issues," Mr Senathirajah explained in an interview with Sunday Leader.

    "We need to bring all communities under one country, but these bankrupt politicians say if a federal solution is sought, it will divide the country. I think the country will be more united under a federal system."

  • IMF calls for reduction in Sri Lanka's fiscal deficit & public debt
    Concluding a visit to Sri Lanka a delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday called for a "durable reduction of the fiscal deficit and public debt".

    "The fiscal deficit expanded, public debt increased, and the balance of payments position deteriorated despite an improvement in the terms of trade," the IMF said in a statement, highlighting the need for "removing bottlenecks to trade and investment."

    "Key objectives underlying the reform agenda include: (i) improving revenue administration and tax policy; (ii) strengthening public financial management; (iii) state enterprise reforms; and, iv) structural reforms to enable a more outward-looking economy, deepen foreign exchange markets, and strengthen financial sector supervision."

  • Sri Lanka hopes to be bailed out by IMF by next week

    Sri Lanka's finance minister declared his government is expecting a bailout package from the International Monetary Fund to come into place next week, as Sri Lanka faces a worsening economic crisis.

    "The good news is that it could be forthcoming next week," said Ravi Karunanayake after meeting with IMF representatives on Saturday.

    Sri Lanka is reportedly hoping to receive a $1.5–2 billion bailout package, as it struggles to cope with a budget deficit, dwindling foreign reserves and a currency crisis. State Minister of Finance Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said at least $1 billion would be granted.

    Mr Karunanayake though remained upbeat, telling reporters, "it is better to have the IMF endorsement than to be without it".

  • Ranil defends China's Port City project

    Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe defended the Chinese Port City project currently in Colombo, claiming that it “presents an opportunity for everyone to make money”.

    The $1.4 billion project is the single largest foreign investment on the island, and was until recently put on hold by the Sri Lankan government, with Mr Wickremesinghe stating the project had to be reviewed last year.

    However, the prime minister came out in defence of the construction and sought to alleviate fears that the Chinee will be looking to place military instalments on the island.

    "The Port City is not a threat to anyone, it's an opportunity for everyone to make money," he told reporters. "The Chinese have not asked for any military base in Sri Lanka."

  • Tamil disappearances rights group in Vavuniya appoints new committee

     

    A new committee has been appointed for the Forum for Searching, Handed, Kidnapped and Forcibly Disappeared Relatives in the Vavuniya District this week.

     

    The organisation, which has branches in all the districts across the North-East, has been active in staging demonstrations and writing petitions to help locate the tens of thousands of disappeared.

  • Rajapaksa commends Ranil's trip to China
    Sri Lanka's former president has commended current Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's visit to China, after an announcement that a project that began under his tenure were set to continue.

    Mahinda Rajapaksa told reporters in Angunukolapelassa that though the current government had attempted to blame the state of the island's economy on his regime's projects with China, Mr Wickremesinghe had now looked to the country for support.

    "Not only did they speak against China funded projects but they also halted work on them once they came to power,” said Mr Rajapaksa. “If they continued with the envelopment projects, the country could have had more extensive expressway network today".
  • India firm on Palk Strait bridge
    The Indian government was firm on building a bridge across the Palk Strait connecting Talaimannar with the Rameswaram, The Hindu quoted the Union Minister, Pon Radhakrishnan as saying.
     
    Speaking to journalists on Saturday, Mr Radhakrishnan reportedly said the "Sri Lanka government is expected to give its nod for the project."

    He said the project was however in the "preliminary stage".

  • Sri Lankan minister dismisses Tamil concerns on 65K housing project
    Sri Lanka's minister of prison reforms, rehabilitation, resettlement and Hindu religious affairs, D M Swaminathan this week dismissed concerns raised by the Northern Provincial Council on the government's proposed 65,000 housing project.

    The NPC's chief minister, C V Wigneswaran had earlier sent a letter to Mr Swaminathan informing him that the housing project had been unanimously rejected by the Council as not fulfilling Tamil needs or concerns.

    Dismissing the letter, Mr Swaminathan accused the NPC of only talking with no action.

  • Protest in Jaffna against land survey for military camps
    Woman holds poster reading, "[Sri Lankan] government, is it our land you want to build military camps for yourself?"


    Tamils in Jaffna protested on Friday against land survey work being undertaken for the purpose of constructing navy and army camps on public land.



    Holding posters, protesters sat outside the Tirunelveli Land Survey Office in Jaffna district.

  • Sirisena restores military security for Rajapaksa following protests

    Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has restored military security for his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa just days after stepping down his protection.

  • Protest over Sampur power plant, Chunnakam oil contamination


    Protesters gathered in front of the Central Bus Stand in Jaffna on Saturday to voice their concern at the government's plans for housing and the Sampur coal plant as well as the Chunnakam oil contamination.



    Laying forward these three points of concern, the protesters urged the government to abandon plants to build the coal fired power plant in Sampur and demanded compensation for those affected by the contamination of ground water with oil.

  • Next round of US Trade Framework Agreement Talks with Sri Lanka to be held in April
    The next round of US Sri Lanka Trade Investment Framework Agreement talks will be held in April 2016 in Washington DC, said the US State Department in a fact sheet released last week.

    Describing US relations with Sri Lanka the fact sheet said,

    “Relations between the United States and Sri Lanka are based on mutual interests and a shared commitment to the ideals of democratic governance. U.S. policy toward Sri Lanka is characterized by respect for its independence, sovereignty, and moderate nonaligned foreign policy; support for the country's unity, territorial integrity, and democratic institutions; and encouragement of its social and economic development. The United States is a strong supporter of ethnic reconciliation in Sri Lanka following the end of decades of civil conflict in 2009.”
  • China and Sri Lanka release joint statement strengthening bilateral relations
    China and Sri Lanka issued a joint statement reiterating their commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation in various field, reports Xinhua.

    Noting China’s support to reconciliation in Sri Lanka, and Sri Lanka’s support to the ‘One China’ policy, the statement said,
  • Buddhist monks pledge to protect Rajapaksa
    Sri Lanka’s Buddhist Maha Sangha council marched through Colombo in protest against alleged suppression of the former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Buddhist Sangha.

    Over 100 Buddhist monks pledged to protect Mahinda Rajapaksa and demonstrated in front of the Colombo Foundation Institute this week.
  • China offers 500m Yuan as goodwill donation to Sri Lanka
    China granted 500 million Yuan to Sri Lanka as a gesture of friendship, as the Sri Lankan prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe continued his visit to Beijing.

    The offer was made by the Chinese prime minister, Li Keqiang, during bilateral discussions with Mr Wickremesinghe on Thursday.

    "China welcomes the resuming of the Colombo port construction and is willing to join hands with Sri Lanka to steadily expand the construction of the project," Mr Keqiang said, whilst expressing his wish that both sides will speed up the negotiation of the second phase of Hambantota port project.

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