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The Sri Lankan Rupee recorded a slight depreciation against the US Dollar today (14 January) when compared to Tuesday, based on figures released by the Central Bank.

Official data shows that the Dollar buying rate edged up from Rs. 305.35 to Rs. 305.43, while the selling rate increased marginally from Rs. 312.88 to Rs. 312.97.

The Central Bank also noted minor fluctuations in the value of the Rupee against a range of other international currencies, including several Gulf currencies, reflecting modest movements in the foreign exchange market.

Ugandan authorities cut internet access and limited mobile services across the country on Tuesday, two days before an election in which President Yoweri Museveni will stand for a contentious seventh term after four decades in power.

The Uganda Communications Commission ordered mobile service providers to shut down public internet connections from 6 p.m. (1500 GMT) on Tuesday in order to curb “misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud and related risks”, according to a letter seen by Reuters.

Security forces have detained hundreds of opposition supporters in the run-up to the election and repeatedly fired live bullets and tear gas at campaign events in support of Museveni’s leading challenger, pop star Bobi Wine.

“The UCC acknowledges the operational challenges this directive may impose and appreciates your full cooperation in upholding national stability during this sensitive period,” the UCC said in the letter dated Tuesday and addressed to Licensed Mobile Operators and Internet Service Providers.

The 81-year-old Museveni, who came to power in 1986 after leading a five-year rebellion, is Africa’s third-longest ruling head of state.

He has changed the constitution twice to remove age and term limits, and his dominance of Ugandan institutions means there is little prospect of an election upset in the East African country of 46 million people, political analysts say.

WATCHDOGS HAVE SPOKEN OUT ABOUT RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

Uganda’s internet went out at 6 p.m. local time, a Reuters witness confirmed.

The government also early on Tuesday ordered two local rights groups to cease operations before Thursday’s election, which the United Nations Human Rights Office says is taking place in an atmosphere of repression and intimidation.

The two groups had denounced the alleged arbitrary detention and torture of opposition supporters and journalists.

The state-run National Bureau for NGOs said in a letter to one of the groups, Chapter Four Uganda, that it was found to be involved in activities “prejudicial” to Uganda’s security and “should cease operations ... with immediate effect”. Robert Ssempala, who heads the Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-U), told Reuters he had received the same letter ordering his organisation to stop operating.

Stephen Okello, head of the state NGO bureau, confirmed to Reuters that he had written the letters.

REPORTS OF ARBITRARY ARRESTS

The U.N. Human Rights Office said in a report on Friday that Uganda’s police and military had used live ammunition to disperse peaceful rallies, carried out arbitrary detentions and abducted opposition supporters ahead of the vote.

A Ugandan government spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on the report.

Museveni’s government has defended the security forces’ actions as a justified response to what it called lawless conduct by opposition supporters.

Source: adaderana.lk

China-based Amber Adventures (Private) Limited has officially pulled out of the Ambuluwawa Cable Car Project, informing the Board of Investment (BOI) in writing yesterday (13 Jan).

According to media reports, the company, involved in Sri Lanka’s first cable car venture, has cited ‘regulatory obstruction and arbitrary state action’ for its decision. 

In its letter to the BOI, the Chinese company said it has decided to withdraw from the project due to arbitrary and unlawful actions by state authorities, including the suspension of construction by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) based on complaints circulating on social media, despite clearance from technical agencies.

Revealing that it had already invested US $ 3.5 million of the US $ 12.75 million in total investment, the company further said the investment was secured at the height of Sri Lanka’s 2022 economic crisis by a consortium of investors from Sri Lanka, China and the United States.

The project had obtained all required approvals, including from the CEA, Urban Development Authority, Cabinet of Ministers and the Ministry of Defence, and was structured as a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) project. 

The company pointed out that under the agreement, the fully operational cable car system valued at over Rs. 5 billion was to be handed over to the Sri Lankan government free of charge after 13 years.

However, Amber Adventures said repeated interference, regulatory obstruction and harassment by state officials made the project commercially unviable.

Further rejecting claims of landslide risks, the company noted that the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) had inspected the site after Cyclone Ditwah and confirmed its stability.

The letter further revealed that the company is now considering international legal action to recover losses. 

Amber Adventures joins a list of other foreign companies that have exited Sri Lanka since 2022, such as Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation, French sporting goods retailer Decathlon, India-based food delivery platform Zomato and the Adani Group.

( Source : newswire.lk)

The Department of Meteorology has forecast an improvement in weather conditions across Sri Lanka from tomorrow (15), with the prevailing showery pattern expected to gradually subside.

According to the forecast, only a few showers are likely in the Uva, Eastern and Central provinces. In the Western province and the districts of Galle, Matara and Ratnapura, showers or thundershowers may develop at isolated locations after 2.00 p.m.

Elsewhere on the island, predominantly fair weather conditions are anticipated. However, misty conditions may form during the early morning hours in parts of the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces, as well as in the Galle and Matara districts.

The public has been advised to remain cautious, as temporary localized strong winds and lightning may still accompany thundershowers in affected areas.

With regard to marine weather, the Met Department noted that a few showers are expected in sea areas off the coast stretching from Kankasanthurai to Pottuvil via Trincomalee. Showers or thundershowers may also occur in other surrounding sea areas during the evening or night.

Winds are expected to be north-easterly at speeds of 25–35 kmph. However, wind speeds may increase to around 45 kmph at times in sea areas off the coast from Colombo to Mannar via Puttalam, and from Hambantota to Pottuvil.

Sea conditions in these areas are expected to be fairly rough at times, while other surrounding sea areas will generally be slight to moderate. Temporarily strong gusty winds and very rough seas may occur during thundershowers, the Department added.

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has arrested a retired Navy Medical Assistant on charges of accepting a bribe in connection with a school admission.

According to the Bribery Commission, the suspect had demanded a total of Rs. 300,000 from the parents of a child, promising to arrange their daughter’s admission to Grade 1 at a well-known school in Colombo. Investigations revealed that Rs. 100,000 had already been obtained from the complainant.

The arrest followed a complaint filed by a resident of Wellawatte. CIABOC officials stated that the suspect was apprehended while attempting to collect the remaining Rs. 200,000 of the alleged bribe.

The suspect is due to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court for further legal proceedings.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has firmly stated that the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah will not be used as a justification to suspend or reverse the government’s official programs.

The President made these remarks at the inauguration of the national initiative titled “Rebuilding Sri Lanka,” a program launched to coordinate and manage post-disaster reconstruction efforts across the country.

He noted that although Sri Lanka was still in the process of recovering from recent economic hardships when the cyclone struck, the government had no intention of stepping back from its planned policies. Emphasizing continuity, President Dissanayake said the administration remains committed to addressing the crisis while adhering to its established policy framework.

Reflecting on past experiences, the President observed that previous disasters had often been used to justify delays or reversals in governance. However, he stressed that the current administration had consciously decided not to follow that path.

Providing details on the scale of the disaster, President Dissanayake said approximately 700,000 people were displaced due to the cyclone. Around 6,000 houses were completely destroyed, while nearly 110,000 homes suffered partial damage. A further 10,000 houses, though not physically damaged, were deemed unsafe, prompting the evacuation of residents.

The President underlined that he remains accountable to the mandate granted to the government and will not allow any external influence to weaken it. Parliament has approved a supplementary allocation of Rs. 500 billion to address cyclone-related recovery efforts.

From this allocation, Rs. 5,000 million has been set aside to reconstruct 2,500 fully destroyed houses, with plans in place to build more than 50,000 new homes by 2026 as part of the long-term recovery program.

The U.S. government has issued an urgent advisory for American citizens to leave Iran immediately, according to a notice published Tuesday by the U.S. virtual embassy in Tehran.

“U.S. citizens should leave Iran now. Consider departing Iran by land to Türkiye or Armenia, if safe to do so,” the notice stated.

The advisory comes as Iran experiences its largest anti-government demonstrations in years.

U.S. President Donald Trump has voiced his support for Iranians on the streets, threatening action against Iran if killings of protesters continue. Trump has also maintanted ambiguous language when asked about potential military involvement, not ruling the scenario out.

Source:adaderana.lk

Deputy Minister of Agriculture Namal Karunaratne has announced that revised paddy prices will come into effect from the forthcoming cultivation season, providing increased returns for farmers.

He stated that while the price of Nadu paddy will remain unchanged at Rs. 120 per kilogram, the purchasing prices of other key varieties will be adjusted. Accordingly, the price of Samba paddy will be increased from Rs. 125 to Rs. 130, while Keeri Samba paddy will rise from Rs. 132 to Rs. 140.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that despite the increase in paddy prices, there will be no corresponding hike in rice prices for consumers.

Farmers will be able to sell their harvest at the revised rates from the upcoming season itself, Karunaratne added.

He further noted that although previous years had seen attempts by organized groups to manipulate the rice market during this period, steps have already been taken by the authorities to prevent such monopolistic practices and protect both farmers and consumers.

A meeting between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya and representatives of teachers’ trade unions was held this afternoon (13) at the Presidential Secretariat.

At the meeting, the teachers’ trade union representatives stated that they accept the necessity of the new education reforms being implemented by the Government and pointed out that the Grade 6 curriculum needs to be revised. They also expressed their readiness to work together with the Government in the new education reform process.

They further proposed that these activities be carried out under the supervision of a formal mechanism comprising the National Education Commission, the National Institute of Education, educationists, lawyers, university lecturers and professors and representatives of trade unions in the education sector.

Emphasising that winning the trust of teachers and parents is essential for the success of education reforms and that transformation cannot be achieved amid suspicion or mistrust, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake invited the teachers’ trade union representatives to work together with the Government in implementing the new education reforms.

Briefing the trade union representatives on the new education reform process initiated by the Government, the President stated that while the reforms for Grade 1 are being implemented as planned, due to issues in developing modules, delays in teacher training and technical challenges, it is expected that the reforms for Grade 6 will commence in 2027.

The President also said that infrastructure such as smart boards; televisions and computers required for the reforms would be provided through Government funding and not at the expense of parents.

Attention was also drawn to issues relating to inter-provincial teacher transfers, promotions, salary anomalies and problems in the principals’ service. 

( source: newswire.lk)

The Sri Lankan Rupee continued its upward movement against the US Dollar at commercial banks today (13 January), showing further appreciation compared to Monday, while the average selling rate remained around Rs. 312.

At Seylan Bank, the Dollar buying rate declined to Rs. 306.40, with the selling rate easing to Rs. 311.15. NDB Bank also adjusted its rates downward, recording a buying rate of Rs. 305.90 and a selling rate of Rs. 312.40.

People’s Bank reported a reduction in both rates, with the US Dollar now buying at Rs. 305.54 and selling at Rs. 312.28. Commercial Bank similarly revised its exchange rates, lowering the buying rate to Rs. 303.74 and the selling rate to Rs. 312.25.

Meanwhile, Sampath Bank maintained its existing rates, keeping the Dollar buying price unchanged at Rs. 305.75 and the selling price at Rs. 312.25.

Overall, the exchange rate adjustments reflect a modest strengthening of the Rupee, with the Dollar selling rate remaining broadly stable across the banking sector.

Greenland’s prime minister has said his people would choose Denmark over the US if they were asked to make such a choice “here and now”.

Jens-Frederik Nielsen’s remark at a joint news conference with Denmark’s prime minister is the strongest by a representative of the semi-autonomous Danish territory since US President Donald Trump renewed his plan to annex it.

Trump says the US needs to “own” Greenland to defend against Russia and China. The White House has suggested buying the island, but not ruled out the use of force to annex it.

Denmark is a fellow Nato member and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that military force would spell the end of the trans-Atlantic defence alliance.

Asked later on Tuesday what he made of Nielsen’s comments, Trump said: “That’s their problem, I disagree with him... That’s going to be a big problem for him.”

Despite being the most sparsely populated territory, Greenland’s location between North America and the Arctic makes it well placed for early warning systems in the event of missile attacks, and for monitoring vessels in the region.

Trump has repeatedly said that Greenland is vital to US national security, claiming without evidence that it was “covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place”.

The US already has more than 100 military personnel permanently stationed at its Pituffik base in Greenland’s north-western tip - a facility that has been operated by the US since World War Two.

Under existing agreements with Denmark, the US has the power to bring as many troops as it wants to Greenland.

But Trump told reporters in Washington last week that a lease agreement was not good enough - the US “had to have ownership” and “Nato’s got to understand that”.

At the news conference in the Danish capital Copenhagen, Frederiksen did not mince her words as she condemned the “completely unacceptable pressure from our closest ally”.

She warned that “there are many indications that the most challenging part is ahead of us”.

The Greenlandic prime minister said they were “facing a geopolitical crisis”, but the island’s position was clear:

“If we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark,” he said.

“One thing must be clear to everyone. Greenland does not want to be owned by the United States. Greenland does not want to be governed by the United States. Greenland does not want to be part of the United States.”

The Copenhagen news conference comes a day before the Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and his Greenlandic counterpart Vivian Motzfeldt are due to travel to the US to meet Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Denmark’s Nato allies - major European countries as well as Canada - have rallied to its support this week with statements reaffirming that “only Denmark and Greenland can decide on matters concerning their relations”.

Stressing they were as keen as the US on Arctic security, they have said this must be achieved by allies, including the US, “collectively”.

They also called for “upholding the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders”.

Concerns over the future of the territory resurfaced after Trump’s use of military force against Venezuela on Saturday to seize its president, Nicolás Maduro.

Trump previously made an offer to buy the island in 2019, during his first presidential term, only to be told it was not for sale.

In recent years, there has been increased interest in Greenland’s natural resources - including rare earth minerals, uranium and iron - which are becoming easier to access as its ice melts due to climate change. Scientists think it could also have significant oil and gas reserves.

Source:adaderana.lk

The correct title for the proposed bill mentioned in the first part of this article should be “Protection of the State from Terrorism Act – PSTA,” not “Prevention of State Terrorism Bill” (PSTA). I regret the oversight.

Why Sri Lanka must repeal the PTA

Let us start with an uncomfortable truth. The Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) has failed at its primary mission. Decades after its introduction, terrorism has not been prevented by this legislation; it has merely been responded to, often heavy-handedly. Meanwhile, the Act has become something far more insidious, a tool to silence dissent and control the narrative around government policies.

When legislation designed to protect citizens instead becomes a weapon against them, we have crossed a dangerous line. The PTA, and now its proposed successor, the draft Protection of the State from Terrorism Act (PSTA) Bill, operate by definition and in practice as partisan instruments. They do not serve “the people”, but continue to serve only those, whoever holds power at any given moment.

First, let us pose a simple but critical question. Why should a law that does not work, that does not protect everyone equally, and that actively undermines the rule of law it claims to uphold, exist? The answer is an equally simple one. It should not exist.

The PTA’s track record of abuse

The PTA originated in 1979 as temporary legislation while decades of escalating ethnic tensions and violence were culminating towards the civil war and was made permanent in 1982. While justified as necessary to preserve national security, it quickly became a tool for arbitrary arrests, torture, and suppressing dissent, especially targeting minorities and critics. UN experts and human rights groups have continually condemned its severe violations of human rights and demanded its repeal or genuine reform.

The fact that the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) was debated and passed in a single day should alarm anyone who cares about the democratic process. During the civil war from 1983 to 2009, it was used extensively against the Tamil minority and suspected LTTE militants. After the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, its use expanded to target the Muslim community. Despite the end of the war in 2009, the PTA continues to be used against political opponents, journalists, human rights defenders, and protesters, not just suspected terrorists.

The Act, with definitions of terrorism, authorises prolonged detention, extraction of confessions via torture, and punishment for failing to report terrorists. The 2022 amendments reduced maximum pre-trial period of detention from 18 to 12 months but failed to address fundamental issues like the admissibility of confessions obtained under torture. Despite repeated promises of repeal, including by the NPP government that came to power in late 2024, the PTA remains in force to date.

The safeguards against misuse of the legislation by authorities are feeble or totally disregarded. The broad and unclear definitions of terrorism allow for targeting dissent. It provides powers for long periods of detention without charge or trial. International actors, including the EU and UN, continue to call for its repeal or fundamental overhaul.

Starting from first principles

Some argue that anti-terrorism legislation is necessary in principle, even if the current version is flawed. I understand this perspective, but I cannot share it; at least not without fundamental reforms that the current proposals do not address.

If the government genuinely believes such legislation is essential, then the PSTA must be redesigned from the ground up with three non-negotiable characteristics; those are, effectiveness, non-discrimination, and a clear pro-people orientation. The current bill fails on all those three counts.

Defining Terrorism with Precision

The word “terrorism” has become dangerously elastic in political discourse. It stretches to cover everything from genuine threats to public safety, to peaceful protests that simply make those in power uncomfortable. This ambiguity is not accidental. It is useful to governments that want maximum flexibility in applying the law.

However, this is precisely where democracy dies; in the vague spaces where those who enforce the laws can mean whatever they want. Any anti-terrorism legislation must begin with a definition that is clear, succinct, and comprehensive. More importantly, the scope of its definition must be made deliberately narrow, preventing authorities from applying it selectively against political opponents or marginalised communities.

That narrow definition could be something like this. Terrorism is not words, not ideas, not expression, but an action that deliberately attempts to frighten, threaten, or endanger efforts meant to safeguard the interests of all people in the country, not just a privileged few or a particular section of society.

Notice what this definition excludes: speech, writing, peaceful protest, and political advocacy. These actions do not represent terrorism. They represent the lifeblood of democracy.

Accountability: The missing piece

Even the best-written law can be misused. That is why any anti-terrorism legislation must include robust accountability mechanisms. Those are the things that are conspicuously absent from both the PTA and the PSTA.

If the law is applied inappropriately, whether intentionally or through negligence, victims must be compensated for the harm done to their reputation and for their material losses. This is not something done at will; it is fundamentally about serving justice. Moreover, those responsible for misapplying the law, whether police, prosecutors, or government officials, must face appropriate penalties. Without personal accountability, there is no incentive to exercise restraint or respect civil liberties.

Democracy’s foundation: Freedom of expression

The fundamental basis of my objection is that democracies are founded on the principle of freedom of expression. This is not a luxury or a nice-to-have option; it is the foundation on which everything else rests.

When citizens are unable to freely express their opinions on government policies, when journalists fear arrest for reporting inconvenient truths, and when activists hesitate to organise because they may be labelled terrorists, democracy has failed long ago.

The PTA and PSTA curtail this fundamental right. In doing so, they strike at something essential to our humanity. Freedom of expression is not just about politics. It is about personal growth, about our development as complete human beings, whom Aristotle called “political animals.”[i] Only when we experience that freedom we transcend the chaotic, but beautiful reality of plurality in diversity.

True unity does not come from silencing dissent; it emerges through consultation, inclusion, and participation. It is forged when people with different perspectives come together, express their views freely, and work toward shared goals despite their differences.

Authoritarian turning points

The 20th century’s socialist experiments aimed to enhance mass welfare but often those ended up by creating systems of tyranny. In many developing countries, socialism failed to deliver equality; instead, those with the strongest political connections were most empowered.

Regimes claiming to champion the marginalised, brutally repressed dissidents and established authoritarian states worldwide. Though socialism’s appeal still persists globally, capitalist forces have historically pushed progressive governments toward authoritarianism by creating economic vulnerabilities. The most recent exemplification being in Venezuela, which relied on repression under external pressures.

Progressive governments struggle to balance investment attraction and independent policies; failed reforms often trigger capital flight and government repression. International financial institutions pressure governments into unpopular fiscal reforms. This often results in reducing democratic debate and limiting citizen participation.

As economic conditions deteriorate, both socialist and capitalist systems may resort to increased authoritarianism, utilising militarised policing and surveillance to maintain order under the guise of stability. This trade-off frequently involves sacrificing democratic spaces for liberalised capital and favourable investment climates, with regimes employing authoritarian capitalism to enforce market-oriented policies while consolidating power.

A pro-people vision

The ideas I am defending here are not anti-government; they are pro-people. Here, there is a crucial distinction. Being pro-people means prioritising the rights and welfare of citizens above the convenience of those in power. It means creating systems that protect everyone’s ability to seek, receive, and distribute information without fear.

This should be acceptable common ground for any government that truly serves its people, regardless of political affiliation. The NPP came to power promising change and reform. Here is an opportunity to demonstrate that those promises would not be empty.

The path forward

To those who approached me hoping I would soften my stance: I appreciate your concern, and I want the NPP government to succeed in its mandate to serve the people. However, that success cannot be built on enacting legislation that undermines the very freedoms democracy requires.

The NPP government prior to its election to power, pledged to transform Sri Lanka into “A Thriving Nation, A Beautiful Life” through a “system change” focused on ending corruption, ensuring national unity, and achieving economic stability. A government will be successful to the extent that it carries the masses with it, not due to the strength of its armed forces or the armoury. Many progressive governments failed due to their actions that lacked this understanding.[ii]

Repeal the PTA. Withdraw the PSTA. If anti-terrorism legislation is genuinely needed, start over with genuine consultation, clear definitions, narrow scope, and built-in accountability. Create something that protects people from actual threats without threatening the people themselves.

This is not opposition, but a kind of critical friendship any government should embrace. Because ultimately, we all want the same thing, that is a Sri Lanka where every citizen feels safe, heard, and free: “A Thriving Nation, A Beautiful Life”. That land would be a land where the law protects people rather than threatens, where diversity strengthens unity among people rather than divides them, and where democracy means more than just elections every few years.

The foundation of such a society is freedom: freedom to speak, to question, to dissent, to imagine better possibilities. If built on that foundation, everything else will follow. Build on fear and repression, and no amount of legislative engineering can create lasting security or genuine peace.

The choice before Sri Lanka’s leaders is clear. The only question is whether they have the wisdom and courage to make it.

[i]^{Aristotle used the phrase “political animal” to describe humanity’s place in the natural world. He wanted to remind us that while we may dream of rising to divine heights, we remain fundamentally mortal beings. We exist within nature’s intricate network of dependencies, requiring specific conditions and communities to survive and flourish.}

[ii]^{Historically “socialist” states failed because they concentrated power in government hands rather than empowering workers, relied on force instead of building popular support to maintain control, and created systems where people felt disconnected and unmotivated.}

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the official position of this publication.

By Lionel Bopage

(Source: pulseline.lk)