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As part of Sri Lanka Navy’s sterilization programmes in action to keep the coronavirus at bay, similar disinfection programmes were conducted at the Fort Railway Station and main entrances of Colombo harbour today (20th March 2020).

As such, the Navy’s Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Unit executed this sterilization programme for the second time at the Fort Railway Station which is frequented by a large number of people. Further, the Navy also sanitized the main entrances of Colombo harbour to make those premises free of the virus.

Meanwhile, the Navy is working in full swing to arrest further spread of the virus in public places, by continuing its sterilization programmes.

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Former Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said that if the fuel price formula introduced by the Good Governance Government had been implemented thus far, it would have been possible to reduce the prices of all types of fuel by at least Rs. 20 per litre from March 10, 2020.

During the ‘Yahapalana’ Government, fuel prices were revised on the 10th of every month in accordance with the fuel price formula to give maximum benefit to the consumers of Sri Lanka, comparing prices in the world market.

The then Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera, when he introduced the fuel price formula, had promised to pass the benefit of world oil price fluctuations to the consumers by reducing the oil prices in the local market. Now the international oil price has come down to USD 45 per barrel from USD 65 when the fuel price was last revised in September 2019.

Likewise, the government had also introduced a price formula for another essential commodity, domestic gas. As a result, the price of a 12.5 kg gas cylinder sold for more than Rs. 2,000 in 2015 has been reduced to Rs. 1,500.

Accordingly, when the price of a barrel of Brent crude oil in the Singapore market was US $ 65, the price of oil has been revised last in September 2019 and the new prices by March 10, 2020 should be as follows.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Sri Lanka have risen to 65.

Ministry of Health said a total of 218 people are under medical observation.

SriLankan Airlines will lose USD 130 million for the year ending March 2020, chairman Ashok Pathirage disclosed to the Parliamentary Committee On Public Enterprises (COPE). He requested a USD 300 million capital injection from the government to prevent a debt spiral.

Pathirage blamed the situation on the loss of tourism after last year's Easter Sunday bombings and the ongoing Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak. Arrivals from China, for example, which accounted for 30% of inbound travel in 2018, plunged 92.5% in February year-on-year.

Although undercapitalised due to past losses, the airline had been expecting to reduce its loss to about USD30 million in 2021, the chairman told the committee, promising that “the board has a plan where we are very confident the airline will be profitable two to three years down the line", he stated.

It was only last month that the government approved a further handout to SriLankan Airlines, this time for USD 50 million, to enable it to continue its services.

Loss-making since Emirates (EK, Dubai Int'l) concluded a profitable ten-year management contract with the carrier in 2008, SriLankan's cumulative losses will total LKR 232 billion rupees (USD1.27 billion) by end March 2020, Pathirage said, including USD 115 million to release it from a controversial Airbus deal. The carrier committed in 2013 to buy six A330-300s and four A350-900s and take a further four A350-900s from lessors but later reneged on its decision to add any of the A350s.

Sri Lanka's previous administration, which was in power until November 2019, decided in August of that year to sell a 49% stake in the flag carrier and try to attract foreign investors by assuming some of the airline's legacy debt. Nothing further was done, however.

Pathirage also reiterated earlier plans to launch flights to Frankfurt Int'l and Sydney Kingsford Smith and lease more A330s. According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, the carrier currently operates an all-leased fleet of five A320-200s, two A320-200neo, two A321-200s, four A321-200neo, six A330-200s, and seven A330-300s.

Failure to take advantage of the decreasing crude oil prices in the world market and pass the benefit to the public by reducing the prices in the domestic market has allowed the Indian Oil Company (IOC) to amass billions of rupees in additional profits.

The Indian Oil Company (IOC), one of two suppliers of fuel in the country, has raked in billions of rupees in profits due to the failure of the current government to take advantage of the decreasing global crude oil prices, which have hit a historic low in recent times.

The government has not reduced the domestic fuel prices as it needs a much needed capital injection to an economy that has been plagued by reckless and short-sighted polices that have deprived the treasury of income. The failure to reduce the fuel prices and allowing the IOC to rake in billions in additional profits have led to suspicions in economic circles.

The suspicions have fueled the allegation that certain members in the present government could be getting a 'commission' from the company to be used for propaganda purposes in the upcoming general election.

Accordingly, the IOC sold a litre of 92 octane petrol for Rs.137 and a litre of auto diesel at Rs.104, while maintaining maximum profit margins.

However, crude oil prices in the world market have dropped by less than 30% in recent times. In September 2019, the price of a barrel of Brent crude was USD 65 but it has been drastically reduced to USD 45 by earlier this week.

Former Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said in a statement recently that if the government is genuinely interested in providing relief to the people, it is possible to reduce the price of a litre of petrol and diesel by Rs. 20.

However, the both the government and the IOC have failed to take advantage of the decreasing oil prices and pass the benefit to the consumers.

Govt. opposes the reduction in prices

Meanwhile, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) said that there will be no change in the price of fuel.

CPC chairman Sumith Wijesinghe said that before the fuel prices can be reduced, there needs to a be a proper mechanism in place that would allow them to directly pass any benefit of decreasing oil prices in the world market before reducing oil prices in the domestic market. He pointed out that without a proper mechanism in place, the public will not be able reap benefits of price fluctuations in the world market.

Wijesinghe further said that the CPC has been able to make a profit since mid-February due to the crude oil prices in the world market.

The Police Narcotics Burea and the Sri Lanka Navy in joint operation nabbed two foreign trawlers packed with over LKR 6000 million worth of heroin and crystal methamphetamine in Sri Lanka's biggest-ever drugs bust at sea, Navy spokesman said.

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has no intention or the capacity to obtain a two-thirds majority in Parliament, Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Pavithra Wanniarachchi said.

Minister Wanniarachchi made this statement while addressing a meeting in Ratnapura on Wednesday (11).

"We don't want a two-thirds majority. We can't get two-thirds. Even though we got a two-thirds majority when we won the war, it won't be possible. At least seven MPs from the Ratnapura district should be sent to parliament. 113 MPs from the SLPP should be sent to parliament," she said.

Long before the general election announced, the SLPP had declared that they would definitely repeal the 19th Amendment with a two-thirds majority.

Despite being faced with many difficulties throughout its inception as a party and having emerged victorious in all elections since, the founder of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Basil Rajapaksa asserted that the SLPP will achieve a landslide victory at the upcoming general election.

He made these comments while addressing party representatives at the SLPP headquarters in Nelum Mawatha, Battaramulla.

He further stated that he expects to win the election by getting 113-120 seats.

He had also pointed out the importance of executing an eco-friendly election campaign while paying strict adherence to election laws and regulations.

Sri Lanka Nidahas Podujana Sandanaya to contest under SLPP!

SLPP General Secretary attorney-at-law Sagara Kariyawasam had officially informed the Election Commission on Tuesday (03) that the Sri Lanka Nidahas Podujana Sandanaya would contest under the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).  

Attorney-at-law Sagara Kariyawasam made this notification as all political parties must inform the Election Commission of their intention to contest within seven days of the declaration of an election.

The person that was identified at the IDH hospital of having contracted the virus had not returned home as he had suspicions of having contracted the virus.

He had traveled to several parts of the island with a group of Italian tourists and had visited his family doctor shortly after his tour instead of going home as he was feeling indisposed.

He was rushed to the IDH hospital following instructions given by the doctor.

The Ministry of Education has informed the Provincial Directors of Education to limit students' extracurricular activities outside the classroom.

Secretary of the Ministry of Education, NHM Chithrananda said that a instruction manual has been sent to all Provincial Directors of Education

The Provincial Directors of Education will forward the instruction manual to all principals.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has directed the relevant authorities to subject both parents and children that arrive from overseas for a 14-day quarantine.

Furthermore, the Education Ministry has instructed all schools to suspend educational tours until further notice

Security agencies are stepping up surveillance, harassment, and threats against human rights activists and journalists, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said today. Since November 2019, when the government of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa came into office, there has been a rapid closing of civic space and freedom of expression.

In interviews with 15 Sri Lankan human rights defenders working in different locations around the country, Human Rights Watch heard consistent accounts of increased surveillance and pressure from security agencies. Several said that intelligence officials had asked activists and victims about their advocacy plans ahead of the current United Nations Human Rights Council session, which began on February 24, 2020 in Geneva. “We fear that international lobbying and travel to Geneva may not happen in future because of this situation,” one activist said.

“Since the return of the Rajapaksas to power, a state of fear is being re-established in Sri Lanka,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director. “The activities of the government’s security apparatus are evident in some violent attacks and public death threats against activists and journalists, but also in equally dangerous actions happening out of sight.”

Rajapaksa has placed a number of important civilian agencies under the Defence Ministry, including the civilian police and the NGO Secretariat, which regulates nongovernmental groups, among dozens of others. He has appointed a serving military officer as head of the civilian intelligence agency and a retired general, Kamal Gunaratne, who is accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, as defense secretary.

Over the past three months, unidentified people have physically attacked journalists several times, and issued death threats against reporters perceived as critical of the government. Security officials have searched media offices. The Defence Ministry announced on January 24 that it had drafted a new cybersecurity law to prevent people from publishing “defamatory posts” on social media. The proposals have not yet been published.

Several human rights activists described receiving repeated phone calls from intelligence officers. Some of these calls have apparently been to tell activists that they are being watched at that moment. On other occasions the caller asks questions or issues threats or warnings.

One human rights defender said that “everything has shifted into a critical situation. After the election, military activities including monitoring and inquiries have increased. They are following us. That is a huge threat for human rights groups.” Another activist said: “We collected stories and documents. Now we’ve stopped everything. We did a lot of work. Now, zero.” A third activist said she so constantly feels under surveillance that intelligence officers “might even be in the next seat on the bus.”

Police and intelligence officers have sought to instil fear in rights groups by visiting their offices and demanding staff lists, home addresses, and other personal details. One activist said the authorities came to his office demanding this information, but then revealed that “they knew already everything. My personal details, they knew it. This is part of the intimidation.”

Many of these activists carry out research and advocacy on abduction, torture, murder, and enforced disappearance allegedly committed by security forces, including members of the intelligence agencies and the military, between 2005-2015 when Gotabaya Rajapaksa was defense secretary during the administration of his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is now prime minister. During those years the United Nations found credible evidence that the Sri Lankan government was responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

An activist whose group works on so-called “white van” abductions and enforced disappearances allegedly committed by intelligence officers under the previous Rajapaksa administration said, “It is in question what will happen to me and my staff.” Another activist said, “I am even more scared because the kind of inquiry that has been happening is about people’s families, so that is even more frightening than if they are asking about our official activities.”

The intelligence agencies have also begun to target the financial and administrative records of nongovernmental organizations over the last five years, and especially details of funding from donors abroad. Activists fear the authorities will allege accounting errors as a pretext to shut them down or to bring criminal charges.

Several human rights groups based in eastern Sri Lanka have been summoned for questioning in Colombo by the police Terrorist Investigation Department (TID). One human rights activist said: “In the investigation they told us, ‘You have used money you received from abroad for terrorist activities in Sri Lanka. You are involved in terrorist activities, that is why you have been called for investigation.’”

On February 26, the Rajapaksa government said it would no longer abide by Human Rights Council resolution 30/1, which Sri Lanka endorsed in 2015. Resolution 30/1 commits Sri Lanka to ensuring truth and justice for past abuses. An activist said that Sri Lankan human rights groups that worked in support of Resolution 30/1 now find themselves vulnerable: “Now the government is saying you are urging the people to disturb the peace [by supporting resolution 30/1]. They say, ‘You have no right to do it.’”

Members of the Human Rights Council should, as a matter of priority, support a new resolution to establish an international mechanism or tribunal to address past crimes in Sri Lanka, Human Rights Watch said.

On February 14, the United States banned Sri Lanka’s army chief, Gen. Shavendra Silva, from travel to the US due to “his involvement, through command responsibility, in gross violations of human rights, namely extrajudicial killings” during Sri Lanka’s civil war. Other countries, including EU members and the United Kingdom, should follow suit and impose sanctions on him and others credibly accused of serious rights violations and war crimes.

The EU should also remind Sri Lanka of its human rights obligations under the European Union’s GSP+ system of trade preferences and of the consequences of failing to comply.

“Sri Lankans are seeing their civil and political rights being stripped away and replaced by authoritarian structures at a rapid pace,” Ganguly said. “It’s crucial for the UN Human Rights Council to remember the past, respond to the warning signs, and resolutely insist on fundamental human rights principles, including delivering justice to victims.”