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India and Sri Lanka signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday for the construction of a 5000-metric ton temperature controlled warehouse in Dambulla with Indian grant assistance of LKR 300 million.  

The project envisages construction of a 5000-metric ton temperature controlled warehouse for fruits and vegetables to minimise its post-harvest losses, which presently are around 40 per cent. 
          
The MoU was signed by Taranjit Singh Sandhu, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka and K.D.S. Ruwanchandra, Secretary, Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs of Sri Lanka in the presence of Dr. Harsha de Silva, State Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, the Indian High Commission announced today.    
 
India’s overall commitment of development assistance to Sri Lanka stands at a total of around US$ 3 billion, out of which US$ 550 million is pure grant assistance.

In an interesting move of the bilateral relation between India and Sri Lanka, the policymakers in New Delhi are now advocating to form the new alliance between the incumbent President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena and his predecessor former President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was in New Delhi to address an event organised by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, last week, reliable sources based in New Delhi said the Sri Lanka Guardian reported.

In an earlier attempt the New Delhi wing on Sri Lanka was mapping to support the booming young leaders in the United National Party to further shrink Rajapaksa’s political power but the recent comment by its leadership gave a negative signal.

Prime Minister Wickramasinghe, the leader of the UNP reaffirmed that he will hand over the leadership of the party to young leaders in 2030. Therefore, the Indian strategies on Sri Lanka are redesigning the next move where they have decided to take Rajapaksa into the larger picture.

However, “nothing has been finalized,” sources added. “We are passing the hour of need to re-engineer the political structure in Sri Lanka to enhance our friendship,” sources further added.

Meanwhile, “how you are going to win the heart and mine of the Tamil people if you are planning to come back to govern your respective nation, a top man who met with Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in New Delhi asked,” a reliable source said.

Rajapaksa as a politician who never kept zipped mouth in any situation, responses quickly with detailed answers about the help he has done to the Tamil Community. But, unfortunately, the answer was not well received.

Meanwhile, there was a detailed discussion with Rajapaksa about the Chinese influence in the Island.

Imagine the next presidential poll in 2020, President Sirisena as a candidate promoting Rajapaksa as his Prime Minister, a key level political source in New Delhi nodded.

Source : Sri Lanka Guardian

Sri Lanka is now making collaborative efforts with Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) streamline administration in conflict affected areas in accordance with National Reconciliation and Peace building.
 
JICA has stepped into implement Training of Trainers (TOT) programs in collaboration with SLIDA Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration under the Project for Training of Frontline Officers in Conflict Affected areas in Sri Lanka (FORWARD Project).
 
This project was the outcome of joint declaration made by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe Abe and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe during his official tour of Japan in 2015.
 
Training of Trainers (TOT) programs were conducted in new Auditorium of SLIDA 31st August & 1st September 2018 for batch 1 and September 14 and 15, 2018 for batch 2 in collaboration with JICA for Senior Government Officials.
 
These officials were from six Provincial Councils namely Western Province, North Western Province, Central Province, Uva Province, Southern Province and Sabaragamuwa Provinces.
Altogether 48 senior government officers were trained in both batches to work as facilitators / trainers to practice and deliver 10 days frontline officers training programmes using comprehensive training modules developed under the Project for Training of Frontline Officers in Conflict Affected areas in Sri Lanka.

In a special ceremony held on September 14, 2018, at Batticaloa District, High Commissioner of India Taranjit Singh Sandhu dedicated houses built under the Indian Housing Project in Batticaloa for possession by beneficiaries.
 
Government of India has committed a total of 4000 houses in the Eastern Province. This is in addition to 42000 houses built under grants by Government of India in the North and 14000 currently constructing also under grants in the Upcountry.
 
Earlier during his visit to Trincomalee, High commissioner met the Governor of Eastern Province, addressed the gathering of Eastern Province officers and took blessings at Thiru Koneswaran Temple.
 
The High Commissioner was the Chief Guest at the convocation ceremony of Eastern University, Batticaloa and addressed the gathering. He paid respects to the Gandhi statue at Batticaloa. He met the representatives of TNA from Eastern Province and had a brief discussion with a delegation from various Mosque Federations.
 
High Commissioner also visited the Trade Facilitation Center by first ever cooperative society of war affected women in the eastern province in Kallady. Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) –an Indian based community based organization, with the grant assistance of LKR 197 million from the Government of India has executed the project. The objective is to empower war affected women by building their capacities in vocations, leadership, entrepreneurial and management skills by setting up Trade Facilitation Center and Community Learning Centre in Batticaloa and Ampara, which helps them to provide skills and value chain support to provide livelihood opportunities. 
 
Under the project, SEWA has trained 40 war affected/destitute women trainees from Batticaloa District. These women were trained in various vocational subjects such as Textiles and Garments; Surface Ornamentation; Agro food processing; Computers; Enterprise Development; Solar lantern and Roof rain water harvesting. 
 
Other projects undertaken by India in the social sector include construction of surgical unit in teaching Hospital Batticaloa, Upgradation of Swami Vipulananda Aesthetic School in Batticaloa, construction of 3400 toilets in Batticaloa District, and Model village in all three districts.
 
India’s overall commitment of assistance to Sri Lanka for people-oriented development partnership projects stands at a total of around US$ 3 billion, out of which US$ 550 million is pure grant assistance.

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera has reduced the VAT imposed on fabric to just 5% after considering the requests made by importers and traders engaged in using raw materials to make ready-made garments.

The Ministry of Finance and Media said that minister Samaraweera had signed the gazette notification today.

Earlier, the fabric was subject to LKR 100/kg CESS at the time of imports. The 2018 budget had proposed to impose a VAT of 15% on goods with the new VAT scheme coming into effect from the 16th August 2018. Importers, traders and industrialists engaged in using raw materials for the manufacture of ready-made garments had appealed to Samaraweera seeking relief.

After consulting with the relevant stakeholders, Samaraweera had reduced the VAT to 5% as a measure to help small and medium scale enterprises.  

The Finance Ministry also said that the Enterprise Sri Lanka credit schemes will enable small and medium scale manufacturing industrialists to obtain raw materials at a low cost.

JVP MP Bimal Ratnayake has announced that the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) will field its own candidate for the upcoming presidential polls. 

The MP claimed the party is prepared to fully support the implementation of the 20th amendment to the constitution which will abolish the executive presidency. However he said failing which the party will field its own candidate at the upcoming election. 
 
He also said however the party has not made the decision as to who will be put forward as the Presidential candidate and will discuss prior to making such a decision.
 
He also confirmed the candidate will be a JVP member and will not be a common candidate as previously. 
 
(Ravaya)

A Kuwaiti man and woman convicted of assaulting customs officers at Sri Lanka's main international airport were handed a six month jail sentence suspended for five years, an official said on Saturday.

The 32-year-old woman and her 29-year-old male partner, who were also fined LKR 138,000 ($860), were sentenced on Friday.

They were arrested after they turned violent when they were informed that quarantine requirements meant they could not bring their Burmese Mastiff into the country.

They assaulted five customs officers who tried to stop them fleeing the airport with the animal, police said, in an attack that was caught on CCTV.

A minor earth tremor has been felt near Trincomalee bay early this morning (15), stated Geological Survey and Mines Bureau. According to the Bureau’s Director General Dr. Chandrawimal Siriwardena, the tremor measured between 3.5 and 3.8 on the Richter Scale.

The tremor had occurred at around 12.35 am today and it has been recorded in Hakmana, Mahakanadarawa and Pallekele seismic stations as well, he said. The Director General confirms that no harm has been reported from this earth tremor.

Sri Lankan-born Suranganie Kumaranayake was appointed Superior Court of Justice for the Province of Ontario in Brampton, Canadian media reported.

Prior to her appointment, Justice Kumaranayake practised exclusively in child protection for close to 16 years, initially as legal counsel with the Catholic Children's Aid Society of Toronto. In December 2003, she joined the Children's Aid Society of Hamilton as legal counsel. Prior to entering the field of child protection, she worked as Staff Criminal Duty Counsel. In this role, she appeared in several courthouses throughout Toronto, as well as in the specialized court programs at Old City Hall: the Toronto Drug Treatment Court, Mental Health Court, Integrated Domestic Violence Court, and Gladue Court. 

She immigrated to Canada as a child with her parents and siblings, having first lived in Sri Lanka and England. She grew up in Ottawa and Burlington. She learned the value of a strong work ethic and compassion from the example set by her parents. 

Kumaranayake holds a B.A. (Honours) in psychology and sociology from Queen's University, an LL.B. from the University of Windsor, and a Certificate in Mental Health from Osgoode Hall Law School Professional Development. Kumaranayake completed her articles in civil litigation with Fellowes, McNeil.

Following her call to the Ontario Bar in 1997, she interned as a legal researcher in Namibia. After completing this internship, she joined Fellowes, McNeil as an associate.

(AFP) - Animal sacrifices at Hindu temples could be banned in Sri Lanka under new plans announced Wednesday, after growing protests over the rituals from the country's Buddhist majority as well as moderate Hindus.

The cabinet approved a proposal put forward by the Hindu Religious Affairs minister to outlaw the ancient practice that is still observed at several temples across the country.

"The legal draughtsman was asked to prepare a bill to ban animal and bird sacrifices at Hindu temples," the government said in a statement.
During religious festivals, some devout Hindus sacrifice goats, chickens and buffalos, expecting good fortune in return.


AFP/File | Hindus constitute about 12 percent of Sri Lanka's 21 million population, which is mainly Buddhist

But the practice has offended animal rights activists, as well as many other Sri Lankans.

Although there is currently no clear law prohibiting animal sacrifices at places of worship, Sri Lankan courts from time to time have issued temporary bans on such practices.

Hindus constitute about 12 percent of Sri Lanka's 21 million population, which is mainly Buddhist.

Muslims, the third largest religious group in the country, also conduct ritualistic animal sacrifices -- although it appears the law would apply only to Hindus.

The country has experienced waves of religious tension in recent years, with anti-Muslim riots in March leaving three people dead and hundreds of mosques, homes and businesses reduced to ashes.

Sri Lanka cricket’s anti-corruption unit detained five Indian spectators on suspicion of match-fixing during Sunday’s third and final women’s ODI between the hosts and India, an official said.

The five were initially asked to leave the ground at Katunayake, just north of the capital Colombo, and later detained by police for investigations, the official said.“We felt their behaviour was suspicious at the grounds and all of them were seen excessively communicating on their phones,” the Sri Lanka cricket official, who declined to be named, told AFP. “We exercised our right to remove them from the ground and the police took over the investigation.”

Authorities believe that the suspects may have had links with foreign gambling operations. Betting on sports is illegal in Sri Lanka. Police said they were questioning the suspects.Sri Lanka won Sunday’s match by three wickets, but India won the three-match tournament 2-1.

Last month, two Indians were apprehended in Sri Lanka after officials spotted them behaving suspiciously and making repeated calls on their mobile phones during a domestic T20 tournament match.

Since last month Sri Lanka Cricket has deployed more anti-corruption officials at match venues.Sri Lanka has also announced plans for tougher laws against sports corruption and a special police unit to deal with match-fixing following an Al-Jazeera documentary in May exposing corruption in global cricket in which three Sri Lankan officials were filmed agreeing to sway matches.

Sri Lanka's national airline said on Wednesday that it has stopped serving cashews after the President Maithripala Sirisena flew into a rage over nuts served to him on a flight to Colombo.

"Returning from Kathmandu, I was served some cashews on board a SriLankan flight, but it was so bad even a dog wouldn't eat it," Maithripala Sirisena said on Monday.

"I want to know who authorised the purchase of these nuts," the President told a meeting of farmers.

An airline spokesman said it has responded by clearing its stock of cashews -- only served in business class -- and would change its Dubai-based supplier.

This is not the first time that the nuts served by the airline have prompted outrage.

In 2014, a South Korean heiress famously ordered a Korean Air plane back to its gate to eject a cabin crew member after she was served nuts still in their packet.

Last month, Colombo renewed its search for an equity investor in the loss-making and heavily indebted SriLankan after the International Monetary Fund warned that the airline was dragging the country's economy down.

In May last year, attempts to privatize the national carrier collapsed after a US private equity firm withdrew its bid for a 49-percent stake.
The airline was profitable before Mahinda Rajapakse, when he was president, cancelled a management agreement with Emirates in 2008 following a personal dispute.

The carrier had refused to bump fare-paying passengers and give their seats to Rajapakse's family.

Rajapakse removed the Emirates-appointed chief executive of Sri Lankan and made his brother-in-law Nishantha Wickremasinghe the head of the company.

Wickremasinghe is now under investigation for corruption and mismanagement.