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In a compelling address at the 28th session of the Conference of Parties (CoP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Dubai, UAE today (01), President Ranil Wickremesinghe acknowledged the historical significance of the UN Conference on Human Environment, emphasizing its goal to defend and improve the environment for present and future generations. He referenced the alarming findings of the UNEP Report of 2023, titled “Broken Promises,” which warns of a 3-degree Celsius increase in global temperatures by the end of the century.

Highlighting the challenges faced by developing countries, President Wickremesinghe stressed the disproportionate vulnerability and impact due to lower adaptive capacities in Finance, Technology, and Climate investments. He cited the Independent High-Level Expert Group Report on Climate Finance, which underscored the need for at least a US$ Trillion per annum to combat climate change.

The President commended the Government of the United Arab Emirates for hosting the crucial event and expressed gratitude for their warm hospitality

Expressing concern about the lack of concrete measures in the Transitional Committee’s report on funding arrangements, the President called for a more transparent approach, particularly addressing issues of global debt relief. He questioned the wisdom of avoiding contentious issues, emphasizing the urgency of the climate crisis.

President Wickremesinghe advocated for climate justice accessible to all nations and proposed a resolution for a Climate Justice Forum. This forum, agreed upon at the 5th Forum of the Ministers of Environmental Authorities of Asia Pacific, aims to provide a platform for constructive and proactive engagements, with the proposal scheduled for the UN Environment Assembly on 6th February 2024.

Underlining the critical nature of the current period, the President urged immediate action to find effective solutions, thinking outside the box and investing in the Tropical Belt to tackle the Triple Planetary Crisis. The Tropical Belt, covering 134 countries and 44% of the Earth’s surface, holds rich biodiversity and potential for renewable energy. President Wickremesinghe announced plans for a panel to report on the Tropical Belt Initiative, emphasizing its global impact.

As the current Chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), President Wickremesinghe linked the health of the Indian Ocean to climate change. He stressed the need for a sustainable Blue Economy to counter the adverse effects of rising sea levels, ocean acidification, coral bleaching, and extreme weather patterns.

President Wickremesinghe also revealed plans to establish the International Climate Change University (ICCU) for capacity building and advancing research, operationalizing it next year. The ICCU aims to contribute significantly to global efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

In conclusion, President Wickremesinghe’s address at COP28 outlined a comprehensive approach, blending regional initiatives like the Tropical Belt and the Indian Ocean with global measures, reflecting Sri Lanka’s commitment to climate action and leadership on the international stage.

The speech made by the President at the World Leaders Summit of the COP28 is follows;

“Chairperson, Excellencies, Esteemed Delegates, At the outset let me congratulate his highness and the Government of the United Arab Emirates for hosting COP28 and extend to you my gratitude for your warm hospitality.

The UNEP Report of 2023 “Broken Promises” warned that we are facing a 3 degree Celcius increase in global temperatures by the end of the century. It is we; the developing countries are both disproportionately vulnerable and disproportionately impacted due to their lower adaptive capacity when it comes to investments in Finance, Technology and Climate.

The Independent High-Level Expert Group Report on Climate Finance highlighted that at least a Trillion USD per annum is required to combat climate change. The Transitional Committee on the Operationalization of Funding Arrangements in its Report of 4th November 2023 only calls for voluntary contributions to the “Loss and Damage fund”. The Report makes no mention of the funds needed or who the contributors are. It is silent on the issue of global debt relief. These are interconnected’

Nevertheless, four days later, the Technical Dialogue of the First Global Stocktake highlighted the requirements of a minimum of US$ trillion per annum. To arrive at a consensus not to take up a contentious issue is not a solution. Who are we fooling?

Climate justice must be available to all the people and all the countries. In this background, Sri Lanka will propose a resolution for a Climate Justice Forum which was agreed upon at the 5th Forum of the Ministers of Environmental Authorities of Asia Pacific to be moved at the UN Environment Assembly of 6th February 2024.

The Climate Justice Forum will provide us a platform for constructive and proactive engagements. The Secretary General of the UN highlighted, “The era of global boiling has arrived”. The enemy is at the gates. We are still procrastinating. We are still forming our battalions to take the fight to the enemy. Therefore, this fortnight is critical.

It will determine whether we are capable of providing a leadership. Let us prove we can do so by action and delivery.

Sri Lanka is committed to the 1.5 degree Celcius limit. We are facing a drastic situation to await the disaster. We must think outside of the box. We must Invest in the Tropical Belt to tackle the Triple Planetary Crisis.

The Tropical Belt constitutes 134 countries covering 44% of earth’s surface, and will by 2030s be home to roughly 50% of world’s population. Most of the world’s remaining primary forests are tropical, along with its coral reef systems. The rich biodiversity of the Tropical Belt enhances biological carbon sequestration and can shield the world from instabilities in weather.

Furthermore, the energy generation potential from solar, wind and biomass are significantly higher in the tropics than that of other areas on the earth. Yet, anthropogenic activities in the Tropical Belt can easily lead to an imbalance in the equilibrium of this region.

So much so that some scientists predict that the Tropical Rain Belt could shift away from the Equator by the 22nd Century. Large scale investments in Renewable Energy, Pollution Control and Nature-based Solutions will lead to significant transformative changes in the entire world by enhancing carbon sequestration.

Therefore, Sri Lanka and other concerned countries will convene a panel to report on the Tropical Belt Initiative. A multi sector plan distributed not only among the whole tropical region but the whole world. As the current Chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), Sri Lanka is focusing on the interdependence between the Indian Ocean and climate change.

A healthy ocean generates oxygen and absorbs the carbon and heat produced from global warming. Mangroves and sea grasses sink more carbon than land forests. However, the rapid climate change is altering the marine environment with rising sea levels and temperatures, Ocean acidification, coral bleaching, habitat destruction and extreme weather patterns. These phenomenon have a direct impact on human lives by disrupting ocean biodiversity, the Ocean dependent food patterns, and coastal livelihoods. Member states and partners of IORA will work towards ensuring a sustainable, Indian Ocean for future generations.

The Tropical Belt initiative and the Indian Ocean IORA program combined will form the largest global sink for carbon sequestration. Addressing the climate change need, up to date scientific knowledge, and the effective use of these findings

Therefore, at COP27, I proposed to establish an International Climate Change University (ICCU) for capacity building and advancing research, necessary to contribute to the crucial efforts to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. We will be operationalizing the International Climate Change University (ICCU) next year.

The New Kelani Bridge, also known as the ‘Golden Gate Kalyani’ bridge, will be closed under three phases starting from tomorrow (Dec. 01), according to the Road Development Authority (RDA).

In a communiqué, the Ministry of Transport and Highways said that as construction work on the New Kelani Bridge has been completed, it has reached the point where all responsibilities related to the project have to be reviewed before releasing the contracted company and on some instances certain changes would be required to be carried out by the contractor.

The ministry said that even now the bridge can be used without any risks and it can continue to be used in such manner, however that they wish to carry out the process as per the stipulations in the contract.

Accordingly, the New Kelani Bridge is to be closed under the following three phases due to essential modernization activities while motorists are advised to use alternate routes during these durations:

Phase 01 - From 9.00 p.m. on December 01 (Friday) to 6.00 a.m. on December 04 (Monday)

Phase 02 - From 9.00 p.m. on December 08 (Friday) to 6.00 a.m. on December 11 (Monday)

Phase 02 - From 9.00 p.m. on December 15 (Friday) to 6.00 a.m. on December 18 (Monday)

Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe has met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28, held in Dubai, UAE.

The Indian Prime Minister, in a message posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, said that discussions were held between the two leaders on various topics.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe addressed COP28 on Friday (01).

The President also engaged in bilateral discussions with the Greek Prime Minister.

The Netherlands has returned six Sri Lankan colonial-era artefacts looted by the Dutch to Sri Lanka after more than 200 years.

The six historical objects – the Lewke’s cannon, a Golden Kasthane, a Silver Kasthane, a Sinhalese Knife and two Guns – were ceremoniously accepted by Minister Vidura Wickremanayake at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake this morning (29).

These items will be on public display at the National Museum in Colombo from 05 December, the Embassy of the Netherlands said.

A scholarship program has been launched for students who passed the 2022 (2023) GCE Ordinary Level Examination in their first sitting and qualified for the GCE Advanced Level.

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the scholarship program has been initiated by the President’s Fund.

Detailed information and application-related details can be obtained by visiting www.presidentsoffice.gov.lk, www.presidentsfund.gov.lk, and www.pmd.gov.lk.

Deshabandu Tennakoon was this afternoon (29) appointed as the acting Inspector General Police.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe made the appointment five days after Chandana Wickramaratne retired as the police chief.

On that same day, the president reached agreement with public security minister Tiran Alles, senior presidential advisor Sagala Ratnayake and president’s secretary Saman Ekanayake to appoint Tennakoon to the position in an acting capacity.

Until this appointment, Tennakoon served as senior DIG in charge of the western province.

After receiving his education from Nalanda College, Colombo, he graduated from the University of Kelaniya.

He joined the police department on 23 February 1998 as an ASP, and promoted to the rank of SDIG on 20 November 2019.

Tennakoon is due to retire on 07 March 2032.

State Minister Diana Gamage, SJB MPs Rohana Bandara and Sujith Sanjaya Perera are to be suspended from Parliament for a month for brawling near the MPs' library.

The report of the Parliamentary Privileges Committee which was presented by MP Chamal Rajapaksa to the House recommended that all three MPs should be suspended for a month.

(dailymirror.lk)

The Cabinet of Ministers has decided to grant approval to prepare a draft bill for the amendment of Sri Lanka’s Medical Ordinance with regard to the registration of specialist physicians.

The resolution to amend Medical Ordinance No. 26 of 1927 in order to revise the provisions relevant to the registration of specialist physicians proposed by the then Minister of Health was taken into consideration by the Cabinet in August this year.

At the meeting, it was decided to direct the matter to an officers’ committee headed by the Secretary to the Prime Minister in order to submit appropriate recommendations by further studying the proposed amendments.

Accordingly, the Cabinet granted approval to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill for the amendment of the Medical Ordinance based on recommendations mentioned in the report handed over by the said officers’ committee.

Pastor Jerome Fernando, who was arrested by the CID with regard to a controversial statement that he made, was remanded to the 13th of December.

Pastor Jerome Fernando was arrested by the CID on Friday (1) morning, said Sri Lanka Police.

Fernando visited the CID on Friday (1) as per an order issued by the Court of Appeal, to provide a statement.

After making a controversial statement, Jerome Fernando went overseas, despite an overseas travel ban imposed by the court on him, and returned recently.

While he was overseas, an appeal was filed on his behalf with the Court of Appeal to prevent his arrest.

Upon considering the appeal, the Court of Appeal ordered him to provide a statement to the CID within 48 hours of returning to the country.

He returned to Sri Lanka on Wednesday (29), and visited the CID on Thursday (29) to provide a statement, and once again on Friday (1), following which he was arrested.

First executive president J.R. Jayewardene had told Wajira Abeywardena during the period R. Premadasa had clashed with Lalith Athulathmudali and Gamini Dissanayake that all three of them would pay with their lives, the MP claimed in parliament.

Pointing to that, Abeywardena said politics should be devoid of enmities.

When Athulathmudali died, the finger was pointed at Premadasa, but no accusing finger was pointed when Premadasa himself and Dissanayake too, lost their lives, said the MP during the committee stage debate on the votes of the ministry of public administration.

Enmities cost them their lives and if we too, do that now, groups outside the country would profit from that, he said.

Also speaking here, PM Dinesh Gunawardena called for a disciplined cabinet in reference to the removal of Roshan Ranasinghe.

“The obligation is there to follow that principle if parliamentary democracy is to be taken forward,” he said.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has left the island to attend the COP28 World Leaders Summit to be held in Dubai, UAE, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP28) will be held from November 30 until December 12 with the aim of tackling pressing climate change issues and addressing critical decisions.

The Sri Lankan leader, accompanied by 3 ministers, 2 opposition MPs and 20 young participants passionate about environmental concerns, will take part in this pivotal conference in Dubai. The primary objective of the Sri Lankan delegation is to harness support and collaboration from countries in the Tropical Belt to influence policy-making decisions on a global scale.

The 28th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC will convene world leaders, public-private representatives, environmentalists, and scholars.

President Wickremesinghe will be envisioning 3 key focal points at the event: the launch of the Climate Justice Forum, the Tropical Belt Initiative and the establishment of a Climate Change University.

The concept behind the Climate Justice Forum aims to address the pressing issue of climate change and exert influence, particularly on the Global North.

Among the key agendas to be presented and discussed during the COP 28 Conference are Sri Lanka’s recently introduced roadmaps on Green Hydrogen and Sustainable Energy.

The country is also seeking endorsement for the establishment of a Climate Change University, signalling its commitment to fostering education and research in sustainable practices.

It was disclosed at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Mass Media that the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) and the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) continue to incur losses.

This was revealed when the relevant committee met in Parliament on Thursday (Nov. 23) under the Chairmanship of the Minister of Transport and Highways and Minister of Mass Media Dr.Bandula Gunawardana.

Presenting statistics from 2015, the Chair pointed out how these two channels have made losses, the Parliamentary Communications Department said in a statement.

Accordingly, the Chair pointed out that the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation has made a loss of 277 million rupees in the year 2023 and the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation has made a loss of 457 million rupees in the year 2023.

Pointing out that it is difficult for the Treasury to provide funds for these channels, the Chair stated that there are plans to convert the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation into a public company. Accordingly, the Committee Chair further commented that the Cabinet Ministers have decided to appoint a committee to take further action, it added.

It was expressed in the committee that the state media does not provide enough publicity for the various development projects implemented by the government. The Chairman emphasized that public media should broadcast the inconveniences of the public who are affected by various dilapidated buildings, roads, bridges etc. as well as inform the public about the facilities that have been provided to the public following the development.

The Chair instructed the Sri Lanka Press Council to prepare a report on the measures that can be taken to regulate the propaganda activities carried out by the media in a way that harms the social culture and personal health and give it to the Committee.

State Ministers Shantha Bandara, Janaka Wakkumbura, Members of Parliament Velu Kumar, (Prof.) Charitha Herath, D. B. Herath, Sanjeeva Edirimanna, Gunathilaka Rajapaksha, Sudath Manjula, were present at the Committee meeting held, according to the Parliamentary Communications Department.

(Ada Derana)