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Sri Lanka on Wednesday (14) banned 11 organisations, including the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda, a week ahead of the second anniversary of the Easter Sunday suicide bombings which killed 279 people. Anyone linked to the groups - the other nine of which are local religious and social organisations - faces up to 20 years in jail, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said in a gazette notification.

Ahead of the anniversary, the country's Roman Catholics had threatened to take to the streets over what they say is the government's failure to act against those responsible for the attacks.

Some of the groups banned Wednesday had previously been linked to the lead bomber.

The move, made under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, was "in furtherance of the efforts of the government of Sri Lanka made in good faith for the purpose of ensuring the continuance of peace within the country", Rajapaksa said.

The seven Sri Lankans who attacked three churches and three hotels in April 2019 had pledged allegiance to the IS leader at the time, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

However, investigators said they had found no evidence of direct links to IS.

Two local groups said to be directly linked to the attacks were banned in 2019, but a presidential investigation into the bombings wanted similar Islamic groups outlawed too.

All seven bombers died and no other suspects have been charged.

Colombo's Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, has demanded swift action not just against those responsible, but against the politicians and officials who failed to stop them.

The investigation found that then president Maithripala Sirisena and his intelligence leaders were warned by India about the attacks 17 days before they were staged.

The United States has filed action against three Sri Lankans over the bombings. Five US nationals were among 45 foreigners killed in the blasts.

The inquiry, whose report was released earlier this year, also recommended that Buddhist organisations accused of instigating intercommunal unrest before and after the bombings be banned, but none were named in Wednesday's decree.

The Leader of the United National Party (UNP), former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is slated to assume the UNP's vacant national list seat in the month of June, party chairman Vajira Abeywardena said.

Speaking at a media briefing in Galle, Abeywardena said that the UNP was unanimous in their decision to select Wickremesinghe to represent the party in parliament.

Several opposition Tamil and Muslim party leaders as well as Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) parliamentarians had recently called on the former Prime Minister and urged him to take up the UNp national list seat.

The government’s move to establish revenue collection authority has come to light with the recent decision to set up a separate unit to handle special Goods and Services Tax (GST) amidst protests of Inland Revenue Department executives and other staff officials. 

The Convener of the Movement for the Protection of Public Rights Asela Sampath has been arrested by the Police a short while ago. A video on his Facebook page showed him being taken into police custody at his residence.

Police Media Division confirmed that Asela Sampath has been arrested but didn’t provide any further details on what charges he was arrested.

Asela Sampath and Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena had been arguing in the media recently over the relief package worth Rs. 1000 comprising essential food items provided by the Trade Minister through Sathosa outlets.

Minister Gunawardane went so far as to lodge a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) against Asela Sampath for allegedly making false accusations with regard to the relief package provided by him through Sathosa outlets.

A luxury apartment complex ‘Kingdom Sigiriya’ is now being constructed in close proximity to the Sigiriya world heritage site and the prehistoric Potana cave site amidst concerns of residents, environmentalists and archaeologists.

With the aim of further elevating China –Sri Lanka strategic economic and defence cooperation, a high level Chinese official will be visiting the island this month amidst current American and Indian prominence in the region.  

China’s Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe will arrive in Sri Lanka later this month to hold bilateral discussions with Government leaders and officials, making it one of the highest level visits undertaken by a Chinese government official since the Rajapaksa government was sworn into power.

According to informed sources at the Foreign Ministry, the final dates of General Wei’s arrival are yet to be received but the visit is confirmed to take place after the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.

During his visit, Wei will hold discussions with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and other leading government officials. This is the second highest visit to be undertaken by a Chinese official to Sri Lanka following senior Chinese diplomat, Yang Jiechi’s visit in October.

Meanwhile, dates are being finalised for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s visit to Beijing following a fresh invitation extended by President Xi Jinping during recent discussion held between the two leaders earlier this month, sources said.

President Rajapaksa had assured his Chinese counterpart he would undertake a formal visit as soon as the travel restrictions ease due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the visit is likely to take place some time next month.

The Sri Lanka government is seeking support from multiple sources including Oman to manage Sri Lanka’s upcoming debt repayments and reiterated commitment to meeting its obligations even as reserves slipped to USD 4.1 billion at the end of March.

The rupee has also been subject to persistent depreciation, caused partly by dollar demand for imports ahead of the festive season, according to analysts, with the LKR reaching the 203.59 mark on Friday (09).

State Minister of Finance Ajith Nivard Cabraal is in Oman with a delegation to discuss potential forex assistance from the Bank of Muscat. Government officials are also engaged in talks with Bangladesh.

The overtures come after Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Bangladesh last month and met with the Governor of Bangladesh Bank, which functions as their Central Bank.

Central Bank Governor Prof. Lakshman on Thursday (08) said they were awaiting confirmation from the China Development Bank (CDB) for a long-delayed loan of about USD 700 million.

The government has been in negotiations with CDB since last year when it approved a USD 500 million loan to prop-up reserves.

Sri Lanka has two large debt repayments in May and July with the former expected to be about USD 720 million and the latter, USD 1 billion.

Recently, the Central Bank entered into a bilateral currency swap arrangement with the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) amounting to CNY 10 billion (equivalent to approximately USD 1.5 billion). But since it’s a local currency swap, it is unlikely to reduce pressure on the rupee, according to experts.  

“Although the rupee experienced some volatility recently, the continuation of the existing restrictions on non-essential imports and certain foreign exchange outflows, among others, is expected to help cushion pressures in the domestic foreign exchange market,” the Central Bank said in its latest monetary policy review.  

The Governor emphasised that the Central Bank's involvement in the currency market has been minimal with its role largely limited to instructing banks.

Gross official reserves were estimated at USD 4.1 billion (excluding the swap facility with the PBOC), with an import cover of three months, at the end of March.

Celebrating 75 years of India’s independence in Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan children from care homes converged in Colombo from all across Sri Lanka over 10-11 April 2021 for the final round of the nationwide painting competition organized by Colombo Expatriates Cultural Association (CECA) - a voluntary organization of expatriates consisting of mainly Indians - with support of the High Commission of India, Ministry of Education of Government of Sri Lanka and several other partners.

Education Minister Prof. G.L Peiris and Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and the Guest of Honour respectively at the final round.

Several other dignitaries including State Minister Piyal Nishantha were also present.  The dignitaries lauded the effort as a shining example of strong people-to-people ties between India and Sri Lanka and stressed the enormous significance of the enriching experience for the children.

 The competition was held in three categories – Sub Junior, Junior and Senior. The first round of the competition had seen enthusiastic participation of 4,375 students from child care homes across Sri Lanka. Contestants from all provinces who had produced sixty best paintings were invited along with one care-giver for the final round held in Colombo on 10 April at Hotel Taj Samudra.

While the top three winners in all the three categories were awarded SLR 100,000, SLR 75,000 and SLR 50,000 respectively in addition to various other gifts, certificates and medals, all the 60 finalists received cash awards, desktop computers, and other gifts contributed by various sponsors.

The event also formed part of ‘India @ 75’ celebrations in Sri Lanka which comprised events and activities in the run up to completion of 75 years of India’s Independence in August 2022.  

Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi had launched these celebrations in India on 12 March 2021, 75 weeks before the 75th Anniversary of Independence.

In Sri Lanka, formal launch of these celebrations took place on 9 April 2021 with the inauguration of ‘India Corner’ at the Nagananda Institute for Buddhist Studies.

A 3-day exploration and goodwill visit to Eastern Province by Senior Buddhist religious leaders, Christian priests and Muslim religious leaders facilitated by Zam Zam Foundation took place from 7th to 9th of April 2021 covering Pottuvil, Kattankudy and Batticaloa.

The Free Media Movement (FMM) has strongly condemned the arrest and assault of Malika Abeykoon, a freelance journalist and photographer, calling it a heinous act of the police.