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A hundred Chinese couples will tie the knot in a mass wedding ceremony held in Colombo today. The ceremony will be held at the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) grounds. The couples will wed according to local customs in Sri Lanka organizers said. The event is expected to strengthen the ties between both countries.

The ceremony will be held under the auspices of President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe, Minister of Megapolis and Western Development Patali Champika Ranawaka and other dignitaries.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe has given directions to the Vice-Chancellors of all Universities to upgrade the quality of higher education instead of prioritizing the construction of university buildings.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the international status gained by local universities has dropped at present, and it is the duty of all Vice Chancellors to ensure that education in universities is raised once more to international standards.

Wickremesinghe made these observations at a meeting held at Temple Trees attended by Minister of Higher Education and Highways Lakshman Kiriella and Vice Chancellors of universities last morning. (14)

The PM also said that immediate steps should be taken to put an end to ragging in the university system and to create a healthy atmosphere for students to engage in academics successfully without any hindrance.

He said that in order to achieve that an additional staff will have to be recruited.

 Source: Dailynews

No investigation regarding goods provided by the Chinese Women's Federation for the War affected in the North being distributed under the name of the Siriliya organization operated by former first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa. According to sources called for computers worth Rs. 85 million and sewing machines were distributed in this manner.

 However, despite the Auditor general requesting an investigation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in this regard sources say no such investigation has commenced yet.

 The auditor general had requested for the investigation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on January 15, 2013.

 While the former Ambassador to China, Karunathilake Amunugama had requested for mentioned the goods in a letter on November 4, 2011, to the former Presidential Chief of Staff, Gamini Senarath however instead of being handed over to the government sources claim they had been given to the Siriliya organization run by the former first lady.

Meanwhile 20, 000 temporary shelters and Rs. 2,297,500 received from well-wishers in China had also been distributed in a similar manner by the Siriliya organization.

The leader of the Bodu Bala Sena Galagoda Atte Gnanasara Thero and Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith met yesterday (14) at the Cardinals official residence. This meeting is said to have been facilitated by parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake as reported to ISIS news.

According to the office of the Cardinal, this is said to be the second round of talks between the two. With Gnanasara Thero claiming he intends to speak to all parties involved regarding national and religious conflicts in the country accordingly Karunanayake is said to have arranged for the meetings.

Karunanayake is reported to have also made attempts to build a rapport between the Bodu Bala Sena and Muslim religious leaders sources claim.

Sinhala Buddhist Identity

During this discussion, Gnanasara Thero thanked the Cardinal for speaking up against the ongoing family planning program in Sri Lanka and the holding of tuition classes on Sundays. He also presented the Cardinal with the proposals made by them in 2012 to the Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa along with proof and information of family planning propaganda of NGOs within the country.

 While the Cardinal explained that it is important to protect the Sinhala Buddhist identity he also went on to say that our values should be protected at all times. The meeting was attended by Chief Executive of the Bodu Bala Sena, Dilantha Withanage along with several other Buddhist monks representing the organization.

Police are said to be preparing for the arrest of the new secretary to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic resources Jagath Wijeweera. According to sources Police will make the arrest after seeking a court order for his arrest.

Wijeweera had worked as the former Commissioner of the Registrations of Persons when several National Identity cards were issued to the wife of MP Wimal Weerawansa, Sashi Weerawansa without any proof of documentation. He is to be arrested in connection with this investigation sources revealed.

Making a statement to the Police a witness and an employee of the department had claimed the identity cards were issued without any documentation under an order made by the Commissioner at the time.

 Source : Sathhanda

Sri Lanka and Norway held Foreign Office Consultations in Oslo this past Monday. Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Prasad Kariyawasam met with the Secretary General of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry, Mr. Wegger Strømmen.

They reviewed bilateral relations and ongoing projects in Sri Lanka assisted by Norway. The two Secretaries also discussed ways and means of broadening and deepening the relations between the two countries.

PIC: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SL)

Police have received six election-related complaints since the closing of nominations for the upcoming local government polls. According to the Police spokesperson SP Ruwan Gunasekara, the Police received two election-related complaints during the past 24 hours.

While one complaint was lodged in the Moragahahena police division regarding a candidate's cut-outs being damaged by a group, however, Police have not identified any suspects connected to the incident.

According to SP Gunasekara, another complaint was received by the Ampara Police. “The complaint was regarding a forged signature on a nominations list,” he said. While the Police have identified the suspects, Ampara Police are said to be conducting further investigations into the incident.

Law & Order and Southern Development Minister, Sagala Ratnayaka said the United National Party would be fully committed to ensuring a free and fair election.

"One should not forget the situation in the country before January 08, 2015. We have now ushered in a new political culture. That is why we should come forward to protect the rights of the voters and ensure a free and fair election," Ratnayaka said while speaking to media in Matara today (14), after depositing money for the Local Government polls in the Matara District.

Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Parliamentarian Buddhika Pathirana were also present at the occasion.

"We are in the process of strengthening the country's economy and rebuilding the nation. Therefore, we want the Local Government bodies to work in line with our national agenda. That is the intention which we launch our election campaign," the Minister added.

He said the people in the Matara district gave strength and momentum to the formation of the national unity government.

"We need to move forward with the same vigour and strength, at this election as well," the Minister added.

"Some have now forgotten the track record of the defeated political elements. They have also forgotten how their cronies made money through government contracts. We request them not to forget the past. Also, we invite them to join hands with us, and embark on this victorious journey," Ratnayake said.

Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya has instructed the Ceylon Electricity Board management to take a decision with regards to the issues raised by CEB trade unions. Currently, members of trade unions of the CEB are engaged in a fast over several demands.

According to the media spokesman for the ministry, Sulakshana Jayawardena said these instructions were given by the minister at a meeting held last Thursday (14) with the Power and Renewable Energy Ministry Secretary and the CEB Chairman.

“The CEB board is to hold a meeting take a decision on the issue tomorrow,” Jayawardena said.

Speaking further on the matter, Jayawardena said the main concern raised by the trade unions is over their bonus allowances.

“There have been several trade union actions taken by the CEB trade unions this year. The most recent one took place in September and the CEB has already agreed to consider these days as paid leave.

However, the same unions had engaged in trade union actions on April 8 and June 28 in 2017. These two days are considered leave without pay. According to the CEB circular, a 10% of the year-end bonus will be deducted for these LWOPs,” Jayawardena explained.

“However, it is in the hands of the CEB management to bring this matter to a conclusion”, Jayawardena pointed out.

Nominations submitted by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna for a number of local governments for the upcoming elections have been rejected today. Contesting under the 'flower bud' symbol the party has said it will seek judicial action in this regard.

Accordingly, nominations of the party to the Weligama, Panadura, Mahiyangana, Badulla and Agalawatta urban councils were rejected today.

The nominations for the Mahragama Urban Council by the party were rejected as well. According to the Returning officer the rejection as due to lack of women participation from the party for the Maharagama local government area.

Submission of nominations for 93 local government institutions ended at 12 pm today. (14)

The Sri Lankan government entered into three loan agreements worth USD 270 million with the Asian Development Bank for the implementation of two projects; Integrated Road Investment Program and Jaffna Kilinochchi Water Supply Project. A loan of USD 150 million was obtained for the investments required for the 4th Tranche of the Integrated Road Investment Program and two loans worth of USD 120 million were obtained as additional financing for the investment required for the ongoing Jaffna Kilinochchi Water Supply Project.

Integrated Road Investment Program – Tranche 4

The Integrated Road Investment Program is being implemented in six Provinces; i.e. Southern, Central, Sabaragamuwa, North Western, North Central Provinces and Kalutara District in Western Province under the financial assistance of Asian Development Bank since 2014 with the aim of building up better connectivity between rural communities and socio-economic centres. About 3108 km of rural access roads and about 248 km of national roads will be improved and maintained under this program. In addition, the program is focused on enhancing the capacity of road agencies on road asset management, project management and contract administration.

The total investment cost of the overall program is US$ 906 million of which US$ 800 million will be provided by ADB under Multi-tranche Financing Facility (MFF) through six tranches. The Government contribution for the total program is US$ 106 million. The government has already obtained loan assistance of US$ 407 million from ADB under the 1st, 2nd and 3rd tranches.

The total investment cost of the proposed tranche 4 is US$ 168 million. The Government will contribute US$ 18 million and the balance US$ 150 million will be obtained from ADB.

Jaffna Kilinochchi Water Supply and Sanitation Project – Additional Financing

Safe drinking water is an essential prerequisite for better health and socio-economic development in a country.The focus of the Government is to provide safe drinking water to the entire population of the country by 2020 of which 60 percent would be pipe-borne water.

In line to that, the overall impact of the Jaffna Kilinochchi Water Supply Project is to improve health and human development in urban areas of Jaffna Peninsula. Improvement of headwork at the Iranamadu water Tank, implement of water supply infrastructure and services in the Jaffna Peninsula and strengthening of water resources management system are the main components of this project. Additional financing of the Jaffna Kilinochchi Water Supply Project will support restructuring of the current project by financing the cost overrun under the current project and supporting the additional activities of the desalination plant and related works under the component of improvement of water supply infrastructure and services in the Jaffna Peninsula and additional activates of the water resource management system component.

The total investment cost of the Jaffna Killinochchi Water Supply Project - Additional Financing will be US$ 153 million. The Government will contribute US$ 33 million and the balance portion of US$ 120 million will be provided in two loans by ADB

 Dr. R H S Samaratunga, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Mass Media on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka and Sri Widowati, Country Director of ADB Sri Lanka Resident Mission on behalf of ADB, signed a three Loan Agreements on December 15, 2017 to obtain the funds for the implementation of the Integrated Road Investment Program – Tranche 4 and Jaffna Kilinochchi Water Supply Project (Additional Financing).

Sri Lanka has become the 163rd nation to accede to the anti-personnel mine ban convention, fulfilling the pledge it made last year to join the international community in supporting the ongoing landmine clearance programme, the foreign ministry said here today.

Sri Lanka's Permanent Mission to the UN Rohan Perera deposited the Instrument of Accession to the Convention of the Prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and on their destruction, it said.

The Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, commonly referred to as the Mine Ban Treaty or Ottawa Treaty, was adopted on September 18, 1997, at the Diplomatic Conference on an International Total Ban on Anti-Personnel Land Mines at Oslo, Norway.

The treaty, which came into force on March 1, 1999, prohibits the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of antipersonnel mines.

By joining the Convention each state undertakes to destroy all stockpiled anti-personnel mines it owns or that are under its jurisdiction or control, not later than four years after the acceding to this treaty.

"As a full state party, we look forward to taking our place in the promotion of this Convention, including through capacity-building and mine clearance," Perera said at an event to mark the 20th anniversary of the Ottawa Convention, titled 'A World Free of Landmines'.

Sri Lanka, in March last year, had pledged that it will be acceding to the convention to become the 163rd state of the Convention. But the island nation had faced some criticism for the delay in acceding to the convention.

In view of its battle with the LTTE in the island's north and east provinces, the Sri Lankan Army had defended itself that the use of mines by the military is strictly limited and restricted to defence purposes only, to demarcate and defend military installations.

According to the report by Nobel Prize-winning International Campaign to Ban Landmines, last year 8,605 mine or explosive remnants of war casualties were reported, in which at least 2,089 people were killed.

Source : Press Trust India