News

Former Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake has been appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador to promote Sri Lankan migrant worker welfare globally.

The appointment was made by Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara.

I just offered @RamanayakeR a position as a goodwill ambassador to promote Sri Lankan migrant worker welfare globally upon his release and he gladly accepted. This is a voluntary position to make use of his tacit knowledges in the area of foreign employment pic.twitter.com/Zqz7BqcNMz

— Manusha Nanayakkara (@nanayakkara77) August 26, 2022

The first Committee meeting of the Committee on Public Finance for the Third Session of the Ninth Parliament held under the chairmanship of (Dr.) Harsha de Silva.

In accordance with the Standing Order 121, the Committee of Selection appointed (Dr.) Harsha de Silva, Member of Parliament as the Chairman of the Committee recently.

Accordingly, the Appropriation (Amendment) Bill to amend the Appropriation Act No. 30 of 2021 was considered at the committee and approved.

Furthermore, the Social Security Contribution Levy Bill was also approved.

Regulations under the Foreign Exchange Act, No. 12 of 2017, Order under the Special Commodity Levy Act, No. 48 of 2007 and a Resolution under the Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235) also received approval of the Committee on Public Finance.

Former parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake, who was incarcerated over contempt of court, was released from the Welikada Prison this afternoon (Aug 26) after he was granted a conditional presidential pardon.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe had signed the document pertaining to Ramanayake’s release this morning.

The document was subsequently handed over to prison officials by Secretary to Justice Ministry, Wasantha Perera, who was tasked with making the necessary arrangements for Ramanayake’s release.

In an announcement, the President’s Media Division (PMD) stated that Ramanayake was granted presidential pardon on the condition that he would refrain from making any comments in contempt of the judiciary in the future.

On January 12, 2021, the Supreme Court sentenced Ramanayake to 04 years of rigorous imprisonment over a case filed against a derogatory comment he had made with regard to the judiciary, outside the Temple Trees on August 21, 2017.

He was later handed a sentence of two years rigorous imprisonment suspended for a period of five years over another contempt of court case filed against him.

Submitting an affidavit to the court yesterday (Aug 25), Ramanayake made an official apology for the comments he had made. Deeply reflecting on the statement made by him outside the Temple Trees in August 2017, Ramanayake admitted that his comment was utterly contemptuous of the Chief Justice and the entire judiciary.

In his affidavit, Ramanayake profoundly apologized and sought the forgiveness of the entire judiciary.

Further, Ramanayake also sought forgiveness for the derogatory statement he made outside the Supreme Court premises claiming that he would not withdraw the statement he made on August 21, 2017.

He also gave an assurance that he would never again, in his entire lifetime, make any statement critical or derogatory of the entire judiciary, the PMD said further.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe told public servants yesterday (21) to leave the civil service immediately if they cannot perform their duties properly.

“No one can be fed freely. Some purpose should be served. I, too, cannot eat freely. If I do not develop this county, I too, will have to go. So, let’s start from the village,” he said at a meeting of the district development council in Anuradhapura at Golden Mango reception hall.

Wickremesinghe pointed out that it was the United National Party that taught the lesson in the past to unite everyone for the country’s sake irrespective of party, racial or religious differences and stressed his intention to do so in the future as well.

He said he would not ask anyone to return to the UNP, but would invite all to unite without further delay to build the country, making references to the SJB and the JVP.

The discussion on ongoing and future development plans for Anuradhapura was attended by people’s representatives of the UNP, SLPP and the SLFP as well as public officials.

The president, who paid homage at Atamasthana yesterday, said he received blessings from the Mahanayake Theras at each and every place he had visited.

His intention was to do something more for the area, Wickremesinghe noted, adding that Anuradhapura and Kandy should be transformed into major tourism centres, for which he would appoint a committee to cover every sphere and also bring down advisors from France or some other country if necessary.

He also spoke about a revival of the upper Malwathu Oya project, at least within the next couple of years, a delay possible due to the prevailing economic woes.

The president warned the economy would contract eight per cent more than the past year, while the people are under intense pressure not witnessed ever before.

It should be looked into how these could be reversed, including a success in the Maha cultivation season, he said.

For that aid has already been received to grant fertiliser, which will be subsidized along with the seeds, and the supply of fuel as well.

President Wickremesinghe told local government members and public servants to work together and do their job to bring about an agricultural revolution.

“Let us all work together. When we work together, a new political theory will emerge. The old system cannot continue. Let us go for a new system. We should go on a civilized political journey,” he added.

Former State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake who is serving time for contempt of court apologized to the court via an affidavit on Thursday (25).

The affidavit produced to the court on Thursday (25) notes that Ranjan Ramanayake apologizes to the court with regard to both contempt of court cases filed against him.

It added that Ranjan Ramanayake accepts that his statement was wrong, and it caused disrespect to the Chief Justice and the Legal Fraternity.

Ranjan Ramanayake's affidavit also says that his statements were untrue, and he would withdraw those comments, and would not make such comments in the future

More than 140,000 Sri Lankans have left the island for foreign employment so far this year, said the Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Ministry.

Secretary to the ministry R.P.A. Wimalaweera said the government intended to secure a total of 300,000 new jobs in foreign countries during the year.

Also, attention is being paid to send state sector officers for employment and referral overseas, with the Bureau of Foreign Employment already conducting the relevant registrations.

These came to light at a meeting secretary to the president Saman Ekanayake had with state officials on improving foreign exchange earnings and foreign employment for public servants.

Amending the state administration circular 14/2022 to facilitate the task came under discussion.

It was decided to seek foreign jobs for the registered applicants after identifying the potential employment categories.

Foreign educational scholarships

Furthermore, development officers are to be encouraged to obtain foreign educational scholarships in an extensive manner.

Instructions and a timeframe will be given to heads of institutions for granting leave for the applicants and an online appeal system to deal with delays in approval came under discussion.

Authorities have been told to formulate a mechanism before August 31 for the applicants to obtain membership in a pension scheme and for obtaining bank loans.

Identifying skills development and short-term requirements in catering to job categories in high demand will be done as well.

Regular progress reviews in sending public servants for jobs overseas will be carried out too.

The visiting delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called on Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe this evening (Aug 24) to discuss the current situation of the economic crisis the nation is grappling with at present.

The meeting with the Head of State came after the delegates of the global lender kicked off discussions with Governor of Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe this morning, to finalize a staff-level agreement for a possible USD 3 billion bailout package, including restructuring debt of about USD 29 billion.

IMF’s Resident Representative for Sri Lanka, Tubagus Feridhanusetyawan and Finance Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana also participated in the talks at the Central Bank premises.

The IM delegation will be in Colombo from August 24 to 31. Another round of discussion is scheduled to take place on August 26.

During the meeting with President Wickremesinghe, the IMF delegates decided to hold further discussions with the Central Bank officials on technical issues, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

Chief of the Debt Capital Markets Division of IMF’s Monetary and Capital Market Department Mr. Peter Breuer, Secretary to President Saman Ekanayake, President’s Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayake and Central Bank Governor Dr. Nanadalal Weerasinghealso joined the discussion.

The Yuan Wang 5, China's missile and satellite tracking ship berthed at Hambantota port in Sri Lanka, departed today (22), confirmed the Harbour Master of the Hambantota Port Exclusively to News 1st.

The Yuan Wang 5 is one of China's latest generation survey vessel officially entered Port of Hambantota in Sri Lanka on Tuesday 16th August 2022 replenishment purposes.

Sri Lanka granted permission for the high-tech Chinese tracking vessel Yuan Wang 5 to dock at the Hambantota Port in a backdrop marred with controversy.

Diplomatic clearance for the Chinese vessel to make a port call at the Hambantota port from 11-17 August​,​ 2022 for replenishment purposes was granted by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreing Affairs, however due to concerns raised by various factions including India, the Ministry requested China to defer the visit of the said vessel to the Hambantota port.

However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not provide any reason for the request.

When the request to defer the visit of the vessel was made, the Yuan Wang 5 had already set sail to Sri Lanka leaving its port of origin on the 14th of July, and it was already in the Indian Ocean.

The vessel thereafter slowed down and moved over the Ninety East Ridge, a mid-ocean ridge on the Indian Ocean floor named for its near-parallel strike along the 90th meridian at the center of the Eastern Hemisphere.

On 16th August 2022, Sri Lanka's Cabinet Spokesperson & Minister Bandula Gunawardena confirmed that the Chinese ballistic missiles and satellite tracking vessel was requested to delay their visit due to concerns voiced by India.

He said that a request was made from China to defer the arrival until Sri Lanka cleared out the concerns of its neighbor India.

Yuan Wang 5 is a third-generation tracking ship of the Yuan Wang Series. It has top-of-the-line antennas and electronic equipment to track ballistic missiles and satellite.

The Chinese Reasearch Vessel fleet boats of twin vessels identified as Yuan Wang 5 and Yuan Wang 6.

Activist Dan Priyasad and MPs Sanath Nishantha and Milan Jayatilleke have been ordered to hand over their mobile phones to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigations on the violent incidents that took place on 9 May.

Magistrate Thilina Gamage ordered the suspects to be held in custody of the court until their mobile phones are handed over to the CID.

The trio have been identified as key figures of the attack on peaceful anti-government protesters at the Galle Face Green in Colombo in May.

Rangana Devapriya, the national organizer of the Socialist Students’ Union, has been arrested by Slave Island police. By now, he has been taken to the Fort police station.

He was arrested in this way after the end of the peaceful, silent protest against the repression held in front of Slave Island police station this morning (22nd).

Rangana Devapriya is a student leader who has actively contributed to the Galle Face struggle in recent days and the Socialist Students Union is the student wing of the Janata Vimukthi Peramuna.

Tomorrow (24) marks one year since the nation lost Mangala Samaraweera.

A religious activity to invoke blessings on him will take place at his Bolgoda home, followed by an alms giving for Buddhist monks on the next day.

On August 26, a function will be held at the Olanda Dutch Market Hall (Nupe), Matara to remember Mangala, where a discussion attended by Prof. Rohan Samarajiva and Shehan Malaka Gamage, and moderated by Randhula de Silva, is due to take place.

In addition, an event featuring popular YouTube personality Anushka Udana (Wasthi Productions) has also been organised.

President Ranil Wickramasinghe announced today (20) that steps have been taken to provide the fertilizer required for upcoming Maha season to the farmers without any delay.

The President made these comments during a visit to Chief Sanghanayake of the North Central District, Dr. Ven. Pallegama Sirinivasa Na Thero.

In a discussion with Ven. Pallegama Sirinivasa Na Thero, the President said that the Government is focusing on improving the country's economy with emphasis on agriculture.

Moreover he assurred that the construction activities of the Maha Viharaya will be expedited, adding that the temples would become buddhist tourist attractions for tourists from Myanmar and other countries.

Senior Advisor to President, Sagala Rathnayake said that discussions with regard to a fertilizer subsidy has already been initiated with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

He further stated that the Government will facilitate for promotion of crops such as tea, coconut and rubber, and mentioned that provisions will also be made from the interim budget to import seeds.