News

The Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC) is the provider of the free “Shilpa Suraksha” insurance cover to Sri Lankan craftsmen.

In phase I of this project, 5000 Lankan craftsmen will receive a free insurance cover annually. This is the first time in Sri Lanka’s history that our craftsmen get insurance cover, that too free of charge.

The government announced that it is also keen on introducing hi-tech design tools to its craftsmen so that their intricate work could garner better global attention.

“Very soon there will be demands by our craft sector to start work with latest technological advancements,” said Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rishad Bathiudeen when he addressed the Shilpa Abhimani 2019 Presidential Handicrafts Award Ceremony at the BMICH.

There are more than 20000 registered Sri Lankan craftsmen with the National Craft Council NCC. Crafts and designs are a very competitive sector. It is increasingly market driven.

With the support of the NCC they are continuously trying to bring out new designs and creations. the government will be introducing  new technologies which are becoming part of craft design work across the world to  promising and award winning craftsmen too.

New technologies, such as 3D printing and laser operated design setups can help  craftsmen to go global much faster, Minister Rishad Bathiudeen said.

A new project commenced to establish District Craft Councils (DCCs) in Sri Lanka for the first time in NCC’s 35 year history.

Sri Lanka’s arts, crafts, and handicraft traditions widely differ from region to region, span across many sub-sectors and spring from diverse sources–including pottery, wood-carvings, mural creations, lacquer painting, metal works and jewelry making.

The Elections Commission has made this call in order to bring an end to the strike action being followed by several trade unions in order to facilitate the forthcoming elections.

Police sources have said that legal action was being initiated based on information uncovered that there was no progress in the murder investigation from 2010-2015 when the case was handled by the former TID OIC.

While the CID investigation into the murder had uncovered many leads, the case has been quite dormant after the TID had taken over the probe in 2010.

The CID investigations revealed that after the TID took over investigations no progress had been made until the case was handed back to the CID in 2015.

This was announced by Minister of State for the Commonwealth, UN and South Asia and Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, who visited Sri Lanka on 1-2 October, the UK High Commission said in a statement.

Speaking on his visit, Lord Ahmad said, “I am delighted to announce the launch of a new phase of our Conflict, Stability and Security Fund in Sri Lanka. It will bring more than £10 million of targeted UK programme funding over the next three years. These funds will support peacebuilding and dialogue; resettlement and rehabilitation of displaced communities; and engagement with institutions tasked with protecting the rule of law across the country. I know that many of these issues are close to your hearts, and vital for the future success of Sri Lanka”.

In a programme unfortunately cut short by flight delays, Lord Ahmad met political and religious leaders from across Sri Lanka’s communities.

In his meeting with President Maithripala Sirisena they agreed on the importance of reconciliation, and the need for governments to play an active role in encouraging inter-community dialogue and tackling discrimination.

Lord Ahmad had a wide-ranging meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Tilak Marapana to discuss continued strengthening of the bilateral relationship between UK and Sri Lanka.

In his meeting with Leader of the Tamil National Alliance R. Sampanthan, they discussed the shared responsibility of political leaders and communities in ensuring minority concerns and aspirations are heard and addressed.

Freedom of Religion or Belief was a key theme throughout the visit. In his meetings with faith leaders and ministers, Lord Ahmad stressed the importance of religious freedoms and protections for minority groups. He reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to promoting these values, and his firm belief that societies that protect religious freedoms and its minorities are more stable, prosperous and likely to be more resilient against violent extremism.

He met with policymakers and advocates to discuss the role of women in peace-building and issues related to conflict-affected women, including gender-based violence, access to justice and stigma. He met the President of Sri Lanka Unites and Commonwealth Points of Light recipient Prashan de Visser to discuss their work on youth and reconciliation. The Deputy High Commissioner attended the opening of the new Sri Lanka Unites centre in Puttalam.

Lord Ahmad visited the St. Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade, one of the targets of the Easter Sunday attacks, to pay his respects. During the visit, Lord Ahmad also met Sri Lankan business leaders to exchange ideas on opportunities for economic growth and development, and strengthening trade ties between Sri Lanka and UK, it added.

One of the petitioners, Chandragupta Thenuwara said the petitioners were awaiting the court’s reasons for dismissing the case on Friday (4).

“We were not given reasons. The court only gave the verdict of dismissal. I’m of the opinion that once we receive the reasons, we will talk with our lawyers and appeal the verdict,” he has said.

He further noted that he was confident that the petitioners did have a valid case against Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his citizenship.

“From how the written submissions and the argument went, it was clear that we had a strong case. It is puzzling why the case was dismissed. We shall wait and see what reasons the court provides for dismissing the case and then take the necessary steps,” he has told the media, adding that there was still time to achieve a different legal outcome.

He added that if the evidence they have prove correct and Rajapaksa was allowed to contest, it would have serious implications for the country.

Accordingly, Chairman of the Elections Commission Mahinda Deshapriya has informed political party representatives about the Commission’s decision when political party representatives had called on him on Wednesday.

Deshapriya has said these offices could not be used for activities aimed at promoting presidential candidates and that all posters and cut-outs put up by the presidential candidates would be removed by October 7 when nominations are accepted.

The Commission has also discussed steps to be taken against the abuse of state resources for election campaign work.

He held several important ministerial portfolios under former presidents Chandrika Bandraranaike Kumratunge and Mahinda Rajapaksa as well us under Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

He also served as the Governor of the Eastern Province under President Maithripala Sirisena's good governance government.      

After taking this political decision, Bogollagama said that Sajith Premadasa is the only leader with the ability to build a united nation and that is why he has decided to support him.

He noted that all communities could live in unity and peace under a Sajith Premadasa presidency and UNF government.

He reiterated that the triumph of the UNF candidate Sajith Premadasa and the UNF in the presidential election is a foregone conclusion under the present socio-political and cultural circumstances and in accordance with the wishes of the people.  

“Our government will not sign any agreement which could result in negative impacts to the country,” he said.

He made this statement addressing the United National Party (UNP) convention yesterday (3).

Premadasa noted that government assets will not be sold to any foreign entity. “Joint ventures will be encouraged to help unprofitable state institutions. However we will maintain majority ownership,”

“We need a leader who can take firm decisions. We need a leader with a backbone but who is also sensitive to the needs of the people.” Premadasa pointed out.

The presidential hopeful further pledged that he will devote his entire life to serve the general public.

Premadasa said his government will put a stop to corruption through a rigorous anti corruption programme and nepotism would not be allowed under any circumstances.

The “chair” symbol belongs the People’s Alliance (PA), under which former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge contested the 1994 presidential election.

Spokesperson for SLPP presidential candidate, MP Dullas Alahapperuma said the SLPP could not agree to contest the presidential election under the chair symbol as proposed by the SLFP.

“The SLFP proposed the chair as a common symbol for us to contest as an alliance. But we could not accept it for this presidential election,” he said, adding that the SLPP was open to contesting under a common symbol with the SLFP at future elections following the presidential election.

He added that the SLPP had accepted a memorandum of understanding (MoU) presented by the SLFP containing 20 separate points while SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa had also accepted the MoU presented to him by the SLFP.

Accordingly, the Palaly Airport will be renamed as Jaffna International Airport, the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation said.

The Ministry further informed that the Batticaloa Airport will be renamed as the Batticaloa International Airport and the Ratmalana Airport as the Colombo Ratmalana International Airport.

Accordingly, Sri Lanka’s International Airports will increase to five.

The newly-modified Jaffna International Airport is scheduled to be opened on 17 October.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation indicator code (ICAO CODE) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) station code for the above International Airports will be as follows:

Jaffna International airport:
ICAO CODE : VCCJ
IATA station code: JAF

Batticaloa International airport:
ICAO : VCCB

ICAO :VCCC
IATA station : RML

One of the petitioners, Chandragupta Thenawura says that he has received death threats over the phone soon after the court verdict was given.

“I can confirm that I received two phone calls threatening my life straight after the court verdict was issued. Prior to that, I had to endure a lot of hate speech and profanities,” he said.

He said that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) had told him that he could request for security.

“The IGP told me that if my life was in danger and I needed security, to inform him of the matter,” he said.

Thenuwara said that he would take additional measures if the situation escalated.

The other petitioner, Gamini Viyangoda, said that while he had not received direct death threats, his social media was full of hate speech and calls for his death.

“On social media, I see various persons condemning. Some have said that I should be killed while others have said that I should be made to suffer. This is all because of the court case we filed,” he said.

Meanwhile, several Facebook posts threatening the two petitioners were seen during the past few days.

Former Galle Mayor Methsiri de Silva has filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court (SC) requesting the gazette notification announcing the November 16 presidential election be suspended.

The petitioner has also requested that the Elections Commission’s decision to call for nominations on October 7 be suspended as well.

The petitioner notes that the term of office of the current President is six years and if it is limited to five years it would have an effect on the sovereignty of the people.

Chairman of the Elections Commission, Mahinda Deshapriya and members of the commission have been cited as respondents.

However, political analysts say that the petition filed before the Supreme Court could be seen as an attempt to delay the date of holding presidential elections since Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa is facing litigation over his eligibility to contest at the election due to doubts over his citizenship.