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Papua New Guinea’s government is under mounting pressure to account for a purchase of 40 luxury vehicles for next month’s Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the capital of Port Moresby. Shipments of the Maserati sedans from Italy arrived in Port Moresby last week, to be used for ferrying around APEC leaders and other dignitaries at the summit on November 17-18.

APEC Minister Justin Tkatchenko said the Maseratis were “being committed to be paid for by the private sector” where demand was so keen they would sell “like hot cakes”.

Putting the value of each car at a little over US$100,000 (NZ$150,000), Tkatchenko initially said the Maseratis were being paid for with “no overall cost to the state”. 

One of the 40 Maseratis imported by Papua New Guinea for APEC 2018 ... threatened two-day strike looms. Image: EMTV News

Amid a public outcry about the Maseratis, the opposition Madang MP Bryan Kramer said the deal could be illegal if the vehicles have been bought by the private sector without any cost to the government.

With PNG’s Public Finance Management Act requiring any state assets to be acquired or disposed of by calling for public tender, Kramer said the government must reveal when the public tender was called.

Strike looms

Opposition MPs have called for a nationwide strike later this week in protest against the government’s Maserati deal, which has been criticised as being excessively extravagant for a government struggling to fund basic health services.

“While the country faces a polio outbreak, failing health and education systems, systemic corruption, and escalating law and order issues, prime minister (Peter) O’Neill appears to be more concerned about impressing world leaders,” Kramer said in a statement.

He has linked the purchase to an invoice for US$6,357,684 to PNG’s government from a Sri Lanka-based auto spare parts and sales company, Ideal Choices.

Since his earlier statement, the minister admitted to Australian media that the government paid a deposit for the purchase. But he has not explained how it would recover its costs after on-selling cars at what is expected to be a depreciated price tag. 

Papua New Guinea APEC Minister Justin Tkatchenko … facing calls to be sacked. Image: Koroi Hawkins/RNZ

Facing calls to sack Tkatchenko and step down himself, O’Neill said yesterday that the vehicles would be sold to the private sector in a public tender. 

Disastrous ‘optics’

But the Maserati deal has made for disastrous “optics”, triggering global media attention and outrage among Papua New Guineans.

“The Italian automobile manufacturer must now come out publicly to explain why they agreed to sell 40 Maseratis destined for PNG APEC to a small dealership based in Colombo, Sir Lanka,” said Kramer.

The outspoken MP said he could not envisage world leaders agreeing to be ferried in luxury vehicles that appear to be procured through a small backyard dealership.

However, Tkatchenko continues to defend the import, saying the kind of service provided through Maserati was standard for APEC summits.

Concern over rising risks to emerging market economies were center stage this week as global Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors gathered this week in Bali, Indonesia. Bali hosted both the biannual Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Twenty-Four (G-24) developing countries and the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group officials.

“Global growth continues broadly but risks are rising for developing economies with higher oil prices, rising interest rates, high debt levels and the threat of trade war as top concerns,” said Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Finance and Media for Sri Lanka and Chairman of the G-24. “We urge major powers to reform and reinforce rather than discard the rules-based global trading system,” Samaraweera said.

Volatile capital flows, foreign exchange pressures and higher borrowing costs have buffeted emerging markets as major economies have begun rolling back the very low interest rates that have prevailed since the 2008 global financial crisis. “There is no avoiding the fact that the market for capital is global, which means policies and interest rates in advanced economies affect emerging and developing economies,” said Julio Velarde, first vice-chair of the G-24 and Governor of the Central Reserve Bank of Peru.

“Emerging markets that restrain debt levels and maintain prudent macroeconomic policies may weather volatility better but all emerging markets are adversely affected by excessive capital flow volatility,” Velarde said.

G-24 and IMF/World Bank delegates discussed debt vulnerabilities that are rising in some developing countries, particularly low-income countries. According to the IMF, debt as a percentage of GDP has risen from 33 percent to 47 percent in the last 5 years for low-income countries. “Such a rapid rise in debt and rates should be a concern to both creditors and debtors, which share a responsibility to foster debt transparency and sustainability,” Samaraweera said.

In the context of recurring volatility, there are multilateral actions that could mitigate this damage to developing countries. The G-24 reiterated the importance of a strong Global Financial Safety Net, with an adequately resourced, quota-based IMF at its center, which has the resources needed to act decisively when needed. One-third of the IMF’s lending resources will disappear next year when bilateral financing arrangements expire. Delegates said it is important that International Monetary Fund surveillance continues an even-handed and context-based assessment of macro-prudential and capital flow management measures, affording countries the latitude to implement appropriate measures to ensure financial stability.

G-24 delegates also agreed on the following of key measures to deal with the interrelated challenges of growth and debt:

1)   Trade uncertainties and financial and monetary conditions compound rising debt vulnerabilities. Improving debt sustainability depends on a supportive external trade and financial environment, timely contingency financing and the adequate flow of concessional financing for LICs – which, let us remember, has been down by almost 20 per cent if we compare figures from 2013 to 2016. 
 
2)   We called for action from the IMF, WBG and multilateral partners and donors on capacity building for fiscal and debt management and sustainability and debt transparency.
 
3)  We need to recognize the issue and try to improve the transparency around borrowing and recognize that both borrowers and lenders bear responsibility for ensuring sustainability. 
 
4)   On sovereign debt resolution, we have recognized that, with greater reliance on market-based finance, the challenges of maintaining debt sustainability and resolving sovereign debt crises evolve, and that we need a better framework to deal with such challenges.

The Colombo High Court ordered the case against Former President’s Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath and three others to be postponed until October 23. The case was taken up before a Trial-at-Bar consisting Justices Sampath Abeykoon, Sampath Wijeratne and Champa Janaki Rajaratne today (15).
 
The Attorney General had filed the case against the defendants under the Public Property Act for allegedly misappropriating Rs 500 million funds belonging to Litro Gas Lanka by investing in ventures including the Grand Hyatt hotel project, from February  1, 2014 to January 20, 2015.

Former secretary to the defence ministry, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Tuesday suggested his former Economic Development Minister Basil as the presidential candidate at next year’s elections.

Emerging from the new Permanent High Court at Bar in Colombo where his trial was put off for December 4, Gotabaya Rajapaksa accused the government of trying to create a rift among his politically ambitious siblings.

Asked what he thought of reports that former president Mahinda Rajapaksa was trying to promote basil over him (Gotabaya), he said the reports were circulated by the government to create dissension within the family.

“But, if you ask me, my choice for a presidential candidate is Basil Rajapaksa. It is up to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to decide, I don’t think he has decided yet,” Gotabhaya Rajapaksa told reporters.

Neither of the two brothers can contest the presidency or even a seat in parliament unless they renounce their US citizenship.

On a previous occasion, Gotabaya has said he could shed his US nationality and retain only Sri Lankan citizenship “within two months.”

In May, Gotabaya had launched his de facto presidential bid by launching what he called his Vision 2030 in the presence of some 2,000 invitees at the Shangri La hotel in Colombo.

Gotabhaya suggested Basil as a possible presidential hopeful as his criminal misappropriation of state funds case entered its trial phase after a nearly three-year investigation. He is accused of spending millions of rupees of government money to build a museum for his late parents.

His remarks came amid rumours that the Mahinda Rajapaksa-led SLPP, a breakaway faction of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) was going to unite with President Maithripala Sirisena to form a “caretaker” government.

Housing Minister Sajith Premadasa Monday dismissed reports of a "caretaker" administration and said he had full confidence in President Sirisena to honour his January 2015 mandate to work with the current coalition.

Premadasa said Sirisena risked his life to defect from the SLFP and challenge an autocratic presidency of Rajapaksa in 2015.

Constitutionally, the president has no power to form any other government without dislodging Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who can only be toppled through a no-trust vote in parliament.

An attempt to oust Wickremesinghe failed in February as well as in April and led to the breakup of Sirisena’s faction of the SLFP with a group of 16 crossing over to support the Rajapaksa faction.

Even if both Rajapaksa and Sirisena factions unite, they are still short of a considerable number of votes to bring down Wickremesinghe.

Source : Economy Next

A team of 30 Sri Lankan Police Officers participated in a comprehensive training program on Industrial Security at the National Industrial Security Academy (NISA) in Hyderabad, India. The course was organised from 24th to 28th of September.

NISA, an Academy of international repute, was founded in 1990 and it has been recognized as “Center of Excellence in Industrial Security”. NISA is renowned for producing well-trained personnel in the field of Industrial and Critical Infrastructural Security & Management, Aviation Security & Disaster Management and has helped to develop professionals imbibed with highest standards of physical and mental fitness, in-depth knowledge and skills.
 
The training programme was fully-funded by the Government of India, with a sponsorship of over 5 Million Sri Lankan Rupees. The 30 officers, ranging from ranks of Chief Inspector of Police, Inspector of Police and Sub-inspector of Police, participated in the programme. Besides lectures conducted by subject matter experts, the trainees also had first hand exposure to the latest gadgets used in the field. The Government of India provided full hospitality as a gesture of strengthening people-to-people contact between India and Sri Lanka.  

Several other training programmes such as Crime Scene Management and CCTV Analysis, Expert Testimony on Criminal Trial, Forensic Science, Cyber Forensics, VIP Security, Traffic Management and a seminar on Financial Crime, have been organised by India for Sri Lanka’s Police Force this year.

An Indian flight attendant has accused former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga of sexually harassing her at a hotel in Mumbai.

The woman narrated the alleged incident in a lengthy Facebook post which also contains some of the other sexual harassment encounters she has faced in the past.

During a visit to India, Ranatunga (currently Sri Lanka's Minister of Petroleum Resources Development), allegedly grabbed the woman by her waist. The woman allegedly later ran to the hotel reception and complained about Ranatunga's actions but the staff allegedly told her, "It is your private matter."

"My star struck colleague spotted Indian and Sri Lankan cricketers in the elevator of Hotel Juhu Centaur, Mumbai and decided to meet them in their room for autographs. I decided to chaperone her, fearing for her safety, we were offered drinks (perhaps laced) I declined and stuck to my bottle of water I'd brought along . They were 7 and we 2, they latched the room door putting the chain secure. My discomfort growing inside of me, I urged her to get back to our room.

"She was smitten and wanted to go for a stroll by the poolside, this was at 1900 hrs, the walk to the pool a desolate, unlit pathway at the back of the hotel, I look back to find (her friend) and the Indian cricketer nowhere in sight.

"Ranatunga grabs me by waist, sliding his hands along the side of my breasts, I scream fearing the worst, kicking on his legs and feet.

Threatening him of dire consequences, passport cancellation, reporting it to the cops etc., for he is a Sri Lankan misbehaving with an Indian. Wasting no time, I dashed for the hotel reception a good run on an incline screaming on top of my voice. The reception said, "it is your private matter" and that they can't help me," the woman wrote in her Facebook post.

The Me Too movement has gathered storm in India after Bollywood actress Tanushree Dutta accused veteran actor Nana Patekar of sexually harassing her on a film set back in 2010. Since Dutta's allegations, a lot of women from various fields come out to speak about their own sexual harassment encounters.

Source : India Today

Sri Lanka has been ranked at the 99th position along with Ethiopia and North Korea in the Henley Passport Index among 106 countries.

The ranking was based according to the number of countries their holders can travel to visa-free, Henley & Partners, a residence and citizenship advisory firm, announced recently. 

The ranking is supplemented by exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which maintains the world’s largest and most accurate database of travel information, and is further enhanced by extensive in-house research. 

The index is updated in real-time, as and when visa-policy changes come into effect. With the Henley Passport Index, air passengers can assess where they lie on the spectrum of global mobility and discover how to maximise their travel freedom through citizenship-by-investment, the media release revealed. 

Japan has overtaken Singapore as the world's strongest passport, clinching the top spot on the 2018 Henley Passport Index. After gaining visa-free access to Myanmar earlier this month, Japan now enjoys visa-free/visa-on-arrival access to 190 destinations, compared to Singapore’s total of 189, pushing Singapore into second place on the index. 

This quarter, Germany which was ranked as the second best passport fell down a notch to third to be shared with South Korean and France. 

Denmark, Finland, Italy, Sweden and Spain were ranked -fourth, with 187 destinations accessible to their citizens. Meanwhile, the United States and the United Kingdom slid down a spot from fourth to fifth place.

In a special ceremony held on 9 October 2018, the Rabindranath Tagore Memorial Auditorium built with Indian grant assistance of SLR 300 million at the University of Ruhuna, Matara in the Southern Province, was dedicated to the people of Sri Lanka jointly by High Commissioner of India H.E. Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Vice Chancellor of the University of Ruhuna Senior Professor Gamini Senanayake. The ceremony was attended by a large gathering of more than 1000 people including the faculty, supporting staff, students of the university and other invited guests.
 
As part of the program and as continuation of the celebrations of 150th Birth Anniversary of father of the Indian Nation Mahatma Gandhi which started on 2nd October 2018, a brief video of his message and teachings was played.
 
The state of art auditorium with 1500 seating capacity is the largest in any of the Universities in Sri Lanka. It has been designed by the famous Sri Lankan Architect Geoffrey Bawa to conform to the philosophy of “Tropical Modernism”. The buildings of the Ruhuna University which is celebrating its 40th year of inception, have also been designed under the guidance of Geoffrey Bawa.
 
The auditorium named after Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore is a symbol of cultural links with India. The great Indian poet and nobel laureate has left behind an enduring aesthetic and intellectual heritage for the whole of South Asia and the world. This auditorium upholds his legacy. It will also address the needs of students and public of the Southern Province for cultural and academic activities.

Refuting media reports of him together with State Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe requesting a commission of USD 25 million from an investor to set up a high speed train manufacturing plant, Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrema said yesterday in Parliament that the allegations are unfounded as he has never even met this person or spoken to them.

"While I was in Germany, about 10 days ago, I was made to understand that a Director of Ceylon High Speed Railway Limited, a Company who had sent a proposal to the Board of Investment (BOI), to produce and export high speed trains, has accused the State Minister and myself of requesting for a commission of USD 25 Million to have the project proposal approved.  This is a totally false allegation.  In fact, I have never met this party, nor have I spoken to them or even seen the colour of them", the Minister said.

Samarawickrama responding to the media reports that LKR 150 milion had been received to be credited to his bank account and the Central Bank had frozen the funds, yesterday urged the CID to investigate this matter at its earliest and take action against any Cabinet Minister if such funds have been received.

Text of the Minister’s speech is as follows:

"I wish to inform you that there seems to be a targeted attempt by certain sections of the social media and an electronic media channel in particular, to discredit me.

While I was in Germany, about 10 days ago, I was made to understand that a Director of Ceylon High Speed Railway Limited, a Company who had sent a proposal to the Board of Investment (BOI), to produce and export high speed trains, has accused the State Minister and myself of requesting for a commission of USD 25 Million to have the project proposal approved.  This is a totally false allegation.  In fact, I have never met this party, nor have I spoken to them or even seen the colour of them.

I do not wish to delve into the details of the  process through which the BOI  and the Single Window Investment Approval Committee approves the investment proposals submitted to the BOI, since the BOI Officials have given a detailed description of how the proposals are evaluated and approved.  At no stage do the Ministers get involved in the approval process. However, I have requested for and received a report of this proposal from BOI which I would like to table.

I would like to highlight some elements of the proposal  submitted, so that  Hon. Members of this House  can see for themselves whether the proposal should be approved or not; (refer annexure 1)Again last week, the same media institutions alleged that a sum of LKR 150 million (LKR 1,500 lakhs) had been received to be credited to my Bank Account and the Central Bank had frozen the funds.

This is a totally false allegation.  I have checked with the Central Bank and I am informed that no such funds had been received to be credited to anyone of the Cabinet Minister’s Accounts.  However, I have written to DIG – CID, to investigate into this matter at his earliest convenience and take necessary action against any Cabinet Minister, if such funds have been received.  I am tabling the letter I have sent to the DIG.

Hon. Speaker, is this the media freedom that we wanted?  This is nothing but freedom of the wild ass.

I request you to kindly take necessary steps to prevent Members of Parliament being insulted and defamed by the irresponsible media, coming out with fake news. If not, no decent person will want to enter Parliament."

Chargé d'affaires Robert Hilton today inaugurated a two-year project to preserve pre-historic artifacts in the collection of the University of Jaffna.  The funding is provided by the U.S. Department of State under the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) and totals more than 23 million Sri Lankan rupees ($140,000). 

The project will rescue artifacts such as clay pots, brass and copper items, temple statues, coins, coral stones, and ceramic objects that are on the verge of irreversible decay.  Most of the collection was excavated in the Northern Province.  The project will involve both undergraduate and post graduate archaeology students of the University of Jaffna.  Professor P. Pushparatnam, a senior professor and the Project Director, submitted the successful proposal to the U.S. Embassy and AFCP.  University of Jaffna Vice Chancellor Professor R. Vigneswaran will assist with the project.

“A nation’s cultural heritage is one of its most precious resources,” said Chargé Hilton.  “Cultural heritage reminds us of the historical experiences of humanity.   I am delighted that the U.S. Embassy is supporting the preservation of these important artifacts, which tell the story of the Sri Lankan people.”  When preservation is complete, the objects will be on display at the University of Jaffna’s museum.

Since 2001, AFCP has funded 13 projects in Sri Lanka, including the conservation of a Buddhist temple, the restoration of the Batticaloa Dutch Fort, the preservation of Buddhist, Hindu, and other collections in the Anuradhapura Archaeological Museum, and the preservation of the intangible heritage of ritual music and dance forms of the Adivasi, Tamil, and Buddhist communities.

Parliament has approved the appointment of three members from the civil society to the Constitutional Council. 

Accordingly, following members have been appointed to the Constitutional Council: 

Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala - Senior Special Advisor on Foreign Relations to the PresidentAhamed Javed Yusuf – Former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Saudi ArabiaNaganathan Selvakumaran – Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Colombo 

The nominations were made by the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader inline with the powers vested in them through the Parliament.