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Sri Lanka has moved up 14 places on the Good Country Index coming in at 67th place. Sri Lanka was 81 in the index last year.

The Netherlands, Switzerland and Denmark are the top three countries in the index in 2017. The index is created by using 35 separate indicators to rank the countries that contribute most to the greater good of humanity rather than for their citizens.

Simon Anholt, the creator of the Good Index said: “A successful country is one that contributes to the good of humanity”.

“Of course it must serve the interests of its own people, but never at the expense of other populations or their natural resources: this is the new law of human survival, and it’s a balance which is far more easily maintained than many people imagine. Working together makes for better policy than working alone.” he further added.

The top 10 ‘Good Countries’ according to the index are :

• The Netherlands
• Switzerland
  
• Denmark
• Finland
• Germany
• Sweden
• Ireland
• United Kingdom
• Austria
• Norway

Vacation of post letters will be issued today to all railway staff who are continuing the strike sources from the Ministry of Transport said. The staff had previously been warned to return to work but have failed to do so as discussions between the union and authorities failed repeatedly. The strike has been ongoing since last week when the staff went on an unannounced strike citing several demands.

While the Ministry has called on retired staff comprising of engine drivers, railway guards and station masters to report for duty with immediate effect at the office of Additional General Manager of Railways (Operations), the Ministry is also set to recruit new staff as a result. The new staff are to be trained while working alongside the returning retired employees who are also to be given temporary appointments.

With the service being declared as an essential service last week by President Maithripala Sirisena the department will now terminate the employment of workers who do not report to work. However, the Unions have decided to continue with the strike at a meeting held today.

The Governments of Sri Lanka and the United States launched a two-year HIV/AIDS Technical Assistance Partnership to fast track government efforts to end AIDS by 2025 this week. The U.S. Government’s development agency – U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) - through the President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), will help to transfer promising solutions, new technical skills and innovations to contribute towards ending AIDS in Sri Lanka. 

“USAID Sri Lanka has been working closely with the Government of Sri Lanka on a number of social and economic development efforts. This partnership is very important as Sri Lanka moves down the path to ending the spread of AIDS.” Dr. Andrew Sisson, Mission Director, USAID Sri Lanka.

Mark Anthony White, Mission Director, USAID India added that “USAID India is happy to partner with USAID Sri Lanka to support this important initiative to strengthen the HIV response, especially for key populations. We hope this leads to more health collaborations between India and Sri Lanka.” Also speaking at the launch, Mr. Janaka Sugathadasa, Secretary of Health, Ministry of Health said, “When it comes to HIV/AIDS, we must have a new approach. The public health approach has to be coupled with a societal approach.”

The two-year USAID partnership with Sri Lanka will work in close collaboration with key stakeholders in the country – National STD/AIDS Control Program (NSACP) Sri Lanka; the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM); and civil society organizations - to improve access to HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment services for at-risk or key populations (KP) due to their increased vulnerability for contracting/transmitting the HIV virus.

USAID assistance will support the design and roll out of KP-specific strategic behavior change communication materials and a social media communication strategy; HIV services through different KP-friendly community and clinic-based approaches, and improve HIV prevention and testing services through innovative solutions involving private medical practitioners and approaches to reach hidden KP groups.

The Government of Sri Lanka is committed to ending AIDS in country by 2025, ahead of the UN’s Global Commitment to end AIDS by 2030.

Following the recent retirement of DIG Chula De Silva who was heading the Sri Lanka Police Traffic Division, the Police has failed to appoint a successor yet to the vacant post. While DIG De Silva retired on December 6, no officer has been appointed to take up the job despite that almost a week has elapsed since his departure.

According to Police sources while DIG Chula De Silva had formally requested for a service extension he was not granted his request due to top political interference.

However, the Police are said to be in turmoil now as there appears to be no suitable candidate for the job. The outgoing DIG was highly experienced in the area of Traffic Management.

No acting DIG has been appointed as well with Senior DIG Crime and Traffic Management, Nandana Munasinghe having to overlook the division now amidst his workload.

Reports also claim that the names of the heads of the Criminal Records Division (CRD) and the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) have been suggested for the post but no final decision has been made yet.

The Hatton magistrates court has ordered the arrest of Jeevan Thondaman, the son of Ceylon Workers Congress and parliamentarian Arumugam Thondaman yesterday (11) for his alleged link to an assault.

A member of the National Union of Workers (NUW) and supporter of Minister Palani Digambaram was allegedly assaulted by the group at a funeral in Maskeliya recently.

According to reports, the presiding magistrate had ordered the arrest when four other individuals suspected to be involved in the incident were presented before the courts yesterday. Among these suspects was the Deputy leader of the Ceylon Workers Congress and Central province Minister M. Rameshwaran.

The Hatton Magistrate released the four suspects including the CWC deputy leader and Central Provincial Council member M. Rameshwaran on cash bail. The others who were released on bail were Wellayan Dinesh, M. Pichamoorthy and S. Baskaran.

The case is to be taken up again on April 4.

Pic Source : Facebook

Sri Lanka Freedom (SLFP) party along with the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UFPA) have decided to contest the upcoming local government elections under the 'beetle leaf' symbol political sources have revealed. This decision was taken after the break down of talks between the SLFP and the Joint Opposition's Podujana Eksath Peramuna.

President Maithripala Sirisena is said to have suggested that the party contests in the districts of Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura and Gampaha under the 'hand' symbol while for several other local government bodies the party is to contest under the banners of the Ceylon Workers Congress led by Arumugam Thondaman. Decisions have also been made to contest in the East through the National Congress led by A.L.M Athaullah.

Basil wades into East by boat

Meanwhile, while the Joint Oppositions Pdujana Peramuna has made the final decision to contest under the symbol of a 'flower bud' the party is set to contest for several areas in the East under the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) party led by Karuna Amman and their symbol the 'boat'.

The leader of the National Freedom Front, Wimal Weerawansa and of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna Dinesh Gunawardene are said to be upset regarding the unfair treatment being meted out to their parties when compiling the nomination lists for the upcoming polls and have voiced their dissent to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

While the duo has pointed out that many leaders in their parties have left due to the behaviour of Basil Rajapaksa and joined with President Sirisena they have also accused him of wielding power and acting as he had done during the previous regime.

They had stressed that they would have to take a serious decision if Basil Rajapaksa is not reigned in.

Anyone can leave: Mahinda

While Mahinda had maintained a stoic silence facing the barrage of complaints answering some journalists at the Hikkaduwa Sri Vidyasagara Pirivena said many members are leaving due to their inability to divide seats.

"They are the same when in power and while in the opposition" the Former President was quoted as saying adding that anyone who wished to leave the JO may do so if they wish.

More to join Maithri

Meanwhile, leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya says many members who do not get nominations from the JO will join the UNP or the SLFP in the upcoming elections.

He said this while addressing a media briefing at the party office yesterday. (11)

Party leaders representing the Joint Opposition have commenced official talks to take a decision against the despotic behaviour of Basil Rajapaksa.

According to political sources, the parties including the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna had taken this step as no favourable response was received despite their repeated complaints to Mahinda Rajapaksa against Basil's despotic behaviour within the JO.

The parties are expected to discuss regarding the secret plans by Basil to weaken the other parties in the JO thereby compromising their ability to bargain in the political arena.

Three stalwarts belonging to the National Freedom Front and other active members are said to be leaving the JO due to the unbearable behaviour and conduct of Basil Rapakasa. JO party leaders are also of the opinion that the departure of Sriyani Wijewickrama, the only other MP except for Dinesh Gunawardene to represent the Mahajana Eksath Permuna was caused by these issues. Wijewickrama left the JO and extended her support to President Maithripala Sirisena and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party yesterday.

Sources claim these discussions within the JO are set to end prior to the upcoming local government elections. Meanwhile, till a decision is made in this regard the party leaders have also decided to stand firm about getting a fair amount of nominations for each party within the JO sources revealed.

It is reported that a group of popular figures, formerly from the JVP, are ready to join the Sri Lanka Freedom Party with President Maithripala Sirisena.

12 former Provincial Council Members, 04 former Provincial Council Presidents and 08 former Provincial Councilors are said to be among those who are tipped to crossover to the SLFP.

Around 61 members, including former JVP members and current strongmen of the Frontline Socialist Party, have already agreed to join hands with President Sirisena.

Cabinet approval is said to have been granted to handover the tender to supply new e-passports sans following the normal tender process. According to sources, this tender has now been given to M/S De La Rue Lanka Currency and Security Print Ltd as proposed by Minister of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure, Harin Fernando.

Tender Valued at Rs. 1.2 Billion

While the value of the tender is said to be Rs. 1.2 Billion government insiders have cast doubt regarding the proposal to handover the tender without following the process. According to insider government sources, there are now concerns if any serious financial irregularities are behind this deal.

De La Rue did not bid for tender

These sources while pointing out that M/S De La Rue Lanka Currency and Security Print Ltd. had not even submitted a bid for the tender when it was first called to print the newly proposed e-passports. They further explained that the Government Printers are able to provide these required passports at only an expenditure of Rs. 600 Million. However, according to them, it is questionable as to why this possibility was ignored and cabinet approval was granted to handover the tender to M/S De La Rue Lanka Currency and Security Print Ltd instead.

Presidential observations shown the door

While a similar proposal to hand over the tender to the same company was submitted at a previous occasion, presenting his observations on the project President Maithripala Sirisena had suggested that it is better to grant the tender after a competitive bidding process than grant it to a single supplier.

However, it appears that several parties in the government have continuously pushed to grant this project to the said company and as a result, a MoU was signed by the ICTA and M/S De La Rue Lanka Currency and Security Print Ltd on June 13, 2017, to provide the related technical requirement analysis.

According to the MoU signed disregarding the previous cabinet proposal and the Presidents observations on August 9, 2016, Minister Harin Fernando had presented cabinet paper CP/17/1576/722/017 jointly with the Minister of Immigration and Emigration S.B Nawinna. However, the recommendation of the cabinet at the time was to launch the e-passport project according to the ‘Swiss Challenge’ procedure instead.

De La Rue not up for a ‘Swiss Challenge’

However, according to reports M/S De La Rue Lanka Currency and Security Print Ltd had expressed their displeasure at this recommendation of the cabinet while the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka is also said to have lobbied for the company requesting several government officials to grant the project to De La Rue.

Insider sources of the government also claim that Minister Fernando had on November 20 presented cabinet paper No. 17/2522/749/022 accordingly requesting the project be granted without calling for tenders as proposed by the cabinet paper presented on August 9, 2017, in this regard.

Immigration and Emigration Department to go out of business

Meanwhile, insider sources of the Department of Immigration and Emigration say the process of issuing passports will be fully privatised by granting the project to M/S De La Rue Lanka Currency and Security Print Ltd.

According to the department trade unions, fears are also rife that the 400 strong staff at the ‘New Passport Office’ newly established at a cost of Rs. one billion recently will be laid off as a result.

Strike action imminent

As a result, all trade unions are expected to voice their dissent against the decision to grant the project to De La Rue. However according to the unions if it the tender is granted nevertheless the union and staff are prepared now to launch a serious trade union action soon.

Former Deputy Minister and National Freedom Front stalwart Weerakumara Dissanayake, MP, along with former National Organiser Piyasiri Wijenayake and North Central Provincial Council Member P.B. Kumara, have obtained membership of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, today (11), at the Presidential Secretariat.

The Former official residence of the speaker, 'Mumtaz Mahal' is set to be converted to a Military Training College. According to reliable to sources talks are underway to convert the residence to a Military Training College for the Senior Officers of the Tri-forces. The first round of discussions was held recently in Colombo.

If the project takes off military sources revealed that Senior Officers could undertake certain senior officer courses in Sri Lanka itself. Currently, the military sends officers overseas to countries such as Pakistan in order to complete these courses due to their unavailability in Sri Lanka.

However, sources also claim the project has hit a snag as the land and premises ownership currently lies with the Department of Archeology.

Built in 1929, Mumtaz Mahal was purchased in 1948 to serve as the official residence of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and served in that capacity till a new residence was built in 2000 in close proximity to the New Parliament Complex in Sri Jayawardenapura-Kotte. Since then the house has been used by various government entities.

Pic Source: rootsweb.com