Sri Lanka for tomorrow – By Dr Harold Gunatillake
Sri Lanka’s Advocate Institute Wins 2022 Templeton Freedom Award Will not allow another Aragalaya: President warns 60 per cent of the US $ 1 billion Indian credit line exhausted Sri Lanka targets one million Chinese tourists Indeed, I wouldn’t say I like to recreate a beggar nation – President Sri Lankan entity winning the Templeton award.
At last week’s Atlas Network Freedom Dinner in New York City, Dhananath Fernando ධනා accepted the 2022 Templeton Freedom Award on behalf of Sri Lanka’s Advocate. The $100,000 grand prize will accelerate Advocata’s impactful efforts to guide the island nation through a tragic economic crisis, threatening the lives, livelihoods, and human dignity of millions of Sri Lankans.
Will not allow another Aragalaya: President warns
President Ranil Wickremesinghe said recently that he would not allow another Aragalaya and would use security forces to prevent such a move. He told Parliament that anyone could obtain permission from the Police and stage any protest without blocking roads and causing obstructions to people.
“I will declare even emergency and call in security forces to thwart any such move,” he said 60 per cent of the US $ 1 billion Indian credit line exhausted A spokesman said carpentry Lanka had spent around US$ 600 million of the US $ 1 billion credit line offered by India to purchase essential items during the crisis. India offered this credit facility upon Sri Lanka’s request to tide over the foreign exchange
crisis.
Asked about the current status of the use of credit lines, a spokesman for the Indian High Commission said 60 per cent of the US $ 1 billion credit line had been used based on the priorities of the Sri Lankan government. Out of US $ 600 million, US $ 200 million had been used for oil purchases. That is in addition to the US $ 500 million credit offered to buy fuel.
Sri Lanka targets one million Chinese tourists.
The Sri Lanka Embassy in Beijing, consistent with its efforts to continuously promote Sri Lankan tourism in the Chinese market, is targeting one million Chinese tourists to visit Sri Lanka after the China travel restrictions are relaxed, a statement from the mission said. Ambassador Dr Palitha Kohona met with the General Manager of Beijing Spring Travel Service Co., Ltd, Mr Yang Yang, on November 16, 2022, to further bilateral cooperation in the tourism industry.
The Ambassador, Dr Kohona, said that the Embassy is also exploring all possible ways to position Sri Lanka as a preferred destination in the Chinese Market, including a formal request to the authorities. General Manager Mr Yang said that Beijing Spring Travel Service Co., Ltd is among the top 10 Travel companies in Beijing and Shanghai and has been accorded award certificates many times by the Chinese Government and the travel trade. The annual business turnover of Spring Travel in 2019 was 24.5 billion RMB (3.5 billion USD). Spring Airlines is valued at 50 billion RMB.
Indeed, I wouldn’t say I like to recreate a beggar nation – President
President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the government has embarked on a formal program to strengthen the banking system to establish the country’s financial stability. “I certainly don’t like to recreate a beggar nation. We have to stand on our own,” he said at the Lalith Athulathmudali Commemorative Oration.
The President was the chief guest at the function held today (23) at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) to commemorate the 86th birthday anniversary of late Minister Lalith Athulathmudali.
Import restrictions on many goods will be eased.
A gazette notice is issued relaxing the import restrictions imposed on several types of goods. It has eased import restrictions on several items, including garments, beauty products, air conditioners, freezers and washing machines, tiles, ceramic accessories, and gym equipment.
The Minister of State for Finance, Mr Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, says that the relevant gazette notice has been issued to remove the import restrictions on those goods from November 23.
Cabraal can’t leave the country.
The travel ban imposed on former central bank governor Ajith Nivard Cabral has been extended till December 15.
That is according to an order made by the Colombo Magistrate Court.
The personal complaint filed by former Southern Province Governor Mr Keerthi Thennakone alleging that he misused public funds while serving as the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka between 2006 and 2015 was heard before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today (24).
At that time, the lawyers representing Mr Ajith Nivard Cabral raised initial objections stating that this case could not be maintained. The Colombo Additional Magistrate has ordered that the written speeches related to the initial objections be presented on December 15.
I hope you enjoyed this brief current news of Sri Lanka. In conclusion, I would like to say, on personal communications, despite the heavy toll of the COVID-19 pandemic and political mismanagement on Sri Lanka’s economy and the lives of its people, the economy is gradually progressing presently, though challenges remain.
Import restrictions on foreign goods are gradually easing, the influx of tourists is visible, and it is observed that they focus more on the beach areas and Sigiriya avoiding Kandy. Ranil and his team are endeavouring to take the proper steps for recovery.
Stay safe, and goodbye for now
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