SRI LANKA NEWS (AUGUST 2024) Compiled by Victor Melder
Sri Lanka Customs has achieved an income of Rs. 708 billion from the Rs. 1,537 billion revenue target set for 2024, said Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya. This success comes despite the suspension of vehicle imports, which is a major revenue source for Customs. In 2018, the last year vehicles were imported, Rs. 204 billion or 22% of the total revenue of Rs. 923 billion was from vehicle imports. The Minister also said that in 2019, 16% of the total income, amounting to Rs. 130 billion, came from vehicle imports. (Daily Mirror, 31.7.2024)
About 80 air traffic controllers had left the country due to a dispute over salaries, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Airport & Aviation Services (Sri Lanka (Private) Ltd, Eng. Athula Galketiya said. “We have addressed the problems regarding salaries. We are also recruiting new air traffic controllers. 25 have been recruited. We have also opened applications to enrol more,” he said. Meanwhile, the Colombo Port had been recognised by Alphaliner, an information platform serving the needs of the liner shipping industry, as the world’s fastest-growing port in the first quarter of 2024 with a 23.6-percent growth rate, Secretary to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation K. D. S. Ruwanchandra said, speaking at the same occasion. He said the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) earned 50 million U.S. dollars in the cited period. Ruwanchandra said in 2023, the SLPA earned 100 million dollars. In the meantime, Ruwanchandra said aviation services to the country have increased by 25 percent in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. He added that Sri Lanka also plans to expand the facilities at its international airports to serve more passengers. (Daily Island, 31.7.2024)
Sri Lanka’s Immigration and Emigration Department beat the revenue forecasts for 2023, earning a total revenue of Rs.42.76 billion, driven by higher tourist arrivals and passport issuances. The department was expecting an estimated revenue of Rs.28.1 billion at the beginning of 2023; however, the department earned a record Rs.42.76 billion, up from Rs.23.83 billion earned in 2022. The Electronic Travel Authorisation issuances were the largest income source for the department, contributing to 41 percent or Rs.17.74 billion in income, followed by Rs.12.51 billion from issuance and amendment of passports and Rs.7.09 billion from issuance/extension of visas. In addition, passport processing through embassies contributed Rs.3.82 billion to the department’s revenue. During the year, the Immigration and Emigration Department issued 910,582 passports, compared to 911,689 passports in 2022 and 382,560 in 2021. In particular, the regional offices issued a record 191,557 passports in 2023, with the Vavuniya office accounting for 56,261 of passport issuances, after recommencing the operations of the regional offices from June 15, 2023, amidst the high demand. The department has issued 2.94 million passports from 2019 until the end of 2023. (Sunday Island, 4.8.2024)
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In a testament to Sri Lanka’s cultural and sartorial finesse, Sports Illustrated (SI) has ranked the country’s Olympics opening ceremony outfits among the top three globally, whilst Elle Canada has featured it among “All of the Most Stylish Olympic Team Outfits from Paris 2024 so far”.
LOVI Ceylon, a prominent modern Sri Lankan fashion brand, took pride in dressing the Sri Lankan Olympians for this prestigious occasion. According to an article by Josh Sanchez of SI, Sri Lankan athletes’ attire secured the third spot, following Mongolia in first place and Mexico in second. Out of the estimated 10,500 athletes representing 206 National Olympic Committees, SI selected Sri Lanka’s outfits as one of the standouts looks for the 2024 Paris Olympics which marked the first-ever outdoor opening ceremony, set against the iconic backdrop of the Eiffel Tower, symbolising a convergence of diverse global cultures. “Remember what I said about tradition? The Sri Lanka Opening Ceremony fits are inspired by the look of the 19th-centuray royal court, and the details are hand embroidered,” SI explained. (https://www.si.com/onsi/athlete-lifestyle/fashion-feed-page/posts/best-paris-olympics-2024-opening-ceremony-outfits) Elle Canada described Sri Lanka’s Olympics looks were among the most elegant and intricate, designed by LOVI to be a modern take on the Nilame (Prince) and Manike (Princess) outfits worn in the royal court. (https://www.ellecanada.com/fashion/celebrity-style/olympic-team-outfits-paris-2024) As per LOVI Ceylon, the Sri Lanka opening ceremony fits were inspired by the traditional attire of the 19th-century royal court, meticulously hand-embroidered with intricate details. The outfits are a contemporary reinterpretation of the Nilame (Prince) and Manike (Princess) attire from Sri Lanka’s rich historical heritage. “The lotus flower motif, symbolising purity of spirit, aligns perfectly with Olympic values, promoting effort, human dignity and harmony,” explained LOVI Ceylon. Each garment features elements such as the Olympic rings, the national Lion emblem and personalised athlete details, showcasing Sri Lanka’s craftsmanship and artistic legacy.Experts in the fashion industry have hailed this as a prime example of leveraging Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage in the creative economy, potentially elevating the country’s profile in global exports. (Daily Financial Times, 4.8.2024)
Sri Lanka has surpassed a significant milestone for 2024, with visitor numbers exceeding 1.2 million so far this year. The first four days of August alone saw a robust influx of tourists, with 26,889 arrivals registered. The month of August is traditionally a peak period for tourism in Sri Lanka, largely due to the Kandy Esala Perahera, a major cultural and religious event that attracts both local and international visitors. This festival, known for its vibrant parades and historical significance, serves as a substantial draw for tourists, contributing to high arrival figures and earnings.
However, industry experts claimed that if the Government had not disrupted the previous ETA system, by now more tourists would have arrived. (Daily Financial Times, 6.8.2024)
Sri Lanka’s daily egg consumption has increased by three million during the past few days, Minister of Trade Nalin Fernando informed Parliament today. The Minister who was responding to a question raised in the House by MP Premanath Dollawatta, said the daily egg consumption has increased due to the high demand from hotels while people have shifted toward consumption of eggs with the price increase of meat and fish. (Daily Mirror, 6.8.2024)
Approximately 25 percent of children less than one year in Sri Lanka are having some form of sleep related problem that can lead to various physical and mental health issues due to not getting good sleep, Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) Consultant Community Physician Dr. Enoka Wickramasinghe said. Although not much research has been done on sleep among Sri Lankan children, and considering the limited data available, she said there are effects of sleep deprivation in adolescents and adults. Addressing the media, she mentioned “sleep hygiene, which refers to healthy habits, behaviour, and environmental factors related to sleep. These factors can be adjusted to help you have a good night’s sleep. “In the past, people used to go to sleep when the sun set and woke up when the sun rose. Prolonged use of artificial lighting and an increase in screen time from devices like mobile phones, computers, tabs and TV can keep people awake and negatively affect their sleep patterns. Several studies have shown that changes in sleep patterns cause various physical, mental, and social problems. Because of this, many measures have been taken to improve people’s health,” Dr. Wickramasinghe said. Specially schoolchildren need good sleep to have a stable memory, she said. Therefore, Dr. Wickramasinghe mentioned that it is the responsibility of parents to ensure their children get a good night’s sleep. “To practice the habit of good sleep, several steps need to be followed, such as the regular time of going to sleep and waking up, the place where they sleep, the way they sleep, the environmental conditions, and the duration of sleep. Parents and guardians can help their children develop good sleep habits. The World Health Organization (WHO) has made recommendations regarding the number of hours of sleep per day for each age group. The WHO recommends that infants from birth to three months should sleep about 14 to 17 hours per day. From four months to one year, infants need 12 to 16 hours of sleep. Children aged 1 to 2 years should sleep 11 to 14 hours, while those aged 3 to 4 years need 10 to 13 hours. At age 5, children should get 10 to 12 hours of sleep. According to the WHO recommendations, children under five years old need to get more than 50 percent of their 24-hour sleep as it helps their physical, mental, and social wellbeing. Young adults and older individuals should aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep for their mental and physical health. Dr. Wickramasinghe recommended that parents stop using digital screens at least one hour before bedtime. According to available data, it is not suitable for children under two years old to use digital screens. Children between the ages of 2 and 5 can use digital screens for up to half an hour per day, under the supervision of parents or guardians. Children should avoid areas with loud noises and bright light when they are sleeping as these can affect their sleep and thereby their growth and brain development. (Daily Mirror, 9.8.2024)
The Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) will conduct an countrywide census on wild elephants on August 17, 18 and 19. Over 3,100 DWC staff and volunteers will be involved, the last survey in 2011 recorded 5,879 elephants: Wildlife Conservation Department Director General Chandana Suriyabandara said that arrangements have been made to monitor these elephants at 3,130 survey centers established across the country. In this survey, service of the staff of the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the staff of other government agencies, members of the security forces, employees of various institutions in the private sector, students of higher education institutions and voluntary participants will be obtained for data collection. The Director General further said that the necessary basic training has been provided for them, and the security of the relevant groups will be constantly monitored. Other minimal facilities will be provided to them. Results of the elephant survey will be released by subjecting the data collected in this manner to a formal analysis, the Director General emphasized. Among the main objectives of the an islandwide census on wild elephants, establishing protected areas and enhancing the status of existing protected areas, preparing and updating strategic plans to curb the wild elephant-human conflict, establishing the balance between development activities and conservation needs, confirming the commitment to Sri Lanka’s international conservation and reaching predictions about the future existence of the elephant population in Sri Lanka. The countrywide survey on elephant population was last conducted in 2011. In that survey, the minimum number of elephant population in Sri Lanka was 5,879 , 55.09 percent of that population were adult elephants, 25.03 percent were young elephants, 12.04 percent were calves and 6.04 were infants. (Daily News, 10.8.2024)
Presidential candidates will be barred from lavish spending unchecked this time because the Election Commission is slated to introduce a ceiling on spending on campaigning in respect of each voter according to the new law enacted this time, an official said. The current Presidential Election is the first to be conducted in terms of the newly introduced Campaign Finance Act. According to an official of the Election Commission, the amount of money a candidate can spend will be determined in consultations with all contestants after acceptance of nomination on August 15, 2024.“We might meet immediately after the nomination day and decide on the amount. It is a figure to be calculated after taking stock of current price rates. It is an amount accepted by all the candidates. We will consult all of them,” he said. He said it would be an amount determined in respect of each vote. When the local authorities’ election was announced last year, it was decided at Rs.20 per voter. The local election was not, however, conducted. “As far as the Presidential Election is concerned, it will be higher,” he said. The Commission has also worked out campaign financing guidelines this time for candidates. The presidential poll will be conducted on September 21. (Daily Mirror, 10.8.2024)
Chairman of the Election Commission R.M.A.L. Ratnayake said that Rs.10 billion will be spent to hold the Presidential Election this year and the printing costs work out to Rs. 8 billion including ballot papers. He said that the cost of printing has increased four-fold compared to 2019, and the increase in the prices of goods and services is one of the reasons. The Election Commission Chairman said that the Election Expenditure Regulation Act No. 3 of 2023, which was passed in Parliament to reflect the true will of the people without bribery, extortion, deception and pressure on the voters will be implemented at this year’s Presidential Election. Since no election has been held since January 24, 2023, when the law came into effect, the Act will be implemented for the first time at the upcoming Presidential Election. The Act sets a limit on the maximum amount that a political party and candidate can spend. After receiving nominations, the Secretaries of political parties will be invited and the amount that can be spent by the candidates will be determined, and it is mandatory for all candidates to submit their expenditure reports to the Election Commission within 21 days after the end of the election. Chairman of the Election Commission, R.M.A.L. Ratnayake said that anyone can complain about the expenses that have exceeded the limit or are illegal and the police have been empowered to investigate and implement the law and file cases through the Attorney General. He said that at this year’s Presidential Election, steps will be taken with relevant institutions to keep a tab on candidates promoting themselves through social media networks such as Facebook and YouTube as much as possible. (Sunday Observer, 11.8.2023)
Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has seen significant growth in 2024, with earnings reaching nearly $ 2 billion in the first seven months of the year, boosted by an influx of over 1.25 million visitors year-to-date. The latest provisional data from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) indicates that tourism earnings from January to July 2024 totaled over $ 1.88 billion, marking a remarkable 72% increase from the same period last year. However, the industry still faces a 38% shortfall compared to benchmark year 2018 levels. In July, earnings stood at $ 328.31 million, a substantial 117% increase from June 2024. The $ 345.70 million in February is the highest monthly earnings registered in 2024 thus far.
The average expenditure per tourist, per day from January to July 2024 was $ 181.15. The average duration of stay in July was the highest of the year at 9.65 days, with the overall average tourist stay at 8.53 days. The cumulative tourist nights recorded was 10,219,443. As part of its long-term strategy to welcome 5 million visitors by 2030, Sri Lanka Tourism hopes to lift the average spending per visitor to $ 4,000, with 2.5 million of them spending over $ 500 per day, indicating a concentration on luring high-end tourists. Sri Lanka’s tourism, which recorded its highest growth of 46.1% in 2010 after the end of a 30-year conflict, faced downward trends in subsequent years. However, the positive growth of 26.7% in 2013 marked a turning point after a decade-long descending trend. The industry now looks ahead with optimism, fueled by the recent success and ambitious targets set for the coming year. Industry experts have raised concerns over a decline in earnings since the visa system was changed in mid-April 2024. They claimed the lack of enforcement of the previous Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, despite a Supreme Court order for immediate implementation, has also been cited as a potential factor impacting revenue and arrivals. For 2024, Sri Lanka Tourism has set an ambitious target to attract 2.3 million tourists and generate over $ 4 billion in revenue. (Financial Times, 12.8.2024)
In a significant boost to the economy, workers’ remittances inch closer to the $ 4 billion mark within the first seven months of 2024, as per the latest data released by the Central Bank. The cumulative remittance inflows from January to July 2024 stand at an impressive $ 3.71 billion. This represents a 10.3% increase compared to the same period last year, highlighting the resilience and continued financial support provided by overseas workers In July, remittances amounted to $ 566.8 million, reflecting a steady increase from $ 519.6 million in June 2024. This figure also marks a Year-on-Year (YoY) improvement, surpassing the $ 540.965 million received in July 2023. The upward trend in remittances is a welcome development for the economy, providing essential foreign currency inflows that help ease pressure on the exchange rate and support national reserves. (Financial Times, 12.8.2024)
All pensioners will receive an additional Rs. 6,000 with their October pension payments. This amount includes a Rs. 3,000 interim allowance for October and Rs. 3,000 in allowance arrears that were due in September, Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said. A Cabinet Paper on this matter was presented by the President, and the proposal was approved in the decisions. In addition to the Rs. 2,500 extra payment for April, a Rs. 3,000 interim allowance was approved to be paid starting in October till the salary anomalies are resolved. Minister Siyambalapitiya pointed out that including the arrears payment of Rs.3,000 to be received from September, Rs.6,000 will be paied in October. The Finance Ministry has also given full written approval for the payment of this additional allowance of Rs. 3,000 and the Public Administration Ministry should issue a circular for this purpose. He also said that since an election has been announced, the Election Commission has objected to giving that allowance in September. (Daily Mirror, 12.8.2024)
Five Sri Lankan ex-soldiers who joined the Russian military and crossed the border have been arrested by the Ukrainian authorities and held up as prisoners of war, an informed source said yesterday. Following media reports about Sri Lankans joining the militaries of Russia and Ukraine to fight, the Sri Lanka Embassy in Turkey, which is concurrently accredited to Ukraine, made inquiries about it. The Ukrainian authorities informed the Sri Lankan mission on Saturday that five Sri Lankans had been held as prisoners of war. Besides, three Sri Lankans fighting with the Ukrainian forces had died in action. Earlier, a ministerial delegation from Sri Lanka visited Moscow to secure the release of Sri Lankans who joined the Russian military. Sri Lankans, mostly retired soldiers, had been duped into travelling to Russia with promises of good salaries and privileges including Russian citizenship, according to State Minister Tharaka Balasuriya. However, they are found to have signed agreements with the Russian defence authorities, making it difficult to get them released. Some have even obtained Russian citizenship. (Daily Mirror, 12.8.2024)
The gross official reserves were provisionally estimated at US dollars 5,649 mn as at end July 2024, the Weekly Economic Indicators report released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka states. This includes proceeds from the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) swap arrangement, which is subject to conditionalities on usability, it notes. The report further states:Workers’ remittances amounted to US dollars 566.8 mn in July 2024, compared to US dollars 519.6 mn in June 2024 and US dollars 541.0 mn in July 2023. During the week, the yield rates of T-Bills exhibited a marginal increase in the primary market while a similar trend was observed in the secondary market for both T-Bills and T-Bonds. The rupee value of T-Bills and T-Bonds held by foreign investors decreased by 7.5 per cent during the week. Index of Industrial Production (IIP) in June 2024 increased by 3.3 per cent to 93.0 compared to June 2023, mainly contributed by the increases reported in the manufacture of Food products (17.9 per cent), Other Non-Metallic Mineral Products (7.0 per cent), and Chemicals and Chemical Products (10.0 per cent). (Daily Island, 12.8.2024)
Births in Sri Lanka have declined by 20% and deaths have increased by 30% following COVID, according to Professor Indralal de Silva. Prof. Silva said so at a policy dialogue on “Shaping the Future: Population Dynamics in Sri Lanka,” He said that it was unlikely that Sri Lankan Total Fertility Rate (TFR) would ever reach the replacement level of 2.1 percent in the foreseeable future. Prof. De Silva said the situation should not be seen as something completely negative. “This also means most couples have avoided unwanted pregnancies. Parents can also invest more resources in the babies they have. We can have a high quality population. This is a matter of quality vs. quantity,” he said. The demographer said that the population of elderly now stood at 3.6 million and that number would increase in the coming decades. “If the elderly are healthy, they can work longer and accumulate wealth. We need to rethink the retirement age, improve the health span of people and social security,” he said. (Daily Island, 16.8.2024)
The Election Commission of Sri Lanka said it accepted all nominations from 39 candidates running for the upcoming Presidential Election. Chairman R.M.A.L. Rathnayake announced that all candidates, including those from major political parties, smaller parties, and independent contenders, met the nomination requirements during the designated period from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. this (15) morning. Three objections raised during the allotted time for objections, which ended at 11:30 a.m., were reviewed and subsequently dismissed.These objections pertained to candidates Janaka Priyantha Kumara Ratnayake, Ven. Battaramulle Seelarathana Thero, and Oshala Lakmal Anil Herath. With the objections resolved, the allocation of election symbols to independent candidates will proceed shortly. The list of accepted candidates is as follows: Dilith Jayaweera, Sarath Manamendra, Abubakar Mohamed Infaz, A.S.P. Liyanage, Pani Wijesiriwardena, Priyantha Pushpakumara Wickremesinghe, Ajantha de Soyza, Ven. Battaramulle Seelarathana Thero, Sarath Fonseka, Nuwan Sanjeewa Bopage, Oshala Herath, Janaka Ratnayake, K.K. Piyadasa, Mailawanagam Thilakaraja, Siripala Amarasinghe, Pakkiya Selvam Ariyanethiran, Sarath Keerthirathne, K. Ananda Kularatne, Namal Rajapakshe, Akmeemana Dayarathana Thero, K.R. Kishan, Chaminda Anuruddha, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Anura Sidney Jayarathne, Sirithunga Jayasuriya, Mahinda Dewage, Mohamed Ilyaz, Lakshman Namal Rajapakse, Antony Victor Perera, Keerthi Wickremeratne, Sajith Premadasa, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Marakkalamanage Premasiri, Lalith de Silva, P.W.S.K. Bandaranaike, D.M. Bandaranaike, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Agampodi Prasanga Suranjeewa Anoj de Silva Roshan Ranasinghe (Lanka News Web, 15.8.2024)
Sri Lanka’s merchandise export earnings exceeded the $ 1 billion mark in July, whilst propelling the total value of exports in first seven months to over $ 9 billion. Merchandise export earnings in July saw a 6.58% year-on-year (YoY) increase reaching $ 1.08 billion, reflecting a 5.5% rise compared to June 2024. This drove the total value of goods shipped in the first seven months of 2024 to over $ 7 billion, the provisional data released by the Export Development Broad (EDB) yesterday. The surge in earnings was largely attributed to boost in key sectors such as apparel and textiles, tea, coconut-based products, spices and concentrates and seafood. addition to the merchandise, the estimated value of services exports for July 2024 stood at $ 293.26 million, marking a 16.44% increase over the corresponding period in 2023. The services exports include sectors such as ICT/BPM, construction, financial services, transport and logistics. Total exports for June 2024, including both merchandise and services, reached $ 1.9 billion, reflecting a 9.52% growth over corresponding period of 2023. During the first seven months of 2024, total merchandise exports were up 4.94% YoY to over $ 7.23 billion, while estimated total service sector earnings increased by 12.28% YoY to $ 1.67 billion. This pushed the overall export earnings for the January to July period to a high of $ 9.13 billion, marking a 5.86% YoY growth. (Financial Times, 23.8.2024)
Sri Lanka’s apparel sector performance expanded in the month of July from the corresponding period of the previous year, indicating an improvement in the order books. As per the provisional data, the apparel sector saw its export earnings expand 3.29 percent year-on-year (YoY) to US $ 414 million. In July 2023, the sector fetched export earnings amounting to US $ 401.18 million. Exports to key markets, except one, grew in July. Exports to the United States grew 5.47 percent YoY to US $ 183.21 million, while exports to the United Kingdom and other markets grew 8.19 percent YoY and 3.40 percent YoY to US $ 55.72 million and US $ 60.82 million. Exports to the European Union witnessed a contraction of 2.16 percent YoY to US $ 114.63 million. With the apparel sector having recorded a contraction in export earnings in three of the seven months of the year, the cumulative earnings, when compared with the corresponding period in 2023, have contracted marginally. Export earnings through July totalled Rs.2.67 billion, a 0.51 percent dip YoY when compared with the US $ 2.68 million in the January-July 2023 period. The cumulative analysis shows that for the first seven months of the year, exports to the United States and European Union contracted by 1.52 percent YoY and 4.09 percent YoY. Exports to the United Kingdom expanded 7.18 percent YoY, while exports to other markets grew 2.05 percent YoY. (Daily Mirror, 27.8.2024)
