by Kesara Abeyawardane in Daily Mirror, Oct 5, 2023In recent times, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been making headlines with his candid and outspoken remarks on critical geopolitical issues during his foreign visits. His latest interview with DW News in Germany, although more of a verbal sparring match than a usual run-of-the-mill television interview, shows a stance against what could be termed as biased narratives perpetuated by Western ‘woke’ media. In a world filled with carefully…
Posts published in “Sri Lanka”
Report in The Island, Oct 5, 2023The General Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara, SJB’s Rehan Jayawickrema, and Nidahas Janatha Sabhawa (SLPP rebel group) representative Prof. G.L. Peiris, MP, filed a joint petition yesterday (04) against the Online Safety Bill. They named the Attorney General as respondent. The petitioners HAVE pointed out that the Bill published in the government Gazette on 18 September and presented to Parliament on Tuesday (03),…
Report in Daily FT, Oct 4, 2023State Minister of Investment Promotion Dilum Amunugama’s recent visit to China has resulted in the due attention of the major players in the Chinese business fraternity. The CZK Harui Economy and Trade Development (Beijing) Ltd., held initial discussions during the Minister’s visit to China and within a few weeks the representatives of the company visited Colombo to meet BOI officials. During the meeting, the representative of the company came…
by Resty Woro Yuniar in SCMP, Oct 4, 2023The construction of a Chinese-backed economic zone on an Indonesian island off Batam is tantamount to “cultural genocide”, according to advocates who are concerned about the future of indigenous villagers facing eviction. Authorities have been seeking to reach a deal with some 7,500 villagers living on Indonesia’s Rempang Island – about 40km south of Singapore – to get them to move out of homes they have lived…
repoort in The Island, Oct 3, 2023The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) thas urged the government to revise the recently gazetted Online Safety Bill. It has made seven recommendations. In a letter addressed to the Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles, the HRCSL has revealed its preliminary observations and recommendations on the controversial Bill. The HRCSL has said the general observations and recommendations are presented for consideration in view of revising the Bill…
by Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama in Daily Mirror, Oct 3, 2023The controversial unpaid Rs. 2.6 million electricity bill of MP Namal Rajapaksa, which was being circulated on social media under the letterhead of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), was settled today by State Minister for Water Supply Sanath Nishantha. The State Minister in a statement said that he settled the bill out of respect to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa who had ended the war, and because…
By Lahiru Doloswala in Daily Morning, Oct 1, 2023The Asia Internet Coalition (AIC), an industry association representing prominent Internet and technology companies, has voiced its apprehensions regarding the Government of Sri Lanka’s (GoSL) recent move to gazette the Online Safety Bill (OSB). Jeff Paine, the Managing Director of AIC, expressed concern over the lack of stakeholder consultation in the formulation of this legislation, which raises critical questions about the impact it may have on freedom…
report in Daily FT, Oct 2, 2023The first-ever Governance Diagnostic Assessment (GDA) on Sri Lanka compiled by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revealed widespread systematic and severe governance weaknesses and corruption vulnerabilities across State functions, with particular macroeconomic impact. The report stressed the appalling status impacted budget credibility; expenditure control; public investment management and control of spending); public procurement; management and oversight of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs); transparency of revenue policy and the integrity of…
report in The Sunday Times, Oct 1, 2023A political alliance that sought to support President Ranil Wickremesinghe at an election has become shaky due to recent developments. Triggering the unease is the outcome of a recent meeting President Wickremesinghe had with Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) founder and main strategist Basil Rajapaksa. The latter sprung a surprise offer – full support for Wickremesinghe’s candidature at a presidential election. In return, he appealed to the President…
report in ECONOMYNEXT, Sept 30, 2023 at 9:23 pm– The National Christian Council of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) in a statement on the Online Safety Bill, said that the existing legal regime is adequate to deal with instances of harmful speech, making it unjustifiable to enact such “stringent laws”. The Council called upon the government to withdraw the bill immediately. The body expressed “deep concern” over the proposed bill, detailing its potential to curtail freedom of…
report in The Island, Sept 30, 2023China will continue to firmly support Sri Lanka in pursuing a development path that suits its own national conditions, getting rid of the “poverty trap” and the “trap of non-development”, and safeguarding its independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and national dignity, Ambassador Qi Zhenhong said at the 74th National Day Reception of the People’s Republic of China on Thursday. Given below are excerpts of the Chinese Ambassador’s speech: “Right now,…