US Assistant Secretary of State calls on PM Harini Amarasuriya

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Mr. Donald Lu, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya at the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

The meeting focused on enhancing bilateral relations, addressing Sri Lanka’s economic challenges, and exploring opportunities for educational and governance collaboration, the Prime Minister’s Media Division stated.

Prime Minister Amarasuriya emphasized the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability, highlighting the importance of aligning the education system with economic needs to foster a skilled workforce.

Discussions also addressed Sri Lanka’s IMF program and the role of international partnerships in stabilizing the economy, it added.

The U.S. delegation included Ms. Anjali Kaur, USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator for Asia, Mr. Robert Kaproth, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia and the Pacific at the U.S. Department of Treasury, and H.E. Ms. Julie Chung, U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan representatives included Mr. Pradeep Saputhanthri, Ms. S. Vijitha Basnayake, and Ms. Shobini Gunasekara.

Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to mutual goals in education, gender equality, and economic equity, the statement said.
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US delegation discusses economic and governance reforms with foreign minister

A U.S. delegation led by Assistant Secretary Donald Lu met with Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath to congratulate Sri Lanka’s new administration. Discussions focused on shared priorities, including economic and governance reforms, with plans for tailored programs, capacity-building, and technical assistance to benefit the Sri Lankan people.
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No change in Litro Gas prices for December

The Litro Gas Company says that the prices of its domestic LP Gas cylinders will remain unchanged for the month of December 2024.

The Chairman of the Litro Gas Company, Channa Gunawardena stated that the company decided to keep the prices of LP gas cylinders unchanged despite the price hike in the global market, in order to provide relief to the consumers.

Accordingly, the prices of Litro LP gas domestic gas cylinders will remain unchanged as follows:

12.5kg – Rs. 3,690
05kg – Rs. 1,482
2.3kg – Rs. 694

No LP gas price revision took place last month as well, and the most recent price revision was in October.
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Three dead and dozens sick after eating sea turtle stew

Three people have died and at least 32 were hospitalised in the Philippines after eating an endangered sea turtle cooked in stew.

Dozens of indigenous Teduray people reported symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal spasms since eating the dish last week in a seaside town in Maguindanao del Norte Province, officials said.

While it is illegal to hunt or consume sea turtles under the Philippines’ environmental protection laws, the marine creatures are still eaten as a traditional delicacy in some communities.

But sea turtles that consume contaminated algae - including those that appear healthy - can be toxic when cooked and eaten.

Some of the dogs, cats and chickens that were fed the same sea turtle also died, Irene Dillo, a local official, told the BBC. She added that authorities were investigating the cause of the deaths.

The sea turtle was cooked as adobo, a popular Filipino dish consisting of meat and vegetables stewed in vinegar and soy sauce.

Residents of Datu Blah Sinsuat, a coastal town known for its white, sandy beaches and clear waters, frequently get their food from the sea. “It was unfortunate because there is so much other seafood in their village - lobsters, fish,” Ms Dillo said.

Most of the residents who were hospitalised have since been discharged, local media reported, while the three who died were buried immediately - in line with local tradition.

Datu Mohamad Sinsuat Jr, a local councillor, said that he has told local officials to strictly enforce the ban on hunting sea turtles in the region, vowing “this food poisoning incident will never happen again”.

Most sea turtle species are classified as endangered, and it is illegal in the Philippines to collect, harm or kill any of them. However sea turtles are hunted in some cultures for their flesh and eggs, which are believed to contain medicinal properties.

In 2013, 68 people in Philippines' Eastern Samar Province fell ill - and four of them died - after consuming a sea turtle found near their village.
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CBSL mandates collection of gender disaggregated lending data

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has issued a directive for all financial institutions to collect and report gender-disaggregated data on business lending. This initiative is designed to enhance transparency and support for women-owned and led businesses across the nation.

Under the new guidelines, a business is defined as women-owned if females own more than 50% of it. A business is considered women-led if it is at least 20% female-owned, includes at least one female as a major decision-maker, and has women comprising at least 30% of its board of directors, if such a board exists.

To ensure consistency and reliability in data reporting, the CBSL has outlined specific parameters for initial data collection. These parameters include verifying business ownership through documents such as the Certificate of Incorporation for limited liability companies, which must list shareholder names and their ownership percentages as shown in Form 15 “Annual Return of a Company” and Form 6 “Notice of Issue of Shares.”

Sole proprietorships must present a Certificate of Registration of Business Name issued by the Divisional Secretariat, confirming 100% ownership by the individual.

These directives were made public recently in a letter to the Finance Companies in relation to the publishing of quarterly FinNet returns in relation to the National Financial Inclusion Council Survey and the District Wise Credit Exposures.

Partnerships require a Certificate of Registration of Business Name from the Divisional Secretariat and a Partnership Agreement detailing ownership percentages or equal ownership division among partners. For cooperative societies, a Certificate of Registration from the Commissioner of Cooperative Development and a Membership Register detailing member contributions are necessary.

The directive also defines a ‘major decision maker’ in businesses, specifying roles such as CEO, COO, or CFO for LLCs. In sole proprietorships, the owner automatically qualifies as the decision maker. For partnerships, it includes individuals who influence daily business decisions, which can be evidenced by their understanding of product branding, pricing strategies, and inventory management.

In cases where formal ownership of a business cannot be clearly established, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s directive provides additional parameters to recognize women’s control and engagement in business operations.

This includes evaluating if a woman has beneficial ownership, access, and decision-making authority over the business’s physical or financial resources. Evidence to establish this may include business assets registered under a woman’s name, like property deeds or vehicle leases, and business-related bank transactions processed in her name. This approach helps in identifying and supporting women-led businesses where traditional ownership structures might not be apparent. (TP)
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Candidates must submit expense reports before Dec. 6 – EC

The Election Commission has announced that all candidates must submit their income and expenditure reports by December 6, with the deadline set at midnight.

According to the Commission, this requirement applies to candidates on the National Lists, party secretaries, and leaders of independent groups.

"The failure to meet the deadline (December 06 at 12 midnight) will constitute a breach of the Regulation of Election Expenditure Act, with violators facing legal consequences," it warned.

The reports must be prepared separately for each district where candidates contested and submitted to the respective District Returning Officers.

To streamline the process, the Commission has established special units in all districts to accept these submissions. "These units will operate until 6:00 p.m. on regular working days and will extend their hours to midnight on December 6," it added.
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‘Will take decision if Laugfs Gas fails to supply gas’

The government will take a decision if Laugfs Gas fails to intervene to import and supply LP gas to the consumers, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe has said.

He told reporters that there is no shortage of LP gas supplied by Litro Gas.

‘We have two LP gas companies, Litro and Laugf in our country. There is no shortage in Litro gas at the moment. Laugf Gas must explain the reasons for the shortage in Laugf gas in the market. If Laugf Gas fails to intervene to import and supply gas, the government has to take a decision. There is ample stocks with Litro gas. If gas cylinders have to be changed to find solutions to the issues faced by the gas consumers, the government will have to take a decision regarding that soon,” he has said.
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Announcement on LG Elections postponed until after A/L Exam

It is reported that the announcement regarding the upcoming Local Government (LG) Elections will be issued after the conclusion of the 2024 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination.

The Election Commission stated that if the announcement is made beforehand, candidates may begin their campaigns during the exam period,

Accordingly, it has been decided not to release the announcement regarding the election until the examination is over as it will disrupt the examination

Due to adverse weather conditions, the examination was postponed for several days, but the relevant activities are expected to resume this week.

Meanwhile, a meeting of party leaders regarding the LG Elections is scheduled for tomorrow (3).

This meeting, which will be chaired by the Leader of the House, Bimal Rathnayake, is scheduled to be held tomorrow afternoon.

A final decision will also be made regarding the calling of the nominations related to the LG Elections again.

Political parties have decided to cancel the nominations submitted earlier for the LG Elections due to nominated candidates switching parties, some leaving the country, and others retiring from politics.
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Special Commodity Levy on big onions, slashed

The Special Commodity Levy imposed on imported big onions, has been reduced by Rs. 20 to Rs. 10 per kilogram.

This will be in effect during the period from today (Dec. 01) to December 31, 2024.

However, it has been decided to keep the Special Commodity Levy imposed on imported potatoes unchanged.

Announcing the decision, a media release issued by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development states that the move comes amid a notable rise in the market price of onions.
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Temporary Vehicle Number Plates to Expire on December 15, DMT Warns

The validity of temporary vehicle number plates issued by the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) will end on December 15, Commissioner General Nishantha Anuruddha Weerasinghe announced.

These temporary plates were issued to address delays in providing permanent number plates. Vehicle owners are urged to obtain their permanent plates before the deadline.

Driving with temporary number plates after December 15 will be deemed illegal, and traffic police have been instructed to take legal action against violators.
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Famed ‘Deegadanthu 1’ tusker dies from electrocution

Deegadanthu 1, the only remaining Sri Lankan tusker with the largest pair of tusks, died from electrocution yesterday (28) morning. The tusker, aged between 40 to 50 years, was well known to frequent the Kalawewa National Park and the Kahalla-Pallekelle forest reserve.

The tusker has been electrocuted after coming into contact with an unauthorized electric fence fixed near a house in the Hinguru Wewa area in Palagala, Aadiyagala in the Galkiriyagama Police Division, Police said. Deegadanthu 1, the oldest and the last tusked elephant of the four Kalawewa tusker family, who lived in the centre of the Kala Wewa National Park as his home has been considered as a jewel for Sri Lanka in the eyes of the world.

The four tuskers Revatha, Barana, Deegadanthu 1 and Deegadanthu 2 lived in the Kala Wewa reserve and the surrounding area making it their home. Environmentalists have pointed out that it is believed that Deegadanthu 2 died after previously being attacked by another elephant.
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EC to announce LG Poll dates after A/L Exam

Election Commission Chairman R.M.A.L. Ratnayake yesterday said that the date of the Local Government Election will be decided after the conclusion of the GCE Advanced Level Examination.

He said that the attention of the Election Commission has focused on the dates on which this election can be held and it was discussed at length during the meeting held on Wednesday (27). The Chairman said that no specific date has been decided regarding the holding of the election and that the Commission will take a decision after the completion of the GCE Advanced Level Exam.

He stated further that the Local Government Elections should be held as soon as possible according to the Supreme Court order, so the Commission is prepared for it.
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Sri Lanka annual GDP growth projected to be around 4.5% – 5 % in 2024

Sri Lanka’s Annual GDP growth is projected to be around 4.5% – 5 % in 2024 said Governor Central Bank, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe yesterday at their last monetary policy review event at CBSL yesterday.

This is due to a continued improvement in domestic economic activity which was observed during the year and reflected by leading indicators. Improvements in earnings from tourism and workers’ remittances have contributed positively to the external current account. Commenting on the inflation he said that it is expected to increase and stay around 5% from mid next year. Market interest rates, which declined over time in response to the accommodative monetary policy stance, have largely stabilised.

Supported by reduced market lending interest rates, credit extended to the private sector by Licensed Commercial Banks (LCBs) continued to expand notably since May 2024. Sectoral data for Q3-2024 on credit to the private sector also display broad-based growth across all major economic sectors. Market interest rates, which declined over time in response to the accommodative monetary policy stance, have largely stabilised. Supported by reduced market lending interest rates, credit extended to the private sector by Licensed Commercial Banks (LCBs) continued to expand notably since May 2024.

A larger expansion in import expenditure relative to export earnings drove the merchandise trade deficit to widen in the nine months ending September 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. However, improvements in earnings from tourism and workers’ remittances during this period, contributed positively to the external current account.

Asked to comment on the re- execution of the Parate law he said it was up to the government to decide on it. “But it should be done without jeopardizing the banking industry. I also think it’s fair enough if an individual/ company took a credit from a bank to repay it so that there won’t have any negative impact for the sector.”

The Governor also said that Sri Lankan authorities reached a staff-level agreement on the third review of the Extended Fund Facility with the International Monetary Fund (IMF-EFF). The continuation of the IMF-EFF programme, the expected finalisation of the debt restructuring process and continued financial support from multilateral and bilateral development partners will further enhance external sector resilience and investor confidence, amidst the country’s attempts to enhance non-debt creating inflows.

Asked by Daily News Business as to why Sri Lanka’s still cannot use a system when travelling in India similar to UPI where Indians could trade in Indian rupees in Sri Lanka he said that this process is still pending.
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Australia commends new government’s corruption-free approach to governance

Australia’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Paul Stephens, stated that the new government’s
corruption-free approach to governance is attracting investors. He also expressed Australia’s
willingness to provide support at any time for the government’s efforts to establish a corruption-free
system across the country.

High Commissioner Stephens made these remarks during a meeting with the Secretary to the
President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake at the Presidential Secretariat today (27).
Highlighting the 75 years of friendship between Sri Lanka and Australia, the High Commissioner
emphasized the commitment to further strengthen ties and continue fostering close relations
between the two nations.

The discussion also focused on Australia’s potential technical support in areas such as national
security, maritime affairs, digitalization, public sector modernization, vocational education, and the
energy sector.

High Commissioner Stephens commended President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s “Clean Sri
Lanka” initiative and affirmed Australia’s readiness to provide any necessary support for its
success.Australian Deputy High Commissioner Lalita Kapur and Additional Secretary to the President
Roshan Gamage were also present at the meeting.
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