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Tag: Lanka

  • Lanka President vows to crush attempts to topple govt

    Lanka President vows to crush attempts to topple govt

    Wickremesinghe, whose house was also burnt during the July 9 attacks on pro-government politicians, said that a commission will be appointed to investigate the violent incidents…writes SUSITHA FERNANDO

    Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe warned on Wednesday that any attempt to topple the government through an anti-government protest or ‘Aragalaya’ would be crushed using military power and Emergency laws.

    Addressing the Parliament during the budget debate, Wickremesinghe said that he would not allow unlawful protests as were seen since March this year, which overthrew the government led by then President Goatabaya Rajapaksa.

    “If anyone thinks that they can engage in another struggle without obtaining a licence, stop it. I have instructed the police. If anyone tries to stage a protest to topple the government, I will not allow it. I will impose Emergency law and deploy the military. There is no room for ‘Dinh Diems’ in this country,” the President said, referring to the dictatorial first President of South Vietnam, Ngo Dinh Diem.

    Wickremesinghe, whose house was also burnt during the July 9 attacks on pro-government politicians, said that a commission will be appointed to investigate the violent incidents.

    He also charged Kumar Gunaratnam, leader of one of the Marxist parties, Frontline Socialist Front, with initiating protests and alleged that Gunaratnam was accused of killing Indian Peace Keeping forces that were in Sri Lanka during the war in the North and the East of the country.

    “Anyone can hold protests or meetings legitimately. You can shout as much as you want and call me a dictator. I don’t mind. However, I must say one thing. Get your permit to protest before you take to the streets,” he said.

    Wickremesinghe also vowed that he would not dissolve the Parliament as demanded by the opposition.

    “There is a big problem with the economy of this country. Many people in the country are fed up with elections, and the political parties are also fed up,” he said.

    During his address, Wickremesinghe also invited all the lawmakers to meet on December 11 and find a solution to the ethnic crisis, including power devolution.

    He said that since 1980s, various solutions have been discussed, and he plans to find a final solution to the ethnic crisis by next year before celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Sri Lanka’s independence.

    With Sri Lanka going through unprecedented economic crisis without basic essentials like food, fuel, medicine and electricity, people took to the street in March this year and launched an island-wide protest that led to the ouster of the Rajapaksa-led government.

    Wickremesinghe, backed by pro-Rajapaksa party MPs, has formed a government but the opposition parties have accuse him of continuing Rajapaksa rule.

    ALSO READ: Ranil directs to implement suspended Sri Lanka-Singapore FTA

  • Ranil directs to implement suspended Sri Lanka-Singapore FTA

    Ranil directs to implement suspended Sri Lanka-Singapore FTA

    President Wickremesinghe made the instructions during a discussion with officials related to foreign policy, trade, legal and other areas…writes Susitha Fernando

    Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday directed to implement the suspended Singapore-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA) immediately.

    President Wickremesinghe made the instructions during a discussion with officials related to foreign policy, trade, legal and other areas.

    “The existing problems in this regard were discussed at length and the President highlighted the need to provide quick solutions to all the existing problems,” President’s Media Division said in a statement.

    In September, Wickremesinghe who met Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Tokyo on the side-lines of a state funeral for the slain PM Shinzo Abe had assured that 2018 pact signed when he was the Prime Minister would be revived.

    Penned in January 2018, the free-trade pact between the two island nation was suspended due to severe objections from Sri Lanka’s opposition parties, trade unions and other professional bodies.

    Flag of Sri Lanka



    In May 2021, Sri Lanka tried to revive it with a number of amendments but it was not successful.

    Signed on January 23 after 18 months of negotiations between the two countries, Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SL-SFTA) was considered a ‘giant leap’ in terms of implementation and laying down of a marker that Sri Lanka was moving into a new era of international trade.

    The pact was to cover areas such as Goods, Services, Investments, Rules of Origin, Intellectual Property rights, Customs Procedure and Trade Facilitation, Government Procurement, Trade Remedies, Economic and Technical Cooperation, Dispute Settlement, Telecommunications and E-commerce.

    Meanwhile the Non-Resident High Commissioner of Singapore, Chandra Das is to meet President Ranil Wickremesinghe during his visit to Sri Lanka from November 13-18.

    Accompanied by a business delegation from Singapore, the High Commissioner met Foreign Minister Ali Sabry on Tuesday and he is to meet a number business and trade related officials.

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  • Lanka’s 2023 budget to seek way out of current crisis

    Lanka’s 2023 budget to seek way out of current crisis

    As Sri Lanka struggles with the worst-ever post-independent economic crisis, President Wickremesinghe noted that his full-year budget included many unpopular economic proposals…writes SUSITHA FERNANDO

    Presenting Sri Lanka’s Budget for 2023, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Monday that his country has resumed efforts to integrate with key markets such as India and China in order to expand its market access.

    “It is essential that Sri Lanka expands its market access whilst developing domestic supply capacity. Global trade is today driven by regional and global production networks such as ASEAN, where Sri Lanka has not yet been fully engaged to obtain benefits. Policy measures will therefore focus on enhancing Sri Lanka’s ability to compete in global markets through innovation, efficiency, and quality,” he said.

    Anticipating an International Monetary Fund (IMF) $2.9 billion bailout, Wickremesinghe said that negotiations are currently in progress and the government is “in dialogue with India and China on debt restructuring”.

    “We are confident that these discussions will lead to positive outcomes,” he said.

    In September, Sri Lanka clinched a deal with the IMF for a 4-year $2.9 billion extended fund facility but it is subject to debt restructuring with the creditors.

    As Sri Lanka struggles with the worst-ever post-independent economic crisis, President Wickremesinghe noted that his full-year budget included many unpopular economic proposals.

    “We lost our way because of taking that popular route. Now we can no longer go down
    wrong paths and despair. We are not having a wedding by being in debt to the world. What
    we are doing with this budget is to lay a foundation that we can stand on our own strength.”

    Wickremesinghe, who took over the presidency from Gotabaya Rajapaksa who fled the country in July when angry protestors stormed President’s house following economic crisis with shortages of all essentials including food, fuel and medicine, presented an interim budget in August for the rest of 2022.

    For 2023, he has planned a budget with ambitious goals for high economic growth of 7 to 8 per cent, increasing international trade as a percentage of GDP by more than 100 per cent, annual growth of $3 billion from new exports from 2023 to 2032, foreign direct
    investment of more than $3 billion in the next 10 years and creating an internationally
    competitive workforce with high skills in the next ten years.

    Wickremesinghe’s budget also plans to bring the inflation, which hit record 73.7 per cent in October, back under control to a mid-single digit level in the medium term.
    It further expects to increase government revenue to 15 per cent of GDP by 2025 from the 8.3 per cent of GDP as at end 2021 and reduce public sector debt from around 110 per cent of GDP as at end 2021,to no more than 100 per cent of GDP in the medium term.

    ALSO READ: Row erupts over Maldives’ Nasheed representing Lanka at COP27

  • Lanka envoy meets Doval, discuss bilateral ties

    Lanka envoy meets Doval, discuss bilateral ties

    Earlier in September, Moragoda described the relationship between the two countries as “special” saying India’s security interests are “our own security interests”….reports Asian Lite News

    Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India, Milind Moragoda on Saturday met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and reviewed the bilateral ties between India and south Asian neighbour.

    A post in the official Twitter handle of the Sri Lanka High Commission in India aread, “Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India @MilindaMoragoda met with the National Security Advisor of India Shri Ajit Kumar Doval today (12) in New Delhi and reviewed the current status of the relations between Sri Lanka and India.”

    Both sides discussed the current status of bilateral ties.

    Earlier in September, Moragoda described the relationship between the two countries as “special” saying India’s security interests are “our own security interests”.

    Acknowledging India’s efforts to help Sri Lanka cope with its worst economic crisis, the High Commissioner told ANI that he is grateful for India’s support.

    “India provided us help and assistance when nobody stepped up. India has not only helped us with funding but has also spoken to the IMF and other development partners, encouraging them to support us,” the High Commissioner said.

    On the docking of a Chinese research ship at Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port in August, the High Commissioner said the decision to allow the docking of the Chinese ship ‘Yuan Wang 5’ was taken at the level of “officials” at a chaotic time when former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa was fleeing civilian unrest in the island-nation.

    Since the beginning of this year, India has extended aid worth USD 3.8 billion, including lines of credit, a currency swap and deferring of loan repayments to Sri Lanka, which is still grappling with its worst economic crisis amid political instability.

    New Delhi has been at forefront of extending economic assistance to Sri Lanka as per their requirements and is one of the countries to have provided the maximum assistance in time of need.

    Since the beginning of 2022, Sri Lanka faced an escalating economic crisis after the government has defaulted on its foreign loans.A crippling economy led to shortages of food and fuel affecting a large number of the people in the island-nation. The economy in Lanka has been in a free fall since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Amid its worst economic crisis since its independence in 1948, widespread protests erupted across Sri Lanka forcing Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign as President. He was eventually replaced by Ranil Wickremesinghe.

    ALSO READ: Row erupts over Maldives’ Nasheed representing Lanka at COP27

  • ‘There shouldn’t be any threat to India’

    ‘There shouldn’t be any threat to India’

    During his address, Wickremesinghe also noted that Sri Lanka will become the first country in Asia that is preparing legislation for undersea cables…reports Susitha Fernando

    Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe reiterated that whatever superpower enters the Indian Ocean, there should not be any threat to India.

    Wickremesinghe said that Sri Lanka would not be a party to big power rivalry, specially in the Indian ocean, and at the same time there won’t be any objection whether the US, Japan or China being there as long as there is no any threat to Sri Lanka and India.

    “The total competition in the world has gone from US and Russia to US and China,” the President added on Friday addressing the General Convocation of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University in Colombo.

    “Whether the US is in the Indian Ocean, we have no objections. We have no objections to the Japanese or the Chinese being there, as long as there is no rivalry. We are the littoral states, and we have to look after our interests. The largest of them is India, and being the largest littoral state, India would like very much to ensure that there is no threat to them. We all accept that there should not be any threat to littoral states. It should not lead to a competition or threat that would lead to a rivalry among all of us,” Wickremesinghe said.

    “We are a country that comes under pressure for many things, for things which we have not done and we are not responsible for, and often imagined threats of others. We should not allow any country to think that we are a threat to them,” he added.

    During his address, Wickremesinghe also noted that Sri Lanka will become the first country in Asia that is preparing legislation for undersea cables.

    In October, Wickremesinghe making a speech at the conference “The Indian Ocean: Defining our Future” stressed that “each littoral nation should commit in strengthening the mechanism based on common law in the Indian Ocean region”.

    “There he emphasised that maintaining freedom of navigation in the sea lanes of communication
    in the Indian Ocean are of paramount importance in global trade and pointed out that the cables
    laid beneath the Indian Ocean should be secured. Situated in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka sees the need to start examining these issues in depth as much of the undersea cable connectivity between West and East travels over the seabed adjacent to Sri Lanka,” the President said.

    “We want to ensure the freedom of digital connectivity not only as an Indian Ocean objective,
    but as a global objective,” he added.

    ALSO READ-Lanka set to repatriate 303 from Vietnam

  • Row erupts over Maldives’ Nasheed representing Lanka at COP27

    Row erupts over Maldives’ Nasheed representing Lanka at COP27

    Other prominent Maldivian politicians including former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom too have criticised Nasheed…writes Rahul Kumar

    Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed is at the COP Summit in Egypt as a climate change hero. Back home he is in the news for representing neighbouring Sri Lanka at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) event.

    In Sri Lanka, the opposition parties are asking their government as to how Nasheed was made the representative at the climate change summit for a sovereign country.

    Nasheed, a liberal politician advocating for democracy and climate change action, does not have many admirers back home. On Thursday, lawyer Ahmed Tholib filed a case before the Supreme Court pleading to remove Nasheed from the Parliament–where Nasheed is also the Speaker, reports the Maldivian media.

    Citing Article 75 of the Maldivian Constitution, Tholib said that Nasheed’s representation of Sri Lanka at the COP 27 summit is contrary to his duties as an MP. The constitution says that “MPs should act in national interest and the welfare of the people. The Constitution also states that no member shall use his position to promote the personal interest of himself or any other person with whom he has a special relationship”.

    A man walks past a board showing the 27th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, Nov. 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai/IANS)

    Other prominent Maldivian politicians including former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom too have criticised Nasheed.

    Meanwhile in Sri Lanka, opposition party MP Nalin Bandara questioned his government as to why Nasheed was sent as a representative of Sri Lanka and not a Sri Lankan national.

    Nasheed enjoys much respect in Sri Lanka.

    Barely a month back, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe had appointed Nasheed as his International Climate Advisor.

    Earlier in May this year, during the peak of the Sri Lankan economic crisis, Wickremesinghe had appointed Nasheed as aid advisor as well. International relations experts had told India Narrative that the move was to help Sri Lanka in international negotiations over humanitarian aid.

    Known globally for holding an underwater cabinet meeting of his ministers to highlight the risk of global warming for small islands like the Maldives, Nasheed is a known climate hero.

    Many people in his country have risen to his defence.

    Communications Director of the Maldivian parliament, Hassan Ziyau said that Nasheed’s expenses for the trip are being borne by the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) — a group of countries most affected by climate change.

    Another defence in favour of Nasheed was that environment issues represent the whole of humanity and the Maldives and Sri Lanka being island nations share similar policies on climate change issues.

    ALSO READ: Lanka set to repatriate 303 from Vietnam
  • Lanka set to repatriate 303 from Vietnam

    Lanka set to repatriate 303 from Vietnam

    It said that it continues to monitor the progress of the passengers of Sri Lankan origin who were rescued and bought to the Port of Vung Tau in Vietnam on Tuesday….reports Asian Lite News

    The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry on Wednesday said that it is working with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the country’s mission in Vietnam for the early repatriation of 303 Sri Lankans, who were rescued off the Spratly Islands following a failed attempt to migrate to Canada.

    It said that the screening of Sri Lankans – 264 men, 19 women, and 20 children who were rescued from the Myanmar-flagged Lady 3 fishing vessel would be done by the IOM in coordination with the Vietnam authorities and the Sri Lanka Embassy in Vietnam.

    “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to work closely with the Sri Lanka Missions in the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam and IOM for early repatriation, once the screening process to ascertain their nationality and other formalities are completed,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

    It said that it continues to monitor the progress of the passengers of Sri Lankan origin who were rescued and bought to the Port of Vung Tau in Vietnam on Tuesday.

    The Sri Lanka Navy told IANS that following a call by a Sri Lankan in the distressed

    boat on early Monday, the Navy and Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Colombo alerted Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines to help those onboard.

    SL Navy spokesman, Captain Indika de Silva said following the alert, the passengers in the drifting vessel had been rescued by a Japanese vessel. “The vessel with the distressed passengers had not originated from Sri Lanka,” he said.

    According to Vietnam’s Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre, the fishing vessel was heading to Canada, about 6,000 nautical miles across the Pacific Ocean. Each member in the group had paid around $4,000 to $5,000 to migrate to Canada via a fishing vessel after they had flown to Myanmar from Colombo.

    There had been an issue with the ship and water flowed into the engine room and

    could not be fixed since November 5, the Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre stated.

    After rescuing all aboard the drifting vessel, Japanese-flagged vessel “Helios Leader” had handed them over to Vietnam authorities at Vung Tau Port in south Vietnam.

    Affected by inflation and dollar crunch, many Sri Lankans try to leave their home

    in search of green pastures, both legally and illegally. With the severe shortages of

    food, fuel, medicine and other basic essentials, many have been making boat journeys to the closest neighbour India and taking up perilous boat rides to Australia.

    ALSO READ: Adani Group becomes 1st Indian operator in Lankan port industry

  • TN fishermen on strike after SL Navy seizes boats

    TN fishermen on strike after SL Navy seizes boats

    Fishermen were fishing in the Gulf of Mannar between Dhanushkodi and Thalaimannar at night when the Sri Lankan navy came to the area claiming to have crossed the border…reports Asian Lite News

    After the Sri Lankan navy apprehended Indian fishermen and boats, Rameswaram fishermen associations decided to hold a three-day strike to condemn inaction by state and central governments, said Fishermen Association District Secretary Jesuraj.

    The fishermen have condemned the Central and State Governments for not taking any action to stop the ongoing transgressive activities of the Sri Lankan Navy, added the District Secretary.

    In this regard, in an emergency meeting of Fishermans Associations held at Rameswaram fishing harbour today.

    Earlier today, 15 Rameswaram fishermen and two boats were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy.

    Fishermen went to sea from Rameswaram yesterday to fish in 534 barges after obtaining a fishing permit from the Fisheries.

    Fishermen were fishing in the Gulf of Mannar between Dhanushkodi and Thalaimannar at night when the Sri Lankan navy came to the area claiming to have crossed the border.

    The Sri Lankan Navy has detained 22 Indian fishermen from Nagapattinam and Karaikal districts of Tamil Nadu. (Credit: Twitter/ @srilanka_navy)

    The arrested fishermen and boats are being taken to Thalaimannar Naval Camp for questioning. This has created turmoil among Rameswaram fishermen.

    Last week, the Supreme Court was informed by the Centre that 68 Indian fishermen, caught by Sri Lankan Navy in December 2021, have been released and repatriated to the country.

    A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Vikram Nath while taking into note the status report filed by the Centre closed that case which sought direction to the Centre to negotiate with the Sri Lankan government authorities to release the arrested Indian fisherman and their mechanised boat.

    “We have perused the status report filed on behalf of the Union of India supported by an affidavit dated October 28, 2022. It has been stated in this report that all the 68 Indian fishermen who were apprehended between 18th to 20th December 2021 by Sri Lankan Navy, have been released and repatriated to this country. In such circumstances, we do not find any reason to keep the present petition pending. Accordingly, the same is disposed of,” the bench stated in its order.

    The top court was hearing a plea filed by one KK Ramesh regarding the arrested fishermen and 10 boats which have been seized by the Sri Lankan Navy in December 2021 on the grounds of crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line while fishing.

    The petition also stated that more than 100 fishermen have been illegally arrested and kept in Sri Lankan prisons where they are ill-treated, which is a violation of Human Rights.

    During the hearing when the petitioner’s counsel asked the court to look into the issue regarding the marine boundary between India and Sri Lanka which has resulted in such incidents, the bench said that it cannot get into the issues regarding international treaties.

    On the request of the advocate to pass directions regarding the release of the mechandised boats of the fishermen, the apex court asked him to approach the jurisdictional court. (ANI)

    ALSO READ: Lanka seizes 300 kilos of heroin

  • Lanka seizes 300 kilos of heroin

    Lanka seizes 300 kilos of heroin

    While six Sri Lankans aboard the fishing trawler were arrested by the Navy, four others were nabbed by the police…reports Asian Lite News

    The Sri Lankan Navy on Monday announced that it seized a boat carrying over 300 kg of heroin, with a street value of over 6 billion LKR ($17 million), the navy announced on Monday.

    The Navy intercepted the fishing trawler about 18.5 km off the Little Basses Reef Lighthouse in the Southern Province, reports Xinhua news agency.

    While six Sri Lankans aboard the fishing trawler were arrested by the Navy, four others were nabbed by the police.

    The Police Narcotics Bureau is conducting further operations in search of more suspects in connection to this case.

    With the latest seizure, the Sri Lankan Navy has detected drugs with a street value of over 22.5 billion LKR in 2022.

    ALSO READ: Minor among 15 Indian fishermen arrested by Lankan Navy

  • Minor among 15 Indian fishermen arrested by Lankan Navy

    Minor among 15 Indian fishermen arrested by Lankan Navy

    The navy also confiscated two boats of the fishermen. The fishermen are from Rameswaram in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu…reports Asian Lite News

    Sri Lankan Navy have arrested 15 Indian fishermen, including a minor, from Tamil Nadu on charges of fishing in their country’s waters after crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).

    The navy also confiscated two boats of the fishermen. The fishermen are from Rameswaram in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu.

    A 12-year-old boy was also among the fishermen arrested in the sea.

    According to Rameswram fishermen, around 2,500 people had gone fishing on Saturday evening and while they were fishing at Dhanushkodi near Talaimannar, the Sri Lankan Navy reached the spot and chased them away.

    Fishermen association leaders told IANS that 15 fishermen were surrounded by the Naval vessels and arrested. Two mechanized boats were also in the custody of the Sri Lankan Navy.

    The fishermen have been taken to the Talaimannar Naval camp and after questioning will be handed over to the Sri Lankan fisheries department.

    Several fishermen from Tamil Nadu have been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on charges of crossing the IMBL and their mechanised fishing boats confiscated. The confiscation of costly mechanized fishing boats have brought serious financial woes to the fishermen.

    Fishermen bodies hold strike

    After the Sri Lankan navy apprehended Indian fishermen and boats, Rameswaram fishermen associations decided to hold a three-day strike to condemn inaction by state and central governments, said Fishermen Association District Secretary Jesuraj.

    The fishermen have condemned the Central and State Governments for not taking any action to stop the ongoing transgressive activities of the Sri Lankan Navy, added the District Secretary.

    In this regard, in an emergency meeting of Fishermans Associations held at Rameswaram fishing harbour today.

    68 fishermen released

    The Supreme Court was informed by the Centre on Friday that 68 Indian fishermen, caught by Sri Lankan Navy in December 2021, have been released and repatriated to the country.

    A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Vikram Nath while taking into note the status report filed by the Centre closed that case which sought direction to the Centre to negotiate with the Sri Lankan government authorities to release the arrested Indian fisherman and their mechanised boat.

    “We have perused the status report filed on behalf of the Union of India supported by an affidavit dated October 28, 2022. It has been stated in this report that all the 68 Indian fishermen who were apprehended between 18th to 20th December 2021 by Sri Lankan Navy, have been released and repatriated to this country. In such circumstances, we do not find any reason to keep the present petition pending. Accordingly, the same is disposed of,” the bench stated in its order.

    The top court was hearing a plea filed by one KK Ramesh regarding the arrested fishermen and 10 boats which have been seized by the Sri Lankan Navy in December 2021 on the grounds of crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line while fishing.

    The petition also stated that more than 100 fishermen have been illegally arrested and kept in Sri Lankan prisons where they are ill-treated, which is a violation of Human Rights.

    During the hearing when the petitioner’s counsel asked the court to look into the issue regarding the marine boundary between India and Sri Lanka which has resulted in such incidents, the bench said that it cannot get into the issues regarding international treaties.

    On the request of the advocate to pass directions regarding the release of the mechandised boats of the fishermen, the apex court asked him to approach the jurisdictional court. (IANS/ANI)

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