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Tag: Lanka

  • ‘No Indian troops entered into Lankan territory’

    ‘No Indian troops entered into Lankan territory’

    “The High Commission strongly denies blatantly false and completely baseless reports in a section of media that India is dispatching its soldiers to Sri Lanka,”said official…reports SUSITHA FERNANDO

    Sri Lankan military and Indian High Commission have denied the claims that Indian troops have entered the island nation amid the growing crisis, with people taking to streets against the government.

    Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne on Saturday denied reports of the arrival of Indian troops which had been circulated on social media and added that the fake news contained official photographs of 2021’s friendly India-Sri Lanka joint military exercise.

    The photographs of Indian troops in Sri Lanka taken during 2021’s Sri Lanka-India joint military exercise ‘Mitra Shakti’ have been released along with the fake news, Gunaratne said.

    “Sri Lanka’s tri-forces are capable of facing any situation to ensure national security and people should not be misguided by such misinformation,” the Defence Secretary added.

    The Indian High Commission issuing a statement denied the alleged news.

    “The High Commission strongly denies blatantly false and completely baseless reports in a section of media that India is dispatching its soldiers to Sri Lanka,” it announced.

    Troubled by public agitation on streets and ahead of planned Sunday’s major island-wide protest, Sri Lankan government imposed a 36-hour long curfew from Saturday 6 p.m.

    A gazette which was issued “in accordance with the powers vested in the Head of State,” the President under the Public Security Ordinance prohibited people from being on any public road, park, recreation or other grounds, railways, sea shores and other such public places during the curfew from Saturday 6 p.m. to Monday 6 a.m.

    On Saturday until the curfew was imposed people gathered at places around the capital Colombo and outstation demanding President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign.

    On Thursday evening a public protest near the President’s house turned violent with police attacking people and later arrested more than 50 of them. Some were released on bail while others were remanded.

    Both the police personnel and people were injured while a bus and several other vehicles which belonged to police were set on fire.

    ALSO READ: Curfew in Lanka to curb protests

  • Curfew in Lanka to curb protests

    Curfew in Lanka to curb protests

    Ahead of Sunday’s protest, on Friday night, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa also imposed the emergency law allowing police to arrest any suspect without a warrant….reports Asian Lite News

    The Sri Lankan government has imposed an island-wide curfew from Saturday evening to Monday morning ahead of a plan for a massive apolitical public protest on Sunday.

    The Government Information Department announced that the curfew will be effective from 6 p.m. (Saturday) to 6 a.m. (Monday).

    A massive public protest is being planned over severe economic crisis including lack of fuel, LPG, electricity and food in Sri Lanka.

    Ahead of Sunday’s protest, on Friday night, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa also imposed the emergency law allowing police to arrest any suspect without a warrant.

    The civil rights groups and legal experts have criticised the move by Rajapaksa. The Bar Association of Sri Lanka — an independent body, comprising almost all judges and lawyers, condemned the introduction of emergency law and urged the President to revoke it.

    The agitated people were determined to get on to the streets despite introduction of the tough law.

    Opposition parties have said they would support Sunday’s protest but disowned giving leadership to it claiming it was a “genuine people’s uprising”.

    On Thursday night, the public protest blocked the way to the President’s residence, and it turned violent with police attacking protesters. Over 50 protesters were arrested, and over 30 policemen and protesters were injured. During the clash, a bus and several other vehicles belonged to the police were torched.

    The President’s office alleged that the violence at the protest was introduced by an ‘extremist’ group which wanted enforce an Arab Spring in Sri Lanka.

    ALSO READ: Sri Lanka declares emergency amid unrest over economic crisis

  • World Bank extends helping hands to Lanka

    World Bank extends helping hands to Lanka

    Sri Lanka’s health sector is currently facing a shortage of essential drugs due to import restrictions in place following a foreign exchange shortage….reports Asian Lite News

    The World Bank has pledged to provide assistance to purchase required quantities of essential medicines for Sri Lanka’s health sector following a request made by the government, local media reported on Thursday.

    During a discussion with World Bank’s Regional Director for Human Development in the South Asia region Lynne D. Sherburne-Benz, State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Channa Jayasumana had sought the assistance of the World Bank to ensure a continuous supply of medicinal drugs in Sri Lanka, reports Xinhua news agency.

    Considering this request, the World Bank’s regional director informed the State Minister that the World Bank will take it as a high priority and take immediate measures to provide assistance.

    Sri Lanka’s health sector is currently facing a shortage of essential drugs due to import restrictions in place following a foreign exchange shortage.

    Earlier this week, surgeries at a state hospital in the central hills of Kandy came to a halt for a day due to the lack of necessary drugs to perform operations, but it was resolved after the Health Ministry sent urgent supplies.

    ALSO READ: Lanka braces for 10-hour daily power cuts

  • Lanka braces for 10-hour daily power cuts

    Lanka braces for 10-hour daily power cuts

    Sri Lanka has been facing power cuts since February due to dwindling electricity production in hydropower plants as well as diesel shortages that have crippled the operations of thermal power plants…reports Asian Lite News

    Amid the financial crisis, Sri Lanka will be experiencing 10-hour daily power cuts from Wednesday, announced Public Utilities Commission of the island nation.

    The Ceylon Electricity Board said in a statement that they were “compelled to take demand management measures due to inadequate power generation, as a result of fuel shortage and unavailability of generators,” reported Xinhua.

    Sri Lanka has been facing power cuts since February due to dwindling electricity production in hydropower plants as well as diesel shortages that have crippled the operations of thermal power plants, the Commission said.

    Meanwhile, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) on Tuesday announced that there will be a diesel shortage in the country on Wednesday and Thursday, reported Xinhua.

    “We were unable to unload 37,500 tons of diesel shipment as planned on Tuesday. Therefore, we request the public not to queue up at filling stations for diesel on March 30 and 31,” CPC Chairman Sumith Wijesinghe told the media.

    Wijesinghe said the remaining stocks of diesel would be given to essential services.

    Sri Lanka’s currency has been also devalued by almost SLR 90 against the US dollar since March 8. Sri Lanka’s economy has been in a free fall since the COVID-19 pandemic due to the crash of the tourism sector.

    Sri Lanka is presently facing a foreign exchange shortage which has led to a fuel, power and gas shortage and has sought the assistance of friendly countries for economic assistance.

    India provided more than USD 500 million in foreign currency swaps to strengthen Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves, taking the total up to USD 900 million. India also extended the repayment time frame for the USD 500 million debt of Sri Lanka under the Asian Clearance Arbitration.

    More recently on March 17, Sri Lanka signed a USD 1 billion credit line deal with India for the procurement of food, medicines and other essential items during Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksha’s two-day visit to India.

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday recommended a number of measures, including tax hikes, for macroeconomic stability in Sri Lanka and also to mitigate adverse impacts on the vulnerable and the poor.

    The report recommended implementing a credible and coherent strategy to restore macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability while protecting vulnerable groups and reducing poverty through strengthened, well-targeted social safety nets.

    Sri Lanka’s Finance Minister Basil Rajapakse is scheduled to travel to Washington in April in order to seek IMF assistance to deal with the country’s economic crisis. (ANI)

    ALSO READ: Jaishankar meets Nepali Counterpart in Lanka

  • Jaishankar meets Nepali Counterpart in Lanka

    Jaishankar meets Nepali Counterpart in Lanka

    The meeting came just a few days ahead of Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s scheduled visit to New Delhi on April 1….reports Asian Lite News

    Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Nepal counterpart Narayan Khadka on Tuesday held talks in Colombo on the sidelines of the ongoing Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) meet.

    The meeting came just a few days ahead of Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s scheduled visit to New Delhi on April 1.

    “Matters including the ongoing preparations for the Prime Minister’s visit to India were discussed in the meeting,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kathmandu said.

    Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said: “Discussed our cooperation in connectivity, energy, fertilizers, health and power. Agreed to focus on taking forward the Ramayan circuit.”

    ALSO READ: BIMSTEC members must collectively combat extremism: Jaishankar

  • India offers help after surgeries suspended in Lankan hospital

    India offers help after surgeries suspended in Lankan hospital

    The information regarding the shortage of medicines was shared by the Sri Lankan Twitter handle Ayubovan….reports Asian Lite News

    External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday directed Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay to help Peradeniya Hospital after the scheduled surgeries were suspended due to a shortage of medicines.

    Taking stalk of the crisis, Jaishankar who is on a three-day visit to Sri Lanka tweeted, “Disturbed to see this news. Am asking High Commissioner Baglay to contact and discuss how India can help.”

    The information regarding the shortage of medicines was shared by the Sri Lankan Twitter handle Ayubovan.

    “Scheduled surgeries at the Peradeniya Hospital were suspended due to a shortage of medicines. Only emergency surgeries are taking place,” tweeted Ayubovan.

    While in Sri Lanka, EAM will also participate in the BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting on March 29 in Colombo.

    Both Maldives and Sri Lanka are India’s key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and occupy a special place in the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘SAGAR’ and Neighbourhood First.

    India’s Neighbourhood First policy, accords primacy to nations in the periphery with a focus on encouraging trade, connectivity and people-to-people contact.

    The EAM’s visit is testimony to the importance that India attaches to its close and friendly relations with the Maldives and Sri Lanka.

    On Monday, Jaishankar called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and reviewed various dimensions of India-Sri Lanka’s close neighbourly relationship.

    He assured Gotabaya Rajapaksa of India’s continued cooperation and understanding.

    “Pleased to call on President @GotabayaR of Sri Lanka. Reviewed various dimensions of our close neighbourly relationship. Assured him of India’s continued cooperation and understanding,” Jaishankar tweeted.

    During the meeting, Sri Lankan President thanked Jaishankar for assistance in form of a USD 1 billion credit line.

    “Met with Indian Foreign Minister @DrSJaishankar today, and I expressed my gratitude to the Government of #India for the invaluable assistance provided recently via the line of credit, on behalf of the people of #lka,” wrote the official Twitter account of The President of Sri Lanka.

    Sri Lanka, earlier, this month signed USD 1 billion credit line with India for the procurement of food, medicines and other essential items, amid the island nation’s worsening economic crisis. (ANI)

    ALSO READ: BIMSTEC members must collectively combat extremism: Jaishankar

  • India, Lanka hold working group meet on fisheries

    India, Lanka hold working group meet on fisheries

    The Indian delegation was led by Jatindra Nath Swain, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying….reports Asian Lite News

    The fifth meeting of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group on Fisheries was held on March 25 through virtual mode, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying said on Sunday.

    The Indian delegation was led by Jatindra Nath Swain, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

    The other members of the Indian delegation included senior representatives from the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Tamil Nadu, Government of Puducherry, Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard.

    The Sri Lankan delegation was led by R.M.I. Rathnayake, Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries, Government of Sri Lanka. The other members of the Sri Lankan delegation comprised of senior officials from the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry, Ministry of Fisheries, Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Navy, Coast Guard, Sri Lanka Police, Department of the Attorney General and National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency.

    The Joint Working Group discussed all relevant issues in detail including the concerns relating to fishermen and fishing boats which have been on the agenda of bilateral discussions between India and Sri Lanka for many years.

    Jatindra Nath Swain observed that the Indian side is always committed to work constructively with the Sri Lankan side towards the resolution of issues related to fishermen and their livelihoods in a humanitarian manner. He also took up the issue of the early release of Indian fishermen and boats currently in Sri Lankan custody.

    The Indian side expressed its readiness to work together with Sri Lanka for joint research to enhance the productivity of the Palk Bay fisheries.

    Both sides also discussed cooperation between Navy and Coast Guard of both countries in patrolling, existing hotline between the Coast Guards and related operational matters including cooperation in tracking poaching, prevention of environmental damage due to bottom trawling, addressing grievances of fishermen on either side, besides issues relating to investigation on recent deaths of fishermen and status of apprehended fishermen and fishing boats.

    The Indian side highlighted the initiatives taken by the Central and State Governments to diversify livelihood options and reduce fishing pressure in Palk Bay. It also informed that infrastructure has been created to facilitate deep-sea fishing and promotion of alternative livelihood through seaweed cultivation, mariculture and several aquaculture activities.

    The Sri Lankan side proposed a faster transition to sustainable fishing in the Palk Bay fisheries and also suggested that India can help them develop the aquaculture sector and the associated infrastructure in Northern Sri Lanka.

    The meeting concluded on a positive note, with commitment towards continued cooperation and dialogue to solve the fishermen related issues and to hold the next meeting of the Joint Working Group as per schedule.

    It may be recalled that the First Meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) was held on December 31, 2016, in New Delhi. The Second Meeting of the JWG was held in Colombo on April 7, 2017. The Third Meeting was held in New Delhi on October 13, 2017, while the Fourth JWG met in virtual mode on December 30, 2020. (ANI)

    ALSO READ: Jaishankar received by 4 Lankan ministers in extraordinary gesture

  • Jaishankar received by 4 Lankan ministers in extraordinary gesture

    Jaishankar received by 4 Lankan ministers in extraordinary gesture

    This follows the visits to India by Sri Lanka Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa in December 2021 earlier this month and that of Sri Lanka Foreign Minister professor G L Peiris in February 2022….reports Asian Lite News

    In an extraordinary gesture, four Sri Lankan ministers received Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar, who is on a bilateral visit to the island nation, at the airport on Sunday evening.

    The ministers, Gamini Lokuge, Minister of Energy, Johnston Fernando, Minister of Highways, Prasanna Ranatunga, Ministry of Tourism and, D V Chanaka, State Minister of Aviation and Export Zones Development, recieved Jaishankar at the airport.

    On Sunday, Jaishankar arrived in Colombo for a bilateral visit. During his visit, he will also attend the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) meeting.

    “Arrived in Colombo for a bilateral visit and BIMSTEC meeting. Look forward to my discussions over the next two days,” Jaishankar tweeted hours after concluding his Maldives visit.

    The minister will be in Sri Lanka from March 28 to 30.

    This follows the visits to India by Sri Lanka Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa in December 2021 earlier this month and that of Sri Lanka Foreign Minister professor G L Peiris in February 2022.

    According to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the bilateral meetings and interactions which EAM will have in Sri Lanka highlight the priority that Sri Lanka occupies for India.

    While in Sri Lanka, EAM will also participate in the BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting on March 29 in Colombo.

    Both Maldives and Sri Lanka are India’s key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and occupy a special place in the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘SAGAR’ and Neighbourhood First.

    The EAM’s visit is testimony to the importance that India attaches to its close and friendly relations with the Maldives and Sri Lanka. (ANI)

    Meet with finance minister

    External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa on Monday and held a discussion over the economic situation of Colombo as well as India’s supportive response.

    “Began the visit by meeting Finance Minister @RealBRajapaksa (Basil Rajapaksa). Discussed the economic situation and India’s supportive response. We will continue to be guided by Neighbourhood First,” Jaishankar said in a Tweet.

    The island nation is witnessing a severe economic and energy crisis triggered due to the shortage of foreign exchange.

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday recommended a number of measures for macroeconomic stability in Sri Lanka and also to mitigate adverse impacts on the vulnerable and the poor.

    The IMF noted that the country faces mounting challenges, including public debt that has risen to unsustainable levels, low foreign currency reserves, and persistently large financing needs in the coming years. (ANI)

    ALSO READ: Over 22,000 Indians brought back from Ukraine: Jaishankar

  • Modi to attend 5th BIMSTEC summit in Lanka  

    Modi to attend 5th BIMSTEC summit in Lanka  

    This is expected to be the main subject of deliberations by Leaders at the Summit, the MEA said…reports Asian Lite News

    The Summit Meeting, which is being held in virtual mode, will be hosted by Sri Lanka, the current BIMSTEC chair.

    To prepare for the Summit, meetings of BIMSTEC Senior Officials (SOM) will take place on March 28, 2022 followed by meetings of the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers (BMM) on March 29, 2022, the MEA said.

    The Covid pandemic-related challenges, and the uncertainties within the international system that all BIMSTEC members are facing, imparts greater urgency to the goal of taking BIMSTEC technical and economic cooperation to the next level.

    This is expected to be the main subject of deliberations by Leaders at the Summit, the MEA said.

    The Leaders are also expected to discuss the establishment of basic institutional structures and mechanisms of the group, the MEA added.

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  • China’s ‘strategic trap’ for Sri Lanka

    China’s ‘strategic trap’ for Sri Lanka

    The term ‘debt trap’, doesn’t capture the non-financial aspects of Chinese investments and loans in Sri Lanka, according to Asanga Abeyagoonasekera, Senior fellow at the Millenium Project and an international security analyst.

    Amid the ongoing economic crisis in the country, a Sri Lankan expert has held inward policy approaches of the government along with the Chinese ‘strategic trap’ responsible for the precarious situation, the island country faces.

    Saying that the term ‘debt trap’, doesn’t capture the non-financial aspects of Chinese investments and loans in Sri Lanka, Asanga Abeyagoonasekera, Senior fellow at the Millenium Project and an international security analyst said, “I call it as a strategic trap, not a debt trap.”

    Abeyagoonasekera made the observation during a podcast on a YouTube channel by the name ‘Pakistonomy’.

    Talking about the reasons for the current economic crisis in the country, Abeyagoonasekera said, “You have multiple inward approaches taken, one is losing the MCC grant… you have the East Container Terminal (ECT), the tripartite agreement with Japan and India (that) was swapped with the West Container Terminal (WCT), so you are losing time, you are losing money, you are losing investments.”

    Sri Lanka has unilaterally pulled out of the 2019 agreement with India and Japan for developing the strategic ECT at the Colombo Port.

    “How did the Chinese win so many projects (over the last few years) and how did the others keep losing them?” he further asked.

    He said that the China axis has been becoming stronger in Sri Lanka, due to the Chinese capturing almost the entirety of the elites of the country.

    “The problem of the Rajpaksas (referring to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa) is that you start with a balanced non-aligned foreign policy… but when it comes to practice, there is a serious bandwagoning with the Chinese,” he said.

    Further talking about the recent Chinese loans and the comparisons made with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loans, he said that the same amount of loans from the two can’t be compared as the former comes with hidden conditionalities, such as Chinese loans be used only for Chinese projects in the country and so on.

    Abeyagoonasekera welcomed the move by Sri Lanka to approach the IMF for debt restructuring, saying that the IMF will bring in long term vision, and financial discipline.

    Sri Lanka’s Finance Minister Basil Rajapakse is scheduled to travel to Washington in April in order to seek IMF assistance to deal with the country’s economic crisis.

    Sri Lanka’s economy has been in a free-fall since the COVID-19 pandemic due to the crash of the tourism sector.

    The country’s foreign reserves have dried up and the country is facing a severe shortage of fuel and other essential commodities.

    Sri Lanka’s currency has devalued by almost SLR 90 against the US dollar since March 8, as the country’s central bank attempts to stabilise the economy.

    India provided more than USD 500 million in foreign currency swaps to strengthen Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves, taking the total up to USD 900 million. India also extended the repayment time frame for the USD 500 million debt of Sri Lanka under the Asian Clearance Arbitration.

    More recently on March 17, Sri Lanka signed a USD 1 billion credit line deal with India for procurement of food, medicines and other essential items during Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksha’s two-day visit to India. (ANI)

    ALSO READ: Jaishankar to visit crisis-hit Sri Lanka