Tag: Srilanka

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-Top News Asia News Sri Lanka

Ranil turns to India for help in digitizing civil service

Lankan President met Bharat Lal, Director General of the Indian Institute of Good Governance, reports Susitha Fernando

The head of Indian Institute of Good Governance shared India’s experience to improve the performance of civil service using information technology with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who expressed interest in replicating this in his country.

The President met Bharat Lal, Director General of the Indian Institute of Good Governance, who visited Sri Lanka to discuss potential ways to enhance the country’s civil service and improve government institution performance by implementing effective monitoring measures.

At the meeting at the President’s official residence on Saturday, Lal “shared
how India was successful in integrating information technology into civil service”, the President Media Division (PMD) stated.

“India’s success in incorporating information technology into public service delivery, has resulted in significant progress and cost savings,” he told the Sri Lankan head of state.

During the discussion, President Wickremesinghe urged Lal’s assistance in establishing a University of Governance and Public Policy in Sri Lanka.

On Friday, launching a master plan to digitalise the country’s economy by 2030, the President vowed to build a digitalised modern Sri Lanka by digitalising the government sector. He said that a Committee of Cabinet Ministers would be set up to ensure that the government sector digitalisation would be done speedily.

He said that it is a duty of the government to accelerate the digitalisation.

During the Saturday discussion with President Wickremesinghe, Lal was accompanied by Indian High Commissioner in Colombo, Gopal Baglay.

Inflation drops

Sri Lanka’s inflation decreased to 50.3 per cent in March from 50.6 per cent the previous month amid the ongoing economic crisis, official statistics revealed.

The year-on-year inflation of the food group dropped to 47.6 per cent in March from 54.4 per cent in February, and inflation in the non-food group increased to 51.7 per cent from 48.8 per cent in February, reports Xinhua news agency.

Inflation in the country has been dropping in the last few months.

Inflation fell to 54.2 per cent in January from 57.2 per cent in December 2022.

The country’s central bank said that inflation will be reduced to single digit by the end of the year.

As Sri Lanka is still undergoing its worst ever economic crisis since independence in 1948, the island nation last month had finally secured a $2.9 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which came as a lifeline for the island nation that has billions of dollars in loans.

The Covid-19 pandemic, rising energy prices, populist tax cuts and inflation of more than 50 per cent has battered Sri Lanka.

A shortage of medicines, fuel and other essentials also pushed the cost of living to record highs, triggering violent nationwide protests which overthrew the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government in 2022.

As a result the country defaulted on its debts with international lenders last May for the first time in its history.

ALSO READ: Lanka sets up committee to oversee utilisation of IMF funds

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Sports

Sri Lanka qualify for Super Four with thrilling two wicket win

Chasing a challenging total of 184, Sri Lanka started off well, scoring 48 runs in the powerplay. But they soon found themselves in trouble at 77/4 in the ninth over…reports Asian Lite News

Former champions Sri Lanka held their nerve to qualify for Super Four of the Asia Cup here with a thrilling two-wicket win over Bangladesh in a crucial Group B match at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, here on Thursday.

While Sri Lanka and Afghanistan qualified for Super Four from Group B, it was the end of the tournament for Bangladesh, who lost both their matches. On the other hand, India have qualified for Super Four from Group A and the winner of the clash between Pakistan and Hong Kong on Friday will take the final slot.

Chasing a challenging total of 184, Sri Lanka started off well, scoring 48 runs in the powerplay. But they soon found themselves in trouble at 77/4 in the ninth over.

However, Kusal Mendis, helped by a series of let-offs, compiled a half-century (60 off 37) and kept Sri Lanka in the game. Once Mendis got out, captain Dasun Shanaka had the task of keeping the momentum and he took Sri Lanka close to victory with his crucial knock (45 off 33) before getting out in the 18th over.

At 158/7 in the 18th over, Sri Lanka’s hopes appeared done and dusted but Chamika Karunaratne gave some lifeline to the innings with his 16 off 10. Just when it looked like he will take Sri Lanka home, a suicidal run cost Karunaratne his wicket in the fifth ball of the 19th over.

Though, the penultimate over eventually turned out to be a productive one for Sri Lanka, who managed 17 runs off Ebadot Hossain’s over to bring the equation in their favour.

Sri Lanka needed 8 runs from 6 balls and Theekshana took a single in the first ball of that final over. Debutant Asitha Fernando (10 not out off 3 balls) then hit a much-needed boundary which was then followed by two runs off the next ball.

Sri Lanka needed only 1 from 3 at that stage but it was then relayed to the on-field umpire that Mahedi had overstepped which gave the island nation a thrilling two-wicket win with two wickets in hand and four balls to spare. It was also the highest-ever successful run chase in UAE in T20Is, beating Afghanistan’s run chase of 180 against UAE in 2016.

Ebadot Hossain (3/51) was the most successful as well as an expensive bowler for Bangladesh while Taskin Ahmed (2/24), Mustafizur Rahman (1/32), and Mahedi Hasan (1/30) were the other wicket-takers.

Earlier, the whole first innings of the game ebbed and flowed with both teams throwing punches at each other but eventually, Bangladesh were successful in putting on a competitive total of 183/7 in 20 overs.

Put into to bat first, Bangladesh promoted Mehidy Hasan Miraz (38 off 26) to open the innings and he gave them a flying start. However, Sri Lanka fought back with wickets at regular intervals in the middle overs.

Afif Hossain then came on and took the game by the scruff of the neck and slammed his way to a 22-ball 39, giving impetus to the innings. He put up a 57-run stand off 37 balls for the fifth wicket before getting out in the 17th innings.

Mosaddek Hossain (24 not out off 9) and Taskin Ahmed (11 off 6) carried forward that momentum and smashed 24 runs off 11 balls for the eighth wicket to take Bangladesh to 183-7.

For Sri Lanka, Chamika Karunaratne returned with figures of 2/32, while Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva scalped 2/41.

Brief scores: Bangladesh 183/7 in 20 overs (Atif Hossain 39, Mehdiy Hasan Miraz 38; Chamika Karunaratne 2/32) lost to Sri Lanka 184/8 in 19.2 overs (Kusal Mendis 60, Dasun Shanaka 45; Ebadot Hossain 3/51) by 2 wickets.

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India News

Kashmiri journalist stopped from flying to Sri Lanka

Hassan, who has done his PG from Turkey, told reporters that he was going to Sri Lanka to report the present crisis in that country for the Guardian newspaper…reports Asian Lite News

Kashmir journalist Akash Hassan, put on the ‘no fly list’ by J&K Police, was to fly to Sri Lanka on Wednesday when his boarding pass was cancelled and he was offloaded from the aircraft.

Hasan belongs to south Kashmir Anantnag district and is the second local journalist restricted from travelling abroad.

Photojournalist Sanna Irshad was stopped from travelling to Paris on July 2 where she wanted to go to attend a photography exhibition. She has won the Pulitzer for her work as a photojournalist.

Hassan, who has done his PG from Turkey, told reporters that he was going to Sri Lanka to report the present crisis in that country for the Guardian newspaper.

“Immigration officials at IGI airport New Delhi barred me from boarding a flight to Colombo, Sri Lanka. I was headed to report on the current crises in the country,” Hassan wrote on twitter.

“The immigration officials took my passport, boarding pass and have made me sit in a room for last four hours,” he said.

He said he was questioned for four hours and afterwards, given his boarding pass with a red rejection stamp.

The ‘no fly list’ prepared by J&K Police, according to sources, contains names of journalists, writers, academicians etc from Kashmir whose travel abroad is deemed to be against the country’s interest.

Meanwhile, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday said it is no secret that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government wants to crush journalism, the fourth pillar of democracy.

“Immediately after CJIs remarks on the role of journalists in a democracy, @AakashHassan was barred from travelling abroad. Its no secret that GOI wants to crush the very backbone and fourth pillar of our democracy because of its intolerance to the truth,” the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said in a tweet.

ALSO READ-GALLERY: Kargil Vijay Diwas in Kashmir

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-Top News Sri Lanka

With no fuel, SL declares holiday for schools

With the ongoing fuel crisis, the Indian Ocean island nation has come to a standstill with handful of vehicles on roads and many people opting to use bicycles as mode of transportation…reports Susitha Fernando

With no fuel for transportation, Sri Lanka on Sunday declared a week-long holiday for schools from Monday.

The Education Ministry decided that all government and government-approved private schools would be given holidays from July 4 to 8.

The decision to close schools was reached after a discussion among Ministry officials, Provincial Education Secretaries, and other officials, and after considering the poor attendance of school principals, teachers and students over the last two weeks, mainly due to lack of transport with non-availability of fuel for public transport and personal vehicles.

Sending home people who were queued up for days and weeks on last Monday (June
27), the government-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) stopped issuing fuel to any vehicle other than those involved in essential services like health, public transportation, law and order, food distribution and etc.

People were asked to work from home and urban schools were closed while others requested to teach online. All private vehicles had to depend on Indian Oil Company-run fuel stations around the country which issued limited fuel to different vehicles.

With the ongoing fuel crisis, the Indian Ocean island nation has come to a standstill with handful of vehicles on roads and many people opting to use bicycles as mode of transportation.

For fuel, Sri Lanka had been mainly depending on line of credit issued by India under its $3.5 billion financial assistance given from January this year and the supply ended with the final shipment of 40,000 metric tonnes of diesel received on June 16.

As Sri Lanka faced its worst-ever economic crisis, the United Nations World Food Programme had declared food inflation in Colombo at record high of 57.4 percent in May and around five million people, or 22 per cent of the population, are food insecure and in need of assistance.

ALSO READ-Lashkar terrorist caught, was Jammu BJP’s social media in-charge

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-Top News India News Sri Lanka

India boots China out of 3 Lankan energy projects

The projects, initially awarded to China were cancelled and an MoU was signed with India when New Delhi said their security would be under threat if those projects were handled by China, reports R. R. M. Lilani

Following the announcement by the Sri Lankan government that it has defaulted on its $51 billion foreign debt, India says it is willing to commit another $2 billion loan to the island nation, piquing China’s interest in the country and jeopardizing its ambitious BRI roadmap.

India also took over three solar hybrid power projects in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province, which would be installed on three islands. It was initially awarded to China, but Sri Lanka cancelled the deal and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with India when India said their security would be under threat if those projects were handled by China. It was tit-for-tat when China allegedly lobbied against India developing the East Container Terminal at the Port of Colombo, which Sri Lanka eventually cancelled.

Currently, the Sri Lankan government has sent a team of financial experts to the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C., including former Justice Minister turned Finance Minister Ali Sabry, to seek between $3bn to $4bn bailout, but India has come out to bail out Sri Lanka further sidetracking China, which has remained silent on the Rajapaksas’ plea to restructure debt payments to them.

China has also announced plans to provide a $1 billion loan in addition to the $1.5 billion loan it has provided since the Covid-19 situation paralysed the country’s economy but the long wait continues.

Unavoidable shockwaves have suffocated China’s BRI initiatives in Pakistan, the Maldives, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Nepal’s financial crisis is on the verge of meltdown.

The US has accused China of using “debt diplomacy” to increase the reliance of developing countries on Beijing in recent years. These countries are at a crossroads in their economic development. Both Sri Lanka and Pakistan, which are caught up in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, are in dire financial straits as inflation rises. As of now, China has made no revenue-generating investments in these two countries, indicating that Chinese President Xi Jinping is adamant about providing more funds to these two failing states. China has yet to follow through on a promise to re-issue $4bn in loans that Pakistan repaid in late March, and it has yet to respond to Sri Lanka’s request for $1bn in credit support as well as to restructure the past debt repayments plea Sri Lanka tabled last year.

According to the Maritime Executive website, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has put a halt to rapid overseas expansion in its 14th Five-Year Plan (FYP) for 2021 to 2025. China plans to invest $550 billion (including spending in non-BRI countries) during the period, a 25 per cent decrease from the $740 billion spent from 2016 to 2020. Furthermore, Chinese contracting volume is expected to fall from $800 billion in the previous fiscal year to $700 billion in this fiscal year. It goes on to say that this could be BRI’s moment of reckoning.

Despite some success after eight years of implementation, BRI has reached a decision point. Some participating countries are reconsidering some high-profile BRI projects, fearing that the risks may outweigh the benefits.

The website states further, a recent AidData report capturing 13,427 Chinese projects across 165 countries over an 18-year period discovered that 35 per cent of the BRI infrastructure project portfolio has encountered major implementation problems. Corruption scandals, labour violations, environmental hazards, and public protests are among the leading causes. Surprisingly, the researchers discovered that infrastructure projects outside of BRI had fewer implementation issues.

Before the Easter Sunday disaster and the Pandemic, Sri Lanka’s financial situation had been mismanaged for over a decade. But last year’s fertilizer shortages exacerbated by bad policy necessitated more borrowing. Bangladesh also paid a currency swap of USD 2 million. There were no migrant workers bringing in money and no locally produced goods. Sri Lanka, which has a lot of paddy fields, had to import rice from Myanmar, India, and China. These are the main reasons why Sri Lankans took to the streets to demonstrate against the Rajapaksa administration.In addition to that, the East Container Terminal (ECT) that was to be funded and developed by India, Japan and Sri Lanka jointly was called off. The venture was estimated to be around USD 500 million signed in May 2019 before Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected as the President of Sri Lanka. Following a major protest alleged to be backed by China, the project was shelved.

Many experts say if that project had taken shape in 2020, the ECT would have reaped benefits for Sri Lanka. Also, long before the Chinese arrived, the US-Canada signed a contract for an LNG project at the Hambantota Port, but the former Maithri-Ranil government cancelled it and handed the port over to China on a 99-year lease.

Canada’s Sithe Global Power and the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) signed an exclusive MOU in 2012 for the LNG facility, gas pipeline, and 500MW-1000MW power plant project in Hambantota.The total cost of the project was USD1.4 billion. Greenlink Global Consulting Inc (Greenlink), the local partner of Sithe Global Power Development Inc — a wholly owned subsidiary of the Blackstone Group Inc USA — last year wrote to President Rajapaksa, requesting a review of the awarding of the Kerawalapitiya/Hambantota LNG project tender to a Chinese firm. The energy crisis would not have occurred if this LNG project had been completed. This matter has been ignored totally however. In addition, due to the current situation in Sri Lanka, which includes the pandemic, geopolitical tensions, and unrest, China’s $1.4 billion Port City project is facing uncertainty too. There are no signs that international investors have come to invest despite the fact that it has been advertised overseas. The project is expected to cost USD14 billion, with the majority of the money coming from potential investors.

The Chinese reclaimed 269 hectares of land on the Indian Ocean for Sri Lanka and in exchange Chinareceived 116 hectares of the land there on a 99-year lease.

ALSO READ: India building better connectivity among neighbouring nations

Today, the Rajapaksa government wants India to invest in the potential Economic zone of Colombo, which in fact irked the Indians for lending a piece of that land for China on 99-year lease. They are unsure of the Port City Commission and which way it would serve the Chinese and the other investors in parallel. However, India has taken the lead in assisting Sri Lanka, and in addition to the new $2 billion loan plan, India has also sent a consignment of 11,000 MT rice, which arrived two days ago under the previous $1 billion concessional Indian Credit Facility, and was ceremonially handed over to the Sri Lankan government by officials from the Indian High Commission. In addition to the consignment, the Credit Facility has received 5000 MT of rice in the last few days. With this, the Indian State Trading Corporation has delivered 16,000 MT of rice out of a total of 40,000 MT that will be imported from India.

On March 17, 2022, the Government of Sri Lanka and the State Bank of India signed a $1bn credit facility agreement. Rice delivery was enacted in less than a month after the agreement was signed. The supply is part of India’s multi-pronged support for Sri Lanka over the last few months, which includes timely fuel deliveries, other forms of economic and forex assistance, and so on, according to the Indian High commission.Meanwhile, the India Sri Lanka Foundation’s (ISLF) ‘Sinidu’ Project, which aims to meet the sanitary needs of underprivileged women, has received funding of Rs 500, 000 for the production of low-cost sanitary napkins using Indian machines. According to India, the ISLF has funded over 300 projects totalling SLR.150 mn, with 20 projects currently in the works in the areas of research, art and culture, social work, science and technology, and so on.

Apart from that, the USD 500mn worth of fuel that has arrived in Sri Lanka in the last 50 days totals nearly 200,000 MT, including a consignment of 40,000 MT by Indian Oil Corporation in February 2022, which was delivered outside the line of credit facility.

Aside from the $2.5bn loan agreed by Dr. S.Jaishankar, India’s foreign minister, pledged India’s continued support for Sri Lanka’s economic recovery. India’s partnership with Sri Lanka is based on the ‘Neighbourhood First’ approach and the S.A.G.A.R (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine, according to India.

A wide range of bilateral agreements were also signed. The Maritime Rescue Coordination Center; Hybrid Power Projects in Three Islands Off Jaffna; Cooperation in the Development of Fisheries Harbours in Sri Lanka; MOU for the establishment of Modern Computer Labs and Smart Boards with Customized Curriculum Software in 200 Galle District Schools; and MOU between Sushma SwarajInstitute of Foreign Service and Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute.

The Indian government reclaiming its position in Sri Lanka has been widely interpreted as an attempt to prevent China from making further inroads. India, which is at odds with China on its border, has become part of China’s strategy to be isolated, encircling it with Chinese projects but the chances are slimming. China is being countered by India, the United States, and Japan, and if the China favoured Rajapaksas are ousted in the wake of the national crisis and people’s protests that have lasted more than six days, China’s grip on Sri Lanka could be further weakened.

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-Top News India News

DAILY BRIEF: Punjab CM’s nephew held and Indian diplomats boycott Beijing Winter Olympics

Two weeks before Punjab votes in the Assembly elections, the Enforcement Directorate has arrested the nephew of the Punjab Chief Minister over money laundering charges. Meanwhile, India has announced its diplomats will boycott the Winter Olympics in Beijing after China decided to field PLA Galwan commander as the Olympic torchbearer…writes Joyeeta Basu.

A quick look at South Asian stories that matter:

India

ED arrests Punjab CM’s nephew: The Enforcement Directorate today, has arrested Bhupinder Singh Honey, nephew of Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, in a money laundering case linked to alleged illegal sand mining in the border state, reports The Hindu.

Chinese soldiers ‘panicked into retreat’ in Galwan: Report: The account of the Galwan violence in Australian newspaper “The Klaxon” claims China had lost 42 soldiers in the clash — many more than the four it had claimed. The “PLA soldiers panicked into retreat”, reports NDTV.

COVID-19: In the Omicron-driven third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in India, a comparatively younger population was more infected, a survey by the Indian Council of Medical Research has revealed, reports the Hindustan Times.

Financial news

India’s services sector activity slips further in January: India’s services sector activity moderated further in January as new business rose at a noticeably slower rate amid the escalation of the pandemic, reintroduction of restrictions, and inflationary pressures, a monthly survey said, reports The Hindu.

China

Galwan soldier as torchbearer; India, US rap China’s move:  Referring to China choosing a PLA commander injured in Galwan clash, for the 2022 Winter Olympics torch relay, India has expressed regret that its charge d’affaires will not attend the opening or closing ceremony as Beijing has chosen to politicise the event, reports AsianLite News.

China’s new stealth bomber unlikely to breach US island defences: China could unveil its H-20 stealth bomber by November this year — a move, which when fitted into the big picture, could message the United States that its era of dominance of the Pacific is receding fast, reports AsianLite News.

Pakistan

Pakistan on high alert day after seven soldiers killed in attacks: Pakistan has been put on high alert following attacks by armed assailants on two security camps in the Balochistan province, resulting in the death of seven soldiers and 13 insurgents, reports News 18.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh factory collapse trial resumes after five years: Bangladesh has resumed the murder trial in the collapse of a textile factory after five years of appeals and legal holdups. More than 1,100 workers died when a factory complex came down on the outskirts of Dhaka in 2013, reports Frontline.

Afghanistan

Qatar, Afghanistan to commence direct flights: The governments of Afghanistan and Qatar have reached an agreement to begin direct flights between Kabul and Doha every week, officials said, reports TOLO News.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka asks IMF for advice amid worsening economic crisis: Sri Lanka has asked the International Monetary Fund for ‘advice’ amid a worsening economic crisis, the finance minister said on Wednesday, signalling that Colombo could seek an international bailout, reports India Today.

On a lighter note…

Victoria Beckham gives shout-out to ‘beautiful’ Deepika Padukone for rocking one of her ‘favourite’ looks: Victoria Beckham has dedicated an Instagram post to Deepika Padukone who dressed up in white with pieces from the designer’s collection, reports the Hindustan Times.

After mommy duties, mystery on my mind for Kareena Kapoor Khan:  A year after son Jeh’s arrival, Kareena is set to return to the film set. She will kick off Sujoy’s adaptation of The Devotion of Suspect X in March, reports Mid-Day.  

Sara Ali Khan shuts down troll who asked why her shayari is “so bad” with aplomb: While interacting with fans, a troll asked her, “Why are your shayaris so bad?” Sara Ali Khan’s reply was: “So I drive positive people like you mad, And because rude judgements don’t make me sad, And I am who I am inspite efforts of mom and dad, As it’s a result of all the laughter and fun I had, And not to mention after that I feel glad, I hope you don’t actually dislike my shayari, and if you do then just a tad…”, reports NDTV.

ALSO READ-MEDIA SCAN: India’s ‘vibrant’ villages to counter China and Afghanistan aid in Indian Budget

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-Top News India News World

MEDIA SCAN: Trudeau condones deaths of Indians and inflation skyrockets in Sri Lanka

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has condoned the deaths of four Indians who froze to death at the border, and inflation has reached an all-time high in the crisis-hit Sri Lanka…writes Joyeeta Basu.

News in brief from South Asia

India

“So Tragic”: Canadian PM after Indian family freezes to death near border: Justin Trudeau said the government is doing all it can to stop people-smuggling across the US border, a day after a family of four Indians died from exposure to extreme cold weather at the border with America, reported NDTV.

Assembly Elections 2022: The song ‘UP mein sab ba’ has unleashed a Bhojpuri rap war in Uttar Pradesh with the BJP releasing a new song, ‘UP mein ee ba’ in response. The original song had reminded voters about the failures of the government while the new one speaks of its achievements. Meanwhile, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has announced his alliance in UP with Babu Singh Kushwaha and Bharat Mukti Morcha, ahead of the polls next month.

In Punjab, Union Minister and BJPs election in-charge for Punjab, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, said people’s confidence in the BJP has gone up in the state and an alliance led by the BJP will form the government, according to reports.

Arunachal Pradesh’s tunnel project enters decisive phase: The Sela tunnel project in China-bordering Arunachal Pradesh, which will allow faster deployment of weapons and soldiers to the region, has entered a decisive phase, said the defence ministry, reported the Hindustan Times.

COVID-19: India added 3,37,704 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of Covid-19 cases to 3,89,03,731, according to Union health ministry data and reported by the Times of India.

(Photo Anupam Gautam_IANS)

Financial news

Telecom industry back on growth path: The worst seems to be over for the telecom industry as the AGR has been rising steadily for over the last two and a half years. Rising AGR is a good sign for government revenues from the sector as operators pay licence fee at 8% of their AGR, reported the Financial Express.

Pakistan

Pakistan opposition slams campaign to install presidential system: Opposition lawmakers have sounded alarm over the ongoing calls to replace the country’s parliamentary democratic system with a presidential system, demanding a debate on the matter in the National Assembly, Express Tribune reported.

Pakistan using 80% substandard COVID-19 kits: The majority of Covid-19 testing in Pakistan may be yielding inaccurate results, as nearly 80 per cent of imported testing kits were of substandard quality, the Friday Times reported.

Afghanistan

(Photo IndiaNarrative)

Taliban deny arresting female protester: The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan has denied the forceful arrest of a female protester from her home. Tamana Zaryab Paryani was one the 20 Afghan women who has protested the obligation of wearing hijab, according to media reports.

Sri Lanka

Inflation skyrockets; food prices at record high: Sri Lanka’s inflation rate accelerated to 14 per cent in December 2021, up from 11.1 per cent, amidst a severe a foreign exchange crisis, as food prices jumped to 6.3 per cent in December, reported the Indian Express.

On a lighter note…

David Warner recreates Allu Arjun’s dance moves, actor reacts: Australia opener David Warner shared a video of him recreating the Indian actor’s dance moves from the film Pushpa: The Rise. Arjun, reacted to the video with fire and laughter emojis. The video went viral on the social media platform, and garnered over a million likes within five hours of being shared, reports NDTV.

Shraddha Kapoor officiated her make-up artist’s wedding: Actress Shraddha Kapoor started trending on social media after her make-up artist Shraddha Naik shared a video from her wedding, which was officiated by the Baaghi 3 actress. Shraddha Kapoor had also been one of the bridesmaids.

Gehraiyaan’s first song will be released on tomorrow: Deepika Padukone has announced that the first song from her upcoming film Gehraiyaan, will release on January 24. The film also stars Suddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Pandey, and Dhairya Karwa and is scheduled to release on February 11.

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China News Sri Lanka

Chinese Firm Threatens Sri Lanka

A Chinese company which had exported a disputed organic fertilizer that was rejected by Sri Lanka is said to be pushing for tough sanctions, including restrictions on tea export from the island nation…reports Asian Lite News

The fertilizer stocks of Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd, was twice rejected by Sri Lanka’s National Plant Quarantine Service (NPQS) after it found harmful bacteria Erwinia and refused to make payments too. This intensified fight against Sri Lanka and the Chinese company had even proposed tough sanctions to be imposed at a time the country is experiencing an economic crisis, the Daily Mirror newspaper reported.

Quoting unidentified officials of the company the newspaper reported that the Chinese company is to complain to international institutions against Sri Lanka and even urged to impose restrictions on the import of tea, for which the Sri Lanka is famous for.

The officials for the company also had alleged that some local officials had demanded a commission for selecting Seawin Biotech to import the fertilizer, the newspaper said.

According to the newspaper, in a communication to Sri Lankan contacts Chinese companies have been told not to trust Sri Lanka and even had been advised to obtain advanced payments before dispatching any products to the Indian Ocean island nation which is in dire financial crisis due extensive debts obtained at high interest rates from Beijing among other countries.

China’s iron fist action comes despite Sri Lankan government has already decided to pay $6.7 million for the fertilizer which not obtained but returned due to their failure to meet the standards. The fertilizer fiasco even led a diplomatic spat between Colombo and Beijing after Sri Lanka suspended the importation of organic fertilizer from Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd. after a ship carrying a 20,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer was denied entry in September.

ALSO READ: Taiwan Prez condemns China over HK raid

After the fertilizer stocks were rejected, a Sri Lankan court had ordered the local People’s Bank not to pay the Chinese company.

Subsequently the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in Colombo blacklisted the People’s Bank for failing to make the payment according to the Letter of Credit (LOC) and contracts between the two parties.

However the issue has been discussed between two governments and is expected discussed further during the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Sri Lanka in January, the Daily Mirror reported.

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-Top News Sri Lanka Travel & Tourism

SL To Attract 6 Million Tourists By 2025

Sri Lankan tourism has been recognised as a thrust sector to rebuild the economy and was identified as an export sector…reports Asian Lite News.

The Sri Lankan government is all set to declare 2022 as the “Visit Sri Lanka Year” in line with the integrated five-year Global Communication Campaign (GCC), as its aims to attract 6 million tourists and $10 billion in earnings by 2025 despite the challenges by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“As per our pre-Covid plan, it is critical to embark on an effective and holistic destination marketing campaign. This targeted program will not be altered even amidst the pandemic challenges,” Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga was quoted as saying by the local media.

The Minister said Sri Lanka aims to generate $10 billion in income by attracting 6 million tourists by 2025, as set by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in his policy statement of “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour”, reports Xinhua news agency

Sri Lankan tourism has been recognised as a thrust sector to rebuild the economy and was identified as an export sector.

According to official statistics, 101,872 tourists arrived from January 1 to November 28, which included 41,177 tourists that arrived in the island nation this month.

Tourism was one of the worst-hit industries by the pandemic in Sri Lanka with the livelihoods of nearly 4 million people, directly and indirectly, affected by the lockdowns and the closing of borders.

ALSO READ-Sri Lanka Ready to Welcome Travellers

READ MORE-SL approves five new airlines to revive tourism

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Asia News Sri Lanka World

Sri Lanka-China tussle intensifies as Qingdao fertiliser company to pursue arbitration in Singapore

Sri Lanka-China tussle intensifies as Qingdao fertiliser company to pursue arbitration in Singapore

With the Qingdao statement, the fertiliser controversy between Sri Lanka and China has only grown. Qingdao also said that statements made by the ministry are false, reports Sri Lanka website News First…writes Rahul Kumar

Chinese fertiliser company Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group says that it has taken Sri Lanka to an arbitration centre in Singapore. It has refuted statements by Sri Lankas Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage on Monday that Qingdao had agreed to pursue the arbitration process over contaminated fertiliser in Sri Lanka.

With the Qingdao statement, the fertiliser controversy between Sri Lanka and China has only grown. Qingdao also said that statements made by the ministry are false, reports Sri Lanka website News First.

Sri Lanka-China tussle intensifies as Qingdao fertiliser company to pursue arbitration in Singapore

The fertiliser issue, which is into its four month, is beginning to strain the friendly relations between the two countries.

Sri Lanka had, in a bid to turn the country organic, decided to use only organic fertiliser for all its crops. But the shortage of fertiliser prompted it to import the commodity from China. The Sri Lankan agriculture ministry selected Qingdao for fertiliser imports but the samples were found to be contaminated with harmful pathogens including erwinia which damages cash crops.

Sri Lanka canceled the Qingdao order but the company insisted that Colombo had violated the contract for the organic fertilizer. It placed its contaminated fertiliser ship close to the Colombo Port in a bid to force Sri Lanka to accept its rejected product.

After a number of Sri Lankan scientists weighed in on the agriculture ministry about the poor quality of the fertiliser, Sri Lanka asked its State-owned bank, the People’s Bank of Sri Lanka not to release payments to Qingdao.

The Chinese embassy in Colombo jumped into the fray and backed Qingdao, issuing a barrage of tweets on how Sri Lanka’s agriculture ministry had defaulted in the contract. The embassy also blacklisted the State-owned Sri Lankan bank.

Qingdao’s fertiliser ship Hippo Spirit reportedly sailed back to China, but never reached its port of destination. It was later tracked to the Strait of Malacca close to Singapore and Thailand where it had switched off its tracker. Curiously, the ship came back to Sri Lanka with the same rejected fertiliser but under a different name.

Now, the fertiliser company has sought compensation of $8 million from Sri Lanka and sent a legal notice. The compensation includes cost for production, freight, legal fees, money for losing goodwill and reputation due to the controversy. The damages also include interest.

In its defence, the company also says that it had intimated Sri Lanka that it could not provide bacteria-free fertiliser.

About a couple of weeks back, the warring sides had reached an agreement. Under the agreement, Sri Lanka had decided to pay the compensation to Qingdao and in return the company had agreed to take back its ship to China and not unload the fertiliser on Sri Lanka.

But with the latest statement by Qingdao, it seems the controversy is still open. Anna Song, the Deputy General Manager of the Chinese company reportedly told Sri Lankan media organisation News First that “the local authorities could not be trusted again and that the arbitration would take place only in Singapore”.

The Hippo Spirit ship now seems to be sailing back to Singapore with its 20,000 metric tonnes of contaminated fertiliser to pursue arbitration against Sri Lanka in Singapore.

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Over the last three months, the Chinese company and the embassy have tried to create a rift in the Sri Lankan government between the ministry of agriculture, the National Plant Quarantine Service and the Ceylon Fertiliser Corporation over the sale of organic fertiliser.

The current government, which is known to be close to Beijing, is confronting hard realities. The Hambantota Port had to be given to a Chinese company on a 99-year lease, hardball diplomacy over fertilisers and minor cultural controversies that have tended to cleave the Sri Lankan society are issues that just might end up fraying Chinese-Sri Lankan relations.