News
Pathfinder proposes a Medium and Long-term Strategy for Economic Transformation of Sri Lanka with Indo-Japanese Collaboration
The official launch of the Report on “A Medium and Long-term Strategy for Indo-Japanese Collaboration to Support the Economic Transformation of Sri Lanka”, prepared by the Pathfinder Foundation with the assistance of a panel of experts, was held, in Colombo, last week. Foreign Minister, Ali Sabri, was the chief guest while Indian High Commissioner Gopal Bagley, and Japanese Ambassador Mizukoshi Hideaki were also present.
The event was organized in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC), Geneva and attended by representatives from several government and private sector agencies. Bernard Goonetilleke. Chairman, Pathfinder Foundation; handed the Report to Minister Ali Sabry, a Pathfinder news release said.
The report has suggested a strategic response to transforming the economy, focusing on four priority sectors in which Indo-Japanese collaboration is sought to put the country on a sustainable growth trajectory for a structural shift, it explained.
In his welcome remarks, Pathfinder Chairman Bernard Goonetilleke, while thanking all the experts who contributed to the report, highlighted that two countries – India and Japan as very close development partners of Sri Lanka, who have much to contribute to reviving Sri Lanka’s economy.
He added, “India’s interest in the welfare of the country and its people was evident in the granting of generous credit and other facilities amounting to almost 4.0 billion US dollars in the recent past to overcome the economic crisis. Likewise, Japan has been a country which had generously provided economic support going back many decades”.
Foreign Minister Sabry highlighted some important points for consideration. He urged all think tanks, such as Pathfinder Foundation, to look into areas a typical politician would not comprehend and push for necessary changes. He also reiterated that a politician should have the humility to listen and learn from experts on the subject, encouraging think tanks to engage with the public and share populist policies.
High Commissioner Bagley pointed out that Sri Lanka occupies a unique place in India’s foreign policy mainly due to India’s neighbourhood-first policy. He added that India stands ready to assist Sri Lanka in overcoming the current economic crisis. Ambassador Hideaki also expressed his sincere hope that this year will be the beginning of an economic revival providing a springboard for future development for Sri Lanka. He also mentioned that Japan had been a long-standing partner in Sri Lanka’s socioeconomic development.
Before the report’s launch, Dr. Dayaratna Silva, Executive Director of the Pathfinder Foundation, introduced the 120-page report explaining its main thrust and the rationale for sector selection as the key drivers for structural transformation of the economy. Sector experts made presentations at the technical sessions covering the role of the four sectors in transforming the economy, existing policy framework gaps, and key recommendations for triangular cooperation.
The topic of session one was Low–Carbon Power Generation, which discussed renewable energy, LNG and the utility of grid – connectivity between Sri Lanka and India. The lead speaker of the session, Eng. Gamini Senanayake provided important perspectives on the subject. The second session covered the Development of Trincomalee as an Energy Hub, presented by Mr. T.F. Nimal Perera and Prof. I. M Dharmadasa who joined the event via Zoom and contributed his ideas on the future of green energy and issues relating to the proposed nuclear power generation in Sri Lanka.
Technical sessions continued with Mr. Rohan Masakorala and Dr. Dimantha De Silva (via Zoom) explaining their recommendation on the Logistics and Connectivity sector, which included ports, railways, airports, and ferry transportation. The final session included valuable insights on Education by Prof. Siri Hettige, followed by recommendations for the Tourism sector by industry experts Dr. Vipula Wanigasekara and Dr. Malraj Kiriella. The technical sessions concluded with Eng. Sena Peiris and Mr. Nihal Cooray, speaking on an important topic of “Training and skills development”.
… reminds AKD led over 560 protests during Yahapalanaya
Former Yahapalana Minister and United Republican Front (URF) leader Patali Champika Ranawaka yesterday (19) alleged that the JVP, which carried out over 560 protests during the 2015-2019 period, was now bent on preventing the Opposition from exercising its democratic right to protest.
Recalling the declaration made by the JVP at the height of the violent protest campaign in July 2022 that it would set the Parliament ablaze, the former parliamentarian lashed out at the JVP-led administration for using the police excessively to curb political opposition. Ranawaka said this while addressing the media at the former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Flower Road Office .
Commenting on the protest campaign launched by the Maha Sangha, demanding presidential pardon for General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Ven. Galagotaatte Gnanasara, the ex-Colombo District lawmaker alleged that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake used a combination of police, investigative units and JVP cadres to break up the monks’ protest. The government went to the extent of compelling the JVP/NPP-run Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) to deprive the peaceful protesters of basic toilet facilities, he alleged.
The government’s actions proved that only those with prior approval from JVP Pelawatte headquarters could launch protests in Colombo, its suburbs or in the provinces. The police have become a political tool in the hands of the JVP, the ex-Minister said. (SF)
By SK Samaranayake
Six people were killed and seven others injured when a speeding bulker lorry carrying cement and concrete ploughed into several vehicles and a shop on the Kandy-Jaffna A9 road at Kurugoda, Akurana, yesterday (19).
Four of the victims, two women and two men, died on the spot in the accident which occurred around 10.30 am, according to Alawathugoda Police.
Police said the bulker, travelling at high speed from the Matale direction, collided with three three-wheelers, two motorcycles and two lorries before veering off the road and crashing into a commercial establishment.
Five of the injured were rushed to the National Hospital of Kandy, where hospital sources said two remained in critical condition.
The bodies of the four victims were placed at the Akurana Hospital, where two others, who suffered minor injuries, were also receiving treatment.
The driver of the bulker was arrested by the Alawathugoda Police Traffic Division and is to be produced before court.
Investigations are being conducted under the supervision of Central Province Senior DIG Lalith Pathinayake.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
owledging that there had been an administrative lapse on the part of the President’s Office in 2019 when Maithripala Sirisena granted presidential pardon to Ven. Gnanasara Thera, Convener of Janathawadi Joint Opposition Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday (19) urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to rectify whatever those shortcomings and release the General Secretary of Bodu Bala Sena.
Addressing the media at the former President Ranil Wickrekmesinghe’s Flower Road Office, Prof. Peiris emphasized that it was not fair to hold Ven. Gnanasara accountable for lapse or technical fault of others at the Presidential Secretariat during President Sirisena’s tenure.
Prof. Peiris was flanked by UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena and United Republican Front (URF) leader Patali Champika Ranawaka.
The fresh appeal was made on behalf of Ven. Gnanasara in the wake of President Dissanayake and JVP heavyweight Anura Kumara Dissanayake ruling out fresh presidential pardon for the monk. Minister Lal Kantha declared that the government couldn’t under any circumstances meet the continuing monks’ protest demanding Ven. Gnanasara’s release. President Dissanayake dismissed repeated appeals for Ven. Gnanasara’s release when he addressed the NPP really in Badulla.
Sirisena granted presidential pardon in May 2019 even before he completed a year of his six-year term of rigorous imprisonment for contempt of court during proceedings of the media personality Prageeth Ekneligoda’s 2010 January disappearance in the Homagama Magistrate’s court.
At the onset of the regular weekly briefing, Prof. Peiris said that he would report to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) today (20) morning as requested by the commission. “The CIABOC wanted to record my statement regarding a meeting I chaired at the ministry after the conclusion of the war in 2009 pertaining to an ongoing investigation.”
Commenting further on the imprisonment of Ven. Gnanasara, the former parliamentarian said that President Sirisena intervened following a spate of requests made on behalf of BBS General Secretary by the Mahanayakes, Anunayakes and other Maha Sangha.
The Supreme Court on 10 September, 2026 rescinded the presidential pardon granted in late May 2019.
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Heavy showers about 100 mm are likely at some places in the Northern, North-central, Central, Eastern, North-western and Uva provinces
Molineux, Dunkley enter WPL 2027 auction with top base price of INR 50 lakh
Ranawaka accuses govt. of using JVP cadres and police to suppress political opponents
Six killed as speeding bulker crashes into vehicles, shop in Akurana
Prof. Peiris, summoned by CIABOC, appeals for Ven. Gnanasara’s release
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