News
Govt. defends opening of new embassy despite closing down several missions
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Foreign Affairs Ministry strongly defended its decision to set up a new diplomatic mission in Bucharest, Romania, on the basis it could help Sri Lanka generate revenue through what the Public Diplomacy Division of the Foreign Ministry called, safe and legal labour migration.
Priyanga Wickramasinghe, Director, PDD, said so in response to The Island query as to why the Foreign Ministry proposed a new diplomatic mission against the backdrop of closing down of several overseas missions, due to the forex crisis.
The Island sought an explanation, having pointed out that Sri Lanka HC in Nigeria, its embassy in Norway, Consulates in Germany, Cyprus as well as Sydney, Australia, were closed down before the change of government took place in July last year.
Responding to another query, the official said that the Foreign Affairs Ministry recently received the go ahead from the Sectoral Oversight Committee on International Relations. In fact, the parliamentary committee instructed the Foreign Affairs Ministry to expedite the opening of the embassy as all related formalities have been completed.
In the wake of Sri Lanka’s announcement on the closing of its mission in Oslo, Norway declared that it would terminate its mission in Colombo at the end of July, this year.
Parliament said that the Sectoral Oversight Committee on International Relations, chaired by Namal Rajapaksa, MP, discussed the issue at hand with the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Lawmakers Niroshan Perera, Mayantha Dissanayake, Akila Ellawala, Yadamini Gunawardena, and Dr. Harini Amarasuriya were present.
According to the Director, PPD, the Foreign Affairs Ministry has received Cabinet approval to establish a mission in Romania, in October, 2020, in the wake of the last general election.
Pointing out that Romania upgraded the status of its mission in Colombo to a full-fledged Embassy in 2017, the Ministry said establishing an embassy there would be a reciprocal, goodwill gesture on the part of Sri Lanka. That would give new momentum to the bilateral engagement and help consolidate multifaceted cooperation with the EU member.
Asserting that the number of Sri Lankans working, could be as many as 40,000, and the number of registered is approximately 15,000, the Ministry described Romania as the most attractive and accessible labour destination for Sri Lankans in the EU – from skilled to low-skilled (blue-collar) job categories in the IT, hospitality, construction and agri-business/agriculture and apparel sectors.
Romania has become quite an attractive destination for Sri Lankans, since 2016, the Ministry said.
The Ministry said with the increase in the number of Sri Lankans there, the mission in Warsaw, Poland, concurrently accredited to Romania, found it difficult to address consular issues (employment-related issues/job losses/employer/employee complaints) hence the need for a mission in Bucharest.
Against the backdrop of the EU funding granted to Romania for infrastructure development projects (hospitals, housing, railways, highways, renewable energy, etc.), the Ministry expected to push for a larger share of the non-EU foreign labour market. The Ministry expressed confidence in securing as many as 10,000 jobs there, annually.
The countrywide dengue outbreak has intensified, with the death toll rising to 50, by July 16, as the number of reported infections surpassed 73,000, according to the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU).
The country has recorded 73,455 dengue cases so far this year, with the case fatality rate standing at 0.07 percent, highlighting the severity of the ongoing outbreak.
The Western Province continues to remain the worst affected region, accounting for more than half of the total cases, with 38,700 infections. The Gampaha District has recorded the highest number of cases in the province with 15,341, followed closely by Colombo with 14,625.
The Southern Province has reported 11,382 cases, while the Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces have each recorded more than 6,000 infections.
Dengue cases have shown a sharp increase in recent months, with June recording the highest monthly total of 21,538 cases, while July has already reported 18,076 infections. In comparison, 8,590 cases were reported in May, and 5,651 in April.
Health authorities have identified 175 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas as high-risk locations during the 27th epidemiological week. An average of 2,677 new dengue cases are being reported daily, prompting authorities to intensify prevention and mosquito control measures.
The Colombo High Court yesterday (17) resumed hearing the money laundering case filed against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The proceedings were held before High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga, where evidence was recorded from prosecution witnesses, under the direction of Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara.
President’s Counsel Sampath Mendis, appearing for Yoshitha Rajapaksa, cross-examined the witnesses during the hearing.
After recording evidence, the court ordered that further examination of evidence be postponed until July 24.
The Attorney General has filed indictments, alleging that Yoshitha Rajapaksa committed an offence, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, by purchasing five plots of land in Dehiwala and Ratmalana, valued at more than Rs. 73 million.
Former IGP Chandana Deepal Wickramaratne died after sustaining a gunshot injury at his residence, in Thalangama, yesterday (17), with police saying preliminary investigations indicate that the incident was a suspected suicide.
Kaduwela Magistrate Aruna Indrajith Buddhadasa, on Friday, ordered the Officer-in-Charge of the Malabe Police Station, Police Inspector Pradeep Ranasinghe, to conduct a formal investigation into the death and submit a report to court on its progress.
The order was issued after the Malabe Police Station presented facts before court regarding the incident.
According to police, the Malabe Police Station received information from the Police Unit of the Colombo East Base Hospital, in Mulleriyawa, that Wickramaratne, who resided in the Thalahena area, within the Malabe Police division, had died after being admitted to hospital, with gunshot injuries.
Police Spokesman ASP F.U. Wootler said Wickramaratne had allegedly used the firearm of his personal security officer and shot himself at his residence.
Police said the shooting had taken place at his residence on Parakum Road, Thalangama, on Thursday morning, before he was due to leave for his regular exercise routine. He was rushed to the Colombo East Base Hospital, in Mulleriyawa, with serious injuries but was pronounced dead upon admission, police said.
The deceased’s remains were placed at the Colombo East Base Hospital, where a post-mortem examination was scheduled to be conducted.
ASP Wootler said three police teams have been appointed to investigate the incident. Further investigations are being conducted by the Crime Division of the Western Province South Range and the Malabe Police Station.
Wickramaratne, 63, served as the 35th Inspector General of Police of Sri Lanka from November 27, 2020, to November 23, 2023.
He joined the Sri Lanka Police in 1986 as a Probationary Assistant Superintendent of Police and later served in several senior positions.
A graduate of the University of Colombo and the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, he also served as Acting IGP for more than a year, from April 28, 2019, before being appointed IGP, in November 2020.
He retired from the post of Inspector General of Police, in November 2023.
by Norman Palihawadane ✍️
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