News
No country offers loans to Sri Lanka – SJB
Main Opposition SJB says that the international rating agencies have downgraded the country, banks and financial institutions in April as a defaulter and watch negative status. As a result the country has been plunged into a dangerous financial crisis from political and economic crises where it cannot face the international community for any financial transactions.
Addressing a press conference held at the Opposition Leader’s office in Colombo on Thursdya, SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne said that no country offers loans to Sri Lanka as a result of downgrading by the rating agencies.
“Also country cannot get a loan even from an international capital market as they would consider Sri Lanka as a country which has no capacity to repay the loans. The government is also finding it difficult to obtain loans even from Sri Lankans through local treasury bills. Despite attempts to borrow Rs. 97,500 million last week, the government was able to obtain only Rs. 46,066 million. That too as a three-month short-term loan at a high interest rate of 23 per cent,” he said.
“People have lost confidence in the government to invest in the long-term Treasury bills. The entire working class of the country has taken to the streets today saying that the government responsible for facing such a situation can no longer rule this country and that the President and the government should resign immediately. This crisis affects all parties, institutions and individuals equally.”
During the month of April Fitch rating has downgraded Sri Lanka’s long Term foreign – currency Issuer Default rating (IDR) to “C” from “CC” and views that sovereign default process has begun. S&P while lowered Selective Default from “CC” to “C” lowered 2023 and 2028 bonds to “D” default indicating that the government cannot repay the bond.
Further Fitch rating has placed National Long Term rating of 13 Banks and 12 non- banking financial institutions as Negative on April 26, 2022. This will create a situation where the international banks would not honor the LCs of the two State Banks where they will require an additional guarantee or an insurance premium increasing the cost, Wickramaratne said.
“Now the entire people of the country are saying the same thing. The voice of the Galle Face struggle is reflected in the country as well. The people are unanimously calling for the overthrow of this corrupt government, Gotabaya Go Home, Mahinda Rajapaksa Go Home, formation of a government without Rajapaksas and the abolition of the executive presidency.”
“The power struggle between the president and the prime minister is a family affair. It does not matter to the country. The Rajapaksas are now pushing for the formation of a Rajapaksa government without the Rajapaksas by using a second tier group of parliamentarians by leaving behind the corrupt ministers to back track to form an interim government. SJB would not take part in any interim regime under Rajapaksas,” Wickramaratne said.
“People say that this country does not want a Rajapaksa government. Moreover, the international community does not trust the Rajapaksas, so it is not possible to obtain any assistance from abroad with Rajapaksas in power.”
The Navy taking prompt action were able to douse a fire that broke out on a fishing trawler at the Galle Fisheries Harbour on 14 Apr 25.
The blaze was first spotted by personnel on board SLNS Prathapa, stationed nearby. Acting swiftly, a diving team from the Southern Naval Command, along with harbour security personnel, rushed to the scene.
Their initial efforts focused on separating the trawler that had caught fire to prevent the flames from spreading. With the situation under partial control, the fire extinguishing system of SLNS Prathapa was activated, successfully dousing the remaining flames, through coordinated efforts of the diving and harbour security personnel.
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Heat index at ‘Caution level’ at some places in Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Southern and Eastern provinces and in Rathnapura and Monaragala districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 16 April 2025, valid for 17 April 2025
The general public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Southern and Eastern provinces and in Rathnapura and Monaragala districts
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the table below and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
The government, in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the Bar Association (BASL), has put in place a system to check lawyers entering selected courts. This follows the killing of Ganemulle Sanjeewa by an underworld hitman, masquerading as a lawyer, in one of the Magistrate Courts at Hulftsdorp, on the morning of 19 February.
Responding to The Island queries in this regard, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara yesterday (16) confirmed the new security arrangement. Minister Nanayakkara, who is also an Attorney-at-Law, declined to elaborate.
Although the police apprehended the suspected assassin, a couple of hours later, the woman, who smuggled in the firearm used in the killing, also masquerading as a lawyer, is still at large.
Newly elected BASL President, Attorney-at-Law Rajeev Amarasuriya, said that scanners had been installed at selected places in line with the security arrangements introduced, following the 19 February shooting in a court. Amarasuriya said so responding to The Island query regarding the post-Hulftsdorp Court complex shooting developments.
The BASL Chief emphasised the pivotal importance of ensuring, what he called, a hassle-free environment for law officers, regardless of security checks necessitated by the latest shooting. Amarasuriya said that security measures should be in place in accordance with threat assessments pertaining to cases taken up at various courts.
The first courtroom killing took place in Nov. 1991 when Sub Inspector Dhammika Amarasena, who had been interdicted over the Wavulkelle massacre, was shot dead while inside the Attanagalle Magistrate court. Amarasena’s father-in-law, who had been seated next to the interdicted policeman, was also killed.
The second courtroom shooting happened in January 2004 when an Army deserter shot dead Dhamamika Amarasinghe inside the Hulftsdorp court complex. Although Dhammika Amarasinghe’s killer gained entry to the court, posing off as a law student, authorities never implemented a comprehensive security plan. However, in the wake of Ganemulle Sanjeewa’s killing, acting IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya, who is also a lawyer, underscored the need to check law officers.
The BASL President said that they were still in the developing stage of the security set up, taking into consideration views expressed by various stakeholders. Referring to Ganemulle Sanjeewa’s assassin carrying a forged BASL identity card, Amarasuriya stressed the need to use technology in counter measures to thwart such practices.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
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