News
India should focus on global good, welfare during G20 presidency: Modi
New Delhi (PTI): Describing India’s G20 presidency as a great opportunity, prime minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that India should focus on global good and welfare during its presidency. India will take over the G20 presidency on 1 December from Indonesia. Addressing the nation through the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio programme, he said that India has solutions to fight the challenges for global peace and sustainable development.
“The Presidency of G-20 has arrived as a big opportunity for us. We have to make full use of this opportunity and focus on Global Good, world welfare. Whether it is peace or unity, sensitivity towards the environment, or sustainable development, India has solutions to challenges related to these,” Modi said.
He further said that the theme proposed by India for the presidency, “One Earth, One Family, One Future” shows the country’s commitment to Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam which means the world is one family.
Noting that the G-20 countries comprise two-thirds of the world’s population, three-fourths of world trade, and 85% of global GDP, he said that it is it is “great opportunity” for India and every Indian.
“This becomes even more special because India was awarded this responsibility during Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal,” he said.He further said in the coming days, many programs related to G-20 will be organized in different parts of the country.
“During this period, people from different parts of the world will get a chance to visit your states. I am sure that you will bring the diverse and distinctive colors of your culture to the world and you also have to remember that the people coming to the G-20, even if they come now as delegates, are tourists of the future,” he said.
The prime minister urged schools, colleges and universities to create opportunities for discussions, debates and competitions related to G-20.Speaking on a range of issues, Modi also talked about the growth of India’s space sector with private players coming in and the progress in the deployment of drones in remote areas.
He mentioned ‘Vikram-S’, first rocket designed and prepared by the private sector of India. It was recently sent into space.
“This is the beginning of a new era full of self-confidence for the country,” Modi said.
He also said that India is sharing its success in the space sector with its neighbouring countries as well. “Just yesterday, India launched a satellite, which has been jointly developed by India and Bhutan. This satellite will send pictures of very good resolution which will help Bhutan in the management of its natural resources.”
He emphasised that the launching of this satellite is a reflection of the strong Indo-Bhutan relations.
Talking of the growing interest in India music and culture across the globe, he said that over the last eight years the export of musical instruments from India has increased three and a half times.
“Talking about Electrical Musical Instruments; their export has increased 60 times. This shows that the craze for Indian culture and music is increasing all over the world,” the prime minister said.The major buyers of Indian musical instruments are developed countries including the US, Germany, France, Japan and the UK.
The official appointment letters for the members of the newly established “Cricket Transformation Committee” (CTC) were handed over on Monday (04) by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.
The following members received their letters of appointment at the Ministry premises:
Sidath Wettimuny
Thushira Radella
Prakash Schaffter
Ms. Avanthi Colombage
The Ministry also noted that veteran cricketers Roshan Mahanama and Kumar Sangakkara, who are key members of the committee, are currently overseas. Their official appointments will be formalised immediately upon their arrival in Sri Lanka.
The Cricket Transformation Committee has been mandated to oversee the administration and drive structural reforms within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in accordance with the powers vested in the Minister under the Sports Act No. 25 of 1973.
Three prison guards attached to the Welikada Prison have been arrested by Borella Police following the death of an inmate on Monday (04).
‘Bar Association must reveal its stand’
Civil society group ‘Free Lawyers’ has requested Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena to probe whether political pressure was brought on a Magistrate, or a High Court Judge, in respect of an ongoing high profile case.
Speaking to The Island on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers,’ Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon said that they felt the urgent need to seek the CJ’s intervention, following the May Day declaration by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake that the verdict of a case that was heard on 30 April would be given on 25 May. Tennakoon said that addressing the NPP’s main May Day rally at Maharagama, the President asked the people to be ready to celebrate that verdict. The President couldn’t have said so if he hadn’t been aware of the impending verdict, Tennakoon said, while emphasising the responsibility on the part of the Bar Association to state its position on the issue.
‘Free Lawyers’ recently captured pubic attention following its exposure of the theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury.
Responding to a query, Tennakoon said that on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers,’ Maithri Gunaratne, PC, on Monday, 4 April, wrote to both CJ Surasena and President of the Bar Association Rajeev Amarasuriya.
Alleging that President Dissanayake’s declaration caused immense harm to the independence of the judiciary and raised controversy over the judgement that would be given on 25 May, ‘Free Lawyers’ organisation also asked the CJ to inquire into whether the entire judicial process was under political pressure.
Tennakoon said that they expect the Bar Association to reveal its position on President Dissanayake’s statement. Tennakoon pointed out that during the May Day address, President Dissanayake made reference to 15 cases that were to be taken up during this month, whereas Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister, as well as Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake, mentioned nearly 10 names of politicians, both sitting and former lawmakers, to be summoned beginning, May.
Tennakoon said that the NPP appeared to have used May Day to counter growing accusations over the Colombo port container controversy, coal scam, Rs 13.2 bn NDB fraud and theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury and USD 625,000 from the Sri Lanka Postal Service.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
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