News

A UN conundrum for Sri Lanka

Published

2 years ago

2024/09/22

The following interesting points have been made by an anonymous source in the bowels of the foreign ministry in the context of the high level meetings of the UN General Assembly beginning on Sept. 24. Sri Lanka has already been allocated her slot.

President cannot attend because he may not be the president on 22 September.
Prime Minister cannot attend because he may not be the PM on 22 September.
Minister Ali Sabry cannot attend because he may not be the Foreign Minister on 22 September.

This is the current reality even as they refuse to acknowledge it.

This leaves out Aruni Wijewardene, who was supposed to replace Mohan Peiris, the Permanent Representative at the UN (PRUN) since January 2024 (but deferred taking up the assignment at the president’s request).

Consequently, an extension of tenure for Mohan Peiris was fait accompli. However, even Mohan P cannot represent Sri Lanka (and represent effectively) because he might not be the PRUN at the time when Sri Lanka statement is to be delivered.

In the circumstances, Foreign Secretary (FS) Aruni Wijewardena initiated an Official Note to Minister Ali Sabry suggesting her own name as the Head of Delegation of Sri Lanka to the High Level Segment of UNGA. In no time the Note returned from Minister’s Bureau without any approval from the Minister.

It’s a puzzle why Aruni W thought it fit to initiate the note herself knowing full well, that she may not be the FS on 22 September (having been appointed by RW after her retirement).

All in all, this is Sri Lanka’s UN dilemma under RW today — one that never happened before. The dilemma repeats itself at the current UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva, where there is no high level representation from Sri Lanka.

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News

Draft Bill for amending the Trust Ordinance

Published

3 mins ago

2026/09/29

Priyan

Based on the observations submitted by the Task Force on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing for Terrorism, approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 18.12.2024 to amend the Trust Ordinance No. 9 of 1917 including amendments proposed by the Financial
Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

Accordingly, clearance of the Attorney General has been granted for the Trust (Amendment) Draft Bill formulated by the Legal Draftsman.

Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Justice and National Integration
to publish the said draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereby, submit the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.

News

Implementing further relief programme to Public sffected by the Middle East conflict situation

Published

17 mins ago

2026/09/29

Priyan

Action was taken to provide a fuel relief for the fuel consumers during the months of April, May and June of 2026 to redress by minimizing the impact caused to the day today life of the citizens of this country as well as the entire economy due to the price hike of petroleum fuel in the global market resulting from the war situation in the Middle East.

Government mediation is essential for minimizing the impact on the day to today life of citizens in this country due to that war situation not being ended further. Therefore, it has been planned to redress on the sale price for Auto Diesel and Industrial Diesel for a period of 03 months by the Government to provide relief to the public as well as to maintain the prices at a bearable level to the consumers without escalating the fuel prices in this country compared to the escalation of fuel prices
in the international market.

Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to
allocate provisions subject to the monthly limitations respectively as rupees 15 billion for the month of October, rupees 13.5 billion for the month of November and rupees 12.15 billion for the month of December to provide the said relief

News

Establishment of a Spectrum Management and Monitoring System and a Quality of Service and Quality of Experience System for the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka

Published

34 mins ago

2026/09/29

Priyan

Approval was granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 2025-10-21 for the Ministry of Digital Economy and the Department of External Resources to work with the Asian Development Bank as an international development partner for the “Digital Transformation Development Project”.

As a main implementing agency of that project, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) requires a Spectrum Management and Monitoring System as well as a System for Quality of Service and Quality
of Experience). It has been identified that the external funding estimate for this requirement has been identified as USD 9.25 million.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Digital Economy to obtain a “Spectrum Management and Monitoring System” and a “System for Quality of Service and Quality of Experience” for the TRCSL under the ADB-funded Digital Transformation Development Project.