News
British HC reminds Lankan professionals who leave country due to crisis of their responsibility to return
… stresses the need for freedom of choice
British High Commissioner in Colombo Andrew Patrick said that he expected those leaving Sri Lanka due to the ongoing crisis situation to return eventually. The top UK diplomat called it a big crisis.
HC Patrick said so at the CIM (Chartered Institute of Marketing) graduation ceremony held at the BMICH on Wednesday (17).
Referring to the developing political-economic-social crisis, the High Commissioner who has been posted to Colombo since last August pointed out the real possibility in some of the marketing graduates seeking opportunities overseas. Patrick succeeded Sarah Hulton. Having declared that CIM qualification a worldwide passport, he stressed the responsibility on their part to return home where they could contribute to the local economy.
At the onset of his brief remarks, the former Ambassador to Burma (2013-2018) stressed the importance and value of the relationship between the UK and Sri Lanka in the education field. Patrick said that he was very sad to hear some of those whom he talked to wouldn’t want to come back.
Among those present were Chris Daly, Chief Executive, CIM, since 2016, and Maggie Jones, Director Qualifications and Partnership, CIM which has maintained a formal presence here for over two decades.
Having explained the difficult tasks he faced in Colombo as the UK’s top envoy, a smiling HC Patrick asserted that his performance could be judged at the end of his three-year term.
The HC reiterated their stand on open societies in which principles of association and access to information are among the matters promoted and encouraged. The HC made reference to access to information as well as disinformation. Patrick stressed that the UK advocated open societies and democracy. It was meant to ensure free flow of information, the HC said. “It is about individuals being able to make choices on how they want to live their lives and who their government is and of course the crucial part of that is them having access to information to decide about buying some product or voting for a candidate.
Patrick said: “As a diplomat, I have to do some amateur marketing much of the time. I’m probably doing a lot of things wrong. My job is two-fold. One is to try to make sure, at a minimum, the country I’m in understands what the UK thinks about big issues, that they are not going to make a mistake and make a decision and be surprised how the UK reacts.”
“There is another, more difficult part when you try to persuade the country that you are in that the way you think of something is the right way and it is in their interest to think the same way. “You have to judge in three years’ time whether I got the second task right or wrong.”
In her welcome address, Onalie Dissanayake, Country Head (Sri Lanka and the Maldives) recalled the difficulties experienced by all during 2023. Dissanayake referred to continuing economic uncertainty, shifting inflation and political instability at global level have contributed to the developing crisis. She said marketers could use this opportunity to prove and underscore their importance (SF)
Several ex-Cabinet ministers questioned; Ranil, Sajith, too likely to be summoned
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has initiated an inquiry into the shifting of the Agriculture Ministry situated at Rajamalwatte, to a building belonging to the D. P. Jayasinghe Group of Companies, at Rajagiriya, during the Yahapalana government.
The building was rented for a five-year period at a cost of over Rs 1 bn by the yahapalana government within months after the then President Maithripala Sirisena declared opened the 10-storey building complex.
The CIABOC yesterday morning recorded former yahapalana minister Gayantha Karunatilleke’s statement in connection with the investigation. Later in the day, CIABOC recorded the statement of SJB General Secretary Ranjith Maddumabanadara. Earlier CIABOC summoned former ministers Thalatha Atukorale, Wajira Abeywardena and Lakshman Kiriella. At the time of the finalisation of the deal, KIriella was in the UNP.
Sources said that former PM and President Ranil Wickremesinghe, too, was likely to be questioned in this regard. Responding to The Island queries, sources pointed out even SJB leader Sajith Premadasa was expected to be questioned.
The then Speaker Karu Jayasuriya is on record as having said that the building was rented in keeping with a decision taken by the government and not Parliament.
The UNP-SLFP coalition shifted the Agriculture Ministry to accommodate 16 Sectoral Oversight Committees therein.
Although the government paid as much as Rs. 21.5 mn monthly rent to D.P.A. Jayasinghe Company, the Agriculture Ministry failed to move in for over a year. The then Agriculture Minister Duminda Dissanayake sought Cabinet approval on Dec 1, 2015 to rent the building.
According to inquiries conducted earlier by the Presidential Commission appointed to probe state sector corruption, the Agriculture Ministry sought Cabinet approval for a new building after the then Prime Minister Wickremesinghe submitted a cabinet proposal on 21 September, 2015, to use the Agriculture Ministry building for Parliament’s sectoral oversight committees.
PM Wickremesinghe’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake has told the Commission that public funds could have been saved if the several vacant floors of Suhurupaya belonging to the Defence Ministry had been made available to the Agriculture Ministry.
By Shamindra Ferdinando ✍️
Railway sources said that the damages caused to railway tracks could be more than USD 300 mn.
According to UNDP Rapid Crisis Assessment Sri Lanka’s railroad system, over 278 km of railways were exposed to cyclone-related flooding, including 35 railroad bridges nationwide. This figure reflects flooding only, but other hazards (such as localised debris, landslides, or damage to a single bridge) can also disrupt operations, meaning that even relatively small obstructions can render long stretches of railway non-operational. Like road exposure, railway exposure limits mobility and the capacity of affected populations to access key services and infrastructure.
At the level of divisional secretariats, Colombo and Thimbirigasyaya in Colombo District, Ja Ela in Gampaha District, as well as Mannar Town and Nanaddan in Mannar District all registered over 10 km of exposed railways each.
Commissioner-General of Essential Services B.K. Prabath Chandrakeerthi is on record as having said that only 478 kilometers of Sri Lanka’s 1,593-km railway network were currently usable following extensive damage caused by the recent cyclone.
Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker arrived in Colombo yesterday (11) to underscore US interest in defence, trade and maritime security in line with their Indo-Pacific strategy.
The US embassy here issued the following statement: “Under Secretary Hooker will meet with Sri Lankan counterparts to discuss a wide range of bilateral issues, focused on deepening economic and commercial ties, strengthening defence cooperation, and supporting Sri Lanka’s economic and maritime sovereignty.
The United States and Sri Lanka share a strong and enduring partnership rooted in our mutual commitment to regional security, economic growth, and prosperity for our peoples. Through close cooperation on defence, trade, and maritime security, we are working together to advance a free, open, and resilient Indo-Pacific region.
As we continue to build on our strategic partnership, the United States also stands with the people of Sri Lanka as they respond to the devastating impacts of Cyclone Ditwah. We remain committed to working together to address both immediate challenges and long-term opportunities for our two nations, reflecting our ongoing commitment to the U.S.-Sri Lanka partnership.”
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Northern, North-Central, Eastern and Uva provinces and in Puttalam, Matale and Kurunegala districts
Rs 1. 3 bn yahapalana building deal under investigation
SL Railways suffers staggering losses; more than 2/3 of rail tracks out of service
US, SL advancing free, open, and resilient Indo-Pacific region: Embassy
Vetaran lankan artistes domiciled in UK felicitated in London ceremony
Forced disappearances, a contentious issue warranting NPP’s attention – FSP
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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