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CORVI Rapid assessment to help Lanka prioritise investments in protecting coastal communities

Govt. partners with Stimson Center, Commonwealth Blue Charter on Climate Risk Rapid Assessment Project
The Stimson Center, Commonwealth Blue Charter, and the Government of Sri Lanka have announced a new partnership in Sri Lanka to conduct a rapid assessment of coastal climate risks and options.
The Rapid Assessment is based upon and complements the Climate and Ocean Risk Vulnerability Index (CORVI) tool, an innovative risk analysis tool that compares a diverse range of economic, social, and environmental risks to produce climate and ocean risk profiles for coastal cities.
These detailed profiles help governments, businesses, and financial institutions assess a city’s climate risk and pinpoint key areas of action to help adapt to the climate emergency. As one of three pilot project countries, Sri Lanka will work with expert analysts to review the results, better understand the available options, and formulate next steps that can be taken in order to develop climate-smart policies. “Sri Lanka is extremely prone to the threats associated with climate change. Sri Lanka suffers from rising sea levels, rising temperatures,” said Foreign Ministry Acting Additional Secretary – Ocean Affairs, Environment and Climate Change Hasanthi Urugodawatte Dissanayake.
“Flooding, drought and coastal erosion among other climate impacts, threaten our natural environment and our tourism-based economy. We are eager to begin the CORVI Rapid Assessment as it will be integral in providing the necessary data to our environmental leaders so that we can intervene to address Sri Lanka’s climate threats as efficiently and effectively as possible.”
The partnership will collect empirical data on the nature and extent of climate and ocean risks affecting Sri Lanka, interview experts and consider next steps in 2022.
“Through the pilot project, we hope to quickly arrive at tailored options to help prevent or mitigate the impacts of climate change in a realistic and attainable way,” said Commonwealth Blue Charter Program Lead Dr. Jeff Ardron.
“The development of CORVI Rapid Assessment is a welcome opportunity for Blue Charter member countries. We thank the Government of Sri Lanka for stepping forward as one of three pilot countries that will be trialling this new approach.”
“The climate crisis is not stopping any time soon. We at the Stimson Center recognise the need for a rapid triage of the most vulnerable coastal countries and cities, and what can be done to most effectively mitigate those effects of Climate Change,” said the Stimson Center’s Environmental Security Program Senior Fellow and Director Sally Yozell.
“The team at the Stimson Center developed CORVI in order to aid decision makers and thought leaders to make smart investments that will protect their communities from the impacts of climate change. We are eager to continue CORVI’s expansion in Sri Lanka and many other island countries.”
The project is generously supported by the United Kingdom’s Blue Planet Fund through the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA) in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The Stimson Center promotes international security, shared prosperity and justice through applied research and independent analysis, deep engagement, and policy innovation. The Stimson Center’s Environmental Security program explores the array of environmental threats, both human and natural, that have the potential to undermine national, regional, or global security.
The Commonwealth Blue Charter is an agreement by all 54 Commonwealth countries, adopted at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London, April 2018. Commonwealth countries agree to actively cooperate to address ocean-related challenges and meet commitments for sustainable ocean development. To date, 16 countries are leading / co-leading 10 Blue Charter Action Groups, including one on Ocean and Climate Change. 46 Commonwealth countries have joined one or more Action Groups.
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Our government has reaffirmed its commitment to breaking barriers that limit women’s full participation in the economy, recognizing their vital role in national development. – Dr. Harini Amarasuriya

The Prime Minister made this statement while addressing the launching the She Trades Sri Lanka Hub funded by the UK’s She Trades Commonwealth+ Program held at Galle face Hotel in Colombo on March 14 organized by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) and the International Trade Centre (ITC).
While addressing the audience, the Prime minister stated, the government has reaffirmed its commitment to breaking barriers that limit women’s full participation in the economy, recognizing their vital role in national development. Emphasizing gender-inclusive policies, financial inclusion, and access to global markets, authorities are prioritizing support for women-led businesses in key sectors such as ICT, agribusiness, and engineering.
A new initiative will establish 200 women-led cooperatives, fostering supportive environments for female entrepreneurs. Additionally, efforts to strengthen childcare, elderly care, and disability services aim to reduce the burdens that limit women’s economic participation.
A dedicated platform has been launched to provide women entrepreneurs with knowledge, networking, and international trade opportunities. Strengthening public-private partnerships and expanding global market access are key strategies to create an inclusive and sustainable trade ecosystem.
By equipping women with the necessary skills, financial resources, and digital trade access, the government aims to ensure that women entrepreneurs become key drivers of economic growth, aligning with broader policies for inclusive and sustainable development.
The event was attended by Ms. Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director of the International Trade Center, His Excellency Andrew Patrick, British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Officials from the International Trade Center and the British High Commission in Sri Lanka, Chairman of the Export Development Board Mr. Mangala Wijesinghe and Officials from Export Development Board and International Trade Centre and woman Entrepreneurs.
(Prime Minister’s Media Division)
News
Batalanda Commission report tabled … finally

by Saman Indrajith
TheBatalanda Presidential Co-mission report was tabled in Parliament yesterday (14) by the Leader of the House and Transport Minister, Bimal Ratnayake.
Minister Ratnayake announced that the government has decided to forward the report to the Attorney General for legal advice. Additionally, a Presidential Committee will be appointed to provide guidance and recommendations on how to proceed with the findings of the report.
Ratnayake said that the Cabinet-of-Ministers, along with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has made a policy decision to take necessary action in response to the report. He reassured the public that steps are being taken to ensure that such a dark chapter in the country’s history is never repeated.
Minister Ratnayake said that a two-day debate on the Batalanda Commission report will be scheduled in Parliament at an appropriate time, allowing for a detailed discussion on the report’s findings and recommendations.
The report, which will be printed in all three official languages—Sinhala, Tamil, and English—will be made available to the public in the near future. Ratnayake confirmed that printed copies would be provided to Members of Parliament, as well as the general public, for review.
The Leader of the House revealed that there are 28 evidence volumes associated with the Commission’s work, which will be submitted to Parliament at a later date for further scrutiny.
Ratnayake said that as the entire country is concerned about the findings of the Batalanda Commission, the government’s commitment to addressing the issues raised, and preventing future atrocities, stands clear. The next steps, including legal action and policy recommendations, will be shaped by expert advice and informed parliamentary discussions, he said.
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COPE finds fake documents submitted for emergency procurement of drugs

The Parliamentary watchdog Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has found that there were fake documents regarding the importing of medicines under the emergency procurement system in 2022 and 2023.
This was revealed during a COPE meeting held at Parliament probing the transactions of the National Medicine Regulatory Authority (NMRA).
NMRA CEO Saveen Semage told the Committee that several fake documents have been found due to the lack of registration of medicines.
Stating that six such fake documents were found last year alone, Saveen Semage said he had recorded statements regarding each of the documents with the Financial Crimes Investigation Division.
He revealed that, however, no investigations have been conducted yet into the incidents.
“We have documents with confessions from a woman accepting that fake documents had been made. However, a statement has not even been recorded from that woman yet,” he said.
Meanwhile, COPE member MP Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana also revealed that the highest number of waive-off registrations (WOR) for medicines had been obtained in 2022 and 2023.
He said 656 waive-off registrations (WOR) had been obtained in 2022 and 261 in 2023, adding that this proves that discrepancies have taken place during the emergency procurement of medicines during these periods.
Furthermore, Deputy Director General of the Medical Supplies Division of the Health Ministry, Dr. G. Wijesuriya, said discussions are underway on allowing the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) to directly import essential medicines.He pointed out that it was essential to take a policy decision in this regard as a solution to mitigate such discrepancies.
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