News

Harsha urges dialogue between govt. and opposition on grave foreign exchange crisis

Published

4 years ago

2022/02/13

“Better understand problem….we’re all in this together”

Opposition SJB MP, Dr. Harsha de Silva, last week urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to initiate a dialogue with the opposition to find a way out of the country’s precarious foreign exchange crisis “to better understand the problem as we’re all in this together.”

Quoting several recent news reports and accusing the Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal of making “factually incorrect statements,” the respected economist MP said: “……. I urge President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to initiate a dialogue with us, the Opposition, to better understand the problem and find solutions together, as we are all in this together.”

He prefaced his request for a dialogue with the following remarks:

“The Governor of the Central Bank reiterates his factually incorrect statements to a certain newspaper today that there is no dollar shortage in the country. However, many other newspapers report otherwise. In fact, one of the leading newspapers states that we are in need of $20mn to clear 2,000 containers stuck at the port, while another claims that we are not able to import medicine as there is a shortage of dollars.

“Meanwhile, another prominent newspaper states that the Central Bank is preparing to sell more of our gold reserves, as we do not have sufficient financial resources to keep the country functioning. Who is the Central Bank Governor trying to fool? We are at the brink of an economic collapse with insufficient dollars to import essential commodities such as medicine, milk powder, fuel, food etc

“According to the Central Bank data, at the end of November 2021, we had a mere $1.5 bn of reserves left. Thereafter, at the end of December 2021, the Central Bank claimed that they possessed $3 bn of reserves after manipulating the data with a currency swap from China for an amount of $1.5 bn.

“However, at the end of January 2022, we possessed only $2.3 bn even with the currency swap with China, thus ending up with only $700 mn of usable reserves. Therefore, we are in a precarious situation as the Central Bank needs to settle a debt payment of $70 mn today (Feb. 9) and another Sri Lanka Development Bond payment on February 17 for $160 mn.

“These two payments themselves come to a total of $230 mn, thus depleting our reserves even further. Neither the Government nor the Central Bank has a plan to try and get us back on track and bring in dollars to not only pay off our debts but also money to pay for our essentials.

“Thus, I urge President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to initiate a dialogue with us, the Opposition, to better understand the problem and find solutions together, as we are all in this together.”

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News

INS NIREEKSHAK makes port call in Colombo

Published

3 hours ago

2026/04/21

Priyan

The Indian Navy Ship (INS) NIREEKSHAK arrived in Sri Lanka for Operational Turnaround (OTR) and a training visit on 21 Apr 26.

The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship at the port of Colombo in accordance with time-honoured naval traditions.

Commanded by, Commander Sailesh Kumar Tyagi, this Diving Support Vessel is set to conduct a training programme with the diving professionals of the Sri Lanka Navy.

The crew is also scheduled to participate in several activities organized by the Sri Lanka Navy and visit some tourist attractions within the country.

Latest News

Advisory for Severe Lightning issued to the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, North-central, Southern, Uva provinces, and Mannar, Vavuniya, Ampara, Batticaloa districts

Published

5 hours ago

2026/04/21

Priyan

Advisory for Severe Lightning
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 12.00 noon 21 April 2026 valid for the period until 11.30 p.m. 21 April 2026

Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, Northcentral, Southern, Uva provinces, and in Mannar, Vavuniya, Ampara, Batticaloa districts after 1.00 p.m.

There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.

ACTION REQUIRED:

The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
 Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
 Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
 Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
 For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities

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Six Foreign Envoys Present Credentials to President Dissanayake

Published

7 hours ago

2026/04/21

Priyan

Two High Commissioners, three Ambassadors and an Apostolic Nuncio-designate of the Holy See presented their credentials to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (20).

The ceremony, held at 10.00 a.m., followed the formal order of precedence, with the envoys representing Papua New Guinea, Somalia, Luxembourg, the Holy See, Pakistan and Kuwait.

Accordingly, diplomats who presented their credentials were:

01. Vincent Sumale, High Commissioner-designate of Papua New Guinea (Based in New Delhi)

02. Abdullahi Mohammed Odowa, Ambassador-designate of Somalia (Based in New Delhi)

03. Christian Biever, Ambassador-designate of Luxembourg (Based in New Delhi)

04. Monsignor Andrzej Józwowicz, Apostolic Nuncio-designate of the Holy See

05. Major General (Retd) Nayyar Naseer, High Commissioner-designate of Pakistan

06. Saleh Mubarak Al-Sarawi, Ambassador-designate of Kuwait

Following the presentation of credentials, the President engaged in a cordial discussion with them. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, and the Secretary to the President, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, were also in attendance.