News
JVP asks why govt. so secretive about ‘domestic debt optimisation’
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The JVP yesterday asked the government why it had closed the banks for five days and summoned Parliament without an Order Paper if it was confident that the domestic debt restructuring would have no detrimental impact on the people.
JVP’s Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa told journalists in Colombo that the government had a responsibility to tell the people what it was planning to do.
“The JVP has not tried to cause panic contrary to claims made by some government ministers, and the problem was that the government had always been very vague about domestic debt restructuring,” he said.
“In April 2022, Sri Lanka defaulted on external debt servicing. At this point, there was no discussion on domestic debt restructuring. Then the government sought assistance of the IMF and reached an agreement with the latter. Even then, the government didn’t talk about domestic debt restructuring. Actually, some ministers said there would not be domestic debt restructuring, he said.
Dr. Jayatissa said that following the IMF agreement, Sri Lankans learned that the total debt of Sri Lanka amounted to 85.5 billion U.S dollars by the end of 2022.
“41.4 is external debt, and the rest is domestic debt. Out of the domestic debt, 25 billion dollars are in Treasury Bonds, 11 billion in Treasury Bills, 5.6 billion in development bonds, and the rest has been taken from various institutions. Who has invested in bills and bonds? Either state or private banks, insurance companies, or EPF/ETF. Apart from the deposits of customers, do these institutions have other substantial assets to buy these bonds?” he asked.
The JVP stalwart also asked the government to explain the difference between domestic debt restructuring and domestic debt optimization.
“Parliament is apparently meeting over the weekend. There isn’t even an order paper or a party leader’s meeting. If there is no problem for people, why is Parliament being summoned on a weekend without even an order paper? If nothing happens, why have they given banks a five-day holiday? The President also insists he will close down the stock market. Why are they asking people to stay at home?” he asked.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) relating to the project to provide technological solutions to prevent wild elephants from being hit by trains was signed yesterday (01) afternoon at the President’s Media Centre, under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Coordinated through the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, the project is being implemented as a public-private partnership, with the Railway Department, the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Forest Conservation Department working together, with full financial support from People’s Bank.
The system consists of three-beam detection, passive infrared (PIR) sensors, automatic temperature sensors and a tamper alarm system to detect animals weighing more than 20 kilogrammes and unauthorised interference. Signal lights (red/yellow/green) installed on either side of the railway tracks, together with a special screen installed inside the locomotive cab, will alert the driver in advance to the exact location of an elephant.
A demonstration test of the system was successfully conducted at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage premises in the presence of the relevant officials, following which a report on the system was prepared.
The system will be implemented as a pilot project from next month at 13 locations where wild elephant accidents are frequent. A newly developed website is also scheduled to be launched to enable the progress of the project to be viewed live.
Additional General Manager of Railways P.D.S.B. Chandrasena, Director General of Wildlife Conservation M.S.L.R.P. Marasinghe, Conservator General of Forests S.C. Palamakuumbura and Chairman of People’s Bank Chandana Guniyangoda signed the relevant MoU. Officials from the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, including Presidential Additional Secretary (Clean Sri Lanka) Engineer S.P.C. Sugeeshwara, as well as senior officials from the Railway Department, Department of Wildlife Conservation, Forest Conservation Department and People’s Bank, were also present.
[President’s Media Division]
The Commissioner General of Examinations has announced that the results of the 2026 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination have been released online, and can be viewed on the department’s official website: www.doenets.lk
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya departed Sri Lanka on Monday, 31 August, to undertake an official visit to Bhutan to participate in the Global Conscious Food Systems Summit, scheduled to be held in Bhutan.
During her visit, Prime Minister Dr Amarasuriya participated in the opening plenary of the Summit on 1 September, where she delivered a keynote address under the theme “Rising to the Moment: Igniting Consciousness to Address the Polycrisis.”
The Prime Minister will also engage in discussions with international leaders and representatives on strengthening cooperation towards sustainable food systems, food security and resilient communities.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
MoU signed for technology to prevent wild elephant-train collisions
Grade 5 scholarship exam results released
Prime Minister participates in Global Conscious Food Systems Summit in Bhutan
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Muneeba, Pakistan’s spinners knock Thailand out of Asia Cup
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