News
State Minister Semasinghe explains measures taken to shore up country’s foreign reserves
By Saman Indrajith
Samurdhi, Household Economy, Micro Finance, Self-Employment and Business Development State Minister Shehan Semasinghe told Parliament yesterday that the country’s net foreign assets were worth USD 1.507 Bn as at November, this year.
The state minister said so while making a ministerial statement on behalf of the Ministry of Finance in response to a question raised by JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake on a previous date.
State Minister Semasinghe said that the government had taken the necessary measures to increase its reserves.
The state minister detailed the measures taken by the government through the following: 1. USD 1 Bn SWAP facility with the Central Bank of Qatar, 2. USD 400 Mn SWAP facility with the Reserve Bank of India (SAARC), 3. USD 300 Mn loan from the Consolidated Loan Facility.
“We have made the necessary arrangements to obtain 500 million USD through currency swaps with the partnership of various global commercial banks,” he said.
The state minister said Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa during his visit to India reached an agreement for fuel purchases, while the government also had reached agreements for the purchasing of essential goods and medicines.
Sri Lanka aimed for a US$ 12 Bn export revenue by the end of 2021, he said, adding that remittance would also boost the reserves.
The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dr. Harini Amarasuriya is on an official visit to Paris, France to participate in the high-level segment of the International Expert Conference on ’An Integrated and Sustainable Approach to Safeguarding the World Heritage Property of the Sacred City of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka and Associated Living Heritage’ which was to be held at UNESCO Headquarters today [Tuesday 1 April], with the participation of the Director-General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay.
The Conference, organized by UNESCO in partnership with Sri Lanka, brings together leading international experts to discuss sustainable strategies for the conservation of Anuradhapura, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of immense cultural and historical significance.
On the sidelines of the Conference, the Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet senior interlocutors of the French Government to discuss bilateral cooperation and areas of mutual interest.
The Delegation of the Prime Minister includes the Minister of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) BUNGO and ETAJIMA arrived at the port of Colombo on a goodwill visit this morning (01 Apr 25).
The visiting ships were welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with naval traditions.
The 141m long JMSDF BUNGO is an Uraga-Class Minesweeper Tender commanded by Commander TANAKA Koji and the ship is manned by a crew of 125.
Meanwhile, JMSDF Etajima, a 65-meter-long Minesweeper, is under the command of Commander Oda Takayuki and operates with a crew of 54 personnel.
During the stay in the island, crew members of the ships will explore some tourist attractions within the city of Colombo. The ships are scheduled to set sail from Colombo on 04 Apr.
“You and your families will be eliminated”
By Norman Palihawadane and Hemantha Randun
A full-scale investigation has been launched to track down an underworld character, ‘Navy Dinesh,’ a key accomplice of Ganemulle Sanjeewa, for issuing death threats over the phone to three police officers, including the Gampaha HQI, Crime Branch OIC, of the same police station, and others.
Navy Dinesh is believed to have fled the country.
According to police sources, threats were issued following the arrest of Navy Dinesh’s father and brother in connection with a drug trafficking case.
Phone analysis reports have confirmed that the calls originated from Dubai and France.
Following the murder of Ganemulle Sanjeewa, Navy Dinesh assumed leadership of the underworld gang he had previously been involved with.
Navy Dinesh contacted the Gampaha HQI, the OIC of the Crime Branch, and the investigating police constable, and threatened to kill them and their family members. “You and your families will be eliminated,” he said.
A special police team had been assigned to investigate the matter, and a report has been submitted to the courts, police sources said.
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