News
USD 441.42 mn funding: Indian team here to inspect projects
Sri Lanka has received USD 441.42 mn from Exim Bank of India to carry out four projects. Of them, two projects have been completed. A three-member team from the Exim Bank of India visited Sri Lanka recently to review the progress of Polgahawela and Aluthgama Integrated water supply projects, being implemented under the Buyer’s Credit facilities under the National Export Insurance Account (BC-NEIA) Programme. The team, which included Shilpa Waghmare, General Manager; Mitali Pendharkar, Assistant General Manager and Ranjan Roy, Chief Manager, paid a courtesy call on the High Commissioner of India, Shri Gopal Baglay on December 9, 2021 and briefed him about the progress of the projects and their visit.
The following is the text of the statement issued by the Indian High Commission in Colombo: “Exim Bank of India has extended Buyer’s Credit of USD 441.42 million, to support 4 (four) projects in Sri Lanka, of which 2 (two) projects have already been completed. For the 2 (two) ongoing Integrated water supply projects at Polgahawela and Aluthgama, a support of USD 91.80 mn and USD 164.90 mn respectively, has been provided to the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, Sri Lanka (NWSDB). The project at Polgahawela is being executed by VA Tech Wabag Ltd and the project at Aluthgama by Ion Exchange (India) Ltd. Both the projects have achieved almost 90% physical progress.
“During the visit, the Exim team visited project sites at Aluthgama and Polgahawela to assess the progress of projects and interacted with the Contractors. The Exim Bank team held meetings with senior officials of Department of External Resources, Ministry of Finance of Sri Lanka and NWSDB in Colombo, to inter alia, review and discuss way forward for early completion of the 2 projects. They also discussed projects which could be taken up under the BC-NEIA Programme in the future.
“The water supply projects in Sri Lanka are community-centric priority projects. A project for supply, erection and commissioning of a water treatment plant and distribution to 9 reservoirs across Dambulla region has already been successfully executed by VA Tech Wabag Ltd under Buyer’s Credit.
“It may be noted that the BC-NEIA is a concessional loan facility extended by India Exim Bank to sovereign governments and their nominated government-owned entities (parastatal agencies) for execution of projects in certain sectors. Presently, 91 countries are in the positive list under the BC-NEIA Programme.”
The official appointment letters for the members of the newly established “Cricket Transformation Committee” (CTC) were handed over on Monday (04) by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.
The following members received their letters of appointment at the Ministry premises:
Sidath Wettimuny
Thushira Radella
Prakash Schaffter
Ms. Avanthi Colombage
The Ministry also noted that veteran cricketers Roshan Mahanama and Kumar Sangakkara, who are key members of the committee, are currently overseas. Their official appointments will be formalised immediately upon their arrival in Sri Lanka.
The Cricket Transformation Committee has been mandated to oversee the administration and drive structural reforms within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in accordance with the powers vested in the Minister under the Sports Act No. 25 of 1973.
Three prison guards attached to the Welikada Prison have been arrested by Borella Police following the death of an inmate on Monday (04).
‘Bar Association must reveal its stand’
Civil society group ‘Free Lawyers’ has requested Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena to probe whether political pressure was brought on a Magistrate, or a High Court Judge, in respect of an ongoing high profile case.
Speaking to The Island on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers,’ Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon said that they felt the urgent need to seek the CJ’s intervention, following the May Day declaration by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake that the verdict of a case that was heard on 30 April would be given on 25 May. Tennakoon said that addressing the NPP’s main May Day rally at Maharagama, the President asked the people to be ready to celebrate that verdict. The President couldn’t have said so if he hadn’t been aware of the impending verdict, Tennakoon said, while emphasising the responsibility on the part of the Bar Association to state its position on the issue.
‘Free Lawyers’ recently captured pubic attention following its exposure of the theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury.
Responding to a query, Tennakoon said that on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers,’ Maithri Gunaratne, PC, on Monday, 4 April, wrote to both CJ Surasena and President of the Bar Association Rajeev Amarasuriya.
Alleging that President Dissanayake’s declaration caused immense harm to the independence of the judiciary and raised controversy over the judgement that would be given on 25 May, ‘Free Lawyers’ organisation also asked the CJ to inquire into whether the entire judicial process was under political pressure.
Tennakoon said that they expect the Bar Association to reveal its position on President Dissanayake’s statement. Tennakoon pointed out that during the May Day address, President Dissanayake made reference to 15 cases that were to be taken up during this month, whereas Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister, as well as Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake, mentioned nearly 10 names of politicians, both sitting and former lawmakers, to be summoned beginning, May.
Tennakoon said that the NPP appeared to have used May Day to counter growing accusations over the Colombo port container controversy, coal scam, Rs 13.2 bn NDB fraud and theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury and USD 625,000 from the Sri Lanka Postal Service.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
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