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Foreign Ministry attends to monumental task of repatriating thousands of Lankans stranded overseas

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The process of repatriating Sri Lankans stranded overseas, one of the most pressing challenges at hand, has been spearheaded by the Foreign Ministry under the direction of Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, the Foreign Ministry has said.

The Foreign Ministry has said in a media statement: “Since the evacuation of 33 students from Wuhan City, in February 2019, the Ministry has been carrying out the task of repatriation for almost a year now and to date 60,470 Sri Lankans, composed of pilgrims, students, Officials of Government or Armed Forces, migrant workers, short term visitors, seafarers and cases on compassionate grounds have been repatriated from 137 countries by the Ministry through the Sri Lanka Missions overseas. 

“Over 40,000 migrant workers, predominantly from the Middle East region have been the top segment of overseas workers who have benefitted so far, in addition to another 20,000 Sri Lankans, who have been brought down from Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin American regions. As the conditions abroad deteriorate and due to the large number of layoffs and other causes of unemployment, the number of prospective returnees keep rising and currently an estimated 68,000 more overseas Sri Lankans from various regions have been wait listed by the Ministry for repatriation.

 “The latest fortnightly schedule of flights finalized to be operated between 2 and 9 January 2021, will include 1400 passengers from Chennai, Melbourne, Kuwait, Doha, Canada, Cyprus and Dubai, Foreign Secretary Adm. Jayanath  Colombage has stated.

” Most importantly the Ministry and its 67 Missions continue discussions with friendly nations, UN Agencies and regional organizations and have secured as grants and donations large consignments of PCR test kits, RAT kits, test machines, lifesaving medicines, Ventilators, humidifiers and huge quantities of PPEs and face masks towards reinforcing the national Covid containment efforts which has spared the Government from incurring a huge sum of funds. The Missions are also closely following the developments with regard to manufacturing of vaccines and serving as a conduit of vital and timely information on the feasibility of sourcing the vaccine from foreign governments.

“The Ministry as measures of immediate relief, air lifted over 10,000 packs of dry rations and indigenous medicines to Male, Dubai and Doha for the first time in the history of Sri Lanka and has given around Rs.80 Million so far for the sustenance of our communities overseas. The funds were aimed at supplying basic medicine, testing, tempo accommodation, protective gear, internal transportation and in some cases the air tickets.”



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Dinesh seeks explanation from Tilvin and Nihal

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Dinesh

Appointment of NPP MPs to next Parliament:

MEP leader and former Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that the electorate had a right to know how the NPP intended to appoint its MPs on the district basis under the Proportional Representation system and from the National List.

Gunawardena said so over the weekend in response to a query posed by The Island. He said the NPP and JVP could be taking contradictory positions on this issue as the latter repeatedly assured the electorate over the years that they wouldn’t promote preferential votes or manape.

Addressing an election rally in Matara, Dinesh Gunawardena asked whose methodology the NPP would adopt where the selection of the NPP MPs for the next Parliament was concerned. “Will it be JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva’s or NPP Secretary Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe’s?” he asked.

Gunawardena said Tilvin

Silva for the last 25 years had sent names chosen by the party as MPs, not necessarily on the basis of manape. That method had been extended to the National List too, Gunawardena said.

Dr. Abeysinghe is contesting from the Kalutara district on the NPP ticket. Addressing a public rally at Matara, Gunawardena said one-time Auditor General S.C. Mayadunne had once been compelled to

resign as a National List MP after being in parliament for a day or two to enable the JVP to appoint its stalwart Sunil Handunnetti to Parliament via the National List.

New Democratic Front (NDF) main rally held in Matara was also attended by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, former Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, former Minister Kanchana Wijesekara, former MP Yadamini Gunawardena, all candidates contesting under ‘Gas Cylinder’ symbol, former representatives of provincial council, local government institutions.

NDF contestants consist mainly of an influential breakaway faction of the SLPP and the UNP that supported Ranil Wickremesinghe’s candidature in the last presidential poll. Wickremesinghe polled 2.2 million votes and was placed.

The MEP leader, who heads the NDF’s NL, said that the NDF had the most experienced contestants and was confident that the electorate would consider them. (SF)

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Jaffna candidate Sashikala alleges attackers not apprehended

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Sashikala Raviraj

Democratic Tamil National Alliance Jaffna district contestant Sashikala Raviraj has alleged that though she had been attacked by her political opponents recently, police were yet to apprehend the perpetrators.

The accusation was made in the wake of display of posters in Jaffna giving a wrong preference number. The widow of assassinated TNA MP Nadarajah Raviraj said that her

 house in Jaffna had come under attack and in another incident unidentified persons had thrown stones at the vehicle in which she was travelling in the Chavakachcheri area.Sashikala contested the last parliamentary election on the ITAK ticket but unsuccessfully.

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SL’s request to join BRICS on hold as group decides not to expand for the moment -Vijitha

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Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath yesterday told The Island that a section of the media had misinterpreted a decision taken by the current membership of BRICS not to expand the organisation for the moment as rejection of Sri Lanka’s application to join the organisation.

However, the grouping has accepted Sri Lanka’s request to become a member of their New Development Bank (NDB), Herath who is also the Cabinet spokesman said.

Established in 2015 by BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), the NDB is a multilateral development bank aimed at mobilising resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging markets and developing countries (EMDCs).

By providing such alternatives, BRICS countries challenge the influence of the U.S. and the West in global finance.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued the following statement regarding Sri Lanka’s application for BRICS membership: “As approved by the Cabinet on 7 October 2024, Sri Lanka applied for membership in BRICS and the New Development Bank (NDB). The Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath wrote to his counterparts in BRICS member countries informing of Sri Lanka’s interest to join. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also wrote to his Russian counterpart in this regard.

At the BRICS Outreach Summit held in Kazan, Russia 22-24 October 2024, Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane, as leader of the Sri Lanka delegation announced Sri Lanka’s interest. At the Summit, the BRICS Member States also endorsed a new category of Partner Countries, whilst ‘welcoming the considerable interest by countries of the Global South in BRICS’ (Kazan Declaration).

Pending requests for BRICS membership from many countries including Sri Lanka will be considered by BRICS member countries in due course.

Sri Lanka’s intention to join the New Development Bank was welcomed by the President of the New Development Bank. The Foreign Ministry together with relevant Government agencies will review the procedures and timing in this regard.

There is no truth in the statement carried in certain local media that “Sri Lanka’s BRICS application has been rejected”. It is regrettable that the points made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the post-cabinet media conference on 6 November 2024 have been misrepresented.”

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