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FSP accuses NPP Govt. of getting entangled in Indo-Pacific power struggle

The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) yesterday expressed concern about Sri Lanka becoming entangled in the ongoing Indo-Pacific power rivalries.The FSP Central Committee has in a media statement noted that the joint declarations with both China and India, within a span of a month, reflect Sri Lanka’s increasing involvement in these geopolitical rivalries.
The party called on the public to actively intervene to protect Sri Lanka’s economic, political, and geopolitical sovereignty, warning of the risks associated with the country being caught in the power struggles between major global and regional powers.
The statement comes in the wake of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s state visit to China from January 14 to 17, during which a joint declaration was issued. The declaration stated that both parties agreed to support the “One Belt, One Road” initiative and signed a cooperation framework for its implementation. It also highlighted plans to advance projects, such as the Colombo Port City and the Hambantota Port, as well as launch new livelihood programmes in line with China’s ‘Silk Road initiatives.
The statement pointed to the signing of an agreement with China’s Sinopec during the visit, allowing the construction of an oil refinery in Hambantota. This project, which has faced public opposition since its proposal during the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration, poses risks to Sri Lanka’s energy sovereignty, the FSP said.
While such projects are labelled as investments, they threaten Sri Lanka’s economic independence and national security, the statement said. The agreement to allow Sinopec to operate near the Chinese-controlled Hambantota Port raises concerns about losing key maritime revenue and creating a foothold for military facilities tied to external powers.
Similarly, ongoing discussions with India about oil pipelines and Trincomalee’s strategic development could further erode Sri Lanka’s control over its energy infrastructure, the statement warned.
The FSP criticized the government’s stance in these geopolitical negotiations and the lack of viable solutions from the parliamentary Opposition. It called on the working class and the broader public to organize and intervene to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and prevent the escalation of external dominance.
The FSP urged the public for collective action to address the economic, political, and military challenges facing the nation.
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President and representatives of IMF discuss progress of EFF

A comprehensive discussion regarding the progress of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) took place on Thursday (06) at the Presidential Secretariat, between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and the IMF delegation.
The current government has already reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF on the third review regarding the extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) of USD3 billion.
The details of this review are expected to be presented to the International Monetary Fund’s Board of Directors by the end of this month. In this regard, discussions were held regarding the progress and the government’s involvement in continuing the program moving forward.
Once the approval is granted by the IMF Executive Board, Sri Lanka is expected to release the fourth tranche of the extended loan, amounting to 333 million dollars.
The discussion was also attended by IMF Executive Director Dr. Krishnamurthy Subramanian, Alternate Executive Director Dr. P. K. G. Harischandra, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwadana, and Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe.
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New Commanders of the Tri-Forces meet the President

The newly appointed Commander of the Tri-Forces met with Commander-in-Chief, President Anura Kumara Disanayake on Thursday (6th) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat.
The meeting was attended by Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo, the new Army Commander; Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, the new Navy Commander and Air Marshal Vasu Bandu Edirisinghe, the new Air Force Commander.
Following tradition, the new commanders formally met with the President after assuming their duties. During the meeting, they also presented the President with a commemorative token.
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Musk reveals ‘crazy waste’ of USAID funds in Sri Lanka

USD 7.9 mn spent on teaching Lankan journalists how to avoid “binary-gendered language”
USAID has spent $7.9 million to teach Sri Lankan journalists how to avoid “binary-gendered language”, Elon Musk who heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) said in a post on X on Thursday.
Musk called it a “Crazy waste of your tax money!”
Musk’s criticism came with a detailed breakdown of USAID’s spending across various countries, which he argued reflects misguided priorities. According to a document Musk shared, USAID has funded a range of projects globally, including $20 million for a new Sesame Street show in Iraq, $4.5 million to “combat disinformation” in Kazakhstan, and $6 million to transform digital spaces to reflect feminist democratic principles.
The list also included $1.5 million for art projects promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities and $2 million for sex changes and LGBT activism in Guatemala. $10 million worth of USAID-funded meals, allegedly ended up in the hands of an al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group, the document states.
Other USAID programmes include $25 million for Deloitte to promote green transportation in Georgia, $6 million for tourism development in Egypt, and $2.5 million to foster inclusion in Vietnam. The documents also pointed to $5 million awarded to EcoHealth Alliance, a group linked to bat virus research at the Wuhan lab, and $20 million for an organisation tied to what Musk described as a “key player” in the Russiagate impeachment inquiry.
Further funds were allocated for various LGBT-related initiatives worldwide, including $5.5 million for LGBT activism in Uganda, $6.3 million for men who have sex with men in South Africa, $3.9 million for LGBT causes in the western Balkans, and $6 million for advancing LGBT issues globally. Additionally, $2 million was allocated to promote LGBT equality through entrepreneurship in Latin America, while $1.5 million was designated for LGBT advocacy in Jamaica.
The data also highlighted spending closer to home, with $1.2 million going to help the African Methodist Episcopal Church Service and Development Agency in Washington, D.C., build a 440-seat auditorium. A further $1.3 million was provided to Arab and Jewish photographers, while $1.1 million supported an Armenian LGBT group.
Musk criticised other expenditures as well, including $3.9 million for artisanal gold mining in the Amazon and $500,000 aimed at solving sectarian violence in Israel just days before the October 7 Hamas attack.
Attention was also drawn to USAID’s $150 billion “whole-of-agency” climate strategy, which outlines efforts to build an “equitable world” while pursuing net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
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