News
Govt. response to RTI query contradicts its original claim on programme with Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
The Presidential Secretariat said that the government hadn’t reached any consensus with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change on a programme to be conducted here.
The Presidential Secretariat said so in response to The Island seeking clarification in terms of the Right to Information (RTI) Act regarding the National People’s Power (NPP) government reaching an agreement on a programme.
Managing Director of the Asia Pacific Advisory Division of the Tony Blair Institute, Jaleel Rashid, and Head of Government Relations for the Asia Pacific team, Anna Aden, met a delegation, led by Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President on 11 June, at the Presidential Secretariat.
Responding to The Island RTI query, the Presidential Secretariat said that the meeting took place on a request made by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.
Asked whether the government entered into an agreement with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, the Presidential Secretariat replied “No.”
According to the Presidential Secretariat response to another query, the government hadn’t decided to enter into an agreement with the UK head-quartered group nor decided on what services the government required.
However, following the 11 June meeting, the Presidential Secretariat claimed that four key institutions would receive financial and technical assistance and their intention was to identify the priorities of the new government. The Presidential Secretariat identified the four institutions that were to receive financial and technical assistance as the Ministry of Digital Economy, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Export Development Board and the Board of Investment.
The Presidential Secretariat further claimed that representatives of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change agreed to visit each Ministry, observe the respective programmes closely, and provide the necessary support.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya met with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dr. Kristalina Georgieva, at Temple Tress on the 17th of February
Dr. Georgieva, commended the Government’s efforts in stabilizing the country’s economy and in managing recent economic and natural shocks. She noted that Cyclone Ditwah had caused severe impacts, especially on economically vulnerable communities, underscoring the importance of targeted support and resilience-building measures.
The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the IMF’s continued support to Sri Lanka, particularly in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. The PM further emphasized that real economic recovery and development must directly benefit the economically vulnerable groups and ensure inclusive growth, highlighting the need for Sri Lanka to attract quality and sustainable investments, particularly in the tourism sector.
The importance of reforming the education system to focus not only on knowledge acquisition but also on skills development and employability was also discussed
The meeting was attended by the Chief of Staff of the IMF Managing Director Andreas Bauer, Director, Asia and Pacific Department, Dr. Krishna Srinivasan Division Chief (Strategic Communications), Communications Department, Pierre Mejlak Resident Representative for Sri Lanka Dr. Martha Woldemichael, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, and Deputy Governor Dr. C. Amarasekara, Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri and Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatta.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution forwarded by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to relocate the Deniyaya Base Hospital after constructing a new hospital with a capacity of 300 beds at an estimated cost of Rupees 6,000 million.
The Southern Provincial Department of Health has acquired a plot of land in Handford estate which is approximately 03 kilometres away from the town for this purpose.
News
Cabinet nod to legally empower methodology for implementing the ‘Praja Shakthi’ poverty alleviation national movement
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the resolution furnished by the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment to instruct the Legal Draftsman to draft a bill to legally empower the implementation of ‘Praja Shakthi’ (Strength of the Community) poverty alleviation national movement
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