News
Implement Indo-Lanka agreement as soon as possible, says Moragoda
Sri Lanka’s former High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda has emphasised the pivotal importance of Colombo and Delhi quickly moving to the implementation phase of the agreement on ‘fostering partnership for a shared future.’ The former Minister said that the implementation should begin as fast as possible.
He said so in response to The Island queries regarding the Indo-Lanka relations in the wake of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s meet with Indian Premier Narendra Modi. Referring to the joint statement that had been issued on 16 Dec., Moragoda said: “It is a comprehensive statement that covers a number of areas that are important to the Indo-Lanka relationship and Sri Lanka’s own economic development.
The statement has a significant number of action points, the execution of which can now be monitored by the two leaders during their future summits to ensure timely implementation.
The statement blends the positive foundations and trajectory set by previous joint-statements with aspects that are important components of President Dissanayake’s own policy agenda. One such example is the focus on people-centric digitization.
Speedy economic integration and connectivity with India while safeguarding our sovereignty and territorial integrity is the only way in which Sri Lanka can become a fast growth economy and come out of the present crisis. Sri Lanka needs to grow at 6% -7% pa to deliver a better life for our people. This understanding between the two leaders is a good beginning.
It is now important that the two sides move to the implementation phase as fast as possible.
The financial resources required to achieve these objectives are available and can be mobilized and harnessed.
The joint-statement indicates that the UAE has expressed interest in investing in the multi-product pipeline. This is an important development towards trilateral cooperation in investment between India, Sri Lanka and third countries.
Trilateral cooperation of this nature could be explored with other countries, including Japan, the US, etc., as well.” (SF)
Three newly appointed Court of Appeal Justices were formally sworn in before President Anura Kumara Disanayake today (11), at the Presidential Secretariat.
Accordingly, the appointments were conferred upon High Court Judges W.K.S.U. Premachandra, K. Priyantha Fernando and A. Premashankar.
Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was also present at the occasion.
News
Cabinet approves payment of annual subscription to International Solar Alliance and to and sign Country Partnership Framework
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the following proposals presented by the Minister of Power and Energy.
• To pay US$ 25,000 as an annual subscription continuously from 2024/25 financial year
• To establish Solar Technology Application Resource Center (STAR-C) in Sri Lanka.
• To sign the Country Partnership Framework between Sri Lanka and the International Solar Alliance
The International Solar Alliance has been established with the objective of supporting the measures taken by the member countries to promote the use of solar energy. So far, 75 countries, including Sri Lanka, have taken the membership of the Alliance, and 54 countries have ratified the Partnership Framework Agreement. According to the category that includes Sri Lanka, US$ 25,000 should be paid as an annual subscription. As a member country, Sri Lanka has the potential to acquire benefits from the International Solar Alliance relevant to the field of solar power, such as capacity building through the Solar Technology Application Resource Centers (STAR-C), policy development, access to funds, global networking, and sharing of knowledge.
It has been noted that the provisions of the Industry Promotion Act No. 46 of 1990 existing at present are not sufficient to compile industry policies that enable fulfilling the contemporary requirements in the fields of technical, trade, skills, and environment in the industry sector. Therefore, approval has been granted to amend the said Act at the cabinet meeting held on 08-03-2021.
At present, the legal draftsman is in the process of amending the said Act, and the legal draftsman has shown the necessity of obtaining the policy consent of the present cabinet of ministers for the function of amending the Act.
Accordingly, taking into consideration the proposal presented by the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to grant the policy consent for the expeditious completion of the function of preparation of the said draft.
Three new Court of Appeal Justices sworn In
Cabinet approves payment of annual subscription to International Solar Alliance and to and sign Country Partnership Framework
Cabinet nod to amend industry Promotion Act No 46 of 1990
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