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Indonesian aid for needy Sri Lankan families

Published

3 years ago

2022/08/19

On August 17, 2022, the Indonesian Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Dewi Gustina Tobing, handed over a donation package worth LKR 2.5 million to the Sri Lanka in need after the flag-hoisting ceremony commemorating the 77th Indonesian Independence Day, which took place in the Indonesian Embassy courtyard in Colombo.

The event, which took place at 9.20 am, was attended by the Indonesian Community reside in Sri Lanka, representatives of the Sri Lanka Indonesia Friendship Association (SLIFA), Sri Lanka Malay Association (SLMA), religious representatives and other guests. In addition, other Indonesians in Sri Lanka and the Maldives who could not attend in person were also joined through online.The flag-hoisting ceremony was led by Major Achmad Febryanto, an Indonesian military officer currently studying at the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) in Sri Lanka, while the flag-raising personnel are Dita Setiawan, Nisa Nurfitriani and Zakat Siregar.

After the flag-hoisting ceremony, Ambassador Dewi Gustina Tobing, in her remarks thanked the Indonesian people in Sri Lanka that attended the ceremony. Ambassador Dewi also expressed high appreciation to representatives of the Sri Lankan community that attend the event. “August 2022 is a special month for Indonesia considering that there are two important events, namely the 77th Anniversary of Independence Day of Indonesia and the 70th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Indonesia and Sri Lanka,” said Ambassador Dewi.

“Today, we handed over a donation package, consisting of various types of food, as a form of solidarity and friendship,” said Ambassador Dewi. The fund of the donation was collected from the Indonesian community in Sri Lanka and the Maldives as well as from the Indonesian community in Western Australia, of where the Ambassador was posted earlier.

Ambassador Dewi Tobing symbolically handed over the donation to the representatives of religions organization in Sri Lanka, i.e. to the Venerable Watinapaha, the Director of Education of State Ministry of Dhamma Schools, Parivenas and Bhikku Education; Ramachandra Kurukkal Babu Sharma, the Secretary of International Hindu Religious Federation; Reverend Father Anura Perera, Director of Department of Social Responsibility Methodist Church; and to the Muslim community represented by Rilwan Careem the General Secretary of Malay Association.

Ambassador Dewi further said that in the context of 70 years of diplomatic relations Indonesia-Sri Lanka and the 30th Anniversary of SLIFA, the Indonesian Embassy in Colombo and SLIFA is organizing a charitable bazaar in October 2022 in helping Sri Lankan in need. “In April 2022, Indonesia has provided humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka in the form of medicines and medical equipment worth US$ $ 1.6 million”, said Ambassador Dewi.

The flag-hoisting ceremony, complemented by the cutting of Nasi Tumpeng (the cone-shaped rice dish), as the Indonesian traditional symbolizing of gratitude. Ambassador and the Indonesian community also song Indonesian patriotic songs to show respect and dedication to their beloved country.

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Our government has reaffirmed its commitment to breaking barriers that limit women’s full participation in the economy, recognizing their vital role in national development. – Dr. Harini Amarasuriya

Published

4 hours ago

2025/03/15

Priyan

“Women play a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s economic and social development. Yet, despite their immense contribution, structural barriers continue to limit their full participation in the economy. Our government is committed to breaking these barriers by fostering an inclusive economic environment where women can thrive as business leaders, entrepreneurs, and exporters.” Said Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya

The Prime Minister made this statement while addressing the launching the She Trades Sri Lanka Hub funded by the UK’s She Trades Commonwealth+ Program held at Galle face Hotel in Colombo on March 14 organized by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) and the International Trade Centre (ITC).

While addressing the audience, the Prime minister stated, the government has reaffirmed its commitment to breaking barriers that limit women’s full participation in the economy, recognizing their vital role in national development. Emphasizing gender-inclusive policies, financial inclusion, and access to global markets, authorities are prioritizing support for women-led businesses in key sectors such as ICT, agribusiness, and engineering.

A new initiative will establish 200 women-led cooperatives, fostering supportive environments for female entrepreneurs. Additionally, efforts to strengthen childcare, elderly care, and disability services aim to reduce the burdens that limit women’s economic participation.

A dedicated platform has been launched to provide women entrepreneurs with knowledge, networking, and international trade opportunities. Strengthening public-private partnerships and expanding global market access are key strategies to create an inclusive and sustainable trade ecosystem.

By equipping women with the necessary skills, financial resources, and digital trade access, the government aims to ensure that women entrepreneurs become key drivers of economic growth, aligning with broader policies for inclusive and sustainable development.

The event was attended by Ms. Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director of the International Trade Center, His Excellency Andrew Patrick, British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Officials from the International Trade Center and the British High Commission in Sri Lanka, Chairman of the Export Development Board Mr. Mangala Wijesinghe and Officials from Export Development Board and International Trade Centre and woman Entrepreneurs.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

News

Batalanda Commission report tabled … finally

Published

10 hours ago

2025/03/15

Thilina Walpola

by Saman Indrajith

TheBatalanda Presidential Co-mission report was tabled in Parliament yesterday (14) by the Leader of the House and Transport Minister, Bimal Ratnayake.

Minister Ratnayake announced that the government has decided to forward the report to the Attorney General for legal advice. Additionally, a Presidential Committee will be appointed to provide guidance and recommendations on how to proceed with the findings of the report.

Ratnayake said that the Cabinet-of-Ministers, along with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has made a policy decision to take necessary action in response to the report. He reassured the public that steps are being taken to ensure that such a dark chapter in the country’s history is never repeated.

Minister Ratnayake said that a two-day debate on the Batalanda Commission report will be scheduled in Parliament at an appropriate time, allowing for a detailed discussion on the report’s findings and recommendations.

The report, which will be printed in all three official languages—Sinhala, Tamil, and English—will be made available to the public in the near future. Ratnayake confirmed that printed copies would be provided to Members of Parliament, as well as the general public, for review.

The Leader of the House revealed that there are 28 evidence volumes associated with the Commission’s work, which will be submitted to Parliament at a later date for further scrutiny.

Ratnayake said that as the entire country is concerned about the findings of the Batalanda Commission, the government’s commitment to addressing the issues raised, and preventing future atrocities, stands clear. The next steps, including legal action and policy recommendations, will be shaped by expert advice and informed parliamentary discussions, he said.

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COPE finds fake documents submitted for emergency procurement of drugs

Published

10 hours ago

2025/03/15

Thilina Walpola

The Parliamentary watchdog Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has found that there were fake documents regarding the importing of medicines under the emergency procurement system in 2022 and 2023.

This was revealed during a COPE meeting held at Parliament probing the transactions of the National Medicine Regulatory Authority (NMRA).

NMRA CEO Saveen Semage told the Committee that several fake documents have been found due to the lack of registration of medicines.

Stating that six such fake documents were found last year alone, Saveen Semage said he had recorded statements regarding each of the documents with the Financial Crimes Investigation Division.

He revealed that, however, no investigations have been conducted yet into the incidents.

“We have documents with confessions from a woman accepting that fake documents had been made. However, a statement has not even been recorded from that woman yet,” he said.

Meanwhile, COPE member MP Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana also revealed that the highest number of waive-off registrations (WOR) for medicines had been obtained in 2022 and 2023.

He said 656 waive-off registrations (WOR) had been obtained in 2022 and 261 in 2023, adding that this proves that discrepancies have taken place during the emergency procurement of medicines during these periods.

Furthermore, Deputy Director General of the Medical Supplies Division of the Health Ministry, Dr. G. Wijesuriya, said discussions are underway on allowing the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) to directly import essential medicines.He pointed out that it was essential to take a policy decision in this regard as a solution to mitigate such discrepancies.