News
Rejuvenation of SL-US dialogue initiated by Lankan expatriates; Amb counters US resolution
With the active participation of the new Sri Lanka ambassador to Washington Mahinda Samasasinghe and the United States Congresswoman Susie Lee, a group of Sri Lankan expatriates in the U.S. activated a zoom meeting on December 14 which proved effective toward the rejuvenation of relations between the two nations.
The Sri Lankan expatriates who were conscious of the importance of the two nations establishing a greater understanding of issues initiated this dialogue bringing socio-economic diplomacy as the basis of the discourse among the US-based Sri Lankan diplomatic leader, American lawmakers and expatriate activists whose professionalism in recent times saw the establishment of a Chamber of Commerce on the American soil in this hour-long zoom meeting.
Ambassador Mahinda Samarasinghe cogently explained the misinformation that has gone into the text of the Sri Lankan Resolution now before the House Foreign Affairs Committee to urge US Congresswoman Susie Lee to be cautious if it comes her way for her endorsement. He reminded that despite the progress much had to be achieved, since the end of the separatist war in 2009 Sri Lanka has undertaken progressive steps toward reconciliation and to consolidate harmony among all ethnic communities. He thanked the United States for its assistance in providing 2.7 million vaccines and 17 million dollars to ease the situation created following the outbreak of the Covid pandemic. He reminded that the U.S. had always come forward to assist Sri Lanka at times of need such as in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami disaster.
Ambassador Samarasinghe noted that his task was to bring the two nations closer, and toward that he had already met with State Department officials and lawmakers in the US Congress.
Congresswoman Susie Lee was invited to join the US Congress Sri Lanka-America Caucus to which she sounded favorable. Ambassador Samarasinghe said he would have a further dialogue with Ms. Susie Lee regarding the matter.
In response, U.S. Congresswoman Susie Lee, a friend of many expatriates who attended the zoom meeting, declared the importance of strengthening the bonds between the two nations and said she was prepared to work with the Congress to assist Sri Lanka in whatever manner. She patiently listened to the contributions of the expatriates the importance of the two nations working together.
The zoom meeting was initiated by the president of the newly inaugurated Sri Lanka-America Chamber of Commerce Sanje Sedera who was joined by the Chamber’s president-elect for the Years 2023-2025 Aruna Abeyakoon. Establishing close discourses between the Sri Lankan expatriates and American lawmakers become possible due to the close rapport Mr. Sadera had developed with Members of the Senate and the House over two decades.
The principal administrative official of the California-based Sri Lanka Foundation Kashini Wijegooneratne apprised how the expatriates coordinated with medical personnel in Sri Lanka with the assistance of the American side to provide emergency medical equipment to needy districts in Sri Lanka.
One of the issues that emerged at the December 14 Zoom Meeting was the importance of Sri Lanka and the United States working together to settle the misunderstanding of issues such as human rights and national ethnicity. It was brought to the attention of the zoom meeting that there were longstanding misinterpretations of national issues that need to be corrected to have a stronger bond between the two nations. In fact, Ambassador Samarasinghe at the outset said that the Resolution on Sri Lanka before the House Foreign Affairs Committee was not a balanced one.
Since the arrival of Sri Lanka’s new diplomatic envoy Mahinda Samarassinghe to Washington two weeks ago the Sri Lankan expatriates have been exploring avenues to have a better diplomatic rapport between the two nations. The expatriates who established the Sri Lanka-America Chamber of Commerce on December 9 with the blessings of many American lawmakers – both Senate and House – were targeting the enhancement of trade, commerce and investment cooperation between the two nations. It is with these twin objectives – economic and diplomatic cooperation – that the Sri Lankan expatriates held the Zoom Meeting, one of a series of discourses among expatriates, Sri Lankan diplomats and American lawmakers and policymakers.
The countrywide dengue outbreak has intensified, with the death toll rising to 50, by July 16, as the number of reported infections surpassed 73,000, according to the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU).
The country has recorded 73,455 dengue cases so far this year, with the case fatality rate standing at 0.07 percent, highlighting the severity of the ongoing outbreak.
The Western Province continues to remain the worst affected region, accounting for more than half of the total cases, with 38,700 infections. The Gampaha District has recorded the highest number of cases in the province with 15,341, followed closely by Colombo with 14,625.
The Southern Province has reported 11,382 cases, while the Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces have each recorded more than 6,000 infections.
Dengue cases have shown a sharp increase in recent months, with June recording the highest monthly total of 21,538 cases, while July has already reported 18,076 infections. In comparison, 8,590 cases were reported in May, and 5,651 in April.
Health authorities have identified 175 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas as high-risk locations during the 27th epidemiological week. An average of 2,677 new dengue cases are being reported daily, prompting authorities to intensify prevention and mosquito control measures.
The Colombo High Court yesterday (17) resumed hearing the money laundering case filed against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The proceedings were held before High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga, where evidence was recorded from prosecution witnesses, under the direction of Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara.
President’s Counsel Sampath Mendis, appearing for Yoshitha Rajapaksa, cross-examined the witnesses during the hearing.
After recording evidence, the court ordered that further examination of evidence be postponed until July 24.
The Attorney General has filed indictments, alleging that Yoshitha Rajapaksa committed an offence, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, by purchasing five plots of land in Dehiwala and Ratmalana, valued at more than Rs. 73 million.
Former IGP Chandana Deepal Wickramaratne died after sustaining a gunshot injury at his residence, in Thalangama, yesterday (17), with police saying preliminary investigations indicate that the incident was a suspected suicide.
Kaduwela Magistrate Aruna Indrajith Buddhadasa, on Friday, ordered the Officer-in-Charge of the Malabe Police Station, Police Inspector Pradeep Ranasinghe, to conduct a formal investigation into the death and submit a report to court on its progress.
The order was issued after the Malabe Police Station presented facts before court regarding the incident.
According to police, the Malabe Police Station received information from the Police Unit of the Colombo East Base Hospital, in Mulleriyawa, that Wickramaratne, who resided in the Thalahena area, within the Malabe Police division, had died after being admitted to hospital, with gunshot injuries.
Police Spokesman ASP F.U. Wootler said Wickramaratne had allegedly used the firearm of his personal security officer and shot himself at his residence.
Police said the shooting had taken place at his residence on Parakum Road, Thalangama, on Thursday morning, before he was due to leave for his regular exercise routine. He was rushed to the Colombo East Base Hospital, in Mulleriyawa, with serious injuries but was pronounced dead upon admission, police said.
The deceased’s remains were placed at the Colombo East Base Hospital, where a post-mortem examination was scheduled to be conducted.
ASP Wootler said three police teams have been appointed to investigate the incident. Further investigations are being conducted by the Crime Division of the Western Province South Range and the Malabe Police Station.
Wickramaratne, 63, served as the 35th Inspector General of Police of Sri Lanka from November 27, 2020, to November 23, 2023.
He joined the Sri Lanka Police in 1986 as a Probationary Assistant Superintendent of Police and later served in several senior positions.
A graduate of the University of Colombo and the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, he also served as Acting IGP for more than a year, from April 28, 2019, before being appointed IGP, in November 2020.
He retired from the post of Inspector General of Police, in November 2023.
by Norman Palihawadane ✍️
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