News
US Foreign Affairs Committee member Dina Titus advocates stronger US-Sri Lanka bonds
United States Congresswoman Dina Titus, also a member of America’s vital House Foreign Affairs Committee, advocates strong bonds between the U.S. and Sri Lanka through a vigorous democratic process.
An active member of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Sub-Committee on Asia-Pacific – under whose purview Sri Lanka falls – encourages critical reforms to rule of law and democracy in this South Asian nation.
Reminding the Biden administration’s broader foreign policy goal is centered on safeguarding and strengthening of human rights, Congresswoman Professor Dina Titus said that she was proud to work with Sri Lankan expatriate community – with whom she has closer working relationship–and the other Members of the Congress to strengthen the relationship between the two nations.
Dina Tutus throughout her professional life, previously professor of political science at the University of Nevada and currently in the American legislature, has been a strong Sri Lanka friend and advocate of Sri Lankan progress through America’s socio-economic engagement.
She made these remarks giving the keynote address at the Annual Session of the Sri Lanka-American Association of Las Vegas in Nevada, an organisation that has taken a lead role in recent months lobbying the US Congress – both the Senators and House Members – to increase the supply of COVID-19 vaccines to Sri Lanka, which was achieved, while encouraging principal members of the House Foreign Relations Committee to communicate to the Biden administration’s Secretary of State Antony Blinken the vitality of providing Sri Lanka temporary mobile medical units in vulnerable districts.
Congresswoman Dina Titus was one of the signatories to that communication. The Sri Lankan expatriates were aiming at getting the involvement of the Indo-Pacific Military Command to set-up the medical units.
She said, addressing the Sri Lankan expatriate community in several western American states who gathered at the annual session of the Sri Lanka-America Association of Las Vegas – graced by Sri Lanka Consul-General of the Western States of the U.S. Dr. Lalith Chandradasa and Sri Lanka’s World Cup winning Cricket Captain Arjuna Ranathunga – “I am proud to serve on House Sri Lanka Caucus and US House Democracy Partnership with legislative strengthening partnership with Sri Lanka we started in 2016.”
Continuing her address Congresswoman Dina Titus said: “I work with other members to strengthen Sri Lanka-United States relations. During the pandemic when Covid-19 continued to rise in Sri Lanka, the United States provided relief assistance with critical vaccines to Sri Lanka.
“My interest in Sri Lanka was enhanced because of my membership in the US House Democratic Partnership that coordinated with democracies to strengthen their legislatures and share best practices on oversights, constituent outreach and peaceful governance.
“We must continue with the legislative strengthening partnership with Sri Lanka that we started in 2016. They are critical to rule of law and democracy reforms. I continue to be a partner in democracy in Sri Lanka and it is critical in geo-political importance in the region.”
The Sri Lanka Navy rendered assistance to bring ashore an ill fisherman, who was aboard a local multi day fishing trawler on the high seas south-west of Sri Lanka, about 881 nautical miles (1631km) off Dondra. Initially, the fisherman was taken aboard a Merchant Vessel in the sea area, on being coordinated by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo. After being brought ashore today (15th October 2024), he was rushed to the National Hospital of Colombo, for medical attention.
The local multi day fishing trawler “Sun City 02” (Reg No. IMUL-A- 1671 MTR) was reported to have left the Dikkowita Fisheries Harbour with 06 fishermen on 29th August 2024 on a fishing voyage. Meanwhile, the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR) alerted MRCC Colombo established in the Navy Headquarters that a crew member onboard the fishing trawler has developed an abdominal illness, and requested Navy’s assistance to transfer him ashore for treatment.
In the meantime, a nearby Merchant Vessel named ‘MV – CCNI Andes’ was directed to the trawler’s location to provide assistance, through the coordination of MRCC Colombo.
With the assistance of MRCC Colombo, the Merchant Vessel managed to retrieve the fisherman and he was brought to the Colombo Offshore Patrol Limit (OPL) by this morning, while administering first aid.
Following this, the Sri Lanka Navy dispatched a Fast Attack Craft (FAC), attached to the Western Naval Command, to the Colombo Offshore Patrol Limit (OPL), where they took on board the ill fisherman and brought him ashore.
The Sri Lanka Navy in coordination with MRCC Colombo continues to exemplify its dedication and unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives within Sri Lanka’s search and rescue jurisdiction, serving as a beacon of hope and security for seafarers and the fishing community.
Although, approval had been granted at the cabinet meeting held on 21-08-2024 to make remedial measures for the unfavorable effects to the fishing industry due to the considerable increase of the price of fuel, the said decision has not been implemented so far.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Agriculture, Land, Livestock , Irrigation, Fisheries and Water Resources to provide following concessions for a period of six (6) months with effect from 01-10-2024 with the objective of uplifting the economic condition of the fisheries community.
• To grant an allowance of Rs.25 per liter of diesel, subject to the maximum of rupees 300,000 per month for fishing vessel owners who utilise diesel.
• To provide “fishing industry recovery allowance” of Rs 25/- per liter of kerosene for vessel owners who obtain kerosene as a fuel, subject to a maximum of 15 liters of kerosene per day and 25 days per month.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the President to reestablish the Food Policy Committee comprising of the following officers.
• Secretary to the President
• Secretary to the Prime Minister
• Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, Policy Compilation, Planning and Tourism
• Secretary, Ministry of Power and Energy
• Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Land, livestock, Irrigation, Fishery and Water Resources
• Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Council, Local Government and Labour
• Secretary, Ministry of Trade, Commercial, Food Protection\, Cooperative
Development, Industry and Entrepreneurship, Development
• Ministry of Health
• Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation
• Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Wildlife, Forest Resources, Water Supply, Plantation and Community Infrastructure Facilities
The food policy committee had been established as per the cabinet decision dated 03-10- 2022.
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