News
Vietnam, Sri Lanka sign agreement education
Deputy Minister of Education and Training of Vietnam Prof. Nguyen Van Phuc and Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Vietnam, Dr. A. Saj U. Mendis has signed the Education Cooperation Agreement between the two countries for the period of 2024 to 2026.
The Agreement was initially signed in 1999 and was periodically extended as it served as a predominant framework focused on advancement of collaboration in the sphere of education and training, mostly for Sri Lankan students, researchers and academics, amongst others. The Agreement was inked at the Ministry of Education and Training in Hanoi, Vietnam, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Vietnam said in a statement.
The Agreement is all-encompassing since it facilitates exchange of information relating to the development and innovation, cooperation between universities and academic institutions between the two countries, exchanges of academics, collaborative research and scholarships for students on a long-term basis.
During the signing ceremony at the Ministry of Education, Minister Nguyen Van Phuc emphasized the seminal and pivotal role education plays in socio-economic development in any given country, be it a developing country or an advanced country, it added.
The Minister accentuated the significance Vietnam places on education since it has contributed to the meteoric economic transformation and rise of Vietnam during the last two decades. He further added that today Vietnam attracts and woos FDIs in excess of USD 30 billion and exports over USD 360 billion in a given year, primarily due to the highly competitive, competent, and adaptable human resource base of the country, the statement highlighted.
Dr. Mendis, during his opening remarks, placed on record that the economic and commercial transmogrification of Vietnam was, fundamentally, attained within a relatively short period of time, which few countries could match. Ambassador Mendis further enunciated that the GDP per capita in 1990 was only USD 90 and today it has risen 50 fold to reach a GDP per capita of USD 4,500.
He also added that he was very impressed by the proficiency of English language, mostly, of the younger generation, which in turn, would be a positive attribute for the future of Vietnam. Dr. Mendis, whilst expressing deep appreciation for the assistance and cooperation extended by Vietnam to Sri Lanka over the years, stated that over 2,500 years ago the sagacious philosopher, Confucius, encapsulated the intrinsic value of education as “Education breeds confidence, confidence breeds hope and hope breeds peace”.
The delegation of Sri Lanka consisted of Minister Counsellor, Kethma Rajapaksa Yapa and officials of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Hanoi whilst the delegation of Vietnam consisted of Director General, Nguyen Thi Thanh Minh, and senior most officials from the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam.
The Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) has contributed LKR 25 million to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund.
The cheque was handed over to the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake by the Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange, Dimuthu Abeyesekera, the Chief Executive Officer Rajeeva Bandaranaike and Senior Vice Chairman Kusal Nissanka at the Presidential Secretariat.
News
Karu argues against scrapping MPs’ pension as many less fortunate members entered Parliament after ’56
Former Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressing concerns over the proposed abolition of MPs’ pensions.The letter was sent in his capacity as Patron of the Former Parliamentarians’ Caucus.
In his letter, Jayasuriya noted that at the time of Sri Lanka’s independence, political participation was largely limited to an educated, affluent land-owning elite. However, he said a significant social transformation took place after 1956, enabling ordinary citizens to enter politics.
He warned that under current conditions, removing parliamentary pensions would effectively confine politics to the wealthy, business interests, individuals engaged in illicit income-generating activities, and well-funded political parties. Such a move, he said, would discourage honest social workers and individuals of modest means from entering public life.
Jayasuriya also pointed out that while a small number of former MPs, including himself, use their pensions for social and charitable purposes, the majority rely on the pension as a primary source of income.
He urged the President to give due consideration to the matter and take appropriate action, particularly as the government prepares to draft a new constitution.The Bill seeking to abolish pensions for Members of Parliament was presented to Parliament on 07 January by Minister of Justice and National Integration Dr. Harshana Nanayakkara.
Five suspects, including former Minister Johnston Fernando and his two sons, who were arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), were further remanded until 30 January by the Wattala Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
The former Minister’s , sons Johan Fernando and Jerome Kenneth Fernando, and two others, were arrested in connection with the alleged misuse of a Sathosa vehicle during Fernando’s tenure as Minister.
Investigations are currently underway into the alleged misuse of state property, including a lorry belonging to Lanka Sathosa, which reportedly caused a significant financial loss to the state.
In connection with the same incident, Indika Ratnamalala, who served as the Transport Manager of Sathosa during
Fernando’s tenure as Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade, was arrested on 04 January.
After being produced before the Wattala Magistrate’s Court, he was ordered to be remanded in custody until 09 January.The former Sathosa Transport Manager was remanded on charges of falsifying documents.
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