Sri Lanka to offer East Terminal development of Colombo Port to India

Sri Lanka has decided to vest in the development of the East Terminal of Colombo Port to India's Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd., a company of Adani Group belonged to billionaire Gautam Adani, reported Bloomberg website.

"Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. and a local partner received an in-principle approval to sign a deal with Sri Lanka Ports Authority, which will hold majority stake in the project," the report said.

The preliminary agreement in regard to this deal was signed in 2019 with the involvement of Japan as well. India, Japan, Australia and the United States have joined together to deal power in the Indo-Pacific region and Sri Lanka is under pressure to select either to partner with them or to select China's Belt and Road strategy. 

"India extended a $400 million currency swap facility to Colombo to assist with post-pandemic economic recovery. The two countries also discussed deferring of debt repayment during Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s first high-level virtual meeting since his re-election with India’s Narendra Modi in September," Bloomberg reported.

Before the parliamentary election in early August, the trade unions of Sri Lanka Ports Authority staged a protest demanding President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to deliver a written promise not to hand over East Terminal to any foreign country. The President promised to review the agreement but did not deliver the promise demanded by trade unions. 

The trade union leaders suspended the trade union action and went to a stressful silence after a visit to meet the government leaders. 

(Photo: Thanks to Bloomberg)

Steady spread of COVID-19 cases despite quarantine curfew in Sri Lanka

Despite lockdowns, the spread of COVID-19 seemed steady in Sri Lanka. The number of new cases reported yesterday was 409. The highest number of cases were reported from Gampaha district which is under a month-long curfew. 

146 cases were reported from Gampaha district. The majority of the cases were reported from Negambo, Kadawatha, Kelaniya and Kandana areas in Gampaha district. A number of cases were reported from Kaduwelaand Colombo city areas. 

Meanwhile, 47 cases were reported from Kalutara district. 

Minuwangoda and Peliyagoda cluster increased to 8,266 by yesterday. The total number of cases diagnosed in Sri Lanka is 11,744 now.

One person from Kilinochchi was diagnosed COVID-19 positive yesterday and all districts of Sri Lanka have COVID-19 cases now. 

23rd death was also reported yesterday as a 51-year-old woman from Colombo 15 was the victim.

The number of persons discharged from hospitals was 340 yesterday. The total number of recovered and discharged cases so far is 5,581. The number of active cases is 6,140.

Meanwhile, Rajagiriya, Kalubowila and Kelaniya camps of police Special Task Force (STF) were isolated yesterday as 56 STF officials were diagnosed positive for COVID-19. 

183 police personnel are also infected with COVID-19 by now. 

Source: National Operation Center for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak, Health Promotion Bureau

Prisoner killed in Sri Lanka's Monaragala prison

A prisoner has been killed in Monaragala Prison of Sri Lanka's Uva Province by prison officials. 

The officials have assaulted the prisoner as a retaliation to an attack by the prisoner against an official on duty.

The deceased was identified as Ulupitiya Gamage Nilantha. He is a 42-year old man from Ampara. (Updated)

Cricket visa racket of Sri Lankan born Australian busted

Sammy Kandage, a Sri Lanka born players agent, who lives in Melbourne now, has come under heavy scanner for obtaining Sports visa’s by unethical methods for first class cricketers from his motherland to provide them a chance to play club cricket in states like Victoria. Kandage, along with one of his colleague, has been accused for demanding thousands of dollars from the players to help in securing visas by allegedly doctoring their career profiles, so they can gain entry to Australia.

Read more in Cricket Age

Sri Lankan athlete Nimali Liyanaarachchi accused of trying to get a second house from state

Asian gold medalist Sri Lankan sportswoman, 31-year-old Nimali Liyanaarachchi is accused of attempting to unethically obtain state allocations for building a house, Divaina newspaper reports. 

Nimali Liyanaarachchi tried to obtain funds from the Ministry of Sports to complete building a house in Suriyaweva in Hambanthota district whereas she has already received one house from the state.  

Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), her employer, gifted her a house in Kottawa in Colombo district in 2016.

Nimali Liyanaarachchi won the gold medal for 800 meters in 2016 and 2017 Asian Games. 

(Photo from SLAF: Nimali Liyanaarachchi ceremonially receiving the 16th house constructed under the "Guwan Lak Sevana” Housing Project, Rukmalgama, Kottawa)

Sri Lanka Ministers Weerawansa and Cabral to provide solutions for import-related issues of local industries

As the local industries in Sri Lanka are facing immense difficulties due to the quarantine curfew and other restrictions, Minister of Industry Wimal Weerawansa said today that necessary actions would be taken within a week to solve the problems faced by the industries due to import restrictions. 

These import restrictions are valid since June 2020 and some industries are paralysed due to short supply of essential raw material that is not produced locally. The industrialists were complaining about these problems for months. Some of the affected industries are export-oriented producers.  

A discussion was held in the Ministry of Industry today regarding these problems under the patronage of Minister Wimal Weerawansa. State Minister for Money & Capital Market and State Enterprise Reforms Ajith Nivard Cabral also participated in the discussion. 

A decision was taken to prepare lists of imports that cannot be locally produced, that can be produced but needed to be imported temporarily and that must not be imported. The lists will be compiled by a committee comprised of officials of the two ministries, Sri Lanka Customs, Board of Investments and Lanka Industrial Development Board. 

Government earns a tax revenue 176% more than the profit of SLT amidst COVID-19

Sri Lanka government earned Rs. 11.8 billion tax revenue from Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) which is 176% above the net profit of the company.

SLT, a telecommunication service provider public and private partnership, has recorded 35% growth, Rs. 67.2 billion income and Rs. 6.7 billion net profit in the first nine months of 2020, performing brilliantly amidst COVID-19 pandemic, the company said in an advertorial published today. 

SLT has paid direct and indirect taxes of Rs. 11.8 billion to the government. The revenue the government earned from SLT is 176% higher than the companies net profit. 

Although SLT Peo TV, SLT Broadband and Mobitel Broadband revenue increased during this period, the revenue from voice calls of SLT and Mobitel declined compared to the last year, the company said.