News

President instructs amendment of the Land Act to suit current development needs

Published

12 months ago

May 11, 2023

editor

President Ranil Wickremesinghe instructed the relevant officials to amend the existing ordinances regarding lands to suit the current development needs.

The President also informed to appoint a suitable committee to speed up the work.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe issued these instructions during a discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (10) evening, on amending the provisions of the ordinances of land management institutions and introducing new regulations.

Pointing out that the land policies brought during the colonial period are still being implemented in the country, the President also said that the ordinances brought at different times related to land use are not in line with the development needs of the time.

It was also discussed at length about the preparation of a new National Land Policy by removing the existing obstacles in providing land for development activities.

The President instructed the officials to resolve the issues of the lands under the Provincial Councils through a Land Commission.

The President also instructed the officers to identify the details of the land owners in the Grama Niladhari Divisions and the amount of land that is currently utilized and the amount of land that has not been utilized and prepare a report at Divisional Secretariat levels.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe informed the officers to take steps to redistribute among the public the lands acquired for Government purposes but not yet utilized, and in the future to acquire lands for Government purposes by paying the market value of the respective lands.

In order to avoid the delay in the works of the Survey Department and the Valuation Department, the President also instructed to take steps to fill the vacancies in those departments promptly.Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to the President on National Security Mr Sagala Ratnayake, Secretary to the President Mr. Saman Ekanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government Mr. K.D.N. Ranjith Asoka, Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism & Lands Mr. H.M.B.P. Herath, Secretary to the Ministry Of Wildlife & Forest Resources Conservation Mrs. R.M.C.M. Herath, Secretary to the Ministry of Irrigation U.D.C Jayalal, Secretary to the Ministry of Plantation Industries Mr. Janaka Dharmakeerthi and other Government officials were present at this discussion.

(President’s Media Division)

News

Basil meets Indian High Commissioner

Published

2 hours ago

April 27, 2024

editor

Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa met Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha yesterday (27) and discussed.

The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka conveyed a X message regarding the meeting, highlighting discussions on matters of mutual interest, including the political situation.

This meeting between Basil and the Indian High Commissioner occurred after his departure from the position of National Organizer of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, adding a significant dimension to the encounter.

Before Basil met the Indian High Commissioner, President Ranil Wickremesinghe had also met earlier this week.

In a separate development, the Indian High Commissioner also held a meeting with Minister of Power and Energy, Mr. Kanchana Wijesekera.

The Indian High Commission issued a statement regarding this meeting as well, although specific details were not provided.

News

Sri Lanka allows German research vessel’s port call amidst diplomatic clarification

Published

2 hours ago

April 27, 2024

editor

Sri Lanka has allowed a German research vessel for replenishment in Colombo port for the second time following the clarification from the island nation’s Foreign Ministry after Chinese protest.

“It’s the same German research vessel came last month. It came around New Year time when it was returning and the ship was allowed,” a top Foreign Ministry official told Economy Next referring to Sri Lanka’s traditional New Year celebrated on April 14.

Another Foreign Ministry official confirmed the German research vessel’s Colombo port call.

The Foreign Ministry last month clarified a confusion related to ban on foreign research vessels.

It said Sri Lanka will allow offshore research ships for replenishment at the island nation ports despite the one-year ban on such vessels.

The clarification came after strong protest by China over Sri Lanka allowing the same German research vessel last month.

Chinese Embassy in Colombo raised strong protest against the move to allow a German research vessel early in March following the island nation’s authorities turned down a Beijing request for a research vessel in February.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government has temporarily halted foreign research ships after strong security concerns raised by neighbour India and the United States following the visit of two Chinese research vessels in 14 months.

When the ban was announced, the government failed to specifically reveal its stance on requests for replenishment or crew change for foreign research vessels.

Sri Lanka is in the process of introducing a SOP (Standard Operation Procedure) for handling foreign research vessels and to improve the capacity of relevant officials in handling foreign research ships.

Two Chinese research ships were allowed to dock in Sri Lanka ports within 14 months through November 2023 with one called for replenishment and the other for research.

Chinese research ship Shi Yan 6 arrived in Sri Lanka in October 2023 and docked in Colombo port, for what Beijing citing was for “geophysical scientific research” in collaboration with the island nation’s National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA).

In August 2022, Chinese navy vessel Yuan Wang 5 docked at Hambantota in southern Sri Lanka for replenishment.

Both drew strong Indian protests citing security concerns in the Indian Ocean.

India uses the Colombo port as its main transshipment hub and accounts for around 70 percent of the total transshipment volume of the port.

(economynext.com)
(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by economynext.com has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

Complaint filed alleging assets being misused for President’s political activities

Published

16 hours ago

April 26, 2024

editor

Today (26) the Socialist Youth Union (SYU) filed a complaint with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) calling for a probe into the alleged misuse of assets owned by the National Youth Services Council (NYSC) for the political activities of current President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The SYU submitted a formal complaint to the CIABOC today (26) afternoon.

The complaint is filed against Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports – Harin Fernando, Ministry Secretary – Dr. Kanapathipillai Mahesan, and Chairman of the NYSC – Pasindu Gunaratne.

Speaking before the media, Eranga Gunasekara, the national organizer of the SYU said, NYSC vehicles bearing the numbers NA 9099, NB 1389, NB 3384, NB 3383 had been misused for the UNP rally held in Kuliyapitiya on March 10.

He has also said a dance troupe of the NYSC, used for the rally, is yet to be paid.