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Help assist economic recovery of Sri Lanka – Acting HC of India

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Acting High Commissioner of India – Vinod K Jacob has called upon Sri Lankan Malayalis to work together with the High Commission of India in Colombo and our Consulates in Jaffna and Hambantota as well as our Assistant High Commission in Kandy to assist the economic recovery of Sri Lanka.

He had made these remarks during the New Year celebration of the Sri Lankan Malayali Association in Colombo on Jan. 15.

“I call upon the Sri Lankan Malayalis to work together with the High Commission of India in Colombo and our Consulates in Jaffna and Hambantota as well as our Assistant High Commission in Kandy to assist the economic recovery of Sri Lanka. Kindly stand shoulder to shoulder with your fellow Sri Lankans and act as a bridge between India and Sri Lanka. I am sure you will do so since such values are ingrained in all people with their roots from Kerala,” he said.

Mr. Vinod K. Jacob had further said :

I thank the President, Executive Committee, Office bearers and members of the Sri Lanka Malayali Association for inviting me to their New Year celebrations here in Colombo today. At the outset, let me convey my best wishes to all of you for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2023. I also extend my wishes for an auspicious Thai Pongal.

Since this is my first public engagement after the recent 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh from 8 to 10 January 2023, I would like to take this opportunity to convey hearty congratulations to Mr. Kumar Nadesan for the coveted Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award that was conferred on him by Hon’ble President of India, Mrs. Droupadi Murmu for valuable contribution to the welfare of the community. Mr. Kumar Nadesan is the second Sri Lankan national, after Mr. Mano Selvanathan in 2011, to receive this prestigious award.

We are also meeting just two days after the participation of the President of Sri Lanka, H.E. Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe at the concluding Leader’s session of the Voice of Global South Summit hosted by Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

In his remarks at the concluding Leader’s session, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi highlighted the opportunity for uplifting societies and economies of the Global South through a shared vision and agenda for change. In this endeavour, he offered to share India’s experiences through simple, scalable and sustainable solutions. He highlighted India’s achievements in vaccine development, biometric based identification, digital public goods, financial inclusion, satellite technology, digital governance, last mile connectivity, etc. He also spoke about the need for the developing world to have access to technology, knowledge and critical resources. His call for a new human centric development paradigm received widespread support from participating Leaders.

Prime Minister also announced a number of new initiatives by India in connection with the Voice of Global South Summit including the Aarogya Maitri, Global South Centre of Excellence, Global South Science and Technology Initiative, Global South Young Diplomats Forum and the Global South Scholarships.

Friends,
You are all aware that guided by ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, Government of India places high emphasis on the well-being of the people of Sri Lanka. Unprecedented financial, economic and humanitarian assistance of close to USD 4 billion in 2022 clearly underscore our commitment to our brethren in Sri Lanka. India and her people rose to respond to various requirements of the Sri Lankan people in a prompt manner through our multi-pronged assistance.

In this context, I call upon the Sri Lankan Malayalis to work together with the High Commission of India in Colombo and our Consulates in Jaffna and Hambantota as well as our Assistant High Commission in Kandy to assist the economic recovery of Sri Lanka. Kindly stand shoulder to shoulder with your fellow Sri Lankans and act as a bridge between India and Sri Lanka. I am sure you will do so since such values are ingrained in all people with their roots from Kerala.

In my view such values are writ large in the background of the historical migration of Keralites and the manner in which they have contributed positively to the evolution and growth of the host countries and societies. 

Friends,
The more prominent analyses of migration outside Kerala that people are generally familiar with are the movements to the Gulf. But historically speaking, in the earlier decades of the 19th century, the lure of employment opportunities in the rubber plantations and construction sectors in Malaya, Singapore, Burma and Ceylon attracted youth from the Kerala region.

Thereafter, there was reverse movements from these foreign lands due to immigration bottlenecks. The focus of emigration then shifted to the Gulf and subsequently to Western countries like USA, Germany, UK and Canada as well as some African nations.

In my view, five major factors become prominent in explaining the migration, namely, (i) the condition of the society in Kerala, (ii) the role of agriculture and farming in Kerala, (iii) the lack of employment opportunities despite the strides in educational sector, (iv) the impact of familial ties and (v) the general trend of migration to Bangalore, Hyderabad, Tamil Nadu and north India.

According to one assessment, mass migration of labour from the Kerala state was due to the loss in the agricultural sector, lack of sufficient employment opportunities, the spread of education and attainment of high health parameters, which finally lead to a demographic transition resulting in an expansion of the population in the working-age group.

Another view is that two distinct “turnarounds” exist in the migration experience of Kerala. The first “turnaround” started with the Second World War and the independence in 1947 when Kerala became closely integrated with other Indian states. During this period, for the first time, Kerala became a net out-migration state with migration to Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkatta and Delhi and other metros exceeding the numbers who came into Kerala. The second “turnaround” (in the 1970s) witnessed a shift from predominance of out-migration to a predominance of emigration.

In all these movements, the people from Kerala have generally tended to live harmoniously with the societies in which they settled in. And the situation in Sri Lanka is also similar. This is your strength and I encourage you to continue with such an attitude.
Friends,

2023 is also the year of India’s G20 Presidency. The theme of India’s G20 Presidency – “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth · One Family · One Future” – affirms the value of all life – human, animal, plant, and microorganisms – and their interconnectedness on the planet Earth and in the wider universe. The theme also spotlights LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), with its associated, environmentally sustainable and responsible choices, both at the level of individual lifestyles as well as national development, leading to globally transformative actions resulting in a cleaner, greener and bluer future.

For India, the G20 Presidency also marks the beginning of “Amritkaal”, the 25-year period beginning from the 75th anniversary of its independence on 15 August 2022, leading up to the centenary of its independence, towards a futuristic, prosperous, inclusive and developed society, distinguished by a human-centric approach at its core.

In the days, weeks and months ahead, the Government of India will be providing many opportunities to engage with the G20 Presidency. A visit to the cities where the G20 meetings are held will demonstrate how the common man is being actively involved in this endeavour. I would like to take this opportunity to encourage all of you to travel to India during the year.

Thank you.


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Maithri ordered to provide statement before court

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The Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court has ordered former President Maithripala Sirisena to provide a statement to court on April 04, based on the recent comments he had made over the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings.

The order was issued today (28) after the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had reported the relevant facts to the court, on the instructions of the Attorney General.

Mr. Sirisena had made this statement on March 22 and several factions had subsequently filed complaints with the Criminal Investigation Department in this regard.

The former President had even recorded a statement for around five-hours with the CID on Monday (March 25) over his recent comments.

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Sinopec to commence work on refinery project by June

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Minister of Power and Energy – Kanchana Wijesekera has stated that officials of the Sinopec Overseas Investment Holding Pvt Ltd (SOIHL), led by their vice President, had visited the ministry yesterday (March 27).

Tweeting, the minister added that the delegation updated on the progress of the negotiations with stakeholders for the construction of the proposed new refinery in Hambantota.

Noting that the officials indicated that the management of Sinopec has decided to double the capacity of the refinery from the original proposal and the Investment, he added that they intend to sign the agreements for the project and commence work by June 2024.

Discussions regarding the water supply, power supply, land allocation & BOI facilities will take place today with the relevant authorities, the Minister further noted.

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New online reporting system to combat child sexual abuse, launched

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The launch of an online platform enabling the swift removal of websites, photos, and videos containing or potentially containing instances of child sexual abuse took place today (March 28) at the Presidential secretariat under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.Recognizing the urgency of addressing child abuse in cyberspace, this initiative targets the dissemination of nude photos and indecent videos of children through internet and social media channels. Implemented by the National Child Protection Authority in collaboration with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), renowned for its expertise in internet child safety enforcement, this program receives financial support from Save the Children and Child Fund.

Following the implementation of this online system, individuals can now visit the website of the National Child Protection Authority at www.childprotection.gov.lk to report incidents of indecent photos and videos of children exchanged online. These reports will be handled by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) in collaboration with the National Child Protection Authority. Subsequently, the offending videos will be promptly removed from the internet, and legal action will be pursued against the perpetrators.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing this event said;

“For several decades, this sector has been neglected. The government has indeed neglected it, and the attention it warranted has not been provided. The magnitude of the problem now is such that resolving it within a year seems implausible. We lack the capacity to address the issue comprehensively; therefore, we must employ a variety of strategies.

Firstly, short-term recommendations must be promptly implemented. We propose that the existing committee include stakeholders from the government, specifically authorities in child care and probation services, along with representatives from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, and the police force. Strengthening police numbers, particularly in women and children’s desks at every police station, is imperative. This effort must be coordinated with measures against drugs.Additionally, we must consider establishing a new structure and enacting new legislation. I advocate for the formation of a Children’s Council to oversee both the promotion of children’s interests and their protection. The management of probation and child care services should be devolved to the nine provinces, as I believe this responsibility does not necessarily belong to the central government.”

He added that immediate action should be taken on short-term recommendations, while the process of enacting new legislation pertaining to children’s rights should also be expedited.

For further information, contact the Law Enforcement Division at 011-2778911 extension (269) or visit the official website www.childprotection.gov.lk.The launch of this online initiative was attended by Minister of State for Women and Child Affairs and Social Empowerment, Ms Geeta Kumarasinghe, Chairman of the National Child Protection Authority, Senior Lecturer Mr Udayakumara Amarasinghe, Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and Social Empowerment, Ms Yamuna Perera, and representatives from various organizations dedicated to ensuring child safety.

(President’s Media Division)

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