News

Japan extends further support to demining activities in SL

Published

1 year ago

November 28, 2023

editor

Japanese Ambassador in Sri Lanka – Mr. Mizukoshi Hideaki yesterday (Nov. 27) signed the grant contracts of two demining projects under the scheme of “Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP)”, with Ms. Cristy McLennan, Country Director of the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) and Mr. Stephen Hall, Programme Manager of the HALO Trust.

The Government of Japan has provided a total sum of US$ 729,925 (approx. Rs. 238 million) for these two projects with MAG and the HALO Trust to extend its support for humanitarian demining activities in the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka. Japan has been a major donor in demining activities in Sri Lanka since 2002, and the total amount of assistance exceeds US$ 44 million.

It is expected that these projects by MAG and HALO will together contribute to resettlement and livelihood support for a total of 10,977 IDPs (internally displaced people) in the Northern and Eastern provinces.

The development of the conflict-affected areas is one of the priority areas of Japan’s official development assistance policy to Sri Lanka.

Ambassador Mizukoshi strongly reiterated that the Government of Japan has been committing its role as a leading donor in demining activities and will continue to provide the necessary support to achieve “Mine-Impact-Free Sri Lanka”.

Commenting on the provision of this grant, Ms. Cristy McLennan stated;

“Since the beginning of the Sri Lanka Mine Action programme in 2002, Japan has been a major donor in the area of mine clearance. Through assistance from the Government of Japan alone, MAG has released over 3,300,000 square meters of contaminated land and removed more than 16,500 Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) remaining in the ground from over two decades of conflict. This new project is expected to clear an additional 194,896 square meters of ground in the North and East of Sri Lanka, reducing the threat of death and injury to resident and returning communities and enhancing the livelihoods of 5,577 people. It is expected that the land made safe through this project will be used for agricultural development, access to infrastructure as well as to natural resources. MAG has worked in Sri Lanka since 2002 to help rid the country of the scourge of landmines and other ERW, employing over 1,000 staff across eight districts of the country. We are so proud to be receiving this critical, continued support from the Government of Japan today and we hope our partnership continues until Sri Lanka becomes mine free.”

Mr. Stephen Hall stated; “The HALO Trust is very grateful to the Government of Japan for its continued trust and generous support – they are our longest-supporting donor. 21 years of humanitarian assistance to clear the explosive remnants of war in Northern Sri Lanka has helped HALO to find and destroy over 283,000 anti-personnel landmines and release 117 km2 of previously contaminated land. This has enabled the safe resettlement of over 280,000 internally displaced people (IDPs). Funding from Japan also provides a stable income and livelihood for hundreds of local women and men. The continued support from the Government of Japan to The HALO Trust and three other mine action operators is bringing the Government of Sri Lanka one step closer to towards meeting its Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty obligations of clearing the country of all known mine and other explosive contamination by 1 June 2028”.

News

Only half of Sri Lankans brush teeth twice a day

Published

2 hours ago

March 20, 2025

editor

Available statistics suggest that only 50% of Sri Lankans brush their teeth twice a day, the Health Ministry has stated.

This was highlighted during a press briefing in Colombo yesterday (March 19) held to mark the World Oral Health Day which falls today (March 20).

Speaking, Consultant Dental Surgeon and vice secretary of the Sri Lanka Dental Association – Dr. Nilantha Ratnayake has stated that this leads to tooth decay, heavily impacting oral health.

He also noted that 3/4 of Sri Lankans inflicted with oral diseases have been identified to be hailing from low income households.

Dr. Ratnayake further stated the high consumption of sugar and not using toothpaste with fluoride as major reasons for oral health issues in Sri Lanka.

News

Gazette revises import export regulations

Published

2 hours ago

March 20, 2025

editor

An extraordinary gazette notification has been issued, revising multiple import and export regulations, including a significant update permitting Bureau Veritas inspection certificates for vehicles imported from all countries.

A Gazette Extraordinary has been issued yesterday (March 19) revising amending multiple import and export regulations.

The revised regulations include a key change allowing Bureau Veritas inspection certificates for vehicles imported from all countries.

Accordingly, Sri Lanka Customs is required to verify the authenticity of documents online before clearing motor vehicles.

News

Lanka Sathosa riddled with corruption : Mujibur (Video)

Published

2 hours ago

March 20, 2025

editor

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP for the Colombo district Mujibur Rahman made a startling revelation about irregularities and malpractices at Lanka Sathosa, and charged that a tender for system audit had been offered to a company that belongs to Duminda Hulangamuwa who now serves as the advisor to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Delivering his remarks in Parliament during the budget debate, he said the previous tender for system audit which was opened on February 28, 2025 was scrapped since Hulangamuwa’s company had not been selected.

He charged that a fresh tender calling had been done purely for this particular company to qualify. The SJB MP charged that Lanka Sathosa is riddled with corruption in the purchase of supplies such as eggs and rice and transporting coconuts.

“In the past, Lanka Sathosa had always been tainted with corruption and fraud. Today, it is under the purview of a Minister who spearheaded the anti-corruption watch at that time. Despite your past role in an anti-corruption movement, you have miserably failed to address corruption at an institution which is under your purview. You raised your voice against corruption and fraud at that time. Today, you have failed. I wonder whether you remain silent or are incapable of addressing it. Or else, I wonder whether you pretend to not know anything,” he said.

Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe was present at that moment.

He said that the current Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lanka Sathosa had interfered in the tender process for rice purchases, and an audit inquiry is now underway in this regard. He said the Acting CEO had been appointed initially as Deputy General Manager- Internal Audit.

“Now, he operates in two positions,” Rahman said.

Responding to the allegation,Minister of Trade Wasantha Samarasinghe said there has been no violation of tender procedures in awarding the systems audit contract to a company of Presidential Advisor Duminda Hulangamuwa.

Denouncing the allegation, Minister Samarasinghe said any company which is qualified will be awarded contracts irrespective of ownership.

“The opposition alleged that a contract had been awarded to a company which is said to be owned by the President’s advisor. However there has been no violation of procedures in awarding the contract. A company owned by anyone can secure a contract if it is qualified. A number of government contracts have been awarded to a number of companies owned by a few members of the present Parliament. I don’t want to reveal their names,” he said.

(dailymirror.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailymirror.lk on March 19, 2025, has not been edited by SLM staff)