<ul><li>Measure intended to curb misuse of public funds</li><li>Revised policy in effect from next cultivation season</li><li>Penalty mechanism to link support to verified cultivation</li></ul>The Government has announced a new policy aimed at strengthening accountability in the country’s agricultural subsidy programme, introducing penalties for farmers who receive advance fertiliser payments but fail to cultivate their land.&nbsp;The measure, according to Deputy Minister of Agriculture Namal Karunaratne, is intended to curb misuse of public funds and ensure that the State’s financial assistance directly supports active agricultural production.The revised policy, which will come into effect from the next cultivation season, will specifically target cases where farmers obtain upfront fertiliser subsidies without carrying out cultivation.&nbsp;Karunaratne explained that the decision followed concerns about inefficiencies and delays under the current system, in which the fertiliser subsidy is disbursed only after cultivation has begun.&nbsp;These delays, he noted, often hindered farmers’ ability to begin land preparation on time.“We decided to deposit the money before they commence cultivation,” Karunaratne said. “So they get a portion of the subsidy at the beginning itself and prior to commencing cultivation.”However, he acknowledged that the shift to an upfront payment model carried risks. Some farmers who may receive the initial instalment may fail to cultivate, creating what Karunaratne described as “auditing issues and accusations of corruption”.To prevent such abuse, the ministry has introduced a two-tier penalty mechanism to link financial support strictly to verified cultivation.Under this new rule, if a farmer accepts the first instalment but fails to cultivate, the Government will withhold the remaining payment for that season. Additionally, during the following cultivation cycle, the farmer’s fertiliser entitlement will be reduced by the value of the earlier disbursed sum.&nbsp;“Failure to cultivate after accepting State funds amounts to an abuse of public money,” Karunaratne stressed, adding that the policy was necessary to protect the integrity of the subsidy programme.Confirming the procedural timeline, Ministry of Agriculture Secretary D.P. Wickremasinghe stated that the ministry was currently issuing the fertiliser subsidy only after cultivation had commenced, as per the existing regulations.&nbsp;He clarified that the new system of pre-cultivation disbursement and corresponding penalties would take effect from the upcoming agricultural season, once the administrative and monitoring mechanisms were in place.Karunaratne maintained that while the Government would continue to assist genuine cultivators, those who failed to use public funds for their intended purpose had to face consequences.&nbsp;“Our goal is not to punish farmers but to ensure fairness and efficiency,” he said. “Every rupee given for cultivation must result in cultivation, or it will result in an abuse of State funds.”&nbsp;

Agriculture subsidies: Farmers put on notice 

<ul><li>Outcome could decide Sinopec’s investment move</li></ul> The Sinopec oil refinery project, which marks the largest-ever Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Sri Lanka’s history, is finally in its last stages, with the final agreements between the Chinese State-owned energy giant and the Board of Investment (BOI) now being finalised.Once these agreements are signed, construction on the multibillion-dollar oil refinery in Hambantota is expected to begin.Accordingly, the final agreement between China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) and the BOI will be signed shortly, paving the way for the commencement of construction of the $ 3.7 billion refinery project, which has faced several years of delay due to procedural and logistical challenges.Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Managing Director Dr. Mayura Neththikumarage told The Sunday Morning that discussions between the parties had reached the final stages.&nbsp;“The agreements are currently being finalised and the final agreement will soon be reached,” Dr. Neththikumarage confirmed.Sinopec, one of the world’s largest oil and gas conglomerates, signed an initial agreement with the Sri Lankan Government in January to accelerate the development of the Hambantota refinery located near the Hambantota International Port.&nbsp;The project, valued at $ 3.7 billion, is considered a landmark investment, addressing earlier issues related to water access, land allocation, and taxation – all of which have now been resolved.The refinery will have a processing capacity of 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day, and a significant share of its output will be allocated for export.However, the Sri Lankan authorities are currently evaluating the possibility of increasing Sinopec’s local sales quota from the present 20% to as much as 40%, which could enhance domestic fuel supply stability while allowing the company to expand its role in the local market.Meanwhile, in parallel to the Hambantota project, the evaluation of the Requests for Proposals (RFPs) submitted by interested parties, including Sinopec, for the refurbishment and expansion of Sri Lanka’s existing Sapugaskanda Oil Refining Complex has reached its final stages.According to the CPC Managing Director, the second round of screening has now been completed, and the results are expected within the next month.“We have now completed the second screening and are waiting for the results. The first evaluations are already completed. The results of the evaluation will be out in another month’s time,” Dr. Neththikumarage said.&nbsp;Earlier, it was reported that the CPC had received 20 Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the Sapugaskanda development, which were evaluated last week, and that the results of this process would play a decisive role in determining Sinopec’s course of action in Sri Lanka.The results of the EOI evaluation could have a significant impact on Sinopec’s final decision regarding whether to proceed with the Hambantota refinery investment, as the Government has yet to respond to Sinopec’s request to increase its domestic market share from 20% to 40%, it is reliably learnt.&nbsp;The outcome of the Sapugaskanda project evaluation, therefore, is being closely watched by all parties involved, given its implications for the future of Sri Lanka’s petroleum sector and the long-awaited Chinese investment.Sri Lanka’s petroleum sector is currently dominated by two key players – the State-owned CPC and Lanka IOC (LIOC), a subsidiary of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.&nbsp;The CPC operates the country’s only existing refinery at Sapugaskanda, which has a capacity of 50,000 barrels per day, and controls most of the nation’s fuel distribution network. In the first half of 2025, the CPC reported a profit of Rs. 18 billion, reflecting stronger performance following several years of financial challenges.&nbsp;LIOC, meanwhile, holds an estimated 18-20% share of the retail fuel market and operates over 260 fuel stations nationwide. The company also commands around 15.8% of the domestic lubricants market and 35% of the marine fuel supply market.&nbsp;

H’tota refinery deal nears final stage

The Ministry of Health has clarified that while Sri Lanka continues to face a significant shortage of medical consultants, the country’s cadre of medical officers remains saturated, even as Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa recently urged Sri Lankan doctors abroad to return and resume service.Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Ministry of Health Deputy Director General of Medical Services II Dr. Arjuna Thilakarathne explained that the shortage lay primarily in the consultant cadre, rather than among general medical officers.“In the consultants’ sector, we have a big shortage. The approved cadre for consultants is around 2,800, but we only have about 2,000 medical consultants. However, the out-migration is, I think, over. People are now starting to come back.”Dr. Thilakarathne noted that in contrast, the medical officers’ sector, referring to general practitioners appointed to hospitals and medical institutions, was currently filled to capacity.“However, that doesn’t mean we don’t need more doctors. To improve the quality of services, we are working to get approval to recruit more.”His comments come in the wake of Minister Jayatissa’s public appeal inviting doctors who had migrated to return and be reinstated in their former posts.&nbsp;In a statement during his official visit to the UK, Jayatissa addressed Sri Lankan specialist doctors living abroad and made a special request for medical specialists who had left to consider returning to Sri Lanka. He had expressly admitted to a shortage of specialist doctors.Dr. Thilakarathne, however, clarified that while returning doctors would strengthen the system overall, the immediate shortages were concentrated in specific specialities rather than in general practice.“We are mainly lacking in certain areas. Although we have a good number of physicians, surgeons, and gynaecologists, some remote areas and newly established base hospitals do not have sufficient consultants,” he explained.&nbsp;“We expect to fill those vacancies within about a year, as most consultants who have gone abroad for foreign training are expected to return.”He identified anaesthesiology, accident and emergency, neonatology, and plastic surgery as the key specialities experiencing ongoing shortfalls.When asked whether any of the medical professionals currently abroad had indicated their intention to return, he said that while many doctors left with an agreement to return after foreign training, not all followed through.&nbsp;

Sri Lanka short of 800 medical consultants

<ul><li>Denies reports of blanket allocation on request</li><li>Security to be provided based on threat assessment&nbsp;</li></ul> Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya has issued a clarification regarding security arrangements for Members of Parliament (MPs) and local authority members, refuting&nbsp; media reports that all MPs who request security personnel will receive them.During a meeting on Friday (31 October) chaired by Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne, the IGP confirmed that Police security provision was not an automatic entitlement for MPs and local authority officeholders simply on request.&nbsp;Rather, it remains contingent upon a formal threat assessment process.&nbsp;He also made it clear that the Police did not endorse the media narrative suggesting blanket allocations.Speaking to The Sunday Morning, IGP Weerasooriya rejected the notion that the Police had agreed to provide security personnel to all MPs on their request.&nbsp;He said: “I believe the media has reported a separate narrative, but we do not agree with that statement. It is not an automatic entitlement. Every person who has concerns about their security must make a request and security will be allocated based on a threat assessment.”The process for assigning security personnel to public representatives, according to IGP Weerasooriya, follows a strict, stipulated protocol driven by intelligence rather than mere request.This procedure begins when the Police convenes a meeting, followed by an initial inquiry and intelligence investigation.&nbsp;The Police then proceeds to evaluate the potential threat based on information gathered from both sides of the investigation. Crucially, security personnel are provided only when a credible threat is confirmed.&nbsp;The IGP explicitly asserted: “If there is no threat, we will not be giving any Police personnel.”&nbsp;He confirmed that security allocations were strictly based on objective intelligence findings and were not subject to a simple request or political decisions.The Friday session was convened at the request of Opposition parties, led by Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunatilleka, who sought a meeting with the Speaker to address mounting concerns over MPs’ safety, particularly following the recent assassination of Weligama Pradheshiya Sabha Chairman Lasantha Wickramasekara.&nbsp;The Opposition has heavily criticised the Government’s prior decision to reduce or withdraw personal security details for several legislators under the banner of fiscal retrenchment.Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) MP Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam affirmed that his security had been intact and had not been withdrawn even during the period when he was not an MP.“Credit where it is due – as politicians, we may have conflicts on policy matters, but on security there has been no lapse. I have been allocated security owing to threats to my life and the security has remained with me all along. It is now not an automatic entitlement for an MP, but based on threat assessment, so I am presently content with the security arrangements,” he said.Police Media Spokesperson ASP F.U. Wootler stated: “No person will be conferred special treatment. Every person is equally entitled to apply for security. Any person who applies will have to go through the threat assessment formalities and any decision for security allocation will only be made after that.”&nbsp;

IGP clarifies protocol on MPs’ security

Although discussions have commenced regarding the holding of Provincial Council (PC) Elections, it will not be possible to reach a final decision within this year, according to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government.Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government A.H.M.H. Abayarathna said that preliminary talks had already begun, but a final decision could only be made after careful consideration and consultation.“Discussions have already begun regarding holding PC Elections, but I don’t think a final decision will be made by the end of this year. This has been a long-standing issue and a decision will have to be made after considering all the factors and discussing it with other political parties and organisations. We have to reach a point where everyone agrees if we are to make a final decision.”The PC Elections have been on hold for several years due to a legal issue arising from an amendment introduced by the then Government during 2015-2020.Although Deputy Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government Prabha Ruwan Senarath had earlier said that the Government would begin the legal reform process for PC Elections after the Local Government Elections held in May, no visible progress has been made since then.Recent media reports indicated that the Government is examining the possibility of reverting to the Provincial Councils Elections Act of 1988 instead of the Provincial Councils Elections (Amendment) Act of 2017 to resolve the deadlock caused by disagreements over delimitation.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Election Commission (EC) has requested Rs. 10 billion in the 2026 National Budget to conduct the long-delayed polls.EC Chairperson R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said recently that such requests were made annually until the respective elections were held. He also explained that the delimitation work related to the PC Elections had already been completed and that the report had been submitted to Parliament a few years ago.However, the report had been rejected.“In the current situation, for the PC Elections to be held, it will have to be considered whether it can be conducted according to that delimitation report under the existing legal framework. If not, a new delimitation will be required, or the elections will have to be held according to the previous system,” he said.He added that if a fresh delimitation were to be pursued, it would take nearly a year to complete. Therefore, if the Government plans to move forward with that option, he suggested that the process would have to begin without delay.

No decision on PC Polls this year?

The newly-appointed Board of Directors of the Bandaranaike National Memorial Foundation (BNMF) is allegedly attempting to halt several key projects initiated under the previous board, according to sources within the foundation.Under the current National People’s Power (NPP) Government, six new directors have been appointed to the BNMF, which manages the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo.The BNMF is a non-profit organisation that operates independently without State funding, running several institutions and projects, including Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, using funds it generates internally.Sources told The Sunday Morning that the foundation currently holds deposits amounting to around Rs. 5 billion, built up from its earnings since 2015 after meeting all project-related expenses.The previous board, which had functioned voluntarily since 2015 under the chairpersonship of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, had initiated several projects during its tenure. Kumaratunga is still serving as the foundation’s Chairperson.However, inside sources allege that the newly-appointed board is seeking an allowance for attending board meetings and has already halted several key initiatives launched by the former board.&nbsp;Among these are the proposed establishment of Sri Lanka’s first Science Park in collaboration with a Canadian company and a joint project with the George Keyt Foundation to set up a George Keyt museum.“The new board has stopped these projects that were already in progress,” a source said, adding that many such initiatives had now stalled.Multiple attempts to contact Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi and Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Gamagedara Dissanayake, under whose purview the BNMF falls, regarding the allegations made, proved futile.Meanwhile, BNMF staff informed The Sunday Morning to reach out tomorrow (2) for comments.&nbsp;Built between 1970 and 1973 as a gift from the People’s Republic of China, the BMICH is one of Sri Lanka’s most prominent convention centres. Its management and maintenance fall under the purview of the BNMF.&nbsp;

BNMF to halt key projects?

Despite reports of a rice shortage in Colombo and its suburbs, Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce, and Food Security R.M. Jayawardana has assured that there is no shortage in the market at present.“The country has abundant available rice stocks. Earlier, there was a shortage of keeri samba, but that has now been resolved with fresh stocks arriving in the market,” he told The Sunday Morning.However, recent observations by The Sunday Morning suggest otherwise.&nbsp;Last week, major supermarkets in Colombo reportedly ran low on rice stocks, and many retailers selling keeri samba were seen keeping rice hidden from display, fuelling public concern.To address the shortage of keeri samba, the Government has imported a total of 3,500 MT of ponni samba, according to Sri Lanka Customs.&nbsp;The first consignment arrived on 23 October, with further shipments received in the last two days.The Cabinet of Ministers had earlier approved the importation of GR-11 grade ponni samba from 15 October as a temporary solution to the local shortage.&nbsp;The Government also exempted importers from obtaining import control licences, allowing each importer to bring in up to 520 MT, based on recommendations from the Food Policy and Security Committee.With these measures in place, the authorities maintain that the market will remain stable and that consumers will have access to essential rice supplies in the coming weeks.&nbsp;

No rice shortage, claims Govt. 

No final decision yetDiscussions related to the electricity grid connectivity project between Sri Lanka and India are progressing steadily, though a final decision is yet to be made, Ministry of Energy Secretary Prof. Udayanga Hemapala said.Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Prof. Hemapala explained that several rounds of discussions were still required between the two countries before a final conclusion could be reached.“We have our team there conducting technical evaluations. Once all assessments and discussions on the main areas are complete, a final decision will be taken,” he said.A recent virtual meeting focused on the implementation modalities of the India-Sri Lanka power grid interconnection. The Indian delegation was led by Indian Ministry of Power Secretary Shri Pankaj Agarwal, while the Sri Lankan delegation was headed by Prof. Hemapala.During the discussions, both sides reviewed aspects related to the project’s implementation, following the confirmation of technical parameters in New Delhi on 16 June.The transmission line is expected to allow Sri Lanka to import electricity during shortages and export renewable energy, generating foreign exchange.&nbsp;It will also provide opportunities to diversify energy sources, improve grid stability, and integrate Sri Lanka into the regional power market.&nbsp;Both countries have agreed to continue discussions to finalise the project’s implementation.According to Prof. Hemapala, technical experts from both countries have completed site visits and thorough evaluations, and the Government is now awaiting the detailed findings of the joint technical committee’s feasibility report.The project has a long history, dating back to 2002 when Nexant conducted a pre-feasibility study supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed in 2010 to conduct an in-depth feasibility study.Since then, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. have analysed multiple technical, economic, and regulatory aspects, exploring options including overhead lines and undersea cables. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded an economic and financial feasibility assessment to support the project.The project will be implemented in two phases. The first phase targets 500 MW capacity at an estimated cost of $ 1,225 million, using undersea cables designed to eventually support up to 1,000 MW.&nbsp;The second phase will add an additional 500 MW, depending on future demand for power exchange between the two countries, according to the Long-Term Generation Expansion Plan (LTGEP) 2025-2044.&nbsp;

Indo-Lanka connectivity: Electricity grid project discussions progressing

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval said on Friday that governance plays a seminal role in nation-building and in securing a nation, enabling it to achieve its goals and fulfil the aspirations of the common man. Delivering a lecture to mark the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, Doval highlighted that an emerging challenge in governance is the increasing need for keeping the common man satisfied. “The common man has become more aware and aspirational, has higher expectations from the state, and the state has a vested interest in keeping him satisfied,” he said. Describing weak governance as a potential reason for regime change, the NSA cited the examples of the change of regimes through non-institutional methods in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and others. “The power of a nation lies in governance. The government’s work through institutions and in the task of nation-building, the most important people are those who build and nurture these institutions,” he said. Hailing the governance model of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, “India is having an orbital shift, from a certain type of governance, from a certain type of government and societal structure, but also its place in the global orders.” He also highlighted institutional changes brought about by the current government to contain institutional corruption, indicating that probably more measures are in the pipeline. He said, whenever a change comes, the most important thing is your clarity of vision and not getting blinded by the dust and storms, not getting overawed by the noise and the threats, and not getting subdued by the adversities. “You have to equip and prepare yourself. This is what Vallabhai Patel’s life was all about,” he said, highlighting how he played the role as a warrior of the freedom movement, supporting Mahatma Gandhi and all his ventures, but also, in the post-Independent era, integrated the country by unifying the over 500 princely states. Doval also credited Vallabhai Patel’s vision for an all-India services structure that gave the country strong governance. As a key part of good governance, the NSA highlighted the need for protection, the need for safety, and the need to give a sense of equality and empowerment to women. “Empowerment of women is necessary for good governance in the modern new world. And, I think, that it is not only important to have good laws, good structures and good systems, but more importantly, to implement them effectively,” he said. Doval stressed the need to harness technology in governance. “We have to exploit the technology that ensures greater transparency, accountability, and delivery of service to the common man, and then connect.” We have to protect society from threats like cyber threats or many other threats that the technology poses, he said. Source: NDTV

Agriculture subsidies: Farmers put on notice

H’tota refinery deal nears final stage

H’tota refinery deal nears fin ...

Sri Lanka short of 800 medical consultants

Sri Lanka short of 800 medical ...

IGP clarifies protocol on MPs’ security

IGP clarifies protocol on MPs’ ...

No decision on PC Polls this year?

No decision on PC Polls this y ...

BNMF to halt key projects?

BNMF to halt key projects?

No rice shortage, claims Govt.

No rice shortage, claims Govt. ...

Indo-Lanka connectivity: Electricity grid project discussions progress ...

Indo-Lanka connectivity: Elect ...

Weak governance led to regime change in Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka - ...

Weak governance led to regime ...

H’tota refinery deal nears final stage

H’tota refinery deal nears fin ...

Sri Lanka short of 800 medical consultants

Sri Lanka short of 800 medical ...

IGP clarifies protocol on MPs’ security

IGP clarifies protocol on MPs’ ...

No decision on PC Polls this year?

No decision on PC Polls this y ...

BNMF to halt key projects?

BNMF to halt key projects?

No rice shortage, claims Govt.

No rice shortage, claims Govt. ...

Indo-Lanka connectivity: Electricity grid project discussions progress ...

Indo-Lanka connectivity: Elect ...

Weak governance led to regime change in Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka - ...

Weak governance led to regime ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

H’tota refinery deal nears final stage

H’tota refinery deal nears fin ...

Sri Lanka short of 800 medical consultants

Sri Lanka short of 800 medical ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

IGP clarifies protocol on MPs’ security

IGP clarifies protocol on MPs’ ...

No decision on PC Polls this year?

No decision on PC Polls this y ...

BNMF to halt key projects?

BNMF to halt key projects?

No rice shortage, claims Govt.

No rice shortage, claims Govt. ...