The Vice Minister of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party Sun Haiyan is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka today (23). Accordingly, the Minister of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party Sun Haiyan will arrive in Sri Lanka today on a two-day official visit. During this visit, she is scheduled to hold discussions with high-ranking government officials, including President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

Top Chinese Communist Party delegate to visit Sri Lanka

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ‘s latest effort to send some migrants to Rwanda finally won approval from Parliament early Tuesday, hours after he pledged deportation flights would begin in July. The parliamentary logjam that had stalled the legislation for two months was finally broken just after midnight when the unelected House of Lords “recognized the primacy” of the elected House of Commons and dropped the last of its proposed amendments, clearing the way for the bill to become law. Earlier in the day, Sunak held a rare morning press conference to demand that the Lords stop blocking his key proposal for ending the tide of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats, promising that both houses of Parliament would remain in session until it was approved. The legislative stalemate was just the latest hurdle to delay implementation of a plan that has been repeatedly blocked by a series of court rulings and opposition from human rights activists who say it is illegal and inhumane. Migrant advocates have vowed to continue the fight against it. “For almost two years, our opponents have used every trick in the book to block fights and keep the boats coming,” Sunak told reporters Monday morning in London. “But enough is enough. No more prevarication, no more delay.” The government plans to deport to Rwanda some of those who enter the United Kingdom illegally as a deterrent to migrants who risk their lives in leaky, inflatable boats in hopes that they will be able to claim asylum once they reach Britain. Despite Parliament’s approval of the legislation, further court challenges may still delay the deportation flights, said Tim Bale, a politics professor at Queen Mary University of London. “I don’t think it is necessarily home and dry,” he said. “We will see some attempts to block deportations legally.” Sunak has staked his political future to the deportation flights, making a pledge to “stop the boats” a key part of his pitch to voters as opinion polls show that his Conservative Party trails far behind the Labour Party ahead of a general election later this year. Next week’s local elections are seen as a barometer for how the parties will fare in the general election. The debate in Britain comes as countries throughout Western Europe and North America look for ways to slow the rising number of migrants as war, climate change and political oppression force people from their homes. Small boat crossings are a potent political issue in Britain, where they are seen as evidence of the government’s failure to control immigration. The number of migrants arriving in Britain on small boats soared to 45,774 in 2022 from just 299 four years earlier as people seeking refuge pay criminal gangs thousands of pounds (dollars) to ferry them across the channel. Last year, small boat arrivals dropped to 29,437 as the government cracked down on people smugglers and reached an agreement to return Albanians to their home country. “I think the most important takeaway is quite how desperate the government clearly is to get this piece of legislation through on the grounds that it will enable it to at least make a down payment on its promise to stop the boats,” Bale said. While Sunak acknowledged that he wouldn’t meet his original deadline of getting the first deportation flights in the air this spring, he blamed the delays on continued resistance from the opposition Labour Party. On Monday, Sunak said the first flights would take off in 10-12 weeks but refused to provide details about how many people would be deported or exactly when the flights would occur because he said that information could help opponents continue to try to frustrate the policy. In preparation for the bill’s approval, the government has already chartered planes for the deportation flights, increased detention space, hired more immigration caseworkers and freed up court space to handle appeals, Sunak said. He also suggested the government was prepared to ignore the European Court of Human Rights if it sought to block the deportations. “We are ready, plans are in place, and these flights will go come what may,” Sunak said. “No foreign court will stop us from getting flights off.” The current legislation, known as the Safety of Rwanda Bill, is a response to a U.K. Supreme Court decision that blocked the deportation flights because the government couldn’t guarantee the safety of migrants sent to Rwanda. After signing a new treaty with Rwanda to beef up protections for migrants, the government proposed the new legislation declaring Rwanda to be a safe country. The bill has been stalled in the idiosyncrasies of the British legislative system. The House of Lords is charged with scrutinizing and offering amendments to measures approved by the House of Commons, but it doesn’t have the power to block legislation outright. As a result, the Rwanda bill bounced back and forth between the two houses of Parliament, with the Lords repeatedly offering amendments only for them to be rejected by the Commons, which then sent the legislation back to the upper house. Critics of the government’s policy refused to be drawn on their next move. James Wilson, the director of Detention Action, which campaigns against human rights abuses in the immigration system, urged the public to look past the political stalemate and remember what is at stake. “Ultimately, the most important points here are not the ins and outs of Parliament, and the things that are happening there,’’ he told The Associated Press. “In the end, this is about people. This is about people’s lives.” Source : Associated Press

UK parliament approves Rwanda deportation bill, ending weeks of legislative stalemate

The General Manager of Railways H. M. K. W. Bandara passed away today (23) morning due to a sudden illness. Accordingly,&nbsp;he succumbed to his illness while being rushed to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital. Eng. Bandara was appointed as the railways chief in November 2023 following the retirement of his predecessor. He was educated at the Science College in Matale and received his bachelor’s degree in engineering from the Peradeniya University and the Moratuwa University. In 1996, he joined Sri Lanka Railways as an Assistant District Engineer and has served in a number of posts including District Engineer, Deputy Chief Engineer, Chief Engineer (Roads and Industries) and Additional General Manager (Infrastructure) during the span of his career.

Railways General Manager H.M.K.W. Bandara passes away

Sri Lanka's consumer price inflation dropped to 2.5% in March from 5.1% in February, official data showed on Monday, as the impact of a higher sales tax needed to meet targets set under a $2.9-billion IMF programme receded. The National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) (LKNCPI=ECI). captures broad retail price inflation and is released with a lag of 21 days every month. The decrease was largely driven by a 22% cut in power tariffs last month for households, ensuring prices in the non-food category rose only 0.7% in March versus 5.1% in February. Food prices stayed unchanged at 5% in March from February on the year, the Department of Census and Statistics said in a statement. "We are hoping that for the next three months inflation will remain below the target level of 5%," said Shehan Cooray, head of research at Acuity Stockbrokers. Sri Lanka racked up record high inflation that peaked at 70% in September 2022 after its economy was pummelled by the worst financial crisis in decades, triggered by a plunge in foreign exchange reserves. The Indian Ocean nation secured a $2.9-billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last year, helping to temper inflation, boost state revenues, and rebuild foreign exchange reserves after its economy crumbled in 2022. The World Bank raised its forecast for Sri Lanka's economy by 0.5% this month, projecting growth of 2.2% for 2024. "We expect growth to be higher, possibly about 3%, as the last quarter of 2023 grew by 4.5%," Cooray added. Slowing inflation has also prompted the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) to cut policy rates by 700 bps since last year to help the economy return to growth. Source : Reuters

Sri Lanka's inflation drops to 2.5% in March

Showers or thundershowers are anticipated in parts of the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva and North-western provinces and Galle and Matara districts after 2.00 p.m., the Department of Meterologoy stated today (23). Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in North-central and Northern provinces in the afternoon or at night. Showers or thundershowers will occur over the coastal areas of Puttalam to Galle via Colombo in the morning. Fairly heavy showers of about 75 mm are likely at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts. Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Ampara district during the morning.

Evening thundershowers anticipated in five provinces today

Ten crew members have died after two navy helicopters collided in mid-air during a military rehearsal for a Royal Malaysian Navy parade. One of the choppers clipped the rotor of the other before the two crashed into the ground, footage published on local media show. The incident took place in the Malaysian town of Lumut, which is home to a navy base. There are no known survivors. One of the helicopters is believed to have crashed onto a running track, while the other crashed into a swimming pool nearby. Source: BBC

Malaysian navy helicopters collide in mid-air, killing 10 crew

<ul><li>Party's divide has led to uncertainty over which internal group's submissions will be recognised in nominations&nbsp;</li></ul> The Election Commission (EC) stated that if the crisis situation within the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) continues, there may be a problematic situation in issuing nominations for SLFP members in the upcoming Elections.With an interim injunction being issued by the Colombo District Court (DC) preventing former President and incumbent Opposition Parliamentarian Maithripala Sirisena from functioning as the Party Chairperson, a problematic situation has arisen within the SLFP.Speaking to The Daily Morning, the EC Chairperson R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said that if this crisis situation continues, a problematic situation may arise in granting nominations for members of the Party in the upcoming Elections. "Currently, there are two factions in the Party. They have made appointments for the positions of the Party separately. There are certain issues in the Party's constitution too. In the case of granting nominations, there may be a problematic situation as to the submissions of which faction should we accept."In response to a complaint lodged by SLFP Patron and former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, the Colombo DC issued an interim injunction, temporarily restraining Sirisena from acting as the SLFP Chairperson. This development resulted in the division of the SLFP into two groups, one led by Kumaratunga and the other by Sirisena. Subsequently, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, in his capacity as the Party's Senior Vice President, convened the SLFP's Politburo meeting, during which he was appointed as the Party's Acting Chairperson. In a fresh twist, the faction led by Sirisena, on 21 April, elected Minister, President's Counsel Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe as the Party's Acting Chairperson.The EC recently stated that it was set to engage in further discussions with both the factions of the SLFP before making a determination on the legality of the recent changes within the Party, which include the appointment of de Silva, as its’ Acting Chairperson.&nbsp;

Intra-SLFP crisis: EC notes challenges posed to polls nominations 

Following several Opposition Parliamentarians of the main Parliamentary Opposition Party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), reportedly receiving Rs. 50 million each from the Government’s decentralised budget, the MPs who received funds claimed that approval of the Party is not required to obtain the funds as it has been a tradition for years to allocate funds for Opposition MPs.Speaking to the media, SJB General Secretary and Opposition MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara, said that the MPs in question have not obtained the Party’s approval before receiving the funds, noting that the matter is to be raised at the upcoming meeting of the Party’s group of MPs.When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (22), SJB Opposition MP Gayantha Karunatilleka, whose name is also among those who reportedly received the funds, said that MPs do not receive the funds personally, but through the Divisional Secretariats (DSs), to carry out the prospective projects submitted by each MP. Stating that this practice has been a tradition for many years, he noted that accordingly, Opposition MPs are given funds from the decentralised Budget.“This needs no permission from the political parties. Each individual MP has the right to submit proposals, and accordingly, they will receive funds. The funds are allocated to DSs, not individuals,” he added. Adding that the proposals were submitted solely for the benefit of the people, MP Karunatilleka said that no SJB MP will cross the floor because they received these funds.“Someone can think that we are given these funds because of the connections that we have with the President. But, there is no such thing behind this. Every MP is entitled to these funds. Earlier, the Government blamed us for not submitting proposals. Therefore, we submitted our proposals,” he noted.Even though the previous Governments used to allocate funds to Opposition MPs to carry out development projects, such allocations have not taken place for the past five years owing to the economic crisis. Yet, the incumbent Government has made allocations for several SJB MPs, including Karunatilleka, Dr. Harsha de Silva, Ajith Mannapperuma, Dr. Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana and J.C. Alawathuwala.Madduma Bandara was unavailable for comment.

 Decentralised Budget funds: Oppo. MPs say Party approval not needed 

The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) stated that it is looking into the actions that can be taken regarding the SLPP elected Parliamentarian and Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe assuming the post of the Acting Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).The SLFP faction led by former President and incumbent Opposition MP Maithripala Sirisena on 21 April, elected Rajapakshe as the Party's Acting Chairperson.When queried by The Daily Morning as to whether the SLPP would initiate any action against him, a senior SLPP member, on the condition of anonymity, said that it should first be ascertained if Rajapakshe has received the membership of the SLFP."When the media queried as to whether he had become a SLFP member, he did not give a direct answer. It is very difficult to prove that someone has accepted the membership of another party. We are however looking into the possible action that we can take regarding this issue."Rajapakshe was not available for comment.Following a complaint filed by former President and incumbent SLFP Patron Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, the Colombo District Court issued an interim injunction, preventing Sirisena from serving as the Party Chairperson. This caused the SLFP to split into two factions, one under Kumaratunga's leadership and the other aligned with Sirisena. The situation took another turn when Sirisena's faction held a meeting on 21 April during which they elected Rajapakshe as the Acting Chairperson while the Kumaratunga led faction had earlier elected Minister and attorney Nimal Siripala de Silva as the Acting Chair. This internal conflict within the SLFP has added complexity to the Party's leadership dynamics, with both factions claiming legitimacy.&nbsp;

Top Chinese Communist Party delegate to visit Sri Lanka

UK parliament approves Rwanda deportation bill, ending weeks of legisl ...

UK parliament approves Rwanda ...

Railways General Manager H.M.K.W. Bandara passes away

Railways General Manager H.M.K ...

Sri Lanka's inflation drops to 2.5% in March

Sri Lanka's inflation drops to ...

Evening thundershowers anticipated in five provinces today

Evening thundershowers anticip ...

Malaysian navy helicopters collide in mid-air, killing 10 crew

Malaysian navy helicopters col ...

Intra-SLFP crisis: EC notes challenges posed to polls nominations

Intra-SLFP crisis: EC notes ch ...

Decentralised Budget funds: Oppo. MPs say Party approval not needed

Decentralised Budget funds: O ...

SLPP to probe Wijeyadasa’s appointment as SLFP Acting Chair

SLPP to probe Wijeyadasa’s app ...

UK parliament approves Rwanda deportation bill, ending weeks of legisl ...

UK parliament approves Rwanda ...

Railways General Manager H.M.K.W. Bandara passes away

Railways General Manager H.M.K ...

Sri Lanka's inflation drops to 2.5% in March

Sri Lanka's inflation drops to ...

Evening thundershowers anticipated in five provinces today

Evening thundershowers anticip ...

Malaysian navy helicopters collide in mid-air, killing 10 crew

Malaysian navy helicopters col ...

Intra-SLFP crisis: EC notes challenges posed to polls nominations

Intra-SLFP crisis: EC notes ch ...

Decentralised Budget funds: Oppo. MPs say Party approval not needed

Decentralised Budget funds: O ...

SLPP to probe Wijeyadasa’s appointment as SLFP Acting Chair

SLPP to probe Wijeyadasa’s app ...

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UK parliament approves Rwanda deportation bill, ending weeks of legisl ...

UK parliament approves Rwanda ...

Railways General Manager H.M.K.W. Bandara passes away

Railways General Manager H.M.K ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

Sri Lanka's inflation drops to 2.5% in March

Sri Lanka's inflation drops to ...

Evening thundershowers anticipated in five provinces today

Evening thundershowers anticip ...

Malaysian navy helicopters collide in mid-air, killing 10 crew

Malaysian navy helicopters col ...

Intra-SLFP crisis: EC notes challenges posed to polls nominations

Intra-SLFP crisis: EC notes ch ...