Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

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chetak
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by chetak »

Bart S wrote:
S_Madhukar wrote:In some way I was surprised someone like Rajapaksa handing over Hambantota… the guys who fight the Tigers to the end you would expect to be a bit more patriotic than sell away country assets…. Doesn’t matter how much yuan was thrown at you…
it seems subcontinent leaders grow massive egos and hubris very quickly… must be due to Xtian education and not much focus on Sanatan teaching… didn’t help with the people as well because they quickly put you on a pedestal and worship you … Namo being the exception of course…
Did he defeat the LTTE himself in hand to hand combat? More likely the rank and file of the SL Army did the job while he was in a position to be a power broker and take credit.
The cheeni are very experienced at "persuasion".

hou yanqi, the cheeni ambassadress in nepal comes to mind

Sadly, there is no Sanatan teaching in SL. The majority are anti Hindu kattarpanthi buddhists and that is mainly because of the way India has repeatedly poked it's nose into the affairs of the SL's eelam tamils, pushed over and over by sectarian dravidian politics which is openly run by the abrahamics. Many "dravidian leaders" are complicit and they make no secret of it.

These very same abrahamics, puppet controlled by offshore BIF interests, almost sabotaged the koodankulam nuke project and shut down the sterlite copper plant, steeply pushing up the copper prices in India and forcing copper imports from cheen and pak.

Sterlite produced approximately 6,00,000 MT of Copper Slag per annum, contributing roughly up to 46% of India's demand for refined copper. India turned a net copper importer for the first time in 18 years. Imports of refined copper shot up to touch Rs 14,000 crores in 2020

The previous govt collected incontrovertible evidence of such BIF interference during the koodankulam protests and this govt also has incontrovertible evidence of BIF interference which caused the shutdown of sterlite copper.

These BIF guys are now out in the open, and do pretty much what they please in dravidian territory and many of these abrahamics operated/still operate out of SL with the full knowledge of the rajapaksas and their cheeni handlers.

Such people are not mere puppies and hippies but well organized, well funded, and well controlled enemies of the Indian state. Many foreigners were seen openly at these two protests (koodankulam + sterlite), marshalling forces and directing activities and one may dare say, even precipitating the violence that broke out
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by chetak »

Their entitled culture is paramount

SL now demands seeds and urea from India

many seeds in India have an IP content and urea is largely imported

Apart from some token assistance, no other country or global institution has shown the least interest in helping out the SL people

so much for humanity
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by chetak »

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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by Manish_P »

Hoping it is not the rabbit hole it is made out to be..

The curious case of $1-billion SBI loan to debt ridden-Sri Lanka
The ministry of external affairs (MEA) on March 17 had announced that State Bank of India (SBI) would extend a term loan of $1 billion to Sri Lanka, fully guaranteed by the Indian government, and this was part of India’s financial aid to the troubled island nation.

While the objective is good, it is unusual that a commercial bank has been asked to extend a loan, a term loan at that, to a country. Exim Bank is typically given such job. In fact, it had extended a $1.3-billion line of credit to Sri Lanka.

However, there was a problem. Despite the loan, exporters in India were not getting payment.

So, the finance ministry knocked the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) door for resolving the issue. But the RBI was not kept in the loop when the contours of the deal were drawn up. SBI has been designated by the RBI as one among the domestic systemically important banks (D-SIBs). To sort out the matter, the RBI came up with a solution last week — two months after the MEA announcement. The central bank, while noting that the loan extended by SBI was a term loan, asked the authorised dealer banks to settle the transactions in Indian rupees, outside the Asian Clearing Union (ACU) mechanism. This means the Sri Lankan importer will pay in rupees to Indian exporters.

Settling transactions in rupees is another deviation from what is normally practised. Such transactions are generally settled in a fully convertible currency like the dollar. Bankers reckon that such a practice is not an efficient one.

From where will Lankan importers get the rupees to pay Indian exporters? Bankers are still looking for the answer though one possibility is that Indian exporters and importers in Sri Lanka netting it out from their transactions.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by chanakyaa »

There two issues here. Choice of SBI/Exim bank and payment in INR. Someone can correct me if I’m wrong, but Exim bank is wholly owned by GoI. If SL’s ability to repay term loan is impaired whether in usd or INR, and if it is highly likely that they will default again, then is it possible that GoI (instead of PSU bank) does not want to be seen as forcing SL into default and/or, workout situation, or seen as taking possession of assets in lien of loan? That would explain it unless there is a different/simple explanation to it.

It is good to demand payment in INR, instead of foreign currency. This means SL goods which are now half the price looking at LKR to INR exchange ratio, and SL has to sell something to India to ear INR or raise INR debt to repay the interest payment and principal. Making such arrangement in INR is good thing.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by Cyrano »

To prevent SL from taking Indian loan but not paying Indian creditors as the article says. INR loan can't be easily used to pay Chinese or someone else.

Smart move, but these kind of solutions must come from RBI in 2'days or a week max during peace time, not 2 months. Need to watch how Russia has moved and took all the gas out of the EU sanctions. RBI oldies don't read BRF or what?!
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by chetak »

With Sri Lanka reeling under its worst economic crisis, its national airline has begun refuelling at Thiruvananthapuram international airport. Now owned by the Adani group, the airport since Sunday is seeing the SriLankan Airlines fly down for refuelling...

A few of their long haul flights to Australia and Europe have already availed the services according to sources, and more of their flights are expected in the coming days. The average time taken to fly from Colombo to here is around 35 minutes and and is the closest airport from there.

Sources said, the SriLankan Airlines is preferring the Thiruvananthapuram airport than Chennai.

https://www.deccanherald.com/national/s ... 13727.html
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by Cyrano »

TVM is way closer to Colombo than Chennai. And nearly on the way for onward to ME/Europe.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by Bart S »

Won't takeoff and landing use up a huge amount of fuel in itself?
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by chetak »

Bart S wrote:Won't takeoff and landing use up a huge amount of fuel in itself?
still cheaper than fuelling in SL
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by chetak »

Cyrano wrote:TVM is way closer to Colombo than Chennai. And nearly on the way for onward to ME/Europe.
They will also get the inflight catering stuff from TVM.

and they would have avoided the dravidians in madras
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by Dilbu »

Sri Lanka appeals for food aid as debt crisis worsens
Sri Lanka is appealing for food assistance from its neighbours as the country’s debt crisis spirals into a humanitarian emergency.

The government is applying for aid from a food bank operated by the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, which has supplied rice and other staples to member states during food crises.

J Krishnamoorthy, Sri Lanka’s food commissioner, told the Financial Times that her department had “just started the process” of applying. “We have contacted SAARC . . . [regarding] food bank assistance,” she said, adding that Sri Lanka was seeking about 100,000 metric tonnes of food either as donations or subsidised sales.

The request highlights how Sri Lanka is sliding from an upper-middle-income country, the most prosperous among its neighbours, to one dependent on donations and emergency loans for food, medicines and fuel.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

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India sends one more consignment of 40,000 MT of diesel to crisis-hit Sri Lanka
COLOMBO: India on Tuesday said it has delivered one more consignment of 40,000 metric tonnes of diesel to Sri Lanka to help ease the acute fuel shortage in the debt-ridden island nation which is grappling with its worst economic crisis.

India on May 23 delivered around 40,000 metric tonnes of petrol to Sri Lanka.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by chetak »

There is a clear and urgent need to get katchatheevu island back from the untrustworthy SLs or get them to lease it back to India in perpetuity.

tomorrow, if some horny but broke sinhala nutcases like the "organic farming" rajapaksas like famiglia malvagia decide to cede/lease the katchatheevu island to china like it was done in the case of myanmar and the coco islands, India will be placed in a very difficult situation.

One is however very sure that our planners are already seized of the matter and they will take cognizance of the possibility of such treachery by an allegedly friendly neighbour but in reality a proven roguish sovereign state which may well insist on the exercise of her sovereign rights.....

just like they did the last time around: welcome to my parlour said the rajapaksa fly to the xi spider. There will be a small entry fee of course, chimed in the rajapaksas' famiglia malvagia.

The 285-acre island was jointly administered by India and SL during the britshit rule.

But SL has been claiming complete ownership of the island right from the 1920s,

According to a statement available on the website of the Ministry of External Affairs, the government concluded 4 maritime boundary agreements with SL between 1974 and 1976. According to the agreement, the katchatheevu island lies on the SL side of the India-SL International maritime boundary line.

However, the matter is still sub-judice in the Supreme Court of India.

The GoI has raised the issue at the highest political level with Sri Lanka. According to agreements, the issue was bilaterally resolved and it has now allowed Indians to visit the island for the pilgrimage without any requirement of a visa.

During the ltte era, the SL government restricted the easy movement of SL fishermen in these waters because of military and operational issues. The Indian fishermen considered this as an opportunity and they occupied those fishing grounds

From 2009 onwards, SL started to heavily guard its maritime boundary in the palk straits. It was primarily done to reduce the possibility of the return of the ltte terrorists in the country. Along with the end of the war in 2010, the SL fishermen again started their fishing in the palk bay and reclaimed their legitimate fishing rounds as their livelyhood was badly hit by restrictions during the war.

Legally, India hasn't a leg to stand on, as far as the katchatheevu island goes but still the dravidian abrahamics continue stir the separatist cauldron, muddy the waters and stoke the sentiments of the local fishermen but in reality, they are slyly and maliciously targeting the center.

In the olden days, the fishing nets were made of cotton and the katchatheevu island may have been of some limited help in the drying of such nets. Todays' nets are made from nylon, plastic or some other artificial and man made fibre, so the excuse of drying of such nets is a very lame non starter

there is a church on the island and that may well be the real reason for the raking up of the issue as the administration of this church comes under the bishop of jaffna.




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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

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Indian PM assures immediate aid to supply fertilizer for Sri Lanka
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured immediate assistance to provide the necessary fertilisers for the Yala season in Sri Lanka, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa says.

This fertilizer consignment, to be supplied under the Indian credit line, will be distributed in the country just within 20 after its arrival.

The Head of State mentioned this during a meeting held this evening (June 01) to discuss the challenges faced by the irrigation sector.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

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Sri Lankan PM Wickremesinghe refers to India while advocating more powers to Parliament
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Sunday made a special reference to India while advocating strengthening of the existing laws to give more powers to Parliament.


In his special televised statement on the current constitutional reforms, Wickremesinghe said there is a need to change the structure of Parliament and create a new system by combining the existing system of Parliament or the Westminster system and the system of State Councils.

"First of all, the existing laws need to be strengthened in order to give those powers to Parliament in the exercise of monetary powers. Following the example of countries such as the United Kingdom, New Zealand and India, we are proposing a stronger and more powerful law,” he said while advocating the abolition of the Executive Presidency.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

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Bankrupt Sri Lanka can’t use $1.5 billion credit line from Beijing due to China’s IMF concerns
Colombo: Bankrupt Sri Lanka can’t tap a $1.5 billion credit line from China as the Chinese are concerned the International Monetary Fund may force delays in repayment.

“There is a condition in relation to the months of import cover that we need to have in order to be able to draw on that money,” Indrajit Coomaraswamy, who is advising the Sri Lankan government, said at an event organized by the central bank Thursday. It’s difficult for the Chinese to waive off the condition “because this is a three-year swap, it might be termed a loan and there may be pressure from IMF and others to include it in the stock of debt that we reschedule and therefore clearly that would be a disadvantage to the Chinese,” he said.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by Ambar »

Sri Lanka grants 40-year tax relief for China-backed Port City investments- The New Indian Express

COLOMBO: Crisis-hit Sri Lanka has determined to offer particular 40-year tax relief for Chinese-built Colombo Port metropolis to draw potential buyers because the island nation’s largest overseas direct funding failed to draw investments after the much-touted challenge opened for almost one yr, a senior minister mentioned on Tuesday.

Cabinet spokesperson Bandula Gunawardana throughout a weekly cupboard briefing mentioned that the Cabinet had determined to supply the concessions to attract extra investments to the Port City, the Economy Next information web site reported.

“We have taken this choice as a result of different international locations have provided extra aggressive tax relief than us with the intention to appeal to buyers,” Gunawardana mentioned.

Gunawardana mentioned that if such concessions draw extra overseas buyers it would assist tackle the greenback disaster in Sri Lanka.
India and Sri Lanka is what they call "Raam milaye jodi" ! Neither will they learn nor will we learn !
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by Dilbu »

:-?
China says India made ‘great efforts’ to help Sri Lanka; South Asia remains its priority
China on Wednesday praised India for making “great efforts” to help Colombo to tide over its worst financial crisis even as it refuted Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s remarks that Beijing has shifted its strategic focus from South Asia including Pakistan to South East Asia, saying the region still remained its priority.

Sri Lanka has been grappling with unprecedented economic turmoil since its independence from Britain in 1948. Sri Lanka’s economic crisis has created political unrest with protesters demanding President Rajapaksa’s resignation.

“We have also noted the Indian government has made great efforts in this aspect. We recognise that,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a media briefing here while replying to questions about whether China, which has made big investments in Sri Lanka, is hesitating to help it when the island nation is facing the worst economic crisis.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

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India to provide $55 mn LOC to SL for procuring fertiliser
Colombo, Jun 10 (IANS): With Sri Lankan famers waiting for fertiliser to start the Yala season, India has decided to extend a Line of Credit (LOC) of $55 million to Sri Lanka for the procurement of urea.

"In response to an urgent request from the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL), an LOC agreement was signed between GOSL and the Export-Import Bank of India on Friday at Colombo in the presence of Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera, and the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay. Senior officials from the Sri Lankan and Indian side were also present during the signing ceremony," the Indian High Commission in Colombo said in a statement.

"This LOC will help the GOSL secure urea fertiliser for the ongoing paddy sowing Yala season. In view of the critical requirement, GOSL and EXIM Bank have agreed to complete all procurement procedures expeditiously so that urea supplies can reach Sri Lanka in a short span of time.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by chetak »

The SLs are dangling the development of trincomalee port along with a large parcel of land to set up some sort of a free trade zone.

they will be going for global tendering to try and get this project off the ground

meanwhile dumb bharathiyas will continue to pay through their noses for free petrol, grain, medicines and fertilizer demanded by the sinhalas and sent to them as "aid"


https://indianexpress.com/article/world ... t-7948228/
The proposal to develop an industrial harbour in Trincomalee is a long-standing plan to monetise land that belongs to the Sri Lanka Port Authority, by getting foreign and local investment for a special economic zone, an industrial park, or an energy hub.

Sri Lanka’s announcement that it plans to develop Trincomalee as an “industrial harbour” and will soon float tenders for this could see the economically beleaguered nation put up a couple of thousand hectares of land on lease to set up industries in a special economic zone and the associated development of the strategically located port, stirring up geopolitical interest in that part of the Indian Ocean.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

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https://www.rediff.com/news/report/lank ... 220613.htm
Lankan official who alleged Modi pushed Adani deal quits after retracting
Utkarsh Mishra, June 13, 2022

A top Sri Lankan official, who claimed before a parliamentary panel that Prime Minister Narendra Modi allegedly influenced President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to award a wind power project to the Adani Group in this island nation, resigned on Monday, a day after retracting his earlier statement.
The resignation of M M C Ferdinando, the chairman of state-owned power entity Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), has been accepted, energy minister Kanchana Wijesekara said on Monday.
Ferdinando, during a hearing of the Committee On Public Enterprises (COPE) on Friday, said that President Rajapaksa had summoned him after a meeting in November last year and told him that the wind power project be awarded to the Adani Group of India's billionaire Gautam Adani as Prime Minister Modi had urged him to do so.
However, President Rajapaksa on Saturday categorically denied Ferdinando's statement before the parliamentary panel.
Rajapaksa tweeted: 'I categorically deny authorisation to award this project to any specific person or entity.'
On Sunday, Ferdinando wrote to the COPE chair in Parliament Professor Charitha Herath that he was withdrawing his comment, saying it had been done under stress, and that he was not influenced by either President Rajapaksa or the Indian High Commission in Colombo to retract it.
There was no immediate reaction from the Government of India on the issue.
Meanwhile, the Adani Group issued a statement on Monday on the controversy, saying: 'Our intent in investing in Sri Lanka is to address the needs of a valued neighbour. As a responsible corporate, we see this as a necessary part of the partnership that our two nations have always shared.'
.....
Gautam
They will bite the hand that feeds them.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by chetak »

g.sarkar wrote:https://www.rediff.com/news/report/lank ... 220613.htm
Lankan official who alleged Modi pushed Adani deal quits after retracting
Utkarsh Mishra, June 13, 2022

A top Sri Lankan official, who claimed before a parliamentary panel that Prime Minister Narendra Modi allegedly influenced President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to award a wind power project to the Adani Group in this island nation, resigned on Monday, a day after retracting his earlier statement.
The resignation of M M C Ferdinando, the chairman of state-owned power entity Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), has been accepted, energy minister Kanchana Wijesekara said on Monday.
Ferdinando, during a hearing of the Committee On Public Enterprises (COPE) on Friday, said that President Rajapaksa had summoned him after a meeting in November last year and told him that the wind power project be awarded to the Adani Group of India's billionaire Gautam Adani as Prime Minister Modi had urged him to do so.
However, President Rajapaksa on Saturday categorically denied Ferdinando's statement before the parliamentary panel.
Rajapaksa tweeted: 'I categorically deny authorisation to award this project to any specific person or entity.'
On Sunday, Ferdinando wrote to the COPE chair in Parliament Professor Charitha Herath that he was withdrawing his comment, saying it had been done under stress, and that he was not influenced by either President Rajapaksa or the Indian High Commission in Colombo to retract it.
There was no immediate reaction from the Government of India on the issue.
Meanwhile, the Adani Group issued a statement on Monday on the controversy, saying: 'Our intent in investing in Sri Lanka is to address the needs of a valued neighbour. As a responsible corporate, we see this as a necessary part of the partnership that our two nations have always shared.'
.....
Gautam
They will bite the hand that feeds them.
The BIF has a wide reach.

and that is why the sinhala simply cannot be trusted.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by g.sarkar »

More details emerging:
https://thewire.in/south-asia/modi-adan ... t-gotabaya
Days After Saying Modi Pushed Adani Deal, Ceylon Electricity Board Head Quits
M.M.C. Ferdinando's testimony before the Sri Lankan parliament’s Committee for Public Enterprises had sparked political controversy with the opposition in both Sri Lanka and India criticising their respective governments.
The Wire Staff,12.06.2022

......
Late on Saturday night, Fernando also sent an apology to the chair of the parliamentary panel, saying that he had withdrawn his statement.
“During this discussion, I became so emotional due to pressures and unreasonable allegations levelled against me to issue this official letter of request. Therefore, due to unexpected pressure and emotions, I was compelled without limitation to express the word ‘India agamathi bala kara bawa kiwwa’ (stressed by the Hon Prime Minister of India), which is totally incorrect. Hence, I wish to withdraw the relevant statement and record my apology unconditionally,” Ferdinando said in his statement.
The Sri Lankan opposition had threatened to bring a privilege motion against Ferdinando for making a false statement before the parliamentary panel.
In India, the principal opposition leader, Rahul Gandhi claimed on Sunday that “BJP’s cronyism has now crossed Palk Strait and moved into Sri Lanka”.
......
Gautam
Since do Babus of the Sub-Continent resign? The tradition is transfer to a God forsaken place for a few years. His pockets must have become really deep. Pappuji's prompt reaction raises more questions.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

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https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61807011
Sri Lanka gives government workers extra day off a week
Peter Hoskins, Business reporter, 15/06/2022

Sri Lanka is giving government officials an extra day off a week to encourage them to grow food, amid fears of a food shortage.
The country has around one million public sector employees.
It comes as the island nation, home to around 22 million, faces its worst economic crisis in more than 70 years.
Sri Lanka is struggling to pay for critical imports such as food, fuel and medicine as it faces a severe shortage of foreign currencies.
Late on Monday, the government approved a proposal for public sector workers to be given leave every Friday for the next three months.
It said the decision was partly to help workers who are facing difficulties getting to work due to fuel shortages as well as to encourage them to grow fruit and vegetables to help feed themselves and their families.
.....
Gautam
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by Dilbu »

Another $500 million credit expected from India. Really hope India is getting something in return for all this money being spent. It will be a huge self goal to prop them up and then see them switching sides once things get stabilized.
Sri Lanka only has enough fuel for about five more days, minister says
Colombo, Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka's fuel stocks will last for about five more days, its power and energy minister said on Thursday, as the island nation awaits official confirmation from the Indian government for a new $500 million credit line for fuel.

The country of 22 million people is caught in its worst financial crisis in seven decades after its foreign exchange reserves dwindled to record lows, with dollars running out to pay for essential imports including food, medicine and fuel.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by kit »

Dilbu wrote:Another $500 million credit expected from India. Really hope India is getting something in return for all this money being spent. It will be a huge self goal to prop them up and then see them switching sides once things get stabilized.
Sri Lanka only has enough fuel for about five more days, minister says
Colombo, Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka's fuel stocks will last for about five more days, its power and energy minister said on Thursday, as the island nation awaits official confirmation from the Indian government for a new $500 million credit line for fuel.

The country of 22 million people is caught in its worst financial crisis in seven decades after its foreign exchange reserves dwindled to record lows, with dollars running out to pay for essential imports including food, medicine and fuel.
Damn if you do and damn if you don't. Cases like this build enough leverage in the the financial assistance given and gain geopolitical advantages for the support. If they turn around use it to "steer" them back. China has built in enough leverage so they don't care what happens
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

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Sri Lanka shuts down, families struggle for food as crisis deepens
NEW DELHI — Schools and government offices in Sri Lanka’s major cities were shut Monday for at least a week as a severe fuel shortage nearly brought the country to a standstill, the latest chapter in a slow-moving economic crisis that has led to protests, political turmoil and mounting food insecurity.

In a blunt statement, the energy minister asked the public to refrain from lining up for gasoline for the next three days. Authorities announced last week that government workers, barring those in essential fields such as health care, would work from home given the “current fuel shortage and issues in transport facilities.”
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

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Sri Lanka admits bankruptcy, warns of crisis through 2023
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka is bankrupt and the acute pain of its unprecedented economic crisis will linger until at least the end of next year, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told parliament on Tuesday. The island nation’s 22 million people have endured months of galloping inflation and lengthy power cuts after the government ran out of foreign currency to import vital goods.

Wickremesinghe said the once-prosperous country will go into deep recession this year and acute shortages of food, fuel and medicine will continue.

“We will have to face difficulties in 2023 as well,” the premier said.

“This is the truth. This is the reality.” He said Sri Lanka’s ongoing bailout talks with the International Monetary Fund depended on finalising a debt restructuring plan with creditors by August.
Dilbu
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by Dilbu »

Looks like Indian aid has reached its limits.
India to supply fuel to Sri Lanka only after advance payment
India is seeking payment in advance for supply of fuel to Sri Lanka after credit lines were exhausted, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

The larger South Asian neighbor stopped supplying gasoline and diesel on credit after the island nation ran out of dollars to purchase fuels amid its worst economic crisis. That’s holding up some fuel shipments pending cash payment by Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Petroleum Corp., according to two Indian government officials, who asked not to be identified citing rules.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by ricky_v »

https://www.republicworld.com/world-new ... eshow.html
Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has reportedly fled as angry protesters surround his residence demanding his resignation, several media reports have stated. According to News Cutter, demonstrators have broken through the gates of the official residence of the President in Colombo Fort.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by Manish_P »

We will need to manage the refugee influx now... might be better to set up relief camps on Lankan soil.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by SRajesh »

Has he fled the country??
Refugee problem will be double-edged no
Tamil/Sinhala
HIndu/Muslim/Buddhist
Plus a question:
if there is an constitutional change (meaning head of state and power structure), can such a government relook at the Hambantotta deal
Will they be able to kick the Chinese out??
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by mody »

https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/world/li ... 87ace2931d

"Sri Lanka Crisis LIVE Updates: A naval official from Sri Lanka on Saturday said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was on board SLNS Gajabahu, and will stay out in the sea until its safe for him to return to the mainland. This was the contingency plan that had to be activated earlier than anticipated, the official added. The embattled president’s whereabouts were not known after he was moved out of his residence on Friday ahead of Saturday’s protests."
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by g.sarkar »

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-62104268
Sri Lanka: Protesters storm President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's residence
Alys Davies & Simon Fraser, 9/7/2022

Thousands of protesters have stormed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's residence in the capital of Sri Lanka.
Demonstrators from all over the country marched to Colombo demanding his resignation after months of protests over mismanagement of the country's economic crisis.
Reports say he has already been moved to a safer location.
The country is suffering rampant inflation and is struggling to import food, fuel and medicine.
Thousands of anti-government protesters travelled to the capital, with officials telling AFP news agency that some had even "commandeered" trains to get there.
They swarmed into Colombo's government district, shouting slogans such as "Gota go home!" and breaking through several police barricades to reach President Rajapaksa's house.
Police fired shots in the air and used tear gas to try to prevent angry crowds from overrunning the residence, but were unable to stop some of the crowd from entering.
"The president was escorted to safety," a senior defence source told AFP. "He is still the president, he is being protected by a military unit."
Facebook livestream footage from inside the building showed hundreds of protesters packing into rooms and corridors, while hundreds also milled around the grounds outside.
BBC footage showed scores of people taking a dip in the palace pool.
.....
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https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/09/asia/sri ... index.html
Sri Lanka protesters break into President's House as thousands rally
Iqbal Athas and Rhea Mogul, CNN, Sat July 9, 2022

Colombo, Sri Lanka (CNN)Protesters broke into the Sri Lankan leader's official residence in Colombo on Saturday as more than 100,000 amassed outside, according to police, calling for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign over his handling of the country's economic crisis.
Video broadcast on Sri Lankan television and on social media showed protesters enter President's House -- Rajapaksa's office and residence in the commercial capital -- after breaking through security cordons placed by police.
Images show demonstrators inside the building and hanging banners from the balcony, as well as swimming in the residence's pool.
Rajapaksa is not at the site and has been moved elsewhere, security officials told CNN. It is unclear how many security personnel are present at the location.
At least 31 people, including two police officers, have been injured in the protests and are receiving treatment, according to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL). Two of the injured are in critical condition, according to police.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has called an emergency meeting of party leaders to discuss the current situation and come to a resolution, his office said on Saturday. He's also asked the Speaker of Parliament to summon MPs.
......
Gautam
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by Pratyush »

Rsatchi wrote:Has he fled the country??
Refugee problem will be double-edged no
Tamil/Sinhala
HIndu/Muslim/Buddhist
Plus a question:
if there is an constitutional change (meaning head of state and power structure), can such a government relook at the Hambantotta deal
Will they be able to kick the Chinese out
??
Sitting in the lap of PRC is a political decision made with consensus by the political spectrum of Sri Lanka as a counter weight to India.

Regardless of what happens Sri Lanka is not going to let go of this counter weight. Even if it sinks it completely.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by g.sarkar »

https://www.rediff.com/news/report/sri- ... 220709.htm
Sri Lankan PM agrees to quit amid political turmoil
Hemant Waje, July 09, 2022

Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Saturday offered to resign as the Opposition demanded his resignation and that of embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to make way for an all-party government, hours after thousands of anti-government protesters stormed into the President's House and occupied it amidst the country's worst economic and political crisis.
The Prime Minister's Media Division said that Wickremesinghe will resign after an all-party government is established and the majority is secured in Parliament.
His office said that Wickremesinghe will continue as Prime Minister until then.
Wickremesinghe told Opposition party leaders that he was taking the decision to step down as the island-wide fuel distribution is due to recommence this week, the World Food Programme Director is due to visit the country this week and the debt sustainability report for the International Monetary Fund is due to be finalised shortly.
So as to ensure the safety of the citizens, Wickremesinghe, 73, said he is agreeable to this recommendation by the Opposition party leaders.
Wickremesinghe was appointed the Prime Minister after anti-government protests forced the resignation of then prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, the elder brother of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in May.
His decision came hours after thousands of irate anti-government protesters stormed into President Rajapaksa's official residence in central Colombo's high-security Fort area after breaking the barricades, as they demanded his resignation over the island nation's worst economic crisis in recent memory.
At least 45 people, including seven security personnel, were injured in clashes between security forces and the protesters – some of them holding Sri Lankan flags and helmets - who had gathered in large numbers in the Fort area, demanding President Rajapaksa's resignation.
Rajapaksa, who was facing calls for resignation since March, was using the President's House as his residence and office since protesters came to occupy the entrance to his office in early April.
According to sources, the 73-year-old President had been moved out of his residence on Friday, in anticipation of Saturday's protests. His whereabouts were unknown as protesters have now occupied both his office and official residence.
.....
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https://www.rediff.com/news/report/amid ... 220709.htm
Amid crisis, Sri Lanka president flees on naval ship?
Hemant Waje, July 09, 2022

Embattled Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's whereabouts was not known after he was moved out of his residence on Friday ahead of Saturday's protests during which thousands of irate anti-government protesters stormed into his official residence in Colombo.
Rajapaksa, who was facing calls for resignation since March, was using the President's House as his residence and office since protesters came to occupy the entrance to his office early April.
According to sources, the President had been moved out of his residence on Friday, in anticipation of Saturday's protests.
His whereabouts was unknown as protesters have now occupied both his office and official residence.
Reports have surfaced that luggage was rushed on to the Sri Lanka Navy Ship Gajabahu anchored at the Colombo Port, News 1st channel reported on Saturday.
"The Harbour Master at the Colombo Port said that a group boarded the SLNS Sindurala and SLNS Gajabahu and left the port," it added.
........
Gautam
Last edited by g.sarkar on 09 Jul 2022 21:32, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by Ambar »

ISI has a huge network in Srilanka that it routinely uses against India. Hope we can make use this chaos to uproot the Paki network in Colombo.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by NRao »

For what it is worth:

https://twitter.com/spriteer_774400/sta ... 3389163521

thread of 4 tweets:
Facts about the CIA Backed coup taking place in Sri Lanka today

1. Western diplomats endorsed them and encouraged the government to not intervene
2. The protests were organized by USAID funded local NGOs and promoted by NGO and think tank employees, and liberal influencers
3. The most prominent voices have been urban upper class Liberals
4. The protests are not anti-IMF, they are blaming the government for not choosing the IMF over China when they had the chance
5. The protestors demand that we further liberalize our economy.
6. The most prominent ones have been invited to meet western diplomats and they have
7. Some of them in western countries and used social media to organize the protests
8. Some protestors ended up receiving "journalistic training" in other countries by unknown organizations
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion- Post PM appointment crisis

Post by g.sarkar »

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/7/9 ... esignation
Sri Lanka’s President Rajapaksa to step down on July 13: Official
Resignation follows after President’s residence stormed by protesters and PM Ranil Wickremesinghe’s home set on fire.
9 Jul 2022

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has agreed to step down next week, the country’s parliamentary speaker, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, has said.
The announcement came hours after protesters stormed the president’s official residence to vent their anger over the country’s severe economic crisis. Protesters later broke into Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe residence in the capital Colombo and set it on fire.
“To ensure a peaceful transition, the president said he will step down on July 13,” Abeywardana said in a televised statement.
Rajapaksa will remain as president until Wednesday to ensure a smooth transfer of power, Abeywardena said.
“The decision to step down on 13 July was taken to ensure a peaceful handover of power,” he said.
“I therefore request the public to respect the law and maintain peace,” he added.
The news of president’s decision triggered an eruption of celebratory fireworks in parts of Colombo.
Earlier in the day, President Rajapaksa was evacuated from the President’s House in the capital, Colombo, before thousands of protesters stormed his residence, demanding his resignation, in one of the largest anti-government marches in the crisis-hit island this year.
.....
Gautam
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