On Vesak Day a newly built Danasala (refectory) and kuti (lodging) for monks were opened adding to the other buildings including the Main Hall, which were build earlier.

Villagers were associated in the opening ceremony officiated by the Vietnam Ambassador to Sri Lanka Ho Thi Thanh Truc.

Young people in the area and students are also closely involved with the temple.

“When we first started the monastery, it was the children who came to see what this was about,” Venerable Dhammaloka Thero said.

“They helped me plant trees. The parents came later and got involved in temple activities.”

The monastery conducts English classes and Vietnamese classes for children and adults.

“We had a 70 year old lady who came to study Vietnamese as well,” he says.

Venerable Vietnam Dhammaloka thero came to Sri Lanka 10 years ago to study at the Sri Lanka International Buddhist Academy (SIBA Campus) in Pallekelle.

When Vietnamese groups visited Sri Lanka, they were asking whether there was a Vietnam temple in the island, he said. At the time he was planning to go to London to read for a Master’s degree.

But also at the time there were five young Vietnamese monks studying at several Pirivenas in Sri Lanka. Out of consideration for them he abandoned plans to go to London did his Master’s in Buddhist Studies and Pali language at the Kelaniya University in Sri Lanka.

He then started to make plans to set up a Vietnam temple.

The two-acre land for Truc Lam Monastery was donated by Venerable Ilwane Ananda Thero, the chief incumbent of Sri Sugatha Thapowana Temple in Digana, where the Vietnamese monk had stayed while studying for his degree.

“There were a lot of bamboo trees in the land,” the monk recalls. “Truc Lam means forest of bamboo.”

The main hall was built first. Benefactors from Vietnam and others helped him.

“We focus on meditation,” Venerable Dhammaloka explains. “Everyday in the evening from 5 to 6 pm many locals come to our temple to do meditation.

“Every Sunday we have mindfulness meditation for adults and foreigners. On Poya Days we conduct a meditation program for children. I have been to many Dhamma schools in Sri Lanka to teach meditation to children.”

The monk has also taught meditation to children at several local Tamil language schools.

“At the Truc Lam Monastery we make no distinction between ethnic groups or religions ,” explains the Thero.

“Everybody is welcome. Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, Tamil and Sinhalese and foreigners come here.”

It took four years from 2020 to build the Main Hall, Budu Geya, the Main Gate, as well as the Danasala and Kuti which were the latest buildings to be opened on Vesak day 2024.

The Covid pandemic was a tough time for the villagers who are considered the family of Truc Lam Temple.

“We provided rice and dry rations for those in need,” recalls the Chief monk. The Temple also helped dig wells in the Ambakote village and the school.

On Poya days food is still distributed to some needy people.

Then a scholarship program was set up for students. Each student in the program now gets 5,000 rupees and 10 kilograms of rice per month.

The Truc Lam scholarship program was also extended to students who went to university with a 10,000 rupee stipend. One student is in Jaffna university, one in Peradeniya and one in the Open University.

They are sponsored by the Chief monk and benefactors in Vietnam.

The temple is also helping some elderly nuns, who are around Kandy. “They are very old and cannot support themselves,” the monk explains. (Colombo/June02/2024)

Buddhists celebrate Vesak as commemorating the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha.

“At this challenging moment, we as a nation should cultivate the same great zeal for enlightenment that Buddha exemplified, inspired by his sermon, “Maththasukha parichchaga- passé che vipulan sukhan” – to sacrifice today for a better tomorrow,” President Wickremesinghe said in his Vesak day message.

“We must remember the advice of Lord Buddha, “Sabbattha Sammanaso,” to treat everyone equally and ensure we put it into practice as a country. This is the greatest offering we can present to the Buddha on this Vesak day.

“Regardless of race, religion, caste, or political affiliation, we must all unite to heal and rebuild our country. ”

The full statement is reproduced below:

The Vesak festival is a profoundly sacred day for Buddhists worldwide, commemorating the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and passing. Buddhists in Sri Lanka, along with their brethren around the globe, celebrate Vesak with deep devotion. They spend this period engaging in religious observances and venerating the Buddha with fervent devotion.

At this challenging moment, we as a nation should cultivate the same great zeal for enlightenment that Buddha exemplified, inspired by his sermon, “Maththasukha parichchaga- passé che vipulan sukhan” – to sacrifice today for a better tomorrow.

We must remember the advice of Lord Buddha, “Sabbattha Sammanaso,” to treat everyone equally and ensure we put it into practice as a country. This is the greatest offering we can present to the Buddha on this Vesak day. Regardless of race, religion, caste, or political affiliation, we must all unite to heal and rebuild our country. The principles of Lichchavi Raja Dharmaya will guide us in this endeavour.

Let us keep in mind that the primary aim of the Vesak festival is to foster spiritual growth and character development in a world rapidly advancing physically. I wish everyone a blessed Vesak festival.

“Ravi Jayasekera has been appointed as the Acting CEO w.e.f. 22nd May 2024 in addition to his current responsibilities as the Chief People Officer of Hemas Holdings PLC. Mr. Ravi Jayasekera in his capacity as the Acting CEO will oversee the affairs of the Company and the Group,” the company said in a stock exchange filing.

“The Board of Directors continues the search for a successor for the position of CEO and has resolved to make the above interim arrangements until a further announcement is made.

Kasturi C Wilson announced her resignation from the position of CEO in October 2023. She continues to serve on the Board of Directors in the capacity of a non-independent non-executive director.

Jayasekera has over 20 years of leadership experience in Human Resources. He was at Union Bank of Colombo PLC immediately prior to joining Hemas.

He has worked at HSBC as its Head of HR for Sri Lanka and Maldives, Head of HR for HSBC Australia, Head of HR for Mauritius and Senior Manager Group HR for Retail Banking and Wealth Management based in Hong Kong.

Prior to joining HSBC, he worked at Standard Chartered Bank and Standard Chartered Grindlays Bank in several HR roles which included HR Operations, Employee Relations, Industrial Relations and Compensation and Benefits.

Ravi Jayasekera holds a MBA from the University of Western Sydney, Australia. (Colombo/May22/2024)

“His expertise positions him to lead our efforts with our client governments to promote travel, trade, and tourism from key source markets,” Founder and CEO, VFS Global Zubin Karkaria said.

Srithar was previously at the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). He served as the Area Director for South India and Sri Lanka and led the International Marketing and Brand Campaigns teams at STB’s headquarters. As Regional Director he was responsible for the STB’s regional marketing, tourism development, and trade partnership work across India, the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa.

Srithar will support client governments by offering specialised services in travel, trade, and tourism services, VFS said in a statement. “This support will add value and enable these governments to achieve their strategic goals of boosting tourism and trade in their respective countries.”

Srithar is a Singapore national who has completed his Bachelor of Arts (majored in Sociology and English Language) as well as his Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) in the National University of Singapore). (Colombo/May21/2024)

The Sri Lanka Racing Drivers Association said that the authorities ignored repeated pleas from their members to ensure the track was watered to prevent dust and to ensure that visibility was not affected.

Two of the cars ploughed into spectators and track marshals, killing seven people, including an eight-year-old girl, on April 21 at the Fox Hill circuit at Diyathalawa.

“Senior race officials appointed to conduct the meet didn’t have the required experience and expertise to conduct an event of this magnitude,” the association said, adding that they also lacked subject knowledge.

The usual protocol was to water the dusty dirt track at least once every three events, but this was not followed despite multiple requests from the competitors.

“This was one of the main reasons for the fatal accident,” the association said. Video footage of the crash showed that the track was covered by a huge cloud of dusty drastically reducing visibility.

During a previous event, the winner did one full lap because he did not see the chequered flag that signalled he had won the race. Such was the level of visibility even before the fatal crash and the authorities’ ignored appeals from drivers to correct the issue.

Even before the fatal crash, there were several others with drivers trapped inside their cars, exposing them to further danger of being hit by other cars. “Race directors, the Clerk of the course, or stewards didn’t take any actions to Red flag the race and stop it.”

The organizers were more concerned about meeting the race schedules and were opposed to stopping events to clear the track after collisions.

The drivers said all profits from the event must be given to the families of the victims and Sri Lanka Automobile Sports (SLAS), the governing body of the sport, should accept responsibility and step down.

“This is the first step to correcting this sad loss of lives that we can never pay back. Steps must be taken to make racing safer for spectators, marshals, and racing drivers alike.”

At least 695 new HIV positive people were identified in the country in 2023 and it has seen a 14 percent rise over 2022, the National STD and AIDS Control Programme in Sri Lanka said last month.

Sri Lanka has witnessed mushrooming spas or wellness centers throughout the island nation in the last three years amid an unprecedented economic crisis, tourism officials say.

However, most these spas do not provide wellness service.

State Tourism Minister Gamage said there are around 600 spas in the highly populated Colombo suburb area

“I don’t know how many people go for wellness to these 600 places, just a 50 meter away from each other. We have about 100 spas in a stretch. I don’t know whether I have seen anyone who is interested in wellness going in there,” she told reporters at a media briefing in Colombo.

“Without beating around the bush, we have to be truthful and speak the facts and the fact is those are not spas and they are not wellness centers.”

“Definitely, there should be regulations. If this is the case, if this is exactly what is taking place, if illegal prostitution is taking place, we cannot stop it. We are never going to be able to stop it. It doesn’t matter how hard we try, it is something that cannot be stopped anywhere in the world.”

“The fact is it is going to carry on, but we have to stop the danger when it comes to health issues of the people of the country and specially of the people who are working in these places, they have to make sure they are healthy and they are not with any disease and this needs to be regulated.”

“They should be given medical check up on a monthly basis. Things like this should happen.”

“CAN’T STOP” ILLEGAL PROSTITUTION 

The highest number of those infected with HIV have been reported from the Western Province, according to the UNAIDS estimate received. HIV infection happens through three main channels of having unprotected sex, from an infected mother to a child in the womb and the blood of an infected person entering the body of a healthy person.

“I spoke to the health minister as well about it where we have to bring some sort of a rule,” Gamage said.

Prostitution in Sri Lanka is illegal, but data from police-raided spas show it has been taking place many places in Sri Lanka.

“When there is a demand, there is a supply. The demand will remain until the supply is there. If we can’t stop this, what we have to do is, we have to bring regulations for this because this is unhealthy for the people of this country. Not only that, we need to consider the health of the people who are providing services.”

“So, we need to bring medical checkups, they should be medically checked once a month. So these things should be regulated. Otherwise this is a huge disaster.”

“In the recent past, the majority of the people who got AIDS were youth aged between 19-25. This (spa) is one of the reasons for this. If this is not regulated, where will this end? What will happen to the young generation?”

“It is a requirement of the human life. We should supply for that requirement in a healthy way. When we impose regulations, it should be regulated under the laws. I have been talking this continuously in the parliament,” she said. (Colombo/April 29/2024)

“Myanmar law enforcement authorities rescued these Sri Lankans on 4 April 2024, following the request by the Government of Sri Lanka,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

“The Sri Lanka Embassy officials in Bangkok received them on 11 April 2024 at the Mae Sot border gate in Thailand, and subsequently they were brought to Bangkok and provided accommodation until their repatriation was arranged with the assistance of the International Organization for Migration.”

The International Organization for Migration provided logistical assistance in repatriating the rescued Sri Lankans.

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Myanmar, through the Eden Foundation, a charity organization based in Myanmar, provided them with food and other necessities during their stay at the Myawaddy Police Station following the rescue from traffickers. (Colombo/Apr18/2024)

“In this position, Kaushali will closely collaborate with bottling teams, customers, partners, consumers and external stakeholders in Sri Lanka and Maldives,” the company said.

Kusumapala said she will collaborate with bottling partners, Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka and Male’ Aerated Water Company, and other stakeholders.

“For some years now, Coca-Cola holds a special place for me as a consumer and as a marketeer, and I am deeply committed to steering our loved brands and franchise operations to greater heights,” she said in the statement.

She takes over from Pankaj Sinha, who was country director for 2019.

“The Coca-Cola Company is steadfast in its commitment to building a sustainable business in Sri Lanka and Maldives and Kaushali will play an important part in moving the needle,” Ajay Vijay Bathija, Vice President of Franchise Operations for Southwest Asia (SWA) said.

Kaushali is a graduate of the University of Melbourne, where she earned her Bachelor of Commerce degree. She was a recipient of the Slim Brand Excellence and SLIM Kantar People’s Awards for Local Brand of the Year and CSR Brand of the Year.

Coca-Cola has been present in Sri Lanka since 1961, and has a network of over 80,000 retailers and a direct workforce of over 400 employees. (Colombo/Apr15/2024)

Nor are those handful of rights universally applied, a recent discussion which looked at the European and South Asian perspectives on same-sex rights and unions revealed. Most developed nations have introduced protections for those identifying as LGBTQIA+, and a view from a distant lens paints a picture of tolerance. Yet, a closer look at the European arena throws up the many gaps that are evident in the application of the law.

In the so-called conservative South Asian nations, changes to legislation are slow to be implemented. That may come as a surprise, for, contrary to popular belief, same-sex relationships were culturally acceptable in the South Asian region and is not a Western concept points out Ruhaan Joshi, a Public Policy Practitioner from India.

Society’s view on same-sex relationships dimmed with the imposition of Western values and the criminalisation of such relationships with the advent of colonial rule.

While the LGBTQIA+ communities in South Asian countries currently battle to have same-sex relationships decriminalised and their unions legally accepted, the irony is that countries that first made such relationships punishable by law have moved on to be more welcoming, though some discriminatory practices continue.

Joshi was part of a discussion themed ‘On Being Queer and LGBTQIA+ in South Asia and Europe, held in Germany on April 9 this year. The discussion which included the release of two papers which examined the rights and protections of the LGBTQIA+ community in Europe and South Asia, respectively, was organised by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom.

Joining Joshi in the discussion were lawyer and parliamentarian Premnath C Dolawatte from Sri Lanka, Milosz Hodun, President, Projekt Polska Foundation, Poland, Michael Kauch, a Member of the European Parliament and RENEW Europe Group and Inaya Zarakhel, a Dutch-Pakistani actress and an activist on Queer Rights, who moderated the discussion. The two papers were presented by Hodun and Joshi, respectively.

In his opening remarks, Kauch pointed out that while the view of the liberals is that the rights recognized in one member nation of the EU must be accepted by all member countries, that is not the ground reality, the issue of Rainbow families being a case in point.

In the context of the European Union, though the Court of Justice has ruled on the freedom of movement of those in same-sex partnerships and their families, the ruling is not universally applied by member nations.

In Italy, and some European nations, surrogacy which helps childless couples to become parents is illegal. In other situations where same-sex parents are of different nationalities a child in that union faces restriction of movement or the possibility of being stateless if one parent hails from a country where such parental rights are not recognised.

Hodun meanwhile stated that in Poland transgender persons must first sue their parents for the gender assigned to them at birth, to have their gender marker changed on documents.

Some countries such as Russia and Azerbaijan resort to State-sponsored homophobia, and in many instances politicians and political parties promote such biases to boost their voter base it was pointed out. Even where laws are in place for the protection of LGBTQIA+ rights, there is no political will to implement them.

In Europe where migrants arrive in droves seeking asylum, and are frowned upon by many of those countries, LGBTQIA+ members face even more discrimination Hodun says, both by other refugees and governments, where most often the state ignores the situation despite the guidelines issued by the UN and the European Court of Justice. Hate speech and hate crimes too are on the rise he adds stating that at least 80 per cent go unreported.

Increasingly the LGBTQIA+ community has experienced a diminishing of their safe spaces as right-wing and populist governments are elected across the globe. Taking a dig at feminism, meanwhile, Kauch states that though feminists uphold a woman’s right to opt for an abortion, they take a different approach on the topic of surrogacy.

Dolawatte who waded into unchartered waters when he presented a Private Member’s Bill to decriminalise same-sex relationships through an amendment to section 365 of the Penal Code and the repealing of section 365A in its totality, is hopeful that the Bill will pass its third reading. It’s been an uphill battle he says, referring to the case filed in the Supreme Court against the Bill. The court ruled in his favour.

He had little or no support from his own party members, but says the President of the country, and younger party members are with him on this issue. Apart from making Sri Lanka a safe space, it would encourage foreign nationals identifying as LGBTQIA+ to visit without fear, and thus boost tourism he opines.

As Joshi states society has come a long way from when LGBTQIA+ were made fun of and were subject to violence to the positive portrayal in movies. Such movies are also well-received by society. Transgender identity has a distinct recognition in South Asian religious beliefs. Hijra, Khwaja Sara or Kinnar are some names given to transgender folk and they have, since ancient times been an accepted group in society. On the one hand, there’s Afghanistan and the Maldives which make no allowances for the LGBTQIA+ community, while Nepal became the first South Asian nation in 2023, to register a same-sex marriage, Joshi states. In most South Asian nations, the courts have ruled in favour of relaxing the rules against this community, and, like in Europe, it is the governments that drag their feet.

For governments to change their stance, society must take the lead in fighting for the unconditional dignity of the individual, freedom of movement, and safeguarding the tenets of democracy, he says adding that it must also run parallel with the LGBTQIA+ community looking beyond themselves at issues that impact democratic values, and the societal restrictions non-LGBTIQIA+ groups face, such as opposition to inter-caste marriage and the right to adopt outside their caste systems and equal access to many other privileges.

While the panellists advocated working together across the global divide as a step towards achieving equal rights for all, Dolawatte also called for caution; too much pressure on such issues from Europe he said may not be welcome, and must be handled with care.

With right-wing and populist governments getting elected across the globe, Kauch claims the forthcoming EU elections will prove crucial in deciding how future and current governments ensure tolerance and diversity amongst their citizenry.

One of the games is kana mutti, where a blind-folded person tries to smash a hanging clay pot with a club. Kana is an impolite term for a blind person.

“Special focus has been directed towards the differently-abled community, with efforts aimed at reforming societal attitudes. Traditional practices like “Kana Muttiya Bindeema” and “Andhayata Kiri Kaweema”, organizers are encouraged to adopt the names “Vasana Muttiya Bindeema” and “Sagayata Kiri Kaweema,” Minister Pasqual said.

“This initiative aims to foster a shift in societal perceptions. Additionally, numerous special programs have been arranged for the differently-abled community during all festive occasions throughout the year.”

The traditional new year is a solar festival celebrated by Sri Lanka’s sinhala and tamil communities.

It is celebrated in India and former territories of the Chola Empire including Sri Lanka (avurudu), and Thailand (sonkram).

“He worked relentlessly to create a conducive environment for plantation workers, ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions and adequate benefits,” the World Economic Forum said on its website.

“As Minister for Water Supply, he has been spearheading ambitious reforms in the water sector to increase access to safe and affordable drinking water, create a climate resilience roadmap for water services and a transparent pricing formula that protects the most vulnerable in society.”

The YGL is a multi-stakeholder community of more than 1,000 young leaders. Past inductees included French President Emmanuel Macron and former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden.

“He continues to advocate for the rights of all marginalized people in Sri Lanka, especially workers, women, ethnic minorities and the LGBT+ community.” (Colombo/Apr5/2024)

“It is important to maintain a clear distinction between politics and sports,” Wickremesinghe said advocating for the exclusion of politicians from high-ranking positions within sports clubs.

This did not signify a disengagement from sports, he said. “The government has earmarked one billion rupees for cricket development this year, with plans for additional funding in the following year,” Wickremesinghe was speaking at the 125th anniversary celebration of the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) at the Shangri-La Hotel Colombo.

This investment will be managed by a trust overseen by Sidath Wettamuni. The funds will be utilized to enhance cricket programs in rural schools, organize cricket matches and foster the growth of cricket at the grassroots level.

Wickremesinghe said it was important to expand cricket programs in 1,000-1,500 schools to cultivate a talent pool from which the national team can be selected.

A proposal has also been put to the Cabinet to provide the land belonging to the Sinhala Sports Club on a 99-year lease basis. (Colombo/Mar30/2024)

The Bhagwat Gita Mahotsava is held annually by the Kurukshetra Development Board of Haryana, India to pay homage to Sri Bhagwat Gita and the series of religious events related to the holy book of Hindus.

In recent years, the festival has been held in foreign countries.

The Ministry of Religious and Cultural Affairs has organized the International Gita Mahotsava Buddhasasana.
Anyone can participate without a charge. (Colombo/Feb27/2024)

Pelpola has over 15 years of international experience in investment banking, asset management and digital finance.

As a senior consultant, Pelpola advised US banks and international Central Banks on banking sector reforms.

In 2015 Pelpola entered the financial technology (FinTech) space. He developed a proprietary market pricing model to value non-traditional assets.

He serves as a Director of Onterra Group and a Director of Jayaru TP. He was appointed as a board member of the Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka in 2020.

Pelpola received his MBA from Harvard University (Cambridge, Massachusetts). He obtained his charters from the CFA Institute (USA) and CIMA (UK), and Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing from CIM (UK). He is a past pupil of Nalanda College and Gateway International School. (Colombo/Feb27/2024)

CEB spokesman engineer Noel Priyantha told a talk show on the TV station Ada Derana on Tuesday that children don’t need electricity, or lights, to study and can do so with a kerosene lamp. “People have got used to free electricity… Why do children need electricity to study? If there is no electricity they can use a bottle lamp (ku-ppi lam-pu-wa).. That’s how I studied. People should know to use what they have and come up in life.”

“The Management of CEB has also informed me that the spokesperson has tendered his resignation from the post and issued a public apology for his statement. The management will also take appropriate steps regarding the statement made,” Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said on X (twitter) Thursday.

Wijesekera said he agreed with the sentiments of everyone who “had raised the lack of empathy and professionalism in the statement made by the CEB spokesperson.”

The comments were widely circulated on social media, including by Minister of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Jeevan Thondaman, after the comments criticized estate sector people as being drunk after 2 pm and blamed parents for not providing for children. “The ‘entire’ statement made by the CEB spokesperson, lacks empathy and is unacceptable,” Thondaman said.

Wijesekera then hastened to point out that “The statement does not reflect the views of the Govt or the CEB. and would like to extend my apology on behalf of the Ministry & CEB.”

Sri Lanka’s estate workers are some of the most impoverished people in the island, trapped in a poverty cycle with no resources necessary to escape poverty. They have no land rights or adequate education facilities. (Colombo/Feb22/2024)

The 'entire' statement made by the CEB spokesperson, lacks empathy and is unacceptable.

I trust that @kanchana_wij will take necessary steps to address this as I do not believe that the Hon. Minister shares the same view as the official. https://t.co/51vxtrIQGQ

— Jeevan Thondaman (@JeevanThondaman) February 21, 2024

“The primary objective of the forum was to discuss various aspects of the draft bill for a Commission for Truth, Unity, and Reconciliation (CTUR), which will play a pivotal role in addressing grievances of persons affected by the conflict in the North and East, promote reconciliation and non-recurrence,” a statement by the President’s media division said.

The statement added that, “participants expressed views on the handling of sensitive information related to national security, collaboration with National Archives for systematic records management and the involvement of the Tamil diaspora in the transitional justice process.”

“Participants were informed that the draft CTUR bill is available for review and feedback by the stakeholders, and that this inclusive approach is adopted to ensure that the proposed legislation takes account of the diverse needs and concerns of all sections of society.”

However, in its report ‘If We Raise Our Voice They Arrest Us’ released by Human Rights Watch in September 2023, 80 interviews with relatives and victims of enforced disappearances, abuse, human rights defenders, activists and journalists from the North East showed that the government had not consulted with victims in the past.

It was documented that the Sri Lankan government had ignored evidence from its own past commissions, and had exposed victims who participate in the commissions to further security force abuses.

The forum provided a platform for discussion on aspects of transitional justice, “including the need to adopt a victim-centric approach ensuring that the voices of victims are heard,” the statement said. (Colombo/Feb12/2024)

“I urge everyone to cherish and safeguard this right, not just for themselves but for future generations,” Wickremesinghe said during the ceremony at the Rangiri Dambulu Stadium on Monday (5).

The ‘Urumaya’ program will be rolled out nationwide benefiting an estimated 2 million farming families. The 2024 budget allocated 2 billion rupees for the program’s implementation.

Applicants seeking full ownership of land will receive freehold titles in three main stages. To streamline the process and address community concerns, a Urumaya National Operations Secretariat was established under the Presidential Secretariat, coordinating relevant institutions.

Related story
Sri Lanka launches operations secretariat for free hold land distribution

“This monumental step empowers our citizens to exercise control over their land without the need for constant approvals from authorities,” Wickremesinghe said when he personally distributed a first batch of land deeds. “Let us capitalize on this opportunity for progress and development.”

“If the Government Land Ordinance could grant land to white individuals and provide free land rights to investors, there is no reason why the same rights cannot be extended to the general public.”

The president’s full speech on the occasion is as follows:

“This is our homeland, the place of my birth, the nation that defines my heritage. Today marks a significant occasion as we gather to address a longstanding struggle faced by the people of our beloved nation—the quest for land rights. What we are witnessing today is a transformative moment, a revolution, as we grant land rights to 02 million individuals. This monumental step empowers our citizens to exercise control over their land without the need for constant approvals from authorities.

I urge everyone to cherish and safeguard this right, not just for themselves but for future generations. Let us capitalize on this opportunity for progress and development. While many parts of the world have witnessed revolutions to secure land rights, our country is distinguished by achieving this milestone without the need for such upheavals.

Many deemed this impossibility, but our government made the decisive choice. Specifically, those engaged in farming and those who have built houses will now hold the rights to that land. I extend my gratitude to all involved in agricultural activities. Your support in the last Maha and Yala seasons played a crucial role in revitalizing the country’s economy, leading to a successful harvest.

Additionally, I acknowledge those who have constructed homes on these lands. It is in appreciation of their contributions that we grant this freehold land right. This marks a historic moment, as even during the Sinhalese dynasty, there was no established deed system. Lands were allocated to the privileged and Nilames through letters, while others received land for cultivation without permanent deeds. The Waste Land Act designated all such lands to the government, leaving the people with nothing.

Mr. D.S Senanayake initiated efforts to allocate land to people for farming under the Land Development Ordinance Act of 1935. The Land Acquisition Act was utilized to acquire land for village expansion, but ownership rights were not granted.

Subsequently, settlements were established in arid regions, accompanied by the commencement of paddy cultivation. Mr. Philip Gunawardena introduced the Paddy Act to enhance paddy fields in the wet zone where the majority existed, facing considerable opposition. However, the initiative persevered.

During the Mahaweli movement, Mr. J R Jayawardena allocated additional acres to the people. We are now launching a similar program.

In the past, Mr. Gayantha Karunathilaka faced legal challenges when initiating this program, accused of introducing a new law. However, this time, I did not encounter such opposition. If the Government Land Ordinance could grant land to white individuals and provide free land rights to investors, there is no reason why the same rights cannot be extended to the general public.

Today, we are granting free land rights to everyone using the same ordinance that facilitated land allocation to investors. No legal hurdles need to be overcome again. This program is historic and revolutionary. Land rights have only been granted in Asia by Japan and South Korea, and today, the people of our country have acquired this right.

I have instructed the swift implementation of this initiative in every divisional secretariat. I urge all Members of Parliament to unite without party distinctions for the success of this endeavour.

It must be acknowledged that the current government in Sri Lanka is unprecedented, with individuals from various parties coming together to take on responsibilities during challenging times. Despite the complexities of forming a government with contributions from different parties, we faced the task of rebuilding the country.

While our nation is gradually recovering, I recognize the hardships endured by the people. Efforts have been made to provide relief through programs such as the ‘Aswesuma’ program and salary increases for government employees. Emerging from a state of bankruptcy, the next step involves granting free land rights to the people. Despite economic challenges, undertaking these initiatives raises the question of what cannot be achieved in the future with a strengthened national economy.

Continuing on the path we have embarked upon, there is the potential to achieve a 5% economic growth in 2025. Our collective efforts, transcending party politics, have contributed to the success achieved so far. I urge everyone to unite in carrying forward this work, keeping the future of our people in mind.

We have already granted land rights to 02 million people and provided benefits to another 02 million, along with salary increases for 1.5 million. The development of the tourism sector has also created new income streams. If such significant accomplishments can be achieved with parliamentary unity, envision the possibilities if all members collaborate. This is the direction we must take.

Anticipating further legislative measures to foster the country’s development, let us advance together. An extensive agricultural revolution is underway, transforming the landscape through agricultural modernization.

We must avoid falling into debt again and prevent becoming a nation of beggars. Safeguarding our pride is crucial, and we must embark on this journey together. Today, each one of you is a stakeholder in this country. I encourage everyone to act with pride and wish you all the best.”

(Colombo/Feb6/2024)

“Private sector investment is key to achieving South Asia’s development goals,” said Fakhoury. “Our focus is on creating opportunities where they are needed most, sustaining jobs, supporting climate goals, improving inclusion for all by improving services for people, and strengthening digital and financial access across the region.”

IFC provides investment and advisory interventions across Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

In 2023, IFC provided nearly 3.45 billion dollars in long-term investments in South Asia, including 1.3 billion dollars mobilized from other investors, according to the statement.

“I look forward to engaging with all stakeholders to ramp up our support for sustainable infrastructure … while empowering small businesses and facilitating public-private partnerships (PPPs) to increase the region’s resilience.”

Fakhoury held several ministerial positions in successive Jordanian governments as Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Minister of Mega Projects, Minister of Public Sector Development, and Chief of Staff to the King of Jordan.

Fakhoury has a BSc in Biomedical Engineering, an MSc in Engineering Management, a Master’s in Public Policy, and an MBA.

“Fakhoury’s deep experience in enabling and scaling up private capital mobilization for sustainable infrastructure and climate transitions will be a huge asset for IFC,” Riccardo Puliti, IFC’s Regional Vice President for Asia and the Pacific was quoted in the statement. (Colombo/Jan22/2024)

Perera was the Deputy Chief Investment Officer of Senkadagala Finance PLC (SFCL).

He had previously been at NDB Wealth Management, Senfin Asset Management (Pvt) Ltd and at JB Financial (Pvt) Ltd.

Perera had gained post graduate experience with placements at the Inspiration Group in Germany and BlackRock in UK.

He is a CFA charter holder. He has Bachelor of Commerce degree and Master of Finance (MFin) degree. (Colombo/Jan22/2024)

The Chinese Cultural Promotion, Buddhist Culture and Art Association had agreed to the minister’s request to facilitate support from the United Nations for the State Vesak festival, Wickramanayake who is in China, was quoted as saying in a statement by the Department of Government Information.

A delegation from the Association will visit Sri Lanka to discuss this further, the statement said.

Wickramanayake had also requested the Association to provide an opportunity for Buddhist monks from Sri Lanka to visit China and study Mahayana Buddhism.

Vesak, a Buddhist religious holiday which marks the birth, enlightenment and death of Lord Buddha is celebrated in Sri Lanka with much fanfare; the construction of pandals and the display of lanterns attract large crowds at night over a few days.

The government generally closes liquor stores during the Vesak week. Last year, this resulted in a tax revenue loss of around one billion rupees for the government, the Department of Excise said at the time. (Colombo/Jan19/2024)