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| | Archives Nov-Dec 2010 |
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Sri Lanka’s post - war economic boom on the rise - Wall Street Journal
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The Wall Street Journal, in a year end analysis on the Sri Lankan economy in its
30th December edition has said, Sri Lanka’s post-war economic boom is only just
beginning. The potential here goes well beyond a boost in tourism. Adjusted for
inflation, economic growth could be close to 8% this year, up from an average of
5% in the prior decade. Bond market strategists are now expecting Sri Lanka’s
credit rating to be revised upward next year. Investors, though, have already
taken things a step further. Moody’s says the market-implied rating on Sri
Lanka’s sovereign debt is Ba1, three notches above where the agency currently
rates the country and only one level below investment grade.
Read more...
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BOI grants approval to Shangri-La
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The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) on 28 December granted approval to
Hong Kong-based leisure group Shangri-La to set up a seven star hotel in the
capital.
Representatives of the Shangri-La group signed the agreement with government
officials to acquire 10 acres of government property near the Galle Face green
promenade. USD 75 million has already been spent for this purpose. Shangri-La’s
total investment is about 500 million US dollars in the hotel project which will
have 500 rooms.
Read more...
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Belgian assistance for Sri Lanka to construct six railways bridges
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Sri Lanka is to receive financial assistance from Belgium to construct six
railway bridges in the country. The Cabinet of ministers on 28 December approved
a proposal
to receive supplies for the construction of the railway bridges from the Belgian
company Transurb Technirail. Under the proposal six railway bridges will be
constructed at Wellawatte, Dehiwala Double Line, Angulana, Navatkuli,
Polgahawela, and Narahenpita. The total cost to be incurred for the project is
4.8 million Euros, out of which 3.98 million Euros will be provided under
Belgium assistance.
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European Parliament upholds Sri Lanka’s ‘right of reply’
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The Subcommittee on Human Rights of the European Parliament has upheld the procedural anomaly raised by Sri Lanka’s
Ambassador to the EU, following the denial of Sri Lanka’s ‘right of reply’ at
an exchange of views on the post conflict period in Sri Lanka, which was held at
the European Parliament on 06 December 2010.
In a letter dated 16 December 2010 addressed to Sri Lanka Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and
the EU Ravinatha Aryasinha, with reference to his written protest made to her regarding the denial
of Sri Lanka’s ‘right of reply’, Ms. Heidi Hatuala, Chairperson of the Sub-committee on Human Rights of the Foreign Affairs Committee, has requested him to
“send me [her] your views in writing, expressing your Government’s response to our grave concerns,
I assure you it will be distributed to my colleagues of the sub-committee”.
Read more...
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Enshrine peace & love in your hearts – President
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I wish a Happy Christmas to all Sri Lankans and citizens of the
world who celebrate the birth of Christ at this Christmas!
The purpose of celebrating Christmas is to enshrine the message of peace and love
in one’s heart. It is especially a time to spread the message of love and
compassion towards the poor and peace among all peoples.
Our great commitment in the recent past to promote solidarity among communities,
is in keeping with the teaching of Christ to ‘love thy neighbour’.
Our efforts to free our people from poverty have been
appreciated by Christians and those of all other faiths, alike.
Christ taught that, whosoever shall receive a child in my name receiveth me. Christian tradition
holds that the three kings came to worship the new born
child guided by the star light that marked his birth. Similarly, we must bring the
joyous message of Christmas closer to the hearts of our children.
Thus, we will be able to come closer to the peace and love of Christ through Christmas.
I wish you all a Happy Christmas filled with peace and joy.
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Christmas celebrations at the Embassy
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In keeping with the tradition to commemorate important festivals of
the four religions practiced in Sri Lanka, the Embassy of
Sri Lanka in Brussels celebrated Christmas with the participation
of the Sri Lankan community in Belgium and other well wishers at the Embassy premises on 10 December 2010.
Read more...
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As tourist arrivals grow, Belgium relaxes travel advisory on Sri Lanka
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Belgian tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka have increased by 108.2 % in the first 11 months of
2010 over that of the previous year, compared to a Western European average of 50.5%
and an overall increase of 45.7% in the corresponding period. The increase in tourist
arrivals from Belgium in the month of November 2010 alone, over that of November 2009,
was a staggering 290.5%. This month Belgium also relaxed its travel advisory deleting a
reference in its September 2010 travel advisory which stated “given the security
situation, all travelling to North and East of Sri Lanka not recommended”.
The impact of these developments were amply demonstrated from the attention Sri Lanka received at the
2010 Brussels Travel Expo (BT Expo) which was held in Brussels this month. Addressing over 50
journalists at a media event titled ‘Sri Lanka - Back in Business’, held at the centre of the
BT Expo pavilion, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU Ravinatha
Aryasinha said, “in less than one year since Sri Lanka got back on the Belgian
travel catalogues and only a month since a direct weekly flight was
launched, Belgium was clearly accelerating to where it left off in Sri Lanka’s tourist arrivals table, prior to terrorism affecting the country”.
Read more...
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Arrangements for UN Panel to make representations at LLRC
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With regard to reports of a possible visit to Sri Lanka by the United Nations
Secretary-Generala’s Panel, the Ministry of External Affairs issuing a statement
today said that in the event of the Panel wishing to present representations to
the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), the Ministry will make
the arrangements that are necessary to enable the Panel to do so.
This position has already been conveyed through diplomatic channels, to the
United Nations in New York.
Read more...
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Sri Lanka to receive increased support from World Bank – Managing Director
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The World Bank Managing Director Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-lweala has announced moves
for Sri Lanka to receive increased support from the world development funding
institution. This will more than double the resources available to Sri Lanka
from the World Bank – via IDA and IBRD
Speaking at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s 60th anniversary celebrations on
Friday (17 December) Dr. Okonjo-lweala reaffirmed the World Bank’s strong and
expanding support to Sri Lanka as it transitions towards a middle-income country
in lasting peace.
Read more...
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Sri Lanka says “European Parliament allowing itself to be used as a platform for
LTTE apologists to discredit Sri Lanka”
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Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha has strongly protested the denial of Sri
Lanka’s ’right of reply‘ at an “exchange of views on Sri Lanka” held last week
at the European Parliament. In a letter of protest addressed to Ms. Heidi
Hautala, Chair of the Human Rights Sub-Committee who was not present during the
discussion, Ambassador Aryasinha pointed out that in the over one hour long
discussion on Sri Lanka on 6 December, despite his being present and demanding
Sri Lanka’s ’right of reply‘, its denial by the Presiding officer at the time,
“leaves the unmistakable impression that the Human Rights Sub-Committee is not
interested in having a reasoned and balanced discussion on Sri Lanka, but is
merely content to allow itself (the European Parliament) to be used as a
platform for LTTE apologists to discredit the Government of Sri Lanka”.
Read more...
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Belgian Economic delegation upbeat following visit to Sri Lanka
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The Belgian business delegation which included over 50 representatives from 40 companies who visited Sri Lanka for
’Belgian Week 2010‘ held from November 22-26 to explore economic and investment possibilities, have expressed
optimism on the country’s business climate and the prospect of their doing business in Sri Lanka.
The mission was organized as a collaborative
effort by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Belgium, the Embassy of Belgium in New Delhi and the Consulate of Belgium in Colombo.
Read more...
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LTTE Targets Home of Free Speech
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Oxford Union Cancels President’s Address
Yesterday the Oxford Union cancelled the proposed address by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. They cited security concerns for doing so.
President Rajapaksa is in the UK with a senior delegation of Sri Lankan politicians and business leaders.
During this visit the delegation are meeting with UK parliamentarians, business leaders and members
of the SriLankan community in the UK.
“For security reasons the speech by His Excellency President Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka at the Oxford Union,
the home of free speech, has been cancelled. This is a decision that has been made unilaterally
by the Oxford Union,
reportedly as a result of pressure applied by pro-LTTE activists,”
Secretary to the President, Mr. Lalith Weeratunga said in a statement.
Read More...
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Lanka- Belgium working beyond “respectful disagreements” on human rights issues
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Belgian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Jean Deboutte has said the presence of a
50 member strong Belgian business delegation in Sri Lanka
“is a clear indication that we are ready to work beyond that ’respectful disagreement‘
(on human rights). There is an understanding in the whole of Europe, definitely in Belgium,
that there are some demands made, but at the same time we should not let these try to impede
any co-operation especially at this juncture when Sri Lanka’s people and economy is
trying to go ahead again”. Ambassador Deboutte made these observations during a joint TV interview together with Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU,
Ravinatha Aryasinha, on the Daily Mirror ’Hot Seat‘ on 22 November 2010 in Colombo.
Watch full video
Read the transcript
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40 Belgian companies in Trade and Investment Mission to Sri Lanka
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A Belgian trade and investment delegation comprising 40 companies (over 50 persons)
are currently visiting Sri Lanka, as a result of an exemplary joint effort between the Embassy
of Sri Lanka in Belgium, the Embassy of Belgium in New Delhi and the Consulate of Belgium in
Colombo. These companies specialise in the fields of agro-food, machinery, construction,
interior, energy, fisheries, gems, information technology,
infrastructure, water supply, financial services, textile, tobacco and tourism.
Most of them are seeking to do business with Sri Lanka for the first time.
Read more...
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United in peace, lets build a great nation - President
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“Our first task in our rise to be among the great nations of the world,
is to ensure lasting national unity and sustainable, permanent peace in our
motherland” stated President Mahinda Rajapaksa after the swearing
in of his second term of office today (19 Nov) at the Presidential Secretariat.
Out policy is one of non-alignment, he said adding, ’we do not have
enemy states or such groups or blocs. During the last era, we worked
with many nations in agreement and friendship for national security. We
now step into the development era. We extend our hand of friendship to those
who assist us in this endeavour’. We have the inherited wisdom to tolerate all
opinion and take mature decisions. We have a tradition of understanding our
problems and conflicts and finding solutions for them, he further stated.
’We are not a miniature of
a developed country. We are Sri Lanka. Our motherland is Sri Lanka’.
Read more...
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Magampura takes its place in maritime maps of the world – President
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“Today, we have left our mark, not only on the Sri Lankan map but also the world map.
In the maritime maps of the world this will be marked as an important port” said President
Mahinda Rajapaksa. He made this statement at the ceremonial berthing of the first vessel at
’Magama Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port’, Hambantota today (18 November). The ceremony
also marked the commencement of the construction of the second phase of the port.
“When Asia is progressing rapidly led by China and India, Sri Lanka also seeks to be a part
of this emergence” he said. “When we introduced Mahinda Chintana to the nation in 2005,
we Sri Lankans were deprived of many things in this country… we gave Sri Lankans,
the rightful owners, everything from the fertilizer bag to the Shell Gas company…
From the time when our land was sold, we are now moving to a time when we are adding to it”,
he further stated.
Read more...
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Sri Lanka Embassy conducts Tree Planting Ceremony
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The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Belgium joined the ’Deyata Sevana’ national programme for planting
more than 1.1 million trees nationwide to commemorate the 65th birthday of His Excellency the
President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the inauguration of the second term of his office by planting
a Skimmia ’Rubella’ tree today (15 November 2010) in the Embassy premises. Mr. Madhuka Wickramarachchi,
Charge d’Affaires a.i. planted the tree marking the occasion, which is also
in line with the ’Green Country’ theme outlined in the ’Mahinda Chinthana – Vision for the Future’
policy of the Government.
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Ambassador Aryasinha says time ripe “for West to re-think its strategies and engage Sri Lanka in a more respectful and constructive manner”
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Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha has said, “an emerging trend is discernible, that others are gradually
re-thinking their strategy, and in fact working hard to build bridges with Sri Lanka, both in terms
of economic, as well as security cooperation. An important factor that is probably weighing on the minds of
those policy makers in western capitals, is that by over playing their hand to appease these interests for
electoral and other considerations, they are not only losing whatever leverage they had with the GOSL on
the very issues they claim to be concerned about, but also stand to lose out on benefitting from the
development trajectory Sri Lanka is poised to take in the future.” He added that
“the forthcoming commencement of the 2nd term of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, whose party also commands a near 2/3rds majority in Parliament,
would be an appropriate moment for the West to re-think its strategy, and engage Sri Lanka in a more
respectful and constructive manner.”
Ambassador Aryasinha made these observations, when he spoke on the theme,
’Moderating competing narratives: the challenge of recasting Sri Lanka’s image abroad’,
while delivering the Olcott Oration 2010 at Ananda College in Colombo, on Saturday ( 6 November 2010).
Read more...
Full text of statement in English...
Full text of statement in Sinhala...
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German Parliamentary Delegation holds discussions with Minister G.L. Peiris
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The visiting cross-party delegation from the German Parliament held discussions with Minister G.L.
at the External Affairs Ministry on 6th November. Minister Pieris expressed his satisfaction that
the Delegation had obtained a first hand experience of the post –conflict developments taking
place in Sri Lanka. The Minister gave an overview of the Government’s efforts,and said that
the people of Sri Lanka had been emancipated from fear and terror after almost three decades.
The Leader of the German Delegation, Ms Petra Ernstberger (CDU/CSU) thanked the GoSL for
the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the progress made in Sri Lanka,
and confirmed their overall impression,
following visits to the North and the East of the country that “many good things had been done”.
Read more...
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