The US Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2017 was released on 21 April 2018. The Country Reports on Human Rights Practices (The Human Rights Reports) document the status of human rights and worker rights in nearly 200 countries and territories. These reports are required by U.S. law and are used by the U.S. Congress, the Executive branch, and the Judicial branch as a factual resource for …
Revenue mobilization can make space for social spending while reducing public debt. Reforms of state-owned enterprises are critical to minimize fiscal risks. Greater exchange rate flexibility and reserve buffers would strengthen resilience against external shocks. Strengthening institutions and accelerating structural reforms is key to lay the foundation for more sustainable and inclusive growth in Sri Lanka. The IMF mission chief for Sri Lanka, Manuela …
The fallout of the local government elections continues as a political crisis. The anti-Muslim violence, the no-confidence motion and its defeat are the latest manifestations of a government that is finding it hard to govern. Amid the manoeuvring of political forces and the blame game within the Government, there is also a slow recognition of the economic problems that led to the anti-government vote in February. …
A development success story in many ways, Sri Lanka still faces critical challenges as it strives to become an upper middle-income country. The World Bank Group supports Sri Lanka’s transition to a more competitive, inclusive, and resilient upper-middle income country. Sri Lanka At-A-Glance A complex political environment and the impact of natural disasters, such as floods in May and prolonged drought across the country, made 2017 …
By the end of 2017, Chinese companies had completed more than US$15 billion worth of infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka in the field of transportation, water supply, electricity, ports and other fields, and had made great contributions to the economic and social development of the island nation, says the Chinese Ambassador, Cheng Xueyuan. ‘The pragmatic Sino-Lankan cooperation has created more than 100,000 jobs for Sri Lankans …
Sri Lanka is to ask Facebook to set up an office in Colombo to help monitor content posted in the Sinhalese language so that the medium is not used for nefarious purposes such as creating communal conflicts. Austin Fernando, who is Chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) and is also Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka, confirmed that Facebook will be …
The resounding defeat of a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Sri Lanka’s parliament provides an opportunity for its bickering leaders to reassess their priorities. However, it may not end the prevailing political uncertainty as the three-way competition among President Maithripala Sirisena, Mr. Wickremesinghe and their common rival, former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, is likely to continue. The confidence of parliament has been numerically settled …
The Council of the European Union has relisted the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as a terrorist organisation. The decision came into effect on March 21, 2018, continuing the “specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities with a view to combating terrorism”. The LTTE is among 20 organisations named. The relisting is the result of a protracted diplomatic battle that involved Sri Lanka’s …
With Sri Lanka under a state of emergency after a spasm of anti-Muslim bloodshed, lawyer Jeevanee Kariyawasam went on Facebook to complain. The company hadn’t blocked users inciting violence, she wrote, and the government hadn’t arrested those sending out the offending posts. Facebook’s response was swift: It suspended Kariyawasam’s account. The company restored her account within 24 hours, but the incident this month highlighted how Facebook …
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said Sri Lanka is seeking foreign investment from India, Japan and others amid criticism over his country’s reliance on Chinese loans for infrastructure projects. In an interview in Colombo, Wickremesinghe defended a deal last year that gave a joint venture led by state-owned China Merchants Port Holdings Co Ltd. a 99-year lease to the southern port of Hambantota. The agreement gave Sri …
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