President moves the knight to protect the king in political chess board
Sri Lanka’s negotiations with the International Monetary Fund are now being finalized and a period from 2027 to 2040 has been given to repay the existing debt.
Japan has assured to speed up ongoing debt restructuring process while ad hoc committee of bond holders awaiting for the response of the government authorities on their terms stipulated in the bond restructure proposal.
The IMF’s executive board approval of Sri Lanka’s program review in June 2024 sets the stage for a shift from stabilization to recovery and growth this year
Sri Lanka’s inflation over the 12-months to May 2024 was 0.9 percent with the central bank only generating 2.5 percent inflation since September 2022 when its deflationary policy started to show up in the balance of payments as a surplus, official data shows.
Prices measured by the widely-watched Colombo Consumer Price Index fell 0.6 percent in the month of May. The index fell from 195.2 points to 194.1.
Although President Wickremesinghe is yet to formally announce his presidential candidature, he has been busy activating the UNP mechanisms in the districts and electorates. This week, he appointed organisers to undertake political campaigning. The party’s Working Committee will also meet this morning to discuss polls related issues.
SJB and NPP leaders Sajith and Anura Kumara are readying to take up the batons to run in the presidential relay following the president’s signal to start their race.
But everything is depend on the president’s final chess move for check mate or stale mate as he has already moved the knight to protect the king in the political chess board by way of his PART General secretary’s announcement and extending the term of office of the Attorney General.
Sri Lanka’s inflation over the 12-months to May 2024 was 0.9 percent with the central bank only generating 2.5 percent inflation since September 2022 when its deflationary policy started to show up in the balance of payments as a surplus, official data shows.
Prices measured by the widely-watched Colombo Consumer Price Index fell 0.6 percent in the month of May. The index fell from 195.2 points to 194.1.
The proposal of Presidential election postponement allowing President Ranil Wickremasinghe to hold high office for another two years via a resolution of Parliament with two third support of the government and opposition MPs and public enforcement in a national referendum has created frightening ripples among opposition political parties bemusing the public this week
Palitha Range Bandara, the General Secretary of the United National Party, one of the oldest politicians in the country at 77 years has made this proposal with the intention of the continuation of the president’s economic policies for the benefit of the people.
But it was boomeranged affecting the image of President Ranil as a lone crusader who rescued the country from the unprecedented economic crisis where people had suffered in long queues for fuel and LP gas and organic fertilizer debacle hutting the food security.
Opposition political parties as usual started its vicious campaign rallying around with SJP Leader Sajith Premadasa and NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake to protest against the move saying this unconstitutional attempt was made with the concurrence of the president as he feared defeat at the upcoming presidential polls
The news, first reported widely on social media within hours, sent shockwaves in political circles and the Colombo-based diplomatic community. First to respond was Julie Chang, the American ambassador to Sri Lanka.
She personally met the members of the Election Commission recently and exchanged views with the members of the Commission regarding the conduct of the presidential election.
The commission members had informed the American ambassador that the election commission had now completed all the planning to hold the presidential election as scheduled.
This was a time when President Wickremesinghe’s image was building up among the public due to his efforts provide relief for vulnerable community, the middle class as well as the public and private sectors with financial assistance.
He has regained the support of the people in the North for the UNP using his generosity particularly after his visit to the province.
For the first time after the ending war several Northern Province MPs expressed their appreciation for his good work.
Amirthanathan Adaikalanathan MP and S. Noharthalingam MP expressed gratitude to President Wickremesinghe for his efforts in advancing development projects in the North. Granting land rights to the people brings significant relief to them.
In another farsighted and thought provoking chess move of knight to protect the king , the president has given a 6-month service extension Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam who played a big role behind the scenes in appointing him as the Acting President when Gotabaya Rajapaksa was facing a serious political crisis.
Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam was among the people like Tiran Alas and Shavendra Silva who brought suggestions that Ranil should be appointed as the Acting President while Gota was safe in the Modara military camp when the struggle was at its peak. Mr. Sanjay Rajaratnam gave the necessary legal advice for that.
A referendum proposal came from the side of the government which followed a proposal from the President to give the Attorney General a 6-month of service extension, many in the legal fraternity could smell some doubts on this move.
Be that as it may Elon Musk branded by the NPP this week as an economic hit man the visionary entrepreneur behind SpaceX, has once again captured the world’s attention with the latest updates on Starlink, the ambitious satellite internet constellation designed to provide global high-speed internet access.
He stepped in to install “Starlink” service in Sri Lanka with the aim of addressing the Wi-Fi connectivity issues, particularly in rural areas outside Colombo accepting invitation of President Ranil Wickremasighe.
In the wake of this new development National Peoples’ Power (NPP) member Sunil Handunneththi, has branded businessman Elon Musk with the aim of depriving valuable opportunity for advancements herald a new era in connectivity and technological capability.
Such utterances might derail the government’s attempts bring in new technology which is the need of the country , several leading economists said adding that people of Sri Lanka should be cautious on such statements being made with hidden agendas.
Handunneththi as a member of the NPP economic think tank should explain to the public the reasons behind the branding Elon Musk as an economic assassin. .
With a deployment that now boasts over 6,000 satellites, the addition of 10,000 lasers for inter-satellite links, and a rapidly growing customer base exceeding 2.7 million users, Elon Musk’s Starlink Starlink is not just a milestone for SpaceX; it’s a pivotal moment for global connectivity and technological integration.
Meanwhile, Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) is expected to meet next week for further discussions pertaining to the formal authorization and implementation of the “Starlink” service in Sri Lanka, the State Minister of Technology Kanaka Herath said.
Claiming that he never meant to call billionaire businessman Elon Musk an economic hit-man, NPP Economic Council member Sunil Hadunnetti said expressing his regrets to Elon Musk.
Speaking during a Business Forum, Hadunnetti said his reference to economic hit-men was to James Packer and George Soros who were brought into the country during the previous Ranil Wickremesinghe government.
However several economic analysts said that JVP leaders making utterances to misled the people and win their support are used to deny what they have preached following public criticism.
