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At last Tuesday’s weekly Cabinet meeting, President Maithripala Sirisena raised questions on how the Foreign Affairs Ministry came to issue a statement condemning North Korea’s firing of an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), as reported by the Sunday Times Diplomatic Editor last week.

The President made the point that he, as Head of State and Head of Government, should at least be informed when another country was being referred to in a statement issued on behalf of his Government. He said he was unaware of its release and had seen the contents in websites which had published it together even with his photograph. It had created the impression that he had sought to condemn the move when he was unaware such a statement was issued. Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake told the meeting that he had wanted to seek the approval of President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to issue such a statement. He was unaware a statement had already been issued.

President Sirisena then urged Minister Karunanayake to conduct a probe to ascertain how the statement came to be issued from his Ministry. Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera, one of Government’s spokespersons, told Wednesday’s news briefing that there would be a probe to determine how the statement came to be issued.
Foreign Ministry officials say a formal statement is usually drafted by the sectional head handling the region and then sent to the Foreign Secretary. Thereafter, he obtains clearance from the Foreign Minister. It is not immediately clear if this process was followed since Minister Karunanayake has denied knowledge of it.

The statement issued on July 29 said: “Sri Lanka condemns hostile acts by North Korea which threatens international peace and security. “The Government of Sri Lanka condemns the firing of a ballistic missile of intercontinental range by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 28 July 2017, and the series of recent similar hostile acts by DPRK in violation of UN Security Council Resolutions.

“DPRK’s continued pursuit of nuclear and ballistic missile programmes and proliferation related activity pose a significant threat to international peace and security.
“In the interest of peace and security of all concerned, we urge the DPRK to refrain from such hostile acts and programmes, in violation of UN Security Council Resolutions, which impact adversely on the stability of the region and beyond.

“The international community must unite in words and deeds to seek solutions to this grave situation which is an ever increasing threat to international peace and security.”
The issue is being hotly debated in the realm if international relations with the US blaming China for not taking sufficient action against its neighbour North Korea for going ahead with its missile programme which is causing jitters in South Korea, Japan – and even the US. China is not amused by US rhetoric at its expense on the issue.

Chinese company claims US$39.6 m more for Mattala airport
One of China’s frontline companies operating in Sri Lanka, the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), is claiming US$ 39.6 million as “cost variation and price escalation” for building the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport. The awarded contract value of the project was US$ 209 million of which the Exim Bank of China provided US$ 190 million as a “concessionary loan.” The variations claimed have been reviewed by an independent committee.

The External Resources Division earlier tried to get the Exim Bank of China to provide a loan for the variations costs but this was turned down.
Now, the Government has obtained proposals from five different banks operating in Sri Lanka – the National Savings Bank, the National Development Bank, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, the People’s Bank and the Bank of Ceylon. A Government official said a decision on the bank or banks is now being made.

PM wants blood reports within two hours
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has tasked a three-member ministerial team to talk to private medical institutions to issue blood reports within one or two hours instead of the present ten to twelve hours.
The move has been prompted by the spread of dengue which has compelled patients to seek regular blood reports.
The Committee is headed by Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne and includes Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrema.

Health Ministry official says private medical institutions are also saddled with a large number of patients seeking blood reports. “This has caused delays,” the official added.
The Ministers, the official said, will seek the help of private medical institutions to expedite the issue of blood reports.

No chief of staff, only consultant for Ravi
The Cabinet of Ministers has modified and offered a new designation in place of a Chief of Staff for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Minister Karunanayake had recommended Sarath Wickremenayake, a Chartered Accountant for the post. The Cabinet, however, decided last Tuesday that he be hired as a Consultant. Wickremenayake had served as a Director of the National Development Bank and serves in a number of other boards.

His monthly allowance and other perks are to be decided by a three-member Cabinet Sub Committee headed by Special Assignments Minister Sarath Amunugama.
The sub-committee was named after President Sirisena pointed out that some ministers have failed to adhere to guidelines laid down for appointment of advisors to Cabinet Ministers. Other members of the sub-committee are Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Justice and Buddha Sasana Minister Wijayadasa Rajapakshe.
The sub-committee will lay down specific criteria to be considered when selecting persons to be appointed as advisors. It will also determine the allowances provided to them and the number of advisors ministers will be entitled to appoint.

Another proposal by Foreign Minister Karunanayake to allocate Visumpaya (former Acland House) at Lily Street, Kompannaveediya, Colombo 2 as the official residence of the Foreign Minister was referred to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Management (CCEM) chaired by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to make its recommendations.
Thereafter, ministers have decided that the Foreign Secretary should make the Committee’s recommendation available to the Cabinet of Ministers through his own minister.

Tribute to Ranil: Those who came and who did not come

Parliament devoted Friday for speeches marking the 40 years of politics by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The ‘Joint Opposition’ and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) did not take part. However, most Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) ministers and MPs were present. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) members also were in the House.

There were several who made laudatory speeches. They were Rauff Hakeem, (Sri Lanka Muslim Congress), Rishad Bathiuddin (All Ceylon Makkal Katchi), Palani Digambaram (National Union of Workers), Douglas Devananda (Eelam People’s Democratic Party), Rajavarothayam Sampanthan (Tamil National Alliance), Mano Ganeshan (Democratic People’s Front), Nimal Siripala de Silva (SLFP), Kabir Hashim (UNP), Gamini Jayawickrema Perera (UNP) and Gayantha Karunatilleke (UNP).

Conspicuous by his absence was President Maithripala Sirisena. He had explained earlier that he would be in Anuradhapura taking part in some official functions.

Navy shifts bases to Hambantota
Sri Lanka Navy’s Galle and Tangalle bases will be shifted to Hambantota.
The vacuum caused by the absence of the two main bases will be filled with the establishment of a Coast Guard base at Mirissa.
Shifting naval activity to Hambantota is in the light of increased activity expected after the signing of the Concession Agreement for the port project there.

UNP gets expert advice on polls campaign
Three consultants from a British public relations firm are advising the United National Party (UNP) on strategies for upcoming elections.
At a recent meeting of the UNP parliamentary group, one of the experts gave a presentation on how to use WhatsApp.
Perhaps this application for voice and data communications is on the grounds that they are encrypted. In some West Asian countries the use of WhatsApp is banned.

Speaker urged to be firm with unruly MPs
Parliament’s former Secretary General Nihal Seneviratne had a few words of advice for Speaker Karu Jayasuriya.
It came at a function to mark the launch of his book titled “A Clerk Reminisces.” It recounts his 33 years as a senior parliament official and is full of anecdotes and interesting encounters (Please see page 10 of ST2 section for a detailed account of the launch).

“Be firm, stand by the decisions you make and do not be afraid to use the powers vested in the Speaker to remove from the Chamber MPs who misbehave and disobey orders from the Chair,” Mr. Seneviratne said.
His advice comes at a time when parliamentary sittings are getting disrupted on a regular basis with some MPs frequently disobeying orders from the Chair.
Speaker Jayasuriya was, meanwhile, scheduled to visit Iran over the weekend to attend the inaugural ceremonies of the re-elected President of Iran.