The International Monetary Fund on Friday announced it had completed its first review of the Extended Fund Facility granted to Sri Lanka, and would approve US $162.6 million disbursement. 

The three year program was approved in June, allowing US $1.45 billion.

"The government’s reform program, supported by the IMF, aims to reduce the fiscal deficit, rebuild foreign exchange reserves, and introduce a simpler, more equitable tax system to restore macroeconomic stability and promote inclusive growth," the IMF said in a statement.  

In a letter to the Sri Lankan president and prime minister the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) reiterated its rejection of pre-fabricated steel homes, and called for proper houses for Tamils displaced in the North-East. 

"The Parliamentary Group of TNA Which met yesterday, 11.11.16, unanimously decided to address this communication to you, so that you will become aware that all of us are totally opposed to pre-fabricated steel houses and that people be provided with the traditional brick houses in keeping with their culture and way of life," the TNA said in a statement signed by the leader, R Sampanthan, as well as  TNA MPs. 

Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremensighe has outlined plans to lease large stake in the Hambantota port to a Chinese Company reports Colombo Page.

The Prime Minister said that the government planned to lease the Hambantota port or $US 1.2 billion to a Chinese company China Merchant, in an attempt to aid in Sri Lanka’s Balance of Payments.

Addressing concerns that the port would be sold to a Chinese company, Mr Wickremesinghe added,

Hours after the head of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) organisation in Sri Lanka threatened to incite bloody attacks against Muslim communities unless a Muslim leader was arrested, Sri Lanka’s police arrested the Secretary of Sri Lanka Thawheed Jamath (SLTJ) Abdul Razick.

A statement by the police headquarters said that Mr Razick was arrested due to a complaint regarding a comments made by him at a protest last week, reports Colombo Telegraph. 

In a situation brief released today titled "Student killings, Aava gang and the Securitisation of Jaffna", the Adayaalam Centre for Policy Research (ACPR) raised alarm at the Sri Lankan government's "failure to meaningfully confront systemic policing and military intelligence issues that have once again been brought to the forefront by the recent killings of two Jaffna University students by police."

In an op-ed published this week on Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka, researchers at Together Against Genocide, Vinesh Mistry and Brami Jegan called on the EU not to miss the opportunity "to insist on meaningful transitional justice, rather than giving its blessing to a government whose commitment to human rights deserves serious scrutiny"

Full op-ed reproduced below: 

by Vinesh Mistry and Brami Jegan

The Colombo based Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) on Friday expressed concern over what it described as "a spate of recent events with ominous portents for ethnic and religious harmony and reconciliation in Sri Lanka."

Pointing to increasing hate speech against minorities particularly by Buddhist monks and social media uses, as well as the murder of two Jaffna university students at the hands of the Sri Lankan police, the CPA said it was "extremely concerned at the appearance of signs that, yet again, legal reforms aimed at improving our democracy and governance are being undermined by the forces of chauvinism and intolerance."

The Brussels based media organisation, International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Free Media Movement on Friday condemned the attacking of a journalist in Trincomalee on November 15. 

“The IFJ condemns the attack and threat to journalist in Trincomalee and urges the Sri Lankan authorities to take every measure to ensure punishment to the responsible; and to establish a safe working environment for journalists in Sri Lanka," the IFJ said in a statement. 

See full statement here. Extract follows: 

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on Thursday demanded foreign judges to be involved in the post-conflict accountability process. 

“The president has told Meera Srinivasan of The Hindu in an interview that he will not agree to foreign judges. Then how can we expect justice?” TNA parliamentarian, S.Sritharan was quoted by Colombo Gazette as asking parliament. 

The inclusion of international participation is the only mechanism to ensure transparency and justice – as also noted by the UNHRC, Mr Sritharan added.  

By Dr Arujuna Sivananthan

IMPROVEMENT

Sri Lanka’s 2017 budget seems to be receiving several accolades, not from those outside Sri Lanka or anyone credible within, but from politicians in the ruling coalition. So it should!

The coalition’s attempt to shed its statist skin by expressing an intent to privatise loss making state owned enterprises (SOEs) must be welcomed along with permitting foreign nationals to buy property. It also makes good economic sense.