Send-off reception held for 17 JDS fellows
Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka – Mr. Mizukoshi Hideaki yesterday (08) held the reception to send-off JDS (the Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resources Development Scholarship) scholarship fellows and extended his heartfelt congratulations on new 17 JDS fellows, who are heading to Japan as scholarship students this month.
In a media release the Japanese embassy in Sri Lanka states :
The JDS program is one of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) programs to promote high-quality growth of a country through human resource development. One of its main purposes is to accept young promising administrative officers, who are expected to be in leadership positions in the future, as international students in Japanese graduate schools so that they can utilize the expertise they gain in Japan in formulating and implementing social and economic policies after they return to their home country.
JDS fellows are also expected to solidify foundations for further bilateral relations with Japan and succeed as a bridge between both countries by utilizing their human network developed through academic and social activities while in Japan.
Under the project, 17 public sector officials will be sent to pursue a 2 – 3 year Master or PhD degree from this year. Areas of their degrees cover Public Policy, Macroeconomics, Public Finance and Investment Management, Industry Development Policy and Investment Promotion, and Urban and Regional Development.
Since its inception in 2009, JDS project has supported 205 public sector officials in Sri Lanka. The project will contribute not only to enhancing individual capacities but also to improving institutional capacity of the public sector in Sri Lanka, which helps Sri Lanka to overcome various difficulties related to the current economic hardships and to achieve prosperity further in the future.
The reception was held as a pre-alumni reunion as well, with the enthusiastic participation of 22 returned JDS fellows who are willing to establish the JDS alumni association. Stressing the essentiality for relevant ministries to cooperate so that they could overcome current complex and difficult problems, Ambassador Mizukoshi expressed his sincere beliefs that arranging alumni gatherings by JDS fellows themselves and sharing the knowledge gained in Japan would be highly conducive to accelerating Sri Lanka’s development.
In line with the IMF program, various endeavors such as reforms on revenue and expenditure, state-owned enterprises as well as the eradication of corruption are being carried out. Also, on the occasion of our Foreign Minister Hayashi’s courtesy call to Prime Minister Gunawardena, the signing ceremony of Exchange of Notes for next year’s JDS program was conducted in the esteemed presence of the Prime Minister and our Foreign Minister at the Temple Trees on 29th July, which highlights the importance of the JDS program. In this regard, the year 2023 would mark a milestone in kicking off the rebirth of Sri Lankan economy along with the JDS program.
YOU MAY LIKE
-
“State Minister linked to Theft at KKS Cement factory”
-
Dilrukshi released from all charges
-
CBSL reduces Statutory Reserve Ratio
-
Danushka’s bail conditions eased
-
Dilrukshi acquitted in audio recording case
-
Wimal’s bribery case postponed
Former Chairman of the Sri Lanka Cement Corporation Gamini Ekanayake has lodged a complaint against State Minister Chamara Sampath Dasanayake with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
He alleged that theft amounting to billions of rupees has taken place at the state-owned Kankasanthurai cement factory with the endorsement of the Minister.
Mr. Ekanayake had told the CID that he had taken all the steps to implement the decision to sell the scrap metal in this land in the Tender procedure, as per the relevant Cabinet decision.
But instead of implementing the cabinet decision, the State Minister had first removed much of the army personnel that was guarding the factory premises, leaving the premises largely unguarded.
He also pointed out that there is a clear connection between the recruitment of seven people from Badulla to this factory and the sudden withdrawal of scrap iron worth 22 million in two months after the army was withdrawn.
Lodging the complaint with the CID, the former chairman also called for a full formal investigation in this regard.
Following a revelation made in parliament over the alleged theft, an irate State Minister Chamara Sampath had berated the MP who had raised the question and the former Chairman.
The manner of his speech was severely criticized by opposition MPs and addressing the schoolchildren viewing the debate at the premises, MP Dallas Alahapperuma apologized to them on behalf of their public representatives.
The Public Service Commission of Sri Lanka has reportedly decided to release from all charges the former Director General of the Bribery Commission, Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe, who is under suspension of service.
Wickramasinghe was interdicted and sent on compulsory leave by the Public Service Commission following a tape recording of a telephone conversation being uploaded on Youtube and broadcast over sections of the media in September 2019.
The telephone conversation had taken place between Wickramasinghe and Avant-Garde Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi, reportedly related to a question of legal procurement, while the former Solicitor General was at a dinner with former Minister Vajira Abeywardena.
The Public Service Commission of Sri Lanka has decided to release Wickramasinghe from all charges based on the previous reports issued by experts from Moratuwa University and the Government Analyst Department.
The expert reports claim that the tape recording of the telephone conversation had been edited and doctored.
At the time of the incident, Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe was serving as the Deputy Additional Solicitor General to the Attorney General’s Department.
It is also reported that Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe who is currently in retirement is to receive her salary arrears and necessary privileges going forward.
(NewsWire)
The Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, at its meeting held on 8 August 2023, has decided to reduce the Statutory Reserve Ratio (SRR) applicable on all rupee deposit liabilities of Licensed Commercial Banks (LCBs) by 200 basis points, from 4.00 per cent to 2.00 per cent, with effect from the reserve maintenance period commencing 16 August 2023.
This decision has been taken with the view to inject liquidity to the banking system and further reduce market liquidity deficit on a permanent basis, in line with the current monetary policy stance of the Central Bank.
“This reduction in the SRR is expected to release around Rs.200 billion of liquidity to the domestic money market, which would enable a further downward adjustment in the market lending rates as a result of the reduction in cost of funds of LCBs, thereby supporting the expansion in credit flows to the economy. While LCBs are expected to pass the benefit of the SRR reduction to their customers without delay, the Central Bank will continue to monitor market developments, and take appropriate administrative measures, if required, to ensure faster reduction of market lending rates,” a CBSL statement says.
