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The Navy has stepped up its patrolling activities in Sri Lanka’s territorial waters as Tamil Nadu fishermen have once again begun to cross the International Maritime Border Line (IMBL) and trespass into Sri Lankan waters with the annual 61-day fishing ban ending on Monday.

The ban is enforced annually by Indian authorities to protect the fish banks during the monsoon season breeding period. However, Tamil Nadu mechanised bottom trawlers often defy the ban and engage in harmful bottom trawling, an illegal fishing method designated as Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The ban this year began on April 15.

This week, Tamil Nadu fishermen complained that they were chased away by the Sri Lankan Navy when they tried to access what they called “their traditional fishing grounds” near the islet of Kachchativu.

A Sri Lankan fisher leader from Mannar said, “Rather than introducing these so-called bans, Indian fishermen should first give up bottom trawling since it is similar to wiping out the whole sea bed throughout the rest of the year.” Even the ban, he said, was to help the Tamil Nadu fishermen and not for any other reason.

NPP justifies unholy alliances in council battles

The formation of governance in local councils has become a ‘horse-trading’ business coupled with ‘unholy’ alliances this week, trying a final solution—a tie-breaker.

So far, the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) secured three councils through tie-break instances at Soronathota, Madagama and Dehiowita Pradeshiya Sabhas in recent days.

At Soronathota Pradeshiya Sabha, both the NPP and the Opposition secured eight votes each for the chairman post, and finally it was decided to hold a draw of lots to find a winner.

In the North, a similar pattern was noticed. The All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) secured three local bodies by holding a draw of lots in the region.

Apart from trying their ‘luck’, the parties were also engaged in behind-the-scenes talks to secure votes to win the control of councils.

On Friday, the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP), led by former parliamentarian S. Chandrakanthan, alias Pillayaan, currently in prison over an abduction, secured the Vakarai Council with the support extended by NPP members by defeating the candidate put forward by Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchci (ITAK).

Defending those ‘unholy’ alliances in Parliament on Friday, NPP’s Najith Indika said that since his party secured the most number of seats in the councils, it has the legitimacy to establish councils with the support of other members. “We have only sought the support of single members and independent members,” the MP said, stressing that this does not mean the NPP entered into ‘deals’ with other parties as alleged by the Opposition. This was not always the case, though.

Malayalam Superstar Mohanlal in Parliament as Deputy Speaker’s guest

Parliament staff were taken aback when they heard that Malayalam superstar Mohanlal Viswanathan was in Parliament on Thursday to get a glimpse of the country’s law-making institution.

The actor is currently in Sri Lanka for a film shoot and took time to visit Parliament following an invitation extended by Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih.

After meeting senior parliamentary officials, Mr Mohanlal observed the parliamentary session from the Speaker’s gallery as well.

As he prepared to leave the Parliament complex, officials and staff made sure to take selfies with the actor. One senior official was heard saying that there is a possibility to invite a ‘Bollywood king’ to Parliament soon during his proposed visit to the country in the near future.

Roping in armed forces for civil work

Minister Bimal Rathnayake accompanied by the Defence Secretary and the Air Force top brass on an inspection tour of the Central Bus Station in Pettah

Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, both during his time as Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and the executive president, deployed members of the armed forces for civil activities, including in various clean-up programmes.

While these were often ridiculed or condemned by his political opponents, the NPP government has taken a cue, and this week, the Sri Lanka Air Force was tasked with renovating the Central Bus Stand in Pettah.

Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Bimal Rathnayake, along with Defence Secretary (Rtd.) Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha and Air Force Commander Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, accompanied by the SLAF top brass, undertook an inspection of the site where the launch of the project was announced. It will be part of the government’s ‘Clean Sri Lanka Initiative’.

UL’s nearly- new aircraft on maiden flight to Male

SriLankan Airlines new aircraft is airborne on its way to Male

SriLankan Airlines’ newly acquired Airbus A330-200 quietly began its official flying duties yesterday, with a maiden flight from Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) to Malé, Maldives.

The flight, UL115, departed at 1:48 PM and was scheduled to land at Malé International Airport at 2:23 PM—a short hop for a wide-bodied aircraft that’s fresh out of the refurbished aircraft facility.

According to Deepal Perera, Head of Corporate Communications at SriLankan Airlines, the aircraft was brought to Sri Lanka from the Airbus production facility in France on the morning of June 4. Since then, it’s been going through routine procedures, including registration and final international clearances.

Before heading off on its first assignment, the aircraft was also showcased in Colombo, giving industry partners and the public a chance to get a close look at the latest addition to the fleet. The brief stopover on local ground gave it time to be formally introduced before being sent off to do what it was built for.

Now officially in service, the A330-200 is expected to support SriLankan’s regional and long-haul operations, adding capacity and a bit of freshness to the airline’s existing fleet.

Ranil left out in outgoing Treasury Secretary’s candid speech on economic crisis

An event was held at the Presidential Secretariat on Wednesday to felicitate outgoing Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana for his exemplary service.

Mr. Siriwardana, who was one of the key players who helped steer the country’s economy out of the dark days of bankruptcy, got rather candid during his speech, stating that he could see the country’s slide into bankruptcy then but that his warnings about what was coming and pleas for corrective action fell on deaf ears.

“I knew this country was sliding (into bankruptcy) even two years before I took over as Treasury Secretary on April 8, 2022. I told this to the current Governor of the Central Bank. The only person who I could tell this at home was my wife. She couldn’t do anything either. I can still remember the pressure I endured. I am someone who suffered due to this crisis for five years and not just for the three years I held this post. I knew the country was falling, but there was nothing I could do about it,” Mr. Siriwardana said.

He added that no one took what he said seriously. “The Monetary Board didn’t take it seriously. Neither did those who held the post of the Central Bank Governor at the time. I’m not afraid to say this. It was clear that it was coming, but they didn’t take the warnings seriously. That was why this happened. I am saying this perhaps as the senior-most official who experienced this crisis over the past five years, from 2020,” Mr. Siriwardana further added.

Mr Siriwardana, however, is facing criticism for not giving enough credit to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who gave the political leadership to bring the country out of bankruptcy in 2020 and give public servants like him the support to face heavy criticism, especially from those in the current government when he was cited by them in court actions.

Drinking Kool in north, British envoy extends his warmth

British High Commissioner Andrew Patrick visited Jaffna this week as part of his routine field trips to provinces.

During his visit, he met a cross-section of the people, including war-affected communities, civil society activists and fisherfolk who are at the receiving end of Indian poaching and commercialised aquaculture projects.

As a local saying goes, no visit to the North is complete without the Jaffna Palmyrah kool, the traditional soup popularly known in the region. The High Commissioner also gave it a try following a discussion with a group of entrepreneurs whose livelihood depends on palmyrah-based products.

Sangaree at 92 wants to revive TULF

Veteran Tamil leader Anandasangaree had a birthday visitor in ITAK stalwart M.A. Sumanthiran

One of the last surviving Tamil leaders of the older generation, Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) leader V. Anandasangaree, celebrated his 92nd birthday in Kilinochchi last Sunday (15).

As an honest one-time leftist leader who denounced violence at any cost and paid politically for his consistent policies, Mr Sangaree—as he is known fondly in Tamil circles—is still active trying to revive his political party, the TULF.

He had a visitor last Sunday, former MP and Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK) stalwart M.A. Sumanthiran, who met him and wished him good health. Mr Sangaree also gave a brief tour of his office, reflecting his decades-long political career with its ups and downs.

Vraie or Varai: What’s in a name?

The ballot paper gives the name as 'Varai' in Sinhala and Tamil

Vraie Cally Balthazar is now Colombo’s new mayor, but some find it difficult to pronounce her name, with official documents also using different ways to write the name in Sinhala and Tamil.

The ballot paper for her election at the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) referred to her as “Varai” while many others were seen struggling to pronounce her name the right way. But as Shakespeare wrote, “What’s in a name?” It’ll be her actions as the new mayor that matter.

Police flag false report on half a million rupee fine for drunk driving

Police have refuted a viral social media post that claimed that those caught driving under the influence of liquor are to be hit with a fine of Rs. 500,000 or a two-year prison sentence.

The posts claiming that new harsh penalties are being introduced for drunk driving have been going viral on social media in recent days and have been widely shared across different social networks. Police, however, issued a clarification yesterday stating that the posts relating to the new penalties were false. They added that legal action would be taken against those creating or posting such false posts.