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The Chinese Communist Party delegation at the JVP's Pelawatte head office posing for a photograph with Deputy Minister Watagala and other party officials

A delegation from the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) visited the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) main office in Pelawatte on Monday, but there was no show by party General Secretary Tilvin Silva to

greet them.

Instead, Deputy Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sunil Watagala was at hand to greet them.

The Chinese delegation included the Deputy Director General of the Information Center of the CPC’s International Department, Kang Shuai; Assistant Professor at the Beijing Municipal Committee Party School, Jiang Wen; and Director of the CPC Information Research Center, Zhang Guifeng. They first visited the JVP’s Colombo District Office in Maharagama and discussed in-depth the natural disaster situation in Sri Lanka and the ongoing relief operations.

National People’s Power (NPP) Parliamentarians Devananda Suraweera and Lakmali Hemachandra, along with Maharagama Mayor Saman Samarakoon, Deputy Mayor Ranjani Naotunna, and Homagama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Kasun Rathnayaka, participated in this meeting.

Govt. taps youth and social-media generation to rebuild Sri Lanka

The government is trying to appeal to the younger, social media-savvy generation to donate to the “Rebuild Sri Lanka” fund it launched to facilitate the post-disaster reconstruction efforts.

The fund’s website is inviting users to create a Facebook profile picture with a “solidarity frame” to stand with families affected across Sri Lanka. Those who want to donate are requested to download their image and use it on Facebook to “spread awareness and keep the conversation going while our communities recover.”

Instructions on how to use the solidarity frame are listed on the website.

Namal seeks foreign help to rebuild places of worship

Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa, who has been visiting flood- and landslide-hit areas of the country, has noted that many places of religious worship, including Buddhist temples, Hindu kovils, mosques, etc., have been damaged or destroyed.

He has reached out to temples in several countries, such as Thailand and Burma, to get assistance to rebuild the temples. He said that several temples in Thailand have offered to help Sri Lanka in this regard after they visit the country for an appraisal of the damage.

Several South Indian temples contacted by Mr Rajapaksa have also pledged to help to rebuild the affected kovils in the country, while some countries in West Asia have said they would assist to rebuild the mosques.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister taking part in a ceremony to mark the despatch of relief aid to Sri Lanka

Tamil Nadu sends relief aid to Sri Lanka

India’s Tamil Nadu state government has dispatched 950 metric tonnes of relief items to people affected by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka.

At the Chennai Port yesterday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin flagged off the ship carrying relief items, including clothes and food. The donation followed a request by
Sri Lanka’s Chennai-based Deputy High Commissioner,
Dr Ganesanathan Geathiswaran.

Central Bank issues guidelines to salvage damaged banknotes

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has issued guidelines to the public on how to safely handle and preserve banknotes damaged by recent flooding.

The guidelines are as follows: 1) Separate wet banknotes. 2) Handle wet notes gently to avoid tearing. 3) Do not pull apart bundled notes at once. 4) Remove any wrapping and place the notes in absorbent material. 5) Allow them to dry slowly at room temperature.

If notes cannot be separated, immerse the bundle in clean cold or lukewarm water and gently separate the notes by holding one end and lightly shaking, but avoid hot water, detergents, or chemicals.

To dry banknotes, the following steps should be followed. 1) Lay each note on a clean, dry, non-coloured surface such as cloth or paper towels. 2) Allow them to air-dry naturally in a well-ventilated area. 3) Do not use irons, ovens, or any high-heat sources.

Once fully dried, any notes unsuitable for use may be presented to any commercial bank for replacement.

Pak relief aid: Indian media claim debunked

While the two countries were united in assisting Sri Lanka, there was some unpleasantness when several Indian media organisations used a date on the packs gifted from Pakistan to Sri Lanka to say that Pakistan had sent expired goods.

However, it transpired that dry rations were distributed in reusable bags commonly found in grain markets, which have been repurposed for this use, and the goods inside had not expired.

Deputy minister politicising relief work

While the country is in crisis, there are some trying to use the situation to make some political inroads.

Deputy Agriculture and Livestock Minister Namal Karunaratne, who is the chairman of the Kurunegala District Coordinating Committee, is among them. He has sent a letter to the District Secretary in Kurunegala saying that he is assigning one of his representatives temporarily to the DS office to assist in the relief work that is under the purview of the DS office.

It is likely this is happening in other areas as well, but it seems clearly a move to interfere with the work of the government officials who have been entrusted with the relief work.

China Harbour sends machinery for post-disaster ops

With heavy machinery and vehicles needed for cleanup and reconstruction after Cyclone Ditwah, China Harbour Engineering Company has stepped in to assist Sri Lanka.

All the machinery and other equipment being used for work at the Port City have been dispatched to the flood- and landslide-hit areas to assist in the rescue and restoration work. The move follows the intervention of the Chinese Embassy in Colombo. China’s relief supplies are due in a few days.

Double blow for northern fishermen

After a long week of heavy winds and cyclone Ditwah that shook the nation, Northern fisherfolk ventured into the sea on Wednesday hoping for a decent catch to ensure their livelihood, but they returned empty-handed and with damaged nets.

The reason, as usual, is illegal bottom trawling by Tamil Nadu fishermen who frequently encroach on Sri Lanka’s seas.

Fishermen from Delft Island said their fishing nets were damaged by massive Indian trawlers that engage in bottom trawling.

Northern fishermen said most of their families are in debt since they bought their nets through rural bank loans. They urged the government to provide compensation for the damage caused by Indian fishermen.

Mano stayed back to raise estate workers’ plight with President

When President Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressed Parliament, the main Opposition, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), walked out of the House, but several others remained seated. One of them was the leader of the Tamil Progressive Alliance, Mano Ganesan, an ally of the SJB.

As the President made his exit following his speech, Mr Ganesan had a quick encounter with President Dissanayake and told him that there had been landslide warnings issued in several areas in the upcountry, including in Kandy, where the President in his speech said he would be visiting on Saturday.

Pointing out the pathetic plight of plantation communities who have been among the worst affected in the upcountry, he suggested to the President to grant lands in flat regions where those families can settle and avoid impending natural disasters in the future.

Agreeing to his proposal, the President asked, “Where are the lands?”

Mr Ganesan responded, saying, “We need to trace the land belonging to plantation companies,” and referred to the assurance given by the President in his speech that he will not allow families to live in disaster-prone areas in future.

Mr Ganesan also told the President that out of courtesy, he did not raise the issue after the President’s speech.

Shaking his hands, the President said, “Great, let’s find those lands. You can also support us.”

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa wore shoes to attend the book launch

The story behind Sajith’s shoes

The launch of Attorney-at-Law Upul Jayasuirya’s autobiography titled “I was there” brought together politicians of many shades, including two former presidents—Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremeisnghe.

Also in attendance was Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, who took the uncharacteristic step of wearing a pair of shoes rather than his usual sandals to attend the event. He made sure to whisper in Mr Jayasuriya’s ear that he had even worn shoes in honour of his host for the evening.