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ECONOMYNEXT – Legislators representing Sri Lanka’s Tamil community have questioned alleged police inaction on a Buddhist monk accused of inciting “racial hatred and violence”.
Opposition Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian M A Sumanthiran writing to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) on Friday October 27 said Mangalaramaya Ampitiya Sumana Thero has threatened to cut Tamils living in Sri Lanka’s south “to pieces”.
“Ven Sumana Thera has repeatedly attacked TNA Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam and has also gone on to explicitly threaten all the Tamils living in the south, stating that he will cut them to pieces,” said Sumanthiran in his letter to the chief of police.
The MP said the monk’s remark is “blatantly an offence” punishable under Sections 3(1) and (2) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act No 56 of 2007.
“Why has the police not taken immediate action against the said venerable thera?” the MP asked.
Sumanthiran’s TNA colleague Rasamanickam tweeted Friday morning that action taken or not taken on the matter will demonstrate whether the use of the ICCPR Act is selective.
“Action taken/not taken on this matter will show us if the ICCPR Act is only to be used against those opposed to the government, Tamils and Muslims in Sri Lanka or if it is against hate speech,” he said.
The comments from the TNA MPs came after a video of the monk making the vitriolic remarks went viral on social media. Videos of angry outbursts by the same monk have gone viral in the past.
This particular incident reportedly occurred after a cemetery said to have been the final resting place of Sinhalese people who lived in an area of Batticaloa was allegedly bulldozed, which had angered the monk.
Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) MP Mano Ganesan also questioned the monk’s behaviour.
“If he has an issue with the MP of the area and municipal commissioner, there are channels to address such grievances. But here he’s inciting racial hatred and violence. This is unacceptable and disgusting,” Ganesan tweeted Thursday evening.
“Isn’t this in clear breach of ICCPR Act Section 3? Over to Mr President,” he said.
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Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the 2027 Budget has presented the investments necessary to move the country from a situation of crisis that existed when the Government assumed office towards a transformative economy built on economic stability.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while delivering a special address in Parliament during the debate on the 2027 Budget.
The Prime Minister highlighted that, for the first time in history, a substantial capital investment of over Rs. 749 billion has been allocated to the education sector for 2027. She further pointed out that this allocation represents more than 12 per cent of total government expenditure.
Emphasising further on the measures taken to strengthen the education sector, the Prime Minister stated that smart boards have been provided to more than 4,570 schools, while internet facilities have been extended to over 6,000 schools. She also noted that the curricula of National Colleges of Education, which had remained unchanged for 17 years, are currently being updated. Further, smart classrooms have been established at five additional National Colleges of Education, including the Maharagama National College of Education, with priority being given to teacher training.
The Prime Minister also rejected allegations that foreign direct investment (FDI) had declined to a record low in 2025. Referring to data covering the decade from 2016 to 2025, she stated that Sri Lanka had attracted approximately USD 1.4 billion in FDI in 2025, marking the highest FDI inflow recorded during the past ten years. Presenting statistical evidence of the economic progress achieved by the Government over the past two years, the Prime Minister stated that the country had sustained an economic growth rate of 5 per cent in 2025.
She noted that Sri Lanka had recorded a positive primary balance in 2025. Although the projected positive primary balance for 2026, according to the Budget, was Rs. 360 billion, it had increased to Rs. 1,844 billion by the end of September. She further stated that the central government debt, which stood at 114 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at the end of 2022, had declined significantly by the end of 2025.
The Prime Minister also emphasised that the Government had succeeded in turning around 52 major State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), which had collectively recorded a net loss of Rs. 74.6 billion in 2022, and bringing them into a profitable position. She further noted that the World Economic Forum had ranked Sri Lanka 10th among countries with the fastest-growing tourism economies.
Commenting on the public service, the Prime Minister stated that recruitment to the public sector had commenced under a transparent process based on merit, ensuring that the right person is appointed to the right position, without any political interference. Under this process, which had remained stalled since 2017, nearly 40,000 employees have already been recruited.
She added that an environment has now been created in which public servants can perform their duties with dignity and confidence, free from political pressure. Concluding her address, the Prime Minister stressed that criticism should be part of an informed and constructive dialogue based on facts and data. She invited all parties to set aside political differences and join the national effort to rebuild the country.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated as the Chief Guest in the Sri Lanka Broadcasters’ Symposium 2026, on 11th of November in Colombo.
The two days (11-12th of November ) Symposium organized by the Sri Lanka Broadcasters’ Association with the support of the Department of Government Information brings together professionals in the broadcasting sector, representatives of media institutions, technical experts and other stakeholders to exchange knowledge and experiences on current trends, technological advancements, future challenges and emerging opportunities in the broadcasting industry.
Addressing the symposium, the Prime Minister stated that broadcasting has always been about more than simply transmitting information. It connects people, gives expression to diverse perspectives, facilitates public debate and shapes how societies understand themselves and the world.
She noted that the broadcasting industry is undergoing fundamental changes due to the emergence of artificial intelligence, the growing influence of global digital platforms and rapidly changing audience behaviour. “The use of artificial intelligence in media requires a broader dialogue involving broadcasters, journalists, technology experts, academia, civil society and policymakers.
We must ensure that AI is used ethically and responsibly, while recognising that it is not inherently neutral, but shaped by the data, assumptions and social structures on which it is built,” the Prime Minister stated. Emphasising that broadcasting is not merely about communication but also about strengthening media literacy, she highlighted the importance of equipping citizens, particularly younger generations, with the ability to critically understand, evaluate and responsibly engage with media content.
The Prime Minister further noted that developing media literacy is an important objective of the Government’s ongoing education reforms. She stressed that the future of broadcasting must be built on public trust, professional responsibility, technological innovation and a strong commitment to serving society. The occasion was attended by the diplomatic core, media personnel and the members of Broadcasters Guild of Sri Lanka.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as Minister of Finance, yesterday presented Budget 2027, setting out an economic programme focused on moving Sri Lanka from stabilisation to transformation while strengthening fiscal discipline, public institutions, energy security and the production economy.
Delivering the second reading of the Appropriation Bill for 2027 in Parliament from 1.40 pm, President Dissanayake said the government’s objective was to address the country’s immediate economic challenges while laying the foundation for a better future for the next generation.
He said Sri Lanka had successfully moved through the initial phase of economic stabilisation over the past two years despite numerous domestic and international challenges and was now entering the next stage of economic transformation.
The President said Budget 2027 proposals were interconnected and formed part of a broader national programme aimed at strengthening the country’s production economy, maintaining fiscal stability and creating conditions for sustainable economic development.
President Dissanayake said the government had appointed a committee to examine Sri Lanka’s future engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after the current IMF programme concludes in March 2027.
He said the government was preparing for the next phase of its economic programme following the conclusion of the existing IMF arrangement.
Public debt is projected to decline to 87 per cent by 2032, exceeding the government’s initial IMF-backed target of 95 per cent, he said.
The government would continue reforms aimed at broadening the tax base, streamlining tax exemptions and digitising tax administration, while maintaining fiscal discipline and sustainable public finances, President Dissanayake said.
The government is targeting a primary budget surplus of 2.3 per cent and an overall budget deficit of 5 per cent.
The President said government expenditure was expected to reach 13.6 percent, while public investment was projected at 4 per cent of GDP.
He also stressed the need to continue implementing the Public Financial Management Act to strengthen fiscal accountability and improve the management of public resources.
President Dissanayake said the government had the liquidity and financial capacity to meet its foreign debt servicing obligations over the next two years.
Sri Lanka serviced US$3.707 billion in foreign debt in 2025 and is required to pay US$3.591 billion in 2026. The requirement is expected to decline to US$2.986 billion in 2027 and increase to US$3.674 billion in 2028.
He said the lower debt servicing requirement over the next two years, compared with 2025 and 2026, would enable the government to meet its obligations while continuing its economic recovery programme.
The President also called for a transformation of the public sector, saying Sri Lanka could not achieve its development objectives through the existing state machinery.
He said the country did not need an oversized state sector but an efficient public service capable of responding effectively to the needs of the people.
He said public sector reforms would focus on creating a stronger and more efficient administration capable of meeting the country’s future development requirements.
Recalling the mandate given to the Government by the public two years ago, President Dissanayake said people had expected it to build a better country and that the Budget had been formulated with that objective in mind.
A major component of the Budget is a series of measures aimed at strengthening energy security, improving fuel storage and distribution and supporting renewable energy.
The government plans to expand fuel storage capacity to maintain supplies sufficient for 45 days.
An allocation of Rs.22.34 billion has been made for a project to construct a jet fuel pipeline from Muthurajawela to Bandaranaike International Airport and develop fuel storage facilities with a capacity of 92,000 metric tonnes.
The government has also called for tenders for the Rs.16.332 billion Kolonnawa-Harbour Pipeline Project, which is expected to reduce fuel unloading time from 96 hours to 48 hours.
The project is scheduled to be completed within 18 months and is expected to reduce demurrage costs. The President said each day of delay currently costs the country around US$30,000 in payments to shipping companies.
The Budget also proposes providing free smart electricity meters to 300,000 consumers using more than 180 units of electricity a month.
All Ceylon Electricity Company (LECO) consumers using more than 120 units will also be provided with smart meters.
To encourage the use of battery storage with rooftop solar systems, households installing new rooftop solar systems will receive a subsidy of Rs.25,000 per kilowatt-hour of battery storage capacity, subject to a maximum of Rs.250,000 for systems with storage capacity of up to 10 kWh.
An allocation of Rs.3.5 billion has been proposed for the programme.
The government will also remove the 10 per cent Port and Airport Development Levy (PAL) on imported batteries used for solar energy storage.
The measures are aimed at improving energy security, reducing inefficiencies in fuel distribution and facilitating the integration of renewable energy into the national electricity grid.
Addressing external economic pressures, President Dissanayake said the government had faced the impact of rising global oil prices amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
He said the government had provided concessions amounting to Rs.147 billion to mitigate the impact of higher fuel prices on the public.
He also said the country had incurred an estimated US$3.4 billion in expenditure related to damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah and subsequent reconstruction efforts.
The President further warned of challenges expected from the anticipated impact of El Niño.
President Dissanayake said SriLankan Airlines had incurred cumulative losses of Rs.528 billion since former President Mahinda Rajapaksa ended its partnership with Emirates in 2008.
He said the Cabinet had appointed a special committee to examine options for reducing the debt burden of the national carrier and called on all Members of Parliament to support efforts to address the airline’s financial difficulties.
The President also expressed appreciation to Sri Lankan migrant workers, noting that foreign remittances were expected to exceed US$9 billion.
He said the contribution of migrant workers remained important to the country’s economic recovery and external financial stability.
The 2027 Budget is the third Budget of the NPP government and the 81st Budget Speech of the country.
The Cabinet approved the 2027 Budget proposals yesterday before the President presented them to Parliament.
The Appropriation Bill for 2027 was presented for its first reading on October 7 by Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando.
The Second Reading debate will be held over seven days from November 13 to 20, with the vote scheduled for 6 pm on November 20.
The Committee Stage debate will be held over 19 days from November 21 to December 14.
The vote on the Third Reading is scheduled for 6 pm on December 14.
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