President Mahinda Rajapaksa emphasized the imperative need for SAARC to move towards implementing result-oriented, actionable plans, which impact directly on the lives of the people.

He said that having evolved in structure, form and content, through almost three decades, SAARC is at a crucial juncture and now there is a need to shift from the present traditional approach and move towards implementing result-oriented, actionable plans, which impact directly on the lives of our peoples.

Addressing the 18th SAARC summit in Kathmandu today (November 26), he urged South Asian leaders to morally in keeping with the SAARC spirit to join forces against external threats on Member States. “While SAARC practice has been to abstain from involvement in bilateral issues of a political nature, we must resist external manipulations,” he said.

Read more: Time for SAARC to move towards result-oriented action plans - President Rajapaksa

Press Release 

External Sector Performance – September 2014

Overview

External sector sustained its growth momentum with expanding external trade activities in September 2014. Since July 2014, the expenditure on imports continued to rise reflecting the rebound of investment goods imports in particular. As the cumulative earnings on exports outweighed the cumulative expenditure on imports, the trade deficit during the first nine months of 2014 narrowed, while tourist earnings and workers’ remittances continued to be stable sources of inflows improving the current account of the Balance of Payments (BOP). Inflows to the financial account in the form of project loans to the government and inflows to the banking sector continued to strengthen the BOP resulting in a healthy surplus in the overall BOP during the first nine months of 2014, despite some volatility in the government securities and equity markets.

The Minister of External Affairs, Prof. G.L. Peiris met the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations, Mr. Subinay Nandy today  and conveyed to him, the Government’s extreme discontent regarding the unprofessional manner in which the investigation on Sri Lanka is being conducted by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). 

The Minister’s protest to the UN Resident Coordinator focused on the unacceptable way in which the deadline for submission of evidence to the investigation, 30 October, that had been originally set by the OHCHR had been changed unofficially and re-set once again. 

Read more: Minister Peiris voices concerns of GOSL over OHCHR Investigation

Reflecting the recent downward adjustments to domestic energy prices, headline inflation on a year-on-year (y-o-y) basis declined to its lowest level since November 2009 to record 1.6 per cent in October 2014, compared to 3.5 per cent in the previous month. Annual average headline inflation also declined to 3.8 per cent from 4.2 per cent. Core inflation (y-o-y) meanwhile, was at 3.6 per cent in October 2014 compared to 3.7 per cent in  the  previous  month  indicating  well  contained  demand  pressures  on  inflation.  It  is expected  that  subdued  commodity  prices  in  the  international  market,  recent  budget proposals such as reducing the Value Added Tax (VAT) to 11 per cent and stable inflation expectations would keep inflation at benign levels in the period ahead.

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‘Gyrinops Walla’, commonly known as ‘Wall Patta’ in Sinhala and Sri Lankan Agar Wood in English, is an endemic fragrance producing resinous plant grown in wet and intermediate zones in Sri Lanka. Resin extracted from ‘Gyrinops’ species has its unique fragrance and therefore, it is widely used as an, 

Ingredient in traditional medicine, world class perfume, incenses, aroma therapy, cosmetic and preservatives of accessories. Moreover, agar wood is used as cultural and religious purposes across the Asia. 

Due to the high economic value in perfumery and other industries excessive exploitation of

‘Gyrinops’ and Aquilaria species from natural habitats have been reported from many countries. Therefore, they are classified as endangered species in the international trade. Properties of Sri Lankan Agar Wood is unique, therefore high demand has been created from other countries. ‘Gyrinops Walla’ species possess pleasant fragrance which has lucrative in Middle Eastern market where it is used as a component to manufacturing of expensive perfumes, large scale smuggling of ‘Gyrinops Walla’ from Sri Lanka has been practiced for recent time.

Invitation for Bids for the Disposal of "Gyrinops Walla" ("Walla Patta")....

Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the UN in Geneva Ravinatha Aryasinha has said Sri Lanka stands ready to share its experience in comprehensive demining as a 'best practice' with countries which are facing similar challenges. Noting that "Sri Lanka’s continuing progress in demining has been achieved by telescoping what according to some estimates was to take 15 – 20 years, into one of 5 – 7 years duration, he said this was not only a rewarding experience for our people as they now move about freely across the country, but also a positive lesson for other conflict affected countries, where nationally owned and nationally driven programmes could achieve their intended purposes, if the necessary political commitment, resolve and pragmatic vision is put in place". 

Read more: Sri Lanka ready to share its experience in comprehensive demining as a 'best practice' with other countries

The Sri Lanka Convention Bureau and SriLankan Airlines in coordination with the Sri Lanka Consulate General in Dubai organized a Road Show “Meet in Sri Lanka” on Tuesday, 21^st October 2014 at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Dubai to promote the country as a Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) destination. More than 80 tour operators in UAE attended the promotion event.

Read more: “Meet in Sri Lanka” – MICE Tourism Promotion in Dubai