SRI LANKA PROGRESS REPORT 05-08-2018

1) Over 180 development projects handed over to public in Polonnaruwa in three days and Rs. 6000 million spent – Not a single project was named after Maithripala Sirisena or Ranil Wickremesinghe

2) Tourist-friendly Tuk Tuk service launched by PM. Over 750 Tuk drivers trained across the country and 150 received IDs and certificates on Monday (30)

3) Central Bank Governor says Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves will rise to about USD 9 billion by the end of this year, an amount that could comfortably cover the county’s import bill for five months.

4) CEO of Hambantota International Port Services (HIPS) says Hambantota is being developed into a multipurpose port, which will provide a variety of services such as handling containers, break bulk, RORO, passenger, oil, bulk terminal, gas and project cargo, aiming to handle the full gamut of services in the maritime and logistics area.

5) The much-anticipated Colombo Light Rail Transit (LRT) project is all set to proceed. Construction scheduled to commence as early as 2020 at a cost of USD1.7 billion – funded by Japanese government loans, and re-payable over 40 years, at 0.1% interest, and with a 12-year initial grace period.

6) U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announces at the ASEAN Regional Forum on August 4 that the U.S. intents to provide nearly $300 million to cover projects in Indo-Pacific region including Sri Lanka.

7) The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation announces plans to Ratmalana Airport under a 12 year development programme spending Rs 1479 Million.

8) The Ministry of Housing and Construction has so far constructed 101 model villages under ‘Uda Gammana’ programme. The 101st model village ‘Selvapuram’,constructed in Karathuraipattu in Mullaitivu with 30 houses, handed over to the public last week.

9) A 20 acre multimodal transport hub is to be set up in Pettah by the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development. The transport hub will include trains, buses, monorails and an elevated highway.

10) The Ministry of Finance to set up an independent regulatory body for microfinance companies while making it mandatory for all microfinance firms register with the proposed regulatory authority. This will resolve many longstanding microfinance issues at the grassroots level.

*Empowered nation – awakening country*