Latest news with #Dissanayake
Herald Malaysia
17-07-2025
- Health
- Herald Malaysia
Colombo working on national autism plan
Dissanayake's secretary, Dr Kumanayake, has tasked officials with presenting a proposal. The instructions are part of the Prajashakthi government programme for the equitable distribution of benefits in society. Autism (DSA) is increasingly recognised in Sri Lanka. The Ayati Trust centre in Ragama has reached 14,000 children with disabilities in five years. Jul 17, 2025 By Melani Manel Perera A proposal for a comprehensive plan to establish a national mechanism to support children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. This is what President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's secretary, Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, asked officials last week. These instructions were given during a discussion held as part of the national 'Prajashakthi' programme, launched earlier this month as a key initiative of the current government. It aims to empower citizens and ensure the equitable distribution of economic benefits throughout society, with a special focus on rural communities. The programme will be implemented by ministries and affiliated institutions, with coordination from the Presidential Secretariat. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is increasingly recognised in Sri Lanka, although awareness and services have historically been limited. Estimates of prevalence are unclear due to a lack of comprehensive national data, but several reports suggest an increase in diagnoses, partly due to greater awareness and the spread of diagnostic practices. Despite this, many families still seek help from religious or traditional healers due to deep-rooted cultural beliefs. Acceptance of neurodiversity is still limited but is slowly improving with education. According to the Ayati Trust centre in Sri Lanka, approximately 1 in 93 children has been diagnosed with autism. People with autism often face significant social stigma, misconceptions and delays in accessing diagnosis and support. Established in January 2020, the Ayati Trust in Ragama (born out of the Faculty of Medicine at Kelaniya University) is Sri Lanka's first national centre for children with disabilities, including autism. Its service has reached over 14,000 children, who have received assistance over five years. Typically, 100 children are seen per day and around 175-200 attend the clinics every weekday. From its example, some key challenges have been identified, such as limited awareness and stigma in society. The social stigma surrounding autism remains significant, especially in rural areas. Limited knowledge about autism leads to late diagnosis and limited support. Furthermore, early diagnosis is difficult to achieve due to a lack of trained professionals and resources. Services are mainly concentrated in Colombo and a few medium-sized urban centres. Furthermore, rural communities often do not have access to diagnostic tools, speech therapists and behavioural interventions. Finally, traditional schools are often not equipped to deal with people with autism. There is a shortage of teachers for special education and inclusive education programmes. There are a few well-equipped private schools, but they are expensive and limited in number. In addition, therapy (speech therapy, occupational therapy, ABA, etc.) is often expensive and requires long-term intervention. Most families pay out of their own pockets, making prolonged intervention inaccessible to many.--Asia News
Business Recorder
16-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Crisis-hit Sri Lanka vows reforms as growth slows
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's president on Monday vowed to press ahead with unpopular reforms, including the closure of loss-making state institutions, as official data showed economic expansion slowing down. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said maintaining the country's 1.5 million-strong public service was unsustainable and that there would be cutbacks. Addressing an IMF-backed review of the country's economic recovery from the unprecedented meltdown of 2022, the leftist president said he has identified several state institutions to be shut down. 'We have already decided that certain state institutions should be closed,' Dissanayake said, without naming them. 'These institutions were established in response to the socio-economic needs of a bygone era, which are no longer relevant.' Sri Lanka to discuss with IMF about measures to attract foreign investment, president says He added that the government would retain its hold on the energy and financial sectors, which he considered 'sensitive to the economy.' Dissanayake's remarks came as the census department said the country's economy expanded by 4.8 percent in the first quarter of this year, down from 5.4 percent in the previous quarter and 5.3 percent a year ago. The island's worst economic performance was in 2022, when GDP shrank by 7.3 percent after the country ran out of foreign exchange to finance even the most essential imports such as food and fuel. After two consecutive declines in GDP in 2022 and 2023, Sri Lanka's economy recorded positive growth of 5.0 percent in 2024, indicating the country was emerging from its worst crisis. Months of shortages led to street protests that eventually forced then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to step down in July 2022. His successor, Ranil Wickremesinghe, secured a $2.9 billion, four-year bailout loan from the IMF. However, Wickremesinghe lost the September elections to Dissanayake, who has done a U-turn on his election pledges to renegotiate the terms of the bailout and has maintained austerity. Dissanayake said he was committed to reforms in line with the International Monetary Fund's prescriptions and hoped it would be the island's last bailout. The current IMF bailout is its 17th. 'By the year 2028, we aspire to build a stable economy with sufficient growth to service our debt independently,' he said. Dissanayake has signed off on a controversial debt restructuring his predecessor had agreed with both bilateral and private creditors.
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Business Standard
16-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
IMF's Gopinath praises Lanka's economic reforms, urges sustained momentum
International Monetary Fund (IMF) First Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath on Monday commended Sri Lanka's significant progress in economic reforms and emphasised the importance of maintaining momentum to ensure lasting stability and prosperity in the island nation. Gopinath is on a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka from June 15. During her meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat, Gopinath acknowledged the strong mandate received by the ruling National People's Power (NPP) in both parliamentary and local council elections, according to a press release issued by the president's office. She noted that these mandates "enhance the government's ability to implement much-needed reforms, it said. Dissanayake's party won record record-breaking two-thirds parliamentary majority in November last year. In the local council election held in early May, it gained a majority of the 338 seats. Gopinath commended the remarkable progress achieved over the past two years from a state of severe crisis to renewed growth and falling inflation, the release said In a post on social media platform X, Gopinath said she and President Dissanayake discussed Sri Lanka's "strong performance on economic reforms and the importance of maintaining momentum". "Continued commitment to these reforms is vital for lasting stability and prosperity for all Sri Lankans," she said. Sri Lanka secured a USD 2.9 billion bailout from the IMF in March 2023 to address its worst financial crisis since independence. The country has since made notable progress, including restoring macroeconomic stability and reducing inflation. The IMF has reaffirmed its strong support for Sri Lanka's economic recovery and reform agenda.
The Hindu
09-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Sri Lanka, China ink MoUs to boost trade partnership
Sri Lanka and China have signed two Memoranda of Understanding to set up a working group on trade facilitation, and on industrial and supply chain cooperation, the Chinese Embassy in Colombo said. 'China and Sri Lanka have taken steps to deepen economic and trade cooperation, signing key agreements and exploring additional investment opportunities during the eighth meeting of the China-Sri Lanka Joint Trade and Economic Commission held on May 29th in Colombo,' the Embassy said on social media platform 'X' on Sunday. The meeting was jointly chaired by China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and Sri Lankan Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe. 'Both sides exchanged in-depth views on advancing high-quality Belt and Road Initiative cooperation, expanding trade and investment, and safeguarding the multilateral trading system,' the Chinese Embassy's post said. Minister Wang also met President Dissanayake during his visit. According a statement issued by the President's office, Minister Wang noted that considering 'the current political and economic stability in Sri Lanka, along with the clear policy direction' of the Dissanayake administration, 'there has been a notable rise in interest from Chinese investors looking to invest in the country.' 'We discussed enhancing our trade relations and expediting development projects in Sri Lanka. Exciting times ahead with increased interest from Chinese investors,' Mr. Dissanayake said on social platform 'X' following the meeting. The bilateral initiatives take off from deliberations held during President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's visit to China in January this year, soon after he visited India in December 2024, making New Delhi his first stop abroad after assuming office in September 2024. A joint statement issued on Mr. Dissanayake's China visit said the two sides agreed to work on the 'early conclusion of a comprehensive free trade agreement.' Speaking at an investors' forum in Colombo during his visit Mr. Wang, according to local publication Economynext, said: 'It is hoped that the two sides continue to work toward the conclusion of a comprehensive free trade agreement in one package, in line with the principles of equality, mutual benefit.' New Delhi and Beijing are keen to cultivate close ties with the leftist Sri Lankan leader, who has repeatedly emphasised a non-aligned foreign policy that would prioritise Sri Lanka's interests. India and sections within Sri Lanka have been highlighting the need to resume bilateral talks on Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) — stalled at different points — especially in the context of U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to slap tariffs on trade partners. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Sri Lanka in April 2025, the two sides inked seven MoUs, including one on defence cooperation. Last month, Sri Lanka's Cabinet approved a proposal for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between China's Chongqing Transmission Corporation Limited and the state-run Rupavahini Corporation to 'promote mutual understanding, strengthen cooperation, and exchange training opportunities in the field of media'.
The Star
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Sri Lankan leftist government begins privatisation
Sri Lanka calls for Expressions of Interest for divestment of Canwill Holdings. - COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's leftist government said Tuesday (May 27) it was selling a failed hotel project, marking its first privatisation move in line with an IMF bailout. Government spokesperson Nalinda Jayatissa said the cabinet had agreed to revive the previous administration's stalled process "of disposing of shares in Canwill", a fully state-owned company established in 2011 to operate hotels. The sale of Canwill marks the first major privatisation under the government of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a self-avowed Marxist. Jayatissa told reporters the government had decided to retain Deloitte, a leading professional services firm, to manage the sale. The government said Canwill, with an issued capital of US$61 million, needed at least another US$120 million to complete its 47-storey, partially built, 458-room beachfront hotel in Colombo. With no prospect of raising the capital to complete the project, the new administration decided to divest the asset instead. The company also owns another beach property in the south of the island. The International Monetary Fund, which extended Sri Lanka a US$2.9 billion loan in early 2023 after the country defaulted on its US$46 billion foreign debt in April 2022, had urged reforms of loss-making state-owned enterprises. Dissanayake had previously been reluctant to sell state assets, instead promising to revive unprofitable government-owned firms through improved management. However, since winning the presidency in September, Dissanayake has made a U-turn on his pledge to renegotiate the terms of the unpopular IMF bailout agreed by his predecessor. He has retained the high taxes imposed by the previous administration and agreed to remove subsidies on fuel and electricity. The IMF bailout programme requires the government to reform 52 state-owned enterprises that are straining the national budget. - AFP
