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Harsha accuses govt. of being secretive about debt negotiations with international commercial creditors
By Saman Indrajith
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) is not at all satisfied with the furtive manner in which the government is conducting discussions with Sri Lanka’s commercial creditors to restructure 12 billion dollars of debt, SJB MP and Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance (COPF), Dr. Harsha de Silva said.
The SJB MP added that the country’s international commercial creditors account for a large portion of its domestic debt and they have formed a group, i.e. ‘The Ad Hoc Group of Bondholders’ that has procured the services of two powerful consulting firms.
The Group is advised by Rothschild & Co and White & Case LLP as financial and legal advisors, respectively, he said.
Sri Lanka has made some progress with bilateral creditors including China and India, he said.
“China for the first time since it started lending has agreed to accept the same conditions that the other creditors receive. This is a great victory. However, the stumbling block seems to be our dealings with the commercial creditors and I am not sure if we are doing all we can to get a speedy resolution.”
MP de Silva said that early in 2023, the Ad Hoc Group of Bondholders came up with a “Macro-Linked Bond” (MLB) as a way of restructuring the debt. MLB links payouts to the evolution of Sri Lanka’s gross domestic product. They proposed the government the issuance of 10 bonds linked with the country’s macroeconomic health that will mature between 2027 and 2036, he said.
“They have proposed a 20 percent haircut and an interest rate up to 9.5 percent to be paid in cash and in kind.” But if GDP growth is lower than the bondholders expect the interest rates will drop further. The Sri Lankan government said, in October, it was not too keen on this and I don’t blame them.”
In late 2023, White & Case LLP issued a statement on behalf of the Ad Hoc Group of Bondholders. In this statement they said they have repeatedly tried to engage with the Sri Lankan authorities and its advisors in good faith. They say no substantive engagement has taken place between Sri Lanka and its private creditors by December 2023, de Silva said.
“Now it’s mid- March and no one knows what is going on. We have achieved stability, but we have done so by drastically increasing poverty, significant job losses and the closure of small and medium enterprises. Moreover, Sri Lankan workers sacrificed a lot for the government to restructure domestic debt. So people have sacrificed greatly for stability and therefore they need to know what is going on. But the government is secretive and does not tell us anything that is happening with foreign debt restructuring.”
The SJB MP went on to say that Sri Lanka will be able to dispel the moniker of a bankrupt state when it is able to access international capital markets. For this Sri Lanka’s credit rating must improve.
“President Ranil Wickremesinghe says Sri Lanka will shed the moniker of a bankrupt state by April. I think a lot needs to be done before we reach that stage. We are at the bottom of the ratings, and we need to at least get to where the country was before the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration.”
MP de Silva said that Sri Lanka needs to grow at double digits to escape the current stagnation and that the best way to do it is to explore how the country can benefit from the fast-growing Indian South.
“This will be the fastest growing area in the world in the coming decades. We need to see how we can link with them and benefit.”
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
