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Court curbs Executive powers over PPP projects

Public-private partnership projects with financial obligations for the State must receive parliamentary approval, the High Court has said, strengthening legislative oversight of infrastructure deals financed by taxpayers.

The court declared parts of the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Act unconstitutional after finding that the law excluded Parliament from approving PPP arrangements that create government expenditure, guarantees, public debt or other financial liabilities.

The judge said Parliament’s constitutional role in approving public expenditure and public liabilities cannot be bypassed merely because a project is structured as a PPP or funded initially by private investors.

The judgment followed a petition by Katiba Institute challenging provisions used in the proposed concessions involving Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco).

The two projects linked to India’s Adani Group had been cancelled before the petition was heard, but the judge said their cancellation did not remove the wider constitutional questions raised.

The dispute centred on whether the Executive, acting through the PPP Committee, could approve arrangements with long-term financial consequences without Parliament’s involvement.

Katiba argued that Sections 59, 60, 61, 62 and 72 of the Act allowed the Executive to exercise powers reserved for Parliament under the Constitution.

The court agreed in part, declaring Sections 59, 60 and 72 unconstitutional to the extent that they failed to provide for parliamentary approval where a PPP creates government expenditure, guarantees, public debt or other liabilities.

The court, however, suspended the declaration of invalidity for six months, allowing Parliament time to amend the Public Private Partnerships Act and align it with constitutional requirements on public expenditure, guarantees, borrowing and other public liabilities.

The judgment does not require legislators to approve every partnership individually. Approval is necessary where the arrangement commits the national government to financial responsibility.

That may include payments to a private operator, State guarantees, public borrowing, government contributions or liabilities that could eventually fall on taxpayers.

The court stated that a project does not escape parliamentary scrutiny merely because private investors provide the initial capital or because it is described as a concession rather than ordinary public borrowing.

Katiba had also challenged provisions allowing authorities to decide whether privately initiated proposals should undergo open competitive tendering. The organisation argued that Sections 44(5) and (6) undermined Article 227, which requires public procurement to be fair, transparent, competitive and cost-effective.

The High Court rejected that part of the challenge. It found that the law may permit alternative procurement methods where justified, but public agencies remain bound by the Constitution.

A privately initiated proposal cannot be used to favour a particular company, avoid competition or deny the public value for money. The court thus preserved the mechanism while placing limits on how it may be applied.

The petition was filed amid controversy over two proposed Adani concessions. The court papers identified a proposed 30-year concession for the JKIA by Adani Airports Holdings and a Sh95.68 billion, 30-year power transmission concession involving Ketraco and Adani Energy Solutions, according to the published case record.

Katiba said the projects had been developed through privately initiated proposals and were being advanced without adequate parliamentary participation. It also questioned whether the process met constitutional standards of openness, accountability and fair competition.

The petition directly challenged the exclusion of Parliament from PPP agreements.

The government and other respondents opposed the petition, arguing that the court should not intervene in matters governed by the PPP framework and that some disputes belonged before the PPP Petition Committee.

They also argued that cancellation of the projects had weakened the basis for the case.

The court held that the petition raised questions beyond the two transactions. These included Parliament’s role in public finance, protection of public resources and accountability of agencies negotiating long-term concessions.

The six-month suspension means the affected provisions remain temporarily operative while lawmakers consider amendments.

The court is expected to return to the matter on May 11, 2027, for compliance checks and directions.

African Caribbean Travel Corridor (ACTC) launched to bridge Africa and the Caribbean

After much planning, consultation and negotiations, the African Caribbean Travel Corridor (ACTC) is being established as a new joint venture initiative designed to transform travel, tourism and logistics connectivity between Africa and the Caribbean. The ACTC brings together three experienced organisations and industry leaders: African Caribbean Sustainability and Investment Initiative (ACSII), based in London, led by Founding Chairman David F. Roberts; The Africa Guide, led by Dr Vicki Otaruyina; and Akwasi Agyeman, Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Center for Hospitality, Aviation and Tourism (ACHAT), Ghana.

The initiative responds to a longstanding challenge: despite deep historical, cultural and economic connections between Africa and the Caribbean, travelling between the two regions remains unnecessarily difficult, expensive and fragmented.

The ACTC seeks to change that.

Its objective is to develop an integrated Africa-Caribbean Travel Corridor connecting people, businesses, investors, tourists, students, professionals and families while creating new opportunities for airlines, hospitality companies, tour operators, logistics providers and other travel-related businesses.

A major component of the emerging corridor will be to improve direct air connectivity. Developments include plans involving Air Peace to increase direct services connecting Lagos with Barbados and Jamaica, creating important new gateways between West Africa and the Caribbean.

Such connections could significantly reduce the time, cost and complexity associated with travelling between the regions, while opening new markets for tourism, trade and investment.

David F. Roberts, Founding Chairman of ACSII, said:

‘For too long, the Atlantic has connected Africa and the Caribbean historically and culturally, but not sufficiently through modern transportation and commercial infrastructure. The African Caribbean Travel Corridor is about changing that. We want to make Africa-Caribbean travel easier, more affordable and commercially meaningful.’

Dr Vicki Otaruyina of The Africa Guide added:

‘The Caribbean is one of Africa’s most important global communities and markets, yet there remains a significant travel and tourism gap between our regions. ACTC is designed to turn that gap into an opportunity by creating practical pathways for people to travel, discover, invest and do business across the Atlantic.’

Akwasi Agyeman, CEO of the Africa Center for Hospitality, Aviation and Tourism, said:

‘Connectivity is fundamental to the growth of tourism. By bringing African and Caribbean tourism stakeholders together and improving access between the two regions, ACTC can contribute to a new era of tourism development, investment and collaboration.’

The ACTC will explore and develop opportunities across aviation, tourism, hospitality, logistics, travel technology, destination marketing and investment, while working with governments, airlines, airports, tourism authorities and private-sector partners.

Beyond aviation, the initiative is intended to create a wider ecosystem that supports seamless movement between Africa and the Caribbean and strengthens the commercial relationships underpinning the Africa-Caribbean economic corridor.

The launch comes at a time of growing interest in strengthening Africa-Caribbean relations and unlocking the enormous potential of the global African and Caribbean diaspora.

The partners believe that improved connectivity can become a catalyst for increased tourism, business travel, investment, cultural exchange and trade.

The future of Africa-Caribbean travel is bright.

The African Caribbean Travel Corridor intends to help make that future a reality.

For media and partnership enquiries:

African Caribbean Travel Corridor (ACTC) – A joint venture of African Caribbean Sustainability and Investment Initiative (ACSII), The Africa Guide and the Africa Center for Hospitality, Aviation and Tourism (ACHAT

Chasing the next $3b: What it will take for Sri Lanka’s apparel sector to get there

For thirty years, Sri Lanka›s apparel industry has quietly powered the country›s export economy accounting for roughly 40% of merchandise export revenue and employing 300,000 to 350,000 people. That scale wasn›t accidental. It was built through deliberate Government-industry planning dating back to the early 1990s.

The first transformation, anchored by the 200 Garment Factories Program, pushed manufacturing beyond Colombo, created jobs in rural communities, and built the industrial base the sector still runs on today. It worked because the Government and industry moved together, not apart.

Now the industry is asking for a repeat but for a very different set of problems.

Sri Lanka’s Government has launched an ambitious National Export Development Plan (NEDP) targeting an increase in merchandise exports from $13.6 billion (2025) to $28 billion in 2030. Aligned to this, JAAF is looking at a target of $ 8 billion. Against a backdrop of exports that have remained around the $5 billion mark for the last 5 years, this highlights a deeper challenge: the industry has outgrown the model that once drove its growth. The next phase will require a stronger focus on value addition, innovation, automation, productivity, market diversification and moving further up the global value chain.

The competition has changed. Manufacturing giants with deeper supply chains, wider trade access and lower costs have pulled ahead. Automation, digitalisation and sustainable manufacturing are no longer differentiators, they are the baseline, one thing is clear: simply adding more sewing lines won›t close the gap.

So what does the industry actually want?

JAAF is calling for stronger investment incentives, to attract new foreign direct investment and encourage manufacturers already established here to reinvest not just in apparel manufacturing, but also in fabric mills, trims and packaging. The goal is to grow our apparel manufacturing base whilst reducing Sri Lanka›s reliance on imported materials by building a stronger domestic supply chain, especially in synthetic yarn and fabric, where local production currently meets barely a third of demand. To deliver on this, Sri Lanka needs to have a proposition for investors that competes with the offers on the table by other countries. If not, investment will not flow into the island.

There is a strong case for a dedicated push toward automation, robotics and AI-driven manufacturing. Industry leaders don›t frame this as a cost-cutting exercise, but rather as increasing productivity as a driver to boost overall exports. It is also a matter of staying competitive, as without this shift, Sri Lanka risks falling further behind manufacturing hubs that have already made the leap.

On trade, the asks are specific: pursue the application for the EU›s new GSP+ scheme in 2027, secure a preferential trade arrangement with the United States, and strengthen the existing free trade agreement with India. JAAF also wants Sri Lanka to open new negotiations with South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, and to set up a dedicated Government-industry working group to keep trade talks focused and consistent.

Perhaps the least glamorous but most practical request is institutional. Industry leaders say there needs to become a genuine one-stop shop rather than one stop among many. That means faster approvals, clearer VAT treatment for exporters, more flexibility for companies to transact in foreign currency, and long-overdue labour law reforms.

Energy policy is also key. Open access and power wheeling regulations are moving toward being fast-tracked, alongside stronger incentives for battery storage together aimed at giving manufacturers more reliable and sustainable power options.

None of this stands alone. Industry commitments of new investment, productivity gains, local supply chain development and job creation are matched by asks of Government: market access, a competitive tax environment, reduced costs of doing business and regulatory certainty in return.

The stakes go beyond a single industry. This is not just a plan for Sri Lanka to recover lost export ground. It builds a more resilient, higher-value apparel sector that can withstand global shocks better than the current one does.

Whether this plan of action takes shape will depend on how quickly Government agencies move to match the industry›s proposals with actual policy. Three decades ago, a similar alignment of purpose reshaped Sri Lanka›s apparel industry. The question now is whether that same coordination can happen again, at a moment when the competition has only gotten tougher.

Zakharova warns of ‘eternal curse’ for those persecuting Armenian Church

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has warned that politicians involved in what she described as the persecution of the Armenian Church would face an ‘eternal curse.’

‘Those who participate in the persecution of the church in Armenia will be cursed. Pass that on. There are terrible crimes, but fighting against God, when genuine persecution is carried out using the entire arsenal of means, is a centuries-old curse,’ Zakharova said, according to Lenta.ru.

Zakharova had previously accused Armenian authorities of violating procedures during parliamentary elections held this summer and claimed that representatives of the Church had been ‘steamrolled’ by the authorities.

Tensions between the Armenian Apostolic Church and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government have escalated in recent months.

A criminal case against Catholicos Karekin II, the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and six senior clerics was launched earlier in 2026 amid the continuing dispute between the Church and the Armenian authorities.

The Armenian government has rejected accusations that it is conducting a campaign against the Church, while the dispute has become a source of political tension inside the country.

JAMAICA-TRANSPORTATION – Jamaica begins multi- billion dollar upgrade of airport at Norman Manley International Airport

Work is under way on an $8.1-billion (One Jamaica dollar=US$0.008 cents) project to reconstruct and upgrade the aircraft apron at the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA), as part of a major modernisation programme at the Kingston facility. The project, partly funded by the Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ), is being undertaken by PAC Kingston Airport Limited (PACKAL), the airport operator and a subsidiary of Mexican airport company Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP).

Cemex has been contracted to reconstruct the airport’s 109,270-square-metre operational apron, where aircraft park to load and unload passengers and cargo, refuel and receive ground services.

According to PACKAL, the new, thicker concrete pavement will be designed to accommodate next-generation aircraft, including the Airbus A321neo and A321XLR. The project also includes upgrades to the airport’s storm-water drainage system.

The existing concrete surface is being demolished in sections and replaced with new concrete slabs. Construction is being carried out in eight phases to allow the airport to remain fully operational throughout the 18-month project.

During a tour of the project earlier this week, Cemex Jamaica Country Manager and Carib Cement Managing Director Jorge Martinez said the project was providing an opportunity to introduce advanced construction technology to Jamaica while trengthening the company’s partnership with PACKAL.

‘I feel very proud of this partnership,’ Martinez said.

He said the technology could also be applied to highways, rural roads and other infrastructure projects across Jamaica, while highlighting the transfer of technical expertise between Cemex and local contractors.

The project is currently supporting 154 jobs, including 56 direct and 98 indirect positions. Cemex has also engaged four Jamaican subcontractors for aggregates, machinery, haulage and electrical services.

Minister Transport Daryl Vaz, who toured the site at PACKAL’s invitation, said he was satisfied with the safety measures in place to protect workers while allowing airport operations to continue.

Vaz described the investment as a ‘state-of-the-art’ project that could enhance the airport’s capacity and relevance for the next 35 to 40 years while strengthening Jamaica’s tourism product.

‘With the specifications for this in place, we can carry this airport into the future in terms of aviation. This is significant and far-reaching,’ he said.

Vaz said the improvements form part of the concession agreement between GAP and the Government of Jamaica and commended the AAJ, Cemex and other project partners for maintaining the pace of construction despite the technical demands of the project.

‘This shows that we are moving apace with world standards. This for me is very significant,’ he said.

AAJ Chairman Dr Douglas Lindo described the project as a ‘magnificent demonstration of partnership’ between Jamaica and Mexico, while highlighting the transfer of technical skills as Jamaican workers and contractors collaborate with the international project team.

PACKAL Chief Executive Officer Hector Cortes also pointed to the skills-transfer benefits of the project, saying the company remained committed to creating value for Jamaicans and the local economy.

Sri Lanka’s creative and lifestyle sector targets Maldivian hospitality market

In a strategic move to expand Sri Lanka’s export footprint, the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), in collaboration with the Sri Lanka High Commission in the Maldives and key private sector partners, organised a dedicated Sri Lanka Country Pavilion at the Food and Hospitality Asia Maldives (FHAM) 2026 held from 7 to 9 September, in Hulhumalé, Maldives for Giftware and Lifestyle products sector.

The Sri Lanka country pavilion featured the exclusive/ niche products of the 10 selected SMEs under the ‘Creative Sri Lanka 2030’ national initiative.

The Maldives represents a high-value, tourism-driven market with consistent demand for premium giftware, eco-friendly lifestyle items, home décor, and spa products particularly among luxury resort chains, boutique hotels, and souvenir retailers.

In addition, close geographical proximity offers Sri Lankan exporters, manufacturers lower freight costs, quicker market entry, and easier trade logistics compared to distant international markets.

Sri Lanka’s distinctive craftsmanship, creative talent, cultural diversity, and diverse range of natural raw materials provide a strong foundation for developing innovative, high-value, and internationally competitive products in the giftware and lifestyle sector.

Furthermore, given Sri Lanka’s relatively low-volume production capacity, the sector is well positioned to cater to niche and high-value export markets, where success is driven not by mass production but by superior quality, distinctive design, innovation, and effective marketing strategies that enable Sri Lankan products to differentiate themselves from those of competing countries.

These inherent strengths of Sri Lanka’s giftware and lifestyle industry align well with the growing demand in the Maldivian market and present significant opportunities to integrate Sri Lankan products into the Maldivian hospitality supply chain. In particular, there is strong potential for Sri Lankan products in areas such as home and interior décor, household furnishings, recycled and handmade paper products, wellness and spa items, fashion accessories, and distinctive artisanal souvenirs, thereby creating opportunities for Sri Lankan manufacturers and exporters to establish sustainable market linkages with the Maldivian hospitality sector.

The participant companies represent the ‘Creative Sri Lanka 2030′ program, which aims to globally promote Sri Lankan creative industries centered on ethical, sustainable, and high-value niche production.

FHAM is the Maldives’ leading international exhibition for the food, beverage, and hospitality industries. Held annually, it brings together local and global suppliers, service providers, and professionals to showcase products, build partnerships, and support the country’s tourism-driven economy.

The exhibition attracts a diverse group of trade visitors, including resort owners and developers, hotel management executives, project consultants and developers, housekeeping managers, dealers, importers, and suppliers, providing exhibitors with valuable opportunities to engage directly with key decision-makers within the hospitality sector.

The participating companies represent the Creative Sri Lanka 2030 Program, which seeks to promote Sri Lanka’s creative industries in international markets, with a strong focus on ethical and sustainable practices, innovation, and the development of high-value niche products.

Furthermore, the participating companies were facilitated to engage with key stakeholders in the Giftware and Lifestyle sector through business networking meetings organised by the Sri Lanka High Commission in Malé with representatives of the Maldives Business Chamber and Maldives Association of Life skills Education (MALE). These interactions provided a valuable platform for knowledge exchange, sharing of market intelligence, exploring potential partnerships, and identifying new business and market opportunities.

This was a valuable opportunity to the Sri Lankan companies to gain direct access to key procurement decision-makers in the Maldivian hotel sector. Participation in FHAM 2026 provided a direct channel to gather market intelligence, observe emerging sustainable trends, and secure long-term trade partnerships, further strengthening regional economic integration and driving Sri Lanka’s rural-based creative economy.

HNB Life opens branch in Kandana

HNB Life recently marked another significant milestone in its growth journey with the grand opening of its new branch in Kandana, further strengthening its presence across Sri Lanka.

With a vast network of physical and incubator branches islandwide, the company continues to enhance accessibility to life insurance solutions while bringing its services closer to customers and communities across the country.

The opening of the Kandana Branch comes at a defining moment for HNB Life, as the company celebrates its 25th anniversary and steps into a new chapter following its transformation from HNB Assurance to HNB Life.

Speaking at the Branch Opening, Director/CEO Lasitha Wimalaratne said: ‘The opening of our Kandana Branch is another important step in our journey to make life insurance more accessible to every Sri Lankan. As we celebrate 25 years of protecting lives and empowering dreams, expanding our footprint allows us to better serve our customers while strengthening our connection with communities across the country. Our growing branch network, together with our dedicated team of Life Planners, ensures that we remain close to our customers and are able to support them with solutions that truly meet their evolving needs.’

Executive Vice President/Chief Business Officer – Advisor Distribution Harindra Ramasinghe said: ‘Our expansion into Kandana reinforces our commitment to reaching more Sri Lankans with meaningful protection and financial planning solutions. Our advisors have evolved into Life Planners, reflecting a broader and more purposeful role in helping customers navigate life’s milestones with confidence. Supported by a vast network of branches across the island and a highly committed sales force, we are continuing to create greater convenience and value for individuals and families across the country.’

Russian drone attacks civilian ship heading to Ukrainian port, sources say

On September 17, a Russian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacked a civilian vessel sailing under the Tanzanian flag and heading to one of Ukraine’s ports.

RBK-Ukraine reported the incident, citing a statement by the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority, a state-owned enterprise.

According to the statement, one person was killed and several others were injured in the drone attack.

‘The vessel’s captain was killed in the strike, while three other crew members were injured,’ the statement said.

No further details about the incident have been released so far.

Cost of politics, media blackout dim women’s chances, GSAI warns on women’s 2027 fortunes

Gender Strategy Advancement International (GSAI) has warned that the rising cost of politics and poor media visibility may further dim women’s chances of winning elective offices in the 2027 general elections.

Adaora Onyechere Sydney-Jack, Executive Director of GSAI, gave the warning in Abuja on Thursday at a press conference organised in collaboration with Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) and other stakeholders.

With the theme, ‘Beyond Participation: Amplifying Women Candidates, Advancing Political Leadership and Building an Inclusive Nigeria for 2027,’ Sydney-Jack said the challenge is no longer getting women to participate but creating viable pathways for them to secure tickets, compete, gain visibility and win.

‘The question before Nigeria is not whether women are prepared to lead. The question is whether our political systems are creating equitable pathways for women to compete, be visible, and succeed,’ she said.

She listed nomination fees, campaign logistics, mobilisation, media exposure and other electoral costs as major barriers, noting that many women lack access to political financing, networks and conventional campaign support.

Sydney-Jack flagged unequal media exposure as a decisive factor for women candidates in 2027, urging media organisations to give them greater access to headlines, interviews, debates and political analysis.

‘Women candidates should not be presented merely as ‘the few women running’. They should be profiled as political actors with ideas, policy positions, governance records, and solutions for Nigeria,’ she said, calling for gender-responsive journalism and equitable coverage throughout the electoral cycle.

GSAI renewed its call for deliberate inclusion measures, including reserved legislative seats for women.

Citing figures attributed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) final list of National Assembly candidates, Sydney-Jack said women account for 443 of the 4,408 candidates cleared for the 469 Senate and House of Representatives seats in 2027 – 115 for Senate and 328 for House of Representatives.

While an improvement from 380 women candidates in 2023, she said progress remains slow. Jigawa, Nasarawa, Niger and Yobe have no female senatorial candidates, while Akwa Ibom has 10.

‘Reserved seats are not a replacement for competitive elections. They are an inclusion mechanism designed to address historical barriers and ensure that women’s voices, experiences, and leadership perspectives are represented,’ she said.

She urged political parties, media, civil society, development partners and voters to support conditions for women to compete fairly and be visible, adding: ‘We must move from participation to influence, from presence to power, and from visibility gaps to inclusive representation.’

Kemi Okenyodo, Executive Director of PWAN, said her organisation is engaging political parties, traditional and religious institutions to improve commitment to women’s inclusion and grassroots mobilisation. CISLAC Country Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, urged Nigerians to reject money politics.

Other speakers included Ezenwa Nwagwu (PAACA); Adewusi Oluwasesan (Invictus Africa, representing Bukky Shonibare); Chizoba Ogbeche, Vice President, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists; Hon. Loveth Izekor, SA on Women Affairs to the Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council; and Anderson Osiebe, Parliamentary Advocacy Network.

GSAI said it has trained 40 reporters and editors nationwide on gender accountability and inclusive reporting, resulting in over 50 published stories, as part of its broader agenda on policy reform, leadership networks and support for women with disabilities ahead of 2027.

Govt urged to finalise expo details

Nakhon Ratchasima: The provincial Chamber of Commerce has called on the government to finalise a clear timeline and master plan for the 2029 World Horticultural Expo, following the cabinet’s decision to relocate the event from Khong district to Pak Chong district.

Chamber chair Paijit Manasil said only about three years and two months are left for preparations.

He said the relocation necessitates restarting several key procedures, including the inspection and certification of the new site by the International Association of Horticultural Producers.

“It is crucial for the government to confirm quickly whether all necessary preparations can be completed in time for the expo in 2029,” Mr Paijit said.

He urged the need for a clear plan so transport, public health, irrigation and utilities agencies, along with the private sector, can coordinate infrastructure development and other preparations.

Additionally, the chamber proposed developing the original site in Khong as a long-term agricultural centre, rather than allowing it to go unused.

This site, which has already undergone some preparations for the expo, could serve as a central agricultural market for the Northeast, similar to the Marketing Organisation for Farmers, it said.

It could also function as an agricultural research and development centre, the chamber said.

The chamber also urged the government to expedite infrastructure development, particularly for rail links.

They anticipate the expo will attract at least 3 million visitors and are advocating for the high-speed railway to begin operations by late 2029, earlier than the current target of 2030, to improve access to the province.