Gayantha Karunathilaka Archives - Ceylon Independent

20Sep

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL, Main Story

Appropriation Bill approved by Cabinet

By Chathuri Dissanayake Government this week approved the Appropriation Bill proposed by Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera, to be presented in Parliament during the second week of October, Cabinet Co-spokesperson Gayantha Karunathilaka said yesterday. According to the Appropriation Bill estimates, the total expenditure for 2019 without budget proposals is Rs. 4,376 billion, which includes Rs. 2,282 billion of the payable expenditure for General Services, Rs. 1,426 billion for recurrent expenditure, and another Rs. 856 billion for capital expenditure. A further Rs. 2,088 billion has allocated for public expenditure, to cover expenses authorised by special laws, to be charged on the Consolidated Fund such as Public Debt servicing. Another Rs. 6 billion has been estimated for A...

Performance-Based Budgeting system for 2019

12Jul

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

Business, Main Story

Performance-Based Budgeting system for 2019

By Chathuri Dissanayake The Cabinet this week gave approval to prepare the 2019 National Budget under the medium term fiscal frame work (MTFF) by adopting a Performance-Based Budgeting (PBB) approach, with aims of increasing the Government revenue to 17% of GDP by 2021, Cabinet Co-spokesperson Gayantha Karunathilaka said. The proposal, made by Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera, told the Cabinet of Ministers that major economic assumptions for the fiscal year 2019 will include real GDP growth of 5.5%, while inflation is expected to stabilise around mid-single digit level. Further, the Government also plans to limit recurrent expenditure to 15% of GDP, while maintaining Government Public Investment at 5.5% of GDP. This also includes plans to limit the Budget Deficit to 3.5% of GD...

1Jun

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL, Main Story

New Colombo City land map launched

Survey General of Sri Lanka P.M.P. Udayakantha presented the new map of Sri Lanka's capital city of Colombo to the Minister of Lands and Parliamentary Reforms Gayantha Karunathilaka Thursday (31st May). The Survey Department launched the 2nd edition of Topographical Map of Sri Lanka, sheet 66 (Colombo) at a ceremony held at the Surveyor Generals' Office in Narahenpita. At the event, Survey General Udayakantha said, according to the new map which includes the information on Colombo Port City, expressways, and other development projects, area of the capital city has been increased by 474.5 hectares. Survey General said preparation of a new map of Sri Lanka commenced in 2015 and the work on 72 sections out of the 92 total have been completed. The work on the remaining 20 sections are...

Cabinet reshuffle of SLFP ministers within two weeks – Minister Gayantha

26Feb

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL

Cabinet reshuffle of SLFP ministers within two weeks – Minister Gayantha

President Maithripala Sirisena has informed that the Cabinet reshuffle of ministers of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) led United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) will take place within two weeks, Minister Gayantha Karunatilaka says. Speaking to media following the cabinet reshuffle of the United National Party (UNP) ministers today, Minister Karunatilaka said that the cabinet reshuffle carried out Sunday was well-thought out by the President and the Prime Minister. However, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Wasantha Senanayake told BBC Sinhala Service that the cabinet reshuffle that took place today (Feb. 25) is a comedy-drama. "It is a comedy-drama that has been produced by the government, the first part of the "play" is today, the second part will be played next day. But do...

Cabinet subcommittee appointed to recommend relief to journalists harassed during the previous regime

11Jan

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL

Cabinet subcommittee appointed to recommend relief to journalists harassed during the previous regime

Maithripala Sirisena has proposed to appoint a new subcommittee to recommend relief to the journalists who have been harassed during the former president Mahinda Rajapaksa's regime. With the goal of providing relief, the opportunity was given through notices in newspapers to the journalists, who were subjected to various harassments and attacks during the 10 year period from 2005 to 2015, to forward their appeals. A cabinet subcommittee was appointed which was chaired by former Foreign Affairs Minister to make recommendations in this regard. Later the period for forwarding appeals was extended to 01 May 2017 and 14 more appeals have been received. Accordingly, the President Maithripala Sirisena in his capacity as the Minister of Defense has proposed to appoint a new subcommittee f...

Govt. green-lights PPP for Port City tunnel link

14Dec

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

Business, Main Story

Govt. green-lights PPP for Port City tunnel link

CHEC Port City Colombo to get first dibs on contract for BOT Tunnel to link country’s road network with Chinese built Port City, connecting Airport Highway to Marine Drive Feasibility studies have already commenced sponsored by CHEC Port City Colombo MOU to be signed with CHEC Port City Colombo and Megapolis Ministry to ensure exclusivity of company when project is awarded By Chathuri Dissanayake The Government has green-lighted a proposal by the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development to enter into a public-private partnership (PPP) with Port City developer CHEC Port City Colombo Ltd. to build a tunnel linking the road network of the mainland and an artificial island. A proposal presented by Minister Champika Ranwaka seeking approval to enter into a PPP to carry ou...

Sri Lanka Bribery Commission to get 50 more officers

30Nov

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL

Sri Lanka Bribery Commission to get 50 more officers

Sri Lanka's constitutional authority, the Constitutional Council has approved recruiting 50 more officers to the Bribery and Corruption Commission, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said in parliament yesterday. The Speaker was responding to an oral question raised by parliamentarian Bimal Ratnayake on the number of complaints received by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption from 2014 to 30th June 2017 and the number resolved. Responding to the MP Government Chief Whip, Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka highlighted that the Commission received 2,345 cases in 2014, 3913 in 2015, 3,650 in 2016, and 1,322 up to 30 July 2017. Out of those, investigations on 199 cases were completed in 2014, 2818 in 2015, 2,242 in the year 2016 and 803 up to July 2017. The number o...

Sri Lanka wants to amend Hambantota Port concession agreement

15Nov

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

Business

Sri Lanka wants to amend Hambantota Port concession agreement

Sri Lanka’s cabinet revealed Wednesday that Ports Minister sought cabinet approval to amend the current concession agreement of the Hambantota Port. Co-Cabinet Spokesman Gayantha Karunathilaka said Ports Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe sought their approval to amend the current concession agreement and to sign an additional agreement. According to the cabinet proposal, Sri Lankan government has asked China Merchants Port Holdings (CM Port) to bring the date of paying the agreed investment value forward. Upon completion of previous conditions, as per clause 4.2 of the current concession agreement, CM Port or its affiliates should pay their investment value to the government of Sri Lanka. As per the current agreement, after deducting the security deposit, 10 percent of the investme...