government Archives - Ceylon Independent

POLITICAL PALPITATIONS UNLIKELY TO CAUSE LASTING CHANGES WITHIN POLITICS

12Oct

By AdminNo Comments

Main Story, Opinion

POLITICAL PALPITATIONS UNLIKELY TO CAUSE LASTING CHANGES WITHIN POLITICS

Sirisena’s meetings seen as exploratory, MR & Co continue to observe whilst Central Bank Governor comes under fire. The political minefield in Sri Lanka is a spent force by all accounts. President Sirisena and his Prime Minister who have fared rather well only in terms of still being together, have managed to completely lose the plot of economic development and fiscal management. If one were to examine the judiciary’s refusal to release Arjun Aloysius and his CEO Kasun Palisena (in case you have forgotten, from Perpetual Treasuries) the realization of the damage to our economy and inter-alia public property (the EPF/ETF) hones in sharply. However such pressing matters like the economy and the nose diving exchange rate aside, the politicians were busy plotting, planning...

Sri Lankan government spends over Rs. 13.5 billion for drought relief

20Sep

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL, Main Story

Sri Lankan government spends over Rs. 13.5 billion for drought relief

The Sri Lankan government more than Rs. 13.5 billion to provide relief to drought-stricken people, Minister of Disaster Management Duminda Dissanayake says. Speaking at a media briefing held today, the Minister said that the preset government has allocated the highest amount for the drought relief efforts. Over 900,000 people from 260,000 families in 18 districts are severely affected by the dry weather. The most affected districts by the drought are Anuradhapura, Kalutara, Moneragala, Kurunegala, Ratnapura, Puttalam, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee, Kegalle, Jaffna, Ampara, Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Polonnaruwa, Batticaloa, Matale, Mannar and Hambantota. The government has taken measures to meet the needs of affected people, including drinking water, the Minister said. The government ...

Retirement age for specialist doctors extended

30Aug

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL, Main Story

Retirement age for specialist doctors extended

The government has decided to extend the service period of specialist doctors up to 63 years of age. The Gazette paper pertaining to this was issued by Minister of Public Administration & Management Ranjith Madduma Bandara on last Monday (August 26). Reportedly, the amendment has been made effective from 06th June 2017. Until now, the mandatory retirement age for specialist doctors has been 60 years of age.

No cash crunch for development projects: President

23Aug

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL, Main Story

No cash crunch for development projects: President

President Maithripala Sirisena on Tuesday assured that there was no cash crunch in the Government, nor lack of support from multilateral donors to fund much-needed and multi-faceted development projects. This declaration by President Sirisena was during a meeting with editors and heads of electronic media, to announce the launch of the second phase of the Rs. 23 billion worth Moragahakanda-Kaluganga reservoir tomorrow in the North-Western Province. In response to a query from the media whether the Government has enough resources to finance and complete such large scale projects, given the perceived cash crunch within the Treasury, the President reassured that this wasn’t an issue. “For development, we have money,” asserted President Sirisena, and added that the Moragahakanda-Kalug...

Sri Lanka PM hopeful of strong economy after three difficult years

21Aug

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL

Sri Lanka PM hopeful of strong economy after three difficult years

Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe says after three difficult years the government is initiating an accelerated development and methodically taking forward the economy. He said that there was a mountain of debt when the government came into power, but, the government has been able to stabilize the economy and the people, who had to undergo many hardships during these three years will benefit from a strong economy. "To go forward, we need to create jobs, increase the income, accelerate development in large scale, because in future economy cannot be taken forward if the revenues and foreign exchange are not sufficient to relieve the country from the debt burden," the Premier said. The Prime Minister said that the government had to take some difficult decisions and the p...

PM says will provide facilities to Sri Lankan refugees arriving from Tamil Nadu

9Aug

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL

PM says will provide facilities to Sri Lankan refugees arriving from Tamil Nadu

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in parliament today that the government will provide the necessary facilities to the Sri Lankan refugees arriving from Tamil Nadu. He said the Indian government has informed that 3,815 Sri Lankan refugees living in refugee camps in Tamil Nadu have expressed their willingness to come back to Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Resettlement, Rehabilitation, Hindu Religious Affairs and Northern Development is taking steps to provide them with necessary facilities. The Ministry is working on providing permanent land, housing, livelihood assistance and facilities to continue education without interruptions, the Premier said. The Prime Minister was responding to a question raised by Member of Parliament Charles Nirmalanadan in Parliament today (8th) re...

Govt has imposed taxes on all commodities – Mahinda Rajapaksa

2Aug

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL

Govt has imposed taxes on all commodities – Mahinda Rajapaksa

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa says that the current government has no other option other than to impose taxes and that it has imposed taxes on all commodities. He stated this to the media, joining a religious event held at Ihala Biyanvila Sri Somawardhana Viharaya in Kadawatha. Increasing the import tax on small cars is not a strange thing when the government imposed a tax on temple donation boxes, said the former President. He added that the government might be able to control the public but not the Maha Sangha.

Health Minister says government’s decision not to spend money for publicity was foolish

30Jul

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL, Main Story

Health Minister says government’s decision not to spend money for publicity was foolish

Sri Lanka's Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne says the decision taken by the present government to stop spending money for its propaganda activities was a foolish move since the public is not now enlightened on the difference this government made. "A stupid decision taken by the present Yahapalana government is to stop spending money on propaganda activities. The present government has made a difference in the country. But because of failure to publicize the developments, there is discontentment among people towards government," he said. "Therefore, some people think that the projects implemented by this government were projects implemented by the previous government. Even though the government has spent money for the public, the government ...

Discussion on revision of fuel prices at cabinet meeting today

10Jul

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL

Discussion on revision of fuel prices at cabinet meeting today

The Cabinet of Ministers is scheduled to hold discussions on the revision of fuel prices today (10), the Finance Ministry said. The fuel prices have been increased from midnight on 5th July according to the pricing formula introduced by the Ministry of Finance. The government introduced a price formula to determine the price of fuel, and the committee, which is empowered to decide the price under the formula, has met on July 05th and amended the fuel prices. However, the government later decided not to increase the fuel prices as determined by the price formula. The state's fuel supplier Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has decided to take a decision on the price revision after the cabinet meeting today.

Government has solved many problems of the farming community – President

10Jul

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL

Government has solved many problems of the farming community – President

Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena says that regardless of whatever allegations made by the political opponents, this era can be considered as a fortunate period for the agriculture economy of the country. The President further said that the Government has been working in a systematic and comprehensive manner over the past three and half years to provide solutions for the water shortage faced by the farmers for a long period of time. President Sirisena made this statement while participating in the opening ceremony of the Welikanda new Agrarian Services Center on Monday. Expressing his views further President Sirisena said that the present government is committed to ensure the prosperity of the farming community and their economy without allowing their future generat...