Mahinda Samarasinghe Archives - Ceylon Independent

Proposals from Dayasiri to strengthen SLFP

9Aug

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL

Proposals from Dayasiri to strengthen SLFP

Party anniversary and party reformation process was discussed at the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Central Committee meeting, says Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe. He stated this at a press conference held at Colombo, today (09). At the Central Committee meeting yesterday (08), a committee headed by Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva was appointed for the organization of party anniversary celebrations and the said committee will be meeting at the President’s House at 6 pm today, according to Minister Samarasinghe. Following the meeting of the committee, a meeting of the governing party will also be held under the guidance of President Maithripala Sirisena. After the committee meeting for party anniversary celebrations, the date and the venue for the celebrations will be decided, a...

10Jul

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

Business, Main Story

Govt. gets aggressive on ports as pivot

By Nisthar Cassim Hot on the heels of concluding the landmark revamp of Hambantota Port, the Government is unleashing a slew of initiatives to develop the rest of the Ports in the country as a pivot to strengthen the island’s hub status and boost the economy. As per measures already approved, multiple Ports in the country will see over $ 200 million in immediate investment, with more likely if plans go well. Ports and Shipping Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe told the Daily FT that plans are underway to further expand facilities in the Colombo Port, apart from new measures to maximise the potential of the Ports of Trincomalee and Galle, as well as revive prospects for Kankesanthurai and Oluvil. In a bid to improve the competitiveness of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority’s (SLPA) flags...

Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe new Media Spokesman of SLFP

3Jul

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL

Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe new Media Spokesman of SLFP

Minister of Ports and Shipping Mahinda Samarasinghe has been appointed as the new media spokesman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). This decision has been taken reportedly at a meeting of the SLFP official board at the President's official residence today under the leadership of President Maithripala Sirisena Monday. Previously, the SLFP Media Spokesperson was Member of Parliament Dilan Perera, who is a member of the Group of 16 that left the government and in discussions with the Joint Opposition to join the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa led faction. Eight members representing the SLFP board are members of the Group of 16. One of them former Minister S.B. Dissanayake is overseas and six other have not attended. Party's reform agenda and activities have been discussed...

Colombo Port aims to handle 7 million containers this year

19Mar

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

Business

Colombo Port aims to handle 7 million containers this year

Colombo Port expects to handle 7.0 million containers in 2018, up 12.9 percent from the 6.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) handled in 2017 with joint marketing by three terminals, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said. The minister said the Jaya Container Terminal of the state-run Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), South Asia Gateway Terminal of the John Keells Holdings and Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) of China’s CM Ports have inked a deal to jointly promote the port.“Although the three terminals compete separately and individually, now they can work on a collaborative mission to operate vessels calling at the Port of Colombo,” Samarasinghe said. In 2017 Colombo’s container volumes including transshipment and domestic grew 8.3 percent to reach 6.2 mil...

15Mar

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

Business, Main Story

Colombo Port gets competitiveness boost

By Uditha Jayasinghe The terminal operators of Colombo Port yesterday made a bid to improve its efficiency by signing a landmark Memorandum of Understanding to (MoU) to unload excess ships of their competitors if berths are available, reducing waiting time for clients. The agreement, which was signed in the presence of Ports and Shipping Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, seeks to improve Colombo’s competitiveness by reducing the time ships would have to wait outside the port to be unloaded. Minister Samarasinghe was optimistic that this would increase TEU volumes and raise the port’s rankings. Colombo Port is currently ranked 23rd in the index of top 50 global ports, he added. “Colombo Port has always done well, far beyond its South Asian competitors, but we need to keep encouraging ...

Sri Lanka Ports Authority posts a record profit of Rs.13.2 billion in 2017, Rs. 10,000 salary increment for workers

25Feb

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

Business

Sri Lanka Ports Authority posts a record profit of Rs.13.2 billion in 2017, Rs. 10,000 salary increment for workers

Due to the prompt actions taken for its future development activities, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has made a record profit of 13.2 billion rupees in 2017, Minister of Ports and Shipping, Mahinda Samarasinghe announced at the trade union meeting held at the Ministry auditorium today (25). Following month-long discussions, the approval of the Treasury has been obtained for the new Collective Agreement of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority to grant its workers a salary increment of Rs. 10,000 - Rs. 5,000 increment to the basic salary and Rs. 5000 as an allowance - from January 2018, the Minister said. The Minister appreciating the participation of the leaders of all 23 SLPA trade unions in the discussions and their support for the measures taken, stressed that steps will be taken t...

Sri Lanka parliament to debate Presidential Commissions’ reports on February 6

30Jan

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL

Sri Lanka parliament to debate Presidential Commissions’ reports on February 6

Sri Lanka's parliament today announced that the parliamentary debate on the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquiry into Serious Acts of Fraud Corruption and Abuse of Power (PRECIFAC) and bond commission reports will be conducted on February 6 at 10.30am. The announcement was made following a meeting of the party leaders held under the patronage of Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today at noon and consultation with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala representatives of the political parties Minister of Higher Education & Highways Lakshman Kiriella. Minister of Ports & Shipping Mahinda Samarasinghe, Leader of Joint opposition parliamentary group Parliamentarian Dinesh Gunawardena, Colombo District Parliamentarian Ravi Karunana...

Hambantota port workers call off fast unto death

20Jan

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL

Hambantota port workers call off fast unto death

Hambantota port workers have decided to call off their 'fast unto death' campaign today after receiving a favorable response from Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) to their demands. The protest fast was launched on January 9 demanding that the 438 employees of the Magampura Port be recruited by the Ports Authority or that they be compensated sufficiently. Eleven employees, including a female employee, had launched the protest, which continued until today (19). The protest fast was organized by the Hambantota Magampura Ports Employees' Union. Last Thursday (11), three employees, who were staging the fast-unto-death, were hospitalized. Hambantota Magampura Ports Employees' Union President I.K. Romesh said the strike and the fast-unto-death were called off on the assurance of recei...

Sri Lanka cabinet agrees to annul the gazette that allowed women to buy liquor

17Jan

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL, Top Story

Sri Lanka cabinet agrees to annul the gazette that allowed women to buy liquor

Sri Lanka's Cabinet of Ministers at its weekly meeting on Tuesday has agreed to cancel the gazette notification issued by the Minister of Finance Mangala Samaraweera allowing the women to purchase alcohol and work in liquor shops and extending the business hours of establishments that serve or sell liquor. Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said the cabinet has unanimously consented to cancel the gazette notification issued by the Minister of Finance last week. Minister of Finance and Mass Media Mangala Samaraweera announced that he amended the schedule in the Excise Notification no.666 of the Gazette Extraordinary of 1979 to allow females over 18 years to purchase alcohol legally and to allow women to be employed in licensed premises without prior approval from Excise Commissioner. He al...

Sri Lanka’s Colombo Port handles six million TEU in 2017

26Dec

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

Business

Sri Lanka’s Colombo Port handles six million TEU in 2017

Sri Lanka's Port of Colombo has handled its 6 millionth TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit) container on December 22. A special function was held at the Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) to celebrate the handling of the 6 million TEU mark with the Minister of Ports and Shipping Mahinda Samarasinghe attending as the chief guest. Speaking at the occasion, the Minister Samarasinghe said that it was commendable to witness the Port of Colombo has achieved great feats through public private collaboration. "Deviating from the traditional competition, Sri Lanka Ports Authority controlled Jaya Container Terminal, privately owned SAGT and CICT together have proven of a success story we can continue to make the Port of Colombo the hub port in the region," the Mi...