News
Eran calls on govt. to extend SMEs’ debt moratorium
By Saman Indrajith
SJB Parliamentarian Eran Wickremaratne has called on the government in parliament to extend debt moratoria offered to small and medium Enterprises (SMEs). Wickremaratne said on Wednesday that following the pandemic, the prolonged economic crisis had heaped further burden on SMEs; he warned the failure to provide relief could result in more job losses.
“This cannot be done by the banks alone, the Government should take a policy decision with the involvement of the Central Bank to ensure the implementation of the moratorium extended in the past,” he said.
Wickramaratne said that there was no need for the government to act according to the conditions of the International Monetary Fund always, and an immediate decision must be taken for the good of the country.
The small and medium sector contributes about 50 percent of the gross domestic product and two-thirds of the employment sector, and therefore the Government cannot afford to turn a blind eye on the challenges faced by the sector. He added SMEs currently lack capital and have limited access to finance and required skills amidst regulatory barriers that impede access and knowledge on foreign markets.
“The Government must adopt a firm policy for the betterment of SMEs which contributes to GDP immensely, as many have withdrawn from the production process due to increase in utility costs such as water and electricity charges, petroleum and transportation. This is not their fault, but the Government has failed to offer solutions and relief to them,” Wickramaratne said.
A man and h is son allegedly linked to a drug trafficking network were arrested by the CID at the Bandaranaike International Airport, following their deportation from India, and handed over to the Western Province North Crimes Division on Saturday (28).
The arrests stem from an earlier detection on January 29, 2026, when a team of officers from the Western Province North Crimes Division apprehended a suspect in the Ganemulla Police area with 4.4 kilos of cocaine and 3,450 narcotic pills in her possession.
Subsequent investigations revealed that the suspect’s husband and son had aided and abetted the trafficking operation and had fled the country by sea to India.
The two suspects, aged 57 and 23, were later arrested by Indian security authorities, on Tuesday (24), while residing there illegally and were deported to Sri Lanka on Saturday (28).
Upon arrival at the airport, they were taken into custody by CID officers and subsequently handed over to the Western Province North Crimes Division for further investigations, which are continuing.
By Chaminda Silva
Andrey Rudenko, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka on Tuesday (31) to take part in the 11th round of bilateral political consultations between the two nations.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the visit aimed to further strengthen longstanding diplomatic ties and broaden cooperation across multiple sectors.
The Police and the Special Task Force have called for applications to fill vacancies in the posts of Police Constable, Female Police Constable and Police Constable Driver, with nearly 7,500 openings countrywide, including in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
Applications must be submitted online via the official Sri Lanka Police website (www.police.lk) under the “Join Us” section or by scanning the relevant QR code. The closing date for applications is May 8, 2026, the Police Media Division said on Saturday (28).
The Police Recruitment Division said further information could be obtained via 071-8591925, 011-2505202 or 011-2552953.
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