News
FSP: Govt. planning to shut down Thriposha Company
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) yesterday (07) said the government was planning to shut down the state-owned Thriposha Company, and such a course of action would lead to further deteriorate nutritional standards of Sri Lankan children.
FSP education Secretary and Colombo District candidate Pubudu Jayagoda said the government had issued Gazette Notification No. 2403/53 dated 27 September 2024 announcing the abolition of the state-owned Sri Lanka Thriposha Company.
“Now, Thriposha Company is not under any ministry,” he said.
“Thriposha is a vital nutritional product, recommended for underweight children under five, pregnant women suffering from malnutrition, and breastfeeding mothers,” Jayagoda said.
“Established in 1987 in partnership with a private tobacco manufacturing company, the Thriposha Company was later transferred to the Ministry of Health in 2011. When it was handed over to the government, the company met 70 percent of the country’s total demand, and with new equipment introduced in 2016, it was able to meet 100 percent of the demand,” he said.
Jayagoda said Thriposha company now produced more than the required quantity, with the surplus marketed under the brand ‘Suposha’ by the government. “Within three months of entering the market, Suposha became the best-selling cereal food in the market, meeting 70 percent of the total cereal demand in the country. The Thriposha Company is fulfilling a critical nutritional need while also generating a substantial income for the government, with an annual revenue of approximately 500 million rupees to the Treasury,” Jayagoda noted.
“Due to the production of Suposha, private cereal manufacturers in Sri Lanka are facing a significant crisis. Private companies will benefit from the closure of Thriposha,” Jayagoda said, adding that in 2023, the Wickremesinghe administration had included the Thriposha Company in the list of state ventures to be privatised in keeping with the IMF conditions.
“However, due to opposition from the people, Wickremesinghe’s government could not execute the plan. Now, we suspect that this scheme is being revived under the new President,” Jayagoda said.
He said Thriposha provided nutrition to 664,920 mothers and 925,172 children, with approximately 1.6 million packets of it distributed monthly.
“The production cost of a 750-gram packet is about 370 rupees, costing the government around 9 billion rupees annually. Despite this, the Thriposha Company generates nearly half a billion rupees in revenue from food products sold in the market,” he said.
“We urge the people to oppose this move immediately,” Jayagoda said.
The High Court has convicted 14 of the 24 men accused of being directly involved in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people.
The three-judge bench read out its decision on Tuesday after a five-year trial and said sentencing would take place later, the AFP news agency reported.
The charges included murder and conspiracy to commit terrorism.
Nine others were acquitted, while another defendant was found guilty of only some of the charges, the court said.
[Aljazeera]
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The ruling NPP yesterday (21) dismissed claims of a widening rift, within the government, over the proposed 22nd Amendment. Asked whether the NPP was concerned over a section of the Opposition alleging Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and two dozen MPs taking a view contrary to that of the party in this regard, authoritative party sources said some persons were propagating speculation for their own interest.
Declaring that there was absolutely no issue regarding the controversial Amendment, sources emphasised once it was tabled in Parliament, it would be passed with 2/3 majority.
Sources dismissed claims that out of its 159-member parliamentary group a section of NPPers was opposed to the government move. According to an influential Opposition activist, there are 57 JVPers and 66 NPPers in the government group and the rest contested the last parliamentary polls, having aligned with the JVP.
Ministerial sources told The Island that the government was confident of going ahead with the 22nd Amendment and Judicature (Amendment) Bills. Sources said that the NPP was not bothered about the Opposition protests in and outside Parliament.
Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne is expected to disclose the confidential ruling that he received from the Supreme Court in respect of more than 65 petitions for and against the 22nd Amendment and Judicial Amendment Bills. The enactment of the 22nd Amendment would pave the way for extending the retirement age of Supreme Court judges, from 65 to 67 years, and Court of Appeal judges, from 63 to 65 years.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Court of Appeal Judge Mayadunna Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal.
The appointment has been made as President’s Counsel Nalin Rohantha Abeysuriya, who currently serves as President of the Court of Appeal, will be overseas until the 24th.
Accordingly Justice Mayadunna Corea was sworn in as Acting President of the Court of Appeal before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential secretariat last morning (21).
Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was also present at the occasion.
High Court convicts 14 over deadly Easter bombings
Mandhana, Shafali and Ghosh lead dominant India to Asian Games gold
Fatima Sana and Umm-e-Hani secure bronze for Pakistan in Asian Games
India bat first in Asian games womens cricket final
Showers about 100mm will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara Districts
Govt. confident of 2/3 majority despite NPP split speculation
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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