News
JVP files FR case over state losing Rs 15.9 billion in questionable steep duty reduction on sugar
JVP politburo member Sunil Handunnetti yesterday filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court, claiming that the state had incurred a loss of Rs. 15.9 billion due to an arbitrary reduction of the import duty on sugar.
The petition alleges that the fundamental rights of the people have been violated as the state failed to prevent the corrupt deal.
The petitioner has sought the apex court to order the Attorney General to institute legal action against those responsible for causing the losses to the state.
The petitioner has also requested the Supreme Court to order Finance Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and the respondents to take necessary measures to recover the losses and to recover Rs. 500 million as compensation.
Handunnetti and JVP Central Committee Member Sunil Watagala filed the complaint.
The Attorney General, on behalf of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister and Finance Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundara, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance S. R. Attygalle, former CWE Chairman Nushad Perera, the importer Pyramid Wilma, its Chairman Sajath Mausoon, Consumer Affairs Authority Chairman Shantha Dissanayake and the Attorney General have been named as respondents in the petition.
The petitioner says the government has incurred a loss of Rs. 15.9 billion by reducing the import the duty on sugar imports to 25 cents from Rs. 50.00 per kilo. The Ministry of Finance has also reported the matter to Parliament. The duty reduction was effected to help a group of pro-government businessmen.
The Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance Anura Priyadarshana Yapa in January said that although the duty on the price of imported sugar had been lowered to 25 cents from Rs. 50.00 per a kilo through a gazette notification No. 2197/12 issued by the Ministry of Finance on 13th October 2020, consumers had not benefited.
The petitioner has requested the Supreme Court to rule that the respondents were responsible for causing the aforesaid loss to the public.
Handunnetti has also requested the Supreme Court to order the respondents to repay the amount of Rs. 15.9 billion the state has lost due to the reduction of sugar import duty and order the Attorney General to file cases against the respondents under the criminal law.
In addition, the petitioner requests the Supreme Court to issue an order to the respondents to pay Rs. 500 million as compensation to the petitioner for the violation of basic human rights.
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Showery condition over the island is expected to reduce from tomorrow (15th)
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At least 28 dead as crane collapses onto train in Thailand
Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
Trump cancels US-Iran meetings, urges protesters to take over institutions
Govt. bows to pressure, shelves Grade 6 reforms
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