News
Amaraweera calls for end to import of nonessential goods
By Ifham Nizam
Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera yesterday expressed concern about funds spent on importing non-essential items; he stressed that they could be manufactured here.
“What the whole country needs to understand is that we must produce what we can. Let us cultivate what we can cultivate. If the Russia-Ukraine war escalates into a world war, there is nothing new to say about our fate. Even if you have money, you will not be able to import food,” he said.
Minister Amaraweera said that in 2021, Sri Lanka had imported USD 6 billion worth of non-essential goods. Every year 150 tonnes of bee honey are imported here. Last year, millions of dollars were spent on mobile phone imports.
Amaraweera said that USD 386.73 million had been spent on the importation of mobile phones last year.
“Our major problem is tackling the dollar crisis. When we earn USD 100, we have to pay off USD115 in debt. The amount of dollars the country receives is not enough to pay back the debt. There is a story in our villages about people who went bankrupt after eating cashew and kithl jaggery. The same thing has happened to us. I collected information on non-essential items imported into our country in the year 2021,” he added.
“Last year, USD 6 billion was spent on imports of non-essential items including cheese, butter, vegetables, fruits, ice cream, chocolate and sauces,” he said.
He also said that the amount spent on sugar and confectionery in 2020 was USD 277.13 million.
The drafting of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has commenced with the objective of equitable distribution of the benefits of the fisheries industry and the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture. This policy has been updated from time to time according to current requirements. However, steps have not been taken to obtain the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for that purpose.
According to the policy declaration of the present government, ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor’ the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has been redrafted, updating the aforementioned policy in line with the economic and development objectives of the government.
The recommendations of the Department of National Planning have been received for the drafted policy.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Marine
Resources to implement the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, integrating it with other relevant policies.
News
Expressions of Interest called to develop selected locations within the Pelawatte Sugar Factory premises
It has been recognized that there is potential to develop selected places within. the Pelawatte Sugar Factory, owned by Lanka Sugar (Private) Company Limited, as locations of tourist attraction.
Hence, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship
Development to call for expressions of interest following the prescribed procurement guidelines to identify suitable investors and to invite project proposals from eligible investors to develop the selected locations under Public-Private Partnership method.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the decision of the Food Policy and Security Committee to maintain the minimum purchasing price of 1 kg of Nadu paddy of prescribed standard at Rs. 120 and to increase the minimum purchasing price of 1 kg of Samba from Rs. 125 to Rs. 130 and the minimum purchasing price of Kiri Samba from Rs. 132 to Rs. 140.
Implementation of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy
Expressions of Interest called to develop selected locations within the Pelawatte Sugar Factory premises
Minimum purchasing price of Samba and Kiri Samba paddy incresed
Showers in the Northern, North-central, Uva, Western, Eastern, Sabaragamuwa, North-western and Central provinces and Galle and Matara districts
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Police obtain court order banning Wimal’s protest
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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