News
Akila accuses govt of gagging health authorities
By Chamminda Silva
The General Secretary of the UNP, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, on Wednesday, said that the government should reveal to the people whether it was in a position to control the coronavirus now spreading at an alarming rate in different parts of the country.
Addressing the media at the UNP headquarters Sirikotha, Kariyawasam said that the party had been compelled to ask that question from the government as it felt that the government was hiding the actual position about the virus from the people.
“Health Department personnel were taking PCR tests in different areas and travel restrictions have been imposed in a number of districts and therefore people have doubts whether the government is in a position to control the virus.”
The former Education Minister said the government had banned the Health authorities from holding news conferences about the actual situation of the virus, but it was they who could tell the public about the actual position of the virus.
Kariyawasam asked whether by imposing restrictions on health authorities it would help improve the situation. It was the health authorities who would be able to provide the precise details about disease, Kariyawasam added.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been granted at their meeting held on 19.05.2025 in order to introduce amendments to the Inland Revenue Act No. 24 of 2017 including the proposed tax revisions to enhance the tax structure paving way for state financial integrity based on revenue.
Accordingly, the revised draft bill has been prepared by the legal draftsman and clearance of the Attorney General has been received.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for
the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Policy Planning and Economic Development to publish the aforementioned draft bill in the government gazette notification and subsequently, forward the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
The National Mineral Policy was prepared for the first time in the year 1999, and the aforementioned policy has been amended in 2023 to cover matters such as preparing an updated data system related to mineral resources, adding value to the export of minerals, encouraging mineral-related industrialists, extracting mineral resources and managing the environment sustainably, and resolving the issues related to the ownership of the land arising in extracting mineral resources.
The revised National Mineral Policy has been reupdated in line with the manifesto “A Sustainable Resource Utilization – Generation of the Highest Benefit” under the policy statement of the current government” A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life.”
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution presented by the Minister of Industries and
Entrepreneurship to implement the so-formulated “National Mineral Policy—2026.”
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