News
CID probes attempts to sabotage operation of Ella and Seethawaka Odyssey luxury trains
By Norman Palihawadane
The Ministry of Transport has handed over the investigation into alleged attempts to sabotage the operation of Ella and Seethawaka Odyssey luxury trains.
The CID sources said that the investigation had been referred to them by the IGP following a request by the Minister of Transport that it suspected there had been a plot to disrupt the Ella and Seethawaka Odyssey luxury train project.
The Ministry of Transport sources said that the reason for the investigation was an attempt to sell a ticket for around 100 US dollars through the Internet to a passengers traveling on the Ella Odyssey train.
Sources said that some firms had attempted to sell a ticket online for 36,000 rupees each to passengers travelling on the Ella Odyssey. In addition many acts of sabotage have been reported, such as the Seethawaka Odyssey tourist train not running on time when the train was fully booked and full of passengers.
Ministry sources said that the IGP has been requested to probe whether a conspiratorial plan is being implemented in the Railway Department to sabotage this popular programme.
The special long-distance train services with tourist attractions such as Ella-Odyssey and Seethawaka Odyssey were introduced to attract foreign as well as local tourists and the services have grown to a point where demand couls not be met.
The CID sources said that they commenced an investigation on the matter.
News
Amendment of the Inland Revenue Act No. 24 of 2017
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.
News
Cabinet nod for “National Mineral Policy” – 2026
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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