News
Corruption has cost SL second tranche of IMF loan: Sajith
By Saman Indrajith
Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament yesterday that Sri Lanka had failed to secure the crucial second tranche of a $3 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund as the country was still being ruled by the same corrupt family regime, which had bankrupted the economy.
Premadasa said that the government was increasing taxes on professionals and jacking up the prices of fuel, water and electricity, saying that it needed to increase state revenue but had done nothing to collect 1.7 billion-rupees in taxes due from two liquor producing companies.
Premadasa said that the talks on progress review to be entitled for the second tranche of the IMF loan had failed because the government failed to complete its commitments. “The IMF has said that it did not reach a staff-level agreement with Sri Lanka in its first review. The government could neither achieve the targets set out by the IMF nor uphold democracy and prevent corruption,” Premadasa said, demanding to know when the government would be able to complete the list of obligations it has been given by the IMF.
Premadasa said that the IMF had observed that corruption was rampant.
The IMF had also observed that social welfare mechanisms had come to a halt and the government’s inability to prevent corruption had resulted in collapse of the rule of law, Premadasa said, adding that Sri Lanka would have to strengthen tax administration, remove tax exemptions and actively eliminate tax evasion to increase state revenue.
“Now, the government is increasing taxes on essential commodities and amenities but it has done nothing against tax evasion by two liquor producing companies who alone owe 1.7 billion rupees to government coffers in taxes,” Premadasa said.
The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dr. Harini Amarasuriya is on an official visit to Paris, France to participate in the high-level segment of the International Expert Conference on ’An Integrated and Sustainable Approach to Safeguarding the World Heritage Property of the Sacred City of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka and Associated Living Heritage’ which was to be held at UNESCO Headquarters today [Tuesday 1 April], with the participation of the Director-General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay.
The Conference, organized by UNESCO in partnership with Sri Lanka, brings together leading international experts to discuss sustainable strategies for the conservation of Anuradhapura, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of immense cultural and historical significance.
On the sidelines of the Conference, the Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet senior interlocutors of the French Government to discuss bilateral cooperation and areas of mutual interest.
The Delegation of the Prime Minister includes the Minister of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) BUNGO and ETAJIMA arrived at the port of Colombo on a goodwill visit this morning (01 Apr 25).
The visiting ships were welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with naval traditions.
The 141m long JMSDF BUNGO is an Uraga-Class Minesweeper Tender commanded by Commander TANAKA Koji and the ship is manned by a crew of 125.
Meanwhile, JMSDF Etajima, a 65-meter-long Minesweeper, is under the command of Commander Oda Takayuki and operates with a crew of 54 personnel.
During the stay in the island, crew members of the ships will explore some tourist attractions within the city of Colombo. The ships are scheduled to set sail from Colombo on 04 Apr.
“You and your families will be eliminated”
By Norman Palihawadane and Hemantha Randun
A full-scale investigation has been launched to track down an underworld character, ‘Navy Dinesh,’ a key accomplice of Ganemulle Sanjeewa, for issuing death threats over the phone to three police officers, including the Gampaha HQI, Crime Branch OIC, of the same police station, and others.
Navy Dinesh is believed to have fled the country.
According to police sources, threats were issued following the arrest of Navy Dinesh’s father and brother in connection with a drug trafficking case.
Phone analysis reports have confirmed that the calls originated from Dubai and France.
Following the murder of Ganemulle Sanjeewa, Navy Dinesh assumed leadership of the underworld gang he had previously been involved with.
Navy Dinesh contacted the Gampaha HQI, the OIC of the Crime Branch, and the investigating police constable, and threatened to kill them and their family members. “You and your families will be eliminated,” he said.
A special police team had been assigned to investigate the matter, and a report has been submitted to the courts, police sources said.
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