News

Furniture importers request govt. to allow importation of quality merchandise

Published

5 years ago

2020/08/27

Sahan Weerasooriya

… say their imported goods are ‘no threat’ to local industries

by Sanath Nanayakkare

Nawaal Qasim, Chairman of Office Chairs and Furniture Importers Association while congratulating the government on containing the Covid-19 epidemic, urged it to lift the import restrictions that affected the furniture importers.

Qasim said in a brief interview with The Island: “The association has 16 companies which have employed 5,000 people direct and a larger work force depends on it indirectly. If the current import suspension continues, they will lose their livelihoods as we can’t afford to keep them in our employ. At the same time, the business owners will also suffer when the sustainability of their operations are at stake.

“The import restrictions on our quality merchandise also adversely affect a broad spectrum of allied industries such as architectural companies and construction companies that absolutely require these supplies.

“This type of office seating cannot be manufactured locally due to limited technology, unavailability of required inputs and components within the country. Our products are office chairs and office furniture and there is little or no wood/timber in them, therefore, it poses no threat to local industries. And I would be seriously remiss if I don’t mention that the merchandise customers buy from us are no longer considered a luxury. It’s a must-have for any business or any formal setting,” Nawaal emphasised.

“It does not make sense for any investor to invest in setting up manufacturing plants to produce the merchandise here in Sri Lanka because the domestic market is really small. On the other hand, even if we do make them here, we can’t capture a market share in the global market as mass-scale manufacturers in Malaysia, China, Indonesia, etc., already supply these goods in bulk to the European, American and the UK markets at very competitive prices. So an export market in this sector is not viable”.

“Furthermore, the value of imports of office chairs and furniture to Sri Lanka in 2019-2020 compared to the overall value of imports to the country during the period was negligible. So it has a minimal effect on the outflow of foreign exchange and a more positive impact on the construction industry and allied sectors. We, therefore, request the authorities to consider the above facts and ease the import restriction on office chairs and furniture. If this is done, we can resume our businesses as usual and continue to contribute to the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the country,” Nawaal said.

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Showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern and Uva provinces and showers about 50-75 mm in other areas

Published

51 mins ago

2026/01/8

Priyan

WEATHER FORECAST FOR 08 JANUARY 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 08 January 2026 by the Department of Meteorology

The depression over the Bay of Bengal, located to the southeast of Sri Lanka, was centered near latitude 5.3°N and longitude 86.0°E, about 490 km southeast of Pottuvil, at 11:30 p.m. yesterday (07). It is expected to move west-northwestwards and towards the eastern coast of the island during next 24 hours. This system is likely to intensify further into a deep depression during the next 12 hours.

Cloudy skies can be expected over most parts of the island.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Uva, Central and Southern provinces. Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places elsewhere in the Island after 1.00 p.m. Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern and Uva provinces. Fairly Heavy showers about (50 – 75) mm are likely at some places in the other areas of the island.

Strong winds about (50-60) kmph can be expected at times over the Eastern slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Eastern provinces and in Hambantota, Gampaha, Colombo and Monaragala districts.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

News

Easter Sunday attacks: Govt. says wife of Katuwapitiya Church bomber alive

Published

2 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sara Jasmine

Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala told Parliament yesterday that information uncovered during ongoing investigations indicated that Pulasthini Mahendran, also known as Sara Jasmine, linked to the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks, was not dead.

Responding to a question raised by Opposition MP Mujibur Rahuman, the Minister said there was no confirmation that Sara Jasmine was currently in India, despite speculation to that effect. He added that investigators suspected she may have fled the country and stressed that further inquiries were underway to establish her whereabouts.

“If necessary, the government will take steps to obtain a warrant,” Wijepala said, noting that legal action related to the Easter attacks had already been initiated, based on available evidence.

Minister Wijepala said the new government had launched an thorough probe to determine whether a political or other conspiracy had been behind the attacks that killed more than 270 people in 2019. However, he declined to disclose certain details in Parliament, citing the risk of hampering investigations.

Sara Jasmine, Mohammed Hashtun, who bombed St. Sebastian’s Church, in Katuwapitiya, in 2019, was long presumed to have died in a suicide blast in Sainthamaruthu, days after the attacks. Wijepala said attempts by previous administrations to establish her death had failed, with recent reports indicating that DNA tests conducted at the time were inconclusive.

During the debate, MP Rahuman recalled that senior figures, including then-Opposition MP Nalinda Jayatissa, had previously claimed Sara Jasmine was in India. He questioned why authorities had not sought an open warrant for her arrest whether the issue had been raised in talks with Indian officials.

Wijepala, responding on behalf of Deputy Minister of Defence Arun Jayasekara, said the government would not hesitate to pursue legal action, including warrants, if necessary.

By Saman Indrajith

News

Indian Army Chief here

Published

2 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

BIA staff welcoming Chief of the Indian Army Staff (COAS), General Upendra Dwivedi, who arrived here yesterday (07)

The Chief of the Indian Army Staff (COAS), General Upendra Dwivedi arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday (07). On arrival, the COAS was accorded a Guard of Honour by the Sri Lanka Army.

The Indian HC said that: “He will engage with senior military and civil leadership, including the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Deputy Minister of Defence and the Defence Secretary; and hold detailed discussions on matters of mutual interest, including training cooperation, capacity building and regional security.

During the visit, the COAS will address officers at the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) and interact with officers and trainees at the Army War College, Buttala, reflecting India’s strong commitment to defence education and professional military exchanges with Sri Lanka.

General Dwivedi will also pay homage at the IPKF War Memorial, honouring the supreme sacrifice of Indian soldiers.”

General Dwivedi arrived here from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where he attended several events during 05 to 06 January.