News
Govt. decides to increase spending on police welfare, including new meal allowance
By Saman Indrajith
The government had decided to increase allowances and batta payments for police personnel and to introduce a meal allowance for them, Public Security Minister Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera told Parliament yesterday.
Responding to a question by Kurunegala District SJB MP Shantha Bandara, retired Rear Admiral Weerasekera said that a Cabinet subcommittee had been appointed for that purpose.
MP Shantha Bandara said that the former government had increased batta payments for policemen but stopped the scheme.
Minister Weerasekera said at present a Police Constable received Batta payment between Rs. 9,800-11,200 while a Chief Inspector and higher ranked officers receive a batta payment of Rs.14,000 per month.
The Minister added the Ministerial the Cabinet sub-committee had been instructed to determine the amount to be increased in batta payments.
Minister Weerasekera said that there were 494 police stations in the country and 62 new stations had been set up since 2008. Currently, seven new stations were under construction and 10 stations were being modernised. The modernised stations would have their toilets and barracks renovated as per the guidelines of the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau.
There were 427 barracks to be constructed and 321 had already been renovated to cater to the increased number of policemen during the recent past, the minister said.
Following the conclusion of bilateral discussions between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, official-level talks between the delegations of Sri Lanka and India commenced this morning (05) at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.
Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath; Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Anil Jayantha; Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake; Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, along with other senior officials.
The Indian delegation included Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and His Excellency Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, along with several other senior officials of the Government of India.
Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who arrived in Sri Lanka on the invitation of President Anura Kumara Disanayake on Friday [04] night, visited the Presidential Secretariat this morning (05).
The Indian Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by President Anura Kumara Disanayake upon his arrival at the Presidential Secretariat.
Prime Minister Modi is currently on a state visit to Sri Lanka, reaffirming the theme “Friendship of Centuries — Commitment to a Prosperous Future” which symbolises the longstanding ties between Sri Lanka and India. The Indian Premier is scheduled to remain in the country until tomorrow (06).
[PMD]
The official welcoming ceremony for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was held this morning (05) at the Independence Square in Colombo.
On arrival at the Independence Square the Indian Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by President Anura Kumara Disanayake.
Discussions between Sri Lankan and Indian delegations at the presidential secretariat
Sears takes five again as New Zealand complete ODI series sweep over Pakistan
Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi arrives at the presidential secretariat
-
Business2 days agoStrengthening SDG integration into provincial planning and development process
-
News6 days agoBid to include genocide allegation against Sri Lanka in Canada’s school curriculum thwarted
-
Sports7 days agoSri Lanka’s eternal search for the elusive all-rounder
-
Business22 hours agoNew SL Sovereign Bonds win foreign investor confidence
-
Sports3 days agoTo play or not to play is Richmond’s decision
-
News7 days agoComBank crowned Global Finance Best SME Bank in Sri Lanka for 3rd successive year
-
Features7 days agoSanctions by The Unpunished
-
Features7 days agoMore parliamentary giants I was privileged to know