News

Govt to discuss with banks and leasing companies extending grace period

Published

5 years ago

2020/10/9

By Saman Indrajith

Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardane told Parliament yesterday that the government would discuss with the leasing companies and banks the need to extend the grace period for repayments in view of the pandemic.

He said that Sri Lanka as well as the entire world had been affected in an unprecedented manner by the COVID-19 pandemic. The government would grant more relief to people through the upcoming Budget.

He said that the government would not allow middlemen to control the prices of commodities unlike in the past.

Responding to a question by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Minister Gunawardane said that he would agree with the latter that the country’s economy was in bad shape. The economy of the country had been below USD 20 billion each year since Independence until Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected President in 2005. After the terrorism was defeated, the economy had developed and reached USD 79.3 billion when the reins of government were handed over to the UNP in 2015. The economic growth rate was at seven percent at that time.

Minister Gunawardane said that the economic growth rate dropped to 2.3 percent gradually during the last five years under the yahapalana regime.

He said that as the imports were allowed without any restrictions during that period, the rupee had dropped drastically against the US dollar from Rs 131.00 to Rs 180.00. The incumbent government had been compelled to restrict imports to protect the local producers.

Gunawardane said a government could not protect producers, consumers and the middlemen at the same time. He said that the government could ensure the protection of the producers and let the consumers access the products at a reasonable rate. “If the cost of a coconut is Rs 30, the government cannot sell it at Rs 150 unlike during the UNP regime,” Minister Gunawardane said. “The government cannot allow the middlemen to control the price of commodities at their whims and fancies earning exorbitant profits like during UNP government tenure by controlling the judiciary. It is at this point where the UNP went wrong and that was why none of the UNP candidates had got elected to Parliament.”

Minister Gunawardena said that a standard facemask was Rs 50 or 60. However, the same standard face mask by a local producer was sold at Rs 20 at the Cooperative shops and Sathosa. He added that in such a manner the government controlled prices to provide relief to the consumers.

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Royal Navy of Oman Vessel “SADH” arrives at Port of Colombo

Published

10 hours ago

2026/02/10

Priyan

The Royal Navy of Oman Vessel “SADH” arrived at the Port of Colombo on a logistics replenishment visit on Tuesday (10 Feb 26). The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship in
compliance with naval traditions.

The 75m – long ship is commanded by Lieutenant Commander Shaheen Saud Abdul Rahman AI Balushi.

The port call will facilitate professional interaction and goodwill exchanges between the two navies.

During the stay in Colombo, crew members of the ship are expected to visit some tourist attractions in the city of Colombo.

News

NPP: Speaker won’t step down, CIABOC can investigate him

Published

20 hours ago

2026/02/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

Nihal

* New Auditor General should not have been sworn in before Speaker – Opp.

* Suspended House Dy. Sec. Gen. Chaminda Kularatne takes his case to CA today

General Secretary of the National People’s Power (NPP) Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe yesterday said that there was no need for Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne to step down in view of the complaint lodged against him with the CIABOC (Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption).

NPP General Secretary said so in response to The Island query whether the parliamentary group of the ruling party discussed the growing Opposition calls for the Speaker, who is also the Chairman of the Constitutional Council, to step down to facilitate the investigation.

The NPP parliamentary group consists of 159 MPs, including 18 National List (NL) members.

NL member Dr. Abeysinghe asked whether any other person, who had been investigated by the CIABOC, stepped down from his or her position to facilitate the inquiry.

The top official emphasised that the CIABOC could go ahead with its investigation without any hindrance.

Chamindra and Dr. Jagath

Opposition sources said that there hadn’t been a similar situation before and the CIABOC investigation into Speaker Dr. Wickramaratne is unprecedented as he heads the 10-member CC responsible and directly involved in all key appointments, including that of members to the CIABOC.

Sources pointed out that the newly appointed Auditor General, Ms. Samudrika Jayaratne, took the oath of secrecy before the Speaker on 5 February in Parliament after suspended Deputy General Secretary of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne complained to CIABOC.

In accordance with Section 9 of the National Audit Act, No. 19 of 2018, Jayaratne took the oath of secrecy in her capacity as the Auditor General of the National Audit Office and Chairperson of the Audit Service Commission.

Sources said that Kularatne would move the Court of Appeal today (10) against his removal at the behest of the Staff Advisory Committee, headed by the Speaker.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

News

Trinco Buddha statue case: All suspects, including 4 monks re-remanded till 11 Feb.

Published

20 hours ago

2026/02/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

One of the monks being brought to the Magistrate’s Court

The Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court yesterday (09) further remanded 10 persons, including four Buddhist monks, arrested on 19 January, 2026, for allegedly placing a Buddha statue in the coastal reservation, on 16 January.

The Buddhist monks, including Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera, and six other individuals, were further remanded until 11 February.

They have been accused of violating the Coast Conservation Act by placing a Buddha statue on a block of land belonging to the Trincomalee Bodhiraja Temple.

Of the four monks, Ven Balangoda Kassapa Thera and Ven Trincomalee Kalyanawansa Tissa Thera moved the Court of Appeal against the Magistrate’s Court decision. The case was heard on 22 January before a Bench comprising the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya, and Justice K. Priyantha Fernando.

Manohara de Silva, PC, and President’s Counsel Uditha Igalahewa, PC, appearing for the petitioners, urged the Court to take up the matter urgently, describing it as a case of exceptional importance.

However, the Court of Appeal on 3 February dismissed the petitions against the remanding of Ven Balangoda Kassapa Thera and Ven Trincomalee Kalyanawansa Tissa Thera.

The order was issued by the Court of Appeal bench consisting of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Rohantha Abesuriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando.