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Govt to discuss with banks and leasing companies extending grace period

Published

6 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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Sun directly overhead Kalpitiya, Talawa, Sinharagama, Galkadawala, Nachchaduwa, Padikaramaduwa, Gomarankalla and Verugal about 12.10 noon today (01)

Published

2 hours ago

2026/09/1

Priyan

The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.

The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (01) are Kalpitiya, Talawa, Sinharagama, Galkadawala,
Nachchaduwa, Padikaramaduwa, Gomarankalla and Verugal about 12.10 noon.

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SJB asks what Speaker intended to do about allegations against CJ

Published

3 hours ago

2026/09/1

Sahan Weerasooriya

… stresses need for action if claims were proved false

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dayasiri Jayasekera has sought a clarification from Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne regarding several allegations against Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, in Parliament, recently.

In a letter dated 31 August, Jayasekera has asked the Speaker whether he received any documentary evidence from MPs in support of the allegations at issue. The SJB MP has also inquired about the steps taken by the Speaker regarding the allegations and whether the issue had been taken up with the relevant agencies authorised to probe the assets of the CJ and members of his family.

MP Jayasekera confirmed that he had raised the issue with the Speaker, following the accusations relating to the high profile X-Press Pearl case, which received significant public attention in the recent past.

The Kurunegala District MP has also asked the Speaker whether the latter contemplated taking action in case the allegations were proved false to ensure that the dignity of the Chief Justice and the judiciary was safeguarded.

Among the issues raised by MP Jayasekera are the acquisition of valuable property in Colombo by the CJ’s son, the circumstances in which he was able to procure the property, as well as accusations regarding the CJ’s birth certificate, marriage certificate and birth certificates of his children.

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Navy Chief attends strategic-level discussions in Delhi

Published

4 hours ago

2026/09/1

Sahan Weerasooriya

Navy Chief Vice Admiral Damian Fernando held a series of strategic-level discussions with senior Indian defence and military officials during a three-day official visit to New Delhi. He returned on Sunday (30).

Navy Headquarters said that the two sides discussed ways to further strengthen maritime security cooperation between the two Navies in support of security in the Indian Ocean region. They also exchanged views on expanding training opportunities and capacity-building programmes, as well as other areas of bilateral importance.

During his visit to New Delhi, Vice Admiral Fernando also held official discussions with India’s Chief of Defence Staff, General N.S. Raja Subramani, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit and defence industry representatives. Discussions at these meetings focused on bilateral defence cooperation, joint training programmes, and opportunities to enhance air and maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region.

As part of efforts to further expand cooperation in naval training and professional development, Vice Admiral Fernando also met Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of India’s Southern Naval Command, at its headquarters in Kochi, Kerala. The two sides discussed existing naval training exchange programmes and opportunities for introducing and expanding further training initiatives. The meeting followed the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy’s visit to INS Dronacharya, the Indian Navy’s training establishment where he previously completed the Long Gunnery and Missile Course.