News
Harsha to move Privilege Committee against Finance Ministry officials’ attempt to cover up sugar tax scam
By Saman Indrajith
Chairman of Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance, Dr. Harsha de Silva, yesterday told Parliament that he plans to move the Privilege Committee against Finance Ministry officials’ attempt to cover up the sugar tax scam.
Dr. de Silva, referring to Monday’s The Island page one lead story, titled ‘Sugar tax scam takes shocking turn: Parliament directive to recover Rs 16 bn disregarded’, said that when Associate Editor of The Island Shamindra Ferdinando made inquiries under the Right to Information Act from the Finance Ministry of the losses incurred by the sugar tax scam, Finance Ministry’s Department of Trade and Investment Policy had stated that there was no such loss.
Holding the Monday’s edition of The Island in his hands, the MP said: “Entire nation knows that there was a sugar tax scam resulting in over Rs 16 billion losses to the government because of changing the taxes to benefit the scammers. The Auditor General had reported this scam to Parliament. It was investigated by the CID and the Bribery Commission. The matter was debated in Parliament committees, including the COPF. It was debated in this House. State Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, too, has spoken in this House for the need of finding a mechanism to recover the losses. Despite all these, the information officer of the Finance Ministry’s Department of Trade and Investment Policy, by the name of D.M.A. Dassnayake says that there were no losses resulting from change of taxes. Who is this information officer? On what grounds he could state that there were no losses. Does it mean that the Treasury need not recover these monies from those responsible for this scam?”
Dr De Silva said that the sugar tax scam had been a reverting topic in the COPF chaired by him and the COPF has strived relentlessly to recover the loss owing to this scam. “This official stance by the Finance Ministry’s Department of Trade and Investment Policy amounts to breach of privileges of many in this House including the COPF. As such I refer this matter to the COPF today, and with the approval of its members I take this to the Parliament’s privilege committee,” Dr. de Silva said.
Three Sri Lankan leopard cubs that were born at the Singapore Zoo on Jan 1 have now made their public debut at the facility.
The two males and one female, born to mother Yala and father Asanka, are the first of their species yo be born at the Singapore Zoo. The last successful birth in Singapore was recorded at the Night Safari three decades ago.
The triplets, which are the pair’s first litter, are among around 80 Sri Lankan leopards in zoos worldwide.
The species is listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, with fewer than 800 individuals estimated to remain in the wild.
Visitors can now see the triplets at the Wild Africa exhibit, said the Mandai Wildlife Group in a statement on April 16.
The cubs can be found in the exhibit with their mother daily until mid-May and, subsequently, every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
Yala with her cubs in their nest box, a month after their birth on Jan 1. (Straits Times)
A leopard cub investigating a piece of meat suspended from a tree – one of the several enrichment items in the Wild Africa exhibit designed to keep the cats mentally and physically stimulated. (Straits Times)
Mandai Wildlife Group curator Anand Kumar said it took nearly three years and close collaboration across continents to bring together a compatible pair of Sri Lankan leopards.
(Straits Times)
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-zoos-first-sri-lankan-leopard-cubs-make-their-public-debut?ref=top-stories
The Sri Lanka Navy has seized a local multi- day fishing trawler, it’s four man crew together with a consignment suspected to be narcotics off the Southern Coast of the island.
The vessel is presently being escorted to the Dikowita fisheries harbour for further investigations and legal proceedings.
Latest News
Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and Southern provinces and in Monaragala district
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 15 April 2026, valid for 16 April 2026.
The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern
and Southern provinces and in Monaragala district.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491
Singapore Zoo’s first Sri Lankan leopard cubs make their public debut
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