Connect with us

News

Maritime disasters: Justice Minister appears before PSC

Published

on

Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, yesterday (31) said that he had appeared before a Select Committee headed by Dr. Ramesh Pathirana tasked with inquiring into fire onboard crude carrier MT New Diamond off the East coast in early Sept 2020 and the destruction of container carrier X-Press Pearl off Colombo in May/June 2021.

The Justice Minister said that he expected the 14-member PSC to examine the incidents and come up with a suitable set of recommendations to address such issues, including compensation and other related payments. The Minister also stressed the pivotal importance of inquiring into the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) with the focus on its responses and follow-up action in the wake of incidents.

The minister said so responding to The Island lead story headlined ‘Ex-MEPA boss says insurer’s offer wholly inadequate’ in Aug 31 edition.

The Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government replaced lawyer Dharshini Lahadapura in early Feb this year with another lawyer Asela B. Rekawa. Both incidents took place during Lahadapura’s tenure as the MEPA chairperson.

Dr. Rajapaksa said that Chairperson of Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development SJB MP Ajith Mannapperuma passed him information regarding a person receiving USD 250 mn bribe to sabotage Sri Lanka’s case against X-Press Pearl. But when the police sought information from the MP in this regard, he failed to assist in the inquiry, Dr. Rajapakse said, adding that a thorough inquiry was needed to establish the truth.

The Justice Minister said USD 878,000 offered was reimbursement of expenses incurred by MEPA during Feb-August 2022 and not for environmental damage caused. Lahadapura confirmed this, adding that Sri Lanka had received USD 6,754,557.49 for clean up operations undertaken from May 2021 to January 2022.

Minister Rajapakse said that the PSC should ascertain the circumstances MT New Diamond had been allowed to leave Sri Lankan waters in spite of the government receiving the right to take the vessel in line with international law. At that time Sri Lanka with the Indian backing brought the fire under control, the vessel had USD 81 mn worth crude, the minister said, adding that the government could have taken the cargo and the vessel but it was released under controversial circumstances. (SF)



News

Report on the Final Budgetary Condition (Annual Report) – 2025 submited to parliament

Published

on

By

As per the provisions of section 51 of the Public Finance Managaement Act No. 44 of 2024, the public should be issued with a report on the final budgetary situation for each year and, the report is then published in the official website of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.

Thereby the report has to be submitted to the Parliament. The final budgetary situation report (Annual Report) – 2025 has been prepared by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and published. The report contains the Public Finance Policy, strategies and challenges, economic trends in 2025, macro – economic and socio – economic indicators covering all sectors of the economy as well as description on the global economic growth.

Furthermore, it accompanies a detailed description government revenue and expenditure, cash flow management, financing the budget deficit and the loan structure.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to submit the Report on the Final Budgetary Condition (Annual Report) – 2025 to Parliament.

Continue Reading

Business

Cabinet nod to accept increased Loan Grant provided by the Asian Development Bank under Policy Based Loan Facilities – 2026

Published

on

By

Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 16.03.2026 to obtain United States Dollars 380 million from the policy – based loan facilities of the Asian Development Bank in the year 2026.

United States Dollars 100 million out of it is allocated for Trade, Investment and Industries Development Programme – Sub Programme 1. However, amidst the economic uncertainty resulting from the current Middle East crisis and the climatic tragedies, the Asian Development Bank has agreed to assist
by increasing a supplementary financing package of United States Dollars 100 million so that it will beMincreased up to United States Dollars 200 million.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to take further measures to obtain the said loan grant.

Continue Reading

News

Submission of Revenue Protection Order Prepared under the Provisions of the Revenue Protection Act No. 19 of 1962 to the Parliament for its approval.

Published

on

By

Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was given at the meeting held on 23.02.2026 to impose the custom import duty amounts under four (04) categories as 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% which had been executed only under three (03) categories in order to increase the target export income of the country, to execute the
recommendations of the national customs duty policies committee, and to implement new national sub division customs codes for promoting the local agricultural and industrial sector.

Imposing provisions in relation to the above, the Revenue Protection Order – No. 01/2026 under the Revenue Protection Act No. 19 of 1962 has been published in the extraordinary gazette notification No. 2478/03 of 03.03.2026.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to submit the said revenue protection order to Parliament for its concurrence.

Continue Reading

Trending