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New cabinet gives green light to establish Gambling Regulation Authority
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers had been granted at their meeting held on 26.06.2023 to establish the Gambling Regulation Authority as an independent establishment with a broad and complete subject arena to standardize gambling institutions, minimize social damage, promotion of tourism sector and ensure economic growth. The Legal Draftsman has informed that the concurrence of the current Cabinet of Ministers is sought to continue the process of drafting bills.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development to grant the policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for formulating the said draft bill with immediate effect
The US has twice sided with Russia in votes at the United Nations to mark the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, highlighting the Trump administration’s change of stance on the war.
First the US opposed a European-drafted resolution condemning Moscow’s actions and supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity – voting the same way as Russia and countries including North Korea and Belarus at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
Then the US drafted and voted for a resolution at the UN Security Council which called for an end to the conflict but contained no criticism of Russia.
The Security Council passed the resolution but two key US allies, the UK and France, abstained after their attempts to amend the wording were vetoed.
The UN resolutions were tabled as French President Emmanuel Macron visited President Donald Trump at the White House in an attempt to address their sharp differences over the war.
On Thursday, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will likewise visit the new American leader.
Trump’s White House has upended the transatlantic alliance, currying favour with Moscow and casting doubt on America’s long-term commitment to European security.
That rift was laid bare on the floor of the 193-member UNGA on Monday as US diplomats pushed their limited resolution mourning the loss of life during the “Russia-Ukraine conflict” and calling for a swift end to it.
European diplomats tabled a more detailed text, blaming Russia for its full-scale invasion, and supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“We need to reconfirm that the aggression should be condemned and discredited, not rewarded,” said Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa.
UNGA members backed the European resolution by 93 votes but, extraordinarily, the US did not abstain but actually voted against it, along with Russia, Israel, North Korea, Sudan, Belarus, Hungary and 11 other states, with 65 abstentions.
The UNGA also passed the US resolution but only after it was amended to include language supporting Ukraine, which led to the US abstaining.
At the much more powerful 15-member UN Security Council, the unamended US resolution – which called for an end to the conflict but contained no criticism of Russia – was passed by 10 votes, with the UK, France, Denmark, Greece and Slovenia abstaining.
America’s acting envoy to the UN, Dorothy Camille Shea, described the US resolution as a “simple historic statement… that looks forward, not backwards. A resolution focused on one simple idea: ending the war”.
Rarely has the US been so at odds with its supposed European allies.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine three years ago, the Security Council has been deadlocked by the power of Russia, one of its five permanent members, to veto any resolution there.
For this reason the UNGA has been the main forum for debating the war. But its resolutions are not legally binding for member states, unlike those of the Security Council.
[BBC]
Latest News
Operational time of the Project Management Unit of the Colombo Port City Development Project extended until 05-06-2027.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development to extend the operational time of the Project Management Unit of the Colombo Port City Development Project until 05-06-2027.
[The Project Management Unit of the Colombo Port City Development Project is the main unit that connects the Sri Lankan government and the CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd for project supervision, resolution of issues, and coordination of utility services. It is expected to complete the functions that were planned under the second (2nd) stage of this project at the end of June 2027. Therefore, it has been identified that the supervision and coordination activities conducted by the Project Management Unit of the Colombo Port City Development Project should be further continued.]
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution forwarded by the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment to implement the “Praja Shakthi” programme as a consolidated programme with a multiple approach so that the vision of ‘Pohosath Ratak – Surakshitha Jeewithayak’ (A wealthy country – secure life) can be achieved as per the policy declaration of the new government.
It has been observed that one of every 06 individuals of Sri Lanka’s population experience multi – dimensional poverty at present, and 95.3% of that population are living in rural and estate related environs.
It is apparent that none of the parties are satisfied with final outcome of any of the programmes to eradicate poverty implemented in Sri Lanka up to now.
During the past few decades, the number of poverty eradication relief programmes and the number of beneficiaries have increased considerably, while the amounts spent over them have been hiked.
In the year 2000, the number of beneficiaries were 1.10 million whereas by the year 2010 the number has increased to 1.57 million, and by the year 2024 the number has further swelled up to 1.79 million.
US sides with Russia in UN resolutions on Ukraine
Operational time of the Project Management Unit of the Colombo Port City Development Project extended until 05-06-2027.
New cabinet gives green light to establish Gambling Regulation Authority
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