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No stopping of Rumassala hotel and road?

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By Ifham Nizam

The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) would not approve the construction of a road that would cause damage to the Rumassala ecosystem, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said, adding that the Southern Provincial Director of Environment had been instructed to take necessary steps to remove the gravel from the existing narrow road and to see if it could be done in an environmentally friendly manner.

Amaraweera also instructed the officials of the CEA to submit an environmental impact assessment report fast. Further steps regarding the road should be taken on the basis of the environmental study report.

A group of villagers last week presented their grievances to the Minister.

Minister summoned the Southern Provincial Director of Environment and asked him to look into the request and see if the request could be met in a way that would not harm the highly sensitive ecosystem there.

A 20-foot road was to be built in a very environmentally sensitive location leading to a hotel, which was under construction, despite objections by officials, Environmental Scientist at the Centre for Environment Nature Studies (CENS), Dr. Ravindra Kariywasam said

Wildlife officials had objected to both the hotel and the road, but their objections had been ignored due to political influence, Kariyawasam said. The hotel was being constructed by former President Maithripala Srisena’s brother Dudley, he added.



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Food Policy and Security Committee recommends importation of rice to ensure an uninterrupted supply

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The Food Policy and Security Committee has recommended the importation of rice in the near future to ensure an uninterrupted supply for consumers.

A notable increase in rice prices has been observed in the market, along with reports of shortages of certain rice varieties, despite the current harvest season.

Given this situation, discussions were held regarding the need for the Cabinet to prioritize the maintenance of sufficient stock,  through rice imports.

The Committee, chaired by Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation K.D. Lalkantha and Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Vasantha Samarasinghe, convened for the fifth time at the Presidential Secretariat on Tuesday (01). The meeting aimed to formulate policy decisions to ensure food security.

During the discussions, it was revealed that due to excessive rainfall this year, crop damage occurred on two occasions, leading to a significant reduction in the expected harvest.

Furthermore, during the meeting it was stated that the improper use of rice for animal feed is another major reason contributing to the rice shortage. As a result, the Committee also focused on the importation of broken rice for animal feed and the use of alternative feeds to mitigate the impact on livestock production.

Accordingly, the Food Policy and Security Committee approved the formation of a Committee, led by the Director General of Agriculture, to oversee the importation of the required quantity of broken rice through proper mechanisms.

Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Kapila Janaka Bandara, and other members of the Food Policy and Security Committee, including Ministry Secretaries, participated in the discussions.

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Cabinet approves providing relief to the people of Myanmar

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The People of Myanmar are facing  immense hardships caused by the devastating earthquake  on 28th March  and as reported by the international media reports the death toll is over 2,700. Furthermore, it has been reported that many people are missing while, a large number of individuals have been injured and are receiving treatment.

Considering the long – term close relationship between the two nations as two Buddhist states, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to provide,

• A sum of United States Dollars One Million

•  Transportation for the dry rations collected by Buddhist clergy and other donors

• To have a group  of medical officers and health staff on standby for immediate departure to Myanmar if necessary

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Cabinet appoints ministerial committee to submit report on sanctions imposed on 04 Sri Lankans by the United Kingdom

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Attention of the Cabinet of Ministers have been drawn on the decisions taken by the United Kingdom to impose sanctions on four Sri Lankan individuals recently, and have decided to appoint a committee comprised of three ministers  to submit a report with recommendations on the further measures to be taken after studying the facts in the regard and to empower the committee to obtain the service of any officer/intellect deemed to have subject expertise in the relevant field and considered essential.

The committee will comprise of :

– Vijitha Herath Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism

– Attorney – at – Law  Harshana Nanayakkara Minister of Justice and National Integrity

– Aruna Jayasekara Deputy Minister of Defence

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