News
Opposition boycotts President’s tea party, barring Eran and Welgama
Opposition MPs, except SJB MPs Eran Wickremaratne and Kumara Welgama, boycotted the tea party hosted by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa after delivering his presidential policy statement in Parliament yesterday.
Opposition party members did not attend the party held at the Parliament restaurant as a sign of protest against the President, an opposition MP said. He said that many other opposition MPs proposed to boycott the event while others suggested that they should all dress in black but several leaders argued that they should be present in the House to respect the tradition. “We respected the tradition, not the man. Some of those who proposed did not attend the session,” the opposition MP said.
Around 20 opposition MPs in the opposition ranks were absent, while MP Radhakrishnan was seen wearing a black suit (SI)
News
Shipment of 55,000 metric tonnes of MOP for paddy and coconut farmers
The Cabinet of Ministers has decided to distribute 50% of the 55,000 metric tonnes of Muriate of Potash fertiliser received as grant from the World Food Program (WFP) to the farmers of paddy and other crop cultivations and the remaining 50% to the coconut cultivation farmers.
The ship carrying the said stock of fertilizer is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka on 10-12-2024 and it has been planned to conduct the formal ceremony to hand over the stock of fertilizer on the 12th of December.
Business
Moratorium on implementation of parate law by banks extended till 31st March 2025
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 moratorium on implementation of parate law until 31-03-2025 and to prepare a multi-dimensional mechanism to solve this issue with the active contribution of all the parties including, Central Bank of Sri Lanka, government and private banks and other government institutions.
The economic crisis encountered by Sri Lanka during the previous 04 years has severely affected the small and medium sector entrepreneurs, and it has been reported that difficulties have arisen in settling the loans obtained from banks.
Under these circumstances, the properties of a considerable number of business persons have been taken over by the banks and auctioned because of the defaulting of loans. As a consequence, public auctioning of these properties have been temporarily terminated until 15-12-2024 through the amendments made to the Recovery of Loans by Banks (Special Provisions) Act, No. 4 of 1990.
Latest News
Cabinet approves appointment of officers to the higher management positions of the departments of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the President in his capacity as Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to make following appointments and attachments
Mr. M.K. Pradeep Kumara, a special grade officer of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service, who is presently serving as an Additional Director General of the Office of Comptroller General, to the post of Director General of the Department of Trade and Investment Policies.
Mr. P. M. K. Hettiarachchi, a grade I officer of the Sri Lanka Planning Service, who is presently serving as a Director of the Department of Development Finance, to the current vacant post of Director General of the same Department.
To attach, Mrs. S. H. D. Kaluthantri, a special grade officer of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service, who is presently serving as a Director General of the Department of Management Services, to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Council, and Local Government, enabling her to be appointed to another suitable post, and to appoint Mr. Wimal S.K. Liyanagama, a special grade officer of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service, who is presently serving as an additional director general of the Department of Trade and Investment Policy, to the vacant post of Director General of the Department of Management Services.
To reattach Mr. U.D.N. Jayaweera, a special grade officer of the Inland Revenue Service, who is presently serving as a Commissioner General of Excise on an acting basis, to the Inland Revenue Department and to appoint Mr. U.L. Udaya Kumara Perera, a special grade officer of the Inland Revenue Service, who is presently serving as a Senior Commissioner of the Inland Revenue Department, to the post of Commissioner General of Excise.
-
News2 days ago
Sri Lanka’s first seven-star hotel ready for opening in 2025
-
Business7 days ago
Launching of Curtin University Colombo, a landmark in Australia-SL educational ties
-
News6 days ago
Sabry: Defeat of LTTE terrorism liberated all Sri Lankans
-
News4 days ago
Locally produced superphosphate to be introduced next year to save foreign exchange
-
News5 days ago
First Sri Lankan Buddhist monk in 105 years joins Oxford for MPhil in Buddhist Studies
-
Features5 days ago
All quiet on home front – hence peek overseas
-
Editorial7 days ago
LG polls: Cabinet cuts the Gordian knot
-
Business7 days ago
Daraz 11.11: Transforming shopping habits and boosting local businesses across Sri Lanka