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Power cuts: UNP leader draws govt.’s attention to plight of A/L candidates
By Saman Indrajith
UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday called on the government to heed the impact of ongoing power cuts on children sitting the GCE A/L examination.
Making a special statement in Parliament, the UNP leader said that the ongoing power cuts might have serious negative repercussions on the future of children facing the advanced level examination which was considered to be a major turning point of their lives.
Wickremesinghe said that the power cuts had a serious impact on students and it would reflect on their Z-scores on which their university entrance was determined. There was a possibility that some affected parties would petition the Supreme Court since their fundamental rights were violated. “These students have been inconvenienced due to power cuts and it is not fair for them. They can even file Fundamental Rights petitions. Therefore, it would be better if the power cuts could be prevented until the examination is concluded in March,” Wickremesinghe said.
Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardena said his ministry was conducting discussions with the Commissioner General of Examinations, Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) and the Ceylon Electricity Board to prevent power cuts until the Advanced Level Examination was concluded. A discussion regarding the matter was held on Tuesday (22) night.
Minister Gunawardena thanked Wickeremsinghe for raising the matter in the House.
“The Education Ministry has commenced discussions with the Commissioner General of Examinations, the PUCSL and the CEB regarding this. One such discussion was held on Tuesday (22) night. We hope to find a favourable solution to this,” he said.
Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila said allocating funds to purchase fuel had become a problem to the country at the moment.
He said that the Government had invited foreign ambassadors in Colombo representing countries that produce fuel for a meeting to be held on March 15 to discuss the possibility of purchasing fuel on long-term credit.
Minister Gammanpila said that during an emergency Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday (22) evening, it was thoroughly discussed on increasing the fuel prices and decided not to increase the prices right now. He said that there were no shortages of fuel, medicine and other necessities in the country, but a shortage of US dollars.
“However, the Cabinet decided to release funds to obtain fuel shipments. Following that, payments have been made to three shipments that were berthed at the Colombo Port and fuel stocks from two petrol and diesel shipments are being carried to the land since Monday (21). There is another shipment berthed and we hope the Treasury will release the funds as soon as possible, as agreed at the emergency Cabinet meeting,” he said.
Gammanpila accepted that there was a diesel shortage in the country at the moment. “That is because we had to limit diesel stocks released to the filling stations until finding funds to release the said diesel shipment”, he said.
The Minister pointed out that some filling stations hid petrol and diesel following the statements made by Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Chairman that fuel prices would have to be increased by a large margin and price increase of Lanka IOC.
“Sri Lanka has the lowest fuel prices in South Asia. We are ranked 22nd among the countries that supply fuel for lower prices. The other 21 countries produce fuel by themselves on a large-scale.”
Owing to the Russia – Ukraine tensions, fuel prices are expected to increase in the global market in coming days. When we increased fuel price last time on 22 December 2021, a crude oil barrel was priced at USD 72. But now, it has increased to USD 99. It is expected that a crude oil barrel will be priced at USD 115 by March. Therefore, we have invited Ambassadors of the countries that produce fuel for discussions on 15 March, to determine whether it is possible to obtain fuel from their countries on long-term credit, the minister elaborated.
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Maintaining public trust is a fundamental responsibility of the Police Department – President
Attending the passing out parade of the 82nd batch of the Special Task Force (STF) at the Katukurunda STF Training Camp in Kalutara on Monday (07), President Anura Kumara Disanayake emphasized the need for a progressive transformation within the Sri Lanka Police to ensure the rule of law, order and authority.
The President noted that the public places its trust in the Sri Lanka Police to uphold the supremacy of the law and maintaining that trust is a fundamental responsibility of the Police Department.
Addressing the newly commissioned officers, President Disanayake stated that how one serves and respects their profession is reflected in their career and urged the officers to embrace their professional duty in a way that contributes meaningfully to the transformative change the country requires.
Highlighting the current state of institutional breakdown in many sectors, the President pointed out that the people have already initiated change by altering the political authority, but reiterated that political transformation alone is insufficient. Instead, a comprehensive and positive transformation across all sectors is necessary for national progress.
The President further emphasized that new police officers carry the responsibility of meeting public expectations. He called on them to ensure public safety and security and to prevent the nation from falling prey to organized crime and drug-related issues.
He also stated that the younger generation must take responsibility for the motherland, bearing that duty on their shoulders and should strive to steer both their personal future and the future of the country in a positive direction.
President Disanayake concluded by saying that joining the regular service of the Sri Lanka Police today should be remembered by all as a significant and powerful step forward.
The President further noted that the service rendered by the Special Task Force (STF) on behalf of the public during times of emergency and disaster is highly commendable.
A total of 118 newly recruited Sub-Inspectors and 231 Probationary Police Constables who successfully completed their basic training graduated during the ceremony.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake awarded certificates and honours to officers who demonstrated exceptional performance during the training programme.
A commemorative token was also presented to President Disanayake, who attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest.
An operational demonstration by STF officers on a simulated battlefield was presented as part of the event.
Established in 1983 under the theme “Victory is Certain”, the Sri Lanka Police Special Task Force is currently recognized as a prestigious unit deployed for VIP protection, crime and organized crime suppression and narcotics control efforts aimed at building a drug-free nation.
The ceremony was attended by Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala, Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Deputy Minister of Public Security Sunil Watagala, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security Ravi Seneviratne, Acting Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasooriya, STF Commanding Officer Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Samantha de Silva, along with other senior police officers, the parents of graduating officers and other invitees.
[PMD]
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 following notification / order / rule published in the government gazette notification to the Parliament for its concurrence:
• Notification on the revision of tax limit of luxury on motor vehicles under the Finance Act No. 35 of 2018 published in the extraordinary gazette notification No. 2421 / 41 dated 31.01.2025.
• Rule issued under the Production Levy (Special Provisions) Act No. 13 of 1989 on revision of production levy rate for vehicles operated with electricity published in the extraordinary gazette notification No. 2421 / 42 dated 31.01.2025
• Order issued under the Finance Act No. 25 of 2003 on extension of the period on which the 50% relief is active which is given to the deviation levy published in the extraordinary gazette notification No. 2421 / 30 dated 31.01.2025
Although there are legal provisions for the right to publish, technical planning, right of patent, trademarks and enterprises etc, in the Intellectual Property Act No. 36 of 2003, there are no provisions for securing the rights of plant species (relevant to breeders, researchers and farmers).
In addition, no patents can be issued for flora and fauna according to the provisions of the intellectual rights act. Therefore, approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 22.05.2024 to introduce a new act for securing the rights of plant species.
Wherefore, the Legal Draftsman has pointed out that policy approval of the new Cabinet of Ministers should be taken to complete the drafting of the new flora species rights securing act.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposals submitted by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation for the preparation of the said draft bill.
Maintaining public trust is a fundamental responsibility of the Police Department – President
Submission of gazette notifications for the concurrence of the Parliament.
Cabinet approval to prepare new Act for securing the rights of plant species
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