News
SJB asks govt. to reduce prices of stationery, etc.
By Saman Indrajith
Schoolchildren and their parents could not afford books, stationery, etc., since the government had failed to maintain price controls, Parliament was told on Saturday.
Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella said that prices of books and stationery had increased by 300 percent.
Matara District SLPP MP Weerasumana Weerasinghe said that the country needed 500,000 to 600,000 tonnes of paper a year. “Paper prices have increased. In 2020, we imported 454,000 tonnes of paper. In 2021, we imported 469,000 tonnes of paper. We import around 90 percent of our paper requirement. Imposing cess on them will further increase the prices of stationery. Children on plantation and in rural areas find it difficult to continue with their school education. The rupee depreciation is not the sole reason for this situation. The prices of paper has galloped manifold than the depreciated value of the rupee against the dollar,” Dissanayake said.
Minister of State Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said that cess on paper used as raw material to produce exercise books had not been increased.
SLPP dissident MP Dullas Alahapperuma said that 10 to 15 percent children had stopped going to school because of food shortage or non-availability of books or other problems such as transport costs. “A pair of shoes is over Rs 4,000. The price of a box of mathematical instruments is unaffordable. We must understand this crisis and find solutions rather than pointing our fingers at one another,” Alahapperuma said.
Prime Munister Dr Harini Amarasuriya returned to the island this (23rd) morning after attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland,
The Sri Lanka Navy successfully conducted a diving operation on 19 Jan 26 to inspect and restore the sluice gate of the Bomburuella Reservoir.
Acting on a request from the Department of Irrigation, the Sri Lanka Navy deployed a specialized diving team from the Western Naval Command, for the urgent requirement.
Through concerted effort, the Navy divers successfully cleared accumulated debris, including a significant quantity of wooden fragments, which had impeded the sluice gate mechanism.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya held a series of high-level bilateral meetings on Wednesday [January 21] on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, engaging with representatives of the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme, and the global private sector.
The Prime Minister met with Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management. During the meeting, she expressed Sri Lanka’s appreciation for the support extended by the European Union and its member states following Cyclone Ditwa. The Prime Minister also briefed the Commissioner on the key findings of the World Bank’s GRADE report and requested continued EU support for Sri Lanka’s development and recovery efforts.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya also met with Alexander De Croo, representing the United Nations Development Programme. She expressed appreciation for the longstanding partnership between Sri Lanka and the United Nations and acknowledged the UN’s support in flood relief and livelihood assistance. The Prime Minister noted that, following the mandate received at the parliamentary election, the government is focused on meeting public expectations through national rebuilding grounded in public trust and good governance. She further reaffirmed the Government of Sri Lanka’s commitment to strengthening social protection systems and safeguarding vulnerable communities.
In addition, the Prime Minister met with Robert M. Uggla, Chairman of A.P. Moller Holding. The discussion focused on engagement with the private sector and potential areas of collaboration.
These meetings reflected Sri Lanka’s continued engagement with international partners and global stakeholders to support recovery, development, and long-term economic stability.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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