News
Wheat flour importers exploit public, look after interests of ruling party politicians – JVP
“Benefit of drops in world market wheat prices not passed on to consumers; pledge to grant import permits to other businesses reneged on
By Saman Indrajith
JVP-led NPP leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Parliament yesterday that a former government had permitted monopoly in the sale of wheat flour that exists in the country and it was exploiting consumers.
“It is a known fact that Prima Company has been funding election campaigns of successive governments’. This government has allowed it to earn undue profit without passing the benefits to the consumers in the hope of receiving election campaign money,” MP Dissanayake said.
The JVP leader said the local wheat flour prices were much higher than those in the international market. He demanded to know why the government had failed to pass the benefit of drops in the global wheat flour prices on to the local consumers.
MP Dissanayake said the two companies were making unconscionable profits at the expense of the general public.
Currently, a kilo of wheat flour was being sold at Rs. 210 in the country, whereas it could be sold at a significantly lower price of Rs. 160 even with a tax of Rs. 35, Dissanayake said.
Dissanayake said that the cost of importing wheat flour from Turkey was Rs. 110. Despite the reduction of the Rs. 35 tax on each kilo of wheat flour, its benefit had not accrued to consumers.
MP Dissanayake accused the government of reneging on its promise to provide import permits to other businessmen. That, he claimed, had led to the continuation of a monopolistic situation favouring two multinational companies.
Four persons including a Budhist monk died and 32 others were injured when two SLTB buses collided head on at Weerawila at arond 12 noon today (18).
Three of the deceased were women. 22 of the injured were admitted to the Hambanthota Hospital while 10 others have been admitted to the Debarawewa hospital.
The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) ship OONAMI which arrived at the port of Colombo on a goodwill and replenishment visit on 09 Mar 26 departed on 11 March.
The departing ship was given a formal farewell from the Sri Lanka Navy, in keeping with naval traditions at the Port of Colombo.
The 150.5m long JMSDF OONAMI is commanded by Commander IIO Hiromasa.
During the stay in the island, crew members of the ship explored some tourist attractions in Colombo. The itinerary also included a coastal clean-up drive participated by naval personnel of both countries and engagements with the Sri Lanka Navy, designed to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation.
The Central Cultural Fund established under the provisions of the Central Cultural Fund Act No. 57 of 1980 is responsible for development of cultural and religious monuments in Sri Lanka, settling the expenditure borne for development, renovation and conservation of local and foreign cultural monuments, awarding financial donations for artisans as well as awarding those who served the nation in the fields of culture and religious sectors.
The said act has been passed in Parliament 45 years back and, the requirement to revise the provisions of the act according to the contemporary requirements haa been recognized.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted their policy
approval to amend the said act, considering the resolution furnished by the Minister of Buddhasashana, Religious and Cultural Affairs.
SriLankan Airlines Alerts Customers to Social Media Scams
Four dead 32 injured in head on collision at Weerawila
JMSDF ship OONAMI concludes goodwill visit
Cabinet nod to amend Central Cultural Fund Act No. 57 of 1980
’National Namal Uyana’ declared as a National Heritage
Establishment of Supervisory Committees for restoring economic activities.
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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