News
Yahapalanaya flooded country with plastics by removing cess
By Saman Indrajith
A decision by the yahaplana regime to remove a cess on importing plastics had resulted in local markets being flooded with two billion kilos of plastics worth around Rs. 549 billion during the past five years, Parliament was told yesterday.
Responding to a question raised by SLPP MP Mohamed Muzammil, State Minister of Money & Capital Market and State Enterprise Reforms Ajith Nivard Cabraal said that between 2015 and 2019 a total of 2,102,262,948 kilos of plastics had been imported into the country at a cost of Rs 549,991,640,147 from 47 countries.
MP Muzammil said that plastic products were a threat to the environment and they took around 400 years to decompose. Sachets and polythene packets dumped after their use especially as wrappers or bags posed a serious threat to the environment. The MP asked whether the government would be able to introduce a substitute to plastics at a time local industries had come forward with alternative solutions.
Minister Cabraal said that he welcomed the opinion of the MP and promised that he would take up the issue with his ministry officials to find an environment friendly solution.
Asked whether the government would consider re-imposing the cess on plastic importations so that the local businessmen promoting plastic products would be discouraged, the Minister said that too would be taken into account at his next meeting with his officials of the ministry.
Eksath Janaraja Peramuna (EJP) yesterday complained to the Election Commission (EC) regarding President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent threat that the government would release funds only to local government bodies to be won by a clean party at the May 06 LG polls.
The EJP, led by former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, complained that President Dissanayake has claimed during a public rally at Weligama that the NPP was the only clean party.
The EJP is contesting 37 LG bodies at the forthcoming election.
The new party said that the rights of the other contesting political parties and groups had been violated by the President.
The EJP asked the EC to ensure a level playing field
Having handed over their complaint, EJP spokesman Theekshana Gammanpila told the media outside the EC office that Anura Kumara Dissanayake had won last year’s presidential election and then the parliamentary election as the then government ensured a free and fair election. But now President Dissanayake was making a despicable attempt to influence the electorate in the run-up to the vital mini polls. Gammanpila alleged that the President’s intervention could have a far reaching impact on the electorate.
The EJP spokesman emphasised the responsibility on the part of the EC to intervene and take tangible measures to prevent President Dissanayake from manipulating the electorate to their advantage. (SF)
Former North Central Province Chief Minister S. M. Ranjith and his private secretary Shanthi, who is his brother, former Minister S.M. Chandrasena’s wife, were yesterday (02) sentenced to 16 years rigorous imprisonment after being found guilty of corruption charges. They were also ordered to pay a fine of Rs. 200,000 each.
The judgment was delivered by Colombo High Court Judge Aditya Patabendi.
They were convicted on charges filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.
S.M. Ranjith was found guilty of enabling Shanti to secure an additional fuel allowance between Sept 2012 and Dec 2014 to the tune of Rs 2.68 mn.
The Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka hosted a concert of Japanese traditional music by the Honganji Temple & Foundation Japanese Orchestra featuring the performers of NYSC on 28th March in honour of the visit of Most. Ven. Ohtani Chohjun Nayaka Hamuduruwo, the 25th Head Priest of Higashi Hongan-ji Grand Temple.
The event featured a Japanese tea ceremony and breathtaking musical performances by the Honganji Temple & Foundation Japanese Orchestra, showcasing traditional Japanese instruments such as the Koto and Shamisen. The evening was further enriched by violin and vibrant dance performances by students from the National Youth Council (NYSC) and Lanka Nippon Biztech Institute (LNBTI).
This cultural celebration further strengthened the deep ties between Japan and Sri Lanka, offering a unique experience of Japanese tradition and heritage.
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