News
Cabraal asks Sajith why they were silent when Rs 10 bn was released to PTL in 10 minutes
…nothing wrong with Rs 3.1 bn loan to D.S.Gunasekera
By Saman Indrajith
State Minister of Finance, Capital Markets and State Enterprise Reforms Ajith Nivard Cabraal told Parliament yesterday that there was nothing wrong in the Bank of Ceylon releasing a Rs 3.1 billion loan facility to D.S. Gunasekera Company.
“The BoC has adhered to its procedures and followed all accepted methods in releasing that loan. Nothing wrong has happened in that transaction,” said Minister Cabraal, responding to a series of questions raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa on the loan facility. “However, when 10 billion rupees was released in 10 minutes from the same bank to the Perpetual Treasuries in 2015 by a government in which you were a Cabinet minister, all of you kept silent. You should have raised questions then.”
Minister Cabraal said that the D.S. Gunasekera Company was operating in the North Central, Eastern, Central and the Southern Provinces. The company had its accounts at the Katuwana Branch of the BoC since 2015. The company had been a customer of the BoC for 62 years since 1958. As per the audit reports of recent years, the company has shown an income increasing by 10 billion rupees in the years of 2017, 2018 and 2019. The BoC has released the loan facility of Rs 3.1 billion considering the long standing relationship between the bank and the company and the latter’s financial feasibility. The bank had followed all accepted guidelines and procedures in releasing a pledge loan. The company used a sum of Rs 2.1 billion for stockpiling. In releasing the loan the bank had kept the stockpile as a pledge and it has been released in installments as the company settled their loan in installments.
Opposition leader Premadasa made a special statement alleging that the company named D.S. Gunasekara (Pvt.) Ltd. had obtained a sum of Rs. 3.1 billion from the BoC Katuwana branch as a pledge loan.
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri which arrived at the Port of Colombo on a formal visit on 04 Apr 25, departed the island today (07 Apr). The Sri Lanka Navy bade customary farewell to the departing ship at the Port of Colombo, following naval traditions.
During the ship’s stay in Colombo, crew members of INS Sahyadri took part in several programmes organized by the Sri Lanka Navy, aimed at enhancing mutual cooperation. In addition, they also explored some tourist attractions in the country. Further, personnel of Sri Lanka Navy had the opportunity to visit INS Sahyadri, gaining insights into her operational capabilities.
Latest News
Advisory for severe lightning issued for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district
The Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre has issued an Advisory for Severe Lightning for the Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district.
The advisory issued at 02.00 p.m. today [07 April 2025] is valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 07 April 2025
The public are warned that thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning are likely to occur at several places in for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambantota district. There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.
ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
• Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
• Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
• For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
The report of the “Census of Population and Housing 2024,” conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics, was officially handed over to President Anura Kumara Disanayake this morning (07) at the Presidential Secretariat.
This preliminary report has been prepared based on island wide data collected between October and December 2024.
The report provides details on Sri Lanka’s population, its growth and the distribution of the population across districts.
The information gathered through the census is vital not only for the government but also for other institutions in formulating policies and development plans essential for the country’s progress. Significantly, for the first time in the history of census-collecting in Sri Lanka, data collection was carried out using tablet computers and user-friendly mobile devices.
The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Finance & Planning, Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwardana, Director General of the Department of Census and Statistics D.D.G.A. Senevirathne and several other officials.
INS Sahyadri sets sail from Colombo
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Advisory for severe lightning issued for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district
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