News
Cabraal dismisses critics and predicts 5% growth this year
By Saman Indrajith
The country was expected to maintain an economic growth rate of 5 percent in the current year, according to the fiscal policy maintained by the Government, Money and Capital Market and State Enterprise Reforms, State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal said in Parliament on Tuesday.
Cabraal said that even the tourism industry could be revived before the year end, boosting the economy for the benefit of the public. He was participating in the Adjournment Motion by JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake on the economic situation in the country.
The State Minister, who is a former Central Bank Governor, said that the Opposition wanted the government to seek assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to find solutions, but there were alternatives that had to be tried first.
Cabraal said that some people only spoke of diseases. However much they exaggerated them, no change happened and they could not find a cure. A fiscal analysis was given by the Central Bank ever fortnight and it made everything clear. However, the member who moved the motion spoke of loans, the Minister said.
Minister Cabraal said that some politicians had expected the government to default on loan repayment in 2020. But they had been disappointed when the government honoured its obligations. Then they dreamt the government would fail to repay loans in 2021, and they were disappointed again.
They were now hoping and praying that the government will fail to service debt in 2022, or 2023.
“But they are in for another big disappointment,” the State Minister said.
Cabraal said the same group of politicians who wanted the country to fail on the economic front had spread rumours that the government would not be able to purchase COVID-19 vaccines. They had been disappointed once again. The government had been able to buy vaccines due to the proper fiscal management practised by its leaders.
The State Minister said that those who moved the Adjournment Motion couldn’t understand the fact that the indebtedness in 2005 when Mahinda Rajapaksa took over the government had been 91 percent of the state revenue and it had been reduced to 71 percent when he handed over it to the yahapalana government. He added that the national debt of USD 24 billion was increased to USD 35 billion during the yahapalana government, which the JVP had supported.
News
Sun directly overhead Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon today (07)
The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.
The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (07) are Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon.
By Norman Palihawadane
The CID recently found that former SLPP Deputy Minister Premalal Jayasekara, better known as ‘Choka Malli’, had left for Thailand when the Supreme Court imposed an overseas travel ban on him last Friday.
The CID discovered that Jayasekara had left Sri Lanka on August 31, while authorities were taking steps to enforce the travel restriction imposed by the Supreme Court. The Department has subsequently informed the Attorney General’s Department of the development.
The Supreme Court last Friday ordered Jayasekara, and two other men, to appear before court on October 21, and imposed a ban on their overseas travel.
The orders were made as the Supreme Court considered an appeal challenging the acquittal of the three men in connection with the 2015 murder of Shantha Dodangoda, also known as D.G. Sunil Perera.
The appeal was filed by Dodangoda’s wife against a decision of the Court of Appeal to acquit and release Jayasekara and the two other accused, who had previously been convicted and sentenced to death by the Ratnapura High Court.
Dodangoda was killed in a shooting in Kahawatta town, in the early hours of January 5, 2015, while a group of people were putting up decorations for an election rally in support of then common Opposition presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena.
Two others, Karunadasa Weerasinghe and Mohamed Ilfan, were seriously injured in the shooting.
Following the incident, the Ratnapura High Court convicted Jayasekara, former Chairman of the Kahawatta Pradeshiya Sabha Wajira Darshana de Silva, and former Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council member Nilanta Jayakody, sentencing all three to death.
The Court of Appeal subsequently acquitted the three men and ordered their release.
The victim’s wife later challenged the acquittal before the Supreme Court.
The appeal was taken up before a Supreme Court bench, comprising Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justices Achala Wengappuli and Gihan Kulatunga.
During the proceedings, Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara requested that the court impose overseas travel restrictions on Jayasekara and the other respondents.
The Supreme Court subsequently ordered all three to appear before the court on October 21 and imposed travel bans on them.
President’s Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetty, President’s Counsel U.R. de Silva and President’s Counsel Anuja Premaratne appeared for the respondents. President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris represented the aggrieved party.
Police sources said that the discovery that Jayasekara had already left for Thailand, on August 31, has raised concerns over the timing and enforcement of the travel ban.
Sources said that the CID had notified the Attorney General’s Department and was taking further action in relation to the development.
By Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon
The number of deaths from dengue fever in Sri Lanka has risen to 73 this year, with 96,228 cases reported across the country so far, according to the Dengue Control Unit.
The latest figures indicate that dengue continues to pose a significant public health concern, with 737 new cases recorded during the first four days of September alone.
Dengue infections peaked in July, when 29,964 cases were reported, according to the latest data. June recorded the second-highest monthly total, with 21,533 cases, while 10,155 cases were reported in August.
Earlier in the year, 8,590 cases were recorded in May and 7,866 cases in January.The Western Province remains the worst-affected area, accounting for more than half of all dengue cases reported nationwide. A total of 50,851 cases have been recorded in the province, representing 52.84% of the country’s total.
The Southern Province has recorded 13,950 cases, followed by the Central Province with 8,818 cases and Sabaragamuwa Province with 7,925 cases.
Sun directly overhead Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon today (07)
Showers above 50 mm are likely at some places in the Uva and Eastern provinces.
Harshitha’s composed knock seals Sri Lanka’s semi-final berth
‘Choka Malli’ slips out of country before travel ban
Dengue death toll rises to 73
Ranil accuses govt. of undermining democracy
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
News5 days agoDenied of promotion to SC despite vacancies, justice Gurusinghe retires
-
Latest News5 days agoGrade 5 scholarship exam results released
-
News5 days ago22A: SC urged to suspend hearing, appoint full bench
-
Midweek Review6 days agoThe local and global dynamics of Sri Lanka’s 22nd Amendment
-
News5 days agoGovt. seeks NATO assistance
-
News3 days agoNamal remanded until Sept. 18 over Airbus deal investigation
-
News6 days ago40 professional organisations and TU oppose proposed 22A
-
Latest News1 day agoTharanga creates history with Diamond League crown in Brussels