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Champika pours out more details about latest sugar scam

Published

2 years ago

2023/11/11

Champika Ranawaka

There were at least 50,000 tonnes of sugar in storage units when the tax was increased by 49.75 rupees on 02 November, former Minister and leader of the United Republican Front (URF) Patali Champika Ranawaka said.

Ranawaka, who is also the Chairman of the parliamentary Ways and Means Committee, said that there was a massive fraud in sugar imports in June 2021. The fact that this happened is accepted by all, he said.

“The Auditor General Department also showed that one importer made undue profits of 16 billion rupees. The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) can collect 30 percent of this undue profit as income tax. Even this has not been done. JVP’s Sunil Handunnetti filed a case in the Supreme Court, now the involved parties are not paying taxes under the pretext they are waiting for the court’s verdict. The JVP said they will withdraw the case if the company pays taxes, the Ministry of Finance and the Attorney General’s department has not said a word. This shows that neither the Ministry of Finance nor the Attorney General’s department is interested in acting against sugar scammers,” he said.

Ranawaka said that the government recently increased tax on sugar to 50 rupees per kilo from 25 cents and several companies have again benefited greatly.

“In August the import duty on wheat flour was increased to 27 rupees a kilogram or 20 percent. We told the government at that time to conduct a study on the existing stocks of the goods before such taxes are imposed.”

The people should be able to buy the existing stocks at the pre-tax price, he said. However, a few months later the government raised taxes on sugar without any survey of existing stocks, he added. There is also evidence to say that some companies were aware that taxes would be increased in early November, Ranawaka said.

“Now a company, who had brought 2000 tonnes of sugar a month in August and September, had imported 10,000 tonnes in October. 14 companies have brought 19,000 tonnes of sugar than they had imported in the previous months. There were at least 50,000 tonnes of sugar in storage units when the tax was increased by 49.75 rupees. Now these businesses will make an extra profit of 49.75 rupees from each kilo of sugar sold. The government has done nothing to correct the situation. The ministry of finance does all sorts of weird things and blames the IMF.”

Ranawaka said that instead of taking steps to prevent such fraudulent acts, the government is trying to stop people from learning about the truth.

“The Online Safety Act was ushered in under the pretext that the government wants to protect masses from nefarious activities of some people online. However, when you look at the content of the act, it is obvious that this was brought to allow the President to suppress and control social media and other digital spaces,” he said.

Ranawaka said the Supreme Court, on 07 November, determined that the government needs a special majority to pass the Online Safety Bill in its present form.

The Supreme Court had said that as per the provisions of Article 84 (2) of the Constitution, the sections 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14,15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 36, 37, 42, 45, 53, and 56 needed to be passed with a special majority of votes.

“Some sections of the government and media are claiming that the Supreme Court has not made many changes and the Bill can be easily passed with a simple majority. This is not the case, the government has been asked to make substantial changes.”

Ranawaka said that Sri Lanka has a history of youth uprisings. The JVP rose in 1971, 87-89 and there was an arms struggle in the North, too. However, in recent years, young people are peacefully mobilizing and organizing online, and this has become a serious threat to anti-people leaders.

“This is what happened last year. Ranil Wickremesinghe is not interested in mending governance. He is interested in thwarting the means of organizing. This is not easy though. Technology always finds a way. Moreover, foreign technology companies that operate in Sri Lanka, from Google to Booking.com will not accept this,” he said.

Ranawaka added that on 09 May 2022, a group of Rajapaksa loyalists decided to attack peaceful protestors at Galle Face without understanding how angry the people were. Following the attack, the public reaction was 100 times stronger than the initial attacks of Rajapaksa loyalists.

“The same group that masterminded the attack on protestors are now at the helm of security forces, police and media. They are now wondering how they can crush the empowered Sri Lankan citizens,” he said.

Ranawaka said that because of social media, a handful of elites can no longer control public perceptions. The ordinary citizen now has a chance to look at things from multiple points of view.

“People also have started businesses. The government always talks about digitization, but their actions betray these claims.”

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Foreign warships commended for their assistance during weather disaster in Sri Lanka

Published

10 hours ago

2026/01/1

Priyan

Highlighting the spirit of global and regional cooperation, the Sri Lanka Navy acknowledged the invaluable support by foreign warships, which had arrived to take part in the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2025, extending much-needed Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, during the recent weather disaster in Sri Lanka.

The IFR 2025 was held off the Galle Face seas, marking the milestone 75^th anniversary celebrations of the Sri Lanka Navy.

Representing the Government of Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya graced the event and received the traditional naval salute from onboard SLNS Gajabahu, as the participating foreign warships paid their honours.

Eight (08) foreign naval warships arrived in Sri Lanka by 27 November to take part in the IFR under the theme “Sailing Strong – Together”. The participating warships included the Bangladesh Navy’s BNS PROTTOY, the Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier INS VIKRANT and INS UDAYGIRI, Iran Navy’s IRIS NAGHDI, the Maldivian Coast Guard’s CGS HURAVEE, the Royal Malaysian Navy’s KD TERENGGANU, Pakistan Navy’s PNS SAIF and Russian Navy’s GREMYASCHCHY.

Due to the disaster-situation triggered by severe weather conditions across the island, foreign warships that arrived for the event were promptly redirected to support humanitarian efforts. Particularly, helicopters deployed from the Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier INS VIKRANT and Pakistan Navy’s PNS SAIF played a praiseworthy role in search and rescue missions for affected communities.

Accordingly, the warships representing each nation joined the IFR, honouring proud maritime traditions and in acknowledgement of Sri Lanka and its Navy. Their participation also reinforced collective cooperation and partnership needed to address non-traditional maritime threats in the region, as well as natural disasters driven by climate change.

The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to a group of diplomatic officials, present on this occasion, for their support in the disaster relief operations. The officials, who were present on the occasion, represented the High Commissions and Embassies of Bangladesh, India, Iran, Maldives, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Russia in Sri Lanka.

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I invite you to step into 2026 with renewed energy, hope, and determination – PM

Published

12 hours ago

2026/01/1

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya in her New Year message invited all Sri Lankans to step into 2026 with renewed energy, hope, and determination.

The PM’s New Year message:

“As we move forward to the New Year of 2026, it is timely to reflect on the year 2025 that has passed. The year 2025 can be granted as a year having made a number of decisive and progressive steps with a people oriented government.

I am confident that, within a new political culture, we were able to strengthen transparency in state governance and lay the foundation for an efficient and corruption free public service.

We can be satisfied with the progress achieved in several key areas during 2025, including economic stability, the increasingly positive and optimistic international perception towards our country, the establishment of transparent systems of governance, and the strengthening of the sovereignty of the legislation system.

However, the unfortunate disastrous situation we experienced towards the end of 2025 was a challenging period for our nation. While it deeply moved us all, the spirit of solidarity, compassion, and collectivity shown by Sri Lankans during that difficult situation received admiration across the world.

As we step into the New Year 2026, we hold commitment to overcoming those challenges, healing from the disaster, and restoring the lives and livelihoods that were affected.

Moving forward with the goals such as initiating qualitative and sustainable transformation in the education sector, digitalizing all sectors of the public service, creating an enabling environment for entrepreneurs, artists, and creators with innovative ideas to rise on the global stage, and building a compassionate, environmentally friendly society free from drugs and harmful substances I would like to remind, at this moment, that the responsibility of rebuilding this nation rests upon the entire nation, together with the government, transcending differences of ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation, and united by a strong Sri Lankan identity.

Transforming all the challenges we experienced in the past year into sources of strength, I invite you to step into 2026 with renewed energy, hope, and determination.

I extend wishes for a victorious New Year filled with peace, happiness, and prosperity.”

News

National Audit Office reveals NHSL lapses

Published

14 hours ago

2026/01/1

Thilina Walpola

Reagent scandal:

Deputy Director of the National Hospital, Dr. Rukshan Bellana, has been interdicted by Health Service Committee (HSC) of the Public Service Commission (PSC) following a preliminary inquiry into several complaints received against him, government sources said.

They said certain matters referred by the Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya, too, had been taken into consideration.

A Health Ministry official said there was no truth in Dr. Bellana’s claim, as reported in the 30th December edition of The Island, that the Health Ministry had sacked him on the approval of the HSC of the PSC over him taking up the massive Rs 900 mn fraud involving the supply of chemical reagents to the laboratory of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) in Colombo, which is the premier hospital in the country.

Sources said that there was absolutely no basis for this allegation. The official said that Dr. Bellana had been interdicted for issuing statements that caused controversy and turmoil among the public. That’s the most serious offence that had been taken into consideration when the decision to interdict him was taken, sources said. “There will be a spate of charges in the charge sheet to be issued soon.”

The interdiction of medical officers could not be carried out by the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, as the Ministry was not vested with disciplinary authority, sources added.

Dr. Bellana said he stood by what he revealed and had evidence to support his claim.

Health Ministry sources acknowledged that the National Audit Office (NAO) on June 6, 2025, had called for information in respect of chemical reagents procured by the National Hospital Colombo NHSL laboratory from 2022 to 2024.

Responding to another query, sources said that a separate investigation by the Internal Audit of the Ministry of Health was on into issues raised by the Audit query pertaining to the lab of the NHSL.

Having pointed out that the government paid Rs. 894,186,168 (2022), Rs. 713,652,615 (2023) and Rs. 936,152,767, totalling Rs 2,543,991,550 for chemical reagents during that period, NAO sought an explanation from the Health Ministry as to how Rs 12,894,697 worth of chemical reagents past expiry dates were found in six laboratories at NHSL during examination carried out on April 7,8,10,21 and 22 in 2025.

The NAO also raised the failure on the part of the relevant authorities to secure the approval of the Medical Supplies Division (MSD) before placing orders with local suppliers for chemical reagents.

The Health Ministry was questioned over the absence of proper stock keeping regarding Rs 2544 mn worth chemical reagents issued to NHSL laboratories. The NAO ascertained that Financial Regulations 751 had been violated. As a result of the absence of credible stock keeping, the NAO hadn’t been able to ascertain whether shelf-life expired chemical reagents were misused, the government authority stated.

The NAO asked for an explanation regarding the payment of Rs 912,838 over the required amount to a local private supplier (NAO named the supplier) for chemical reagents obtained.

In one of the most serious observations, NAO pointed out that shelf-life expired chemical reagents had been used for tests. The NAO raised this while pointing out the Health Ministry violated a key prerequisite in the procurement of chemical reagents that their shelf life should be at least 85% at the time of receiving consignments. Instead, all stocks procured had less than six months shelf life, NAO stated.

NAO declared that some suppliers refrained from mentioning the date of manufacture and the time of expiry.

The above mentioned were some of the issues that had been raised by Audit Superintendent Y.M. Sugathadasa on behalf of the Auditor General who is the head of the NAO. The post of AG remains vacant since December 8, 2025. Earlier incumbent W.P.C. Wickremeratne retired on April 8, 2025 after having served as AG for several years. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Constitutional Council haven’t been able to reach consensus on a permanent appointment yet.

By Shamindra Ferdinando ✍️