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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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Heat Index at ‘Caution Level’ in the Sabaragamuwa province and, Colombo, Gampaha, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Vavuniya, Hambanthota and Monaragala districts

Published

5 hours ago

2026/03/7

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. on 06 March 2026, valid for 07 March 2026.

The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Sabaragamuwa province and in Colombo, Gampaha, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Vavuniya, Hambantota and Monaragala districts.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED

Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note: In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491

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Prompt solutions will be provided for the salary anomalies prevailing within the teacher and principal services — PM

Published

5 hours ago

2026/03/7

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the government has paid close attention to the salary anomalies prevailing within the teacher and principal services and that prompt solutions will be provided following extensive discussions held with trade unions.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while responding to questions raised in Parliament on Friday (06).

Presenting data on existing vacancies in the education sector, the Prime Minister explained the current situation.

There are 903 vacancies existing in the Sri Lanka Education Administrative Service (SLEAS) and 3,790 vacancies in Sri Lanka Principals’ Service (SLPS).

In order to fill the vacancies which still remain due to various reasons, including selected officers not accepting appointments after the examinations and interviews conducted since 2021, interviews are scheduled to be held in the second week of March 2026.

Further, in order to fill the vacancies for the years 2021 and 2025, competitive examinations will be conducted in the future with the approval of the Public Service Commission.

At present, entry into the Principals’ Service is considered as a new recruitment. As a solution to the salary-related issue arising in this regard, a new Cabinet paper is being prepared seeking approval to consider appointments to the Principals’ Service as a promotion, thereby enabling appropriate salary conversion.

The Prime Minister also emphasized that sustainable solutions are required not only for salary issues in the education sector but also for salary-related concerns in several other sectors. Accordingly, the government plans to appoint a new Salary Commission. Through this commission, the government expects to provide lasting solutions to the issues faced by teachers and principals within this year.

In accordance with the service minute of the Principals’ Service, several training programmes have been made mandatory for the professional development of principals.

These include, Induction training at the beginning of service, capacity development training prior to promotion to Grade II and Grade I, and periodic awareness programmes conducted at provincial and zonal levels.

The Prime Minister further stated that discussions are undertaking with the Department of Management Services regarding the proposals submitted by principals’ associations. Based on the responses received, the government is prepared to take the necessary steps through the Cabinet of Ministers.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

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UNP concerned about govt.’s silence over US sub sinking Iranian warship in Lanka’s EEZ

Published

5 hours ago

2026/03/7

Thilina Walpola

The UNP yesterday (06) voiced concern over, what it described as, the continued silence of the Sri Lankan government regarding the sinking of an Iranian vessel by a US submarine within Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

In a statement, the UNP questioned whether the government had been informed, in advance, by the United States of the military action carried out within Sri Lanka’s EEZ, particularly within the framework of the Colombo Security Conclave.

The party warned that such developments had effectively turned Sri Lanka’s EEZ into a war zone, posing potential risks to commercial maritime activity.

Full text of the UNP statement: The United National Party is concerned over the continued silence of the Sri Lankan government regarding the sinking of an Iranian vessel by a US submarine in our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The government must disclose to the Sri Lankan public whether they were informed by America prior to the military action that was carried out in the country’s EEZ, and within the ambit of the Colombo Security Conclave.

These actions have resulted in our EEZ being turned into a warzone which will have a detrimental impact on our commercial interests. Shipping costs and insurance are expected to increase, impacting the country’s economy, including the cost of living.

The government of Sri Lanka must seek assurance from the United of States of America that further military action will not be conducted in the vicinity of the country. The government must also discuss the potential economic impact with the relevant shipping companies and insurance authorities.