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CMC, Environment Ministry take measures to make Colombo green to combat toxic air

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Mayor of Colombo Rosy Senanayake, handing over the project report prepared by Colombo MC “Save a Plant for Colombo” “Project to Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera and Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Secretary Ministry of Environment.

By Ifham Nizam

The government has launched a programme to prevent air pollution in the city and other urban centres by planting trees, Minister Amaraweera says.

The Minister yesterday said latest scientific studies showed that the oxygen level in the atmosphere of the city of Colombo was gradually declining.

On Thursday, a meeting was held between Environment Minister and Colombo Mayor Rosy Senanayake on the tree planting programme.

Mayor Senanayake handed over the ‘Save a Tree for Colombo’ programme prepared by the Colombo Municipal Council to Minister Amaraweera and Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe.

The Mayor also requested that a programme be launched to measure the oxygen content in the air in the Colombo city on a daily basis and provide necessary expertise and technical assistance for environmental conservation in the Colombo Municipal Council area.

Minister Amaraweera said that the Ministry of Environment would extend all possible assistance to the CMC to prevent noise pollution and air pollution in the city of Colombo.

According to the US Air Quality Index, the smallest particulate material, PM 2.5, has a value of between 100 and 150, a condition that can have a profound effect on sensitive groups. PM refers to a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air and particles such as soot, dust, dirt, or smoke as being visible to naked eye. It is categorized according to particle size. PM10 carries particles 10 micrometres or smaller and are inhalable, while PM 2.5 carries particles 2.5 micrometres and smaller which is three times smaller than a hair strand.

“In terms of meteorological conditions, northerly winds are blowing from Indian peninsula which has high air pollution thus worsening the situation here,” an official at the Meteorological Department said.



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SJB, JVP move SC against Finance Secy. for contempt of court

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The main Opposition, Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB), and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday (21) moved Supreme Court against Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana over his failure to provide funds required by the Election Commission to conduct the Local Government polls, ignoring an interim order issued by the apex court, on 03 March.

Ranjith Madduma Bandara, MP, is the petitioner for the SJB and Vijitha Herath, MP, moved court on behalf of the JVP, the leading party in the Jathika Jana Balawegaya (JJB).

Two Opposition parties declared action against Siriwardana the day after the Freedom People’s Alliance (FPA) issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Finance Secretary to release the funds.

EC Chairman Nimal Punchihewa is on record as having said that in spite of SC directive he didn’t receive fresh funding.

The petitioners sought the issuance of summons on Siriwardana for contempt of court over failure to carry out its interim orders, given on 03 March.

The petitioners want the Finance Secretary punished in terms of Article 105 (3) of the Constitution.

The SJB stated that Siriwardana had refrained from carrying out the March directives, on the basis of a Cabinet decision, taken on 13 Feb., 2023. The SJB also pointed out that the offensive conduct of the Treasury Secretary, inter alia, causes grave prejudice to the esteemed authority of the Supreme Court and in turn disturb the public confidence in the authority of the highest Court in the country. (SF)

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Minister indicates reduction in fuel prices in April

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Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara told Parliament yesterday that fuel prices would be reduced considerably according to the fuel price formula at the next fuel price revision, due in April.

The Minister said that the government would be able to procure fuel shipments, at lower prices, during competitive bidding, with the receipt of the IMF bailout.

There had been practical issues, and problems, in opening Letters of Credit, and obtaining credit facilities, in the recent past, as Sri Lanka could not give a guarantee to fuel suppliers, Minister Wijesekara said.

“We could not open LCs and obtain credit facilities when procuring fuel. After the IMF bailout, we will be able to procure fuel at lower prices during competitive biddings. We will be able to obtain a long-term credit facility as well. Fuel prices in the global market seem to have declined and the rupee has also gained strength against the US Dollar. Having considered all these factors, fuel prices will be reduced by a considerable margin which could be felt by the people,” he said.

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IGP tells CID not to brook any interference from any quarter while they probe ’Harak Kata’ and ‘Kudu Salindu’

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By Norman Palihawadane

IGP CD Wickramaratne has directed the CID to maintain a special log of names and details of any attempts by external parties to influene the ongoing investigations on notorious drug traffickers Nandun Chinthaka Wickramaratne aka Harak Kata and Salindu Malshika aka Kudu Salindu.

The suspects are currently under the custody of the CID.

The IGP issued the orders to the DIG CID and its director during a meeting of senior police officers on Monday, police headquarters said.

Sources said that the IGP has further instructed not to allow statements from the detainees to be taken by any police team other than the team currently investigating the suspects.

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