News
High costs dampen Vesak celebrations
Commemorating Vesak this year has been hard hit by electricity costs and soaring prices hikes resulting in pruning down the number of Vesak pandals and decorations as well as Dansals in Colombo, organizers said.
Most of the decorations to be seen were organized by the police and security forces as private parties were not willing to erect Vesak pandals at sites they are normally seen in Colombo, they said.
Several programmes planned in the Metropolis beginning from May 3 to May 6 to celebrate the Buddha Rashmi National Vesak Festival were succesfully concluded. The events were held at Galle Face Green, Shangri-La Green, and Presidential Secretariat premises
A Bakthi Geetha recital took place on the steps of the Presidential Secretariat on May 3 and 4 and President Ranil Wickremesinghe attended the event. The same recital was scheduled to be held at the same location on May 4.
A stage built on the Shangri-La green grounds was used for distributing school supplies to 40 novice monks and 1,200 school children on May 5.At 7.00 pm at the same venue, the Maha Karuna Buddhist Association of Singapore and Willing Hearts Foundation of Singapore were due to hold a Rice Dansala on May 5 and 6.
The Sri Lanka Navy, Civil Security Department, Youth Service Council, and Sri Lanka Army were due to hold Bakthi Geetha recitals and light Vesak illuminations at the stage built on the Shangri-La Green on May 5, Vesak day.
Police spokesman, SSP Nihal Thalduwa said on Friday that police would strictly enforce traffic laws during the Vesak period. He added that in recent years, motorists expected leniency from the police during festive seasons.
“Although only two people can ride a motorbike, we see several people on bikes coming into Vesak zones. They often drive recklessly. It’s the same with three wheelers. Five- six people travel in them. We will fine them and take legal action against such individuals this time,” he said.
He said that young people are seen wearing Guy Fawkes masks and they annoy and disturb others who have come to enjoy Vesak.
“Also, we would like to ask motorists not to park their vehicles in a way that obstructs the roads. Don’t park on pavements and don’t park in any way that bothers others. We will tow your vehicles away,” he warned.
A combined search operation carried out by the Northern Naval Command with the assistance of Marudankerni Police on Monday (27) in Waththiyaran Jaffna, led to the recovery of over 34kg of Kerala cannabis buried in a garden and the arrest of one person suspected to be involved in the incident.
The gross street value of this stock of Kerala cannabis is believed to be over Rs. 13 million.
State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe yesterday (28) said that investigations were still continuing into the alleged disappearance of Rs. 5 million from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).
The State Minister stated that the CBSL initiated an internal investigation into the matter, while the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), too, initiated a separate probe.
In April this year the Fort Police was ordered to investigate the theft of Rs. 5 million from a safe at the Central Bank, to arrest the suspects involved, and produce them in court.
This order was issued by Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawala on April 17, 2023.
The State Minister made these remarks in response to a question raised by MP Niroshan Perera in the House.
He assured that upon completion of the relevant investigations, a full report on the matter will disclose all findings, along with those responsible for it.
Semasinghe also revealed that a discussion had taken place between the CBSL and the Inspector General of Police on investigations. (SI)
The Department of Immigration and Emigration announced on Tuesday (28) that the visa fee has been waived for residents of China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan visiting Sri Lanka, with immediate effect.
In a statement, the Department said that this scheme is valid until March 31, 2024, and that this is a pilot programme to rebuild the tourism industry.
Residents of the above-nominated countries possessing diplomatic, official, public affairs, service, and ordinary passports are eligible for this scheme.
Visitors from these countries first need to apply for a free Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before arriving in Sri Lanka, the Department said.
Under this scheme, tourists can enjoy a 30-day visa, and a double entry facility too is permitted from the date of first arrival to Sri Lanka within 30 days, the statement said.
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