Connect with us

News

Indian High commissioner visits Northern and Eastern Provinces

Published

on

Baglay laying the foundation stone for the construction of 144 transit housing units for pilgrims

Holds discussions with prominent regional figures

Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay, who is currently touring Northern and Eastern Provinces, held a number of discussions with prominent regional figures from political, economic, academic, social and cultural spheres on developing the Northern Province through increased investment and assistance from India, the Indian HC said in a press release.

The Government of India has a long history of carrying out development projects in diverse sectors including livelihood, health, education, industrial development in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, the HC added.

High Commissioner Baglay commenced his four-day visit to Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka on Thursday (11.) He started his visit by attending the Shivratri Pooja at the sacred Thiruketeeswaram Temple, Nallur. After offering prayers at the Temple, the High Commissioner reviewed the restoration project that was carried out by the Government of India at the Temple, at a cost of SLR 326 million.

On 11 March, High Commissioner Baglay also laid the Foundation Stone for the construction of 144 transit housing units for pilgrims at the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu in Mannar along with Prasanna Ranatunga, Minister of Tourism in the presence of Most Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Fernando, Bishop of Mannar, and three MPs, Selvam Adaikkalanathan, K. Kader Masthan and Kulasingam Dhileeban.

The High Commissioner also held a luncheon meeting with P.S.M Charles, Governor of Northern Province and other senior functionaries from the Province. The two sides had comprehensive discussions on deeper engagement in the fields of education, skill development, health, agriculture, water and fishing.

The High Commissioner also attended a dinner hosted in his honour by S. Balachandran, Consul General of India in Jaffna and interacted with prominent dignitaries from political, economic, academic, social and cultural spheres.



Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Veteran singer and musician Professor Sanath Nandasiri passed away at the age of 81

Published

on

By

Continue Reading

News

Overtime gravy train for public sector back

Published

on

Govt. MPs make contradictory statements on state of economy

By Shamindra Ferdinando

UNP National List MP Wajira Abeywardena on Sunday (26) disclosed the issuance of a circular by the Finance Ministry to restore overtime and other payments in the public sector.

The declaration was made in Galle soon after Transport and Media Minister Bandula Gunawardane lamented that the government was short of billions of rupees to pay public sector salaries, pensions, Samurdhi payments and meet recurrent expenditure.

Minister Gunawardena and UNP National List MP Abeywardena addressed the local media after the handing over of several buses to the Galle SLTB depot.

Cabinet Spokesman Gunawardena said that the government needed as much as Rs 196 bn before the Sinhala and Tamil New Year and its projected revenue was Rs 173 bn. In addition to that Rs 500 mn was required to settle what Minister Gunawardena called bilateral debt.

Minister Gunawardane said that a part of the first tranche of USD 333 mn from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would be utilised to pay public sector salaries.

Of the USD 333 mn received so far, USD 121 had been used to pay the first installment of USD 1 bn credit line secured from India early last year, according to State Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya.

Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera in the second week of August last year revealed as much as Rs 3 bn had been paid as overtime to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) workers for several months. This disclosure was made in response to a query raised by Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella.

One of the major demands of the public sector trade unions on the warpath over the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government’s new tax formula is the restoration of overtime.

Continue Reading

News

Now, Opposition wants Finance Secy. hauled up before Privileges Committee

Published

on

Prof G L Peris

Prof. G. L. Peiris yesterday (27) urged Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to act speedily on the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) request to summon Finance Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena before the parliamentary Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

Addressing the media on behalf of the Freedom People’s Alliance, the former External Affairs Minister said that the Treasury Secretary had challenged the parliament by withholding funds allocated in the budget 2023 to the Election Commission thereby sabotaging the election.

Prof. Peiris said that there couldn’t be a far worse violation of parliamentary privileges than a government official undermining Parliament.

Instead of appreciating the intervention made by the Supreme Court to facilitate the delayed Local Government polls, the ruling party had sought to challenge the apex court, Prof. Peiris said, urging Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to fulfill his obligations.

Prof. Pieris said that if the government lacked funds, just one percent of USS 333 mn received from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was sufficient to conduct the election.

The ex-minister said that the IMF wouldn’t oppose the utilisation of a fraction of the first tranche of USD 2.9 bn loan facility provided over a period of four years to guarantee the constitutional rights of the Sri Lankan electorate. (SF)

Continue Reading

Trending