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Opposition derives perverse pleasure from seeing people suffer – Minister Weerasekera

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By Saman Indrajith

Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (Retd) Sarath Weerasekera told Parliament on Monday that the government was duty bound to look after the people and that it would not hesitate to bring in any laws necessary for that purpose.

Participating in the debate on the Presidential proclamation to declare an emergency, the Minister said that food security was an integral part of national security, and therefore the government would bring all necessary laws or enact any existing laws to achieve that objective.

  “There is a food mafia. We are fighting it. It is an uncivilised act to create a food shortage at a time like this. The government has a responsibility to enforce laws to protect the interests of the people. We will defeat this mafia without considering their party affiliations. Unfortunately, the Opposition is not helping us overcome this obstacle. It looks as if the Opposition had joined forces with the virus to fight against the government.”

Minister Weerasekera said: “We faced two world wars, two rebellions and fought a war against terrorism for 30 years. We never had food shortages. The prevailing shortages are artificially created. We are determined to fight those who are hoarding food and essential supplies. The Opposition members are eagerly waiting to see the crisis worsen day by day. They are deriving some perverse pleasure from the suffering of the public. They are wishing for food scarcities to gain political mileage. They want the people to take to the streets. They want to see the number of COVID-19 deaths increase to thousands. Their objective is to see anarchy in the country. I do not think that there is another Opposition anywhere in the world like the one this country is burdened with.”



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Platform enabling swift removal of websites, photos, and videos containing instances of child sexual abuse launched

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The launch of an online platform enabling the swift removal of websites, photos, and videos containing or potentially containing instances of child sexual abuse took place  on Thursday  (28) at the Presidential secretariat under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Recognizing the urgency of addressing child abuse in cyberspace, this initiative targets the dissemination of nude photos and indecent videos of children through internet and social media channels. Implemented by the National Child Protection Authority in collaboration with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), renowned for its expertise in internet child safety enforcement, this program receives financial support from Save the Children Fund.

Following the implementation of this online system, individuals can now visit the website of the National Child Protection Authority at www.childprotection.gov.lk to report incidents of indecent photos and videos of children exchanged online. These reports will be handled by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) in collaboration with the National Child Protection Authority. Subsequently, the offending videos will be promptly removed from the internet, and legal action will be pursued against the perpetrators.

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Heat Index at ‘Caution’ level in Western, North-western, North-Central, Northern, Eastern and Southern provinces and Ratnapura and Monaragala districts

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Heat Index advisory issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre At 4.00 p.m. 28 March 2024, valid for 29 March 2024

The Natural hazards Early Warning Centre has warned that the Heat Index, the temperature felt on the human body is expected to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Western, North-western, North-Central, Northern, Eastern and Southern provinces and Ratnapura and Monaragala districts.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this 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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COPF Chief: Milk food pricing formula discarded again to help importers make a killing

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Dr. Harsha de Silva

… frowns on trade minister’s role in the questionable process

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) Dr. Harsha de Silva yesterday (28) said the Trade Minister shouldn’t play any role in setting prices. Instead, pricing formulae had to be introduced, the SJB lawmaker said.

Dr. de Silva said so when he was asked whether the Trade Ministry and milk food importers followed the formula introduced by him during the tail end of yahapalana administration. The former UNP State Minister said the latest reduction of milk food prices hadn’t been done according to the formula decided by the House Committee years ago.

Recently, the prices of packets of one kilo and 400g of imported milk powder were reduced by Rs. 150 and Rs 60, respectively.Responding to queries regarding the formula remaining suspended since 2019 and what he in his capacity as Chairman of the COPF intended to do, Dr de Silva said that ministers shouldn’t have any role to play in setting prices.

“That is not their job. Ideally, there should be sufficient competition in the market to establish a fair price. If not or if there is a collusion then the regulator, in this case the Consumer Affairs Authority, must have a transparent process to establish a fair price. A good way to do that is a formula. This type of non-transparent pricing involving politicians is an absolute no.”

Dr. de Silva recently lashed out at the Consumer Affairs Authority and the Finance Ministry for failing to implement the milk powder pricing formula, thereby allowing milk powder importers to make a killing. Even after that intervention, the relevant authorities haven’t acted on the instructions issued by the House Committee.

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