News
Order to curtail government expenditure sinister ploy to disrupt LG poll – IRES
BY PRIYAN DE SILVA
The Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES), Manjula Gajanayake, said that President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s order, made on Tuesday (31), as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilisation and National Policies, to further curtail government expenditure together with a warning to public officials that they would be personally held responsible for whatever goods and services they obtain on credit basis was a sinister ploy to disrupt the Election Commission’s preparations for the March 9 local government poll.
The President has, in a press release, stated that the General Treasury has informed him that it finds it challenging to meet all expenditure at this moment except for payment of salaries, pensions, welfare, pharmaceuticals and debt servicing.
Gajanayake said that on the same day it was reported that State Minister for Media, Shantha Bandara had stated that the Election Commission (EC) owed a sum of Rs.18 million to the Government Printing Department and that the Printing Department had requested for an advance of Rs. 100 million from the EC for the printing of ballot papers and other activities related to the upcoming Local Government poll.
Chairman of the Election Commission Nimal Punchihewa said that at a time members of the EC were threatened with death, and top government officials were spreading misinformation and acting in contravention to election laws and regulations, he had, on Saturday (28), asked for the President’s support to conduct the local government elections on schedule.
Punchihewa told The Island that it had been the normal practice for the EC to obtain goods and services on credit basis and would continue to do so. He said that the President’s press release had created some doubt among private sector suppliers, and service providers, but assured that the present EC would settle all its debts when payment was due.
He also confirmed that the EC had settled the R. 18 million due to the Government Printing Department, on Tuesday (31).
Nestle has issued a global recall of some baby formula products over concerns they contain a toxin which can cause food poisoning.
The food and drink giant said specific batches of its SMA infant formula and follow-on formula were not safe to be fed to babies.
The batches were sold across the world, Nestle said, and they potentially contain cereulide, which can trigger nausea and vomiting when consumed.
The company said there had been no confirmed reports of illness associated with the products, but was recalling them “out of an abundance of caution”.
“The safety and wellbeing of babies is our absolute priority,” Nestle said. “We sincerely apologise for any concern or inconvenience caused to parents, caregivers, and customers.”
The company confirmed to the BBC that the recall was global. Affected products were sold in several European countries, including France, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Italy and Sweden.
It stressed that all other Nestle products and batches of the same products that have not been recalled are safe to consume.
Nestle promised refunds for customers and said the problem was caused by an ingredient provided by one of its suppliers.
Nestle France said it was carrying out a “preventive and voluntary recall” of certain batches of its Guigoz and Nidal infant formulas.
In Germany, the formula products are called Beba and Alfamino.
Batch numbers of the affected products in the UK can be found on Nestle’s UK website, or through food.gov.uk.
Customers are advised to look for the corresponding code on the base of the tin or box for powdered formulas or the base of the outer box and on the side or top of the container for ready-to-feed formulas.
Cereulide is a toxin produced by some strains of the Bacillus cereus bacteria that can cause food poisoning symptoms, which can be quick to develop and include vomiting and stomach cramps.
It is unlikely to be deactivated or destroyed by cooking, using boiling water or when making the infant milk, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) warned.
The FSA’s head of incidents, Jane Rawling, said parents, guardians and caregivers should not feed infants or young children the affected products.
She added: “I want to reassure parents, guardians and caregivers that we are taking urgent action, helping to ensure all of the affected product is removed from sale as a precaution.
“If you have fed this product to a baby and have any concerns about potential health impact, you should seek advice from healthcare professionals by contacting your GP or calling NHS 111.”
[BBC]
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development to award the contract for printing and supplying vehicle number plates for the Department of Motor Traffic for a period of five (5) years to M/s South Asian Technologies based on the recommendations of the High-Level Standing Procurement Committee and the Procurement Appeal Board.
The National Lotteries board has been established subject to the Finance Act No. 11 of 1963. Having identified the requirement of amending that act which was imposed around 62 years to cater the current requirements of the lottery market, the Cabinet of Mnisters at their meeting held on 14.02.2017 granted approval to draft a new bill for the purpose.
Accordingly, the National Lotteries Board has recognized further amendments to be performed to the fundamental draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsmen.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the
resolution furnished by the President in his office as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to direct the Legal Draftsmen to finalize the formulation of the draft bill for the National Lotteries Board as soon as possible including the proposed new amendments as well.
Selfies and smiles: South Korea seeks ‘new phase’ in ties with China
Nestle issues global recall of some baby formula products over toxin fears
M/s South Asian Technologies awarded contract to supply vehicle number plates
A new act for National Lotteries Board to be introduced
Motor Vehicles (Driving License Levy) Regulations No. 3 of 2022 to be amended
Mrs. P. K. L. S. Panduwawala appointed to the post of Surveyor General
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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