News
President wants to get rid of middlemen for the benefit of both producer and consumer
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has stressed the need to put in place a mechanism to help both the producer and the consumer by ensuring that commodities are reasonably priced.
The President pointed out that the objective could be realised by creating conditions for farmers to sell their produce without the involvement of middlemen.
He said so during a discussion with the Committee on Cost of Living at the Presidential Secretariat on Wednesday.
The President and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa focused on strengthening measures to ensure the uninterrupted distribution of essential consumer goods across the country without suffering a shortage.
President Rajapaksa, taking both current living conditions and difficulties associated with COVID-19 pandemic into account, removed the import duties imposed on several essential goods such as dhal, canned fish, onions and sugar on Tuesday (October 13).
The President also instructed officials to take steps to turn uncultivated lands into coconut cultivations. The government has commenced a campaign to plant coconut saplings on 50,000 acres.
Head of the Presidential Task Force for Economic Revival, Basil Rajapaksa noted that a proper strategy was being implemented to produce vegetables, fruits and eggs to meet the consumer demand within the area itself.
The Ministry of Health has studied the daily consumer demand of a household. “We have devised plans to grow vegetables, fruits in home gardens of low income families and fulfill the demand for eggs through domestic poultry farms as a measure to uplift their lives.” Basil Rajapaksa added.
The officials present at the discussion said paddy harvest of the Yala and Maha seasons this year had been favourable compared to the last year. President Rajapaksa highlighted the need for introducing new methods to purchase paddy harvest in the future.
It was also stated during the discussion that a special programme had been planned to transport fruits, vegetables and fertiliser via trains with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Railways.
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Ministers Bandula Gunawardane, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Douglas Devananda, State Ministers Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Arundika Fernando, Head of the Presidential Task Force for Economic Revival Basil Rajapaksa, Secretary to the President Dr. P.B. Jayasundera, Secretaries of the Cabinet and State Ministries and the members of the Committee of the Cost of Living were also present at the discussion.
Latest News
Concessionary priced food packages for new ‘Aswesuma’ applicants from 01st to 13th April
In keeping with the proposal by the President in his 2025 budget, for the provision of a package essential goods at a concessionary price during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year Festival season, it has been planned to provide a food package containing essential food items valued at Rs. 5000/- for only Rs. 2,500/-.
It is expected to select appropriate beneficiaries from among the 812,753 candidates who have submitted new applications for Aswesuma benefits.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal furnished by the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development jointly with the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to take necessary steps to provide the food package to the beneficiaries through the Lanka Sathosa outlet network and COOPFED outlets from 01.04.2025 to 13.04.2025
The Cabinet of Ministers have decided as follows considering the resolutions submitted by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development along with the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Governments on payment of salaries according to the revised salary scales with effect from 01.04.2025 based on the resolution furnished by the President for revising the salaries of government service by the budget 2025;
• To empower the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Governments to issue circular instructions to the the secretaries of all the Ministries, Local Government Secretaries and Heads of Departments in regard to salary revisions of the government service.
• To empower the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development to issue circular instructions for state corporations, statutory boards and fully government owned companies and other institutions.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been granted to amend the Companies Act No. 07 of 2007 for remedying the shortcomings related to the transparency according to the international standards for prevention of money laundering, financing terrorism and other illegal activities.
Accordingly, the draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman has been revised as per instructions provided by the Attorney General subject to the special decision of the Supreme Court No. SC/SD/92/2024 and clearance of the Attorney General has been granted for the final draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman.
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Safety and Cooperative Development to publish the aforementioned draft bill in the government gazette notification and subsequently submit to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Concessionary priced food packages for new ‘Aswesuma’ applicants from 01st to 13th April
Salary revision of the Government Service – 2025
Amendment of the Companies Act No. 07 of 2007 to be Gazetted
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