News
Ranil mocks govt. for begging from businessmen USD 10m to import vaccine
UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Saturday that the government was begging money from businessmen to import the COVID-19 vaccine.
Addressing a meeting of UNP youth members at Nugegoda, the former Prime Minister said that the government had asked for USD 10 million from exporters to buy the vaccine. “Why the government has to go after businessmen begging money when it can allocate funds from the budget?”
Wickremesinghe said that Sri Lanka was a nation that provided free health care to its citizens, and therefore the government should be able to allocate funds for the vaccine.
The ex-PM said that he didn’t think that the COVID-19 pandemic would come to an end soon. “I don’t think COVID-19 will end this year. Several waves keep coming repeatedly, one after the other.”
Some countries had already launched vaccination programmes, but Sri Lanka had no such plan, he claimed.
“The government earlier said that we would get the vaccine in March. India has said it will give only 20 million vaccines to SAARC countries and that is not enough. I’m not aware whether we have entered into an agreement with China to get a vaccine. In the meantime, the government has requested 10 million US dollars from exporters to buy the vaccine. We can find that money from the budget without begging from businessmen”.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms to establish a new Commercial High Court to ensure expeditious disposal of the existing backlog of commercial matters.
The new Commercial High Court will be established at No.80, Justice Avenue, Colombo 12
Latest News
219.72 Hectares of land in Siyambalanduwa to be acquired and leased to Sustainable Energy Authority
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Power and Energy on the recommendation of the Ministry of Tourism and Lands, to acquire 219.72 hectares of land in Siyambalanduwa Divisional Secretariat Division of Monaragala District and lease the relevant extent of land on a long-term lease basis for a period of 25 years to the Sustainable Energy Authority, with relevant provisions to enable sub-leasing to a selected renewable energy developer.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Defense to make arrangements to regulate chemicals that could be misused, and to transfer the said regulatory role to the National Authority for the Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Among the large number of different chemicals that are used in the country for peaceful purposes such as industrial, agricultural, medical and research activities it has been observed that among those chemicals, chemicals like Nitric acid, Chlorine, Hydrogen Peroxide, Potassium Cyanide, sodium cyanide, Nitro Methane and Sodium Azide are of dual use nature which can be used in many different industries such as milk, beverages, oil-related industries, water purification etc. can be used for harmful activities that threaten national security.
Cabinet nod for new Commercial High Court
219.72 Hectares of land in Siyambalanduwa to be acquired and leased to Sustainable Energy Authority
Chemicals to be regulated to prevent misuse
-
Sports5 days agoJayantha Paranathala passes away
-
Latest News3 days ago
Fate of India ties, democracy in balance as Maldives votes in run-off
-
Business6 days ago
Placing SL as a world class logistics hub: the challenges
-
Features6 days ago
Unlocking shareholder value: How finance professors enrich corporate governance, maximise wealth
-
Latest News7 days ago
Mahindananda Aluthgamage calls for tax revenue boost and overhaul of collection system
-
Editorial6 days ago
Lessons unlearnt
-
News3 days ago
President orders probe into judge’s resignation
-
Business1 day ago
Eco Tablet completes four years in Sri Lankan market
