News
Sabry denies Withanage’s allegation that he bent law to allow Muslim COVID-19 victim to be buried
By Saman Indrajith
Justice Minister Ali Sabry and Ratnapura District SJB MP Hesha Withanage had a heated argument on Tuesday over an allegation that one of Sabry’s relatives who had passed away from COVID-19 had been buried, while other Muslims victims of COVID-19 were cremated.
Participating in the third reading debate on Budget 2021, MP Withanage alleged that one of Sabry’s relatives in Ratmalana who had died from COVID-19 was buried in contravention of health regulations.
“This relative died on Nov 15. She is Ahmed Fathima Junaideen Naleefa of Borupanawatte Road, Ratmalana. A PCR test conducted revealed that she had been infected with COVID-19. It was reported that after a telephone call from a powerful person, a second PCR test was performed and then the result had been negative. So, her remains were buried. Why is that? Other Muslims who die due to COVID-19 were cremated. This is unfair.”
Minister Sabry vehemently rejected MP Withanage’s allegation.
Ali Sabry: “This is a barefaced lie. I would never bend the law like that. MP Withanage should be ashamed of himself. While it is true that I have explored the possibility of burying Muslims who had died from COVID-19, I have done it in a transparent manner. But this is a ludicrous statement”
MP Withanage: “Your statements regarding burials are in national newspapers and other media channels. I am not referring to that.”
Ali Sabry: “Even if I died tomorrow from COVID-19, final rites of my body would be performed according to the current health regulations. If you prove that I made a call and did something in violation of the law I will resign now, not only from the ministry but also from Parliament.
As per the provisions of section 51 of the Public Finance Managaement Act No. 44 of 2024, the public should be issued with a report on the final budgetary situation for each year and, the report is then published in the official website of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
Thereby the report has to be submitted to the Parliament. The final budgetary situation report (Annual Report) – 2025 has been prepared by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and published. The report contains the Public Finance Policy, strategies and challenges, economic trends in 2025, macro – economic and socio – economic indicators covering all sectors of the economy as well as description on the global economic growth.
Furthermore, it accompanies a detailed description government revenue and expenditure, cash flow management, financing the budget deficit and the loan structure.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to submit the Report on the Final Budgetary Condition (Annual Report) – 2025 to Parliament.
Business
Cabinet nod to accept increased Loan Grant provided by the Asian Development Bank under Policy Based Loan Facilities – 2026
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 16.03.2026 to obtain United States Dollars 380 million from the policy – based loan facilities of the Asian Development Bank in the year 2026.
United States Dollars 100 million out of it is allocated for Trade, Investment and Industries Development Programme – Sub Programme 1. However, amidst the economic uncertainty resulting from the current Middle East crisis and the climatic tragedies, the Asian Development Bank has agreed to assist
by increasing a supplementary financing package of United States Dollars 100 million so that it will beMincreased up to United States Dollars 200 million.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to take further measures to obtain the said loan grant.
News
Submission of Revenue Protection Order Prepared under the Provisions of the Revenue Protection Act No. 19 of 1962 to the Parliament for its approval.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was given at the meeting held on 23.02.2026 to impose the custom import duty amounts under four (04) categories as 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% which had been executed only under three (03) categories in order to increase the target export income of the country, to execute the
recommendations of the national customs duty policies committee, and to implement new national sub division customs codes for promoting the local agricultural and industrial sector.
Imposing provisions in relation to the above, the Revenue Protection Order – No. 01/2026 under the Revenue Protection Act No. 19 of 1962 has been published in the extraordinary gazette notification No. 2478/03 of 03.03.2026.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to submit the said revenue protection order to Parliament for its concurrence.
Report on the Final Budgetary Condition (Annual Report) – 2025 submited to parliament
Cabinet nod to accept increased Loan Grant provided by the Asian Development Bank under Policy Based Loan Facilities – 2026
Submission of Revenue Protection Order Prepared under the Provisions of the Revenue Protection Act No. 19 of 1962 to the Parliament for its approval.
Resettlement of unauthorized settlers affected by the Land Acquisition process for the implementation of Phase III of the Baseline Road Extension Project
Cabinet approves project to modernize school hostel facilities during the 2026–2028 period at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,008 million
New National Action Plan for Human-Elephant Conflict Management to be drafted
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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