News
State Minister Semasinghe explains measures taken to shore up country’s foreign reserves
By Saman Indrajith
Samurdhi, Household Economy, Micro Finance, Self-Employment and Business Development State Minister Shehan Semasinghe told Parliament yesterday that the country’s net foreign assets were worth USD 1.507 Bn as at November, this year.
The state minister said so while making a ministerial statement on behalf of the Ministry of Finance in response to a question raised by JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake on a previous date.
State Minister Semasinghe said that the government had taken the necessary measures to increase its reserves.
The state minister detailed the measures taken by the government through the following: 1. USD 1 Bn SWAP facility with the Central Bank of Qatar, 2. USD 400 Mn SWAP facility with the Reserve Bank of India (SAARC), 3. USD 300 Mn loan from the Consolidated Loan Facility.
“We have made the necessary arrangements to obtain 500 million USD through currency swaps with the partnership of various global commercial banks,” he said.
The state minister said Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa during his visit to India reached an agreement for fuel purchases, while the government also had reached agreements for the purchasing of essential goods and medicines.
Sri Lanka aimed for a US$ 12 Bn export revenue by the end of 2021, he said, adding that remittance would also boost the reserves.
News
Candidates who campaign during cooling-off period will face legal action: EC
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The period of silence prior to the 14 November general election commences from midnight on 11 November, Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake has said, warning that any candidate who violates it will have to face legal action.
“I urge all candidates and their supporters not to campaign during the silent period. We have observed during recent elections that some candidates and their family members continued campaigning during the period of silence. Such candidates run the risk of losing their seats in case of being prosecuted for election law violations.
The Election Commission has also teamed up with social media platforms, which will remove election propaganda material during the cooling-off period, Ratnayake said.
“This was successfully implemented during the previous presidential election,” he added.
Police spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa said that they had arrested 11 candidates for illegal distribution of handbills and posters and unruly behaviour inside police stations.
“The police have arrested 353 people for violating election laws,” he added.
Executive Director – Institute of Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES), Manjula Gajanayake said that serious cases of election law violations and election related violence had decreased drastically this year.
News
Schools closed on 13 and 14 Nov.
The Ministry of Education (MoE) announced that all schools across the country will remain closed on 13 and 14 November in view of next week’s general election
Schools will reopen on 18 November.The parliamentary election is scheduled for 14 November.
Schools designated as polling stations must be handed over to the relevant Grama Niladhari Officers after school hours on 12 November.
All Zonal Education Directors and school principals have been instructed to provide the necessary tables, chairs, and hall facilities for polling station operations.
News
Sri Lanka resumes pork sales as African Swine Fever subsides
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Officials managing animal health in Sri Lanka were cautiously resuming pork sales after successfully containing the spread of African Swine Fever, Dr. G.A.D. Nandasiri, Deputy Provincial Director at the Department of Animal Production and Health for the Western Province, informed The Island on Friday (08).
In late October, the government issued a gazette notice prohibiting the transport, slaughter, and sale of pigs, infected with African Swine Fever, to curb the outbreak.
Dr. Nandasiri said: “African Swine Fever poses no risk to humans, and thoroughly cooked meat is safe to consume. As an initial measure, we are inspecting the existing pork stocks and allowing these to be sold. This process is underway across the country,” he said.
Authorities are also inspecting abattoirs to ensure that pigs there are free of the disease. After disposal, these facilities must remain pig-free.
“We have identified and monitored breeding farms unaffected by African Swine Fever and will soon begin distributing piglets from these farms to others. I believe
we can revitalise the industry in about two months,” he said.Dr. Nandasiri reassured the public that African Swine Fever is not a threat to human health and that the government has strengthened measures to prevent the entry of such foreign diseases.
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