President Anura Kumara Disanayake, currently on a four-day state visit to China, held an official meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday afternoon  at the Great Hall of the People.

Upon President Disanayake’s arrival at the Great Hall, he was warmly received by President Xi Jinping. The welcoming ceremony was conducted with great honour, including a ceremonial gun salute.

Following the initial cordial discussions between the two leaders, bilateral talks commenced. During the discussions, President Xi Jinping emphasized China’s readiness to work closely with Sri Lanka in ushering in a new era of development.

He also recalled the longstanding relationship between the two countries, highlighting the close friendship that has existed for decades. President Xi reiterated China’s commitment to continuing its cooperation with Sri Lanka in the future.

Upon concluding the official meeting, both sides proceeded to sign several key MoUs aimed at strengthening collaboration in areas such as economy, social development, and industry.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Vijitha Herath, Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake, and Director General of the Government Information Department H.S.K.J. Bandara were also part of the delegation accompanying President Disanayake.

(PMD)

Deaths caused by alcohol and smoking annually in SL number 15,000 and 20,000 respectively

By Sujeewa Thathsara

The recent increase in cigarette taxes will generate an additional profit of approximately Rs. 7 billion for cigarette companies, according to the Alcohol & Drug Information Centre (ADIC).

While the tax on the most popular cigarette category rose by Rs. 4.51 per stick, the retail price has surged by Rs. 10 per cigarette, enabling companies to pocket significant profits.

ADIC has attributed the profit windfall to the lack of a robust system for efficient tax collection. It has noted that regardless of which government is in power, tobacco and alcohol companies have consistently managed to secure substantial financial gains.

AIDIC has further pointed out that alcohol consumption is responsible for around 15,000 premature deaths annually in Sri Lanka, while smoking accounts for nearly 20,000 fatalities each year.

In 2023, a 20% increase in alcohol taxes led to a reduction in alcohol consumption by 8.3 million litres while boosting government excise revenue from alcohol by Rs. 11.6 billion. Similarly, despite a decline in cigarette sales, excise revenue therefrom rose by Rs. 7.7 billion.

Sampath de Seram, Executive Director of ADIC, has said those figures underscore the impact of taxation on consumption patterns and government revenue.

The Department of Irrigation says 27 of the 73 main reservoirs in the country have currently reached spill level. Director of the Water Management Division, Engineer P. S. D. Herath, said that in the Anuradhapura District, seven of the 10 main reservoirs had reached spill level.

In the Ampara District, three main reservoirs have reached spill level, while in the Badulla District, three out of seven reservoirs have also reached this level. Additionally, in the Batticaloa District, three of the four main reservoirs are at spill level, and in the Hambantota District, two of the 10 main reservoirs have reached spill level.

In the Galle District, one of the two main reservoirs is at spill level, and in the Kandy District, two of the three main reservoirs have reached the spill level.