News

Expats remitted US$100 Mn to get 900 EV import licenses

Published

1 year ago

December 8, 2023

editor

Labour and Foreign Employment Minister – Manusha Nanayakkara told Parliament yesterday (Dec. 07) that a total of 900 Electric Vehicle import licences have been issued to Sri Lankans who have sent remittances here through legal channels and US$ 100 million has been remitted by persons under this scheme.

Although the President has been informed to extend the time given to issue Letters of Credit related to the import of these vehicles on three occasions, some Finance Ministry officials have not taken the necessary steps in this regard.

The Minister said that there has been some blockage in the issuance of Letters of Credit for importing electric vehicles introduced to Sri Lankan migrant workers.

The Minister emphasized that even though the President and the Cabinet have taken all the decisions in this regard, the relevant officials have not yet provided support to make this a success.

The Minister also said that due to the several activities of the officers of the Treasury, a procedure to extend the issuance of letters of credit has been hindered. Minister Manusha Nanayakkara said this while joining the debate related to the expenditure head of the Foreign Affairs, Labour and Foreign Employment Ministries.

“During the time of former Presidents Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Mahinda Rajapaksa, there was the same group of officials in the Treasury. There are officers who have been in the Treasury for many years. Especially a person named Dr.Kapila Senanayake. In fact, these are the same people who were there at a time when the economy collapsed. They are still taking time to extend the date of opening the Letter of Credit related to importing electric vehicles, especially as they block the benefit to be given to the people who have brought millions of dollars to the country at the time of need. We don’t know what their political agendas are. The President and all of us should pay attention to this matter,”Minister Nanayakkara said.

“Attention should also be paid to how to move the country forward with officials like this. The Cabinet approved tax concessions according to the amount of foreign remittances sent by expatriate workers. It was also decided to give more tax concessions for migrant workers who sent more foreign remittances. But even though the Cabinet has approved these and the Cabinet Gazette being published, the Customs has still been unable to give this tax relief to the migrant workers.

“An affidavit was obtained from every worker leaving Sri Lanka that they would send remittances according to the law. That is how we managed to bring foreign exchange into the country. In addition, even the commission received by foreign employment agencies should be brought through banks. Even investigations were conducted in this regard. What we need to do is to explain the real situation in the country and start doing our own work and start making this change. In this budget too, we have started to make that change”.

“The Leader of the Opposition said about the injustice done to Muslims. We were against it even then. Even though we were in the Opposition, we were against it. Even if we are in the ruling Party today, we condemn the harm done to the Muslim people in accordance with our conscience. It will continue to be the same. We are working to create laws to prevent such things from happening again,”he said.

(dailynews.lk)

News

Gold recovered during war, handed over to police (Video)

Published

4 hours ago

May 2, 2025

editor

Gold and Silver belonging to civilians, which had been recovered by the Army while in the possession of the LTTE during the war, have been officially handed over to Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasuriya.
The stock of gold and silver was handed over to the Acting IGP at the Army Headquarters in Battaramulla today (May 02).

According to the Sri Lanka Army, the Gold and Silver are to be transferred to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka via the National Gem and Jewellery Authority for valuation.

The Army further said that the items will be returned to their rightful owners upon proof of identity and ownership.

(Video : News1st)

News

Parliament to convene on May 8th & 9th

Published

4 hours ago

May 2, 2025

editor

The Secretary General of Parliament, Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera, stated that Parliament is scheduled to convene on May 8th and 9th. She further stated that the Parliamentary Business pertaining to the said days were decided during the meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business held today (02) under the Chairmanship of Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne.

Accordingly, on Thursday, May 8, the time from 9.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. has been allocated for Business of Parliament as per Standing Order 22(1) to (6). The time from 10.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. has been allotted for Questions for Oral Answers, while the time from 11.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. has been allocated for Questions under Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament. Thereafter, from 11.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., time has been allotted to debate the Resolution under the Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235) Schedule “A” relating to Import Duties, presented on 09.04.2025, pertaining to the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2421/05 dated 27.01.2025.

Subsequently, from 5.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., time has been allotted to take up the Motion at the Adjournment Time by the Opposition.

On Friday, May 9, the time from 9.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. has been allocated for Business of Parliament as per Standing Order 22(1) to (6). The time from 10.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. has been allotted for Questions for Oral Answers, and the time from 11.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. has been allocated for Questions under Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament. Thereafter, from 11.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., time has been allotted to debate six Private Members’ Motions.

Accordingly, the motion to appropriately curtail the privileges enjoyed by people’s representatives representing the Parliament of Sri Lanka, and former heads of state and their widows, presented by Hon. Member of Parliament Hesha Withanage, the motion for the formulating of a programme to enhance the state sector involvement in the importation and distribution of essential items of food, presented by Hon. Member of Parliament Rohana Bandara, the motion for the Preparation of a course of action for the implementation of the recommendations given by the audit reports, presented by Member of Parliament Chaminda Wijesiri are scheduled to be debated.

Furthermore, the motion to provide a house for every family in Sri Lanka to live in, presented by Member of Parliament Ravi Karunanayake, the motion to formulate laws to import only buses that comply with public transport standards, presented by Member of Parliament Ravindra Bandara and the motion to take actions to use all the buildings that have been constructed in Sri Lanka so far under the name of “development proposals”, but have not been put to any use, for public usage, presented by Member of Parliament Lal Premanath are also scheduled to be debated.

Subsequently, from 5.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., time has been allocated to take up Questions at the Adjournment Time.