News

COPA decides to set up new technical committee

Published

1 year ago

March 31, 2023

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It was decided at the joint meeting of Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) and the Committee on Ways and Means to appoint a technical committee under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister’s Secretary to prepare the basic plans necessary to prepare an information technology system by integrating all relevant government agencies to improve the government’s revenue.

Accordingly, a representative from the President Secretariat, Secretaries of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Technology and the Chairman of the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) are the other members of this committee.

The meeting was held under the patronage of Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts, State Minister – Lasantha Alagiyawanna and the Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, Member of Parliament – Patali Champika Ranawaka.

Thus, the technical committee was informed to hold a preliminary discussion within a week after coordinating all the relevant institutions and submit the preliminary plan to the committee on May 15 and to provide a related report. It was also decided to get a progress review about this every month until this program is implemented.

President Secretariat, Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policy, Ministry of Technology, Department of Inland Revenue, Department of Excise, Department of Motor Traffic, Sri Lanka Customs, Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, Department of Agriculture, Department of Registration of Persons Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), Immigration and Emigration Department and other institutions were summoned to this event.

The COPA chair expressed his strong displeasure to the government’s revenue collecting institutions, that a recommendation had been given to take necessary measures to prepare an information technology system by integrating all relevant government agencies in order to collect and improve the government revenue, but it was not implemented.

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means – Patali Champika Ranawaka said that the necessary technical background, the extent to which the relevant institutions should be empowered for this should be studied and a program should be prepared.

The committee was attended by Members of the committee, State Ministers Mohan Priyadarshana Silva and Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, as well as Members of Parliament Niroshan Perera, Jayantha Katagoda, J.C Alavathuwala, (Major) Pradeep Udugoda and Sanjeewa Edirimanna.

News

Sri Lanka slips down Press Freedom Index

Published

4 hours ago

May 3, 2024

editor

Reporters Without Borders released the 2024 World Press Freedom Index on Friday (03).

According to RFS, Sri Lanka has slipped to the 150th position in the index, from 135th position last year.

Click here to read the RSF Sri Lanka Fact File

News

Companies should be ashamed of not giving workers a raise – Vadivel Suresh

Published

4 hours ago

May 3, 2024

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Mr. Vadivel Suresh, General Secretary of the Lanka Jathika Estate Workers’ Union, emphasized that both the Government and the Plantation Employers’ Association bear the responsibility of providing wage increases to plantation workers. These workers, who play a pivotal role in sustaining the esteemed reputation of ‘Ceylon Tea’, contribute significantly to the national economy of Sri Lanka.

MP Vadivel Suresh, made this statement during his participation in today’s (03) news conference at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC), under the theme ‘Collective path to a Stable Country’.

The Member of Parliament noted that plantation companies, benefiting significantly from the fluctuating dollar value, ought to feel ashamed for not providing their workers with a salary raise. He emphasized that the salary increase outlined in the gazette notice issued by the Labour Commissioner General for plantation workers should be implemented.

MP Vadivel Suresh further commented:

“We express gratitude to the President and the government for raising the salary of plantation workers to LKR. 1700. However, the Plantation Employers’ Association is contesting this decision.

The estate companies that profited greatly from the dollar’s value should be ashamed of themselves for not giving their workers a raise. Expressing opposition to the decision to increase wages for their workers, who contribute significantly to strengthening the national economy by upholding the reputation of Ceylon Tea, is regrettable. The decision to raise estate workers’ wages was not made hastily; rather, it followed extensive negotiations over the course of a year involving the Department of Labour, trade unions, and relevant stakeholders.

Employers’ unions persistently refrained from engaging in wage-fixing negotiations. Similarly, they remained silent when a salary increase of LKR 1000 was requested. However, the Labour Commissioner General, utilizing his authority, lawfully issued a gazette notice for a salary hike of LKR 1700. It is unjust for estate companies to procrastinate without providing relief to the workforce amidst fluctuations in the dollar’s value.

Both the government and the plantation Employers’ Association bear responsibility in this matter. Consequently, companies cannot contravene government decisions. Estate companies claim they are in dialogue with the high-level committee for the ultimate verdict. However, all 22 estate companies are owned by five individuals. These owners are involved not only in tea plantations but also in sectors such as tourism, small-scale manufacturing, agriculture, and gems. Additionally, plantation workers and trade unions must unite in support of this wage increase.

(President’s Media Division)

Gazette issued to up estate workers’ daily wage

Unable to increase daily wage – Plantation owners

News

CID records another statement from Maithri

Published

5 hours ago

May 3, 2024

editor

Former President Maithripala Sirisena has appeared before the Criminal Investigations Department today (May 03) to record another statement regarding the Easter Sunday terror attacks.

The CID had previously obtained a five-hour-long statement from the former President on March 25 over a statement he had made a few days earlier.