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People’s Bank in danger! ; Depositors continue to withdraw money

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The heads of all government corporations and departments have informed the Ministry of Finance that they will immediately transfer the existing accounts at the People’s Bank to other banks, the state-owned ‘Dinamina’ newspaper reported. 

In addition, many businessmen have also informed President Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Minister of Finance that they will have to withdraw their accounts from the People’s Bank.

They have informed the President that they would take this decision with regret since their businesses may be affected if protests and strikes continue to hamper the performance of the bank. 

The heads of corporations and departments have informed President Wickremesinghe that they had to face many inconveniences since the employees of the People’s Bank also joined the strike on Wednesday (15).

The heads of public corporations and departments have explained to the Ministry of Finance that the employees could not withdraw money for their needs, and therefore the clients were inconvenienced by having to find alternatives.

Therefore, they have requested the Finance Ministry to take necessary steps to remove their accounts from the People’s Bank and transfer them to other banks.

Meanwhile, President Wickremesinghe has informed the relevant authorities at the Finance Ministry yesterday (16) to pay special attention to the request made by the heads of government corporations and departments.

Only 113 People’s Bank branches were closed – PMD

However, the President’s Media Division quoted People’s Bank Acting CEO/GM Clive Fonseka and said that 272 Branches out of the 340 were fully functional with attendance reported at over 75% as at 10.30 AM on the 15th.

Depositors withdraw money

Meanwhile, economic experts pointed out that due to this situation, the customers of People’s Bank will probably be tempted to withdraw their money from the bank.

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Imported salt to arrive in SL next week

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The first shipment of 20,000 MT of salt from India is expected to arrive next week, according to Lanka Salt Ltd. Chairman – T. Nandana Thilaka.

He stated that this shipment will help end the ongoing salt shortage, ensuring consumers can buy salt from the market without difficulty.

The Chairman added that part of the salt ordered by National Salt Ltd. has already been acquired by the company and is being distributed locally to meet demand.

He stated that recent rains have disrupted the salt harvest in Hambantota and other salterns.  

However, with the arrival of the Indian shipment, he plans to sporadically release salt to the market starting next week.

Chairman D. Nandana Thilaka stated that yesterday (May 14), Lanka Salt Ltd. issued 100,000 packets of 400g table salt to Lanka Sathosa, and another 100,000 packets will be issued today (May 15).

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US cuts tariffs on small parcels from Chinese firms like Shein & Temu

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President Donald Trump has slashed the tariff on small parcels sent from mainland China and Hong Kong to the US, just hours after the world’s two biggest economies said they would cut levies on each other’s goods for 90 days.

The new tariffs on small packages worth up to $800 (£606) have been cut from 120% to 54%, according to a White House statement.

The flat fee per parcel will remain at $100, while a $200 charge due to apply from 1 June has been cancelled.

Chinese online retail giants Shein and Temu had previously relied on the so-called “de minimis” exemption to ship low-value items directly to customers in the US without having to pay duties or import taxes.

Neither Shein or Temu immediately responded to BBC requests for comment.

The duty-free rule was closed by the Trump administration earlier this month.

Some shoppers told the BBC that they rushed through purchases ahead of that deadline.

The latest rates came after the US and China released a joint statement announcing they would temporarily reduce their tit-for-tat tariffs and start a new round of trade negotiations.

Share markets jumped on Monday after Trump said weekend talks had resulted in a “total reset” in trade terms between the two countries, a move that went some way to ease concerns about a trade war between the two countries.

Under the agreement, the US will lower those tariffs from 145% to 30%, while China’s retaliatory tariffs on US goods will drop to 10% from 125%.

Trump told reporters, that, as some of the levies have been suspended rather than cancelled altogether, they might rise again in three months time, if no further progress was made.

But the president said he did not expect them to return to the previous 145% peak.

“We’re not looking to hurt China,” Trump said after the agreement was announced, adding that China was “being hurt very badly”.

Trump added that he expected to speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping “maybe at the end of the week”.

(BBC News)

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Concerns over salt shortage in market

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The Salt Producers’ Association has raised concerns over a shortage of salt in the local market.

Chairman of the Association, Ganaka Amarasinghe, said that although the government had approved the importation of 30 MT of salt, the shipment has been delayed, affecting both availability and pricing.

However, Amarasinghe has said that this shortage is expected to be resolved within the coming week, with the arrival of the delayed consignment.

Meanwhile, consumers and traders have also voiced steep prices of salt.

Reports add that the Consumer Affairs Authority has also received numerous complaints regarding this.

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