News

April salaries will be paid for Govt sector before New Year – PM

Published

3 months ago

March 25, 2023

editor

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday said the April salary will be paid for government employees before the New Year holidays.

Prime Minister Gunawardena told Parliament that he expects to discuss with the members of the Election Commission in the coming days of this. At the beginning of April, before the year, the Prime Minister assured that government employees would be paid their salaries and advances.

He said this while replying to a question asked by the Opposition Leader about the provision of money to hold Local Government elections.

The Prime Minister also said:”There are several hearings in the Supreme Court regarding this. Leader of the Opposition has also presented several cases to the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. The Secretary of the Treasury has presented facts to the Supreme Court. The Election Commission has also presented facts. That’s all I have to say. I won’t discuss the matters before the court.”

“The Election Commission has made a statement yesterday.Have some passions point of order. I am on my feet. Have some passions you can talk after that any number of hours. Please if you ask the question, please have passions and courtesy of allowing me to reply. Then go back to court as much as you want. How many times have you gone now?”

News

Consideration of Betting & Gaming Taxes Bill postponed

Published

23 mins ago

June 9, 2023

editor

The first meeting of the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) for the fourth session of ninth Parliament was held recently (07) under the chairmanship of MP Dr. Harsha de Silva.

The Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment) Bill was discussed at the meeting and the consideration of the bill was postponed for a week until a timeline for establishing a regulatory authority for casinos is worked out.

The chairman of the committee pointed out that the establishment of a regulatory authority regarding the casino business was previously discussed.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Finance has prepared a timeframe for this regulatory authority to get Cabinet approval by January 31, 2023.

However, since it has not been done, the committee mentioned that a new timeframe is needed and a period of one week will be given to prepare it for the Ministry of Finance.

Accordingly, it was decided to meet the COPF in a week to consider the Bill.

Also, the COPF approved the regulation under Appropriation Act No. 30 of 2021.

MPs Rauff Hakeem, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Duminda Dissanayake, Chandima Weerakkodi, Nimal Lanza, Sumith Udukumbura, Dr. Major Pradeep Undugoda, Kokila Gunawardena, Isuru Dodangoda, Sahan Pradeep Withana, Madhura Withanage and Prof. Ranjith Bandara participated in the meeting.

News

Flood control plans halted without funds

Published

31 mins ago

June 9, 2023

editor

It was revealed that no institution has conducted a dedicated census to determine how many families are settled in the floodplains along the rivers in Sri Lanka.

Although the Irrigation Department has conducted a preliminary survey of the families living in the river valleys using Google Maps, it has not yet been completed. According to this survey, about 50,000 families live along the main rivers of the country.

An official of the department said that if there are floods along the Nilwala, Kalu, Ging, Kelani Rivers and Maha and Attanagalu Oya at the same time, the roads will be flooded trapping approximately 100,000 families.

Although the Irrigation Department has several projects to control floods, it has been problematic to implement them due to lack of funds.