News

Beer demand drops; stocks to expire soon?

Published

1 year ago

March 13, 2023

editor

The Excise Department said that beer products produced by some liquor companies are piling up in warehouses without being able to be sold due to the decrease in alcohol sales by about 30%.

As a result, some companies involved in liquor production have been closed for two or three weeks.

Meanwhile, Excise Commissioner General Saman Jayasinghe has told the media that the Excise Department is focusing on increasing the export of locally produced liquor products as local sales have fallen.

The Commissioner also said that the annual export income of Rs.22 billion is expected to be increased to Rs.30-35 billion.

It was said that although the price of ethanol has increased rapidly in the past, the price of ethanol has come down now and that there is a surplus of ethanol in Sri Lanka.

However, the Excise Department said that due to the current economic crisis, there is less motivation to buy alcohol in a background where the prices of all goods in Sri Lanka have increased.

Therefore, the Excise Department has planned several strategies to achieve this year’s revenue target of Rs.214 billion.

Also, they pointed out that there are about 350 vacancies at the department and this lack of staff has hindered the achievement of the target revenue.

News

Easter Sunday bombings : Rs. 295 mn. paid as compensation

Published

6 hours ago

April 20, 2024

editor

The annual reports of the Office of Reparations have revealed that over Rs. 295 million (295,499,069) have been paid as compensation to victims and property damage of the Sunday Easter bombings.

Under this, Rs. 273,747,000 have been paid as compensation for 719 victims while Rs. 21,752,069 have been paid as compensation for property damages.

News

350 medical specialists have left SL

Published

6 hours ago

April 20, 2024

editor

A study conducted by a group of specialist doctors at the Ministry of Health has revealed that 350 specialists have left the country during recent times.

Many of them have left for countries such as UK and Australia. According to a spokesperson of the ministry, economic hardships have been cited as one of the main reasons for them to do so.
Doctors suggest that the government should provide an immediate solution to this issue.

Commenting on the issue, Secretary of the Health Ministry – Dr. Palitha Mahipala says that there is still a shortage of anesthetists and pediatricians after most of them had left the country.

However, some who have gone for training, are returning after their training is complete, he adds.

Meanwhile, sources in the Health sector also say that over 200 nurses too have gone overseas, but new recruits have enabled to prevent hospital operations from continuing without hindrance.

(Source : Lankadeepa)

News

Details of SL recruits in Russian military, sought

Published

7 hours ago

April 20, 2024

editor

Sri Lanka has sought a report from Russian authorities on details of Sri Lankan military recruits and how many of them have died during the Russian-Ukraine conflict, the ‘Aruna’ newspaper reports.

According to a directive by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Russia has forwarded this request to the Russian Ministry of Defence.

Previously, the Human Trafficking, Human Smuggling and Maritime Crime Investigation Division (CID) arrested a retired major and an employment agent, identified as leaders of an organized scheme that recruited retired military personnel as mercenaries for the Russian army.

The Defence Ministry in Sri Lanka has urged the Tri Force commanders to brief Tri Force personnel not to fall for such rackets.

(Source : Aruna)