The Supreme Court has concluded its hearing of the petitions filed challenging the proposed Sri Lanka Electricity Bill, which includes proposed reforms for the electricity sector.

Accordingly, the court announced that it will inform the determination to the Speaker of Parliament confidentially.

The petitions were heard before the three-member Supreme Court bench consisting of Justices Vijith Malalgoda, Shiran Gunaratne and Arjuna Obeysekera for three consecutive days.

The petitions were submitted by 14 parties including the secretary of the Ceylon Electricity Workers’ Union, Ranjan Jayalal.

(adaderana.lk)

 (This story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

United States’ Assistant Secretary Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Donald Lu, called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe today (May 13) at the Presidential Secretariat.

During the meeting, extensive discussions were held regarding Sri Lanka’s economic recovery strategies. President Wickremesinghe’s unwavering dedication and commitment to implementing the economic reform program was highly appreciated. 

The President was accompanied by the Senior Advisor on the National security and Chief of Staff, Sagala Ratnayaka, Secretary to the President, Saman Ekanayake, United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung and Director of International Affairs, Dinouk Colombage.

(President’s Media Division)

Despite the cost of living sizzling at red hot levels and the country being cash- strapped, the House Committee of Parliament has endorsed the proposal to offer concessionary vehicle permits for MPs as requested by them, a top source said.

The source familiar with the decision said the committee which looks into the requirements of the MPs positively considered the request by them for such permits in line with the similar facilities offered to executive graders in different categories of the public service.

The MPs , numbering more than 100 and representing different parties, submitted a letter to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena asking for permission to import vehicles with no duty for their use.

Following the approval by the House Committee, the Speaker is expected to write to President Ranil Wickremesinghe who is authorized to execute the decision as the Finance Minister.

After constitution of every Parliament, the MPs are given vehicle permits . However, the MPs elected to the current Parliament at the 2020 general election did not get the benefit due to the economic crisis and the ban on vehicle imports to save foreign exchange.

The government is now mulling the possibility of lifting the ban. The MPs are likely to get permits once the ban is lifted only.

In the past, there were reports about the MPs selling off their permits and earning multimillion rupee revenue each.

(dailymirror.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailymirror.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)