News

Chinese salvors reach to remove X-Press Pearl

Published

11 months ago

October 21, 2022

editor

A Chinese vessel has reached Sri Lankan shores to assist in the salvage operations of the X-Press Pearl vessel that sank in Sri Lankan waters.

The X-Press Pearl burnt and sank off the coast of Sri Lanka in May 2021, reportedly after two ports had refused to off-load a container leaking nitric acid – typically used in fertilizers and explosives – because they lacked the expertise and facilities to tend to the leak. This produced an ecological catastrophe.

The Sri Lanka Marine Environment Protection Authority has told the media that the Chinese rescue team will cut the vessel in half and move the two parts away from Sri Lanka.

This operation will commence once favourable weather conditions prevail, and salvage operation will also include the removal of debris from the Sri Lankan ocean floor in an area of one square kilometer around the shipwreck.

News

This week’s Cabinet decisions

Published

7 mins ago

September 26, 2023

editor

A number of decisions have been taken at the Cabinet meeting held yesterday (September 25).

The decisions taken by the Cabinet of Ministers are as follows :

Cabinet-Decision-on-25.09.2023-English Download

News

E-water bills from next month

Published

44 mins ago

September 26, 2023

editor

The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) has taken steps to issue water bills electronically from October 1st to several areas.

This e-billing service will be implemented in four selected areas of Colombo-South, Kandy-South, Polonnaruwa and Trincomalee.

Meanwhile, 326,124 telephone numbers have been registered in relation to 344,697 new water supply connections.

The NWSDB said that this system is proposed to be implemented in all regions of Sri Lanka from January next year.

News

Cabinet approves to table 2024 Budget in Parliament

Published

45 mins ago

September 26, 2023

editor

The Cabinet approval has been received to table the Appropriation Bill for the fiscal year 2024 to Parliament, it was reported.

The approval was received in the Cabinet meeting held on July 31, 2023 to prepare the Appropriation Bill for 2024.

Accordingly, the Attorney General’s clearance has been received for the Appropriation Bill, which has been prepared by the Legal Draftsman.

The Cabinet has approved the proposal presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Minister of Finance to publish the Bill in a Gazette and then submit it to Parliament for approval.