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COPE lauds Kalubovitiyana Tea Factory Ltd.

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The Kalubovitiyana Tea Factory Limited was summoned to the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) which met on 08.09.2023 Chaired by Prof. Ranjith Bandara, Member of Parliament. The COPE Chair congratulated the institution on the progress it has made.

The Auditor General’s 2021, 2022 reports and current performance of that institution were examined at this Committee meeting held. A group of officials including Mr. Janaka Dharmakirthi, Secretary to the Ministry of Plantation Industry, Mr. Aminda Rodrigo, Chairman of The Kalubovitiyana Tea Factory Limited, were also present at this Committee.

Addressing the Committee, the Chairman of Kalubovitiyana Tea Factory Limited stated that in 2022, the highest income of the company was Rs. 2 billion and a profit of Rs. 214 million following the payment of tax was also recorded. He pointed out that there are 4 tea factories in Matara, Galle and Kandy districts and they have successfully overcome many challenges including obtaining tea leaves. The Chairman of the company also stated that the company has shown success by adhering to the existing rules of the government as a public institution.

Although the company is small, the Auditor General said that this state-owned company has shown great progress in terms of accounts and financial statements. He appreciated the institution and mentioned that it has been a long time since he met such a progressive institution. The Auditor General pointed out that the recommendations given by COPE in 2013 have been followed to an extent of ninety-five percent and great progress has been achieved through high management skills. Here, attention was paid only to two audit questions.

Attention was directed on recovering the amount of 1.4 million rupees which is the deposit amount paid when acquiring the building where the head office was maintained by the company on a monthly rental basis. According to the said, the officials stated that a case is being filed.

In 2003, even though the loan amount given to a state company at the interest rate of twenty two percent was recovered, the interest was not charged. The officials also said that the institution has assured that it will pay the interest amount of 51 million rupees in installment basis.

Members of Parliament Nimal Lanza, Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha, Sanjeeva Edirimanna, and M. Rameshwaran were present at this Committee meeting held.

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Weather Alert: Showers to ease in Southwest, strong winds forecast in North

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Prevailing showery condition in the southwestern part of the island is expected to reduced gradually from today (01st)

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the afternoon or night.

Fairly strong winds of about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Hambantota and Trincomalee districts.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

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Aluthgamage and Fernando assigned printing work in prison

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Former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and former Sathosa Chairman Nalin Fernando, sentenced this week to jail for 20 and 25 years, respectively, have been assigned duties in the printing section at the Welikada prison, sources said.

Both of them are being held together away from the main section of the prison’s ‘chapel’ section, where prisoners serving life sentences and those convicted of murder and rape are held. The prison’s printing section prints its own documentation.

Prison sources said that in placing them in relevant wards to serve their jail term, the authorities had taken into consideration the security of the two convicts, as they might have had political enemies.

Mr Aluthgamage was handed a 20-year term of rigorous imprisonment, while Mr Fernando was given a 25-year term of rigorous imprisonment by a High Court trial-at-bar after being found guilty of causing a Rs 53 million loss to the state.

They were accused of importing carrom boards and checkers boards through Sathosa during the 2015 presidential elections and distributing them to clubs.

Their lawyers said yesterday they were awaiting the certified copy of the judgement to prepare the appeal papers. The appeal will be considered by the Supreme Court.

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

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COVID subvariants spreading in Asia detected in Sri Lanka

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The Medical Research Institute of Sri Lanka has confirmed that the COVID-19 variant currently spreading in the Asian region has also been identified in the country.

Dr. Jude Jayamaha, a specialist in viral diseases at the Medical Research Institute, stated that patients infected with the Omicron subvariants LF.7 and XFG are being reported locally.

Dr. Jayamaha explained that this finding was confirmed through research conducted on biological samples collected from several hospitals across the island.

However, he emphasized that there is no need for undue fear regarding these COVID-19 variants.

Health authorities have also stressed the importance of vulnerable groups—such as pregnant mothers, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses—following health guidelines, including wearing face masks and avoiding crowded places.

Dr. Jayamaha reiterated that new COVID-19 variants emerge periodically, and health authorities are continuously monitoring the situation, so the public should remain calm.

(newswire.lk)

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

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