News

COPE questions mismanagement at NGJA

Published

4 weeks ago

April 2, 2025

editor

The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has raised serious concerns over financial mismanagement at the National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA), questioning the decision to spend Rs. 2 billion on renting a separate building instead of renovating its own facility for just Rs. 21 million, as estimated by the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB).

It was revealed that the Authority vacated its original building in 2021 due to structural issues caused by an adjacent shopping complex. Despite a Rs. 3 million monthly compensation offer from the responsible company, the Authority refused the offer and relocated, resulting in excessive rental expenses. COPE criticized this move as an irresponsible misuse of public funds, adding to the government’s financial burden.

COPE also scrutinized the unapproved gem mining in Heraniaka, questioning the lack of formal approval processes and contract extensions granted to private companies without due diligence. The committee expressed dissatisfaction with officials’ inability to provide clear answers, prompting recommendations for an internal investigation and referral to the Commission for Investigation of Bribery or Corruption.

Furthermore, COPE slammed the release of a Rs. 2.5 billion gem consignment seized by the court for under-valuation, with only a Rs. 10,000 fine imposed instead of the maximum Rs. 333,000 fine. Officials defended the decision, stating it was a breach of conditions rather than a criminal offense, but COPE dismissed their justification, accusing them of misleading the committee.

The committee also noted that the Authority lacks a dedicated imports division, despite its mandate to regulate both gem imports and exports. This oversight has led to inconsistencies in taxation, with only 1,664.06 kg of gems re-exported from a total 46,815.94 kg imported between 2022 and 2024, raising concerns over tax calculation discrepancies.

As a result, COPE directed the Gem and Jewellery Authority to develop a comprehensive regulatory framework to ensure transparency in exports and proper revenue collection while promoting the industry’s growth. The committee also demanded a detailed report on gem imports, exports, and tax evaluations.

(Excerpts : dailynews.lk)

News

Major reforms planned for bus transport

Published

1 hour ago

April 28, 2025

editor

Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Aviation, Bimal Rathnayake, recently held a special discussion with officials from the National Transport Commission (NTC), the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), and the Provincial Road Passenger Transport Authorities across nine provinces. The meeting led to several key decisions aimed at modernizing and improving the country’s road passenger transport sector.

Among the major initiatives discussed were:

Immediate implementation of an integrated bus timetable for the Puttalam route.
Launch of a pilot project on Route 138, where all buses operate under a single association with profit-sharing arrangements.
Installation of GPS and CCTV systems in buses for improved monitoring and safety.
Development of an online ticket booking system in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Technology.
Introduction of random drug and alcohol testing for bus drivers.
Mandatory issuance of bus tickets through electronic ticketing machines (implementation phase in progress).
Formulation of specifications for buses used in passenger transport.
Mandatory seatbelt usage for bus drivers.
Identification of new roads/routes for the addition of new bus services.
Provision of WhatsApp numbers for passengers to report complaints about buses, with numbers prominently displayed inside buses.
Minister Rathnayake emphasized the need for swift action to implement these measures and instructed officials to continuously monitor and report on the progress of each initiative.

(dailynews.lk)

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

News

Chongqing gears up for 25th Lijia International Intelligent Equipment expo

Published

3 hours ago

April 28, 2025

editor

The international internet celebrity city of Chongqing in China will host a grand equipment manufacturing industry event – the 25th Lijia International Intelligent Equipment Exhibition 2025 next month.

The Expo will be held at the Chongqing International Expo Center from May 13th to 16th, 2025, attracting exhibitors and professional visitors from all over the world to discuss and showcase the latest technologies and products in the equipment manufacturing industry.

This exhibition, spanning across 100,000 sq. meters will bring together 1,400 globally renowned enterprises which will showcase their intelligent manufacturing equipment and technology, particularly the latest achievements, cutting-edge technologies, and high-end products in the fields of machine tools, industrial automation and robots, tool holders and measuring tools, sheet metal, die-casting casting, molds, rubber and plastic.

The 2025 Lijia Exhibition will also create multiple themed exhibition islands showcasing manufacturing powerhouses of China, which will comprehensively showcase solutions to industry pain points through on-site demonstrations, technical explanations, and physical displays.

In addition, the exhibition will also hold over 100 industry conferences and events. The main forum, “FIM-Future Intelligent Manufacturing Conference,” focuses on future factories, with the theme of AI+manufacturing. Industry experts are expected to provide suggestions and recommendations for manufacturing transformation.

Organizers point out that for global manufacturing enterprises, the expo is not only an excellent opportunity to learn about the latest technologies and products in China’s equipment manufacturing industry, but also also an important platform for gaining a deeper understanding of the Chinese market and expanding international cooperation. It will also open up opportunities to engage in in-depth exchanges and cooperation with Chinese counterparts, and to jointly promote the development and prosperity of the global equipment manufacturing industry.

News

RW issues special statement after exiting CIABOC (Video)

Published

3 hours ago

April 28, 2025

editor

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has left the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) after providing a statement today (April 28).

Soon afterwards, he had also made a special statement in this regard.

(Video : VoiceTube)

(Previous news 2025 April 28 – 9.20.a.m.)

Ex-President Ranil to appear before CIABOC today

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe is scheduled to appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) today (April 28) at 9.30 a.m.

He has been summoned to record a statement over the statement he had made on MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake.

Former President Wickremesinghe, who was initially summoned to the CIABOC on April 17 but requested a postponement. He had requested a date after April 27th to appear before CIABOC, citing that his lawyer Ronald Perera is currently abroad.

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