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CoPF questions action taken to recover losses incurred by the Sugar Tax Scam

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The Committee on Public Finance questioned the officials representing the Ministry of Finance regarding the action taken to recover the loss incurred by the Sugar Tax Scam in Sri Lanka.

The Committee expressed its displeasure as the Ministry of Finance has failed to take action in this regard as yet.

The matter arose at the Committee on Public Finance held recently (08) in Parliament under the Chairmanship of the protem Chair Patali Champika Ranawaka, in the absence of its Chair Dr. Harsha de Silva.

The Committee questioned as to why the Inland Revenue Department in consultation with the Attorney General has not yet taken action on this regard. Accordingly, officials representing the Ministry of Finance stated that they have been updating the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) regarding the progress and that the Attorney General’s Department has advised that as there was a case pending on this regard, proceeding forth would follow post the determination.

The Committee then inquired whether action could be instituted if the relevant parties withdrew the pending case in court. Accordingly, the Committee requested the Attorney General’s Department to have the Committee informed regarding the stated concern with immediate effect.

The Committee also raised concerns over the failure of the Ministry of Finance to have the Committee informed regarding the issues raised previously pertaining to the Regulations published in the Gazette issued under the Regulations under the Imports and Exports Controls Act on wheat flour.

Furthermore, the Regulations under the Imports and Exports Control Act, No. 1 of 1969, published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2336/45 which was presented to Parliament on 18.07.2023 taken up at the Committee on Public Finance dated 21.07.2023, was also taken up for discussion. The protem Chair Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka stated that unless the order process of wheat flour has begun, license for the importation of wheat flour is restricted and the present context has created a flour duopoly. The Committee inquired the action and progress on this regard.

Moreover, the Committee took into Consideration the Appropriation (Amendment) Bill 2023 and was approved by the Committee.  The borrowing limit of Rs.4,979 billion has been increased to Rs. 13,979 billion under the Appropriation Act No. 43 of 2022. Accordingly, 9,000 billion rupees for re-issuance of debt ceiling needs has been revised. As a provision to the Department of Treasury Operations for repayment of loans Rs. 4,222.23 billion to Rs. 13,222.23 billion expenditure limits will be increased by amending sub-section 2 (4) of the Act and the Second Schedule.

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Lohan Ratwatte transferred to prison hospital 

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Former State Minister Lohan Ratwatte, who was arrested and remanded on charges of using a luxury car illegally imported from abroad and assembled in Sri Lanka, has been transferred to the prison hospital.

He was arrested by Mirihana Police on October 31 in Katugastota, Kandy.

Ratwatte was subsequently produced before the Acting Magistrate of Nugegoda from the Mirihana Police Station, and was ordered to be remanded until November 7.

However, the Acting Magistrate granted permission for Ratwatte to receive treatment at the prison hospital.

Police said that the former state minister was arrested in Kandy over an incident of discovering an unregistered car at his wife’s house in the Mirihana area of Nugegoda.

The car without registered number plates was found on October 26, 2024, according to police.

Police had found the luxury car in question during an inspection carried out based on information received by the police headquarters that there is a luxury car without number plates in a three-storied house in the Embuldeniya area in Mirihana, belonging to Shashi Prabha Ratwatte, the wife of former State Minister Lohan Ratwatte.

During the investigation, both Ratwatte and his wife had explained to the police that his mother-in-law resides in the said house. They had claimed that the car had been brought there three weeks ago by Ratwatte’s private secretary, who was recently found dead with gunshot injuries in the Katugastota area of Kandy.

(AdaDerana)
(This story, originally published by AdaDerana has not been edited by SLM staff)

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Bell 412 helicopter on standby for KDU bus accident patients

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The Defence Secretary has directed the Sri Lanka Air Force to keep a Bell 412 helicopter ready at the Diyatalawa Air Force Base for the potential airlift of patients injured in the recent bus accident to Colombo for further treatment if needed.

The accident, which occurred at Ambagas Junction on the Dunhinda-Badulla road around 7:45 AM on November 1, involved a bus carrying 42 people from the Kotelawala Defence University’s (KDU) Southern Campus. Among the group were 36 students from the 39th KDU Intake, three lecturers, an instructor, a senior military officer, and the bus driver.

Two female students, residents of Kurunegala and Nivithigala, tragically lost their lives. 

The remaining 40 were admitted to the Badulla General Hospital, with seven in the ICU and one in critical condition.

KDU’s Vice-Chancellor confirmed that arrangements for the funerals will be made with university support. 

Preliminary findings suggest a mechanical fault may have caused the accident, with a detailed investigation underway.

The Ministry of Defence has expressed condolences to the victims’ families and commended the prompt rescue efforts of local residents, as well as the swift response by Dr. Palitha Rajapaksa and the hospital staff.

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(Previous News : November 01, 2024 11.28 am)

2 dead in Badulla bus tragedy

Two persons have been reported dead after a bus carrying a group of university students had toppled across the road at Dunhinda Road in Badulla this morning (Nov. 01).

The accident had occurred between the third and fourth kilometer posts on the Badulla-Mahiyanganaya main road, near the Dunhinda access road, after the bus collided with a bund.

According to reports, the bus was carrying a group of students from the Southern Campus of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU), who had been on a field trip.

Over 30 persons injured had been rushed to the Badulla Hospital, reports say.

(Pic : Accident 1st)

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Doctors at Karapitiya Hospital begin 24-hour strike over internal threats

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Doctors at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle have commenced a 24-hour token strike, according to the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA).

GMOA Treasurer Dr. Ubhaya Bandara Warakagoda stated that the strike was initiated in protest over threats made by a doctor against several other doctors of the hospital.

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