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CoPF urges to ensure the entire ‘Aswesuma’ project is done electronically

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The Committee on Public Finance has directed the officials of the Welfare Benefits Board to give priority to the criteria that can be verified and determined in order to accurately identify poverty while selecting the beneficiaries. Drawing examples, the Committee pointed out that individual poverty can be identified better based on the electricity bill amount considering the electricity units consumed in each home.

The Committee pointed out that there are major problems and lack of formality in the criteria used in the selection of relief beneficiaries, and advised them to rectify it as soon as possible. The officials of the Ministry of Finance told the Committee that they will change the method of giving points that is currently used in the selection of relief beneficiaries.

The matter was taken up for discussion when the Committee on Public Finance met in Parliament recently (May 28) under the chairmanship of Dr. Harsha de Silva.

Furthermore, the amendment to the regulations under section 27 of the Welfare Benefits Act No. 24 of 2002 published in the Extraordinary Gazette No. 2382/02 dated 29.04.2024 was considered before the Committee.

The members of the Committee pointed out the way in which huge corruption and irregularities take place through the manual recording of data by those people while selecting the beneficiaries. Accordingly, the Committee on Public Finance gave a recommendation to the Ministry of Finance officials to conduct the entire process from collecting necessary data to the selection of relief beneficiaries only via electronic means.

Furthermore, the displeasure of the Committee was expressed for not taking formal legal action for the irregularities that have arisen in relation to the selection of beneficiaries. The Committee pointed out that by not taking legal action, more and more corruption and irregularities will occur and it will create a serious obstacle for the right people to get the benefits. Accordingly, the Committee Chair instructed the officials to investigate the complaints received and take necessary legal measures for the same.

Milk powder prices
Furthermore, the order was reconsidered under Section 3 of the Port and Airport Development Tax Act No. 18 of 2011 published in the Extraordinary Gazette No. 2350-45 dated 21.9.2023. Milk powder prices and local milk powder market were discussed under this. The Chair emphasized the importance of introducing a price formula for milk powder based on a scientific method. Accordingly, the Chair also instructed the officials to introduce the HHI (Herfindahl-Hirschman index) index.

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Fake banknote with AKD’s image : suspect remanded (Update)

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The suspect arrested over circulating a doctored image of a Rs. 5,000 currency note featuring the image of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has been remanded until Nov. 11 by the Kesbewa magistrate.

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(Previous post : 2024/11/05 at 1:05 pm)

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has arrested an individual for allegedly circulating a doctored image of a Rs. 5,000 currency note featuring the image of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on it.

Police said that the 38-year-old suspect was arrested yesterday (Nov. 04). 

According to the police, he is a resident of Korathota in Athurugiriya and works as a salesperson.

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2 officials of New Magazine Prison interdicted

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Two officials of the Colombo New Magazine Prison have been interdicted.

The prison’s Chief Jailor and a Prison Guard (storekeeper) have been interdicted after it was discovered that they have supplied mobile phones to inmates.
According to the Prisons Spokesman, the duo had maintained a secret relationship with a lifetime prisoner, under whose instructions they had provided mobile phones to the inmates.

Further investigations are underway.

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Landslide warnings for 8 districts

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The National Building and Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued early landslide warnings to multiple areas in eight districts, as heavy rainfall continues in parts of the island.

The NBRO says that the warnings will be in effect until 4.00 pm tomorrow (Oct. 06).

Accordingly, a Level 1 (Amber) warning has been issued for several Divisional Secretariat Divisions (DSD) and surrounding areas in the Badulla, Galle, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara and Ratnapura districts as follows:

Badulla–Welimada, Haldummulla DSDs and surrounding areas
Galle – Elpitiya DSD and surrounding areas
Kalutara – Bulathsinhala DSD and surrounding areas
Kandy – Yatinuwara, Udapalatha DSDs and surrounding areas
Kegalle – Mawanella, Rambukkana DSDs and surrounding areas
Kurunegala – Polgahawela DSD and surrounding areas
Matara – Kotapola, Akuressa and Pasgoda DSDs and surrounding areas
Ratnapura – Elapatha, Ayagama, Openayake, Kiriella, Nivithigala, Kahawatta, Pelmadulla, Imbulpe, Balangoda, Godakawela and Kalawana DSDs and surrounding areas

Meanwhile, a Level 2 (Yellow) warning was issued for the following areas:

Kegalle – Kegalle, Dehiowita,  Yatiyanthota, Bulathkohupitiya, Ruwanwella, Warakapola,  Deraniyagala, Aranayake and  Galigamuwa  DSDs and surrounding areas

Ratnapura – Kuruwita, Eheliyagoda and Ratnapura DSDs and surrounding areas

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