News

Country spends 75% of income on food but only 20% eat well

Published

11 months ago

October 19, 2022

editor

The National Council’s sub-committee on identifying short- and medium-term programmes related to economic stabilization disclosed that 75% of the country’s income is spent on food. However, only 1/5th of the country’s population gets a proper diet with nutritional value.

This was discussed when the sub-committee met in Parliament yesterday (18) under the chairmanship of MP Patali Champika Ranawaka.

The meeting was called to seek expert views on food security and nutrition security, need for fertilizer, decline in the harvest, malnutrition and its possible social consequences.

The short-term and mid-term measures that can be taken to overcome this situation were discussed during the meeting, especially since the malnutrition situation in the country for about ten years has escalated with the current economic crisis, the Communication Department of Parliament said.

Accordingly, the sub-committee Chairman informed the Finance Ministry to conduct a survey on income and household expenditure immediately.

The Chairman said that this survey has not been conducted after 2019 and that it will provide accurate information about the social consequences of this economic crisis and that information will be vital in taking future action.

It was also discussed that even if the income could be increased through measures such as tax increases in the country, the problem of sustaining industries, job losses and declining nutrition conditions will have a severe impact as side effects.

News

Rosewood timber stock rots in Customs for 9 years

Published

2 hours ago

September 27, 2023

editor

Sri Lanka Customs has had to store 3,669 logs of confiscated Rosewood weighing 420 metric tons at a cost of more than Rs.80 million as storage fees, a report issued by the National Audit Office said.

Although these logs were planned to be sold, they have been stored for 9 years due to the delay in obtaining the permit from the Wildlife Conservation Department.

The logs have already been damaged by insects.

These logs were sent from Zanzibar in Tanzania for re-export to Hong Kong via Sri Lanka by declaring them as African solid wood.

The audit report said that due to the delay in issuing the license, these logs have been stored in a Customs yard from 2014 until April 30, 2023.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board has to pay more than Rs.30 million to the Customs in the form of port development tax and value added tax for a high-powered radioactive element imported on April 23, 2021.

The report said that the overdue tax amount has not been paid to the Customs by January 1, 2023.

This information was revealed by an audit report included in the 2022 annual report of Sri Lanka Customs.

News

Muthuhettigama released on bail

Published

2 hours ago

September 27, 2023

editor

Former Member of Parliament Nishantha Muthuhettigama was released on bail by the Galle Magistrate’s Court today (27).

He was released on two sureties of Rs.5 million each and a cash bail of Rs 50,000. The next court hearing is scheduled to be held on February 02.

The former MP was arrested and remanded on charges of illegally assembling a luxury car.

News

Raids increased to nab train passengers sans tickets!

Published

2 hours ago

September 27, 2023

editor

Sri Lanka Railways has taken steps to increase raids to nab passengers travelling without tickets.

Frequent inspections to nab errant passengers were suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Due to this, people are more inclined to travel by train without tickets and the initial raids will be based on Maradana and Colombo Fort Railway Stations.

Meanwhile, the Railways Station Master’s Association said that nearly Rs.225,000 was collected from 72 passengers who travelled without tickets from the Maradana Railway Station from August upto now.