News

Discussion with WB representatives on future development plans of SL

Published

7 months ago

November 17, 2022

editor

A discussion was held today (17) at the Ministry of Finance with World Bank representatives on Sri Lanka’s future development plans and policies under the patronage of Mr Sagala Ratnayake, Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Staff to the President, State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe and Minister Dilum Amunugama with the World Bank Director for Sri Lanka Faris Hadad-Zervos.

The future development plans and policies of the country were discussed at length during the meeting.

The discussions focused on Improving fiscal oversight and debt management, Improving tax administration, Reducing sovereign financial sector nexus and systemic risks, Improving energy sector performance and reducing carbon footprint, Restructuring and divesting of SOEs, Reducing policy uncertainty and increasing competitiveness of the economy, Mobilizing private capital and competition in the broadband market and Strengthening social protection institutions, delivery systems and targeting.

Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake, Senior Economic Adviser to the President R.H.S. Samaratunga, Finance Ministry Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena, Central Bank Governor Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe and government officials of line institutions were also present.

Following this meeting, World Bank Director for Sri Lanka Faris Hadad-Zervos and the World Bank delegation also met President Ranil Wickremesinghe and briefed him on these matters.

News

CMC’s receivable income exceeds Rs.6,200mn in 2022!

Published

49 mins ago

June 9, 2023

editor

The receivable income of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) for the year 2022 was Rs.6,280.50 million, it was revealed during the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) meeting.

This was revealed when the COPA met in Parliament on June 06 under the chairmanship of State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna to examine the Auditor General’s reports and current performance of the Colombo Municipal Council for the years 2020/2021.

The CMC’s total receivable income of the year 2021 is Rs.5,835.6 million, Rs.5,386.4 million in 2022 and Rs.4,481.5 million in 2019. It was found that these arrears are in the form of assessment tax, rent and other taxes.

Accordingly, the officials who were present pointed out that they are making arrangements to acquire the properties where the taxes are in arrears.

They said that there are issues related to the identification of the owners of certain properties, and that there is also a shortage of CMC officials available to look into these matters.

The COPA member MPs pointed out that assessment numbers have been given for unauthorized constructions as well.

Accordingly, the committee recommended that a programme should be prepared with specific dates to recover the arrears and a full report should be submitted to the COPA by July 06, 2023.

It was also revealed that the private companies contracted to collect parking fees have continued to default on the monthly rent due to the CMC and the amount of arrears to be collected from 38 companies as at December 31, 2021, was Rs. 265 million.

BIZ

Parliament SOC recommends not to privatise SLT

Published

60 mins ago

June 9, 2023

editor

The Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on National Security has said that it does not recommend the privatisation of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT).

This was stated in a report issued by the SOC on National Security headed by MP Sarath Weerasekera.

The report said that matters sensitive to national security can be exposed through the privatisation of SLT.

News

Fonseka resigns from SOC on National Security

Published

1 hour ago

June 9, 2023

editor

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka has resigned from the Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on National Security, Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakshe announced in Parliament today (09).

He said MP Rauff Hakeem has been appointed to the vacant position instead.