News

Duty free allowance given to migrant workers increased

Published

1 month ago

May 1, 2023

editor

The duty free allowances given to migrant workers to purchase goods at the airport has been increased from today, the Labour and Foreign Employment Ministry said.

Accordingly, migrant workers will be entitled to additional duty concessions based on the amount of money they have sent. No tax will be levied on the money held in banks as foreign exchange sent by expatriate workers to Sri Lanka.

These concessions will be implemented under five categories and workers who have sent an amount between USD 2,400 – 4,799 can get an additional duty free allowance of USD 600.

Workers who have remitted between USD 4,800 and 7,199 will be entitled to an additional duty relief of USD 960.

Workers who remitted between USD 7,200 and USD 11,999 will receive an additional duty free allowance of USD 1,440.

Migrant workers who have remitted between USD 12,000 and USD 23,999 are eligible for an additional USD 2,400 duty free allowance.

Workers who have remitted USD 24,000 or more are eligible for an additional USD 4,800 duty free allowance when purchasing goods at the airport.

Anyone who has sent money through official channels to the country since May 1, 2022 is eligible for this relief.

News

Upcountry train services disrupted

Published

5 mins ago

June 1, 2023

editor

Train services along the upcountry railway line were disrupted due to a rock slip on the railway line between Haliela and Uduwara Railway Stations this morning (01), the Railways Department said.

Passengers said that while the Udarata Menike train was travelling from Badulla to Colombo at 5.45 this morning, the driver saw the collapsed earth mound and immediately stopped the train preventing a major accident.

The Railways Department said that the restoration of the railway line is currently being done.

News

Annamale complains to IGP against Kassapa Thera!

Published

47 mins ago

June 1, 2023

editor

Social activist Kandasamy Annamale Sujith Priyantha alias Sujith Annamale has lodged a complaint to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) yesterday (31) saying that he and his family members have received death threats due to a statement made by Balangoda Kassapa Thera.

The complaint made by Annamale said;

“In a press conference held today (31/05/2023), Balangoda Kassapa Thera said, “Who helped from within the Aragalaya? Sujith Annamale… Sujith Annamale is the one who helped. Therefore, the CID should arrest them as soon as possible and produce them in court. If not, all the Buddhist monks behind me will take it to the street. We will not allow the Buddhist culture of this country to be destroyed.”

Annamale said that due to this statement, the life and property of his family members could be at risk.

“Therefore, please look into it and conduct a proper investigation as soon as possible and ensure the safety of my life and my property,” he said.

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News

Smoking kills 55 a day in SL

Published

2 hours ago

June 1, 2023

editor

According to the Alcohol & Drug Information Centre (ADIC), 55 deaths occur daily in Sri Lanka due to smoking.

The Centre said that 20,000 premature deaths also occur due to the use of cigarettes per year.

Sri Lankans spend Rs.400 million rupees on cigarettes daily.

A survey conducted by the ADIC said that the majority of smokers in Sri Lanka are people from low-income families.

Meanwhile, Dr. Wathsala Gunasinghe, an expert in respiratory diseases, said that more children and youth are addicted to e-cigarettes causing many health complications.

She said this at a news briefing held at the Health Promotion Bureau in view of World No-Tobacco Day yesterday (31).