News

Electric motor boats for fishermen from next year!

Published

6 months ago

December 2, 2022

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Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda said that steps will be taken to introduce electric motor boats for fishermen from next year due to the fuel shortage issue.

The minister expressed these views during the meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on fisheries held in Parliament recently (29).

Accordingly, it is expected to introduce electric motor boats that can travel 100 kilometers using batteries and the cost is only Rs.86 per day to fishermen engaged in small fishing.

Minister Devananda also said that attention has also been paid for providing electricity generation facilities through solar panels and wind turbines for boats using kerosene and diesel.

State Minister of Fisheries Piyal Nishantha said that a special mobile service is being implemented successfully to solve the problems faced by the fishermen.

No canned fish imports without license

Meanwhile, the members drew the committee’s attention to the import of canned fish and the officials pointed out that no one has been allowed to import canned fish without a license.

Meanwhile, the need to encourage freshwater fishing to fulfil the protein requirements of the people was also discussed at the committee. For this purpose, the MPs requested to expand the programme of releasing fish fry into the reservoirs. The Minister informed that next year, a programme will be implemented to release fish fry to 2,500 selected fresh water reservoirs.

The members also drew the attention of the committee to the problems faced by fishermen in different parts of the country.

Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapaksa, State Ministers Shantha Bandara, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, MPs Vijitha Herath, Chandima Weerakkody, Dilip Vedaarachchi, Upul Mahendra Rajapaksa, Sudarshan Denipitiya, Rajika Wickremasingha, Sahan Pradeep Withana, S.M.M. Musharraf, Kulasingam Dhileeban and officials of the Ministry of Fisheries were also present at the meeting.

News

Laka’s family goes to CID (VIDEO)

Published

32 mins ago

May 31, 2023

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Lakmal Weerasuriya and Sahan Arosha, the creators of popular YouTube channel ‘Lakai Sikai’, who are currently in Australia had said that they have been receiving death threats through social media platforms.

Weerasuraya’s wife has complained to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in this regard.

They said that some elements are engaged in this campaign against them in an organized manner for attending the concert conducted by Natasha Edirisooriya.

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CID complaint claims Manju’s funding sources aren’t clear

Published

11 hours ago

May 30, 2023

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A complaint filed with the Criminal Investigation Department claims that the overseas funding sources of Manju Nishshanka, are not clear.

The complaint, filed by Oshala Herath, Attorney-at-Law Namal Rajapaksa and Sepala Amarasinghe alleges that Manju Nishshanka, who is said to be the leader of the political movement – Global Sri Lankan Congress, has violated the Election Expenses Regulation Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

They have also revealed that Manju Nishshanka holds citizenship in the UK and the US in addition to that in Sri Lanka.

Noting that the Global Sri Lankan Congress is an unregistered political movement in the country, the complaint states that the movement has backed a political party called “Arunalu Janatha Party” in 05 LG bodies in Gampaha district and 01 LG body in the Southern Province.

Noting that Mr. Nishshanka has spent around Rs. 30 million for the election campaign of MP Mr. Nalaka Godaheva during the last General Election, the complaint also points out that he was later given a ministerial advisor position as well as a directorship falling under the State Ministry of Urban Development while Godahewa held the position of its state minister.

The complaint claims that he has been occupying the 6th floor of the Access Building in Colombo for more than a year now as his business and political headquarters, paying Rs. 05 or more as rent.

In addition, he also owns apartments at the ‘On 320 Residencies’ and Shangri-La apartments, the complaint further says.

Noting that Manju has a house in New York, USA for which he owes over USD 600,000, the complaint alleges that the sources from which he receives foreign funding for his expenses in Sri Lanka raises doubts.

The complainants urge authorities to look into this.

News

2022 A/L results to be released in August

Published

12 hours ago

May 30, 2023

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The Commissioner General of Examinations Amith Jayasundara says that they are expecting to release the results of the 2022 G.C.E Advanced Level examination in August.

Joining a press briefing held today (May 30), Mr. Jayasundara stated that provisions required to release the relevant results without delays are already underway.