News

Govt institutions permitted to use private banks

Published

5 days ago

March 19, 2023

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Minister of State for Finance Mr. Shehan Semasinghe claims that for the first time, government institutions have been allowed to use the services of private banks.

“We authorised them because we cannot afford to allow any breakdown in the country’s financial processes,” he said. “The Government will take every precaution to ensure that trade union strikes do not disrupt the normal life of the people.”

The Government will not allow any trade union actions to disrupt the financial processes involved in obtaining essential items, including food, fuel, and coal, he said. The Minister was responding to the recent strikes by certain trade unions and how the Government will face them if they continue such trade union action.

“When the IMF negotiations were taking place last year, they blocked the gates of the Finance Ministry. They did so to prevent the Secretary to the Treasury from joining the IMF-Government discussions and to delay the progress in IMF bailout talks,” the Minister said.

“When the IMF’s Managing Director announced that they are looking at Sri Lanka positively and recognised the Government’s commitment, determination, and transparency, in the last eight days, the trade unions have come out on the streets for demonstrations.

We also asked him if these Trade union actions were causing any revenue losses. “Yes, undue trade union actions will affect the economy. These trade union actions are unfair. What the people in this country experience now differs from what they experienced eight months ago.”

He said all should be genuine enough to understand the country’s improvement. These trade union actions have nothing to do with taxes or Government reforms.

“It is evident that on the verge of receiving IMF approval, many political authorities and Opposition party leaders have become uncertain about their chances of accomplishing their political ambitions,” said Semasinghe.

He said they would only be able to promote their political ideology with much lower intensity than they had about eight months ago. However, they might spread their political ideology by ensuring the people suffer as much as possible.

News

Blacklisting Thuyacontha illegal: NPP

Published

3 mins ago

March 24, 2023

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The National People’s Power (NPP) said that the blacklisting of retired Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha was illegal.

Speaking at a press conference held at the JVP Headoffice last morning (22), NPP member Harshana Nanayakkara said Mr. Thuyacontha had been blacklisted by the Air Force without providing any legal document.

He said that the National People’s Power recently decided to form a collective of retired tri-forces personnel.

“No party has been able to do this in the past. This is being made as a force across the districts. Mr.Thuyacontha is leading this. He is one of the people who risked his life as a fighter pilot throughout the war and was awarded the ‘Vikramaveera’ and ‘Vibhushana’ titles. For his dedication, he was awarded the highest rank of Air Vice Marshal and retired amidst all the honours,”

“If someone is being punished, they should be given the reasons as to why they are being punished. Was Mr. Thuyacontha told why he was blacklisted? He does not even know what the charge is. He has been blacklisted by an invalid document,” he said.

“Thuyacontha blacklisted to maintain internal administrative affairs”

Director (Media) of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), Group Captain Dushan Wijesinghe said that the decision to blacklist Thuyacontha was taken with the aim of maintaining the internal administrative affairs without any political interruption.

Speaking to the media, he said that Thuyacontha cannot enter any of the SLAF camps and enjoy the facilities given by the SLAF.

“Any retired officer of the SLAF can engage in active politics. But, the situation is very different when it comes to this matter. This officer enjoys all the facilities given by the SLAF. He can enter any SLAF camps as a result of this facilitation of privileges. Therefore, it will create a problem in the internal administration of the SLAF if this officer tries to influence our serving members after entering the camps,” he said.

News

I had nothing to do with Asgiriya brothel: Sanoja Bibile

Published

28 mins ago

March 24, 2023

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Veteran actress Sanoja Bibile said that she had nothing to do with the brothel that was operated at the address ‘Hansavila’, no: 144, Sumangala Road, Asgiriya in Kandy.

Ms.Bibile said this in response to the article titled ‘Statement to be recorded from Sanoja over brothel raided in Kandy!’ published on Sri Lanka Mirror website.

She said that the property in question belonged to four people including her mother and siblings. However, in April 2022, it had been rented out to an individual by the name A.G. Samantha Asela Kumara.

At the time of the raid conducted by the police, Samantha Asela Kumara was the occupant of the house.

She said that the property was rented out on April 11 last year with the consent of her mother and siblings.

The lease contract is shown below.

Ms.Bibile also said that the electricity bill of the rented out property was not in her name but in the name of her mother D.R. Nalini Padmavathi Bibile.

The electricity bill is shown below.