News

Over 400 engineers leave country; 300 more to follow

Published

1 year ago

February 10, 2023

editor

About 300 engineers are already making arrangements to leave the country due to heavy taxes imposed by the government, Association of Public Service Engineers (APSE) President S. P. C. Sugeeshwara said.

Speaking to the media, he said that the total number of engineers in the government service was 1,536, of which 436 have already left the country.

He warned that the engineering service in Sri Lanka will face a serious crisis from mid-2023 and the development activities including construction of roads, irrigation canals and buildings especially belonging to provincial councils and local governments will be hampered by about 50%.

He pointed out that engineers have decided to leave the country due to unfair taxes, increased interest rates for bank loans, unbearably high prices of essential consumer goods, and increased prices of medicines.

He said that there is a risk of complete collapse of large-scale constructions from next year due to the shortage of engineers. “It is also uncertain whether those who left the country will send foreign exchange into the country, which will lead to a setback in achieving the government’s target,” he said.

Mr. Sugeeshwara said that some engineers are preparing to leave the country with their families including their children in order to give them better education.

News

Iran – SL sign 5 MoUs (Video)

Published

4 hours ago

April 24, 2024

editor

Iran and Sri Lanka signed five memorandums of understanding (MoUs), aimed at bolstering bilateral relations between the two countries.

The MoUs signed will cover cooperation in film, media, tourism, cooperatives, libraries, and cultural, scientific, technical, and sports fields between the two countries, the Presidential Media Division notes.

Earlier in the evening, the Iranian President – Dr. Ebrahim Raisi and his Sri Lankan counterpart President Wickremesinghe held one-on-one discussions, followed by a bilateral meeting between representatives of both nations at the Presidential Secretariat.

(Video – PMD)

BIZ

Imported milk powder prices slashed

Published

4 hours ago

April 24, 2024

editor

The price of imported milk powder will be reduced with effect from tomorrow (April 25), the Milk Powder Importers’ Association states.

Accordingly, the price of a 01 kg pack will drop by Rs. 250 – Rs. 300 while the price of 400g pack will be slashed by Rs. 100ත් – Rs. 130.

News

Injunction against Wijedasa and Sarathie

Published

9 hours ago

April 24, 2024

editor

The Colombo District Court today (April 24) issued an injunction order preventing the appointment of Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe as the Acting Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).
The court has also issued an injunction order preventing MP Sarathie Dushmantha Mithrapala from functioning as the General Secretary of SLFP.

Colombo District Judge Sandun Withana issued these orders after considering a complaint filed against the respective appointments.