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President announces upcoming revolution for people’s relief, Invites SJB members to join true UNP

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President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said the government has launched a revolution with relief for the people and these efforts will be intensified in the future despite challenges.

The President emphasized that the current era and challenges faced by the country demands everyone to work in unity to rebuild the country sans narrow politics.

Speaking at the inaugural public rally of the United National Party at the Kuliyapitiya Municipal Council Stadium yesterday (10), the President emphasized the importance of collective action for national progress.

Themed “Reality,” the series of public gatherings drew a substantial crowd for its debut event in Kuliyapitiya.

Marking his first public address at a UNP rally since assuming office, President Wickremesinghe received a warm reception from the large gathering.

The President asserting that the foundational principles of the United National Party are absent in the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, appealed to former United National Party members who joined the SJB to unite back with UNP for safeguarding the nation from indebtedness and contribute to constructing a secure future for generations to come.

Expressing gratitude to supporters across party lines since assuming the presidency, President Ranil Wickremesinghe stressed the necessity of collaborative efforts for national development, transcending narrow political interests.

Highlighting the government’s efforts to provide relief amidst challenging circumstances, the President underscored the United National Party’s commitment to truth and progress, asserting its unparalleled vision for nation-building.Recalling the United National Party’s policy statement during the 2020 elections, which addressed the country’s economic challenges, President Ranil Wickremesinghe reaffirmed the party’s dedication to addressing critical issues and presented a video outlining key points.

He went on to say “We are poised to emerge from the brink of bankruptcy sooner than anticipated. Negotiations with the International Monetary Fund and other official creditors are underway, with the aim of finalizing agreements by May or June.This milestone will usher in a new era of opportunities as we transition to a solvent nation.

Throughout this journey, we have prioritized alleviating the burdens of our people. Government employees will receive a substantial salary increase, with additional benefits slated for the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year. Furthermore, initiatives such as the Senasuma programme aim to provide economic security to millions.

Land rights are being granted to those holding permits, while permanent rights are secured for residents of 50,000 flats in Colombo. Despite challenges, we remain steadfast in our resolve to provide relief.The modernization of agriculture is paramount to our economic agenda, with plans to transform the sector over the next decade. Additionally, measures to combat corruption have been instituted, underscoring our dedication to accountability.

Legislative reforms, including the Women’s Empowerment Bill and the Gender Equality Bill, are underway to promote gender equity. Amendments to laws addressing fiscal responsibility and violence against women reflect our commitment to progress. Furthermore, the establishment of dedicated units for women and children in every police station underscores our commitment to safeguarding vulnerable populations. These efforts are integral to the advancement of our nation’s citizens.Our politics must not be confined by narrow interests; rather, we must unite in our efforts to advance our nation.

Despite divisions during the 2020 parliamentary elections, I remained steadfast in our commitment to truth and progress as the United National Party. Despite opposition and skepticism, I maintained that with a strategic approach, we could swiftly form a government. Today, I reiterate that there is only one party—the United National Party—united in its pursuit of economic advancement, as envisioned by D.S. Senanayake and J.R.Jayawardene.

I recall the manifesto’s declaration, highlighting the stark economic challenges we face, including significant loss of foreign income and mounting debt obligations. In confronting these realities, we must seek international support to rejuvenate our economy, a path I am committed to despite its challenges.

(dailynews.lk)

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UK’s relaxed trade rules to boost SL exports

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The Government of the United Kingdom (UK) has unveiled a package of reforms to simplify imports from developing countries like Sri Lanka after upgrades to the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS).

The changes, announced as part of the UK’s wider Trade for Development offer, aim to support economic growth in partner countries, including Sri Lanka, while helping UK businesses and consumers access high-quality, affordable goods.

New measures include simplifying rules of origin, enabling more goods from countries such as Sri Lanka, Nigeria, and the Philippines can enter the UK tariff-free, even when using components from across Asia and Africa.

These changes are expected to be in place by early 2026.

This move strengthens Sri Lanka’s position in its second-largest apparel market, supporting exports, jobs, and economic growth.

The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Andrew Patrick, said: “This is a win for the Sri Lankan garment sector, and for UK consumers. With the UK being the second largest export market and garments making up over 60% of that trade, we know manufacturers here will welcome this announcement.

“We want Sri Lanka to improve the utilisation of the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme for a wider range of goods, not just garments. With the Sri Lankan government’s ambition to grow exports, and with the simplification of rules of origin for other sectors too, we strongly encourage more exporters to explore how they can benefit from the preferences offered by the DCTS. The UK remains committed to working towards creating shared prosperity for both our countries.”

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Pakistan police arrest 149 including 2 Lankans in ‘scam call centre’ raid

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Pakistan police have arrested 149 people in a raid on a scam call centre, the country’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) said on Thursday.

The agency told the BBC it acted after a tip-off about the network, which was operating in the city of Faisalabad.

It said the centre was involved in Ponzi schemes and tricked people into handing over vast sums of money in the name of fake investments.

Those arrested included 78 Pakistanis, 48 Chinese nationals, eight Nigerians, four Filipinos, two Sri Lankans, six Bangladeshis, two Myanmar nationals and one Zimbabwean national.
Eighteen of the 149 were women, the agency added.

A copy of a police report said victims of the alleged scam would initially receive a small return on their first investments, before being persuaded to hand over larger sums of money.

“The charged individuals ran WhatsApp groups where they lured ordinary people by assigning small investment tasks like subscribing to different TikTok and YouTube channels,” the agency said.

“Later, they shifted them to Telegram links for further online tasks requiring larger investments.”

Pakistani citizen Muhammad Sajid told BBC Urdu that he was added to a Telegram channel with tens of thousands of members and was impressed by the company’s work. He said he gave them more than 3.138 million rupees ($36,600) in various instalments.

The raid, which took place on Tuesday, saw authorities seize hundreds of computers, servers, cryptocurrency exchanges and foreign SIM cards from the site.

On Wednesday, 149 suspects appeared in court, 87 of whom were handed over to the NCCIA on a five-day physical remand.

A further 62 suspects have been transferred to the district jail on judicial remand until 23 July.

The agency said the raid was at the residence of Malik Tehseen Awan, the former head of Faisalabad’s power grid, who has not been arrested.

(BBC News)

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Milk tea price upped by Rs. 10

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The All Island Canteen and Restaurant Owners’ Association has announced a Rs. 10 increase in the price of a cup of milk tea.

Association President Harshana Rukshan stated that the decision was made in response to the recent rise in the price of imported milk powder.

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