A meeting took place between Indian High Commissioner – Mr. Gopal Baglay and President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat today (04).
The discussions focused on raising national milk production and providing necessary technical support to the production of liquid milk in Sri Lanka together with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) of India and Amul Milk Company.
The objective is to make Sri Lanka self-sufficient in milk and dairy products in the long term with short and medium term goals to double local milk production.
The President appointed a committee consisting of representatives of the public and private sectors to work with the multidisciplinary team of the National Dairy Development Board of India to prepare a short, medium and long-term plan for the development of the dairy sector in the country. This endeavour is aimed at preventing the decline in milk production and dependence on imported milk in Sri Lanka. The discussion was held between the members of the committee and representatives of the National Dairy Board of India (NDDB).
The discussion was attended by Indian High Commissioner – Mr. Gopal Baglay, Dr. Rakesh Pandey, First Secretary, Economic and Commercial Affairs, representatives of the National Dairy Development Board of India and Amul Milk Company, Mr. Sagala Ratnayake, Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff, Mr. Saman Ekanayake, President’s Secretary and a group of public and private sector representatives appointed by the President.
Although the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has banned 22 institutions operating illegal pyramid schemes, no legal action has been taken against any of them so far, according to reports.
This was disclosed during a workshop held at the CBSL yesterday (July 08) on the dangers of pyramid schemes.
According to CBSL officials, after initial investigations, the files were handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further inquiry.
The CID’s Financial Crimes Unit has reportedly completed its investigations and submitted findings to the Attorney General’s Department, which is responsible for filing cases.
However, it was noted that not a single case has been filed to date.
The CBSL states that investigations will be continued against companies engaged in these illegal practices and hopes at least one or two such cases would be filed by the end of this year or early next year (2026).
U. D. Nishantha Jayaweera was sworn in as a National People’s Power (NPP) National List Member of Parliament before the Speaker of the House – Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, today (July 09).
He fills the Parliamentary seat left vacant following the resignation of Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma last month.