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Public servants may get extra allowance

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The Government will consider providing an additional allowance for public sector employees in the fourth quarter of this year following an assessment of the economic situation in consultation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe told the Media.

He said that after six months, with the restructuring program also in place, the government was expecting an improvement in the economy after which the assessment would be made.

Mr Semasinghe, however, said the tax policy would remain the same and no changes would be made, despite protests. “There are reforms which have been agreed with the IMF and we cannot work beyond them. If we break the agreements it would affect our next installments.”

He said the Government was expecting the first instalment of the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility by the end of this month.

“With the receipt of the IMF facility a full package of about US$ seven billion will be unlocked by giving access to the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and other agencies,” he said.

The state minister said already the foreign reserves had moved up to US$ 2.2 billion and there were further signs of the rupee appreciating against the US dollar.

Source – The Sunday Times

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Helicopter crash during SLAF training session

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A Bell 212 helicopter belonging to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has reportedly crashed today (May 09).

It crashed during a training session at the Hingurakgoda Air Force Base.

Further reports indicate that the helicopter crashed into the Maduru Oya Reservoir.

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American Cardinal elected as new Pope: Pope Leo XIV

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Following a 02-day papal conclave, American Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected as the new Pope yesterday (May 08) evening, Vatican time.

At 69, Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as the 267th Pope, taking the name Pope Leo XIV.

He becomes the first American to ascend to the papacy in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.

Pope Leo XIV now assumes spiritual leadership of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

The election follows the death of His Holiness Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88 at his residence in Casa Santa Marta, Vatican City, a day after participating in Easter Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.

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Heavy rains expected in the afternoon

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The Department of Meteorology says that showers or thundershowers will occur at most places of the island after 1.00 p.m. today (May 09).

Showers may occur in Western province and in Puttalam, Galle and Matara districts in the morning too.

Fairly heavy rains above 50 mm are likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Northern and North-central provinces.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Ampara and Polonnaruwa districts during the morning.

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