News

Public servants may get extra allowance

Published

1 year ago

March 12, 2023

editor

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

News

Police bust motorcycle assembly racket

Published

25 mins ago

April 26, 2024

editor

A group of officers from the Panadura Anti-Corruption Unit have succeeded in gathering information about a racket of assembling and selling motorcycles with imported motorcycle parts.

Police said 41 such motorcycles were seized while checking three motorcycle showrooms in Maspotha and Wariyapola in Kurunegala.

Police said 48CC and Mowad motorcycles were assembled in this manner and it’s valued at close to Rs.20 million.

During interrogation it was revealed that the racket was carried out by a businessman who imports motorcycle parts in Kurunegala.

Investigations revealed that the government lost a massive amount of tax revenue due to the racket.

The buyers said they are unable to register the motorcycles bought from the showrooms and extensive investigations are underway regarding the racket.

(News1st)

(This story, originally published by News1st has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

5 including Ulapane Sumangala Thero, bailed

Published

1 hour ago

April 26, 2024

editor

Convenor of the Teacher – Principal Trade Union Alliance – Ven. Ulapane Sumangala Thero and 04 others have been granted bail under strict conditions by the Colombo Additional Magistrate today (April 26).

They were remanded for attempted disturbance against implementing a Court order.

News

Expedite Xpress Pearl investigation – court

Published

1 hour ago

April 26, 2024

editor

Colombo Additional Magistrate – Keminda Perera yesterday (April 25) ordered the Criminal Investigation Department to complete the investigation regarding the Xpress Pearl incident and report the facts to the court immediately.

The magistrate also ordered that the audio tapes containing conversations between the stricken vessel and its local agent, to be submitted before the court.

However, the State Counsel who appeared on behalf of the CID when the case was taken up on Thursday (25), has sought a period of one month, in order to present facts in relation to the investigations.

The lawyers representing the captain of the destroyed ‘X-Press Pearl’ ship and the directors of the relevant local agent, who have been named as respondents of the case, noted that a trial with regard to the maritime calamity is already underway before the Colombo High Court.

They have also raised questions concerning the need for conducting further investigations into the same incident against this backdrop.

(Source : Aruna)