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Rosewood timber stock rots in Customs for 9 years

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Sri Lanka Customs has had to store 3,669 logs of confiscated Rosewood weighing 420 metric tons at a cost of more than Rs.80 million as storage fees, a report issued by the National Audit Office said.

Although these logs were planned to be sold, they have been stored for 9 years due to the delay in obtaining the permit from the Wildlife Conservation Department.

The logs have already been damaged by insects.

These logs were sent from Zanzibar in Tanzania for re-export to Hong Kong via Sri Lanka by declaring them as African solid wood.

The audit report said that due to the delay in issuing the license, these logs have been stored in a Customs yard from 2014 until April 30, 2023.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board has to pay more than Rs.30 million to the Customs in the form of port development tax and value added tax for a high-powered radioactive element imported on April 23, 2021.

The report said that the overdue tax amount has not been paid to the Customs by January 1, 2023.

This information was revealed by an audit report included in the 2022 annual report of Sri Lanka Customs.

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President AKD meets German Minister for Economic Cooperation & Development

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President Anura Kumara Disanayake, currently on an official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany, met this afternoon (June 13) with the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Ms. Reem Alabali-Radovan, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Berlin.

The discussion focused on the shared economic challenges both countries face in the context of emerging global economic trends. The two sides engaged in a comprehensive dialogue on potential areas for further strengthening economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and Germany.

The President acknowledged the longstanding history of bilateral cooperation between Sri Lanka and Germany, highlighting Germany’s significant contributions to vocational training institutions such as the Ceylon German Technical Training Institute (CGTTI), as well as to sectors like healthcare. The President conveyed his profound gratitude for this assistance. The discussion also focused on the importance of enhancing such contributions into mutually beneficial partnerships in the future.

Joining the meeting were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Germany Varuni Muthukumarana and Director General for Europe and North America at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sugeeshwara Gunaratna along with other officials..

(President’s Media Division)

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SL urges Lankans in Israel & Iran to remain vigilant

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A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism in Sri Lanka has urged both Israel and Iran to ‘exercise restraint, engage in dialogue and pursue diplomatic initiatives to de-escalate the tense situation.’

“Sri Lanka is deeply concerned by the recent developments between Israel and Iran. We urge both countries to exercise restraint, engage in dialogue and pursue diplomatic initiatives to de-escalate the tense situation,” the statement notes.

“The Sri Lanka Missions in both countries are closely monitoring the situation and remain in contact with the Sri Lankan nationals in the respective countries. They are advised to exercise utmost caution and remain vigilant, the statement adds.

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Controversy over President AKD’s nomination of Justice Laffar to SC?

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President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has nominated Acting President of the Court of Appeal – M.T. Mohamed Laffar, to fill an upcoming Supreme Court (SC) vacancy set to arise on June 20 with the retirement of Justice Gamini Amarasekara.

The nomination, sent to the Constitutional Council on June 09, has raised concerns among legal experts, as such appointments are typically made only after a vacancy becomes official.

Meanwhile, it is also reported that Justice Laffar is to retire just 02 days before the vacancy occurs, turning 63 on June 18.

This also prompts speculation that the President had aimed to secure the appointment before Laffar’s own retirement.

According to Article 41(c) of the Sri Lankan Constitution, the Constitutional Council is required to obtain the views of the Chief Justice when making decisions related to appointments to the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal but it is said that the CJ’s directive is also yet to be secured in this case.

Earlier this year, when 04 Supreme Court vacancies were filled, Justice Laffar was not among those recommended by the Chief Justice, despite his seniority.

Instead, Senior judges Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Menaka Wijesundera and less senior Appeal Court judges Sampath Wijekoon and Sampath Wijeratne were appointed to the SC, on the Chief Justice’s recommendations.

(Source: Anidda Newspaper)

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