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Samurdhi Dept. told to conduct survey to identify poverty-stricken families

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The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Alleviating the Impact of the Economic Crisis has instructed the Department of Samurdhi Development to conduct a quick survey to identify other poverty-stricken families who need to be empowered.

This was taken into discussion when the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Alleviating the Impact of the Economic Crisis met in Parliament on Sep. 19 chaired by MP Gamini Waleboda Member of Parliament.

Commenting further, the Member of Parliament stated to the officials of the Department of Samurdhi Development to appoint a Committee together with the Ministry of Finance, the Welfare Benefits Board and the Department of Census and Statistics to take the necessary measures.

The discussion was held with the aim of reviewing the goals of the Department of Samurdhi Development to reduce the impact of the economic crisis and the current plans to achieve those goals in the year 2024.

The officials of the Department of Samurdhi Development, who presented the facts, mentioned that at present there are more than sixteen hundred thousand Samurdhi beneficiary families. Accordingly, the department has planned to empower forty-one hundred thousand families in the two years from 2024 to 2026.

The Chair reminded the officials that the responsibility of empowering all families who are affected by the economic crisis and those who are not is entrusted to the Department of Samurdhi Development. The Committee also ordered the Department of Samurdhi Development to immediately prepare a plan to eradicate poverty within the next five years.

The Leader of the Opposition – Sajith Premadasa, addressing the Committee, pointed out the dire need to first establish technical definitions to identify poverty.

The Committee also discussed about the proposed number of new employees in the department, which has been presented in relation to the future plans of the Department of Samurdhi Development. The Committee Chair pointed out that the sacrifices made by the officers of the Department of Samurdhi Development Department during the Covid pandemic cannot be forgotten. The Chair instructed the officials of the Management Services Department to take into consideration the work done by them in the past while approving the proposed number of new employees. Accordingly, the Committee ordered the Management Services Department to come to a final decision about the proposed staff of the Samurdhi Development Department within two weeks and to approve it.

The Committee also discussed the people who have not yet received their pension due to the retired officials of the Samurdhi Development Department and the related reasons. The Chair asked the officials of the Department of Pensions to arrange for the payment of the basic pension to the employees who have not yet received their pension.

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Chamari Athapaththu fined for breaching ICC Code of Conduct

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Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu has been fined 10 percent of her match fee for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct.

The incident took place during the final group stage game of the recently concluded tri-series in Sri Lanka, with the hosts facing South Africa in Colombo. The Proteas emerged victorious in a high-scoring fixture.

Athapaththu was found to have breached Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match.”

In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to Athapaththu’s disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period.

The said incident occurred in the 32nd over of South Africa’s innings, when after being hit for a four by Annerie Dercksen, Athapaththu took off her sunglasses and smashed them to the ground, breaking them into several pieces.

The charges were levelled by on-field umpires Anna Harris and Dedunu de Silva, third umpire Lyndon Hannibal and fourth umpire Nimali Perera.

There was no need of a hearing as Athapaththu admitted the offence and accepted the sanctions proposed by Michelle Pereira of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees.

Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.

The tri-series was eventually won by India, who defeated Sri Lanka, the tournament hosts in the final by 97 runs.

(ICC)

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4-hour strike at Colombo port causes Rs. 300 mn. loss

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A four-hour strike by employees at the Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) and the East Container Terminal of the Colombo Port last night has resulted in an estimated loss of at least Rs. 300 million, a senior official of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) said.

He said the strike, which began at 8:00 p.m. yesterday and continued till midnight, was triggered by a controversial decision by the Ports Authority to cut incentive allowances paid to essential employees who worked on April 12 and 13, dates that coincided with the Vesak Poya holidays.

The workers resumed duties at around 12:30 a.m. today after the SLPA administration reissued a letter assuring that overtime allowances will be paid according to the previous system.

At the time the strike began, six cargo ships were anchored at the affected terminals, and all operations were brought to a complete halt, the official said.

The dispute stems from a decision by a senior SLPA official to limit the overtime allowances for work done on the Poya day (April 12) to Rs. 10,000 and the following day (April 13) to Rs. 5,000. This move broke with long-standing practices regarding holiday compensation for essential workers.

The Ports Authority official further alleged that the decisions were taken unilaterally by a senior administrator who has previously been criticised for making media statements regarding workers’ salaries.

The temporary halt in port operations has sparked renewed concerns over the administration’s handling of labour

relations and the broader financial impact of such disruptions on the national economy.

(dailymirror.lk)

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8,742 Vesak Dansals registered islandwide

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The Public Health Inspectors (PHI)’s Union states that a total of 8,742 Dansals have been registered islandwide, in line with Vesak celebrations this year.

According to the PHI’s Union chairman – Upul Rohana,  the highest number of ‘Dansal’ is registered in the Western Province, particularly in the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) area.

The union has also urged organiser to reduce the use of polythene and plastic during food distribution efforts.

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