News

Stops business class travel for top officials

Published

2 years ago

February 19, 2023

editor

The Presidential Secretariat will shortly issue a circular restricting senior state officials, including the President’s and the Prime Minister’s Secretaries from using business class travel on overseas official trips.

Accordingly, several officials who enjoyed the facility so far will have to travel on economy class.

Among those who were entitled to the facility were judges of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, secretaries to ministries, the Cabinet Secretary, the Central Bank Governor and the Attorney General.

The decision comes after revelations that a delegation from the Foreign Ministry due to attend Human Rights sessions in Geneva next week had been booked on business class with each of the tickets costing Rs 800,000.

Further inquiries had revealed several other state officials had been travelling on business class despite the adverse financial situation in the country.

A senior official said some of the officials had been willing to travel on economy class, but due to previous practices they had travelled on business class.

The circular will also impose restrictions on hotel accommodation during during foreign visits of officials.

The official said the circular would be issued in keeping with the government’s policy of cutting down on expenses.

However, no changes will be made regarding minister’s travel practices.

(The Sunday Times)

News

Defence Ministry recalls civilian firearms

Published

11 hours ago

October 4, 2024

editor

The government has announced the temporary recall of all firearms issued to civilians by the Ministry of Defence.

In an official statement, the Ministry directed all license holders to return their firearms and ammunition to the Commercial Explosives’ Storage Facility in Welisara by November 07.

The Defence Ministry further stated that the firearms will be returned after a review and assessment of the necessity to retain them.

(dailymirror.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailymirror.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

Bandula not to contest Gen. election

Published

14 hours ago

October 4, 2024

editor

Former Minister of Transport and Mass Media Dr. Bandula Gunawardene says he has decided not to contest at the upcoming General elections.Speaking to media, he told that he had been in politics for more than 20 years representing the Homagama electorate and that he functioned as a Deputy Minister and as a Cabinet Minister and rendered the maximum possible service to the people in his capacity.He also revealed plans to produce another movie while continuing his further education in the upcoming years.

News

Port access elevated highway to be completed by December

Published

15 hours ago

October 4, 2024

editor

The Ministry of Transport and Highways has announced that the construction of the Port Access Elevated Highway is scheduled to be completed by December.

The Ministry stated that approximately 90% of the construction work has already been completed.

This project, which began in September 2019 with financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank, has an estimated total cost of USD 300 million.

The 5.3-kilometer-long, four-lane elevated highway will connect the Ingurukade Junction to the New Kelani Bridge and extend over the columns to Galle Face and the Port City.

Upon its opening, this highway is expected to significantly alleviate the heavy traffic congestion currently experienced in Colombo.

(News 1st)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by News 1st has not been edited by SLM staff)