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Several SLPPers against LG polls despite having funds

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A group of Pradeshiya Sabha and Municipal Council members representing the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) have requested the President to postpone the proposed Local Government election by a few months.

It was reported that 47 heads of local government bodies from the SLPP met the President last Wednesday and made this request.

They have said that it is difficult for the people to face an election under the current economic situation, and for the government as well as themselves to incur large expenses for the election.

The President who has responded to their request has said that the relevant authorities will take a decision on the election after considering the current economic situation.

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam and Local Government State Minister Janaka Wakkambura have also attended the meeting.

Enough funds available…

Meanwhile, Elections Commissioner General Saman Sri Ratnayake said the Finance Ministry has allocated funds for the LG elections.

Accordingly, the Elections Commissioner General said that Rs.10 billion have been allocated for the election to be held next year (2023).

He said the LG elections were scheduled to be held this year (2022) and accordingly the related estimates have been sent to the Finance Ministry in advance.

He told the media that Rs.5.8 billion were spent on the previous parliamentary election.

The Election Commission said that the LG elections should be held before March 19 next year and the list of LG members should be gazetted in relation to 341 LG bodies.

The Commissioner General also said that according to the Local Government Elections Act No. 16 of 2017, the members will be gazetted at the divisional level and under the mixed proportional representation system.

Mr.Ratnayake said that it usually takes about 60 to 65 days to conduct an election and therefore, the Commission has decided to send the final notification about the nomination date in the last week of this month.

He pointed out that the Election Commission has the full authority to announce the local government election.

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Only USD 19.8bn will be restructured from domestic debt

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Only USD 19.8 billion will be allocated for restructuring out of the total domestic debt amount of USD 42.1 billion, President’s Senior Advisor on Economic Affairs Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga said.

He said that following the government’s decision to seek support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a staff-level agreement was reached in September last year.

“However, the IMF said that the proposal cannot be implemented until Sri Lanka’s debt sustainability is established.”

“As a result, extensive discussions were held between the government and international creditors from September 1 to March 20. The primary objective was to obtain a financing certificate from these lenders, and we successfully completed this process in the second week of March. Consequently, by March 20, the IMF agreed to accept our request and proceed further.”

“This programme is designed to operate for a period of four years and consists of five key elements. Firstly, there is a focus on revenue-based fiscal consolidation, particularly due to the significant drop in the country’s gross domestic product to 8% in 2020-2021. This involves enhancing tax collection and addressing related issues.”

“Secondly, debt restructuring is a critical aspect as highlighted by the IMF, which has raised concerns about Sri Lanka’s debt sustainability. The third element pertains to establishing price stability within the country. Fourthly, it is crucial to preserve the stability of the financial sector. Lastly, the government needs to adopt an anti-corruption policy. These goals require the implementation of structural reforms.”

“With regard to these elements, the government has already implemented policies on various matters apart from debt restructuring.”

“The total domestic debt discussed today amounts to 42.1 billion US dollars, out of which 19.8 billion will be allocated for restructuring. This includes debt owed to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, commercial banks, other banks, the Employees Provident Fund, and four other institutions that have provided loans to the government.”

“While debt restructuring among these institutions will occur through different methods, the ultimate aim is to provide the government with some relief through a mixed programme,” he said.

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Shots fired at house of Samson’s grandson on a family contract?

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Police suspect that the shooting attack on the house of DSI Samson Group (Pvt) Ltd Executive Director Sajith Rajapaksa, who is also the grandson of DSI founder Samson Rajapaksa, was carried out as per a contract given by one of his family members to the perpetrators.

Initial investigations revealed that the shots were fired at the gate of Mr. Rajapaksa’s residence at Cross Road in Borella early yesterday morning in an attempt to threaten him.

Police said that there was an ongoing dispute among the three shareholders on the company’s board of directors.

Although no one was injured in this shooting, further investigations are underway to find the perpetrators.

Uditha Egalahewa is the Chairman of DSI Samson Group and Kasun Rajapaksa is the General Manager.

Related News: 
Shots fired at house of Samson Rajapaksa’s grandson

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Urea shipment to arrive in SL tomorrow

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A ship carrying 20,000 metric tons of urea will reach Sri Lanka tomorrow (10), the Ministry of Agriculture said.

Its secretary Gunadasa Samarasinghe said that another ship carrying 11,250 metric tons of urea will reach Sri Lanka in the next few days.

Accordingly, he said the urea fertilizer requirement for the Yala Season will be fulfilled, and added that stocks of Muriate of Potash (MOP) fertilizer or ‘Bandi Pohora’ required for the Yala Season were available in the country.

However, ‘Sri Lanka Mirror’ learns that this shipment of urea was brought by a private investor, and that it was not a shipment brought in by the Ministry or in accordance with a plan of the Ministry.

Meanwhile, Mr. Samarasinghe further said that the fertilizer required for the Yala Season will be distributed without any shortage, and 60% of the coupons for purchasing fertilizer have already been distributed among the farmers.

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