News

Minister of Energy and Power Kanchana Wijesekera says the Ministry will use government bowsers and bowsers of fuel stations, in the event private transporters decide to go on strike.

The Minister noted that prices for private fuel transportation services have been revised five times since July 2021, an increase of 84% using a formula agreed by all.

He added that if private fuel transporters go on strike, the government will use the other two sectors to continuously deliver fuel.

Secretary to the Ministry of Trade J. M. B. Jayawardana has been removed from office with immediate effect.

The decision has been reportedly taken by the President.

In addition to being the Secretary to the Trade Ministry, Jayawardana has been the Chairman of a number of institutions as well as a member of the Board of Directors of several other institutions.

It is reported that former Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena has repeatedly called for Jayawardana’s removal as the secretary.

Subsequently, Neel Bandara Hapuhinna has been appointed as the new Secretary to the Ministry.

The Sri Lanka Petroleum Private Tanker Owners’ Association has decided to withdraw from fuel transport services with effect from midnight today (April 30).

The joint secretary of the association, D.V. Shantha Silva said, through their trade union action, they want to urge the authorities to increase their transport charges, in line with the increase in fuel prices.

Speaking further, he said the association has sought the revision of their transport charges following the fuel price hike. However, a positive response was not received for this request during the meeting held with the energy minister last evening.

As the authorities dismissed their requests, the executive committee of the association, which convened a meeting last night, has decided to withdraw from fuel transport duties, effective from midnight today.

Meanwhile, deploying Sri Lanka Army personnel to monitor the fuel distribution commenced today.

The army stated that it would observe whether the fuel bowsers are reaching the filling stations on time after leaving their respective terminals.

After the fuel bower departs the terminal, the army camp in charge of the area where the fuel consignment is transported will be notified and a team of officers will be dispatched to the relevant locations.

In addition to the main fuel storage complexes in  Kolonnawa and Muthurajawela, a total of 12 fuel distribution centres are in operation across the country.

The sell price of a US Dollar has surged up to Rs. 354 in many commercial banks of the country.

Its buy price is at Rs. 330 – 335.

Meanwhile, Standard Charted, an international bank operating in Sri Lanka, today revealed in its exchange that the value of the US Dollar is Rs. 355.

Health Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana has issued an Extraordinary Gazette notification allowing a 40% price increase on a total of 60 medicinal drugs.

The Gazette, dated 29 April, says “every trader, distributor, pharmacist, medical practitioner, dentist, veterinary surgeon, medical institution including a private medical institution, pharmacy or person who or which is in possession of the Scheduled Medicines for the purpose of sale shall maintain the price of the Scheduled Medicines at the maximum retail price or revised retail price whichever is less.”

The full list is available below:

In a letter to the Chief Prelates of the three Buddhist Chapters, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has stated that he agrees to form an interim government, the Registrar of the Asgiri Chapter, Ven. Medagama Dhammananda Thero said.

He stated that the President has also assured that he will take immediate steps to resolve the economic crisis in the country.

The President, in his letter to the chief prelates, has also said that any constitutional reforms should be carried out through the Parliament.

Ven. Medagama Dhammananda Thero said the President has emphasized that the economic problems and the crisis situation in the country would be eliminated and the welfare of the people would be ensured as requested by the Mahanayaka Theros.

He said the letter also mentions the ongoing discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in particular.

“The President has also expressed his willingness to establish an interim government. At the same time, he has informed that the constitutional amendment should be discussed in Parliament and carried out,” the Thero said.

He said the President has also expressed that the Mahanayake Theros will be informed if there are any further issues in this regard.

It was previously reported that the President had sent a letter to the Chief Prelates of the three Buddhist Chapters regarding the current situation in the country and the future course of action to be taken in that regard.

It was reported that the Secretary of the Ministry of Buddha Sasana Prof. Kapila Gunawardena had handed over the relevant letter to the Mahanayaka Theros on the instructions of the President.

The letter was handed over to the Chief Prelates of Malwathu and Asgiriya chapters yesterday (24), said Prof. Kapila Gunawardena.

On the 4th of April, the Chief Prelates of the three chapters had sent a letter to President regarding the current situation in the country which also included several proposals to be implemented.

The 02nd of May (Monday) will be declared a public holiday, the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, J.J. Ratnasiri announced today.

The decision was taken in view of the Labour Day falling on Sunday, the 01st of May.

The government had set up roadblocks to prevent the march organised by the Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF) from Colombo Fort to Galleface today (24), in the event that an attempt by the security forces to obtain a court order barring the march was denied.

The IUSF march, however, continued and the protesters arrived at and staged their demonstration in front of the residence of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in Wijerama.

Parliamentarian Jayantha Samaraweera said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had positively responded to the proposals put forward for the creation of a All-Party Government which will be named as the “National Consensus Government”.

He said as per the proposal the leaders of the political parties that agree to form the “National Consensus Government” would establish a National Council, and National Council would name the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers of the “National Consensus Government”.

He made these comments following a meeting between the President and the leaders of political parties that decided to remain independent from the government.

“The National Council would decide on the number of ministers required to build back the nation and public trust, and the National Council would also decide on the secretaries that will be appointed,” he told reporters.

Teachers will report sick by 25th April, and will go on strike by 28th April, and will push into a continuous strike if a solution to the current problems in the education sector are not presented, says the Chairman of the Ceylon Teachers Union, Priyantha Fernando.

The Chairman of the CTU pointed out that the attendance of children in rural schools as well as in urban schools has come down to a very low level, due to increased fares in public transport and the subsequent lack of fuel, which disrupted bus services.

Moreover, he stated that school transport services have also been disrupted, while this has a direct impact on children, and on teachers who report to work in schools.

The Kegalle Magistrate has ordered the Inspector General of Police to arrest the Senior Superintendent of Police for Kegalle who ordered to open fire at protestors in Rambukkana recently, as well as the police officers who were involved in it.

Kegalle Magistrate Wasana Nawaratne made the order when the case related to the incident was taken up on Wednesday (27).

It was revealed in court that the man who died when police opened fire at protestors, had infact died due to gun shot injuries.

THE INCIDENT:

The Rambukkana protests erupted over delayed petrol deliveries and sharp new price increases in petrol and diesel announced on Monday (18).

On Tuesday, the 19th of April 2022, demonstrators blocked main roads and a railway line.

Police began directing tear gas at thousands of protesters in the afternoon and then suddenly, without warning, opened fire with live rounds.

Chaminda Lakshan, a 40-year-old father of two from Naranbedda, a village near Rambukkana, was shot. He died soon after being admitted to Kegalle hospital.

Earlier, Sri Lanka’s Public Security Minister told Parliament on Friday (22) that preliminary investigations have revealed that Assistant Superintendent of Police C. W. C. Dharmaratne & Senior Superintendent of Police K. B. Keerthiratne had instructed to open fire to control the situation in Rambukkana on the 19th of April 2022.

He said the investigations are in their preliminary stages, and following a comprehensive investigation, the report will be tabled in Parliament.

POLICE OFFICERS TRANSFERRED :

The Senior Superintendent of Police for the Kegalle Division, Superintendent of Police for the Rambukkana area, and the OIC of the Rambukkana Police, were transferred to the Police Field Force Headquarters in Colombo.

At the same time, the investigations that were carried out by the SSP in charge of the Seethawakapura Division was taken over by the Criminal Investigations Department.

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION:

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has appointed a four-member team to investigate the Rambukkana shooting, that left one person dead and dozens injured.

On the direction of the the Chairman at HRCSL, a special team was appointed to hold an inquiry as to determine who is responsible for issuing the orders to shoot, and the circumstances under which the shooting with live bullets took place.

The team comprises of Sulari Liyanagama, Menaka Herath, Lal Weerasinghe, and A.S. Nilantha, and they have left for Rambukkana for the inquiry.

Further, the HRC noted that based on the report of the findings, the commission will make the necessary recommendation.

News 1st

The Government has rejected the price revision announced by Litro Gas for a 12.5kg domestic gas cylinder.

The company announced a short while ago that the price of a 12.5kg gas cylinder would be increased to Rs. 5,175, with effect from midnight today (22).

However, the price revision did not receive approval and the aforementioned gas cylinder will continue to be sold at its previous price of Rs. 2,675.