News

The Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy handed over the annual report for year 2017 today, at the Treasury.

Secretary to the Treasury Dr.R.H.S. Samaratunga and Senior Deputy Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe were present at the occasion.

Petroleum Resources Development Minister Arjuna Ranatunga has said that his Ministry has no intention to raise fuel prices.Petroleum Resources Development Minister Arjuna Ranatunga has said that his Ministry has no intention to raise fuel prices.

Minister Arjuna Ranatunga had made this remark responding to a query by a several ministers regarding the increase of fuel prices at the cabinet meeting held yesterday (24).

The Minister is reported to have also said that although the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation incurs losses, the fuel prices will not be increased at this time burdening the people.

After the fuel price increase by the Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC), the CPC is said to be currently incurring a loss of Rs. 38 million per day.

The Working Committee of the United National Party which met today has appointed Minister Harin Fernando as the party's new secretary of communications. 

Deputy Minister Ajith P. Perera was appointed as UNP's trade union secretary.

“Building a better and secure future for all is a shared call that we can shirk only at our own peril”, stated Ambassador A.L.A.Azeez, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, addressing the Second Preparatory Committee Meeting of State Parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) yesterday (24). “Building a better and secure future for all is a shared call that we can shirk only at our own peril”, stated Ambassador A.L.A.Azeez, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, addressing the Second Preparatory Committee Meeting of State Parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) yesterday (24).  

Ambassador Azeez highlighted the importance of the NPT as the global regime for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament that called for a balanced and non-discriminatory approach to building international peace and security. 

He stressed that the non-proliferation treaty regime should be taken forward, while promoting and safe guarding the economic development prospects for all, through equal access to the technology advancing peaceful uses of nuclear energy. 

Ambassaddor Azeez also called upon the State Parties to seriously address the prevalent dichotomy between the lack of progress in disarmament and increasing emphasis and efforts on non-proliferation, urging them to “manifest their support for, and investment in, disarmament training and education provided by the UN and other organizations”.

Mother of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Politburo member and former parliamentarian, K.D Lalkantha has passed away. 
 
Her remains lie at her residence in Matale junction, Kurundankulama on the Anuradhapura - Kandy road. Last rites will be held tomorrow in Anuradhapura. 
 
Former President, Mahinda Rajapaksa had also reportedly visited the residence today to pay his last respects.

The proposed 20th amendment to the constitution in order to abolish the executive Presidency will be brought as a private member’s bill, leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Anura Kumara Dissanayake said. 
 
Addressing a media briefing today at the party’s headquarters in Pelawatta, Dissanayake said the bill will be brought to parliament before the end of May. “Despite promises by various parties throughout the years to abolish the Presidency this has not happened” he said adding that therefore the JVP feels they have the right to bring about such a bill to ensure it is followed through. 
 
Speaking further Dissanayake also said that they will seek support from members of civil society, religious leaders, other parties as well as the public to bring about this much needed reform.

The recently appointed 12 member United National Party (UNP) Politburo, today elected several new office bearers for the party under its new restructuring plans. 

Accordingly Minister of Housing, Sajith Premadasa has been appointed as the Deputy leader of the party while MP Ravi Karunanayake was appointed as its Assistant leader. 

Minister of Education, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam was elected to the post of General Secretary vacated by Minister Kabir Hashim, who has now been presented with the position of party chairman by the Politburo. 

Meanwhile Minister of Plantations, Navin Dissanayake was announced as the party’s national organizer. 

According to party sources, other appointments are to be announced tomorrow. 

The United National Party elected a 12-member politburo to finalise internal reforms and restructure and recommend new party office-bearers on April 7. 

The politburo comprises of 12 parliamentarians, 10 of whom were elected by secret ballot by the UNP Working Committee and Parliamentary Group. 

The two UNP deputy leaders Ravi Karunanayake and Sajith Premadasa were appointed to the 12-member committee as ex officio members.
 
UNP MPs Mangala Samaraweera, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Eran Wickremaratne, Harin Fernando, Nalin Bandara, Navin Dissanayake, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, J.C. Alawatuluwa, Ruwan Wijewardene and Ajith Perera are the other members of the politburo.

Sri Lanka has earned an income of over LKR 92 billion since the EU fish ban was lifted, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development said.Sri Lanka has earned an income of over LKR 92 billion since the EU fish ban was lifted, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development said.

Over 58,000 metric tonnes of fish has been exported with Tuna, Crabs and Prawns being the most popular exports. The number of fish processing factories have also increased up to 68. During the time the ban was imposed, there were only 38 such facilities, the Ministry added.

David Hartman, Director General for South Asia at Global Affairs Canada, together with David McKinnon, High Commissioner of Canada to Sri Lanka, met with the Minister of Finance and Media Mangala Samaraweera, at the Treasury, today (25).

The discussion focused on deeper participation of Canadian Government and Canadian businesses in Sri Lanka's development, investment and reconciliation process.

David Hartman was accompanied by Jen Hart, Political Counsellor, William Brown - Vice President, Export Development Canada (EDC),  Yvonne Chin - Director Asia, Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) and  Avanti Coonghe - Trade Commissioner, High Commission of Canada.

Senior Advisor to the Minister of Finance and Media, Mano Tittawella and the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance and Media Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga also participated in the discussion.

Global Affairs Canada manages Canada's diplomatic and consular relations, promotes the country's international trade and leads Canada’s international development and humanitarian assistance.

A Sri Lankan woman, a mother of one, is among the 10 victims killed in the deadly attack in Toronto where a white van plowed into pedestrians on Yonge Street on Monday. 
 
Renuka Amarasinghe, 48, from Horana had been living in Toronto for the past couple of years, has been identified as one of the victims. The deceased was a single mother of a 7-year-old boy.
 
The bodies of the deceased including that of Renuka have not been released as they haven’t been identified yet.
 
A total of 10 people were killed and 14 were injured when a man plowed a van into a crowd of pedestrians on a Toronto sidewalk Monday afternoon. A man named Alek Minassian appeared in court Tuesday morning on 10 counts of first-degree murder and 13 counts of attempted murder.
 
In addition, a Jordanian man visiting relatives, a college student, an 80-year-old grandmother and two South Korean nationals were among those who died in a horrific van attack that shocked residents.

The Presidential Commission on SriLankan Airlines is set to begin recording evidence in two weeks, President Maithripala Sirisena said today.The Presidential Commission on SriLankan Airlines is set to begin recording evidence in two weeks, President Maithripala Sirisena said today.

In February a gazette notification was issued signed by President Sirisena thereby appointing a Presidential Commission to investigate allegations involving SriLankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka.

Retired Supreme Court Judge Anil Gunaratne, Court of Appeal Judge Gamini Rohan Amarasekara, Retired High Court Judge Piyasena Ranasinghe, Retired Deputy Auditor General Mallawa Arachchige Don  Anthony Harald, the Director General of the Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Monitoring Board Wasantha Jayaseeli Kapugama had been appointed as the members of the Commission.

The 16 Ministers who left the government have been given permission by the President to sit in the opposition reports say. 

The decision was taken during the SLFP central committee meeting held last night at the President’s official residence. 

Sources say it was also decided that those willing to stay and work in the government would continue to do so while the decision if the SLFP will remain as a party to the current consensus government will be made at the next central committee meeting. 

The committee has also decided to a complete restructuring of the party reports said adding that this will be discussed after May 8 during the next party central committee meeting.