Colombo (LNW): The Excise Department officials have reported a significant boost in monthly income amounting to Rs. 1 billion following intensified efforts to combat counterfeit stickers on liquor bottles.

This revelation came to light during a recent meeting of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Economic and Physical Plans held in Parliament under the chairmanship of MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage.

Summoning representatives from the Excise Department, Inland Revenue Department, and Sri Lanka Customs, the committee delved into issues highlighted in the report submitted to the President by the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Economic and Physical Plans.

One key focus was the amendment of the Excise Ordinance Act. Emphasising the importance of sustaining the increased revenue of the Excise Department, the committee stressed that ongoing random raids would deter the proliferation of fake stickers on liquor bottles.

The Inland Revenue Department faced inquiries regarding the functionality of the RAMIS system, with the committee scrutinising its current status and the integration of this data system with other government institutions.

Officials assured the committee that existing deficiencies in the data system would be addressed, making it fully operational by January 2024. The Inland Revenue Department disclosed that the number of tax files presently stands at around 700,000, with expectations of reaching 1 million in the future.

In addition to these discussions, the committee recommended that officials concentrate on developing a system to assess parties accurately adhering to income tax payments.

Furthermore, the committee underscored the potential for customs to surpass anticipated tax revenue by amending relevant laws. Extensive deliberations took place on the customs’ strategies to ensure the collection of due taxes.

The committee’s comprehensive approach aims to strengthen fiscal measures and enhance revenue generation across various government departments.

Colombo (LNW): A joint rescue operation by the army and police successfully rescued approximately 180 students from the Ragama Medical Faculty who were stranded during a hike in the Hanthana mountain range.

These students have safely been returned, according to reports.

In response to the outcomes of this year’s G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed the commencement of a scholarship program through the President’s Fund for students currently pursuing their G.C.E. Advanced Level studies.

Guided by President’s Secretary, Mr. Saman Ekanayake, the commencement of this scholarship program is effective from December (01).

To ensure comprehensive coverage, a meticulous plan has been devised to select 50 students from each of the 100 educational zones spanning the entirety of the island. This initiative aims to furnish scholarships amounting to Rs. 6000 per month for a total of 5000 deserving students.

Significantly, in the preceding year, the Presidential Fund successfully facilitated scholarships for 3000 students over 24 months.

In the year 2022 (2023), eligibility criteria for applying for these scholarships include being a first-time participant in the G.C.E O/L Examination, passing the examination, and qualifying for Advance Level studies. The applicant must be a student enrolled in a government school or a non-fee levying private school. The basic eligibility criteria for application include a monthly family income not exceeding Rs. 100,000.

Application forms and pertinent details for this scholarship opportunity are available for download on the official websites of the President’s Secretariat (presidentsoffice.gov.lk), the President’s Fund (presidentsfund.gov.lk) and the President’s Media Department (pmd.gov.lk).

Upon completion, applicants are requested to submit their applications to the Principal of the school where they undertook the GCE O/L examination.

The success of this program is contingent on the cooperation and support of students and principals alike, and the President’s Fund earnestly anticipates their active involvement in ensuring the success of this endeavour.

USAID and the PUCSL join hands to enhance SL’s power distribution 

Sri Lanka’s power distribution management transparency has been enhanced through a visualization platform deploying digital technology, Public Utilities Commission sources revealed.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) , in collaboration with the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), launched the Electricity Dispatch Database and Dashboard, an online platform towards this end. 

Developed and funded by USAID’s Sri Lanka Energy Program, the Dispatch Data Dashboard is a comprehensive tool that allows stakeholders to access and visualize data.

It is relevant to electricity generation, forecasts, costs, reservoir details, and emissions, providing insights into the energy sector’s intricate operational dynamics. 

The initiative will help foster transparency and accountability within Sri Lanka’s energy.

The Dispatch Data Dashboard features a user-friendly interface, making it accessible to a broad audience.

 Users will be able to query dispatch data, gaining valuable insights into the dispatch process and the rationale behind cost optimization. 

This transparency not only promotes accountability but also encourages collaboration among industry players, paving the way for improvements in the dispatch process.

The Dispatch Data Dashboard will be used for a wide array of stakeholders, including sector analysts, researchers, current independent power producers, future renewable energy developers, and environmental organizations.

 The online dashboard is available at https://gendata.pucsl.gov.lk/home. The USAID Sri Lanka Energy Program is proud to be at the forefront of this initiative, driving positive change for the benefit of all stakeholders.

Members of the public will now have the ability to comprehend the dispatch process, enabling them to raise inquiries and contribute to discussions about the energy sector’s future. 

This marks a significant step forward in democratizing information and fostering a sense of ownership among the public.

Chris Powers, Director of the Economic Growth Office of USAID stated that, “This Dashboard will help drive financial sustainability of the power sector, while contributing to the viability of the nation by enhancing energy security and ensuring the lowest possible cost of electricity.

By fostering transparency and empowering stakeholders, this tool is an instrumental resource in our collective fight against climate change.

 In understanding and optimizing our energy management processes, we pave the way for a more sustainable future, driving efficiencies that contribute to reducing the cost of power generation while reducing our carbon footprint. 

In the face of climate challenges, knowledge is power, and the Dashboard empowers us all to make informed decisions that positively impact our environment.”

“The Dispatch Data Dashboard represents a major leap towards a more transparent and accountable energy sector in Sri Lanka,” said Professor Manjula Fernando, Chairman at PUCSL. 

The Dispatch Data Dashboard is anticipated to play a crucial role in driving down generation costs for the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB). 

The government will be obtaining technical and financial assistance, especially from international organisations to implement renewable energy ventures including two wind power projects in the North.

Sri Lanka has recently unveiled a green hydrogen roadmap introducing a strategy to leverage offshore renewable potential in the Northern Province.

Two 350 MW of Wind Power Projects will be developed by Adani Green Energy with a total investment of $442 million

Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara has said progress of the 500 MW Renewable Energy Project in Mannar & Pooneryn was discussed with Anil Sardana, MD & CEO of Adani Transmission Ltd and project management team”.

Sri Lanka has now designated three large renewable energy projects in the North and Eastern Provinces as a result of this agreement.

Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) have formed a joint venture to build a 50MW solar power park in Trincomalee’s Sampur area.

He outlined the country’s commitment to obtaining 70% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030, with a focus on excluding fossil fuels.

Ninister Wijesekera called for the support of state leaders in achieving this ambitious target, highlighting the need for financial backing.

The Minister estimated a requirement of at least US $ 12 billion by 2030 for the successful implementation of renewable energy projects.

He underscored the need of, providing a dedicated platform for Sri Lanka to engage with local and foreign organisations and make crucial decisions on financial considerations.

The Adani Group has signed a MoU with the Sri Lankan government to develop two large-scale renewable energy projects in the neighbouring country.

The MoU was signed at the Finance Ministry of Sri Lanka on March 11, 2022 between the representatives of Adani Group, Ceylon Electricity Board, Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA) and the Board of Investment (BOI).

Both renewable energy projects will cost approximately $500 million and will have a combined power output capacity of 500 MW. Mannar is located on the northwestern coast of Sri Lanka.

Pooneryn is a small town on the Jaffna Peninsula, immediately south of the Jaffna Peninsula. Both projects are in Sri Lanka’s north. The projects will take approximately a year to complete.

He emphasised the pivotal role of this year’s conference in advancing Sri Lanka’s renewable energy agenda.

He highlighted the significance of the opportunity to generate electricity through sustainable resources, emphasising that plans for this initiative were presented last year.

He noted the findings of survey reports by global institutions, such as the World Bank and development agencies, indicating the substantial potential for electricity generation to meet both national and regional needs.

The government has unutilized a massive sum of Rs.20.32 billion up to December 31 2022 by completely halting the construction work of 19 foreign funded projects at the beginning of this year, government auditor general’s department query revealed.

Some of these projects have not yet been started although the state treasury has spent millions of rupees even for such stalled infrastructure development projects.

The defunct nine projects included gin gana irrigation project, Kumbukkan oya project, and Morgahakanda- Kaluganga irrigation project and six more , audit inspection unearthed.

The government had to be paid a sum of Rs. 19 billion Commitment Charges uneconomically due to the failure to release the loans according to the agreed time schedule entered into with the respective lending institutions for the investment projects implemented in the country from 2012 to 2022.

Several weaknesses in the project operating units were mainly affected by these idle Commitment Charges.

These weaknesses included, failure to complete the land acquisitions prior to the commencement of projects, failure to get prior approvals to be obtained from various agencies, failure to carry out project operations according to initial plans.

19 projects under foreign aids amounting to US $3,644 million, Euro 52.00 million, Kuwaiti Dinar 10.00 million and Japanese yen 42,638 million equivalent to Rs. 626.47 billion were in operation.

Out of it, a sum of Rs. 395.05 billion or 63.06 percent had been spent by the end of the year 2022 under review.

Physical progress of the projects ranged from 0 per cent to 100 per cent and the majority of the projects were running on extensions of time.

Out of 19 projects, only 15 projects were ongoing during the year under review and actions had been taken to wind up 03 projects, the national audit office disclosed. Further, one project had been abandoned.

The total number of land plots acquired in 14 projects was 48715 and the number of plots handed over to theRoad Development Authority was only5052 or 10 percent under Section 44 of the Land Acquisition Act.

State Minister for Health Seetha Arambepola, stated that a key focus of the 2024 budget proposals is the introduction of special guidelines for the procurement of medicines and the establishment of a dedicated agency. This strategic move aims to prevent corruption, irregularities and other questionable incidents during the importation of medicines.

During a press conference at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) yesterday (01) , under the theme ‘Colletive path to a stable Country’ Seetha Arambepola, emphasized the need for changes in human resources within the Ministry of Health and adjustments to rules and regulations to address challenges in the health sector.

The State Minister commented, “At present, we are concentrating on providing quality medicines to patients, particularly for the hospital system and clinical work in the country. Despite setbacks in construction and maintenance due to the current economic situation, the Government aims to overcome them and successfully execute these projects in the coming year with financial contributions from local and international sources.

Additionally, the Ministry of Health is undergoing significant structural adjustments. Notable modifications were implemented last week, and further changes are slated for the upcoming week. Anticipated alterations encompass adjustments in human resources, rules, and regulations. The procurement process has also undergone substantial revisions.

Efforts are underway to increase the production of medicines domestically, ensuring their availability in the market to meet the country’s healthcare needs. The State Minister acknowledged that unpopular decisions may be necessary to manage human resources in the health sector, prompting changes in various positions.

The 2024 budget proposals specifically emphasize the implementation of special guidelines for the procurement of medicines and the establishment of a separate agency dedicated to this purpose. This strategic focus aims to create opportunities for preventing corruption and addressing other questionable incidents during the importation of medicines.

To meet the country’s medicine requirements, essential steps are being taken to enhance domestic medicine production and facilitate their introduction to the market. In managing human resources within the health sector, several unpopular decisions are anticipated, resulting in significant changes in positions. These adjustments are expected to address existing challenges with medications.

Furthermore, plans are underway to initiate reforms in the primary health service, aiming for universal health coverage and social protection. The Ministry of Health collaborates with the World Health Organization (WHO) to align with global health priorities.

Despite increasing dengue spread due to prevailing weather conditions, collaborative efforts from health teams have successfully reduced the death rate compared to the previous year.

Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media, Dr. Bandula Gunawardena, announced today that the renovation of dilapidated rural roads across the island nation is set to commence next week.

This ambitious project, aimed at reviving essential transportation networks, has received substantial support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which has agreed to provide a loan amounting to nearly Rs. 20 billion.

Minister Gunawardena, addressing a news conference at the Presidential Media Center under the theme ”Collective Path to a Stable Country”, yesterday (30), emphasized the pivotal role the loan will play in rejuvenating the nation’s road infrastructure.

He highlighted that the timely disbursement of funds would enable the commencement of road reconstruction work within the next week.
The minister also disclosed key developments in the country’s debt restructuring efforts. France’s Lazard, renowned for its international expertise, has been selected to spearhead the debt restructuring process, while Clifford Hans Company will handle legal matters arising from non-payment of international debts.

Minister Gunawardena revealed that fruitful discussions with creditors had taken place, with President Ranil Wickremesinghe seeking support from Japan, India, and China during official foreign visits.

Celebrating a milestone for the nation, Minister Gunawardena declared that the international community has officially endorsed the debt restructuring process in Sri Lanka. He expressed confidence that this victory would breathe new life into stalled projects across the island, including the resumption of work on deteriorating roads, bridges, and flyovers.

The minister acknowledged the diverse opinions surrounding railways and highways, emphasizing the need for modernizing railway tracks for efficient operation. He provided insights into the efforts to operationalize 123 out of 160 railway carriages imported under an Indian loan scheme, with plans for the repair of remaining cabins.

Minister Gunawardena underscored the necessity of relying on domestic and foreign loans for the country’s development projects, citing the insufficient economic strength to allocate to such initiatives independently. He advocated for the digitization of government revenue-generating institutions, including ports, airports, and the income tax department, as a crucial step toward economic recovery.

The minister envisioned a digitally transformed Sri Lanka, likening the move to the administrative models of advanced nations like the United States and the United Kingdom.

As the country anticipates the initiation of rural road renovation and embraces debt restructuring measures, Minister Bandula Gunawardena’s announcements mark a significant stride towards fostering economic growth and infrastructural development in Sri Lanka.