It is indeed a pleasure to extend my warm felicitation for Deepavali, being a colorful religious festival of lights celebrated with much reverence by Hindu devotees.

For Deepavali, Hindus illuminate their temples and homes, be it mansions or huts, with light bulbs and lamps symbolizing the expelling of the darkness of ignorance and creating the radiance of knowledge.

Only light can dispel darkness. Therefore, in the spirit of Deepavali let us all cast aside all differences and come together to collectively dispel the darkness that is currently shrouding our Motherland, with unprecedented challenges.

Peace, brotherhood and unity are of significance in the celebration of Deepavali and I request all Sri Lankans irrespective of race, religion or political affiliation to unite around the light of Deepavali to rebuild the country.

I am hopeful that this Deepavali celebration will be the beginning of a better future that will fulfill everyone’s wishes and make Sri Lanka a prosperous nation. I wish all Hindu Devotees a very Happy Deepavali festival.

Ranil Wickremesinghe

1. Finance Ministry said to be weighing proposals to enforce a tax on 3 main export crops – tea, coconut and rubber in line with commitments made to the IMF: key reforms of SOEs also under consideration.
   
2. More tax increases expected in Budget 2023: IRD to collect over Rs.1 trillion in tax next year: more expected from Customs, Excise and BOI: vehicle import ban to continue.
   
3. Government’s tax revenue target for 2023 to be increased to Rs.3,500 bn from Rs.2,056 bn in 2022: an increase of over 70%: IMF prescription likely to lead to Wealth tax, Land & Property tax and Death Duty as well.
   
4. TNA MP M A Sumanthiran accuses the highest judiciary of “swinging like a pendulum”: says Supreme Court Justices appear to be unable to read and understand their own determinations of a few years earlier.
   
5. Cardinal Ranjith says that there’s no need to seek int’l assistance to probe Easter Sunday attacks: says what’s needed is to “depoliticize” the local investigation process.
   
6. Norochcholai Coal Power Plant likely to run out of coal soon: future supplies for the Plant that generates 40% of demand, uncertain: sources indicate 4 coal shipments have been ordered, but only one has been paid for: the entire coal used from April to October was paid prior to 31st March 2022.
   
7. President Ranil Wickremasinghe pardons 8 former LTTE cadres who were convicted by Courts.
   
8. Secretary, Ministry of Energy Mapa Pathirana says fuel procurement process may have to be changed if forex shortage persists: laments making oil purchases in the dollar-strapped environment is “problematic”.
   
9. Ceramic and Glass Industry Council Member Aravinda Perera says Sri Lanka will reach self-sufficiency in the mainly import-based tile & bathware industry by next year: reason attributed is the Government’s import ban on those products.
   
10. Sri Lanka beats Ireland by 9 wickets in the ICC World Cup T20 Group match: Ireland 128/8 (20 overs): Sri Lanka 133/1 (15 overs).

The report issued by the Committee appointed to tender recommendations on the restructuring of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has been received by the Power and Energy Ministry and will be handed over to the President and the Cabinet soon, Subject Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said.

The Minister further revealed that the recommendations will be tabled in Parliament in November.

The Committee comprised of 08 members appointed to tender recommendations on the restructuring of the CEB was appointed on August 05, 2022.

The said Committee during the previous period had engaged in its affair of preparing the report and had even collected the opinions of former Power Ministers and political party members at the Parliamentary complex on September 08, 2022, Wijesekara added.

MIAP

National Council Sub-Committee on identifying short and medium-term programmes related to National Policy looks into the future plans of the Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka to promote investments in the country.

National Council sub-committee on identifying short and medium-term programmes related to National Policy to into discussion the future plans prepared by the BOI to popularise Sri Lanka as a suitable country for investments and to promote entrepreneurship and investments in Sri Lanka.

This was taken into discussion at the Sub-Committee meeting held three day ago (20) chaired by Ruling Party MP Namal Rajapaksa.

Thus, in order to encourage entrepreneurship and investment, the short-term, medium- term and long-term plans of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka were discussed.

Furthermore, proposals and views of the board were obtained pertaining to labour law and other laws.

Also, the sub-committee advised the BOI on preparing a system to obtain the approvals to be obtained by the investors and interested parties from one place using digital technology.

The Committee Chief Rajapaksa said that a series of long-term policies prepared for the promotion of investments in Sri Lanka will be presented to the National Council after obtaining the views of the BOI and related stakeholders.

MPs Johnston Fernando and Sagara Kariyawasam, and BOI officials were also present at this sub-committee.

MIAP

Habaraduwa Police this (23) morning have seized about 45 people who were allegedly attempting to migrate to Australia via sea, while staying in a hotel in Unawatuna.

With the help of the Sri Lanka Navy, the group accused of illegal migration were sized by the Police, and among them are 33 men, seven women and three children. All of them are said to be residents of Jaffna.

The group had stayed in different places for about a month and later travelled to Unawatuna, Galle, on a five day trip waiting for migration.

Earlier, Australia sent back 183 people of Sri Lankan nationality who had been seeking asylum.

MIAP

With the passing of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, the independent commissions operated up to that point end their official term, said Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Wijedasa Rajapaksa.

Accordingly, new members will be appointed to the Constitutional Board within the next two weeks, and new members will be appointed to the independent commissions within the two weeks after, he added.

MIAP

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has won the election at the Cooperative Society of Hinidumpaththuwa, Galle – Hiniduma, overthrowing a 20 year old rule of either the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) or the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).

Out of 99 member seats, the SJB has secured 52 seats and it has gained 31 divisions out of 36 of the area.

As of now, about 98 per cent of Cooperative Society Elections across the country has been won by the SJB.

MIAP