The country should focus on emitting dollars instead of trying to obtain debts and the prevailing crisis in Sri Lanka cannot be solved by further indebtedness to the world, emphasised Business Mogul Dhammika Perera, speaking to Hiru TV.

Reminding that Sri Lanka has been given debts 900 times to date, Perera noted that these lenders are not ready to provide more in a situation where they cannot be repaid. Accordingly, further expectation of debts may not be possible unless a mechanism to emit dollars is implemented, he pointed out.

Perera suggested that he is ready to implement 100 large-scale projects for dollar inflow, which can provide solutions to the dollar deficit in a matter of six months. Accordingly, the Business Excellence assured that he would be ready to accept the responsibility.

Stressing that a ‘separate’ minister should be appointed to implement these 100 projects, Perera added that he or she should be relieved of all other responsibilities and given full freedom to navigate the projects.

MIAP

The prices of liquor will be increased from today (01) as per the approval of the Excise Department.

The price revision will be taken place in response to the surging prices of ethanol set off by the revised VAT.

According to Excise Commissioner Kapila Kumarasinghe, a media spokesman for the Excise Department, it was not necessary to obtain permission from the Department to revise the price of liquor, in the event that there is no fixed price for liquor products. Accordingly, the liquor price can be decided at the discretion of the manufacturers, he noted.

However, any price revision should be informed to the Dept in advance and several manufacturers have already informed the Dept in this regard, Kumarasinghe added.

MIAP

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed an Invsetigative Commission to probe into the unrest occurred from March 31 to May 15 following the political instability occurred in the country.

The Commission is chaired by Supreme Court Justice B.P. Aluvihare and President’s Additional Secretary Buwaneka Herath will be serving as the Commission Secretary. The Commission comprises of former Senior Deputy Inspector General S.M. Wickramasinghe, and Additional Chief Assessor N.A.S. Wasantha as members.

The appointment letters for the Commission were handed over at the President’s House today.

The President has instructed the Commission to submit a report following investigation.

MIAP

Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage today (01) ordered that 13 persons including Ruling Party MPs Sanath Nishantha and Milan Jayathilake, former Provincial Council Member Amal Silva, Mayor of Moratuwa Samanlal Fernando, self-crowned Social Activist Dan Priyasad and Trade Union Leader Wasantha Handapangoda who were arrested and remanded over the mob attack launched by pro-Rajapaksa protesters on peaceful protesters in front of Temple Trees and in GalleFace on May 09 be further remanded till June 08.

The Magistrate further ordered that Suspect No. 17 Aruna Shantha be produced for an ID parade on June 06 with having him covered.

Senior Deputy Solicitor General Ayesha Jinasena appearing for the Attorney General’s Office told the Court today that former Minister Johnston Fernando, Mahinda Kahandagama, Dilith Fernando and Nishantha Jayasinghe will be cited as suspects to the assault on the peaceful protests held in front of Temple Trees and in GalleFace on May 09.

The Magistrate ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) that a Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) be appointed to supervise the probe launched by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) into the incident and the IGP, accordingly, informed the Court that SDIG (Crimes) Kamal Silva will be appointed in this regard. Accordingly, the Magistrate ordered the IGP that further steps be taken.

The IGP appeared in the Magistrate Court in compliance with the order made by the Magistrate to inform the Court regarding the non-compliance of the Attorney General’s instructions pertaining to SDIG Deshabandu Thennakoon involving the assault.

Although 32 suspects were to be produced for the ID parade, only five suspects appeared in the Court and among them only three suspects were identified, the Magistrate informed.

The AG’s Office requested the Court not to grant bail given that such a move could provoke public panic and that the investigations are still underway.

In response, the Magistrate informed that these suspects were not seemed to be causing public panic and that evidence were already recorded in this regard. He ordered that the six suspects produced for the ID parade be released on a surety of Rs. 01 million and that Gramasewa certificates be issued for the bail recipients. Their foreign travels were also banned.

The Suspect No. 16 who is currently being produced for an ID parade in the Nugegoda Court pertaining to the Mirihana incident be released on bail in this Court after the ID parade, the Magistrate further ordered.

The Magistrate also ordered that further investigations into the incident be carried out and the matter be reported to the Court at a later date.

MIAP

Former MP Duminda Silva has been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) today.

The arrest was made while he was receiving treatments from the Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital.

The Supreme Court yesterday (31) ordered the arrest of Silva via the suspension of the presidential pardon granted to him by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa based on a fundamental rights (FR) petition filed by former MP Hirunika Premachandra.

MIAP

The employee collective of the State Engineering Corporation organised a protest today (01).

The protest was based on the non-payment of salaries on the due dates, the 50 percent slash in salaries, the government’s decision to scrap construction proposals and political vengeance.

The administration has also failed to announce a date for the settlement of the remaining 50 per cent of the salary and as there is a Minister in charge of the subject at present, immediate actions should be taken to resolve the matter, they said.

MIAP

The Tobacco Company has reportedly decided to increase the prices of cigarettes effective from midnight today.

The government has decided to revise several taxes including the Value Added Tax (VAT) with immediate effect and simultaneously the prices of cigarettes will also have be increased due to the increase in production prices, the Company noted.

The revised prices will be announced tonight.

Meanwhile, the prices of liquor have also been increased in response to the revised taxes.

MIAP

Former MP Duminda Silva whose arrest was reconfirmed by the Supreme Court yesterday was admitted to the Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital today (01). The former MP is being treated at Ward 18, according to report.

Hospital sources claim that the ex-convict was diagnosed for epilepsy.

A group of officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had been to the hospital to arrest the former MP.

The arrest on Silva will be made if his condition is not serious, said Police Spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police Nihal Thalduwa.

MIAP

Import restrictions have been relaxed on 369 items.

Accordingly, these items can be imported subject to taxes and laws and regulations in force, a statement by the Finance Ministry noted.

MIAP

Former President and Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) MP Maithripala Sirisena announced that all SLFP members who had violated the Party’s view to support the government as an Opposition by joining the government will be dismissed from their party titles.

Accordingly, SLFP MPs Nimal Siripala De Silva and Mahinda Amaraweera who were sworn in as ministers of the Ranil-led regime will be removed from all SLFP-titles.

The decision has been made following a decision taken by the SLFP Central Working Committee.

MIAP