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Bus operations likely to drop by 50 per cent from tomorrow

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Bus operations likely to drop by 50 per cent from tomorrow

Diesel is not provided enough to operate passenger buses and bus operations, therefore, have been hampered significantly, revealed President of the Private Bus Owners’ Association Gemunu Wijeratne.

The Union Chief revealed that in the last three days, the supply of diesel through the depots belonging to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) was not carried out properly and accordingly, it was not possible to carry out bus operations in full today.

In the backdrop, chances are high that the bus operations may drop by 50 per cent from tomorrow, Wijeratne warned.

The Union Chief urged the authorities to foster a formal mechanism to supply fuel in order to operate the buses in full capacity and to pay attention to this matter immediately.

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Udaya Sri Kariyawasam writes open letter to IGP on Police’s productivity

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Udaya Sri Kariyawasam writes open letter to IGP on Police’s productivity

Raising much concerns on the Sri Lanka Police’s productivity, Dr. Udaya Sri Kariyawasam has written an open letter to the Inspector General of Police in his capacity as a normal citizen.

The State Mortgage and Investment Bank Chief questioned whether the Sri Lanka Police as a government institution dependent on tax payer’s money provides an equal service to the public.

Despite the Police being seen as a public institution that is obliged to maintain the country’s rule of law, if the law violated by them, it is also a violation of the rule of law, Kariyawasam pointed out.

He added that should the Police, maintained by the tax payer’s money, fail to assure an environment suitable for the public to live freely and peacefully, the funds spent on the entire Police Department cannot be justified at all.

If the Department, nevertheless, is required to boost its productivity, such service can be provided free of charge, he revealed.

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Ex President Rajapaksa to return to SL on Sep 03

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Ex President Rajapaksa to return to SL on Sep 03

Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will return to Sri Lanka on September 03, former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga told media today (25).

The former Ambassador confessed that his early comments on Rajapaksa returning to the island on August 24 were mistakenly made, adding that due to this misinformation, the former President’s return further delayed.

Rajapaksa who fled the nation amidst growing anti government protests is currently in Thailand and early reports claimed that he was set to return to the island once his safety was guaranteed.

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We do not support anyone repressing people’s struggle: Opposition Leader (VIDEO)

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We do not support anyone repressing people’s struggle: Opposition Leader (VIDEO)

Despite the government’s proposition on forming an all-party government, it actually implements a programme that devours everything, and therefore, no government that continues to repress the people’s struggle will be endorsed, said Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, addressing the people’s alignment against repression held in the Colombo Foundations Institute yesterday (24).

The event was attended by political parties, trade unions, civil movements, artists, multi-people organisations, and also representatives of the British High Commission, the Canadian Embassy, the Australian Embassy and the South African Embassy.

Speaking to the event, the Opposition Leader invited all forces to spare differences and joint the mission to defeat state brutality.

He pointed out that the government is violating the rights of the citizens of this country by using the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and stressed that no one has the right to violate or take away the rights of the people.

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Sri Lankans in Europe to gather in Geneva against state repression

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Sri Lankans in Europe to gather in Geneva against state repression

Sri Lankans living in European countries are set to gather in Geneva, Switzerland against state repression including forcible arrests and intimidation of activists.

Accordingly, the Sri Lankans living in European countries will stage a protest in front of the United Nations Human Rights Council headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland on August 28.

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Public servants expecting foreign employment under no-pay leave to meet many conditions

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Public servants expecting foreign employment under no-pay leave to meet many conditions

Public servants who are expecting foreign employment under no-pay leave will have to meet a number of conditions imposed by the government. These conditions have been declared under a special circular issued by the Finance Ministry.

These public servants should submit themselves to a mandatory condition of remitting a fixed amount of dollars on a monthly basis. The remittance rates are below;

  • A primary level public servant – US$ 100 per month
  • A secondary level public servant – US$ 200 per month
  • A tertiary level public servant – US$ 300 per month
  • A senior level public servant – US$ 500 per month

These monies should be remitted to a non-resident foreign currency account in their name through the national banking system.

The move is part of the programme implemented with the aim of emitting more forex remittances and making a high contribution to the country’s economy via optimal utilisation of human resources, and public servants expecting foreign employment will also have the opportunity to take leave without pay for a maximum period of five years.

In any event does a public servant apply for leave for foreign employment, the head of his or her institution will grant permission only if there is a method of employing another employee to cover their shift.

If the public servant who is expecting to leave the country has obtained loans from banks or other financial institutions, they should reach a legal agreement regarding the payment instalment method related to the loans during the period of five years abroad.

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More diesel and petrol ships on their way: Energy Ministry

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More diesel and petrol ships on their way: Energy Ministry

A ship carrying 40,000 metric tonnes of auto diesel will arrive in the island within the next two-to-three days, revealed the Energy Ministry.

Also, a ship carrying 33,000 metric tonnes of octane 92 petrol will arrive in the island on August 27 – 29, it added.

The ship carrying 30,000 metric tonnes of super diesel arrived in Sri Lanka is set to unload the stocks today (25).

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Trade Minister and Producers enter common ground on prices of eggs

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Trade Minister and Producers enter common ground on prices of eggs

Trade Minister Nalin Fernando has agreed to declare the maximum retail price of an egg be Rs. 50, revealed the All Ceylon Egg Producers’ Association, speaking to reporters after attending a discussion with the subject minister yesterday (24).

The government last week issued a gazette declaring the maximum retail price of a white egg as Rs. 43 and a red egg Rs. 45, leading to objections by the producers who slapped back saying that they cannot sell eggs for such prices. In the midst of the disagreements, the price of an egg in the local market had exceeded Rs. 60.

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SL Tourism Ministry to restructure Rs 500 billion tourism sector debt

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SL Tourism Ministry to restructure Rs 500 billion tourism sector debt

Sri Lanka Tourism Ministry is planning to restructure debt of tourism sector stakeholders running up to Rs. 5000 billion at present, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairman Priantha Fernando said.

The Sri Lanka tourism authorities, led by Tourism Minister Harin Fernando, are actively contemplating on setting up what is called a ‘bad bank’ to restructure the debt of the crisis-hit tourism sector,he said.

“It (bad bank) is an option that we are very much looking into. While we have not confirmed the setting of a bad bank, we have not written it off either” he added.

Active discussions are taking place; we will finalise a way forward for the tourism sector to tackle their loans,” Mr Fernando divulged.

The idea of establishing a bad bank was spawned mid-last year when the tourism sector stakeholders were negotiating the extension of the moratorium extended to the
industry loans.

Bad banks are typically government-sponsored asset reconstruction companies (ARCs) set up with the primary objective of cleaning up bank balance sheets.

He said “Unlike private ARCs, bad banks are established as a one-time measure, with the primary objective of reducing the build-up of non-performing assets, post a financial or economic crisis”.

Fernando shared that by end-August a decision would be reached on the way forward, after which a proposal would be presented to the Tourism Minister, which then will be tabled in Parliament.

According to the SLTDA chief, the industry stakeholders are “very much” on board with the idea of setting up of a bad bank, as it is viewed as a workable way forward to assist with the settlement of their loans. Fernando assured that the decision would be finalised only after a consultative process with the stakeholders is followed.

The tourism industry debt is estimated to be over Rs.500 billion, including the accumulated debt. The industry found itself in a rather tight situation in early June when the moratorium extended to it expired.

Police all eyes on ‘Aragalaya’ second wave. Intelligence Units called in!

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Police all eyes on ‘Aragalaya’ second wave. Intelligence Units called in!

The Police have launched a special investigation into what they warn as a potential second wave of the anti-government protests, following the establishment of the ‘Aragala National Centre’ (Aragala Jaathika Madhyasthanaya) by the groups associated with the Galleface protests.

The new movement’s debut event titled ‘Rata Dinawana Aragalaye Deweni Rella’ (The Second Wave of the Struggle that makes the Country win) was held on Vauxhall Street, Colombo yesterday (24). Accordingly, the Police’s probe into the second wave will subsequently focus on the new movement as well.

Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) in Charge of the Western Province, Deshabandu Thennakoon has sent a letter to the higher officials of the Colombo Central Division, requesting them to pay special attention to the aforementioned activists and the movement, and urging that a special probe be launched through intelligence units.

The movement was established under the knowledge and navigation of a powerful political figure in Sri Lanka and its media coordination officer is known to be one of his close associates, Thennakoon’s letter claimed.

It added that front-line activists of the People’s Struggle including the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) and other multi-people and civil movements are also endorsing the Aragala National Centre and that Social Media is used as medium to spread membership.

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