The sell price of a US Dollar has surged up to Rs. 330, as revealed by a number of private banks. The buy price marks Rs. 310.
In the wake of the severe Dollar deficit triggered by the foreign exchange crisis, the demand for the Dollar is rising sharply, due to which its sell price is rising by around Rs. 05 – 10 a day.
MIAP
The public protest launched on April 09 demanding the stepping down of the President and the Government is continuing for the third consecutive day today (11).
These demonstrators were seen placing a board titled ‘Gotagogama’ near the Shangri-La Hotel.
People from many parts of the country are still joining the anti-government protest at the Galle Face.
Photos: Facebook
All liquor stores will be closed on April 13 and 14 as per the decision of the Department of Excise.
MIAP
The ideology of ousting the President and the Government was placed among the youth who are staging anti-government demonstrations today by Leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Anura Kumara Dissanayake, JVP former MP Sunil Handunnetti said, speaking to a rally organised by the National People’s Power (NPP).
Had it not been for Dissanayake’s outspokenness for the people and against the corrupt, Sri Lanka would have been sold already, the former MP claimed, questioning those denying the 225 MPs what is the problem with the three MPs who represent the NPP.
“Anura Kumara Dissanayake is always number one in Parliament. He is number one in everything; his presentation, arguments, speeches and engagement in debates. He always sits by the side of the people. He never sided with the corrupt. He was the one who unmasked the corrupt. There is a fact that some of you comrades who take to the streets denying the corrupt do not know. The ideology of denying the corrupt was implanted in you by none other than Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Had it not been for Anura Dissanayake, the corrupt would have ruled the country, wouldn’t have even left the country to be the way it is today. If Anura Kumara Dissanayake wasn’t here, the country would have already been sold. So what’s wrong with Anura Kumara Dissanayake? Why are they being put on the account of the 225? Therefore, we say, may you put as many as you please in that account, but not our three members.”
Despite the public’s engagement in protests, the current political crisis can only be solved at the intervention of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Parliament, said Dayasiri Jayasekara, Secretary General of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) speaking to a briefing called in by the SLFP yesterday (10).
“It is fair that the people are taking to the streets and protesting. The people of this country are taking to the streets and demanding, the first, the stepping down of the President – Gota Go Home, and the stepping down of the Rajapaksas the second. The people demand the establishment of a Cabinet without Rajapaksas. If we are to continue the programme by forming another Cabinet otherwise, the people’s definite willingness to take to the streets again cannot be stopped. It is in this backdrop are we suggesting the formation of an interim government in order to formulate a programme for a defined period of time. No matter how harder the people demonstrate on the streets, the problem can be solved only at the collective intervention of the President and Parliament.”
MIAP
A new Cabinet of Ministers is due to be sworn in today (11) internal sources from the government claimed.
The new Cabinet is likely to become an all Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Cabinet in the event that the Opposition had denied President Rajapaksa’s offer to join the Cabinet and the 11-party MP group is serving independently in Parliament.
Accordingly, the SLPP MPs who had previously served in the Cabinet are likely to be reshuffled into different portfolios, according to sources.
The ever growing anti-government protests throughout the country forced the Cabinet to step down except the Prime Minister on April 03. Later, four ministers including the Minister of Finance were sworn in, pending a full Cabinet.
MIAP
The discussion held between President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the 42-member parliamentary group claiming to have left the government and be serving independently last night (10) has ended without any decision, sources disclosed.
Although the ‘independent’ parliamentary group had proposed the removal of Mahinda Rajapaksa from his premiership in the establishment of an interim government under a new Prime Minister, there was no such discussions regarding the formation of an interim government during the discussion with the President last night, former Minister Vasudewa Nanayakkara, one of the attendees, said.
MIAP
The 42-member parliamentary group claiming to have left the government and be serving independently have held a discussion with Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa and the members of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday (10).
The discussion was reportedly held at the residence of former President Maithripala Sirisena and was attended by the members of the SJB and the Opposition Leader.
Members from both factions told media that the details of this discussion cannot be divulged yet for more discussions are to be carried out.
MIAP
A four-hour power cut will occur today (11) and tomorrow (12) said the Ceylon Electricity Board.
A,B,C zones – 08.30 am – 10.45 am.
D,E,F,P,Q,R zones – 10.45 am – 01.00 pm.
G,H,I,S,T zones – 01.00 pm – 3.15 pm.
J,K,L,U,V,W zones – 03.15 pm – 05.30 pm.
A,B,C,D,P,Q,R zones – 05.30 pm – 07.15 pm.
E,F,G,H,S,T,U zones – 07.15 pm – 09.00 pm.
I,J,K,L,V,W zones – 09.00 pm – 10.45 pm.
MIAP
With the economy in free fall and basics such as food and fuel in dangerously short supply, there is mounting public anger against a failing and desperate government in Sri Lanka.
‘Never in the history of modern Sri Lanka have its citizens queued up for hours to purchase one or two cylinders of cooking gas or a few litres of petrol or kerosene, while a wide range of other shortages continue to plague the country.
If in Ukraine civilians are dying because of the indiscriminate and inconsiderate shelling and bombing by Russian forces, in Sri Lanka they are dying on their feet, some having waited for pre-dawn hours for gas or kerosene to cook what little food they could muster to feed hungry families.
In this situation of the fuel crisis triggered by dollar shortage created by present rulers via their inconsistent policies ,the government at last has decided to stream line fuel distribution at petrol stations amidst public out cry and angry crowds waiting long queues.
The Energy Ministry has instructed the Home Affairs State Ministry to assist in monitoring the fuel distribution activities at fuel stations.
The required fuel was brought into the country despite the current FOREX crisis. Therefore, after the limited import, fuel will be supplied to identified and vital economic activities.
This fuel distribution programmes will br carried out with good management, the remaining fuel should be handed over to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) fuel stations with the intervention of the Energy Ministry.
However, the Energy Ministry pointed out that the decision was taken following several complaints received over the irregularities in the distribution of fuel to customers at filling stations.
Accordingly, the Energy Ministry has informed the Home Affairs State Ministry to implement a plan to monitor the distribution of fuel through filling stations by all District Secretaries and Divisional Secretaries.
