Students of the Wayamba University of Sri Lanka today (23) joined the public protest at the Galleface.
These students also staged a protest.
Government already ridiculed before international eye (VIDEO)
The country has driven itself into a situation where there is no government and the government has been divided into two factions where one group wants the President to stay in power and the other wants the Prime Minister to stay in power, said Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Lakshman Kiriella said speaking to a briefing held in the Opposition Leader’s Office today (23).
Accordingly, the government, despite its attempts to convince otherwise, has already been ridiculed before the international eye, the MP pointed out, questioning which international organisation would help a regime that is not politically stable.
Parliament has no fiscal power either, he added.
MIAP
Tea exports decline. 2.64 million kg drop in March
Sri Lanka’s tea exports in March 2022 were 23.17 million kilograms, indicating a decline of 2.64 million kilograms compared to March 2021, brokerage firms revealed.
Sri Lanka exported 63.7 million kilograms of tea during the first quarter of 2022 and it indicates a drop of a 6.19 million kilograms compared to the first quarter last year, they pointed out.
The government’s move to ban the import of chemical feriliser also struck hard on the Tea Industry last year.
MIAP
Terror at Rambukkana: SSP Keerthiratne to be arrested next week..
Chances are very high that SSP in charge of the Kegalle Police Division K.B. Keerthiratne will be arrested over the shooting at a protest held in Rambukkana on April 19 killing one, sources said.
Probe by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) reveals that the heat of the Rambukkana protest could have been tamed down in a matter of another half an hour had SSP Keerthiratne not intervened in the matter, sources added.
Below is the summary of the probe to date:
People have been queuing themselves at the fuel station in Rambukkana since April 17 to purchase fuel but have not received it. A day after, fuel prices soared to be in effect from the midnight of April 18 and rumours had been spreading across the area that a fuel bowser that was set to arrive at the station on April 19 had been dispatched prior to the fuel price surge and hidden.
Following the rumour, the residents had staged a protest demanding that the fuel should be issued at the old price instead of the revised price. The Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in charge of the area had arrived at the scene and discussed the matter with the protesters saying that the issue regarding fuel prices should be resolved with the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) and that an action can be taken upon the CEYPETCO’s response to the matter.
The ASP had briefed the matter to SSP Keethiratne on the spot and informed him that the situation can be controlled without his presence.
However, Keerthiratne had arrived at the scene in a motorcycle with a helmet on and his actions had stemmed an intensification at the scene, as the SSP had ordered the Police to launch a tear gas attack on the protesters and assault them with batons.
The protesters, furious, had retaliated by pelting stones at the Police. Being hit in a hand, SSP Keerthiratne had gone on a rampage and ordered the Police to open fire, according to sources.
The investigative unit had informed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the President of all this and both of them, who did not approve of the event at all, had stated that legal actions should be taken against the SSP.
Accordingly, these information will be informed to the Court and chances are very high that SSP Keethiratne will be arrested next week, the sources further claimed.
Previous reports:
MIAP
Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong meets with Independent MP group
The Sri Lankan MP group led by former Ministers Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila and Vasudewa Nanayakkara who claimed themselves to have left the government to act independently in Parliament have met with Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong yesterday (22).
The group has exchanged opinions on the current situation in the country while seeking China’s continuous support to the island nation, the Embassy of China said in a statement.
MPs Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Udaya Gammanpila, Vasudewa Nanayakkara, Athuraliye Rathana Thero, Dayasiri Jayasekara and several others joined the event.
MIAP
PM Mahinda confirms that he is in very good health
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has said that reports that he has been hospitalized due to an illness are false and that he is in very good health.
He also says that only a few ruling party MPs are saying that he should resign from the post of Prime Minister and the majority will not say so.
He also commented on the demand made by Dullas Alahapperuma and others that the Prime Minister should step down and establish an interim government with a new cabinet. Rajapaksa said that if such is created, it must be done with its own primacy.
The Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had stated this in response to a media query this morning (22).
Israel eyes Sri Lanka to shoot their films amidst difficult times
Sri Lanka is being promoted as the best destination for film shooting given the geographical proximity, exotic and diverse locations in a small island and the lower production cost.
Several leading film production houses representing Bollywood and South Indian film industry have expressed willingness to shoot some of their films soon after the country’s current crisis is resolved, tourism ministry sources said.
Even amidst the country’s current difficult situation Israeli film production house ‘United Channel Movies”(UCM)has decided to shoot their latest feature film ” Arugam Bay” in the Eastern region of Sri Lanka. Filming to be started from 3rd May to 22nd May 2022 in Sri Lanka .
The film crew along with actors and actresses have arrived in the country and the main filming will be taking place in Arugam Bay, Colombo, as well as in Tel Aviv- Israel.This film is expected to be screened in Israel and over 50 countries across Europe.
The story of the film is about a young Israeli group traveling to Sri Lanka for surfing and life experiences they have on the island. Also, the film talks about the warm hospitality of Sri Lankan and the genuine love and care offered to foreigners in general.
Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau has warmly welcomed Israeli film production house ‘United Channel Movies”(UCM) to Sri Lanka to shoot their latest feature film ” Arugam Bay” in the Eastern region of Sri Lanka. Filming to be started from 3rd May to 22nd May 2022.
The main filming will be taking place in Arugam Bay, Colombo, as well as in Tel Aviv- Israel. This film is expected to be screened in Israel and over 50 countries across Europe.
While creating a greater promotion for the destination of Sri Lanka as well as Eastern Province (as an unforgettable beach destination with many adventure and leisure activities) this filming project expects to generate foreign revenue for the country’s economy.
Sri Lankan-based International Film Production Company Frames TV & Film Productions’ will be joining-hand with UCM Productions, Israel Film Commission, and Sri Lanka Tourism to produce this film in Sri Lanka
World Bank provides assistance of $300 – $600 Million (VIDEO)
Talks with the World Bank to revive the Sri Lankan economy have been successful and it has agreed to provide US $ 300 to 600 million in assistance over the next two weeks and four months, Finance Minister Ali Sabri said.
The Minister of Finance stated that the assistance was provided for health, food and fertilizer and that the discussions with India were very successful.
India has agreed to provide another US $ 500 million in aid for fuel.
Meanwhile, the Minister said that steps will be taken to make the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund a success.
SL’s fuel price hike the highest in the region results in public commotion
State-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) will gain billions of rupees in profits, despite assertions that it was losing money, from the sale of fuel at the new prices, however amidst owing billions of rupees to state banks from borrowings, reliable sources aid. .
The CPC owes Rs. 652 billion in loans to state-owned Bank of Ceylon and the People’s Bank. The role of the Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera in announcing the price hike without issuing a gazette notification on the new prices has stirred controversy as it is the Minister of Finance who issues such a gazette under normal, established practice.
The government was prompted to introduce the fuel price hike following trends of crude oil price in international markets that hit new highs for the third week and the country’s current weak foreign exchange position,
Petrol 92 Octane price was increased by Rs.84 to Rs. 338, Petrol 95 Octane by Rs.90 to Rs.373, Auto Diesel by Rs113 to Rs.289,.
The Energy Ministry attributed the reason to the hike to heavy losses incurred by the CPC in selling fuel to state institutions like Ceylon Electricity Board and the Sri Lankan Airlines at subsidised prices and its delay in due payments along with high dollar rate and high global oil price . However the LNW learns that the CPC will rake in massive profits with the new increase.
According to official data, the cost of importing a litre of Petrol 92 at the rate of US$ 61.35 per barrel and exchange rate Rs. 340 per dollar is Rs.127 while its total tax (import duty+ ESC +PAL) is Rs. 39. Therefore the cost per litre is Rs 160.50 and the difference between the imported price and selling price (Rs.338- Rs. 127) is Rs.211.
This was the highest profit gained by the CPC the recent amidst the scarcity of fuel triggered by dollar criis provoking people to take to the streets protesting against the sudden massive petroleum hike and in one such protest in Rambukkana police opened fire to disperse angry crowds killing a protestor and injuring 24 others five days ago.
This was President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s recent saga of the newly appointed youth cabinet for doings things very much better, economic and political analysts said.
Similarly the import cost of a litre of Petrol 95 is Rs. 125. The total tax component (import duty+ ESC +PAL) is Rs.60 and the import price is Rs. 185. Diference between the import price and selling price (Rs.373-Rs.185 ) is Rs. 188
The cost of a litre of Auto Diesel is Rs.160,50. The tax component is Rs.12.the import price is RS172.50 and the difference between the imported price and selling price (Rs.289 –Rs.172.50) is Rs. 117.50.
With a view of managing the situation better newly appointed Minister Kanchana Wijesekera ha sincreased the fuel price to the highst level in the region doing a better service for the country.
The normal procedure was that the price revision of fuel is determined and announced in a gazette notification by the Finance Ministry with effect from midnight on the date of the notification of revised prices. The price hike of the preset regime has not followed this proper procedure by the present minister of energy.
The present violation of procedure was more serious as the present Energy Minister has taken the decision to increase the fuel price during the absence of the Finance Minister who was in Washington to attend IMF meetings.
This was confirmed by a former treasury secretary saying that the determination of the tail fuel price is a very complex mathematical procedure involving various variables such as the landed cost, processing cost, administrative cost and taxation.
Therefore this complex procedure of fuel price determination has been vested in treasury officials with knowledge and practical experience he disclosed.
However newly appointed minister of power and energy Kanchana Wijesekera told parliament on Thursday 21 that the decision was taken after discussion with relevant ministry and CPC officials and with the consent of the President..
He added that he contacted the finance minister over the phone and received his approval as well.
Terror in Rambukkana: The last rites of Chaminda Lakshan to be held today
The last rites of Chaminda Lakshan, a 41-year-old father of two, who was shot dead by police during a public protest in Rambukkana on April 19, will be held today (23).
Accordingly, the last rites will be performed at Devalagama, Naranbedda and Hiruwadunna today.
The body of Chaminda Lakshan, who died on the 19th in a police shooting, was brought to his house last night (21).
Troops have deployed heavy security in the area until the end of the funeral.