The Road Development Authority (RDA) reported that Sri Lanka’s expressways have accumulated an income of Rs. 126 million during the dates of April 10, 11, and 12. R.A.D. Kahatapitiya, the Director of Expressway Operation Maintenance and Management Division, indicated that approximately 366,000 vehicles traveled on the expressways during this period.
The significant traffic and resulting revenue highlight the expressways’ role in facilitating transportation during peak travel times, such as the recent holiday season.
Sri Lanka has resorted to the phased reduction of para-tariffs and unification with existing customs tariff structures could boost domestic production, promote exports, raise employment and GDP while simplifying tariff administration, finance ministry sources said.
In an era of global trade dominated by global value chains, much of the recent empirical analysis has focused on the impacts of non-tariff barriers, behind-the-border measures, and other transaction costs on integration.
Though most countries have substantially lowered their Most Favored Nation tariffs, the evidence is surfacing from developing countries that other border taxes are on the rise, increasing the level and complexity of protection. Para-tariffs are often disguised, under-reported, and, in some cases, total protection levels exceed committed tariff bindings under the WTO.
Increasing the transparency of border taxes requires full implementation of WTO Article II on reporting tariff schedules, including para-tariffs, together with institutional capacity building of developing countries across their respective customs and other related agencies
Despite global market volatility that is prevalent for the longest time, affecting Sri Lanka’s revenue generation amidst its economic crisis, apparel exports has also faced the wrath of policies such as para tariffs hindering its competitiveness.
Consultant for Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) Sri Lanka Yohan Lawrence said: “These (paratariff for apparel material imports) are hindrances for trade making Sri Lanka more expensive than it should be.”
He added that Sri Lanka needs to be more competitive as a destination for investment and the major part of such investment is the Ease of Doing Business.
Lawrence pointed out that the island’s apparel industry faces further pricing pressure due to the fact such as strengthening if the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) and it is mandatory to foreign exchange conversion yet by the exporters
“This takes away any flexibility that the exporter had in terms of timing and rates of conversion having a direct impact on the profitability of the exporter and will be a particular concern for apparel exporters in the SME sector,” he elaborated.
According to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), in February 2024, the apparel export revenue value has declined due to excess supply relative to the global demand.
At the same time, the apparel export revenue during the same month has declined year-on-year by 2.06%, states the CBSL.
In January 2024, Sri Lanka’s garment exports decreased by 10 per cent to $349.1 million YoY.Textile exports fell by 16.1 per cent, while exports of other manufactured textile articles rose by 12.5 per cent.
Textiles, garments, and related products constituted 49.41 per cent of Sri Lanka’s industrial exports.Imports of textiles increased slightly
Stressing the predicament of the apparel exports in Sri Lanka, Lawrence noted that overall the first couple of months in 2022 were down about 3% from 2023 and it is still at around 20% less than 2022 which was one of their best years.
The biggest celebration in Sri Lanka that features a load of rituals and customs is one of the must things to experience in your holiday on the island. Based on the sun’s movement from the Meena Rashiya (House of Pieces) to the Mesha Rashiya (House of Aries) Sri Lankan welcomes the New Year a lot of firecrackers, fireworks and gourmet of traditional sweets
This week’s celebration of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year was more blissful than it had been in the four preceding years. There were distinct signs that the country had passed through its darkest and hardest times and was looking forward to happier days
Sinhala and Tamil New Year Rituals the unique rituals and the traditions are what make Sinhala and Tamil New Year special and memorable. Neutral period (Nonagathe)
The New Year rituals start in 13th with a ritual called neutral period or Nonagathe. During this time people keep off from all the work and do nothing but engage in religious activities to get the blessing of their religion to prepare for the New Year.
The Ministry of Agriculture has allocated the required funds for the purchase paddy from the farmers. Recently, the prices of vegetables and fruits have increased drastically.
The Ministry intervened and implemented several measures to boost vegetable and fruit production to address this issue. As a result, market prices for these items have been stabilized..
President Ranil Wickremesinghe inherited a struggling nation but has transformed it into a liveable place for its citizens today.
Locally produced rice, vegetables, eggs, chicken and fruits needed for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations have been supplied to the market without any shortages, Agriculture and Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.
He said the vegetable prices, which increased rapidly about a month ago and the shortage of vegetables have been completely ended by now. Under the government’s programme to increase production in the country, more than the required amount of poultry meat, eggs, vegetables, fruits and rice are now available in the market.
“People also claimed that the price of a kilogramme of carrot will go up to Rs. 5,000 during the New Year season. But now, not only the price of carrots but also the prices of all other vegetables have come down. Although some said that the price of an egg will go up to Rs. 75, the price of eggs has also decreased to Rs. 40,” he said.
“During previous years, the prices of these goods in the market increased during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations. But this time there is no such price increase. And you can buy as many consumer goods as you need without a shortage.
“By May, the price of an egg will decrease to between Rs. 30 and Rs. 38. Similarly, we have several other challenges as well,” the Minister said, and added, “Our goal is to overcome all these and make the country self-sufficient in food.”
A delegation from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), headed by Assistant Chief Executive Officer (Operations), Dr. Abdul Jalil Abdul Karder, along with two other officers from the Joint Operation Division of the SFA visited Sri Lanka from 25 to 28 March.
The purpose of the visit was to conduct pre-inspections of slaughterhouses in Sri Lanka that have applied for licenses from the SFA in Singapore, with the objective of assessing the potential of Sri Lankan companies to be approved as sources of poultry products for Singapore.
For Sri Lanka to export poultry products to Singapore, it is imperative for the country to meet the stringent requirements set out by the SFA.
In this regard, facilitating this process, the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) organised additional visits for the SFA delegation to rice processing mill, a fruit and vegetable processing centre, as well as a seafood export company.
In collaboration with the SFA, the Sri Lanka High Commission in Singapore, the Department of Animal Production and Health (DAPH), and the EDB undertook efforts aimed at promoting Sri Lankan products, particularly poultry and rice, in the Singaporean market.
Applications for licenses from Sri Lankan poultry processing and export companies, facilitated by the DAPH, are currently under evaluation by the SFA.
Additionally, samples from various rice processing mills were submitted to the SFA for further assessment by potential clients.
During their visit, the Singaporean team also held discussions with EDB Chairman Kingsley Bernard, and other officials of the Board.
These discussions revolved around existing export opportunities and enhancing trade relations between the two nations. Representatives from the Sri Lanka Food Processors Association and the Sri Lanka Fruit and Vegetable Association also joined the deliberations.
The visit of this delegation marks a significant step towards strengthening trade ties between Singapore and Sri Lanka, understanding the international quality and safety requirements for exports while considering opening doors for Sri Lankan poultry products to enter the Singaporean market and expanding market for other fisheries/agriculture products in Singaporean market.
A delegation from Singapore Food Agency (SFA), the competent authority responsible for food safety and security in the country, has visited Sri Lanka to inspect companies that wished to export foods to the country.
“For Sri Lanka to export poultry products to Singapore, it is imperative for the country to meet the stringent requirements set out by the SFA,” EDB said.
“In this regard, facilitating this process, the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) organized additional visits for the SFA delegation to a rice processing mill, a fruit and vegetable processing center, as well as a seafood export company.
Samples from rice processing mills were submitted to the SFA for further assessment by potential clients.
Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera announced that the Cabinet of Ministers approved the electricity sector reforms bill during its meeting recently
The Cabinet approval entails the green light to Gazette the amended version of the new electricity sector bill and to subsequently present it to Parliament for further consideration and approval.
“The bill will be gazetted this week and is scheduled to be presented to Parliament in the last week of April. Upon its presentation, the public will have a two-week window to scrutinise and potentially challenge the bill,” he noted via ‘X’.
The proposed electricity sector reforms bill marks a pivotal step in the Government’s efforts to modernise and streamline the electricity sector, aiming to enhance efficiency, reliability, and sustainability while fostering competition and innovation.
The Sri Lankan Government intends to restructure the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), instead of running all the related entities under one institution and will unbundle all related institutions separately, Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera disclosed.
Currently loss making Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is now in for systematic restructuring process by unbundling it into eight separate corporate entities for power generation, transmission, and distribution, a recent board paper on administration specified.
The board paper clearly indicated that it plans to reduce massive losses of the CEB by transforming it into efficient profit making institution by setting up these entities under eight new general managers.
These entities will undertake functions of the CEB relating to hydro electricity, thermal electricity, coal power and non renewable power generation, distribution, and other activities of CEB as well as Lanka Electricity Company (LECO).
A new Electricity Reforms Bill have been drafted and presented in Parliament soon to regularise the restructuring process, a senior official of the Ministry of Power said
“Under the CEB restructuring process, the management structure of the CEB will be undergoing reforms and this would also enable renewable energy generation to be promoted in the country with the support of government and private and public partnerships.” he said.
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has alaready comapleted all background studies and data gathering work related to its restructuring programme,
But it must wait until the proposed Electricity Sector Reforms Bill is passed in the Parliament for any of the related decisions to become material fact, a hig official of the CEB said. .
In the midst of the economic crisis that emerged in the country due to following wrong financial policies and the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government focused on placing various Government and semi-Government institutions including the CEB under restructuring programmes.
CEB General Manager, engineer, Dr. Narendra de Silva said that various conceptual level processes are currently underway as part of the restructuring programme. “The restructuring process is currently underway. We have appointed an internal committee and it is working closely with the Restructuring Office established by the Government. All background studies have been done and the required data has been collected,” he said
In a significant reorganization, the United People’s Party (UPP) led by General Secretary and Minister Tiran Alas has announced the appointment of several key members to its political committee. Hemapriya Kaviratne, renowned for his role as a tuition teacher and as the convener of the Black Cap Movement during recent political struggles, has been named the Political Secretary and Media Secretary.
Additionally, the UPP has appointed lawyer Vajira Ranasinghe as the Legal Affairs Secretary. Former senior police officer Ranjith Dasanayake will take up the role of National Organizer, with Sumit Ratnamalla stepping in as Deputy National Organizer. Sameera Manahara has been appointed as the Youth Affairs Secretary, highlighting the party’s focus on engaging younger demographics in its future endeavors.
April 13, Colombo (LNW): At Chennai Airport, a couple was apprehended on Thursday night for attempting to board a flight to Colombo with fake passports. Immigration officials discovered the fraudulent documents while checking the travel papers of passengers.
The suspects, identified as Ramachandran (45) and his wife Hanisha (40) from Perambalur, were found to be originally from Sri Lanka but had been residing in Perambalur for the past few years. They had acquired ration cards and other Indian identity documents during their stay.
Investigations revealed that recently the couple had obtained fake passports using their Perambalur address in a bid to visit Sri Lanka. Upon discovery, immigration authorities detained the couple and notified the Central Crime Branch and the Q Branch. Following a thorough investigation at the airport, Ramachandran and Hanisha were arrested and taken to the Central Crime Branch office of the Chennai police for further proceedings.
April 13, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) has reported a significant increase in daily income, reaching Rs. 25 million, attributed to the special bus service implemented for the April New Year festival. Starting April 5, the SLTB enhanced its service by deploying 200 additional buses to accommodate the surge in passengers traveling to their hometowns for the festive period. Panduka Swarnahansa, the Deputy General Manager of SLTB, highlighted this increase as a testament to the effective management and provision of transportation services during high-demand periods.
In parallel, the Road Development Authority (RDA) has observed a 10% rise in its revenue, spurred by the increased traffic flow associated with the festival. The RDA anticipates further increases in revenue as the festivities continue until April 15, 2024.
Additionally, the Railway Department has contributed to easing the transportation rush by introducing 12 extra train services specifically for the festival season, which will run until April 15, 2024. This coordinated effort across various transportation agencies underscores their commitment to ensuring efficient and adequate transportation for the public during one of Sri Lanka’s most celebrated times of the year.
April 13, Colombo (LNW): In a major operation, the Sri Lanka Navy has intercepted two multi-day fishing trawlers off the southern coast, seizing approximately 200 kilograms of suspected heroin and crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as ‘Ice’. The operation led to the arrest of ten crew members found aboard these vessels.
The trawlers were detected during a special naval operation aimed at curtailing the drug trade in the region. Both vessels are currently being escorted to Galle Harbour, where the suspects will be handed over to the authorities for further investigation.
This significant drug haul underscores the ongoing efforts of the Sri Lanka Navy to combat illegal narcotics trafficking in the maritime zones of the island, contributing to national security and public health initiatives.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe has affirmed his commitment to empowering the people and fortifying the economy by ensuring access to education, land, housing, and business opportunities. Stressing the importance of broadening economic participation, he highlighted its role in fostering a resilient national economy.
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has decided to take disciplinary action against MP Prof. G. L. Peiris, the party’s general secretary Sagara Kariyawasam said. According to him, the decision was reached by the executive committee of SLPP after taking into account the fact that he entered into an electoral pact with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).
India on Wednesday said it is and will remain Colombo’s most reliable friend and dependable partner as it underlined that New Delhi was willing to offer modern defence equipment to friendly partner countries like Sri Lanka.
The distribution of annual gift parcels to children under the care of 336 child development centers throughout the country, in line with President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s initiative. Coordinated by the Office of the President, with support from the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff and Sri Lanka Army, the distribution aims to bring joy to over 10,000 children.
Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan have successfully concluded the second round of Foreign Office Consultations in Astana. The Sri Lanka delegation was led by Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane while the Kazakh delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Alibek Bakayev.
The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) says its daily revenue has gone up by approximately Rs. 25 million owing to the special bus service set in place for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year season.
Sri Lanka Navy has intercepted two multi-day fishing trawlers carrying around 200kg of suspected heroin and crystal methamphetamine (‘Ice’) off the southern coast of the island. Ten crew members who were on board the vessels were also taken into custody.
Indian low-cost airline, Indigo, has expanded its connectivity to Sri Lanka adding direct flights from Mumbai to Colombo.
The National Transport Commission has launched raids on private buses that overcharge for transportation services.Chairman of the National Transport Commission Shashi Welgama says the steps were taken based on information received from commuters.
Former Sri Lankan cricketer and international umpire Kumar Dharmasena has denied media reports linking him to an illegal agricultural business operated in Sri Lanka. In a video message on Facebook, Dharmasena said his factory for the production of Agarwood, popularly known as oudh, products were being carried out as per the laws of the nation.
