It is reported that the decision taken to increase the price of domestic gas from midnight today (22) has been temporarily suspended
Permission has not been granted to increase prices from today and a decision on the price will be taken at the next cabinet meeting.
The government has decided not to increase prices until the cabinet decision is announced.
According to Litro, the increase in domestic gas prices will not happen at the moment.
Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has left for the Vatican this morning at the special invitation of His Holiness the Pope.
A group of victims of the Easter attack in Sri Lanka has also joined the tour.
It is to visit His Holiness Pope Francis. Accordingly, more than 60 people have left for the Vatican for this visit.
Archdiocese Director of Mass Communication Fr. Jude Krishantha, said the cardinal had informed the pope of this during a meeting.
The Public Utilities Commission has released the schedule of power cuts throughout the country planned for today (22).
en.newswave.lk-demand-managmet-schedule-21-22nd-april-2022-1
Sri Lanka has been assured of the support from aspiring international institutions to strengthen the Sri Lankan economy by pointing out the necessary steps to address the economic challenges facing Sri Lanka expeditiously.
These were the discussions held by the Minister of Finance Ali Sabri, the Governor of the Central Bank Nandalal Weerasinghe and the delegation in Washington during their visit to the US.
During several rounds of discussions yesterday with representatives of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the US State Department, the South and Central Asian Affairs Bureau, and the United States Agency for International Development, several strategies and solutions for short-term and medium-term challenges to economic development was focused.
Ali Sabri, and Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe had a discussion with Geetha Gopinath, First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) yesterday (20).
The discussions focused on the mechanisms and measures needed to expedite the current challenges and economic challenges facing Sri Lanka.
A discussion was also held between the Deputy Assistant Administrator of Asia Bureau of US Agency for International Development (USAID) Anjali Kaur, International Cooperation Specialist of that institution Sanjaya R. Iyer, and Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United States Mahinda Samarasinghe at his residence.
The Sri Lankan delegation also held discussions with the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs at the US State Department Donald Lou, and, the Head of the US Economic Unit John M. C. Daniel.
Following the discussion, the US State Department’s South and Central Asian Affairs Bureau said on their official Twitter account that the United States welcomes the International Monetary Fund’s collaboration with Sri Lanka to work for a lasting solution to the economic hardships of the people.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Ali Sabri and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva met the Sri Lankan delegation at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) office yesterday (20).
The IMF Managing Director reaffirmed her sincere commitment to work together on an online map to support Sri Lanka’s economic recovery. The discussion focused on the policy measures to be taken to address the economic challenges in Sri Lanka.
The Ministry of Technology states that the security of all government-owned websites in the country has been secured to ensure the security of the country.
The secretary of the ministry Jayantha de Silva said that the decision was taken following information circulating on social media that a group of hackers could attack several government websites in the country.
However, no such incident has been reported so far, he said.
The Secretary to the Ministry further said that cyber attacks are a common occurrence and updates in the data security systems are being carried out properly to deal with it.
Litro has announced that they will not be releasing domestic gas cylinders to the market until the 25th.
The company says that this situation is arisen due to a shortage of gas.
The supply of domestic gas cylinders to the market was stopped by Litro on the 12th of this month due to the depletion of gas stocks.
Two ships of 3600 metric tons each are scheduled to arrive in the island on the 25th and 26th.
Litro said they would then be able to re-issue domestic gas cylinders after that.
However, Litro added that they will continue to release gas for essential services such as factories, hospitals and crematoriums.
It is reported that Vijitha Herath has been appointed as the new Chairman of Litro Gas Company.
He was the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation.
Vijitha Herath has been appointed to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Thushara Jayasinghe as Chairman of Litro.
The Minister of Education and Plantation Industries Ramesh Pathirana expressed his confidence in Parliament today (21) that the fuel queues in the country will end within the next three days.
This was stated by Minister Ramesh Pathirana in response to a question raised in Parliament as to whether the students are mentally prepared for the GCE Ordinary Level Examination which is to be held in May.
Minister Ramesh Pathirana expressed confidence that other facilities including transport will be operational as usual when fuel is restored.
The Director-General of Health Services has decided to make the wearing of face masks compulsory again from today (21).
Director-General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena said in a statement that the decision was taken due to people gathering in places all over the country.
He further added that there was a possibility of re-emergence of the coronavirus due to people not wearing face masks during the ongoing protests across the country.
The Minister of Health Prof. Channa Jayasumana stated on the 18th that wearing a face mask is not mandatory.
The Samagi Jana Balawega today handed over to the Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena the draft of the new amendments to the Constitution, including the abolition of the executive presidency.
The Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa handed over the draft to the Secretary General of the Samagi Jana Balawega Ranjith Maddumabandara at the Leader of the Opposition’s office this morning and handed it over to the Speaker.
It includes the abolition of the executive presidency, the repeal of the 20th Amendment, the establishment of independent commissions and the establishment of a National Security Council.
Arachchikattuwa Police today arrested the brother of State Minister of Water Supply Sanath Nishantha, former Chairman of the Arachchikattuwa Pradeshiya Sabha and current Member of Parliament Jagath Samantha.
That was in connection with the attack on four JVP and UNP activists and their houses and properties on the 2nd.
Police stated that Jagath Samantha was in hiding after the attack. Chilaw SP Lalith Rohana had appointed a special police team to arrest him.
The suspect Jagath Samantha was arrested by the Arachchikattuwa Police following a tip off received by the SP that he was staying at a prawn farm in Arachchikattuwa.
A senior police official said that at that time he had tried to jump into the lagoon and later even tried to show his political strength to the police.
Jagath Samantha and others had attacked JVP Chilaw organizer Ajith Gihan as well as a member of the UNP Arachchikattuwa Pradeshiya Sabha and damaged their houses. Four people were injured in the attack. According to the police, one of the victims had 10 stitches on his head. Two vans, two motorcycles and a three wheeler were damaged in the attack, police said.
Jagath Samantha and a group of seven others were involved in the attack and two suspects were arrested by the police and remanded after being produced before the Chilaw District Court on the 4th.
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) staged a protest in Arachchikattuwa on the 5th demanding the police to arrest Jagath Samantha and other suspects and produce them in court.
Police said four more were to be arrested. Jagath Samantha is due to be produced before court today.
Jagath Samantha was also accused in 2020 of illegally revealing an area belonging to the Anavilundawa Ramsa Sanctuary.
Another 40,000 metric tons of diesel arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday under Indian loan assistance, the Indian High Commission said.
The office said that nearly 400,000 metric tons of various types of fuel have been supplied to Sri Lanka in two months with the assistance of India.
The Postal Department has decided to give a grace period till April 23 to pay traffic fines without any additional penalty.
Grace period was extended due to non-payment of fines as April 11 and 12 were public holidays the Department of Posts announced.
Accordingly, fines issued from March 29, 2022 to April 10, 2022 (including those two days) can be paid at any post office or sub post office till April 23, without any extra charge.
The All Ceylon School Children Transporters’ Association states that school van fares will have to be increased by a value between Rs. 2000 and 2500.
Its General Secretary Lalith Chandrasiri says that school van fares had to be increased due to the increase in diesel prices.
He also requested all school children transporters to take steps to charge school van fares in a manner that would not be unfair to parents.
He further stated that if the necessary security is provided for the operation of school vans, all school vans will be operated from tomorrow (21).
The United Ceylon Container Transport Vehicle Owners’ Association says that container freight rates will be increased by 65% from midnight today (20) due to the increase in fuel and spare parts prices.
Its chairman Sanath Manjula says the move comes in addition to rising fuel prices, the rise in the value of the dollar and rising spare parts prices.
The Petroleum Transport Bowser Owners’ Association says that they will withdraw from transporting fuel in the face of the crisis situation that has arisen in the country.
The secretary of the association D. V. Shantha Silva has written a letter to the chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation saying that a decision regarding fuel transportation will be taken again after the insecurity prevails in the country.
However, the letter added that fuel transport could be reconsidered if adequate security was provided for their bowsers.
Three parliamentarians who supported the government have announced that they will become independent in parliament from today.
They are Faisal Qasim, M. S. M. Tawfiq and Ishaq Rahuman.
This was stated by Mr. Faizal Qasim in Parliament today.
Although these three MPs entered Parliament representing the Samagi Jana Balawewa, they later supported the government.
State Minister of Tourism and Fisheries D. V. Chanaka says that a special statement will be presented to Parliament today (20) at 4 pm regarding the Sri Lankan currency allegedly taken to Uganda.
There has been controversy in the country over money taken to Uganda by three planes. SriLankan Airlines has previously announced that it has taken the printing money of the BOI-owned money printing company to Uganda.
However, Piti, a foreign currency printing company in Sri Lanka, declined to comment. Accordingly, all relevant information will be tabled in Parliament this evening, said Minister of State D. V. Chanaka.
The World Bank’s Deputy Chairman for South Asia, Hartwig Schaefer, has said that Sri Lanka is ready to provide emergency assistance to those affected by the economic crisis in Sri Lanka.
He has said this after the discussions held in the United States yesterday with the Minister of Finance of Sri Lanka, the Governor of the Central Bank and others.
Mr. Hartwig Schaefer further stated that a positive discussion was held yesterday on the measures to be taken to resolve the economic crisis in the country.
“At the World Bank, we are particularly concerned about the impact of the current crisis on the poor and vulnerable, and are ready to provide emergency assistance for essential medicines and health supplies, nutrition and education.
Today we had a good discussion with the Minister of Finance of Sri Lanka Ali Sabri and the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Weerasinghe on the measures needed to resolve the economic crisis, to assist in stability and recovery and to protect the people at risk. The World Bank’s Deputy Chairman for the South Asian Region added.
Secretary to the Ministry of Defense Jagath Alwis stated that steps have been taken to appoint a panel to look into whether the police acted excessively during the Rambukkana shooting.
Secretary to the State Ministry of Community Police S.T. Kodikara, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Public Defense Malika Sooriyapperuma, and Legal Adviser to the Ministry of Defense Major General Edward Jayasinghe have been appointed to the panel.
Meanwhile, retired Maj. Gen. Jagath Alwis as the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Defense and IGP C. D. Wickramaratne has issued a special statement in connection with the Rambukkana incident. It is as follows.
Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera says that with the commencement of the unloading of coal by two vessels, the existing coal stocks will be sufficient to generate 810 megawatts of electricity until October.
He points out that two vessels carrying 120,000 metric tons of coal have already started unloading coal after paying US $ 38 million.
He also stressed that with these 2 vessels, the demand for coal will be met before the monsoon season.
With the stock in hand after unloading the two vessels, it will be enough to fully operate the generation of 810 MW of electricity until October, he said.
Due to the monsoon rains, the only time the coal can be transported to the plant is from September to May.
The President of the All Ceylon School Children’s Transport Association Malshree de Silva says that they will withdraw from transport activities of school children today (20).
He said the decision was taken in view of the ongoing conflict situation and road blockades in the country.
The Association of Specialist Physicians is urging the government to reverse its decision to not to wear the face masks in public places.
The statement issued by Dr. Lakkumar Fernando, President of the Association of Specialist Physicians Dr. K. Gnanasekaram further states, although the number of corona cases reported in Sri Lanka has decreased, the public should be further advised to protect themselves from the disease as new strains of corona are still being reported in other parts of the world.
CEB request for 3 hours & 20 minutes power cut due to unavailability of fuel for thermal power plants, approved by PUCSL for 20th of April, All Areas ABCDEFGHIJKLPQRSTUVW – 2 hours from 9am to 5pm and 1 hour & 20 minutes from 5pm to 9pm.
-Chairman PUCSL
pucsl.gov.lk
The IGP has issued a curfew following a special discussion between the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security and the Inspector General of Police at Rambukkana tonight.
Police Media Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa urged the public to stay calm in their homes.
He also asked drivers to avoid the areas where curfew has been imposed and travel.
Four people have been hospitalized after being shot during a tear gas attack by police this evening to disperse the protest that has been going on since this morning blocking the railway line and the main road in Rambukkana town.
Hospital sources said the condition of some of them was critical.
Police headquarters revealed that a fuel train was about to depart and the IGP had obtained permission from the Minister of Public Security to disperse the protesters following a request made by the police to evacuate the public so that the train could run on the track.
The IGP then informed the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Police Chiefs and allowed tear gas to disperse the protest. However, the people have been injured due to the use of live shooting during the dissolution of the protesters.
Police Media Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa issued a special statement in this regard this evening. It’s as follows.
The All Ceylon Restaurant Owners’ Association says it has decided to increase the price of a packet of rice and kottu by 20 percent.
Its chairman Asela Sampath said the decision was taken in the wake of rising fuel prices.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is focusing on issuing expeditious financial assistance to alleviate the economic crisis in Sri Lanka.
This was discussed at a meeting between the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Crystalina Giorgio, and the Sri Lankan delegation, including the Minister of Finance, at the IMF Headquarters in Washington DC yesterday (18).
After considering the special request made by the Minister of Finance that Sri Lanka needs urgent financial assistance at this time, the IMF representatives have emphasized to the Minister of Finance that India has also stood by Sri Lanka to provide speedy financial assistance.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) currently has standard procedures for issuing expeditious financial assistance.
Despite this, representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have told Finance Minister Ali Sabri that they will consider Sri Lanka’s special request for an immediate release of financial assistance.
The Ministry of Finance commended the International Monetary Fund for the steps already taken to alleviate the financial crisis in Sri Lanka.
Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Seetharaman and a high-level Indian economic delegation also met Finance Minister Ali Sabri at the IMF headquarters in Washington DC yesterday (18).
Ms. Seetharaman assured Minister Ali Sabri that India would extend its full support to Sri Lanka to move forward.
He also emphasized India’s commitment to strengthening the economic development of Sri Lanka.
The Indian Finance Minister has also assured Minister Ali Sabri that India will fully support Sri Lanka’s discussions with the IMF to expedite access to a comprehensive funding facility for Sri Lanka.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has assured Sri Lanka of their fullest support to Sri Lanka.
The Ministry of Finance states that a positive response has been received to expedite the process of strengthening support to Sri Lanka.
The Ministry of Finance states that further arrangements will be made to hold several more rounds of discussions today (19).
Mr. Mahinda Siriwardena, Secretary to the Treasury and Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the Central Bank also present in these meetings.
The All Ceylon Bakery Owners’ Association states that the price of a 450 gram loaf of bread will increase by Rs. 30 with effect from midnight today (19).
Bakery owners have also taken steps to increase the price of other bakery products by Rs. 10.
The National Transport Commission (NTC) has decided to increase bus fares by 35 percent from midnight today.
Accordingly, the minimum bus fare will be increased from 20 rupees to 27 rupees.
The increase in bus fares is applicable to both private and SLTB buses, Transport Minister Dilum Amunugama said.
Latest Local and Foreign News Updates and Investigative articles on Local, FOreign, Business, Politics, Environment, Technology and many more.
© 2021 All Right Reserved.
Designed and Developed by Dr. Media.