eLanka News 2022.08.29 – 2022.09.05
29th August 2022
Due to restrictions on oil distribution, queues have formed near filling stations again. The Petroleum Corporation says that the Corporation has sufficient stocks. This situation is aggravated due to the distribution of oil without proper management. However, the people of Colombo and the areas outside Colombo are suffering again from the oil queues.
Meanwhile, due to a lack of proper fuel, public transport and school transport services have reached a crisis situation. The announcement issued by the corporation stated that Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery has been restarted and imported fuel is available in Kolonnawa and Muthurajawela warehouses. The announcement stated that the necessary procurement activities for future oil supply will continue.
Meanwhile, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, has assured us that he is committed to the development of the people of Sri Lanka as a friendly country.
Today is 14 days since the protest started by Halawata fishermen demanding subsidized prices of kerosene. Today, a large number of people marched to Halawata city and supported the protest.
Meanwhile, the water charge has also been increased with effect from September 1st. Under the new amendments, the water unit charge of an average household will increase as well as the fixed charge.
Meanwhile, a debate was held in Parliament today about the increase in electricity bills.
No matter how many debates are held, people’s problems will not be solved. Water charges, electricity charges, and bus fares are increasing, and prices of goods, prices of fuel, and prices of medicine are increasing. But people’s incomes are not increasing. People always suffer.
Mr. Nimal Siripala de Silva, who is in charge of the restructuring plan of Sri Lankan Airlines, made the announcement at a press conference call today.
Meanwhile, a group of All-Party Strugglers Organization came to the Criminal Investigation Department today and filed a complaint. The request mentioned in the complaint was that investigations should be conducted on the super luxury hotel in sinharaja, built by former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son Mr. Rohitha Rajapaksa without even having a job.
The opposition leader Mr. Sajith Premadasa said in a meeting that the government will continue to waste public money while the people of the country are suffering from the economic crisis.
A girl who lost her hands at birth, who achieved excellent results in three academic fields with determination, effort, and hard work, has achieved 3 A’s in the commerce section of this year’s advanced level examination. She is Rashmi Nimesha Gunawardena of Ehliagoda central college.
30th august 2022
President Ranil Wickramasinghe presented the revised budget for the year 2022 as the Finance Minister today.
Its proposals include;
1. Increasing the state budget.
2. Limitation of public expenditure and expansion of tax administration.
3. Welfare of economically vulnerable families.
4. Much attention has been paid to the management of public enterprises.
These are the people’s concessions in the proposals presented today.
1. A monthly allowance of Rs 10,000 for the next 4 months to 61,000 food insecure families.
2. Provisional allowance of Rs.5,000 per month for families on the waiting list for Samurdhi allowance
3. An interim allowance of Rs 2,500 per month in addition to the existing allowance for pregnant mothers.
4. Providing government lands to unemployed youth to encourage agriculture and animal production.
5. 250 million rupees to establish youth agricultural companies.
6. Relief of 50% import duty on advanced new technical equipment for food packaging preparation.
7. Tax concessions on imported components required for local production of electric bicycles.
8. Fuel subsidy for fishermen and families without electricity
These are the suggestions made about increasing the government’s income and limiting expenditure.
1. VAT increase by 3%. The current 12% VAT will be increased by 15%.
2. Implementation of tax proposals introduced in May from October 1.
3. Registration of all persons above 18 years with the Inland Revenue Department
4. Amalgamation of selected 22 local government with municipal councils.
The Inter-University Student Council gathered today near the Maradana Elphinstone Theater demanding the release of those arrested under the Terrorism Act. A group of civil activists also joined it. Police fired water and tear gas to disperse their protest march and 25 protestants were arrested. A group of health workers protested on behalf of the arrested persons and a number of them were also arrested.
Today, the public handed over a letter to the Sri Lankan Human Commission asking for immediate implementation of the law regarding the attack on the strugglers in Galle face on May 9th.
Here, Dr. Omalpe Sobitha Thero expressed his views as follows.
The people of the entire country fought a struggle. The message and demand that the struggle was to let us live. Introducing this struggle as an act of terrorism, innocent people who participated in that struggle are being arrested. This is a grave offense under the Terrorism Act. None of these fighters are terrorists. Why aren’t those terrorists who sent a mob on the 9th of May to drench this Galle face field with blood, punished? Violation of human rights by suppressing the struggles should be stopped immediately. The president’s intervention is necessary in that regard.
31st august 2022
Due to heavy rains, a flood warning has been issued for several Ratnapura Divisional Secretariat divisions.
Sri Lanka Podujana Party Chairman Professor G.L. Peiris, Treasurer Dallas Alahapperuma, lawyer Dylan Perera, Dr. Nalaka Godaheva, Professor Charita Herath, Professor Channa Jayasumana, K.P.S. Kumarasinghe, senior lecturer Gunapala Ratnasekara, lawyer Udayana Kirindigoda, lawyer Wasantha Yapa Bandara, doctor Upul Galappatti, Vidya Thilak Rajapaksa Lalith Ellawala sat in the opposition today. Opposition leader Mr. Sajith Premadasa welcomed them warmly.
The debate on the revised budget presented to Parliament yesterday started today. Dr. Harsha de Silva presented the following points about it. According to the data, inflation was 80% last month. Look what happened from August 2021 to August 2022, if someone saved Rs 1 lakh, the value of Rs 1 lakh has reduced to Rs 30,000 this year. The Rajapaksa family stole 70%. No matter how attractive the budget proposals presented by the President are, he has no basis to implement them.
By the end of August, the increase in food prices or inflation has increased to 93.7%.
1st sept 2022
An agreement has been reached to provide an extended credit facility of 2.9 billion US dollars from the International Monetary Fund for a period of 4 years. I. M. F. says that a government with a proper mandate is needed for economic reforms.
According to the World Food Program of the United Nations, 3 out of 10 people in Sri Lanka suffer from food insecurity. The association points out that due to this economic crisis, pregnant mothers, nursing mothers, children under 5 years of age, and those suffering from non-communicable diseases such as diabetes have been severely affected. The latest announcement issued by the program states that nearly 6.3 million people in the country are food insecure and in need of assistance.
The opposition leader Mr. Sajith Premadasa emphasized in the parliament today that media suppression should be stopped.
29 killed in underworld shootings since May 30.
2nd sept 2022
The 2nd reading poll on the 2022 revised budget draft was passed in Parliament with 115 more votes.
Meanwhile, although the International Monetary Fund has agreed to provide credit facilities to Sri Lanka, in debt restructuring Fich Rate says that the country’s political instability is a risk in disbursing debt funds. In a statement, they point out that the additional money already allocated for the people of the country is not enough to stop the opposition from the people in the background of the lack of public support for the government.
Meanwhile, the 13 MPs including Peiris and Dallas Alahapperuma, who sat in the opposition as an independent group of the Podujana Peramuna, started a new political campaign today. That political campaign is called the Free People’s Assembly.
3rd sept 2022
Former President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa returned to the island. Many ministers from Podujana Peramuna were present at the airport to welcome him.
The Bakery Owners Association says that the price of bakery products is increasing due to the increase in the price of bread flour and other ingredients. They say that a loaf of bread will have to be sold at a price of Rs 300. The prices of all goods including rice have increased. Now the price of bread has increased unimaginably. Innocent poor people are affected by all these. The rulers have no sense of these.
Internet, landline and mobile phone charges up by 20%. This is due to the increase in operating costs as a result of the increase in the value of the dollar.
04th sept 2022
In a discussion held between the Government Medical Officers’ Association and the President, the problems facing the health sector and doctors were discussed at length. The Association of Government Medical Officers has indicated to the President that there is a shortage of medicines and insulin needed by the patients and urgent measures should be taken to solve those problems. It has been discussed here that due to the increase in the price of medicines, patients avoid taking medicines or the increase in visits to government hospitals may raise problematic situations. The President has also stated that he is in discussions with institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund regarding the needs of the health sector.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the State Finance Committee, Dr. Harsha De Silva today emphasized that the government of Sri Lanka should disclose the agreement reached with the International Monetary Fund .
The inauguration ceremony of the new alliance of independent parties named Uththara Lanka Alliance was held today. Wimal Weerasinghe weerawansha was appointed as the president, Specialist Dr. G. Weerasinghe as the secretary, Vasudeva Nanayakkara as the national organizer, Prof. Thissa Witharana as the vice president, and Udaya Gammanpila as the vice president.
The Movement for the People’s Assembly called a press conference today to comment on the crackdown. Its national organizer Mr. Lahiru Weerasekera expressed his views. Ranil Rajapaksa wants people who will not object to the terms of these loans. To do that, people’s rights should be confirmed. Rights cannot be confirmed with those conditions. That’s why those guys have chosen to sell education, health, and government properties instead of the people’s side. Those guys have chosen to curtail people’s rights. We fought against that choice. Now that struggle is called terrorism. Now the convener of the Inter-University Board is still under detention orders. It has not been presented to the court yet. We do not make requests from Ranil Rajapaksa against this repression. We warn that Vasanta Mudalige should be released.
Sri Lanka won the first match of this year’s Asian Talent Cricket Tournament. Winning the match in Afghanistan by 4 wickets.
05th sept 2022
The three-wheeler’s association says that the current supply of fuel for three-wheeler transporters is not enough. The members of that association held a protest today in front of the Ministry of Electricity and Energy. They said that the 5 liters of petrol provided per day week is not enough to maintain their jobs and they requested that enough petrol should be provided.
Meanwhile, in a press conference held today at the Negombo National Fishery Cooperation Center, the National Fishermen’s Union emphasized that the fishing issues have not been resolved yet. Some fishermen say that for 4 months they could not go fishing, so they did not eat even one meal a day. The collapse of fisheries on one side and the collapse of agriculture on the other side have led to malnutrition. If the farmers, fishermen, workers, and women who produce food in this country feel strongly about this economic injustice, the ministers will not feel it until they come point where they come to the level where they say that we are hungry and we are fed.
Meanwhile, a group of farmers’ organizations met with the Minister of Agriculture today and emphasized paddy in the green season that a fair price is required.The farmers emphasized that there is a need for a guarantee to provide fertilizer before the end of the maha season and there is a need to cut the farm loan and provide relief.
Heavy rain affected many areas today. A student of Kurunegala Maliadeva School, who was going home after school today, fell into a garbage drain and got stuck in the pole, and died.
Meanwhile, the Irrigation Department says that there may be flood risks in some areas. The Department of Meteorology informs us not to engage in fishing and navigation activities in sea areas.
