Sri Lanka News September 06th September 2022 – 09th September 2022 brought to you by eLanka
(1) The introduction of the Social Security Contribution Tax Bill to Parliament has been postponed until next Thursday. The reason was the opposition raised for it. Mr. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who commented on this, said that although the VAT is 15%, the price of general goods and services through this social security tax increases by almost 20% when VAT is added, and no action has been taken by anyone who created this crisis. The central bank’s entire reserves were emptied. Has any decision been taken regarding Cabral or the Finance Minister? In January 2020, nearly Rs 654 billion was prevented from reaching the treasury. Have decisions been made about them? Due to the delay of the fuel ship, the petroleum corporation has to pay a lot of money to the company. Fertilizer ships have been brought and paid for without even unloading. Have you made a decision about them? Agriculture and farmers have been put under pressure by stopping chemical fertilizers. Have decisions been made about them? Without taking any decision about the creator of the crisis, you all come to this Parliament every day and try to get out of this crisis by imposing a tax burden on the common people. How long will the common people tolerate this pressure? When you go to the market, the price of this week is not the price of the next week. More than that. Isn’t it a limit? At least VAT is added and the game is played. But for the total turnover. So this is like usury. This tax continues to fall. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, when the VAT is added, a tax of more than 20% will be imposed on these people. Therefore, I am against this bill.
(2) A group of members of the Inter-University Student Council and the Inter-University Monk Council met the 43rd Division today. They have discussed the detention of student activists under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Speaking here, Mr. Patali Champika Ranawaka said that the operatives of the Inter-University Student Union did not engage in any violent or armed action and that their detention under the Terrorism Act would cause national and international disrepute.
(3) Dr. Susil Premajayantha said that the agreements made by the International Monetary Fund have not been presented to the cabinet.
07th Sept 2022
(4) We are now waiting for a loan from the International Monetary Fund in the hope that we will get some relief from the serious economic crisis the country is facing. Why did the country fall into this situation? Who should be responsible for this? Shouldn’t corruption and waste be responsible for this situation? In April of last year, the import of chemical fertilizers was banned and suddenly they went to the policy of organic fertilizers. Scholars and farmers also said that this policy is clearly a reason to lead to the destruction of the country. After the National Plant Quarantine Service inspected the fertilizer ship imported from China, it was confirmed that there are dangerous bacteria in this fertilizer on two occasions. The Chinese ship was detained in the sea for several days and returned. But the Chinese ship did not give up the deals. According to an agreement with Sri Lanka, we paid 6.9 million dollars to that ship. They say they owe another $8 million in damages. What do the responsible ministers say about this now? As of today, the value of 6.9 million dollars means 2400 crores of rupees have been lost and even today those responsible are accusing each other or trying to save themselves. There should be no further delay in identifying the people behind this transaction and taking appropriate action.
(5) Farmers are still suffering without fertilizer. The yield of the yala season has decreased by about 50%. There is a serious food crisis in the country.
08thSept 2022
(6) Veteran actress Ms. Damita Abeyratne was arrested yesterday afternoon by a group of officers from the Colombo North Division Crime Investigation Department while she was having a peaceful event called Kaluhorawa in front of Battaramulla Diyatha Uyana. Mrs. Damita Abeyratne is a veteran actress who has won awards at home and abroad. She went beyond acting and worked as a social activist for the rights of oppressed people.
(7) Dr. Harsha De Silva presented the recommendation published in the document of the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner released yesterday in Parliament. It is stated in that document: People took to the streets to protect the economic and social rights of the people because we failed. People accuse us. We have to admit that we have made a serious mistake and brought this country further into the abyss. Do not arrest people who opposed it. If not us, who should be responsible for this? I also was there with Mrs. Damita Abeyratne at that moment. If so, arrest me too.
(8) The Inter-University Bhikshu Balamandalaya held a protest in Pettah this afternoon demanding the immediate release of the activists of the struggle, including the three academic activists detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. A member of the Bhikshu Balamandala expressed his opinion: When the people had no way to live, they fought to give the people a way to live. They fought for the immediate opening of the public university system and the public school system. Today they have been illegally arrested and imprisoned. Who should be jailed under the Terrorism Act? Isn’t it the rulers of this country who looted the central bank and sold public property and sent this country into such anarchy?
(9) 37 State Ministers took oath today before the new President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
09th Sept 202
(10) Janatha Vimukti Peramuna, Member of Parliament Mr. Anura Kumara Dissanayake says that even though state ministers say they do not get paid, the government has to spend a lot of money for their other privileges. Mr. Anura Kumara Dissanayake who commented on this: A state minister gets all the privileges that a cabinet minister gets. The only thing that a state minister does not get is that he does not participate in the cabinet. Officially, 3 vehicles are available for this state minister. For these vehicles, 750 liters are provided per month for one petrol vehicle outside the Western Province. A minister of this state gets Rs. 10,12000 for fuel per month. Rs. 40,000 per month for phone charges. The government provides the necessary facilities for the house. Will these people build a country?
(11) Meanwhile, the signing of the joint statement against the current government’s anti-democratic repressive work order, including the use of the Terrorism Act, took place in Colombo today. This declaration was launched under the initiative of the Inter-University Student Union and many parties including political parties, trade unions and civil organizations participated in it. Under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. The demands of the joint statement include the revocation of the detention orders issued, the release of other activists, the repeal of the Terrorism Act, the kidnapping, intimidation, threats, prosecution, and the release of the arrested activists.
(12) Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa has left for America this morning.
