NPP Member of Parliament Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera has been unanimously elected as the Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE).
The Committee on Public Enterprises has convened in Parliament today (Jan. 09) at 02.00 pm.
2025 Appropriation Bill to be presented to Parliament today
The 2025 Appropriation Bill is scheduled to be presented to the Parliament today (9).
The second reading of the draft bill will take place on February 17, with the debate scheduled from February 18 to February 25.
The vote on the second reading is scheduled to be held on February 25 evening.
Following this, the Committee Stage Debate, also known as the Third Reading Debate, will take place from February 27 to March 21, with the third reading vote scheduled for the evening of March 21.
Meanwhile, the Local Government Elections (Special Provisions) Bill, which proposes calling for new nominations for the Local Government Elections, will also be presented to Parliament today (09).
The draft bill, submitted by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government, was recently published in the Gazette.
Once this bill is passed, the Election Commission will be authorized to call for fresh nominations for the local government elections.
Japan in discussion to resume halted projects in Sri Lanka
The Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka, Isomata Akio, stated that discussions are underway with the government to resume temporarily halted projects in Sri Lanka.
He made these remarks when he met with the Speaker of the Parliament (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne at Parliament recently (Jan. 06).
The Secretary General of Parliament of Sri Lanka, Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera, was also present on this occasion.
During this meeting, the Japanese Ambassador conveyed his best wishes to the Speaker and the government.
Recalling the long-standing relationship between Japan and Sri Lanka, the Japanese Ambassador said that he would continue to strengthen those relations and provide the necessary support for the development of Sri Lanka.
Furthermore, the Japanese ambassador also said that he hopes to expedite the construction of the new terminal at the Bandaranaike International Airport. During the meeting the government’s efforts to eradicate corruption and foster national reconciliation were commended.
During the meeting, Speaker recalled the various projects funded by the Japanese government for the people of Sri Lanka and expressed his gratitude to Japan for its support. He also emphasized his desire to revive the Sri Lanka-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Association in the Tenth Parliament, aiming to further strengthen parliamentary ties between the two nations.
Additionally, he reiterated his commitment to deepening the existing relationship between Sri Lanka and Japan, expressing hope for continued support from Japan in this endeavor.
President inaugurates ‘Gem Sri Lanka – 2025’ gem and jewellery exhibition
The “Gem Sri Lanka – 2025” gem and jewellery exhibition was inaugurated this morning (08) at the Cinnamon Bentota Beach Hotel, presided over by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Organized annually by the Chinese Fort Gem and Jewellery Traders’ Association (CGJTA), the exhibition will be open to the public from today until January 10.
Following the opening, President Dissanayake toured the exhibition booths and engaged in discussions with industry stakeholders, addressing challenges faced by gem and jewellery manufacturers while fostering a friendly dialogue with them.
He also posed for a group photograph with the organizing committee of “Gem Sri Lanka – 2025.”
This year’s exhibition features 103 booths and has attracted a significant number of both local and international buyers, highlighting the event’s global appeal.
The event was attended by a distinguished gathering, including the Minister of Industry and Enterprise Development, Mr. Sunil Handunnetti, Chairman of the National Gem and Jewellery Authority, Mr. Naveen Sooriyarachchi, and Chairman of CGJTA, Mr. Marjan Faleel, alongside several diplomats and other notable guests.
--PMD
Bus strike called off after talks with police chief
The bus associations have decided to call off their island-wide strike following successful discussions with the Acting IGP.
This decision was reached after a successful discussion held today (08) between the private bus associations and the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Priyantha Weerasooriya, regarding traffic operations linked to the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ national initiative.
As a result, the bus associations have decided to call off their planned island-wide strike.
Earlier, the bus associations had decided yesterday (07) to launch an island-wide strike to protest against the police department’s excessive and unnecessary pressure on passenger transport bus operators.
In this context, representatives from the bus associations held a discussion with the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Priyantha Weerasooriya, at the Police Headquarters this morning (08).
Following the discussion with the Acting IGP, it was decided not to proceed with the strike action, the trade unions said.
Meanwhile, the Police Spokesman announced that a three-month grace period will be given to private bus owners to remove unnecessary additional accessories from buses, as discussed today between the private bus owner’ unions and the Acting IGP.
TRCSL approves tariff plans for ‘Starlink’
The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) has approved the tariff plans for ‘Starlink’ satellite broadband services to be implemented through ‘Starlink’ Lanka (Private) Ltd.
Accordingly, the TRCSL has granted approval for five ‘Starlink’ packages ranging from Rs. 9,200 per month to Rs. 1.8 million per month.
Govt to repatriate Sri Lankans illegally staying in South Korea
The Chairman of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), Koshala Wickremasinghe emphasized that immediate actions will be taken to repatriate Sri Lankan nationals who are illegally staying in South Korea after their visas expired.
He mentioned that their details will be forwarded to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and legal measures will be enforced.
Wickremasinghe urged individuals with expired visas not to remain in South Korea unlawfully, as the future job quotas for Sri Lankans in the country will depend on the behavior of those already employed there.
He made these comments while presenting air tickets to 96 Sri Lankans departing for South Korea today (07), for employment in the manufacturing sector. They are the first group to leave for jobs in South Korea’s manufacturing sector this year (2025).
The SLBFE chairman further revealed plans to offer job opportunities in South Korea to nearly 8,000 Sri Lankans by the end of 2025.
He also mentioned that the bureau intends to send skilled, high-quality workers from Sri Lanka, which is one of the 16 countries that supply labor to South Korea.
Furthermore, he emphasized the significant contribution made by the Sri Lankan expatriates, who remit over USD 6 billion annually to the country, playing a crucial role in boosting the national economy and extended the government’s gratitude to them.
Indian PM Modi to visit Sri Lanka in 2025
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Sri Lanka within this year, the Indian High Commission in Colombo announced on Tuesday (07). However, the dates are yet to be decided by the two sides.
“We are in the process of working out a propitious timing for the visit,” Santosh Jha, the Indian High Commissioner, told reporters.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had extended the invitation to Modi during his two-day visit to New Delhi in mid-December.
Dissanayake made India as his first destination after being elected president in September.
Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar was the first foreign dignitary to visit Colombo soon after Dissanayake took charge.
Prime Minister Modi visited Sri Lanka twice between 2015 and 2017.
Dissanayake is due to visit China soon. The Cabinet Spokesman announced today that he is scheduled to embark on the official visit to China from January 14 to January 17, 2025.
President Dissanayake to visit China next week
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is scheduled to embark on an official visit to China from January 14 to January 17, 2025.
This was confirmed by Cabinet Spokesman, Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, in response to a question raised by a journalist during today’s (06) Cabinet press briefing.
Furthermore, the Minister stated that Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath and Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnyake will accompany the President for the visit.
Dissanayake’s first overseas visit as head of state was to neighbouring India, where he was given a red-carpet welcome by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 16.
Special announcement on stationery allowance for school children
The government has decided to provide the school stationery allowance granted for the children of “Aswesuma” beneficiaries to all children in 6,576 schools with less than 300 students who are from families that are not beneficiaries of the welfare scheme, children living in Child Development Centers and both lay and monastic students in all ‘Pirivenas’ across the island.
Announcing the Cabinet decisions today (07), Cabinet Spokesman, Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said that steps have already been taken to provide an allowance of Rs. 6,000 each to schoolchildren from “Aswesuma” beneficiary families to access school stationery.
The Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education has been entrusted with the provision of the allowance to orphaned children who do not belong to the relevant beneficiary families, children from families with disabled parents, all school-age children in children’s homes and children belonging to groups who have become helpless due to special reasons.
Considering the current lack of an up-to-date database to select children from families belonging to those categories and the need to provide the proposed stationery at the beginning of the new school term of 2025, the Cabinet approved the proposal submitted by the Prime Minister in his capacity as the Minister of Education to provide a stationery allowance to all aforesaid student groups, the Minister added.
