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Lanka IOC (LIOC), IndianOil’s subsidiary in Sri Lanka, has also decided to limit dispensing fuel volumes for vehicles at filling stations, mirroring the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation’s move.

The move will come into effect from tomorrow (May 09).

Accordingly, filling stations are permitted to dispense fuel worth only Rs. 2,000 for motorcycles at a single time.

For three-wheelers, the limit has been set at Rs. 3,000 worth of fuel.

The maximum amount of fuel allowed to be pumped into cars, vans and SUVs is worth Rs. 8,000.

However, the restrictions are not applied to buses, lorries and other vehicles used for commercial purposes.

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation put restrictions on dispensing fuel volumes to vehicles on May 05 in an attempt to prevent a shortage of fuel and to curb fuel-related irregularities.

The travel ban imposed on former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal was extended to the 23rd of May by Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekenawela on Thursday (5).

Summons were re-sent to the Former Central Bank Governor to be present in court on that day.

Earlier, the summons was issued on Cabraal to appear in court on the 2nd of May.

However, as the 2nd of May was declared a government holiday court issued a summons for the Ex-Governor to appear in court on the 23rd of May.

Summons were issued on the Ex-Governor following submissions made to court over a complaint filed by Former Provincial Governor Keerthi Tennakoon.

Keerthi Tennakoon filed a complaint citing 6 charges on the misappropriation of funds by Ajith Nivard Cabraal during his tenure as the Central Bank Governor.

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung expressed concern over the recently declared state of emergency.

She asserts that the voices of peaceful citizens need to be heard.

The Ambassador reiterated that the challenges Sri Lankans are facing require long term solutions and a state of emergency won’t help do that.

Concerned by another State of Emergency. The voices of peaceful citizens need to be heard. And the very real challenges Sri Lankans are facing require long term solutions to set the country back on a path toward prosperity and opportunity for all. The SOE won’t help do that.

— Ambassador Julie Chung (@USAmbSL) May 7, 2022

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has announced maximum retail prices for three local varieties of rice.

However, the new maximum retail prices are not applied to rice stocks released to the market at concessionary prices by the Paddy Marketing Board, a special gazette notification published by CAA Chairman Shantha Dissanayake noted.

According to the communiqué, the directive comes into effect from today (May 02).

New maximum retail prices imposed on three local rice varieties are as follows:

White/Red Nadu (steamed/boiled) – Rs. 220 per kilogram White/Read Samba (steamed/boiled) – Rs. 230 per kilogram Keeri Samba – Rs. 260 per kilogram

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has declared emergency law with effect from midnight on Friday (6), said the President’s Media Division.

The President has declared so, in the interest of public security, the preservation of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community.

The Indian Supreme Court has ruled out that no individual can be forced to get vaccinated, reports The Indian Express.

While stating that the Centre’s current vaccination policy is not arbitrary, the Indian Court observed that “On the basis of substantial material filed before this court reflecting the near unanimous views of experts on the benefits of vaccination in addressing severe disease from the infection…mortality and stopping new variants from emerging, this court is satisfied that the current vaccination policy of the union of India…cannot be said to be unreasonable or manifestly arbitrary,” .

While disapproving mandates, it said: “No data placed on record by Union or states controverting data by petitioner in the form of emerging scientific opinion which appears to indicate that the risk of transmission of virus from unvaccinated individuals is almost at par with the vaccinated persons and that in light of this, restrictions on unvaccinated individuals imposed through various vaccine mandates by the states governments/union territories cannot be said to be proportionate.”

Police have fired tear gas and water cannons in an attempt to disperse protesters gathered near the Parliamentary complex at Polduwa Junction in Diyatha Uyana, Battaramulla.

The Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) staged a protest march from the Sri Jayewardenepura University, Kotte towards the Parliament complex in Battaramulla last afternoon (05) themed ‘Aanduwa Pannamu; Kramaya Peralamu’.

The group pushed through the initial set of Police barricades, following which a tense situation broke out. Subsequently, upon approaching the second set of barricades, Police fired tear gas in an attempt to disperse the group.

Despite efforts to disperse the group, however, the protesters proceeded to break the barricades, setting up structures with the steel bars adjacent to the Polduwa junction.

Large numbers were seen gathered at the site this morning, after several members of the public joined the protest.

Minister of Energy and Power Kanchana Wijesekera says the Ministry will use government bowsers and bowsers of fuel stations, in the event private transporters decide to go on strike.

The Minister noted that prices for private fuel transportation services have been revised five times since July 2021, an increase of 84% using a formula agreed by all.

He added that if private fuel transporters go on strike, the government will use the other two sectors to continuously deliver fuel.

Parliamentary proceedings were suspended for 10 minutes this afternoon (06), after a heated argument broke out over Police firing tear gas and water cannons at the Horu Go Gama protest in Diyatha Uyana, Battaramulla.

Members of the Samagi Jana Balawewa (SJB) staged a protest within Parliament, with MP Harin Fernando and several other SJB MPs visiting Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena’s room, demanding his arrival.

Fernando threatened that in the event the Speaker refuses to arrive, he will be detained inside Parliament.

Moreover, the group of SJB MPs urged that the Speaker take up the No Confidence Motion immediately, adding that if a day is not set for the NCM to be presented in Parliament, the public will be brought to Parliament to resolve the matter.

Responding to their requests, Abeywardena stated that a discussion pertaining to the matter will be held with all Party Leaders on Monday (09).

Parliament was later adjourned till 17 May by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

The Sri Lanka Petroleum Private Tanker Owners’ Association has decided to withdraw from fuel transport services with effect from midnight today (April 30).

The joint secretary of the association, D.V. Shantha Silva said, through their trade union action, they want to urge the authorities to increase their transport charges, in line with the increase in fuel prices.

Speaking further, he said the association has sought the revision of their transport charges following the fuel price hike. However, a positive response was not received for this request during the meeting held with the energy minister last evening.

As the authorities dismissed their requests, the executive committee of the association, which convened a meeting last night, has decided to withdraw from fuel transport duties, effective from midnight today.

Meanwhile, deploying Sri Lanka Army personnel to monitor the fuel distribution commenced today.

The army stated that it would observe whether the fuel bowsers are reaching the filling stations on time after leaving their respective terminals.

After the fuel bower departs the terminal, the army camp in charge of the area where the fuel consignment is transported will be notified and a team of officers will be dispatched to the relevant locations.

In addition to the main fuel storage complexes in  Kolonnawa and Muthurajawela, a total of 12 fuel distribution centres are in operation across the country.

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) MP Ranjith Siyambalapitiya was re-elected as the Deputy Speaker of Parliament.

Siyambalapitiya garnered 148 votes, including those of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), while Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) nominee MP Imthiaz Bakeer Markar had a total of 65 votes.

He previously served as the Deputy Speaker, and later stepped down from the post after the SLFP withdrew from the Government to remain independent.

The Kegalle District MP’s nam, however, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya’s name was nominated by SLFP MP Nimal Siripala de Silva and seconded by Susil Premajayantha.

Health Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana has issued an Extraordinary Gazette notification allowing a 40% price increase on a total of 60 medicinal drugs.

The Gazette, dated 29 April, says “every trader, distributor, pharmacist, medical practitioner, dentist, veterinary surgeon, medical institution including a private medical institution, pharmacy or person who or which is in possession of the Scheduled Medicines for the purpose of sale shall maintain the price of the Scheduled Medicines at the maximum retail price or revised retail price whichever is less.”

The full list is available below: