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Results of the investigation conducted into a beetle found in a consignment of tea to Russia may be released today highly placed sources of the Ministry of Plantation said. According to them currently, no details regarding the incident can be confirmed.

“We are not even sure if the shipment was in fact from Sri Lanka,” the source said. While it's unclear if Sri Lanka has been officially informed of the temporary ban on agricultural product exports to Russia. “We are acting on media reports” the source went on to explain adding that an investigation was conducted with the participation of the Sri Lankan Tea Board representative to Russia.

Minister of Plantations, Navin Dissanayake will visit Russia according to the investigation results the Ministry said. International media outlets reported that Russia has placed a temporary ban on tea and all other agricultural products from Sri Lanka from Dec. 18 after a beetle was found a tea consignment, the agricultural safety watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor said on Thursday.

The insect, known as the Khapra beetle, was discovered in the packaging of a consignment of tea from Sri Lanka, which said it was an isolated case and that it would work with the Russian authorities to resolve the issue.

A hundred Chinese couples will tie the knot in a mass wedding ceremony held in Colombo today. The ceremony will be held at the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) grounds. The couples will wed according to local customs in Sri Lanka organizers said. The event is expected to strengthen the ties between both countries.

The ceremony will be held under the auspices of President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe, Minister of Megapolis and Western Development Patali Champika Ranawaka and other dignitaries.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said the government has taken measures to introduce fair price shops in collaboration with the private sector and the Lak Sathosa to ensure fair prices for essential commodities in the open market.

The Prime Minister while noting that the prices of commodities have seen an increase, said that agriculture production was hampered due to bad weather conditions that swept across the country during the past two years.

“The prices of commodities have seen a drastic increase and as a government, we are aware of it,” the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister was speaking after opening the Gampaha Bus Stand-2 on Friday (14). The new bus stand is a free Wifi Zone. The bus stand was constructed by the Urban Development Authority utilizing funds from the Sukitha Purawara Town Development Programme of the Megapolis and Western Development Ministry under the directions of President Maithripala Sirisena.

The Premier said that adverse weather conditions had affected agriculture production in the country during the past two years and this situation has resulted in the increase in the cost of living.

The Prime Minister added that the government will find a permanent solution to this issue.

“However, the government has taken measures to introduce fair price shops during the festive season until next April, with the participation of the private sector and the Sathosa.”

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe added that following discussions between President Maithripala Sirisena, Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera,

private sector representatives, Sathosa, public sector officials and himself, it was decided to provide essential items at Landed Price rates until April next year.

“The prices of Rice, Dhal, Sugar, Sprats, B Onions, Potatoes and long beans would be provided at landed prices,” the Premier said.

“Cargills Food City, Laugfs, Richard Pieris and Company, John Keells Ltd. and Wickramaratne (Private) Ltd and Lanka Sathosa that participated the discussion agreed to provide this facility.

“The Government cannot address this issue alone.Therefore,the support of the private sector is needed to address this issue,”the Premier said.

The Premier further said that those private sector organisations and Sathosa could cater only to 30 percent of the requirement. He added that these organisations have agreed to provided transport to deliver essential items to the villages and the rest 70 percent of the consumers at landed price rates. However, it would take another fortnight for these commodities reach the villages.

He also said that if the prices of consumer items don’t see a reduction after taking these measures, the government would take steps to import them.

“The Gampaha District would be developed along with the area between Colombo and Gampaha in another 10 to 15 years,” the Prime Minister added.

He said further that the area extending to Mahara,Kadawatha, Yakkala, Ja-ela and Udugampola would be developed within this period making Gampaha one of the biggest cities in the country.

The Prime Minister further said that Gampaha was declared a new district in 1978 during the J.R.Jayewardene regime.

The fisheries and tourism industries in the Negombo area were promoted while Gampaha was developed as the administrative centre in the district.

The Premier added that the district and its surrounding areas would be developed under the guidance of the Megapolis and Western Development Ministry.

“This ministry has had to find funds for its projects and also funds to settle the loans taken during the previous regime,” Premier Wickremesinghe said.

“However, the government is solving the people’s issues,”the Prime Minister added.

UNP Gampaha District Parliamentarian Ajith Mannapperuma said the rail track from Ragama to Veyangoda via Gampaha should be developed to three lanes as thousands of commuters travel by train between 6 am to 8 am everyday.

Source : Dailynews

No investigation regarding goods provided by the Chinese Women's Federation for the War affected in the North being distributed under the name of the Siriliya organization operated by former first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa. According to sources called for computers worth Rs. 85 million and sewing machines were distributed in this manner.

 However, despite the Auditor general requesting an investigation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in this regard sources say no such investigation has commenced yet.

 The auditor general had requested for the investigation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on January 15, 2013.

 While the former Ambassador to China, Karunathilake Amunugama had requested for mentioned the goods in a letter on November 4, 2011, to the former Presidential Chief of Staff, Gamini Senarath however instead of being handed over to the government sources claim they had been given to the Siriliya organization run by the former first lady.

Meanwhile 20, 000 temporary shelters and Rs. 2,297,500 received from well-wishers in China had also been distributed in a similar manner by the Siriliya organization.

The mothers of Haiti’s “peacekeeper babies” have filed the first legal action against both the UN and individual peacekeeping soldiers in paternity and child support claims.

The lawsuit is the latest development in a protracted legal battle to make the soldiers contribute to the upkeep of children they allegedly fathered.

The alleged fathers are scattered around the globe, having returned to their homes in Uruguay, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Argentina, making it difficult to proceed with claims.

One mother claims she was raped while another was aged 17 when she gave birth, which amounts to statutory rape under Haitian law. The lawsuit has been brought by human rights group Bureau Des Avocats Internationaux (BAI) and the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti (IJDH).

Lawyers said they brought the lawsuit after the UN failed to respond to requests for the results of DNA tests and other details that would help with child support claims.

Pic: Reuters

Police are said to be preparing for the arrest of the new secretary to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic resources Jagath Wijeweera. According to sources Police will make the arrest after seeking a court order for his arrest.

Wijeweera had worked as the former Commissioner of the Registrations of Persons when several National Identity cards were issued to the wife of MP Wimal Weerawansa, Sashi Weerawansa without any proof of documentation. He is to be arrested in connection with this investigation sources revealed.

Making a statement to the Police a witness and an employee of the department had claimed the identity cards were issued without any documentation under an order made by the Commissioner at the time.

 Source : Sathhanda

Sources claim that majority of the Joint opposition have promised President Maithripala Sirisena that they will extend their support to the SLFP to establish power in local government authorities in the upcoming elections. As reported by the ‘Sathhanda’ newspaper according to a prominent member of the SLFP the politicians have made these assurances after meeting with President Sirisena recent.

According to the report as nominations for the polls opened conflicts had arisen within the JO due to various individual ambitions and goals.

With the family rule of the Rajapaksa’s once again taking hold several MPs of the JO are set to cross over soon the report further stated.

Police have received six election-related complaints since the closing of nominations for the upcoming local government polls. According to the Police spokesperson SP Ruwan Gunasekara, the Police received two election-related complaints during the past 24 hours.

While one complaint was lodged in the Moragahahena police division regarding a candidate's cut-outs being damaged by a group, however, Police have not identified any suspects connected to the incident.

According to SP Gunasekara, another complaint was received by the Ampara Police. “The complaint was regarding a forged signature on a nominations list,” he said. While the Police have identified the suspects, Ampara Police are said to be conducting further investigations into the incident.

Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) are said to be finding it almost impossible to nab a main drug smuggler in the country as he is currently being protected by a powerful Minister in the government.

The PNB has currently arrested two suspects by the name of Wilbert and Narada involved in the illegal trade of drug smuggling. According to the PNB Wilbert is suspected of importing drugs through Pakistan, the Maldives to Dondara and distributing them concealed in shipments of seafood. Narada is said to be a distributor of these drugs.

However, reports claim that Rs. 20 Million is being prepared to exchange hands to suppress the investigation resulting in the further delay of arresting other suspects involved in the racket.

Dondara Delight

According to sources, the main drug broker knows by the popular moniker ‘Dondara Delight’ is not being arrested due to his connections to a powerful Minister in the Southern province.

Reports also claim Kamburupitiya Madush is also in close connection to this smuggling ring.

(Source: Sathhanda)

Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya has instructed the Ceylon Electricity Board management to take a decision with regards to the issues raised by CEB trade unions. Currently, members of trade unions of the CEB are engaged in a fast over several demands.

According to the media spokesman for the ministry, Sulakshana Jayawardena said these instructions were given by the minister at a meeting held last Thursday (14) with the Power and Renewable Energy Ministry Secretary and the CEB Chairman.

“The CEB board is to hold a meeting take a decision on the issue tomorrow,” Jayawardena said.

Speaking further on the matter, Jayawardena said the main concern raised by the trade unions is over their bonus allowances.

“There have been several trade union actions taken by the CEB trade unions this year. The most recent one took place in September and the CEB has already agreed to consider these days as paid leave.

However, the same unions had engaged in trade union actions on April 8 and June 28 in 2017. These two days are considered leave without pay. According to the CEB circular, a 10% of the year-end bonus will be deducted for these LWOPs,” Jayawardena explained.

“However, it is in the hands of the CEB management to bring this matter to a conclusion”, Jayawardena pointed out.

MP Hirunika Premachandra appointed recently to the United National Party’s Ratmalana seat is said to have frustrated party supporters in the area due to certain decisions made by her.

 Reports claim she was appointed to the area at the behest of MP Ravi Karunanayake.

 Supporters claim nominations for the upcoming polls have been given out by her based on money as opposed to a candidates voter base.

 While SLFP has fielded former Deputy Mayor of the Dehiwala - Mount Lavinia Municipal Council. Kesaralal Gunasekara from the Ratmalana pirivena electoral division reports claim his opponent from the UNP has not voter base and practically unknown in the area.

 Those in the area also claim that the candidate who was given the nomination for the Kandawala Division commonly travels in a motorcade of Prados while the person who received the nomination from the Western division is suspected to be involved in drug smuggling.

 Supporters claim there is a risk of the UNP losing the election in the Ratmalana seat due to these ad-hoc decisions taken by the parliamentarian.

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The Sri Lankan government entered into three loan agreements worth USD 270 million with the Asian Development Bank for the implementation of two projects; Integrated Road Investment Program and Jaffna Kilinochchi Water Supply Project. A loan of USD 150 million was obtained for the investments required for the 4th Tranche of the Integrated Road Investment Program and two loans worth of USD 120 million were obtained as additional financing for the investment required for the ongoing Jaffna Kilinochchi Water Supply Project.

Integrated Road Investment Program – Tranche 4

The Integrated Road Investment Program is being implemented in six Provinces; i.e. Southern, Central, Sabaragamuwa, North Western, North Central Provinces and Kalutara District in Western Province under the financial assistance of Asian Development Bank since 2014 with the aim of building up better connectivity between rural communities and socio-economic centres. About 3108 km of rural access roads and about 248 km of national roads will be improved and maintained under this program. In addition, the program is focused on enhancing the capacity of road agencies on road asset management, project management and contract administration.

The total investment cost of the overall program is US$ 906 million of which US$ 800 million will be provided by ADB under Multi-tranche Financing Facility (MFF) through six tranches. The Government contribution for the total program is US$ 106 million. The government has already obtained loan assistance of US$ 407 million from ADB under the 1st, 2nd and 3rd tranches.

The total investment cost of the proposed tranche 4 is US$ 168 million. The Government will contribute US$ 18 million and the balance US$ 150 million will be obtained from ADB.

Jaffna Kilinochchi Water Supply and Sanitation Project – Additional Financing

Safe drinking water is an essential prerequisite for better health and socio-economic development in a country.The focus of the Government is to provide safe drinking water to the entire population of the country by 2020 of which 60 percent would be pipe-borne water.

In line to that, the overall impact of the Jaffna Kilinochchi Water Supply Project is to improve health and human development in urban areas of Jaffna Peninsula. Improvement of headwork at the Iranamadu water Tank, implement of water supply infrastructure and services in the Jaffna Peninsula and strengthening of water resources management system are the main components of this project. Additional financing of the Jaffna Kilinochchi Water Supply Project will support restructuring of the current project by financing the cost overrun under the current project and supporting the additional activities of the desalination plant and related works under the component of improvement of water supply infrastructure and services in the Jaffna Peninsula and additional activates of the water resource management system component.

The total investment cost of the Jaffna Killinochchi Water Supply Project - Additional Financing will be US$ 153 million. The Government will contribute US$ 33 million and the balance portion of US$ 120 million will be provided in two loans by ADB

 Dr. R H S Samaratunga, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Mass Media on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka and Sri Widowati, Country Director of ADB Sri Lanka Resident Mission on behalf of ADB, signed a three Loan Agreements on December 15, 2017 to obtain the funds for the implementation of the Integrated Road Investment Program – Tranche 4 and Jaffna Kilinochchi Water Supply Project (Additional Financing).