300,000 metric tons of rice imported
The Ministry of Commerce says that steps will be taken to import 300,000 metric tons of rice to supply rice at lower prices during the festive season. The rice, which is being imported to Sri Lanka through the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will be distributed to the public at concessionary prices through Sathosa outlets. Under this 40,000 metric tons of rice will be delivered to the island this weekend. Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and Industry Yoga Perera stated that this rice is being imported to the island under Indian loan facilities. The Ministry of Commerce stated that Ponni Samba, Ponni Nadu and white raw rice will be imported at Rs. 130 per kilogram and other rice at Rs. 110 per kilogram.
There will be no power cuts for new year
The Ceylon Electricity Board says that there will be no power cuts on April 13 and 14. Meanwhile, weekend power cuts have also been reduced. Accordingly, the power cut will be 2 hours tomorrow (09) and the power cut will be limited to one hour the day after tomorrow (10). However, a 6 hour and 30 minute power cut is scheduled for today (8).
Todays power cut schedule
A six hour and 30 minute power cut is scheduled for today (08) as well. . The Ceylon Electricity Board stated that A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L category will be available for 4 hours from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm. The power cut will last from 5.00 pm to 7.30 pm for 2 hours and 30 minutes. Zones P, Q, S, R, T, U, V, W will experience power cuts of 4 hours from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm and 2 hours and 30 minutes from 6.00 pm to 11.00 pm. The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has announced that the power supply to the Colombo Commercial Zone will be cut from 6.00 am to 9.30 am for 3 hours and 30 minutes. Meanwhile, weekend power cuts have been reduced. Accordingly, there will be a 2 hour power cut tomorrow (09) and one hour power cut the next day (10).
The economic crisis in Sri Lanka- Schoolchildren protest against President
A large number of school children in the Kandy area staged a protest demanding the immediate resignation of the President. The students, who had gathered in Kandy today as the Sacred Tooth Relic, were feeding the protesters and chanting slogans. Although the police and the Child Protection Authority have been informed not to connect children to objections, a large number of students participated in the protest. It is noteworthy that school children joined the protest after 1989.
President does not accept resignations
President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has asked the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to abandon its decision to leave the government and remain with the government. He made this request during a discussion with the leaders of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party yesterday afternoon. The President has also decided not to accept the resignation of Ranjith Siyambalapitiya who has resigned from the post of Deputy Speaker. However, speaking after the meeting, the President of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, former President Maithripala Sirisena stated that the decision to withdraw support to the government was just as effective.
The protesters intended to assassinate the President
The protesters who went to President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s private residence intended to assassinate the President, said Parliamentarian Prasanna Ranatunga. Commenting on the parliamentary debate, he said: “The two days were set aside today and tomorrow to discuss the situation in the country at the party leaders’ meeting and find a solution. We also need to consider whether these discussions have resulted in a solution to this problem. Today the whole country is watching this discussion on television. The whole country is waiting to see what happens today. We have no problem with the people’s right to protest. We accept that. And I have always said that protest is for the good of the country and not to anarchize the country. Today the people of the country have a problem The problem of the country is a problem of fuel, there is a problem of gas, there is a problem of electricity, what is the reason for these problems that Mr Bandula Gunawardena presented to the House today. But no one doesn’t want to hear that. Today there is a separate political issue. We need to identify this issue. It has always been a thing of the past in this country that when a leader who loves this country and loves the country people comes, there is a certain group is formed to chase them away. At that time some groups went to Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s private house and tried to assassinate him. At that time they could not try to put forward the title ‘gota go home’. Today they are trying to oust him from that post. It should be remembered that 69 lakhs of us voted for him and gave him that mandate to rule the country. We have seen in history that Mr. JR Jayewardene 83 had similar demonstrations against him during the period when Black July was the land of murderers. I was watching the procession from Pettah Junction went against the President. However, JR Jayewardene did not resign due to that incident. The then President faced it. Also, the Leader of the Opposition’s father remembers well during the 88-89 period of terror, Hon. Chairperson, he killed more than 60,000 people. The monks burned the tires at the junction. It was from the JVP leaflets that the shop was closed If they did not obey their orders, they were killed and hanged on the light poles What was done then is now being implemented through social media”
Economic Crisis in Sri Lanka -A name is proposed for the post of caretaker President in Sri Lanka
MP Harin Fernando has demanded that the presidency be given to Harsha de Silva for six months. He was addressing a debate in Parliament yesterday.‘If not, give the presidency to Harsha de Silva to accept. An economist. No problem. 6 months. Our leader is not asking .. he is waiting. This country needs something to do.’ “People say 225 should go home. No problem. If it is the people who make their posts, they should go at the right time. People look from where all the thieves are. But I mean there are good people on both sides. This happened to us because we could not join. Despite all these problems, these parties, including my party, cannot do anything. It’s a shame”. He added “This Parliament can appoint a caretaker President. People in Sri Lanka are not asking for votes. People are suffering in queues. Can I vote ?. I’m sorry about these politicians. These people need to get together. It has to be a very honest addition. “ “This Parliament too has become a thorny issue. No need to lie. Why can’t the party leaders come together and talk from the bay? People will be hitting on this tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. This Parliament cannot take any decision and complete it properly.” He said Also he further added that , “Even one party does not want to bring an answer to the problem that the people of this country are suffering from. We would be ashamed if opposition politicians waited for an election for six months and a year. ”
The Sri Lankan rupee depreciated further against the US dollar
The Sri Lankan rupee depreciated further against the US dollar today. Several private banks have announced a selling price of 320 rupees per dollar and a purchase price of 300 rupees. The selling price of a dollar is 308 rupees and the buying price is 298 rupees according to the exchange rates of the Central Bank.
There is a shortage of about 40 types of drugs in government hospitals in Sri Lanka
At present there is a shortage of about 40 types of drugs in government hospitals in the country, according to the State Ministry of Pharmaceutical Products Supply and Regulation. Its secretary Dr. Saman Ratnayake said that stocks of another 60 drugs would be sufficient for a period of a week to a month. He said the ministry was paying close attention to the existing drug shortage.. Steps have already been taken to facilitate drug importers under Indian loan assistance. In addition, steps have been taken to issue letters of credit of US $ 7 million from Bank of Ceylon and US $ 7 million from People’s Bank. He also said he plans to raise another $ 20 million to alleviate the situation.
IMF says it is closely monitoring the situation in Sri Lanka
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says it is closely monitoring the situation in Sri Lanka. The head of the Sri Lankan embassy, Mashahiro Hisaki, has said that the staff of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is ready to hold further discussions during the visit of the newly appointed Minister of Finance to Sri Lanka. Meanwhile Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Mr. Attygalle has resigned. It is reported that the resignation letter has been sent to the Presidential Secretariat.