packet of rice

Price hike of Buth Packet symbolizes the trend

Development News Brief by Ajith Perakum Jayasinghe

Colombo air unhealthy

Air Quality Index (AQI) value of Colombo city is to be between 100-115 these days and can be bad for the people who are sensitive to air quality, says National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) Senior Scientist H.D Sarath Premasiri.  

Translations by Creative Content Consultants

Price of a cooked packet of rice and curry goes up since today

National Organizer of All Lanka Canteen Owners’ Association, Asela Sampath said that the price of a packet of rice and curry will be increased by about Rs. 5 or 10 due to high prices of rice and vegetable. The price of the packet of rice eaten by ordinary workers in cities is considered an informal indicator of the impact of the cost of living on masses.

Value-added Tax registration of thousands of businesses cancelled since today

Inland Revenue Department of Sri Lanka announced that the registration of businesses with income less than Rs. 300 million per quarter for the collection of Value-added Tax (VAT) will be cancelled since December 31st. The previous cut-off for VAT was Rs. 75 million per quarter. The decision is subject to parliamentary approval of a formal amendment to the 2002 No. 14 VAT Act.

Discussions underway to solve electricity generation issue in Karadiyana Waste Management Project

The Director of Western Province Waste Management Authority said that a solution is being sought to purchase 10-megawatt electricity that can be generated by Karadiyana Waste Management Project in Piliyandala by burning about 400 metric tons of waste per day and by converting about 125 metric tons of waste into biogas. Ceylon Electricity Board did not purchase the electricity at the rate it was sold by the private company because the unit price is expensive. The surplus is expected to be balanced by Treasury.

Fuel Operation System for Sri Lanka Transport Board buses

Chairman of Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) Kingsley Ranawaka said that a new Fuel Operation System has been introduced to save diesel used by 5,400 buses belonged to the 107 depots of the board. The drivers are trained on saving energy under this programme. However, the drivers and the commuters point out that most of the SLTB buses are not well-maintained and too old to use.

Chilaw Marians beat NCC

Chilaw Marians Cricket Club beat strong NCC easily with 91 runs to emerge champions of the SLC Invitation Limited Over Tournament at SSC today (31). Chilaw Marians – 295/8 (50), NCC – 210/10 (43.3) More Details Here

Bus tour in Galle Dutch Fort

Galle Mayor Priyantha Sahabandu says that funds are allocated for a tourist bus to be deployed for the benefit of local and foreign tourists to tour in historic Galle Dutch Fort.

Printing University College

Minister of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation Bandula Gunawardane said during an observation tour in Government Press of Sri Lanka that a University College attached to a government university will be established with the press. He said that a cabinet paper for this purpose will be tabled next week.

The leak in Moragahakanda reservoir not serious

Kalu Ganga reservoir Project Engineer P.B. Wijerathna said that the leakage reported on the upper part of the main dam of Moragahakanda reservoir is not serious and the Chinese engineers who built the dam are attending the issue.

Easy driving licenses

Sri Lanka is to relax medical condition for driving licenses for light vehicles. Only vision tests are to be carried out under the instructions of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the present military-styled medical test is to be limited to heavy vehicle driving licenses.

Translations