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Boost
to vocational training, technological advance &
concessions to public servants
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Boost to vocational training,
technological advance & concessions to public
servants The People's Alliance government's fifth budget raised the prices of both local and foreign liquor by 10 percent and the price of cigarettes of all brands by 50 cents. While proposing to specify the excise duty on malt based liquor which included beer on alcohol content, the content of alcohol was not specified. Prof. Peiris also proposed fiscal incentives in vocational training, technological advances, concessions for 'farming villages'. Government expected an additional revenue of Rs. 600 million from the 10 percent increase on liquor prices, Rs. 100 million from the new tax on beer etc; and Rs. 1,100 million on the increased price of cigarettes. Justice, Constitutional Affairs, Ethnic Affairs, National Integration and Deputy Minister of Finance G. L. Peiris in his four and half hour budget speech also announced an increase in the National Security Levy by one percent. The present National Security Levy of 4.5 percent will be increased to 5.5 percent. The additional revenue expected from the increase was Rs. 3,200 million. However Defence Levy will not be charged on machinery and equipment. The budget also increased the present normal postage stamp duty from Rs. 2.50 to 3.50. The costs of registration and telegrams too will be increased correspondingly. The revenue target is Rs. 350 million. A proposal to raise rail fares by 25 percent to collect an additional revenue of Rs. 300 million to cover up the recurring losses of the department was shelved at the last moment. Minister Peiris said that the government has taken a last minute decision to drop the proposal. The fifth budget also restored an earlier concession enjoyed by the public officers to import cars at concessional duty rates. The new proposal will allow public officials to import petrol vehicles upto 1500 cc at concessional rate of 25 percent and diesel vehicles of upto 2000 cc at 40 percent of the normal duty.
Budget
of a dying govt Former Finance Minister Ronnie de Mel yesterday described the government's fifth budget as the worst in the 50 years of budget making in this country. Speaking to 'The Island" shortly after Prof. G. L. Peiris concluded his speech around 7.20 p.m. de Mel said it is nothing but the budget of a dying government. 'It reminds me of the last gasp of a dying man. After listening to this budget, all I can say to the government is please go. In God's name please go without destroying the country further" he appealed. Government parliamentarian Vasudeva Nanayakkara said that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. 'The pudding that the masses have eaten now has been bitter. Of course it was a delicacy for the rich. Prof. Peiris has been making delicacies for the rich at the expense of the poor". Nanayakkara said that in real terms no equity has been reached nor has there been redistribution of wealth. He disputed Peiris's contention that there has been a reduction in the incomes of the highest 20 percent while the incomes of the lowest 20 percent has increased. 'There is no such sharing of wealth. I call this a distortion. It goes without saying that the labourer whose daily wage was 100 rupees ten years ago had a better standard of living in comparison to the 200 rupees he earns today for a days work". The UNP's media spokesman Karunasena Kodituwakku said that this budget is no different to the others Prof. Peiris has presented. 'It has not helped in any way to reduce the pressing problems such as the cost of living, unemployment , poverty, malnutrition etc.", he pointed out. The people he said are keenly awaiting the holding of elections - most probably the Provincial Council polls to pass their judgement. 'The people cannot be fooled all the time' he added. President discusses mass grave issue with HRC The government has already initiated action with regard to the investigations into the reports that several hundreds of bodies of people who are alleged to have "disappeared" in mid 1996 in the Jaffna peninsula have been buried in Chemmani. The President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, being deeply concerned with these reports, has had discussions with the Chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka to review the progress made with regard to the investigations, according to a press release issued by the Government Information Department. At these discussions, the President has offered all possible assistance to the Human Rights Commission in the investigation into alleged Chemmani mass graves, in particular to obtain the services of forensic experts to facilitate the investigations. The government is deeply committed to the protection of human rights guaranteed to the citizens under the Constitution and the principles of the United Nations Charter on Human Rights. The Government has positively responded to the request made by the Human Rights Commission by granting approval to proceed with the investigations and to direct the relevant authorities to co-operate fully with the Human Rights Commission in this matter. Kamal
Addaraarachchi case The appeal filed in the Court of Appeal by movie star, Kamal Addaraarachchi, will be argued on February 9, next year. Kamal Addaraarachchi seeks to set aside the conviction and sentence imposed on him by the Colombo High Court. Kamal was convicted of the abduction and rape of a teenaged girl. A sentence of ten years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 1 million was imposed as penalty. Subsequently, the accused appellant Kamal was released on bail by the Court of Appeal in response to a bail application made by Kamal. Tilak Marapana, President's Counsel with Nalin Ladduwahetty, Jayantha Fernando and Anuja Premaratne, appeared for the accused appellant, Addaraarachchi. The bench comprised Justice F. N. D. Jayasuriya and Justice P. H. K. Kulatillake. |
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