VAT will be increased from May 2

The Ministry of Finance says that the Value Added Tax( VAT) will be increased to 15% with effect from May 2.

With this revision, Value Added Tax will now affect telecommunication and health sectors as well.

Therefore, supply of telecommunication services including the supply and imports of machinery, high tech equipment, copper cables used for telecommunication services and supply of health services which were earlier exempt from VAT, will now be liable for VAT.

The VAT will also be imposed to all supply of goods or services to any specified projects other than housing projects.

Amendments to the Nation Building Tax (NBT) and Share Transaction Levy (STL) were also announced by the Ministry of Finance.

The Nation Building Tax (NBT) will remain unchanged at 2%. And the NBT exemptions allowed on Telecommunication service, supply of electricity, lubricants and supply of goods or services to any specified projects other than housing projects, will be removed.

The Ministry of Finance further added that the share transaction levy (STL) will be re-imposed at the rate of 0.3 % from every buyer and seller, on the turnover of every share trading transaction, which is conducted through a stock exchange.

COPE to decide on BOC Seychelles branch

The Committee on Public Enterprises ( COPE) is to issue a directive on the continence of Bank of Ceylon Seychelles branch shortly, Parliamentary sources said yesterday.

An MP who is a prominent member of COPE told Daily Mirror that the committee had called for a report on the performance of this branch from the authorities of the Bank. He said the decision on the bank will be made by COPE after its study of the banks’ performance.

However, sources said there was only three customers who had been transacting with the branch in Seychelles.

The branch opened on January 20, 2014, was the first ever Bank of Ceylon branch in an African country. (Yohan Perera)

Oil anointing for the New Year is on Saturday

The Sinhala and Tamil New Year has dawned. The nation welcomed the massive cultural festival engaging in religious observances and observing the rites as laid down by the planetary movements. The oil anointing tradition for the New Year has to be performed on Saturday the 16th.

Oil anointing for the New Year is recommended at 10.41 am on Saturday, April 16th clad in blue attire facing towards west keeping banyan leaves on head and standing on karanda leaves applying gingelly oil mixed with banyan leaf juice on head.

The auspicious time to leave for work in the New Year is on Monday, April 18th at 6.27 am dressed in white clothes having partaken a meal of milk rice mixed with curd.

Sri Lankans celebrate Dawn of Sinhala & Tamil New Year

The Sinhala and Tamil New Year, one of the most celebrated festivals in Sri Lanka, symbolising the prosperity and ethnic harmony in the country dawned this evening.

The New Year dawned at the auspicious time of 07:48 on Wednesday evening. The Punya Kalaya began at 1.24 p.m. today and ends at 2.12 a.m. on Thursday.

Astrologers note that it is suitable to consume meals before 01:24 today and engage in religious observances. The auspicious time for lighting the hearth and preparing meals fell at 8.06 p.m. on Wednesday.

Astrologers have noted that this tradition must be followed by wearing a light green garments facing the South. The tradition of transacting and consuming the first meal of the New Year was done at 8.54 p.m. on Wednesday.

The tradition of anointing oil in the New Year will take place at 10:41 a.m. on Saturday, April 16.

Astrologers say that this tradition must be carried out while wearing blue-coloured garments.

The auspicious time of leaving for occupation falls on Monday, April 18, at 6.27 a.m.

Astrologers say that white garments should be worn for this tradition, and that one should engage in this tradition facing the East.

A Biological Filter for the As3+ Contaminated water

Dr.Miss.W.W.S.W.C.Fernando (Dr.Miss.Selie Fernando and daughter Miss S.M.Senanayeke,) who have invented an innovative research on a filter which is Biological for Arsenic contaminated water which is the major health issue in Northern,North Central provinces in Sri Lanka.

Therefore it will be the Gold Standards for the problem as if the most economical, Eco friendly, feasible invention for the problem existed in those areas.
Following document And research being published in National and International peer review journals as well including Ceylon Medical Journal

Title; A Biological Filter for the As3+ Contaminated water.

W.W.S.W.C.Fernando1,S.M.S.N.M.Senanayeke 2.

1-Family Health Bureau. 2. Holy Family Balika Viduhala,Wennappuwa.

Introduction;

This contamination of the drinking water with Arsenic as a result of the undue incorrect ,unproductive use of Insecticides,weedycides,agrochemicals is the major cause of contamination of the water source is the major health issue in the North Central and Northern provinces in Sri Lanka.

Many patients who suffer from the Renal failure will be the health hazard of the area concerned.

Objective;

1)    To Test the Filter Efficiency of the two innovative Bio filter layers of the filter and fitting Isotherm. the Banana peels and the Green Tea.

Materials; Methodology;

Different As+++ solutions were made in five concentration gradients.0.01mg/L,0.02mg/l,0.04mg/L,0.06mg/L,0.1mg/L respectively., Banana peels 260g,Gereen tea 200g,Coconut husk dust 260g,Coconut shell burnt carbon particles 10mm *10mmsize being used, Sand particular size 0.06cm * Colorimetric test kit method being used for testing with two decimals accuracy.

Results and Analysis;

  Absorption percentages for above solutions for Banana peels and Green Tea – 90,7,-1.4,0,10.For Green Tea – 100,100,100,96.7,91. For Banana peels Langmuir Isotherm and Green tea innovative Isotherm are fitting.

Discussion;
It is shown that  significant percentage being absorbed by  green tea layer and the Banana peels layers. The P values are in the significant levels. This filter can be a good solution for the above health problem prevailed in the North Central  and Central provinces in Sri Lanka It is very cheap , economical,ecofreindly,feasible,simple,low technical knowledge being involved.

Images of Arsenic contamination Skin manifestation, and Filter.

Dr.

Miss.Selie Fernando

Volkswagen gets Kuliyapitiya land

A land in the Kuliyapitiya area was secured for setting up the Volkswagen assembly plant in Sri Lanka. The total value of this project is an investment of US$ 26.5 million of which 21.5 million will be invested in fixed assets within a period of 24 months.

This was subsequent by the successful facilitation of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka working with the Lands Ministry.

This land will be taken over by the BOI and would be formally handed over by the investment promotion agency to Senok Automobile (Pvt) Ltd, for the assembly of cars manufactured by Volkswagen AG, the renowned German Company.

The agreement to assemble cars was signed by Upul Jayasuriya Chairman of BOI and Noel Selvanayagam, President of Senok Automobile (Pvt) Ltd., which is a BOI Section 17 Agreement, the investor will assemble vehicles in the 1000 cc to 2000 cc category.

These vehicles will be diesel powered and include passenger cars, Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV), Multi Utility Vehicles (MUV) or commercial vehicles. Initially these vehicles would be marketed locally for a period of three years and thereafter the vehicles manufactured will be exported to overseas market. 

There is also a potential for export vehicles which would be petrol/electric/hybrid vehicles to be built without the concessions that have been given for assembling diesel vehicles. As Volkswagen is currently a world leader in automobile manufacture, this project is a very high profile one and a statement about Sri Lanka's growing attractiveness as a destination for investment. BOI is very keen to attract other leading automobile manufacturers into the country as the industry creates opportunities for the creation of local component manufacturersthat can supply the building of a complex product such as passenger car. The uniqueness of the project would be the inflows of German advanced automobile technology into the country and creating of job opportunities for the local youth.

Lasith Malinga can't play in IPL without our permission: SLC

Colombo, April 12: Miffed with Lasith Malinga's attitude of picking and choosing tournaments, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is reluctant to give the fast bowler 'No Objection Certificate' to play for the Mumbai Indians in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL).

SLC chief Tilanga Sumathipala said that the current status of Malinga's fitness needs to be assessed before the Board decides to give him the NOC.

Lasith Malinga

"He can't go without our permission. If he defies us and go, he can only return after sitting on the bench," Sumathipala said. (Malinga to miss 'first half' of IPL 9)

Malinga and the new SLC hierarchy have been at a standoff since the Asia Cup T20 in February.

The Board administration had asked Malinga to leave the captaincy before the World T20 last month in obvious annoyance.

Although Malinga made it to Sri Lanka World T20 team as a player, he once again opted out of the crucial tournament, citing fitness issues.

As a result, Sri Lanka was forced to play the tournament without their main bowler, which turned out to be one of the main reasons for the defending champions ouster from the World T20 in the first round itself.

PTI

Harin Fernando summoned to Courts over club brawl

Kollupitiya Police has filed a case in the Fort Magistrate's Court against Minister of Telecommunications Harin Fernando in connection with allegedly assaulting an individual and causing injury.

Michael Fernando, a resident of Pothuarawa Road, Talangama North, complained that the Minister assaulted him at the Colombo Swimming Club on 22 April 2015.

Police have referred this complaint to a Mediation Board.However, as the minister did not turn up for mediation board hearings, the Police filed a case. Both parties have been ordered by the Court to be present in Court on 5 May.