Those who attended the Kirillapona May day rally to be punished

The Central Committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party is to call a meeting this week to discuss action to be taken on SLFP members who did not participate in their May Day rally held in Galle, SLFP General Secretary and Agriculture Minister Duminda Dissanayake said.

Organising committee members will submit a full report at the meeting on participation and other contributions made by SLFP members.

The committee will decide on the course of action to be taken against those who boycotted the event based on the report, the minister said.

“We cannot take action about any other rally that was held that day, our goal was for all the members to work together to make the SLFP May Day rally a success.

We will have to decide on what action is to be taken against those who did not contribute based on the report submitted by the people,” Dissanayake said.

United People’s Freedom Alliance General Secretary and senior SLFP member Mahinda Amaraweera highlighted that neither the President nor any other single SLFP member would take any decision regarding the issue without a proper consultation process with the SLFP central committee.

Most Ven. Seruwila Saranakiththi Thera passes away

The Anunayake of the Seruwila Saranakiththi Kalyani Sect and Chief Incumbent of the Mangala Raja Maha Viharaya in Seruwila, the Most Venerable Seruwila Saranakiththi Thera has passed away.

The mortal remains of the Nayaka Thera, who passed away at a private hospital on Monday, May 2., are to be brought to the Seruwila Raja Maha Viharaya. The Nayaka Thera who also held the positions of Chief Incumbent at the Jayasumanaramaya in Trincomalee and the Uthurugiri Viharaya in Muttur, was 76-years-old at the time of his passing.

The Most Venerable Seruwila Saranakiththi Thera is remembered to this day, for his bold action to commence a hunger strike when the LTTE closed the Mavil Aru anicut.

The Nayaka Thera who rendered a yeoman service to protecting Buddhist heritage in the North and East, was ordained in 1960, and served the Sasana for 56 years.

The Funeral Committee will meet after the mortal remains are brought to the Seruwila Raja Maha Viharaya, to decide when the final rites will be observed.

Chief Incumbent Arrested For Cutting Down Sacred Bo Tree

The Chief Incumbent of the Divurumpola Temple in Nigathalawa, Welimada, was arrested by police yesterday for ordering the cutting down of the sacred Bodhi Tree at the temple for wood.

Two people who cut down the tree were also arrested while another individual is to be arrested.

Police protection had to be given to the temple following a tense situation which occurred yesterday at the temple when villagers gathered there to protest at the action of the Chief Incumbent.

According to legend, the Bodhi Tree was located at the site where Sita had jumped into the fire to prove her chastity.

Finance Ministry announces list of VAT-exempted goods and services

The Ministry of Finance announced that the VAT increase from 11% to 15% will take effect from Monday May 2, onwards.

The Ministry has also released a list of goods and services which will be exempted from the VAT increase.

According to the list, a several goods including rice, wheat flour, bread, milk powder, infant milk, all fuel types including kerosene, mobile phones and dairy products have been exempted from the VAT increase.

The services which will be exempted from the VAT increase includes educational services, public transport, healthcare and telecommunication services.

For more details refer images below

Police Media Unit suspended

Police Media Unit has been suspended with immediate effect on the instructions of IGP Pujith Jayasundara. Sri Lanka Police is yet to issue a statement on the circumstances leading to the suspension of the media unit.

SLFP May Day Rally From Galle [LIVE]

The UPFA, led by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, is holding its May Rally at the Samanala Grounds in Galle. President Maithripala Sirisena is expected to address the rally.

Joint Opposition May Day Rally Live - Kirulapone (LIVE)

The 'Joint Opposition' May Rally is held at Lalith Athulathmudali Ground in Kirulapona.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected at the rally. National Freedom Front, Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, Left Democratic Front, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, LSSP, Communist Party and several other parties are to take part in the rally.

Vehicle prices go up with VAT - Importers

The prices of imported vehicle would be increased due to the major foreign currency fluctuation with no change in the present situation in tax regime, Chairman of Lanka Vehicle Importers' Association Mahinda Sarathchandra said. 

He said that three vehicle associations including Brand-new Vehicle Importers Association and two other Used Vehicle Importers Associations yesterday met with the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake at the Finance Ministry regarding the increase in the VAT.

 During the discussion the Finance Minister stated that no changes could be made to the tax. He said if there was no change to the VAT before May 2 vehicle prices would be increased by Rs. 300,000 and Rs.400,000. “The vehicle importation industry has faced a huge downfall due to this prevailing economic pattern. 

He said that an importer who imported 100 vehicle would now could import on 30 because of the VAT hike. Yesterday the Prime Minister appointed a committee to solve the legal issues regarding vehicle importation. 

“We have requested the Finance Minister to provide a considerable relief on tax concessions imposed on vehicle imports and the Minister said that is under consideration,” Mr. Sarathchandra said. “The Finance Minister said the earlier tax concessions made more people to buy vehicles and because of that, the number of vehicles on the road had increased causing huge road traffic congestion,” he said. “The main idea of imposing more tax on vehicle import was to limit vehicles put on to the road,” he said. 

When contacted the Brand New Motor Vehicle Importers Association President Gihan Pilapitiya said there would be no duty changes but valuation of brand new vehicles and the Customs Duty should be reviewed. “The prices of brand new vehicles are decided by relevant vehicle manufacturing companies. 

Without considering the manufacture’s price, it is not reasonable to increase the Customs Tax according to Government decisions,” he said. “But according to our knowledge the Value Added Tax (VAT) is not relevant to decide the vehicle price but all the taxes, which had to be imposed, have already being imposed,” he said. (Chaturanga Pradeep)