Archives for December 10, 2016

The third reading of the budget was passed in Parliament today (10th) with a majority of 110.

165 Members voted for the budget and 55 voted against it. 4 Members were not present when the voting took place.
The UNP, the SLFP representing the government and the TNA that represents the opposition voted for the budget. The JVP and several Members of Mahinda faction voted against the proposals

The budget of North – Central Provincial Council ws passed with a majority of 29 votes yesterday (9th).
The budget debate continued for two days and yesterday the budget proposals were adopted with the agreement of all members of the UNP, SLFP and also of the Mahinda faction.
The council has 33 members. One is the President and another has been absent at the time of voting. Accordingly, 30 members have voted for the proposals and one against it.
Only the JVP councilor Wasantha Samarasinghe has voted against the budget that has cut allocations for various matters including the salaries of local government employees by 46%.

It is reported that a tense situation has developed between employees of the Hambantota Harbour and Navy personnel. The employees of the Harbour are engaged in a protest campaign demanding not to privatize the Harbour and demanding to absorb all employees in the harbour to Ports Authority.
Due to the protest campaign two ships anchored in the harbour have not been able to sail out of the harbour and the Navy has been deployed to take the ships out of the harbour. A clash occurred due to the attempt by the employees to prevent the ships being taken away from the Harbour. A spokesman for the Navy accepted that steps were taken to remove the protestors. 8 employees of the Harbour have been injured due to the clash say reports. It is said that the journalists covering the event too have been assaulted with poles and weapons.

It is revealed that a cabinet paper has been issued on 29.08.2016 to include provisions from the budget 2016 to give a concession period for vehicles that are assembled locally after importing as spare parts.

The concessionary period has been declared as from 1st October, 2016 to 1st January, 2017 and with a special tax. Among the vehicles that are given this concession are vehicles assembled with used spare parts, vehicles smuggled in and have been released from customs, vehicles with engine and chassis numbers changed illegally and vehicles that have not been able to be registered due to legal matters.

Hambantota Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa who had visited the employees who are carrying on a campaign demanding the government not to privatize the Magampura Harbour and to attach all employees to Port authority was greeted with hoots and catcalls.

He had to retreat due to the opposition of employees. VIDEO

The President of National Trade Union Center (NTUC) K.D. Lal Kantha has said they would extend their support to the campaign begun by the Hambanthota Port Employees Collective demanding not to privatize Magampura Harbour and to attach all employees to Port Authority.

Mr. Lal Kantha said this addressing the employees when he arrived at the Port yesterday (9th) to join the ‘Sathyagraha’ movement being carried out by the employees.
He said the JVP, NTUC and All Ceylon Ports General Workers Union would support the continues ‘Sathyagaraha’ campaign begun by the employees of the Harbour. Mr. Lal Kantha also joined the ‘Sathyagraha’.