| News |
||||
|
Unable
to occupy former homes Most of them
are from Colombo, Negombo and Puttalam. The Divisional
Secretariat has advised the people to either produce documentary
proof of ownership of the houses, or obtain necessary letters from
the respective Grama Sevakas confirming their previous occupancy. However in
some cases the Grama Sevakas have not been able to confirm the issue
of ownership. Prevent smuggling The Hindu Cultural
Affairs Ministry has appointed an advisory committee to advise the
authorities regarding measures to be taken for the prevention of
smuggling of valuable archaeological items from the Jaffna peninsula
to the south of the country. This Decision
was taken after the Ministry received complaints that treasure hunters
were smuggling religious and cultural items from the north to the
south . Recently they
had detected that some of those involved in the business had stolen
these artefacts including statues and selling them cheaply to gangs
coming from the south. Once these find their way to Colombo they are smuggled out of the country. Bitter
pill for patients He claimed
that prices of pharmaceuticals will go up after all pharmaceutical
companies deciding to reduce the prices of drugs by 6.5 percent. Mr. Panditharathne
said the prices of pharmaceuticals will go up proportionately with
Customs duty of two percent, surcharge of 20 percent and PAL of
one percent. However, he said that any price increase would not
exceed five percent. Unless the
government acts immediately to remove the tax system the prices
of pharmaceuticals would be increased once the old stocks are over,
he said. The chairman
of Harcourts Private Limited, Ahamed Rheyas, one of the largest
importers of pharmaceuticals to Sri Lanka, said it was shocking
to note that duties had been imposed on pharmaceuticals which would
again result in pharmaceutical companies having to increase their
prices to recover the additional cost incurred by them, which adds
up to 4.7 percent. "As it is patients are complaining of the high cost of drugs. How will they accept another price increase? The authorities concerned have to see that pharmaceuticals are completely exempt from duty, as it is a vital commodity in any country" he said. Meetings
to fund Tigers The function
which was to be held on October 12 was postponed as it clashed with
the Navaharai celebration . The movement has invited Community Development Minister P. Chandrasekeran as a guest speaker. Although the earlier meeting was to be held in the UK it was decided that separate meetings be held as well in Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. Hi
tech process to catch passport crooks Assistant controller
Kithsiri said it had taken seven long years stage by stage for the
passport office to move into top speed and efficiency in hi-technology
methods. He said the
main passport office in Bambalapitiya would be directly linked by
computer to the airport and ports enabling immediate detection of
black listed people or those who were over staying their visas. Asked why the project took so long the official said the shifting of the head office from Fort to Bambalapitiya and other factors had delayed the process but now they were ready to move into top gear. Keep
child workers out The offenders
will also have to pay compensation to the child. In terms of
this law the custodian of the child will be responsible for furnishing
information regarding the employment of a child and the custodian
would be committing an offence if false information is given. The bill also
provides for the total prohibition of the training of children under
16 years in performances of a dangerous nature. It extends the age limit of a child to whom the protection is afforded to 18 years. The bill makes provision for an authorized officer to enter and search a building or place and for a medical officer who examines a child or young person to issue a certificate which will be acceptable as evidence. |
||||
Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers
Ltd. All rights reserved. |
