Forum Of Health Professionals Against Corruption Has Filed A Bribery Case Against A Ministry Media Officer

The Forum Of Health Professionals Against Government Corruption  has filed a complaint before  Bribery or Corruption Commission requesting an inquiry on a Media Officer attach to the Ministry Of Health who has taken a sum of Rs.227,000 as a bribe from a corrupted Drug Company in view of granting a tender for the Company to supply an expensive Cancer Injections to Maharagama Cancer Hospital.

The Forum has filed this complaint  before the bribery commission on 07th of November the sources have revealed.in their complaint the forum of health professionals against government corruption  has alleged that the said media officer has received Rs.227,000 as a bribe on behalf of the said tender in three installments on 18th,23rd and 27th of September 2013 to his  bank account at a Kirulapona Branch of a Private Bank.he has received the three installments as Rs.125,000 on 18th of September,Rs.50,000 on 23rd of September and Rs.52,000 on  27th of September according to forum sources.

After other Health Ministry Officials have received information on this fraud deal the said media officer has suspended his private bank account in Kirulapona Branch and now he has receiving a sum of over Rs.100,000 monthly from the corrupted drug company to his wife's bank account sources further added.

The Forum Against Government Corruption  has requested the bribery commission to investigate on all bank accounts belongs to the said media officer and take a stern action against him if found he is guilty of the charges.

Another Cabinet Minister Has Sworn In

Deputy Minister of  Economic Development S.M Chandrasena has been appointed as the Cabinet Minister for Special Projects .he has taken his oaths in the new portfolio before President Mahinda Rajapksha in Anuradhapura this noon.

With this new appointment the number of Cabinet Ministers in the present government has increased to 57.Sri Lankan Population is around 21 million people and having a total number of 67 ministers including 57 Cabinet Ministers and Ten Senior Ministers in the present government..besides that there are 38 deputy ministers and two project ministers.

Peices Of Several Essential Imported Commodities Are To Be Increased Following New Taxes

Following the taxes imposed on several imported essential commodities made through the 2014 budget proposals prices of them are expecting to be increased  during coming days according to local economists.the taxes are imposed on imported sugar,dhal,garlic,fruits,salmon,butter,yoghurt as well as petrol and diesel from the budget proposals presented to Parliament last Thursday.

The taxes are imposed on  Rs.30 per 1 Killo Gramme of imported Sugar,Rs.18-22 per Killo Gramme Of Dhal,Rs.40 per Garlic,Rs.102 per 1 Killo Gramme of Salmon,Rs.880 per 1 Killo Gramme of Butter,Rs.625 per 1 Killo Gramme of Yoghurt ,Rs.27 per imported liter of Petrol and Rs.3 per imported liter of Diesel through the budget proposals.the taxes imposed on imported fruits too have been revised.

In addition the tax imposed on all imported tobacco products too has been increased however the tobacco related expected  be not to be increased according to sources.

Customs Seized Four Metric Tonnes Of Sandalwood Imported Illegally From India

The Custom Officers have today(22) seized four metric tonnes of expensive red sandalwood imported illegally from South India and was declared as  Sanitary Ware.the seized stock of sandalwood is valued around Rs.100 million sources revealed.

The Stock Of Sandalwood was packed in 445 boxes and stored in a container at Colombo Harbor sources have further added.the said stock was transported to Dubai from Chennai via Colombo at  the time custom officials  seized it.

The investigations are underway through the naval ship which was transported the sandalwood stock custom officials said.

100% Surcharge On Imported Gold Has Been Removed

The 100% surcharge duty imposed on imported Gold has been removed with effect from today(22) according to Sri Lankan Customs.the surcharge was imposed on 21st of June this year for a six month period custom officials have said.

The surcharge was removed under the instructions of President Mahinda Rajapaksha they have further added.meanwhile import duty on gold has been reduced to 7.5% from 10% sources added.

Fixed And Mobile Phone Charges To Be Increased From January

Both Fixed and Mobile Phone charges are to be increased by 5% with effect from January 2014 according to Telecommunication Regulatory Commission(TRC)phone charges are going up due to the increasing of telecommunication levy through  budget proposals presented to the Parliament yesterday(21).

67th Annual Budget Proposals Presented To The Parliament

*The Cost Of Living Allowance of all Government Sector Employees to be increased by Rs.1200 with effect from January 2014

*Rs.350 increment for Pensioners

*Defense spending to be increased by Rs.249 billion for the year 2014

*The Academic Allowance of all university lecturers to be increased by 5% of their basic salary

*Women Entrepreneurs up to the  the age 68 to be received interest free loans up to Rs.250,000

*Uniform Allowance Of Hospital Staff to be increased to Rs.1500 from Rs.500

*National Stroke Center to be setting up ,New Naval and Marine University to be established

*Two Children's Hospitals to be upgraded as research centers

 *License of transporting the Furniture  Cancelled

*Pension Scheme for Farmers age over 63

*Leasing Agreement for foreigners to obtain local lands

were among some key proposals included in the  67th Annual Budget Proposals presented to the Parliament today(21) by President Mahinda Rajapaksha who is also the finance minister of this government.

One of the major proposals presented under the 2014 budget proposals is the allocating more money for the defense expenditure next year.according to the proposals 16.5% out of the total estimated expenditure for 2014 Rs.1542 billion are allocating for the defense budget.

While presenting annual budget proposals to the parliament president rajapaksha has said that country's economy has achieved a 7.7% economic growth in the third quarter this year when
comparing to the third quarter of last year (2012) which is 6.4%.

The budget debate will goes on till  29th of November and final vote will take place on 20th of December.