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.

Forty Seven Thousand Nine Hundred Twenty Six Persons Were Arrested Last Year For Narcotic Related Offenses

Forty seven thousand nine hundred twenty six persons(47,926) have been arrested throughout the island last year(2012) over narcotic related offenses according to National Dangerous Drug Control Board.the amount of narcotics including cannabis and heroin taken in to custody last year was around seventy three thousand nine hundred four kilo grammes and nine hundred forty five  grammes the board has said.

Around 65% Out of the total number of offenders arrested over narcotic related offenses are cannabis users and 35% were heroin users source said.there's an increase of cannabis users in the country during last five yeas doctors said.

 Meanwhile Forty seven thousand eight hundred forty four(47,844) court cases were filed last year throughout the island related to narcotics the Dangerous Drug Control Board has stressed. .

President To Present Budget Proposals To Parliament

President Mahinda Rajapaksha is due to present  the Budget Proposals 2014  to the Parliament tomorrow(21) at 1 p.m.the second reading of the budget will take place on 22nd of November and  the debate will goes on till 29th of November.the vote of the second reading of budget will be held at  same day at 6.30 p.m.

The committee stage of the budget proposals due to commence on 02nd of December and will continue till 20th of December.the vote for third reading of the budget will also take place on  the same day according to sources.

Health Ministry Is Planning To Buy Expensive"Oncasper" Injection Vials From An Expensive Supplier

Under the guidance of Health Ministry Media Unit official Health Authorities are planning to purchase the  expensive "Oncasper"Injection Vials prescribe  for  child cancer patients at Cancer Hospital, Maharagama from  a fraudulent drug company  Markss Health Care Services Private Limited by Rs.400,000 per vial which is  Rs.200,000 more then the vials of said injection purchased from previous supplier Onmax drug company health sources revealed,

To enable the purchasing of "Oncasper" Injection Vials from the fraudulent drug company the said Media Official of the Health Ministry has guided  health authorities to suspend the previous injection  supplier  by falsely branding them as involved in a drug scam at Cancer Hospital sources said.

A huge sum of commissions too involved when  purchasing of the injection vials from  fraudulent drug company and already a sum of Rs.125,000 has been transferred in to the private bank account of  said official by the drug company health ministry sources added.however after leaking the information on this deal the said official has suspended that account sources further said.

Meanwhile the National Drug Authority has given registration to the fraudulent drug company on 08th of November under one day service with the view of purchasing "Oncasper " injection vials from them.however the oncologist attach to Maharagama,Cancer Hospital who is representing Technical Evaluation Committee has refused to accept the said company as new supplier of "Oncasper" injection vials of the Cancer Hospital as their prices are higher as well as the quality of the vials are questionable.