The increase of Value Added Tax(VAT) and Nation Building Tax(NBT) will be implemented with effect from 01st of November according to the Ministry of Finance.
The VAT Increase from 11% to 15% was approved when the VAT Amendment Bill was passed in Parliament yesterday(26) with majority of 53 votes.
Accordingly the VAT increase will affect tobacco,telecom,air ticket fees and private medical services excluding Dialysis,OPD Services and diagnostic tests and the 2% Nation Building Tax rate will remain unchanged it has been reported.
An employee attached to the Ministry of Health,Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine has staged a protest campaign nearly four hours since this morning on the roof of the Ministry's main building at "Suwasiripaya" ,Colombo-10 by demanding a salary hike for health employees,Salaries for all transferred health employees in the Ministry and to transfer Health Ministry employees who are in the same place since long time
After the Health Ministry Secretary Anura Jayawickrame has agreed to hold talks with the protestor who is also the Treasurer of Sri Lanka Freedom Health Union(Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya)he has ended the protest this noon it has been reported.
The 38th Death Anniversary of the First Actress in Sinhala Cinema late Rukmani Devi falls tomorrow(28). Let's not forget this beautiful, talented and honest Actress who shon the Sri Lankan Film Industry for decades until her tragic death in 1978.
Here is a brief description of Late Rukmani Devi.You can read more details of her through "RUKMANI DEVI BLOG" -https://emanthi-cinema.blogspot.com.
Rukmani Devi (15 January 1923 – 28 October 1978) was a Sri Lankan singer and actress, who was often acclaimed as "The Nightingale of Sri Lanka".[1]
She made it to the silver screen via the stage and had acted in close
to 100 films, at the time of her death. Having an equal passion for
singing as well as a melodious voice, she was Sri Lanka's foremost
female singer in the gramophone era. After her death, she was awarded
the Sarasaviya 'Rana Thisara'- Life Time Achievement Award at the 1979 Sarasaviya Awards Festival.
Rukmani Devi, was born as Daisy Rasammah Daniels to a TamilColombo Chetty Christian family on 15 January 1923 at Ramboda in Nuwara Eliya,
Sri Lanka. Second, in a family of five, her father, John Daniel worked
on a plantation and her mother, Helen Rose was a teacher.
According to Sri Lankeya Cinema Vanshaya (pp 637 – 638) written by Nuwan Nayanajith Kumara, from Kadawunu Poronduwa in 1947 to Ara Soyza in 1984, Rukmani Devi had played different roles in 99 films, up to the time of her death.
Rukmani Devi, died in a tragic motor accident near St. Mary's Church,
Thudella on 28 October 1978. She was returning after a musical show in
Uyanwatte, Matara.
Her funeral ceremony was attended by a very large gathering; film
makers and dramatists, friends, politicians, relatives and her beloved
fans.
She was the most celebrated Sri Lankan artiste and a statue in memory of her was erected at the Kanuwana Junction, Ja-Ela, as she still lives in the hearts and minds of the Sri Lankan people.
Five Fire Trucks belonging to the Fire Brigade are currently involved in dousing a fire which erupted at a fourth floor in a Building at Duplication Road,Bambalapitiya (Colombo-04)short while ago.
Cyclone "Kyant"now located around 1200 Kilo Meters north east of Sri Lanka.
However showers may occur in western,north western,sabaragamuwa and southern provinces in the mornings and showers or thunder showers may occur most parts in the country except Northern Province Met Department has stated.
The increase of Value Added Tax(VAT) and Nation Building Tax(NBT) will be implemented with effect from 01st of November according to the Ministry of Finance.
