Government To Allocate 15,000 Acres Of Land In Hambanthota For Chinese Investors-Prime Minister Wikramasinghe

Announcing the five year economic plan of the government in Parliament today (27) prime minister Ranil Wikramasinghe has stated that 15,000 acres of land in Hambanthota (Southern Province) will be allocated for Chinese Investors.

Prime Minister Wikramasinghe also says  that government is planning to annul the Export and Import Control Act and a bring a new legislation on the lines of Singapore's regulations if Export and Imports and Exports Act and Strategic Goods Control Act.

A new set of investment incentives based on low tax regime and capital allowances will be introduced and the more details on this will be announced during the Budget he has revealed.

Mount Lavinia Magistrate Has Released The Army intelligence Officer Arrested In Connection With Killing Of Former Sunday Leader Editor

The Army Intelligence Officer  P.Udalagama who was arrested and remanded in connection with the murder of former sunday leader newspaper editor Lasantha Wikramathunge has been released on bail by Mount Lavinia Magistrate today (27).

The suspect who was arrested on 16th of  July on the charges of alleged abduction ,unlawful detention and questioning of the driver of  late editor Wikramathunge has been released on three personal bails of Rs.500,000 each and a cash bail of Rs.50,000.

The court  barred the suspect from entering any military establishment in the country and leaving the country.

The former sunday editor leader was killed on his way to work in January 2009.

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Maharagama "Apeksha" Hospital To Perform Bone Marrow Transplants In Sri Lanka For The First Time

For the first time in Sri Lanka Maharagama "Apeksha" Hospital is due to perform an expensive Bone Marrow Transplant Surgeries free of charge for local patients  with effect from this December according to the Ministry Of Health,Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine.

These surgeries will be performed mainly by four Oncologists attached to Apeksha Hospital  who had recently undergone a special training regarding the Bone Marrow Transplant Surgeries at St.Vincent's University Hospital ,Australia as per  the instructions of Consultant Surgeon Dr.M.A David who is attached to the St.Vincent's Hospital Ministry has stated.

There are over 100 patients in Maharagama "Apeksha" Hospital awaiting Bone Marrow Transplant Surgeries which performs in foreign countries at the cost of around Rs.30 to 40 million according to the reports.Sri Lankan patients are mostly flying to the countries like India and Singapore for this surgery.

Increase Of VAT And Nation Building Taxes To Be Implemented From 01st Of November

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.

A Health Ministry Employee Had Staged A Protest Campaign On The Roof Of The Ministry Building

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.