Government: Latest News

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is interviewed at offices the company uses on Feb. 14, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty Images) WASHINGTON - TikTok's CEO plans to tell Congress that the video-sharing app is committed to user safety, data protection and security, and keeping the platform free from Chinese government influence.Shou Zi Chew is due to answer questions Thursday from U.S.

Hugo Yarset Monfort Luna, 9, and his 16-year-old sister, Aranza Yosemiti Monfort Luna have been missing since Friday. (Fiscalía Nuevo León) Two American children have gone missing in northern Mexico exactly two weeks after the widely reported kidnappings of four adult U.S.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda met with the Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs of India Smt.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament that the government will be introducing a serious of reforms after the IMF Executive Board granted approval for a bailout package of the country.Increasing Public Revenue:– Reduce the primary deficit to 2.3% of the GDP by 2025.– Increase the government’s revenue up to 15% of the GDP by 2026 through our measures.– Raised the standard corporate income tax rate to 30% without sectoral tax holidays.– PAYE tax rate was increased from 8% to 15%.– The measures required to reduce the existing tax exemptions on Value Added Tax (VAT) will come into effect by 2025. Further, necessary measures will be taken to remove the simplified VAT system and expedite its reimbursement.–  Steps have also been taken to introduce tax on awards / substitutes and to introduce Estate Duty as a property tax by 2025, while providing an appropriate tax exemption allowance at a minimum.–  Revamping the property tax system and introducing a wealth transfer tax – Introduce a gift and inheritance taxManaging Expenditure:– Increase the allocations provided to cover the expenses through proper management of expenditure.– Adjustments in certain salary scales and pension schemes as part of the impact of inflation within the primary deficit targets.State Enterprises and Energy Cost: – Fuel prices will be determined based on the 2018 Price Formula.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Ministry of Education said school text books will be provided from Thursday (23).The Ministry said the second phase of the program to provide school uniforms will also commence on Thursday (23). The Education Ministry said uniforms will be provided to 4.1 million school children and student monks.The Ministry has made plans to complete the distribution of school text books and uniforms before the April holidays.Material for school uniforms were provided to 70% of students under the first phase of this program, with material donated by the Chinese government.

Bloomberg:  Sri Lanka’s bailout by the International Monetary Fund will help the bankrupt nation lower its borrowing costs, thanks in part to a change in how the cash can be used, central bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said, reported Bloomber.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe is scheduled to make a special statement in Parliament on Wednesday (22).In addition, the President is expected to table the agreement reached with the International Monetary Fund.In a special statement following the approval of the extended credit facility by the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday (21), President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that Sri Lanka is no longer deemed bankrupt by the world.The President further stated that the loan facility serves as an assurance from the international community that Sri Lanka has the capacity to restructure its debt and resume normal transactions.Additionally, the President noted that the government is working to gradually lift import restrictions on essential goods, medicines, and tourism-related goods, as the foreign exchange situation improves.

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. - A 29-year-old woman accused of using false documents to enroll as a New Jersey high school student and attend some classes over a four-day period did so because she was lonely and longed to return to her days with friends in school, her lawyer said.The woman pleaded not guilty Monday to a charge of providing a false government document. Her lawyer said she knows she made a mistake and has applied to enter a pretrial intervention program that eventually could lead to the charge being dismissed.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is encouraging older people with a physical or mental health condition, or a disability, to check if they are entitled to Attendance Allowance, which is currently worth either £61.85 or £92.40 each week.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The International Monetary Fund said that Sri Lanka must increase tax revenue in a growth friendly manner. Peter Breuer, the Senior IMF Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, told reporters that the current economic crisis has a number of origins including the governments' inability to meet government spending needs through revenue collection and Sri Lanka is among the countries that collect the least amount of fiscal revenue in the world. He said that Tax Reforms are badly needed to correct the imbalance, and only with appropriate tax receipts will the government be able to fund essential expenditures, and avoid further slashing critically important outlets. "These reforms will also help regain the confidence of the creditors, so that in the future they will once again finance the gap between revenue and expenditure," he said.Peter Breuer further said that it is important that those who can afford it may commence contributions to the financing of necessary government expenditures."The tax package the authorities have introduced including the new tax rate schedule for Personal Income tax helps to meet the objectives. The tax rates proposed under the authorities program are also inline with similar countries who are contributing to Sri Lanka's support package, through the IMF," he said."So it is important to remember that there are many countries who have income levels comparable or may be less than Sri Lanka with much higher tax rates.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday (21) said that the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement for Sri Lanka sets a minimum spending floor by the government on the social safety net program.The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board on Monday (20) approved SDR 2.286 billion (about US dollars 3 billion) under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) to support Sri Lanka’s economic policies and reforms.The IMF report on the EFF noted that Social Safety Net (SSN) programs in Sri Lanka are fragmented, with several implementation agencies, which has led to a lack of ownership and widespread inefficiencies in delivery of SSN programs.Masahiro Nozaki, the IMF Mission Chief for Sri Lanka said the EFF program said that Sri Lankan authorities have committed to SSN spending of Rs. 187 billion (0.6 percent of GDP) in 2023.Sri Lanka’s SSN programs monitored under the EFF-supported program comprise the Samurdhi program (largest poverty-targeted cash transfer program in Sri Lanka), as well as assistance to the elderly (over 70 years), allowance for disabled people, and financial support for kidney patients.Masahiro Nozaki highlighted that Sri Lanka's Social Safety Net program suffer from poor targeting."Right now the social safety nets cover about 40% of poorer households, that should be significantly increased and some social safety net spending is going towards relatively rich families.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The International Monetary Fund has emphasized the importance of anti-corruption and governance reforms as a central pillar of the EFF-supported program as they are indispensable to ensure the hard-won gains from the reforms benefit the Sri Lankan people.In a statement issued ahead of the IMF press briefing on Tuesday (21) morning, Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka & Masahiro Nozaki, Mission Chief for Sri Lanka noted that Sri Lankan authorities have committed to fundamentally improve public financial management and strengthen the anti-corruption legal framework in line with the United Nations Convention against Corruption.The reform program supported under the EFF arrangement is built on strong policy measures and prioritizes:(i) an ambitious revenue-based fiscal consolidation, accompanied by stronger social safety nets, fiscal institutional reforms, and cost-recovery based energy pricing to ensure the state’s ability to support all its essential expenditures;(ii) restoration of public debt sustainability, including through a debt restructuring to ensure stable financing of the government’s operations;(iii) a multi-pronged strategy to restore price stability and rebuild reserves under greater exchange rate flexibility in order to alleviate the burden of inflation, particularly on the poor, to foster an environment of investment and growth, and to ensure Sri Lanka's ability to purchase essential goods from abroad;(iv) policies to safeguard financial sector stability to ensure that the financial sector can play its key role in supporting economic growth; and(v) structural reforms to address corruption vulnerabilities and enhance growth. It is now essential to continue the reform momentum

COVID-19 from spreading out of control.“We’ve gone so far, and we just have to go along for the next few weeks and months. And it is distressing to see what is happening in our ICUs and hospitals,” Shahab said, as he suppressed sobs.He apologized for crying before continuing, but still struggled to stay calm.“To see young lives lost through a vaccine-prevented disease – how can we accept this?”Shahab is the province’s top doctor.

Former President Donald Trump arrives for an event at the Adler Theatre on March 13, 2023 in Davenport, Iowa. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) An ongoing investigation into former President Donald Trump’s alleged hush money payment to an ex-porn actress is his latest legal trouble as he prepares his presidential campaign for a White House run in 2024. Trump is currently under investigation to determine if he paid Stormy Daniels, a former porn actress, to keep quiet about a sexual affair she claimed she had with Trump before he ran for president in 2016. Lawyer Robert Costello arrived in court Monday afternoon after being invited to appear before the grand jury in New York, the Associated Press noted. RELATED: Stormy Daniels meets with prosecutors investigating Donald TrumpCostello was asked to appear by the Manhattan district attorney's office after he said he had information raising questions about the credibility of former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, a key witness in the investigation.Costello’s testimony came after Trump declared in a social media post over the weekend that he expects to be taken into custody on Tuesday and urged supporters to protest his possible arrest.

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan bill Monday that directs the federal government to declassify as much intelligence as possible about the origins of COVID-19 more than three years after the start of the pandemic.The legislation, which passed both the House and Senate without dissent, directs the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to declassify intelligence related to China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology. It cites "potential links" between the research that was done there and the outbreak of COVID-19, which the World Health Organization declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020.

FILE-Bezalel Smotrich, Israels finance minister, greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, during a news conference to present a cost of living plan on Jan. 11.

19 February 2023, Brandenburg, Jänschwalde: Steam rises from the cooling towers of the Jänschwalde lignite-fired power plant operated by Lausitz Energie Bergbau AG (LEAG). The power plant is the third largest power plant in Germany.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The United States of America has welcomed the approval of Sri Lanka’s IMF package."Great news & an important step on the road toward economic recovery," tweeted US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung on Monday (20).She said that the Sri Lankan government will need to continue reforms and conclude debt restructuring agreements to ensure the program – and the economy – stay on track.She noted that structural & lasting reforms that address good governance & transparency are critical to ensure all citizens of Sri Lanka can prosper.IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva also noted that she was very pleased the Executive Board of the IMF had approved about $3 bn of IMF support for Sri Lanka’s economic policies & reforms. She said that it was an important milestone with International Creditors coming together to help to restore debt sustainability. "Crucial to unlock Sri Lanka's growth potential," she added.The International Monetary Fund said that it will enable an immediate disbursement equivalent to about US $ 333 million for Sri Lanka under EFF program, following Executive Board approval on Monday (20).The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved today a 48‑month extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) with an amount of SDR 2.286 billion (395 percent of quota or about US$3 billion).Sri Lanka has been hit hard by a catastrophic economic and humanitarian crisis.

FILE - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a joint press conference with Nigerien Foreign Minister Hassoumi Massoudou (not seen) at the presidential palace in Niamey, Niger, on March 16, 2023. (BOUREIMA HAMA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)NIAMEY, Niger - An American aid worker held by Islamic extremists in West Africa for more than six years and a French journalist abducted almost two years ago were both freed Monday, authorities said.They were brought together to Niger’s capital.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The International Monetary Fund said that it will enable an immediate disbursement equivalent to about US $ 333 million for Sri Lanka under EFF program, following Executive Board approval on Monday (20).The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved today a 48‑month extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) with an amount of SDR 2.286 billion (395 percent of quota or about US$3 billion).Sri Lanka has been hit hard by a catastrophic economic and humanitarian crisis.The economy is facing significant challenges stemming from pre-existing vulnerabilities and policy missteps in the lead up to the crisis, further aggravated by a series of external shocks.The EFF-supported program aims to restore Sri Lanka’s macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability, mitigate the economic impact on the poor and vulnerable, safeguard financial sector stability, and strengthen governance and growth potential. The Executive Board’s decision will enable an immediate disbursement equivalent to SDR 254 million (about US$333 million) and catalyze financial support from other development partners.COLOMBO (News 1st); The International Monetary Fund said that it will enable an immediate disbursement equivalent to about US $ 333 million for Sri Lanka under EFF program, following Executive Board approval on Monday (20).The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved today a 48‑month extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) with an amount of SDR 2.286 billion (395 percent of quota or about US$3 billion).Sri Lanka has been hit hard by a catastrophic economic and humanitarian crisis.The economy is facing significant challenges stemming from pre-existing

COLOMBO (News 1st); The IMF Executive Board approved Sri Lanka’s program under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) that will enable Sri Lanka to access up to $7 billion in funding, reported the President's Media Division.President Ranil Wickremesinghe has expressed his gratitude for the support of the IMF and other international partners, said the PMD.It added that the President committed to full transparency in all discussions with financial institutions & creditors, & to achieve sustainable levels of debt through prudent fiscal management & an ambitious reform agenda.The IMF program is critical to achieving this vision & will help to improve Sri Lanka's standing in international capital markets, making it an attractive country for investors, talent, & tourists, said the President's Media Division.Earlier this month, Sri Lanka received IMF-compatible financing assurances from its official creditors, including Paris Club members, India and China, allowing the IMF to convene an Executive Board and consider Sri Lanka’s request for a loan.The program is expected to provide much-needed policy space to drive the economy out of the unprecedented challenges and instill confidence amongst all the stakeholders.President Ranil Wickremesinghe welcomed the announcement:“In the 75 years of Sri Lanka’s independence, there has never been a more critical period for ou economic future. Our official creditors have declared their support following continuous and positive engagements over the last few months, and we are pleased that the IMF Executive Board approved our program, enabling Sri Lanka to access up to US$ 7 billion in funding from the IMF and IFIs.

Last week, the union health ministry directed the state/UT government to follow a risk assessment-based approach to prevent and contain the infection. India reported 918 new covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours with daily positivity rate at 2.08%, the union health ministry said on Monday. With more than 44.8 million cases, the country has recorded more than 530,806 deaths so far.

COLOMBO (News 1st); State Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government, Janaka Wakkumbura said the Attorney General's recommendation on whether the tenure of the local government institutions will be extended, is expected today (20).The tenure of 340 Local Government Institutions lapsed on Sunday (19) night, and the matter of extending the tenure was referred to the Attorney General.The official term of 340 local government institutions ended at midnight on Sunday (19).Accordingly the tenure of 29 municipal councils, 36 urban councils and 275 pradeshiya sabhas ceased from midnight on Sunday (19).The tenure of the members of the 340 Local Government Institutions commenced on the 20th of March 2018, after the Local Government Election held on 10th February that year.The Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabyha held a separate election and as a result, their official term began in October 2018. Although the official term of 340 local government institutions was supposed to end on the 20th of March last year, the Minister in charge used his authority in order to extend the term by a year to end in 2023. Accordingly, the official term of 340 local government institutions ceased on Sunday (19).The State Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Janaka Wakkumbura says that thereafter, all administrative activities of these institutions will be handed over to the commissioners or secretaries. This is as per the provisions set out in the  Local Authorities Elections Ordinance.

COLOMBO (News 1st);Sri Lanka's Agriculture Ministry said that 1.2 million local farmers will be given Triple Super Phosphate or TSP Fertilizer free of charge from Monday (20), after three harvesting seasons.The shipment of 36,000 metric tons  Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and procured by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for distribution free-of-charge to farmers.Accordingly, 11,537 MT of TSP fertilizer will be issued to farmers in the Northern, and Eastern Provinces.TSP Fertilizer will be issued via all Agrarian Services Centers in the country.The Ministry of Agriculture said that TSP Fertilizer will be issued to other areas to commence harvesting.According to the ministry, 55 kg of fertilizer is recommended for one hectare of paddy cultivation.More than a million Sri Lankan paddy farmers in all 25 districts will get vital assistance through a shipment of over 36,000 metric tons of fertilizer handed over by the United States to the Ministry of Agriculture. This second shipment of USAID-supported fertilizer is delivered on a promise USAID Administrator Samantha Power made last September in response to Sri Lanka’s food security challenges. It brings the total of USAID-supported TSP and urea fertilizer to more than 45,000MT over the last year.U.S.

COLOMBO (News 1st); University activities have been crippled due to the strike action launched by the Federation of University Teachers' Associations against the new tax policy of the government.The strike is on for the 12th consecutive day.Chairman of the Federation of University Teachers' Association Professor Shyama Banneheka told News 1st that the strike will go ahead until solutions are provided to their issues.In addition, the Trade Unions attached to the Ceylon Electricity Board and the National Water Supply and Drainage Board also launched a continuous strike against the government's new tag regime.The Professionals Trade Union Collective said that they hope to discuss their demands with the President this week.Dr.

PMD: President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that the Royal College cricket team’s effective captaincy ultimately led to the team’s victory at a time when all of the matches were being lost and that his effort is to lift the defeated country to the path of victory similar to what the captain of the Royal College cricket team did.The President recalled that when he assumed office last July, the country was experiencing numerous crises such as shortage of fuel, food, and fertilizer. He compared this to the Royal team, which had suffered a string of defeats, and claimed that many people believed the country would not be able to recover.However, President Ranil Wickremesinghe stressed that his team was able to change that situation and create economic stability in the country in the last seven months and emphasized that Sri Lanka is no longer a bankrupt state.President Ranil Wickremesinghe made this statement while addressing the 32nd Interact District Conference held at Temple Trees on Sunday morning (19).He said that everyone would be able to witness a developing country in the next two years, and to make Sri Lanka the most prosperous country in the region, it is necessary to build the economy in addition to stabilizing it today.The President added that the 25-year plan to make Sri Lanka a successful nation by 2048 has already been implemented and it can only be achieved with the commitment of the current youth.This conference was organized by St.

will start cutting people from the government-funded plans when they no longer qualify based on income, a process that has been paused since shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic hit.The timing of these cuts will vary. But all states have insurance markets where people who lose Medicaid can buy new coverage with help from subsidies.

nearly 200 U.S. banks could be vulnerable to the same fate as Silicon Valley Bank (SVB).A recent Social Science Research Network study suggests that 186 American banks could fail if half of their depositors suddenly withdrew their funds.

Also Read: Getting less than 6 hours of sleep? How Covid-19 negatively impacted our sleep pattern With India reporting an uptick in covid cases over the last few weeks, the government has directed six states to examine the situation at micro level and maintain compliance like surveillance, testing and monitoring new and emerging covid clusters. Meanwhile, as per news reports, the new variant XBB 1.16 is likely to cause the next coronavirus wave.

Colombo (News 1st) – The Bar Council of England and Wales in a press release stated that it hopes "parliamentary authorities in Sri Lanka will reconsider most carefully the appropriateness of questioning Supreme Court Judges before a parliamentary committee, and we similarly hope that the Sri Lankan government will consider most carefully whether it can be ever be right to encourage disobedience to court orders.”The release refers recent statements made by State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe and Premnath Dolawatte MP, referring to an ongoing case in the Supreme Court pertaining to the Local Authorities elections.The release, quoting the Chair of the Bar Council of England and Wales, Nick Vineall KC, said: “An independent judiciary is an essential and integral part of the rule of law.

Protesters hold placards reading "Power is in the streets" and "No." during a demonstration a day after the French government pushed a pensions reform through parliament without a vote on March 17, 2023. (JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP via Getty Images) PARIS - Protesters disrupted traffic in Paris on Friday as angry critics, political opponents and labor unions around France blasted President Emmanuel Macron's decision to force a bill raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 through parliament without a vote.Opposition parties were expected to start procedures later Friday for a no-confidence vote on the government led by Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne.

COLOMBO (News 1st); People's Bank on Friday (17) said that it had not received any direct or indirect requests or instructions from any state institution to close their accounts with People's Bank."We wish to strongly emphasize that People's Bank has always been a trusted partner for state organization in providing reliable banking service, including instances where such services were provided at the expense of profitability, in order to serve the country's best interests," said a statement.People's Bank issued this statement in order to clarify the misleading reports regarding State Institutions' Bank Accounts.It said that People's Bank is well-equipped to meet the financial needs of all Public and private Sector customers.On Thursday (16), it was reported that the Ministry of Finance had decided to open the bank accounts of government institutions, which were maintained only in government banks, in private banks.State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe stated that due to recent strikes, certain public services could not be provided due to the disruption of the services.He said that this new alternate security measure adopted in order to continue public services during such a situation.

Clawing back unspent COVID-19 relief funds may not improve the US fiscal picture and could negatively impact specific programs, vulnerable populations, and the long-term economic recovery. Republicans at the US House of representatives are eyeing unspent COVID-19 relief funds as a target to rein in federal spending. However, a review of federal spending figures by Reuters suggests that clawing back the remaining $80 billion of unspent aid may not significantly improve the US fiscal picture, but could instead have real-world repercussions.

COLOMBO (News 1st); FIFA has upheld a decision to maintain the suspension on Sri Lanka strip the island nation of its voting rights.Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe were suspended from voting during FIFA elections.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Professionals Trade Union Collective will meet with the President's Secretary on Friday (17) morning. The PTCU is a collective of over forty trade unions that is against the government's new tax regime.Friday's (17) meeting is to be held ahead of the meeting the Professionals Trade Union Collective will have with the President.Spokesperson for the Government Medical Officers Association Dr.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs said that the program to install solar panels at places of religious worship is underway.Minister Vidura Wickramanayake told News 1st that such solar power systems were installed at four temples.He said that the government of India has made available USD 10 Million for this project.The Minister said that all places of religious worship that also serve as educational institutes will be provided with solar power system in the first phase of the project.He said that solar power systems will be installed across all places of worship within a year.

Whale washes up in Cape May County. (Grassy Sound Marina)WILDWOOD, N.J. - Republican congressmen called Thursday for a halt to all offshore wind power projects amid a spate of whale deaths on the U.S.

RICHMOND, Va. - Seven Virginia sheriff's office employees have been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of a 28-year-old man at a state mental hospital last week, a local prosecutor said Tuesday.Henrico County Sheriff's Office personnel took the victim, Irvo Otieno, to Central State Hospital on March 6 to admit him as a patient, according to the prosecutor, Dinwiddie County Commonwealth’s Attorney Ann Cabell Baskervill. Otieno, who was physically restrained, died during the intake process, Baskervill said in a statement."Mr.

States have been asked to examine the situation at micro level and maintain compliance like surveillance, testing and monitoring new and emerging covid clusters New Delhi: With India reporting an uptick in covid cases over the last few weeks, the government has directed six states to examine the situation at micro level and maintain compliance like surveillance, testing and monitoring new and emerging covid clusters. India has seen a rise in covid cases over the past few weeks.

Fans of Ben & Jerry’s can get a free scoop of ice cream between 12 p.m. and 8 p.m.

The ministry has urged top private hospitals across the country to provide quality, affordable medical education by setting up their medical colleges New Delhi There has been an increase of 71% in medical colleges from 387 before 2014 to 660 till date, the health ministry said on Friday. The government said that there has also been an increase of 97% in MBBS seats from 51,348 before 2014 to 101,043.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Professionals Trade Union Collective says that the on-going strike will be called off at 8 AM on Thursday (16), as the President had noted that their demands will be taken into consideration. Spokesperson for the Government Medical Officers' Association Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe told reporters on Wednesday (15) that the strike will be temporarily called off at 8 AM on Thursday (16), and it does not mean the GMOA has withdrawn from the trade union action. The Professionals Trade Union Collective had declared a nation-wide day of strikes and protests with effect from midnight on Tuesday (14).Government, Semi-Government and Private Trade Unions supportrf the strikes.Government Medical Officers, Specialist Doctors, University Teachers, Faculty of Medicine Teachers, CEB Engineers, Bankers, Petroleum Workers, Water Supply Workers, Road Development Officers, Education Administrative Officers, Surveyors, Inland Revenue Officers are among the 40 Trade Unions that support this move.Their main demand is to amend the unjust tax policy implemented by the government.The PAYE tax between 6% to 36% imposed on monthly earnings over Rs.

Sri Lanka's economy shrank 7.8% in 2022 from the previous year, government data showed on Wednesday, as the country struggled with its worst financial crisis in more than seven decades.The island's fourth-quarter GDP contracted 12.4%, according to the figures.Sri Lanka's growth is expected to shrink by 3% this year, Moody's Investors Service said on Monday but growth is expected to rebound in 2024.Economic mismanagement coupled with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic left Sri Lanka severely short of dollars for essential imports at the start of last year tipping the country into the worst financial crisis since Independence from the British in 1948.Sri Lanka is waiting for a $2.9 billion bailout program from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to be finalised on March 20.“These numbers are broadly in line with expectations.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Election Commission will meet on Thursday (16) for talks on the upcoming Local Government Election.Chairman of the Election Commission Attorney Nimal Punchihewa said the meeting is scheduled for 10:30 AM at the Election Secretariat. It is reported that the meeting will focus on the delay in releasing funds for the Local Government Election on the part of the Ministry of Finance, and the relevant measures that need to be taken on the matter.The Government Printer said that a second letter was sent to the Treasury seeking funds for the printing process related to the Local Government Election.In the meantime, the Collective of Election Monitoring Organizations has decided to inform international agencies including the International Monetary Fund over the delay in securing funds for the Local Government Election, and the obstacles put forth by the government in delaying the election.Executive Director of PAFFREL Rohana Hettiarachchi said that all international missions in the country would also be informed of the same in the coming days. 

FILE - President Joe Biden delivers remarks on reducing gun violence at the Boys and Girls Club of West San Gabriel Valley on March 14, 2023, in Monterey Park, California. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) LAS VEGAS - President Joe Biden will highlight the stark differences in how Democrats are tackling skyrocketing drug prices compared to their Republican counterparts as he gears up for an expected reelection announcement.In a speech on Wednesday in Las Vegas that could serve as a preview of the campaign ahead, Biden planned to put the issue of lowering drug costs at the center of his policy and political agenda.The White House thinks it has a winning message in showcasing legislation passed last year that is expected to save taxpayers billions of dollars and lower the cost of drugs for the roughly 84 million Americans who rely on Medicare."These kind of savings will give people a little bit more breathing room, more comfort as they decide to go to the grocery store to buy their food, more ability to pay their rent, or maybe it’s just to do something decent for their families," Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra told reporters on Tuesday as he previewed the Democratic president's remarks.Biden plans to talk up how his administration is rolling out several parts of that law, passed in a Democratic-controlled Congress last year, that cap the price of insulin, make most vaccines free and allow the federal government to negotiate deals on a handful of pharmaceutical drugs for Medicare enrollees.President Joe Biden appeared in Virginia on Feb.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Chinese Embassy handed over a donation of material to the Government of Sri Lanka for the production of police uniforms.The donation was made by the Ambassador of China to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong, to the Minister of Public Security, Tiran Alles.This donation was made at the President's Office in the presence of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Tensions boiled over during a protest at the Sri Lanka Ports Authority in Colombo during a strike launched by the dockworkers at the Colombo Harbour.Dock Workers withdrew from services on Wedensday(15), in line with the nation wide strike by professionals against the government's tax policy.A heated situation arose within the port between the employees who were on strike and the governing authority.Niroshan Gorakanage, Chairman of the All Ceylon General Port Employees Union said that the SLPA chairman and a group of other officials attempted to deploy port workers for shipping operations.Following the incident port employees engaged in a motorcycle parade which was obstructed by officers from the Sri Lanka Navy.  

coin collectors.The front of the coin displays a cow, a peeled husk of corn and a sliced wheel of cheese along with inscriptions that name the state, the year Wisconsin was admitted into the union (1848) and the word "Forward," which is Wisconsin’s state motto. However, some of the Wisconsin quarters that were released in 2004 have a small design difference that shows an extra leaf on the illustrated corn husk.Collectors have debated whether the extra leaf had been stamped by accident or with intent, according to the Littleton Coin Company, an Ohio-based coin seller."Some Wisconsin quarter errors were found with an ‘extra cornstalk leaf’ – either pointing down (‘Low Leaf’) or pointing up (‘High Leaf’)," the Littleton Coin Company wrote in a profile about Statehood Quarter Error Coins."The normal cause would be metal shavings accidentally lodged in the die, creating a gouge from the coin striking action," the company’s report continues. "However, because roughly equal quantities exist of the two varieties, some experts speculate that the extra leaves were deliberately created by someone at the Denver Mint – as the odds of such a similar event occurring on the same location on two different dies are astronomical."FOX Business reached out to the U.S.