2015 Interim Budget presented in Parliament
Ravi Karunanayake, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, presented the interim Budget for the fiscal year of 2015 to Parliament, a short while ago.
National Budget for the fiscal year of 2015 was presented to the Parliament by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, on 24 October, 2014.
The interim Budget presented at the Parliament today has ensured easing the tax burden on consumers and certain proposals to reduce the prices of ten essential commodities. It has also proposed to increase the salaries of public servants.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the full version.
Update-
1.30 p.m. Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe while addressing the session said that some stern decisions about casinoes has been taken during the Cabinet meeting held, yesterday.
1.45 p.m. Stock market has come a laughing stock under the previous regime. And the super rich stop market barons followed a pump and dump policy leading to the deterioration of the stock market, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said.
1.50 p.m. The previous Government lost some US$ 120 Million due to the hedging deal of the CPC, Karunanayake said.
2.00 p.m. The complete Government debt at the end of 2014 was Rs. 8817 billion, and accordingly net debt per capita stands at Rs 427,220, he added.
2.15 p.m. Samurdhi benefits and allowance to increase before April 2015.
2.20 p.m. Funds allocated for Education increased to 6% of the GDP
2.32 p.m. 50% of the loans taken by farmers will be written off, remainder will be compounded to allow for payment on easy terms.
2.34 p.m. Guaranteed price of liquid milk to be increased by Rs.10,Karunanayake added.
2.38 p.m. Decentralized funds of a Member of Parliament to be increased from Rs 5mn to Rs.10mn. Govt. allocates Rs. 1120 million for the increase.
2.45 p.m. OPDs of all the state owned hospitals across the country will be remain opened for 24-hours, he added.
3.15 p.m. Taxes imposed on Mobile phone Reloads removed from consumers, Telecommunications Companies asked to bear the tax.
3.28 p.m. Sports channels with over 5 transmission stations will have to pay a one-time tax of Rs. 1000 million
3.31 p.m. Sri Lankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka merged
3.42 p.m. Migrant workers SLBFE registration fee reduced to Rs.5000
National Budget for the fiscal year of 2015 was presented to the Parliament by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, on 24 October, 2014.
The interim Budget presented at the Parliament today has ensured easing the tax burden on consumers and certain proposals to reduce the prices of ten essential commodities. It has also proposed to increase the salaries of public servants.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the full version.
Update-
1.30 p.m. Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe while addressing the session said that some stern decisions about casinoes has been taken during the Cabinet meeting held, yesterday.
1.45 p.m. Stock market has come a laughing stock under the previous regime. And the super rich stop market barons followed a pump and dump policy leading to the deterioration of the stock market, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said.
1.50 p.m. The previous Government lost some US$ 120 Million due to the hedging deal of the CPC, Karunanayake said.
2.00 p.m. The complete Government debt at the end of 2014 was Rs. 8817 billion, and accordingly net debt per capita stands at Rs 427,220, he added.
2.15 p.m. Samurdhi benefits and allowance to increase before April 2015.
2.20 p.m. Funds allocated for Education increased to 6% of the GDP
2.32 p.m. 50% of the loans taken by farmers will be written off, remainder will be compounded to allow for payment on easy terms.
2.34 p.m. Guaranteed price of liquid milk to be increased by Rs.10,Karunanayake added.
2.38 p.m. Decentralized funds of a Member of Parliament to be increased from Rs 5mn to Rs.10mn. Govt. allocates Rs. 1120 million for the increase.
2.45 p.m. OPDs of all the state owned hospitals across the country will be remain opened for 24-hours, he added.
3.15 p.m. Taxes imposed on Mobile phone Reloads removed from consumers, Telecommunications Companies asked to bear the tax.
3.28 p.m. Sports channels with over 5 transmission stations will have to pay a one-time tax of Rs. 1000 million
3.31 p.m. Sri Lankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka merged
3.42 p.m. Migrant workers SLBFE registration fee reduced to Rs.5000
US Supreme Court delays executions amid drugs review
Justices said Oklahoma could not execute Richard Glossip, John Grant and Benjamin Cole by lethal injection using midazolam while the case is pending.
The men’s lawyers argue that midazolam presents an unconstitutional risk of pain and suffering.
The drug was used in three executions seen as botched in 2014.
Richard Glossip’s execution had been scheduled for Thursday night while the other two were scheduled for lethal injection in the coming weeks.
Correspondents say the court’s brief ruling left open the possibility that Oklahoma could carry out the executions using different drug combinations.
However, Oklahoma Department of Corrections spokesman Jerry Massie said the state has not been able to find an alternative drug.
The case is now due to go before the Supreme Court in April and be decided by late June.
Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin said: “I disagree with the necessity to grant Glossip yet another round of legal appeals. However, given that the US Supreme Court has decided to hear his case, it is entirely appropriate to delay his execution until after the legal process has run its course.”
Lawyers for the three inmates argue that midazolam cannot achieve the level of unconsciousness required and is therefore unsuitable for executions.
They say its use amounts to “cruel and unusual punishment” which violates the US constitution.
Without the coma-like sedative effect, Oklahoma cannot ensure the prisoner does not experience intense pain when other drugs are injected to kill, lawyers argue.
The execution of Charles Warner on 15 January was the first in Oklahoma since the botched lethal injection of Clayton Lockett in April 2014.
Lockett’s execution was stopped after 20 minutes when one of his veins ruptured, preventing the drugs from taking full effect. He writhed and shook uncontrollably after the drugs were administered and died of a heart attack soon afterwards.
Prison officials said Warner did not suffer before dying.
-BBC
The men’s lawyers argue that midazolam presents an unconstitutional risk of pain and suffering.
The drug was used in three executions seen as botched in 2014.
Richard Glossip’s execution had been scheduled for Thursday night while the other two were scheduled for lethal injection in the coming weeks.
Correspondents say the court’s brief ruling left open the possibility that Oklahoma could carry out the executions using different drug combinations.
However, Oklahoma Department of Corrections spokesman Jerry Massie said the state has not been able to find an alternative drug.
The case is now due to go before the Supreme Court in April and be decided by late June.
Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin said: “I disagree with the necessity to grant Glossip yet another round of legal appeals. However, given that the US Supreme Court has decided to hear his case, it is entirely appropriate to delay his execution until after the legal process has run its course.”
Lawyers for the three inmates argue that midazolam cannot achieve the level of unconsciousness required and is therefore unsuitable for executions.
They say its use amounts to “cruel and unusual punishment” which violates the US constitution.
Without the coma-like sedative effect, Oklahoma cannot ensure the prisoner does not experience intense pain when other drugs are injected to kill, lawyers argue.
The execution of Charles Warner on 15 January was the first in Oklahoma since the botched lethal injection of Clayton Lockett in April 2014.
Lockett’s execution was stopped after 20 minutes when one of his veins ruptured, preventing the drugs from taking full effect. He writhed and shook uncontrollably after the drugs were administered and died of a heart attack soon afterwards.
Prison officials said Warner did not suffer before dying.
-BBC
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