Basil Rajapaksa: Latest News

All news where Basil Rajapaksa is mentioned

Basil Rajapaksa - Ali Sabry - Charitha hits back: First culprit of Economic Crisis was Cabinet including Minister Sabry - newsfirst.lk
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Charitha hits back: First culprit of Economic Crisis was Cabinet including Minister Sabry
COLOMBO (News 1st) – The former Chairman of the COPE Prof. Charitha Herath today hit back at the former Minister of Justice and the current Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry against his remarks that the Cabinet of Ministers was clueless with regard to the economic crisis. Taking to twitter, the former COPE Chair released a document which included a Notice to the Cabinet by the former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa with regard to the country's foreign currency outflows and the distribution of responsibility on foreign currency inflow. The annexure attached to the document, which included the expected outflows and inflows during 2022, underlined the debt servicing payments, maturing sovereign bonds and expenses with regard to goods imports. Minister Ali Sabry on Friday (14) said that the Cabinet of Ministers "thought everything was ok" and failed to recognise the depth of the economic crisis, and were more invested in their own subjects and portfolios. The former COPE Chairman shared the documents and pointed out that such is evidence that the financial issue was discussed at the Cabinet though no solution was found. "True, first culprit of this disaster is the Cabinet of which Ali Sabry was a part." he tweeted. The incident also sparked more discourse, with several notable figures commenting on the matter, with some pointing out that a his resignation is the alternative to this issue.
Basil Rajapaksa - No conditions for Indian loan, SL has to pay back in three years: Basil - newsfirst.lk - Usa - India - Sri Lanka
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No conditions for Indian loan, SL has to pay back in three years: Basil
COLOMBO (News 1st); No conditions have been underlined for the USD 1 billion loan given by India, however, the amount will have to be paid back in installments after three years, said Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa.The President is acting on a very prudent and a long-term plan, says Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa on repaying the country’s loans after his entourage returned from India this afternoon. The Finance Minister returned to the country after signing agreements for a US $ 1 billion financial assistance from India. In addition to this $ 1 billion, India has already provided a $ 400 million loan, a $ 500 million loan to purchase petroleum and another $ 500 million via the Asian Clearing Union.Accordingly, the value of loans and relief facilities provided by India to overcome the current economic crisis is about US $ 2.4 billion in total. The Minister of Finance, speaking to media stated that Sri Lanka’s neighbor India has proven that it stands by Sri Lanka with this action, especially with Prime Minister Modi mentioning that all the support that Sri Lanka needs is being provided directly, both economically and socially.The Finance Minister said that Prime Minister Modi has learned of the organic farming and the interest shown by the President with regard to it, and although a shortage of nano fertilizer exists in India, they agreed to provide Sri Lanka with the required quantity.Rajapaksa also stated that India gave Sri Lanka a loan of US $ 1 billion to purchase food and other necessities for the people, especially for the upcoming Sinhala Tanil New Year, and the relevant loan has been in operation since yesterday (17).I urge all business communities to make it very transparent, giving priority to things which
Basil Rajapaksa - CEB & India’s NTPC ink agreement to jointly develop Sampur Solar Power Plant - newsfirst.lk - Usa - India - Sri Lanka
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CEB & India’s NTPC ink agreement to jointly develop Sampur Solar Power Plant
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s CEB and India’s largest integrated energy company, NTPC signed the agreement for the joint development of the 100 MW Sampur Solar Power Plant yesterday (11).The Indian High Commission stated that the High Commissioner attend the signing of the agreement, along with 4 Ministers including the Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and the newly-appointed Minister of Energy, Pavithra Wanniarachchi.In a press release, the Indian High commission noted that during the visit of Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa to India last year, both sides had resolved to enhance investments from India in various sectors in Sri Lanka that would contribute to growth and expand employment, and the Sampur Solar Power Project is an important step in this direction.The Ministers attested to the strength of India-Sri Lanka economic partnership for mutual prosperity, including through cooperation in renewable energy, the High Commission added.Moreover, the High Commission noted that cooperation with Sri Lanka in this domain will only become stronger with the implementation of the US$ 100 million Line of Credit offered by India to Sri Lanka for development of solar power projects in Sri Lanka. Similarly, there is significant interest among private sector on both sides for cooperation in renewable energy which is likely to increase in the coming years.High Commissioner was delighted to attend the signing of the JVSHA between @ntpclimited & @CEB_lk today for the joint development of a solar power plant at Sampur.
Sri Lankans - Basil Rajapaksa - Udaya Gammanpila - We’ll have to sell assets to feed the people, warns Gammanpila - newsfirst.lk - Usa - Sri Lanka
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We’ll have to sell assets to feed the people, warns Gammanpila
COLOMBO (News 1st); When a Sri Lankan Minister who is a US citizen, negotiates with the United States on behalf of Sri Lanka, it goes beyond reasonable doubt that he will stand for the United States than Sri Lanka, as his property and family are in America, and he can easily return back without consequences after his tenure ends, says former Minister Udaya Gammanpila.Participating in the News 1st ’10 questions’ program, the former Minister alleged that although he did not protest against the 20th amendment when it was introduced, he stated that he fought for the East Terminal of the Colombo Port not to be handed over to foreign investors in the Cabinet.He said that the solutions presented by him to address the crises in Sri Lanka were disregarded as well.He further alleged that Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, who he dubbed as ‘The Ugly American’ was behind the New Fortress LNG deal, as well as the investments behind the East Container Terminal.The former Minister also said that the Finance Minister wants to take the country to a point where the economy is collapsed, food shortage is imminent alonfg wiith medicine and fuel.He warned that due to these actions at a certain point national assets must be sold to the United States to feed Sri Lankans.Watch the Full Program Here ;
Gotabaya Rajapaksa - Mahinda Rajapaksa - Basil Rajapaksa - Wimal Weerawansa - Basil wanted to become President; Weerawansa reveals in first briefing as Ex-Minister - newsfirst.lk - Sri Lanka
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Basil wanted to become President; Weerawansa reveals in first briefing as Ex-Minister
COLOMBO (News 1st); Former Sri Lankan Minister Wimal Weerawansa on Friday (4) revealed that Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa wanted to become President even before Gotabaya Rajapaksa was nominated as the candidate for the President of the country.“Basil Rajapaksa wanted to use the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna as his personal property to realize his intentions of becoming president,” Weerawansa told reporters in Colombo, in his first-ever briefing after he and Udaya Gammanpila were stripped of their ministerial portfolios on Thursday (3) evening.He said that as the group that created the call for Mahinda Rajapaksa’s return, it was opined that Gotabaya Rajapaksa was most suitable to be the candidate if Mahinda Rajapaksa did not wish to contest.“We worked on that premise and that itself posed challenges to Basil Rajapaksa’s dreams of becoming President,” revealed Weerawansa, adding that Basil Rajapaksa eventually had to accept in a disgruntled manner that Gotabaya Rajapaksa was the Presidential Candidate.Wimal Weerawansa also said that after Mahinda Rajapaksa was defeated on the 8th of January 2015, Basil Rajapaksa had met with then-President Rajapaksa and requested for the post of Opposition Leader.“However, Mahinda Rajapaksa did not want to do that.
Basil Rajapaksa - Dinesh Gunawardena - Surcharge Tax Bill will be amended; will NOT include EPF / ETF – AG tells SC - newsfirst.lk - Sri Lanka
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Surcharge Tax Bill will be amended; will NOT include EPF / ETF – AG tells SC
COLOMBO (News 1st); The proposed Surcharge Tax Bill that was presented to Parliament, will be amended in a manner that will not include 13 funds, including the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and the Employees’ Trust Fund (ETF), Sri Lanka’s Attorney General told the Supreme Court on Wednesday (2).Additional Solicitor General Viveka Siriwardena told the Supreme Court that the Finance Secretary had informed the Attorney General in this regard in writing.The Samagi Jana Balavegaya, one of the main opposition factions in Sri Lanka has filed a special petition with the Supreme Court challenging the proposed Surcharge Tax Bill that was presented to Parliament, on the 23rd of February.The Government on 22nd February presented the proposed Surcharge Tax Bill to Parliament.The special application challenging the Bill seeks a Supreme Court ruling to term the Bill as inconsistent with the constitution.The Bill, which imposes a retrospective one-time surcharge tax of 25% on persons and companies with a taxable income over Rs. 2 billion for the year 2020/2021, was presented by Leader of the House Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on 22nd February.The Bill was drafted in keeping with the proposal in the 2022 Budget to impose a one-off 25% surcharge tax on individuals or companies earning taxable income more than Rs.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa - Basil Rajapaksa - No shortage of essential goods; necessary measures taken – Basil - newsfirst.lk
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No shortage of essential goods; necessary measures taken – Basil
COLOMBO (News 1st); Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa has said that necessary measures have been taken to ensure there is no shortage in the supply of essential goods to the country.Speaking at the meeting with state officials at the Presidential Secretariat chaired by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Wednesday (23), the Finance Minister said a mechanism is also in place to inquire into the shortcomings at the regional level and obtain information via the Divisional Secretariats.The meet was held to raise awareness on the government’s forward plans, and speaking at the meeting President Gotabaya Rajapaksa noted that it is his aspiration that all state institutions commit to serving the general public.“A majority of the public servants wish to work. What is required is supervision, guidance, and encouragement and that will lead to a productive service,” the President told the meeting.He stressed the need for Governors, and the Secretaries of Ministries, Provinces, and Districts, as well as all high-ranking state officials, to personally intervene to provide leadership in this effort.The President recalled the fact that he personally visits state offices and supervises them, called on the Governors and state officials to also visit all institutions under their purview and conduct inspections, whilst encouraging the staff.“We are here to ensure the people survive and the proper environment for that needs to be created.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa - Basil Rajapaksa - Forex shortage is short-lived, says Basil while assuring sufficient stocks of many goods - newsfirst.lk - Sri Lanka
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Forex shortage is short-lived, says Basil while assuring sufficient stocks of many goods
COLOMBO (News 1st): The foreign exchange shortage experienced in Sri Lanka will be short-lived, said the country’s Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa.Speaking to officials at the Finance Ministry of Friday (11), Rajapaksa said the government expects to minimize the effects the forex shortage might have on the people.On Monday (7) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa instructed the officials to take steps to immediately release the containers containing essential items at the custody of Customs.The President also appointed a committee headed by Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa to ensure that there is no shortage of essential commodities including food, and this committee met for the first time on Friday (11).A statement from the Finance Ministry noted that though there is a shortage of Milk Powder, Gas, Wheat Flour, and Cement in the local market, there are sufficient stocks of all other essential items and there will be no shortage.In addition, the tax reliefs granted by the government for essential food items not being enjoyed by the people were discussed and it was revealed at the meeting that errant traders abuse the concessions granted by the government and sell goods at exorbitant prices.The implementation of a new mechanism to expedite the release of essential commodities including food to the market, and to regulate and oversee this matter, was also discussed.
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