Five billion rupees has been set aside for interest relief in the loan schemes offered under Enterprise Sri Lanka

Minister of Finance: Mangala Samaraweera, joining in the inauguration of the 'Enterprise Sri Lanka Lending Counter' at the Bank of Ceylon Branch in Mullaithivu said, five billion rupees has been set aside for interest relief of the loan schemes under Enterprise Sri Lanka. These loans are provided under half-interest rates or as interest free loans.

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The first Agricultural Entrepreneurship Model Village project commences from Kahaththewela-Haputale

The first Agricultural Entrepreneurship Model Village project commenced from Kahaththewela-Haputaletoday. It is being implemented under the Cultivation Development Programme of the Ministry of Agriculture titled: 'Api Wawalai Api Kanne'. The cost of this project is estimated at 80 million rupees. Thereby, the main canals in the Kahaththewela Village which are the Yatala-Ela and Sirimal-watte-yaya Ela will be fully reconstructed.
In addition, the implementation of Agriculture Development Projects, the establishment of the Kahaththewela Fruit Village, bee-farming, development of roadways in agriculture areas, the planting of 5000 jak saplings, and the development of religious sites will be carried out.

Around 160 families in the Kahaththewela Village will benefit by this project.

Complaint lodged with the CID, regarding fraud at the Anuradhapura Municipal Council, amounting to millions of rupees

Mayor of the Anuradhapura Municipal Council: S.P.Somadasa says, he has made a complaint to the CID, upon yesterday's release of the Auditor General's report regarding fraud at the municipal council amounting to millions of rupees. The swindled sum is over 3 billion rupees. The chief Clerk of the Salaries Division and her husband who is the Revenue Inspector are directly connected to the fraud.  As per the Auditor General's investigations, the funds have been deposited in 19 personal bank accounts. The Clerk in question, together with 6 others, have been suspended.

Construction work of the China-Sri Lanka Friendship Nephrology Hospital in Polonnaruwa, commences tomorrow

Construction work of the China-Sri Lanka Friendship Nephrology Hospital in Polonnaruwa, will commence tomorrow, under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena. This hospital is being constructed upon the wishes of the President, through a 'full grant' by the Chinese government. It will be the largest Nephrology Hospital in South Asia. The cost involved is 12 billion rupees. The hospital will consist of an ultra- modern Laboratory, and many other facilities supported by high technology. The hospital will comprise; a ward complex consisting of 200 beds, an OPD unit which will have one hundred dialysis machines, a Renal Diseases Clinic, and 6 modern theatres in which Kidney Transplant Surgeries can be performed.

The objective is to complete the project within 24 months.

A batch of graduates awarded teaching posts

A ceremony was held at Temple trees today to present letters of appointments to a batch of graduates, for teaching posts.  Speaking at the event Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe said, the Mandatory 13 Year Education Programme was introduced with the intention of producing trained individuals for the country.

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A discussion on holding the Provincial Council Elections as soon as possible, held at the Parliamentary Complex, today

A discussion focussing on holding the Provincial Council Elections as soon as possible, was held under the patronage of Speaker Karu Jayasooriya, at the Parliamentary Complex, today.
At the commencement of the discussion the Speaker said, party leaders should jointly arrive at a decision, regarding under which Electoral System the election needs to be held.
The public and Citizens' Organisations have pointed out the necessity to elect members who are responsible to their constituencies. They reject the Preferential Voting System. The Speaker emphasized, the citizens will not approve increasing the number of elected members, in any way.

Many ideas were shared throughout the lengthy discussion, and all parties were of the opinion that further discussions are needed, in order to arrive at a final decision. Participating at the discussion, the Chairman of the Elections Commission and the Chairman of the Delimitation Committee said, if a final decision is agreed upon before the end of October, the Provincial Council Elections can be held on the 5th of January.
A Review Committee in this regard, has been appointed, chaired by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe.
The next meeting will be held next Thursday, under the patronage of the Premier.

The Gamperaliya National Programme, expanded to the Northern Province

The Gamperaliya National Programme is being expanded to the Northern Province. Thereby, a number of development projects will take effect in the Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Mullativu districts, under the patronage of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe, tomorrow and the day after.
Loans will be provided through the Enterprise Sri Lanka Loan Scheme, as well.

Meanwhile, the 2nd stage of the Suwa Seriya Emergency Ambulance Service will begin from Jaffna tomorrow. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe will be the chief guest at the launching ceremony, to be held at the Jaffna Municipal Council grounds. The Prime Minister of India: Narendra Modi is scheduled to address the event live, over television. The Indian government has granted 1.5 billion dollars for the launch of the 2nd stage of Suva Seriya. These funds will be utilized to deploy more than 200 new ambulances.
The first stage of Suva Seriya is already underway, across six districts in the Western and Southern Provinces

The island-wide programme to take Siri Kotha to the villages begins from the Kegalle District tomorrow

The island-wide programme to take Siri Kotha to the villages begins from the Kegalle District tomorrow.  It is the first meeting among the meetings organised under the restructuring programme of the UNP. The 2nd meeting will be held in the Polonnaruwa District tomorrow evening.  The meeting in the Anuaradhapura District will be held on Sunday. At these meetings, the strategy of the party to bounce back onto the path of victory at future elections, will be outlined. Views and suggestions of party members will be obtained. This series of meetings will also be made use of to identify issues and challenges faced by reginal party leaders and members.  Meetings in other districts will be held in future.

The President addresses an international summit in Georgia today

President Maithripala Sirisena arrived in Gerogia yesterday to attend the 5th Session of Open Government Partnership. The President arrived in the Shota Rustavelli International airport in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, where he was welcomed by the Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia, George Sharvashidze.

The President will attend the 5th Open Government Global Summit. The OGP 2018 Global Summit will focus on civic engagement, fighting against corruption, and public service delivery.

Sri Lanka was offered membership of the Open Government Partnership in 2015, following the election of President Maithripala Sirisena, whose commitment to fight corruption gained international attention. President Sirisena will take part in the summit’s key High Level panel discussion today. President Sirisena will also hold a bilateral meeting with the Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili.

The Prime Minister says government's aim is to make Sri Lanka a trade hub

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe says government's aim is to make Sri Lanka an international trade hub. To achieve this target Sri Lanka needs a group of professionals who are expertize in providing goods and services. Sri Lankan manufacturers should be competent enough to secure the right quota in world trade. The Prime Minister made these remarks at a ceremony held in Colombo yesterday. Hambantota and Colombo harbours will be developed.