Friday, February 1, 2013

Video: Probe import of ‘Rolls Royce Ghost’ car- UNP

FRIDAY, 01 FEBRUARY 2013

The United National Party (UNP) yesterday urged the government to investigate the import of a ‘Rolls Royce Ghost’ luxury vehicle.

UNP parliamentarian and economist Harsha De Silva told a news conference that the entire transaction needed to be investigated because of the discrepancy between the price listed by the Rolls Royce Company and the price stated in the Customs declaration.

“The Customs has released the car after a payment of Rs.61 million by way of taxes on the declaration made by the importer that the luxury vehicle cost only US$175 000. But the Company says otherwise. It states that the Rolls Royce Ghost car costs nearly US$350 000, which means that the tax has to be twice the amount paid. We are not complaining or saying that anyone has stolen anything, what we are asking is for a transparent investigation into the matter,” Dr. De Silva said.(Yohan Perera and Lahiru Pothmulla)

Japan Provides Rs.90 Million to a Livelihood Project for Returnees in the Northern and Eastern Parts of Sri Lanka

01 Feb 2013

ReliefWeb

The Government of Japan has extended US$723,568 (approximately Rs. 90 million) to the “Project on Livelihood Assistance for Returnees in the North and East of Sri Lanka” to be implemented by JEN, a Japanese NGO, in order to improve the livelihood of the resettled communities in the North and East under the Japan-NGO cooperation Grant scheme funded by the Government of Japan.

The project titled “Project on Livelihood Assistance for Returnees in the North and East of Sri Lanka” will support to rehabilitate and uplift livelihood of the people through constructing agro-wells and providing necessary tools such as water pumps, and seeds and plants as well as workshops. It is envisaged that theproject would facilitate stable water supply, ensure livelihood and food security, and improve income of nearly 350families directly and indirectly.

As a nation which commits itself and also contributes to global peace and prosperity, Japan focuses its assistance in Sri Lanka on consolidation of peace and reconstruction as well as medium and long-term vision for development. In this context, Japan has given high priority to support the reconstruction of the Northern and the Eastern provinces and to improving the living conditions of the people. Japan also extended its fullest support towards the peace process since it firmly believes that peace and reconciliation are pre-requisites for sustainable development and prosperity of Sri Lanka.

Ms. Watanabe, Administration and Finance Officer of Colombo Office of JEN, said: “JEN is an international NGO established in 1994 to provide victims of conflicts and natural disasters with emergency assistance and support for self-reliance across the globe. In Sri Lanka, JEN started its operations in the aftermath of the Tsunami in 2004. Soon after completing the operation, JEN has focused on assisting the people affected by the conflict in the East since 2007 and in the North since 2009.
From 1st February 2013, JEN starts a new 1-year project “Project on Livelihood Assistance for Returnees in the North and East of Sri Lanka”.