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Home » ColumnsQuestions over why luxury duty was waived for e-vehicles
It seems like the Sri Lankan government has implemented some interesting tax waivers for imported vehicles recently. While the normal duty applies to imported electric vehicles, the luxury tax has been waived off. In the usual process, vehicles valued at more than Rs. 3.5 million are considered a luxury and are subject to an additional [...]
Awaiting a verdict
Your Lordships, It is very rarely that we write to you. We do so because we feel we must, as you have been called upon to decide the future of the nation at a crucial time. We are also not certain why the events that have occurred have happened this way but, as they say, [...]
President’s ‘good news’ to Parliament overshadowed by news of the passing of an elder statesman
Ahead of President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s announcement of the ‘good news’ to Parliament this week on the finalising of bilateral debt restructuring agreements with creditors, there was sad news for the country and the Legislature in particular, as Sri Lanka lost one of its most senior parliamentarians, ITAK Trincomalee District MP Rajavarothiam Sampanthan, who tirelessly fought [...]
Remembering the consequences of postponing elections
In the run up to the presidential elections, there are repeated questions being asked as to whether the elections will be held on time this year as required by the Constitution. The ball was set rolling by remarks made by the chairman of the United National Party Vajira Abeywardene and the party’s general secretary Palitha [...]
Restructuring foreign debt: Opportunity for economic resurrection and growth
The restructuring of foreign debt is an opportunity for economic resuscitation. The agreement with official bilateral creditors on reducing the external debt, the deferment of all bilateral loan installment payments until 2028, and the repayment of all loans on concessional terms, with an extended period until 2043, is undoubtedly an opportunity to strengthen the country’s [...]
The President’s protests and an election in peril?
Borrowing one of the most enduring questions from the Bard, cynical Sri Lankans may well murmur, ‘methinks the President does protest too much?’ when giving ear to President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s painstaking excuses as to why he has no intention of delaying the country’s Presidential elections scheduled for later this year. Why so many protests? Indeed, [...]
Labour eases to power painlessly as UK votes for change
The British wanted change—as did Sri Lanka’s Aragalaya protest movement two years ago—and they got change. When the public went to vote last Thursday, the intent was quite clear. Get rid of the rascals who had held power for 14 years. It was not so much that the British public saw Labour as its saviour. [...]
Hirunika’s past returns to damn her political future at most crucial hour
Firebrand politician SJB’s Hirunika Premachandra found her blooming political rose blighted in the summer of its promise, when slow-footed justice finally managed to catch up with her and condemn her to jail for three years hard labour. Last Friday, a Colombo High Court judge found her guilty of being the mastermind behind the abduction of [...]
Some issues persist over SLPP’s support for Ranil
SLPP opens political office in Colombo; supporters say Namal or Dhammika will be the candidate for presidency, but Mahinda and Basil maintain silence Sampanthan’s death creates leadership tussle in TNA; Sumanthiran and Adaikalanathan among contenders NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake will travel to Japan By Our Political Editor Just weeks ahead of a presidential [...]
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