Photograph Daily Mirror

Sri Lankans protested against the gazetted new Inland Revenue Act bill on Monday, arguing the bill was drafted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in order to increase the tax paid by citizens. 

Holding placards protesters from the Inland Revenue Trade Joint Front gathered outside the department's presmises, the Daily Mirror reported. 

The former president, Mahinda Rajapaksa accused the current government of betraying Sri Lanka and its military to what he described as the pro LTTE Tamil diaspora. 

Criticising a proposed bill which looks to incorporate provisions of the 'International Convention for the Protection of All Persons From Enforced Disappearances', Mr Rajapaksa said "all Members of Parliament should be mindful that passing this Bill into law will be a clear case of betraying our country to the pro-LTTE Diaspora and the interested foreign parties backing them."

The investment advice service, Moody's welcomed the New Inland Revenue Act gazetted by the Sri Lankan government, stating it would contribute to improving government revenues as well as paving the way for the third tranche of the International Monetary Fund loan.

Earlier this year, IMF officials indicated the release of the third tranche would be "contingent on the gazetting of the new Inland Revenue Act bill", Moody's said in a statement published June 30, whilst also highlighting that Sri Lanka's very low level of government revenues was "a key constraint on the sovereign credit profile."

The government is to regulate where protests and demonstrations can take place in Colombo with a Gazette notification by the Ministry of Law and Order next week. 

Protests and demonstrations would only be allowed in certain areas, with other roads prohibited,  the Sunday Times reported. 

Members of Sri Lanka's army concluded a three month training programme on nursery management and agriculture, reports Sri Lnaka's army website. 

Certificates were handed over to soldiers by Brigadier Randula Hatnagoda. During the programme army personnel learnt about theoritcal and practical aspects of cultivation of plants anf nursery management systems. 

See more here. 

Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment (BOI) has signed a $2 billion investment  agreement with the World Capital Centre (WCC) to construct the tallest building in the Asian region.

The 117 floor building will become the largest tower in the world in terms of  square meterage and the 9^th tallest building in the world. The WCC is expected to the building in the centre of Colombo’s commercial district.

The agreement was signed by the Chairman of the BOI Upul Jayasooirya during a ceremony alongside the Chairman of the WCC Ahmed Moulana.

Monks from the Buddha Sasana, concluded that major amendments to Sri Lanka’s constitution were not needed.

The Buddha Sasana which shares a dedicated ministerial post with the Ministry of Justice in Sri Lanka, met to discuss the constitution with monks from different Buddhist institutions.

Speaking at the end of the meeting Ven. Anamaduwe Sri Dammadassi Nayaka Thero said any new amendments to the constitution ,other than ones those fixing loopholes, were not needed, reports adaderena.lk.

The Ministry of the Buddha Sasana is presided by the Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe

The Sri Lankan government is set to announce a ban on bottom trawling fishing this week, in a move targeting fishermen from Tamil Nadu who reportedly cross the International Maritime Boundary Line.

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Mahinda Amaraweera will introduce the ban on Thursday, with reports that up to 1,500 Tamil Nadu boats have been reported fishing in Sri Lanka waters using bottom trawls, according to the Sunday Times.

The use of bottom trawlers has also been a point of concern for Tamil fishermen across the North-East, who have repeatedly complained of damage being done to their equipment and the marine environment by the controversial practice.

The Myliddy harbour, which at one time accommodated almost a third of Sri Lanka’s fishing trade, and 54 acres of surrounding land on Jaffna peninsula were released today after 27 years of military occupation.

Around 50 families have registered with the Tellipalai Divisional Secretariat to resettle in the lands released today.

While residents were eager to step into and see their lands after having no access for 27 years, they noted that none of their properties were in immediately habitable conditions.

Houses and buildings in the lands were mostly demolished, and none of the valuable furniture and construction materials left behind by civilians were to be found.

Community spaces such as the local Kovil and its chariot were also discovered in a state of ruin and disrepair.

Honouring fallen LTTE cadres should be allowed, the Sri Lankan Minister of Home Affairs has said, according to a report by the Uthayan newspaper.

The minister, Vajira Abeywardena, is quoted by the Uthayan as saying “all soldiers [including LTTE] that died in the war should be honoured and there is nothing wrong in paying tribute to them.”

The remarks were made at the Oddusuddan Maha Vidyalayam in Mullaitivu during a session of the Sri Lankan President’s “Nila Mehewara” National Mobile Service Program.