President declares tax concessions

Transcription

1 President declares tax concessions have also been brought down below 10 percent of overall taxes. These items will be liable only for Port Levy and Nation Building Tax and have been exempted from VAT and Cess. A distortionary cess has also been scaled down to boost domestic activities. Cess will be maintained only for selected imports affecting domestic activities which require safeguards from unfair import competition. The Government is also working towards providing antidumping legislation, labeling legislation, prescription of quality standards etc to improve the environment for home based industries to further support local value added activities while making raw materials, plant and machinery imports available at zero duty. As the Government is moving towards a simple tax structure, all essential commodities will be liable at the point of imports only for a special commodity levy. This will minimize the cumbersome administrative procedures particularly for small traders engaged in such import business. *Fifteen percent surcharge on import duty removed Vesak Celebrations in Moscow *Import duty on raw materials, machines reduced *Three band tariff structure of 5, 15, 30 comes into operation *Tax on mobiles, cameras, watches, electronics and motor vehicles slashed In a major step towards simplifying and broad basing the tax structure, President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as Fiance and Planning Minister has removed the 15 percent surcharge on custom duty with effect from 1st June The 2.5 percent import duty on most raw materials, plant and machinery has also been abolished to provide a boost to the rapidly recovering post conflict economy. Multiplicity of custom duty structure has been simplified with a four band duty structure of 0, 5, 15 and 30 percent, Finance and Planning Ministry states in a release. The Government has also slashed duties on motor vehicles by 50 percent in support of the expanding tourism activity and rising level of tourist arrivals. To promote Sri Lanka as an attractive shopping centre for internationally branded products - phones, wrist watches, cameras and electronics Sri Lanka Embassy in Russian Federation celebrated Vesak day with the participation of Sri Lankans and Russian citizens. Students studying in Smolensk State Medical Academy presented Vesak Dharma Deshana and Pahan Pooja program. With the guidness of Ambassador Udayanga Weeratunga the embassy building decorated with Buddhist flags and bulbs.

2 Highlights of the Vesak Celebrations Priority for Tourism Minister Basil Rajapaksa In addressing officials from the Ministry of Tourism upon assuming his duties as Minister of Economic Development, Basil Rajapaksa vowed to turn the tourism industry into the highest foreign exchange earner in the country. Minister Rajapaksa said the people emphasized the need for economic development in the country, and therefore, the Ministry of Economic Development, with assistance from relevant Ministries, will do so. He stated that development activities will begin in all areas ensuring the dividends of the country s development to all masses equally. Moreover, the Ministry will ensure that all segments of society are integrated into the development of the country. As the Minister stated, capable Deputy Ministers and hard working officials will accelerate the development process of the country with the coordination of Samurdhi officials and local government institutions. If there are suitable facilities and correct guidance Sri Lanka too can excel in pole vaulting Legendary athlete Sergey Bubka Legendary Soviet Union and Ukranian pole-vaulter Sergey Bubka was on a one-day visit to Sri Lanka. Bubka, who was voted the world's best athlete for many years while breaking the world record for men's pole vaulting 35 times, was here to attend a Kids Athletic Programme held at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Colombo. The legendary pole-vaulter Sergey Bubka said in spite of having average physique, the Sri Lankan athletes too could excel at international athletics including his pet sport discipline, pole-vaulting, provided they have correct technique and suitable facilities. Bubka said so in an exclusive interview with Sunday Island (May 8). "Correct technique and suitable facilities are more important than one s physical frame. If you have suitable facilities and correct techniques, you can impress in this discipline (polevaulting)," Bubka explained answering Sunday Island queries. Bubka was on a one-day visit to Sri Lanka and had just given some tips on correct way of pole-vaulting to a kid who was attending the Kids Athletic Programme held yesterday at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium at Diyagama where he spoke to Sunday Island.

3 programmes. Athletics brings people together and unites nations. I hope that athletics could unite all communities in this country as well," said Bubka, who is also an adviser to the Ukrainian President on sports. Bubka added local women s sprinter Susanthika Jayasinghe s feat at the World Championships and Olympics were a proof that Sri Lanka has potential to reach greater heights at international level and therefore the governments should provide facilities such as the synthetic track at the Rajapaksa Stadium for athletes to prosper. Legendary pole-vaulter Sergey Bubka gives a tip to young Tharindu Dananjaya, a kid who attended the Kids Athletic Programme conducted by the AASL and the Education Ministry at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium at Diyagama yesterday. Also in the picture is Palitha Fernando, President, AASL. Bubka was the chief guest on the occasion and was on a one-day visit on the invitation of the AASL. (Pic by Sajith Jayasekara) He also said having a good play field and a coach with sound knowledge on techniques were important aspects for success in pole-vaulting, a discipline in which Sri Lanka has not impressed much at international level. Sri Lanka men s pole-vault record stands below five meters. The Ukrainian athletic idol Bubka (he represented the Soviet Union before its collapse in 1991) who established the world record height of 6.14m (6.14m outdoor record and 6.15m indoor record) in pole-vaulting in 1994, said he too did not have the facilities needed to become a world class athlete at the beginning but managed to overcome such difficulties with sheer determination. The legendary pole-vaulter dismissed the notion that a huge physique was a prerequisite to succeed at world stage in polevaulting and urged the Lankan athletes to persevere more and more in this interesting sports discipline. "I too faced the problem of not having a training facility. But managed to get a pole-vault arena prepared especially for my training," an unassuming Bubka explained. The Ukrainian, who is also a senior vice president of the IAAF, was the chief guest at the Kids Athletic Programme conducted at Diyagama yesterday. He said that he was pleased with the enthusiasm of the kids and the parents who were present in their hundreds at the Rajapaksa Stadium at Diyagama. "The kids have come in their hundreds. That is very encouraging and the parents too have shown a lot of interest. It s great to see masses come in numbers for these athletic "That beautiful girl s (Jayasinghe) performance at the World Championships is a proof that you have the potential to win at international level. By winning silver in 1997 (the year Bubka won the last of his six World Championship Golds in Athens) and producing a similar performance some ten years later (in 2007), she has proved her potential. That was something remarkable. I hope that the government provides the athletes with all facilities like what is seen here (at the Diyagama Stadium) for them to prosper." "I see lots of enthusiasm on athletics among the folks. When I opened the window at the hotel in the morning today (May 8), I saw a very encouraging thing. A lot of young people were engaging in sports activities along the beach. That shows that you are a sporty nation and keen on your health," said Bubka commenting on his observations in his short visit to Sri Lanka. Bubka was a member of the executive board of the International Olympic Council, as one of its athletics reps from , and is the chairman of the Coordination Commission for the 1st Youth Olympic Games, to be held in Singapore. by Reemus Fernando க ழக க ல ஆற வ லத த ட டங க ள மற க ள ள அ மச சர வ அங க க ரம க ழக க ம க ணத த ல ஆற வ லத த ட டங க ள மற க ள வதற க க ழக க ம க ண அ மச சர வ அங க க ரம வழங க ய ள ளத க க ழக க ம க ண அ மச ச வப பச ச ளர ம க ழக க ம க ண வ த அப வ ர த த அ மச சர ம ன எம. எஸ. உத ம லப ப தர வ த த ர. ம க ண அ மச ச ன த ர ம னங க ள அற வ க க ம சய த ய ளர ம ந ட கடந த சன யன ற த ர க ணம லய ல அ மந த ள ள அ மச ச ன அல வலகத த ல ந ட பற ற ப த அவர இவ வ ற தர வ த த ர. அ மச சர த டர ந த அங க கர த த தர வ க கய ல, க ழக க ம க ணத த ல அட ப ப ட வசத கற ற ஆற க ர மங க ளத தர வ சய த, அவற ற அப வ ர த த சய ய நடவட க க எட க கப பட ட ள ளத. அம ப ற ம வட டத த ல ஹ ஸன, ச ன னக க ளம, த ம ர க ள ள ஆக ய ம ன ற க ர மங கள ம மட டக களப ப ம வட டத த ல வடம ன, எம.ஐ.எச. நகர ஆக ய க ர மங கள ம த ர க ணம ல ம வட டத த ல கங க வள க ர மம ம இதற க கத தர வ சய யப பட ட ள ளன. க ழக க ம க ணத த ல உள ள ந ர ப ப சன த ணக களத த ன அம ப ற, ப த த வ ல, க ச ச வள, ம த ர ஆக ய ந ர ப ப சன ப ற ய ல ளர க ர ய லயங கள க க பத ல ப ற யல ளர க ள ந யம ப பதற க ம ட வ சய யப பட ட ள ளத. க ழக க ம க ணத த ல ஆச ய அப வ ர த த வங க, உலக வங க ப ன றவற ற ன ந த ய தவ ய ட வ த கள

4 ந ர ம ண க கப பட ட ள ளன. இவ வ த க ள எத ர க லத த ல பர மர க க 2011 ஆம ஆண ட ல ர ந த க ழக க ம க ணத த ல வ கன அன மத ப பத த ரத த க க க அறவ டப பட ம ந த ய ல ர ந த கண சம ன த கப பணத த வ த அப வ ர த த த ணக களத த க க வழங க த ட டம டப பட ட ள ளத. க ழக க ம க ணத த ல ஆய ர வத வத த யத த ற ய அப வ ர த த சய யவ ம த வய ன மர ந த க ள உற பத த சய யவ ம உத தச க கப பட ட ள ளத. உல ல சப பயண க ள மயம க வத த ப ச க க ட, ந ல வள, அற கம ப ப ன ற இடங க ள அண ம த த ப ர தசங கள ல ஆய ர வத பஞ சகர ம ப ன ற ம றக ளப பயன பட த த, வத த ய ம றக ள ஆரம ப ப பதற க க ஆய ர வத வத த யச லகள அ மக கவ ம த ர ம ன க கப பட ட ள ளத Friends, not Foes: Russia Celebrates 65th Anniversary of Victory Day The price paid by the Soviet Union s cities from north to south, from east to west, was as enormous as was their heroic contribution to the cause. Leningrad lost 1.5 million of its souls in a brutal 900-day siege. By the time Hitler turned southwards to Stalingrad (July 1942 February 1943) Moscow had already beaten off the invader s Operation Typhoon (September April 1942). There followed Kursk (July August 1943), culminating in the massive Operation Bagration of June 1944, the most tremendous concentration of troops and equipment in the entire campaign, a peak of military and strategic brilliance which sapped the strength of the invader. It is this ultimate human sacrifice which is celebrated in Red Square, the 65th anniversary of Victory Day, in an event which counts on the participation of 25 foreign leaders, among these the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the French President Nicolas Sarkozy. The British and American Ambassadors are also present. What is being celebrated, Sunday May 9, across the Russian Federation, and elsewhere, is one thing, and one thing only: honouring the 26 million Soviet citizens who were asked to, and who made, the ultimate sacrifice, rallying around Stalin who galvanized his Nation to save not only their Motherland, but the entire world, from the yolk of Fascist tyranny. Attempts to sideline the focus of the celebration As usual there are political agendas brought into play and to focus too much on these would be to detract from the main focus of the event, insulting the spirit and memory of those who gave their lives so that Europe and the rest of the world could live in peace and freedom. In the wings, as usual, are attempts to derail the main issue and take the focus away from what is being celebrated, the core issue being the magnificent contribution made by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in defeating the worst scourge the world had seen in centuries and in so doing, making the most tremendous of human sacrifices. Around twenty-six million Soviet men and women gave their lives selflessly in fighting the Fascist and racist tyranny unleashed by the arrogance of the Nazi regime across the European continent and beyond. The foot-soldiers of this epitome of racism and intolerance met its Nemesis on the Eastern Front, where Stalin s Government had already prepared industry for a war economy, long before the first German troops violated the Soviet Union s frontiers, launching Operation Barbarossa on June 22, Around 75% of Wehrmacht casualties were sustained on the Eastern front in a titanic battle which, apart from the enormous human loss, devastated almost 2,000 Soviet cities and towns, 70,000 villages and hamlets, 84,000 schools, 60,000 kilometres of railroad, 40,000 hospitals, 43,000 libraries, 32,000 industrial plants and 2,500 churches. Ambassador Udayanga Weeratunga also participated this ceremony in Red Square. Here Ambassador Weeratunga with Bangladesh Ambassador Dr. Saiful Hoque. The controversy is centred around the figure of Stalin. Let us then, once and for all, address this issue. One cannot take isolated incidents in history, devoid of the socio-economic and developmental vectors which shaped them, and then, entirely out of context, paint them again with rosy-coloured spectacles decades later, using them to fuel personal and political agendas.

5 True, there were acts attributed to Iosif Vissarionovich Dyugashvili, the Georgian Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union which can only be described as appalling and totally unacceptable. However, to concentrate on political, social and societal vectors in one country only seems equally unacceptable. What about the Spanish massacres in Latin America? What about the massacres of the Native Americans by the British and US forces? What about the clearing of lands in the USA of indigenous peoples so that racially superior Anglo-Saxons could settle them? What about the British sending Indian soldiers into gas chambers to test the effects of mustard gas? What about the Indian Revolt in 1857, and the subsequent British massacres in India? What about Churchill s murderous disregard for human life in the First World War? What about the massacres of Oliver Cromwell, still feted as a hero by many in the UK, in Ireland? What about Sabra and Shatila? And where does the ball stop? Germany. Furthermore, the industrial model adopted in the Soviet Union was one in which civilian plants were easily adaptable for military production. However by then, the industrialization programme launched by Stalin had set mechanisms into place which gave the country the capacity to produce more tanks than the rest of Europe put together. Moreover, the spatial administration programme of the Soviet Union had ensured that even after losing around half its industrial plants to the Wehrmacht, the USSR was by 1942 producing over five times more tanks than Germany. Furthermore, the industrial model adopted in the Soviet Union was one in which civilian plants were easily adaptable for military production. Celebrating with friends and allies Stalin is included in these celebrations because he was the supreme leader of the Soviet Union, he was the focal point around whom the nations rallied: Za rodinu, za Stalina! ( For the Fatherland, For Stalin! Those who try to detract from his importance demonstrate a shocking ignorance of the fact that his industrialization programmes made it possible for the Soviet Union to fight the war on a sustainable basis. Seeing the cloud looming on the horizon, Stalin bought time with the Molotov-Ribbentrop Non Aggression Pact in August However by then, the industrialization programme launched by Stalin had set mechanisms into place which gave the country the capacity to produce more tanks than the rest of Europe put together. Moreover, the spatial administration programme of the Soviet Union had ensured that even after losing around half its industrial plants to the Wehrmacht, the USSR was by 1942 producing over five times more tanks than The fact that Angela Merkel can stand side by side in friendship with the Russian, French, British and US representatives, among others, is a telling comment on how far the world has moved on since Today, these countries all have far more in common than points of divergence and we can describe one another as friends and not foes. It is right to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Victory Day together because this was indeed a collective effort, one in which the Soviet Union s contribution is historically overlooked by revisionist historical writers acting as agents provocateurs. But a joint effort it was. The US Lend Lease provided around 11 billion USD in aid and equipment to the USSR (albeit a lot of this was of very poor quality), along with the US Russian War Relief and the International Red Cross.

6 The North African Front opened by the US, British, British Imperial and Commonwealth armed forces was important in dividing the energies of the Wehrmacht and the support by US aviation to Britain from 1941 onwards was vital in keeping Germany s industrial fabric on the defensive, delaying its superior arms programmes until it was too late for them to make a difference. The opening of the Second (or Third) Front in Western Europe took so long that Marshall Georgii Konstantinovich Zhukov in desperation said The Devil take them but when it did come, it was less than a year before the armies of all sides were meeting and celebrating together. It is this spirit of collaboration we are celebrating today and thankfully, with the Germans present around the same table, now as friends. If we can forgive, if not forget, the past and move forward, maybe we can all accept our history once and for all, being proud of, nurturing and eternalizing the good points while we analyse the bad, and refusing to use these to fuel agendas, strive never again to repeat them. The highlights of this new vessel is that it is designed and built using the latest developments in technology which makes it suitable for operation in the toughest of whether conditions that may be encountered on the way, to the relief of thousands of commuters. This project has enabled Colombo Dockyard maritime history and surpass yet another milestone in maritime engineering. History reveals that Sri Lanka had built her fist sea going craft around the 1 st century AD during the reign of King Parakramabahu and had even sent a flotilla of ships to invade Burma and South India, underlining the high degree of skills and competencies Sri Lankan craftsmen has had in this field. It is also said that the shipbuilding industry in Sri Lanka had thrived and even had orders from foreign countries for ships built in Sri Lanka. Every vessel built by Colombo Dockyard is special. Over the past three years the company has built over 200 vessels for the Maldives, India, Singapore, Cyprus, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia to various governments and private clients. This vessel is of special significance, being the first ever passenger vessel built by Sri Lanka for India. The fact that the Indian government placed utmost confidence in Colombo Dockyard to build passenger vessels is a clear testimony of the maturity and the status that the company has achieved in the field of Ship building, in the region. Foreign Jobseekers Come To Russia for Money and Career In this way the History Book provides a lesson, and not a cause. Timothy BANCROFT HINCHEY, Lisa KARPOVA, PRAVDA.Ru Remarkable event of the ship building industry of Sri Lanka The large-scale research of 66,000 questionnaires from 35 countries of the world revealed the most attractive regions in terms of possible employment. The leaders were the USA where 50% of those polled would like to work, Great Britain and Canada. Seven percent of the polled would like to work in Russia. According to the international network of job hunting websites The Network that conducted this research, Russia was number 32 in the rating of countries where job hunters would like to be employed. The Colombo Dockyard PLC delivered the first 250 passenger cum 100 ton cargo vessel built for the Administration of the Union Territories of Lakshadweep (UTL), India on the 15 th January This vessel is the first one of a series of two ocean going passenger cum cargo vessels that will be in operation en-route from the Main Land (Cochin, India) to the UTL Islands, as well as operate in the inter island routes. As strange as it may seem, economically successful Finland is the country whose population is mostly interested in working in Russia - 36%. This is twice as much as the number of Ukrainians willing to work in Russia. Thirteen percent of Canadians also do not mind the idea of working in Russia. "Foreign employees are in demand in many professional areas today. Foreigners working in Russia can be divided into several categories, says Mikhail Zhukov, general director of

7 HeadHunter Company. There are the so-called guest workers, general labor. They do many things well, but they are not specialists in a certain area. Such people are employed as general labor in construction, genitors, cleaners, etc. Giant Boy from Russia Loses 132lbs The second category is moderately qualified labor such as experienced construction workers (including private construction sector). These people mostly come from Turkey, Slovenia and Slovakia. Middle management for FMCG companies or technology companies that have offices in Russia also come from these countries. Foreign technologists come to Russia to help establish processes. Germans, Poles, Czechs and Slovaks are employed in agriculture working with technologies and sharing methods of efficient work. Finally, functional management and top managers in banks, insurance companies (for instance, life insurance models) mostly come from France, Sweden, the US, Germany and other European countries, says the general director. According to the research, 56% of respondents willing to work in Russia are in the age group between 20 to 34 years old. This is the most active and productive age group of the world population. 75% of the respondents willing to work in Russia have BA and MA degrees. Among those willing to work in Russia are IT professionals engineers, programmers, developers, testers (25%). Russia is also attractive for businessmen (20%), managers (18%) and economists (17%). Interestingly, only 5% of them are social scientists. It is not surprising that the search for Russian national idea has been so long. 31% of those polled would like to work in management. Another 26% would be willing to work in information and communication technologies. 24% are attracted to the production and the service industries, 22% want to work in manufacturing, 21% in the media sector and communications, and another 20% are interested in the energy sector. The main reasons to work in Russia are money and career growth (70% and 58% respectively). 49% of the polled count on good relations with the coworkers. 48% consider work in Russia a professional challenge and interesting task. Foreigners willing to work in Russia come here because of the new experience and education (31%), and good benefits package (28%). 48% of foreigners who consider Russia as a possible place of employment plan to come for 5 years. 28% would come for 3 to 5 years. Only 13% are planning to stay in Russia for no more than 2 years, the research mentions. "In other words, Russia is attractive either for the retirees who come here to share their experience, or young and ambitious managers seeking adventure and fresh impressions. The main goal of the foreign manager is to give a push to a company development, build processes, implement current technologies and make everything work. Then their local coworkers will be able to work without assistance, Zhukov stated. It is an unbelievable story. Just a few months ago this 13 yearold teenager could not get up from his bed unassisted, let alone run around. It required a special team of five to get him into an ambulance car. Today he is cheerful, lively and talkative. It is not surprising considering he has lost 132lbs in the past few months. When Sasha was admitted to a hospital in the fall, his weight was at 440lbs. He would gain 4.5lbs a month. At some point he was unable to stand. He was urgently hospitalized and admitted to the intensive care unit where he was treated. Later he was transferred to a health resort and then to the regional hospice, says Vera Konovalova, his caregiver. In the hospice he was prescribed a special weight loss program based on massage and strict diet. At first it was difficult for the doctors to treat him. They had to call a rescue team every time they had to turn him over. Yet, the treatment worked well, and a few weeks later the boy lost 44lbs. As soon is his weight was below the critical mark he was allowed to go home. As of now he weighs 317lbs. We ve been home for two weeks now. It was difficult at first. Sasha was prescribed a diet he s been sticking to for the past few months. It is mostly vegetarian food with minimum carbs. On Mondays and Fridays he only has cottage cheese, kefir, juice and some fruit and vegetables. These days are especially tough and Sasha is irritable and frustrated. He becomes depressed and just lies on the bed with a blanket over his head. He does understand that I do it for his own good. It is hard to explain things to a sick child. We have our small victory he lost a pound since we came from the hospital, Vera explains. The boy is happy to be at home. He enjoys talking about his cat, visits of his classmates and even shows us physical exercises he is doing. He is now capable of going up and down the stairs. This allows him to travel to his country house where he can play ball with neighborhood boys. He says he never wants to be hospitalized ever again. The only thing we need now is a treadmill, but it s too expensive. We would have to save for over a year. We can t make him run outside, but he would do it on a treadmill. Komsomolskaya Pravda Sergey Nikolaev Pravda.Ru

8 Special luxury train service begins from Colombo to Airport The Railway Department inaugurated a luxury train service from the BIA in Katunayaka to the Colombo Fort Secretariat Halt in preparation for the 11th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards ceremony to be held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. Here Transport Minister Kumara Welgama, Ports and Aviation Deputy Ministers Rohitha Abeygunawardhana and Dayashritha Tissera, Hambantota District Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa and Gampaha District Parliamentarian Dr. (Mrs) Sudarshini Fernandopulle on the inaugural train ride. A special super luxury intercity train began its maiden journey from the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) to the Secretariat Halt opposite Colombo Hilton for tourists visiting the country for Videocon IIFA Weekend and Micromax IIFA Awards. The train service was launched under the patronage of Transport Minister Kumara Welgama and Hambantota District Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa at the railway station at the BIA premises at the auspices time of 9.07 a.m. Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd in collaboration with Sri Lanka Railways launched train service on a special request by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to facilitate foreign visitors visiting to participate in the IIFA Awards. The Secretariat halt opposite Colombo Hilton has been modernized with latest facilities. The new super luxury intercity train consists of all basic facilities. Minister Welgama addressing the gathering said the new super luxury intercity train service will be continued after the IIFA Awards for tourists arriving from the Bandaranaike International Airport. He said this service will save passengers travel time since it only takes 40 minutes to reach Colombo from Katunayake. Embassy of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in Russian Federation Invites all interested parties To take part In Embassy Cup CRICKET TOURNEMENT 2010 (SIX-A-SIDE) 10 th July 2010 EMBASSY CUP AWARDS Champion will be awarded the EMBASSY CUP & 1000 USD. Runner up will be awarded 500 USD All Aplications for participation should be submitted to Mrs.Ruwini Gunasena-Embassy of Sri Lanka in Russian Federation on or before 30 th June moscowpuwath@srilankaembassy.org Telephone: ext. 17 (All Players should have team uniform or white sports kit) Please send your articles & comments to; moscowpuwath@srilankaembassy.org Fax: Embassy of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in Russian Federation Shepkina Street, Moscow,Russia.