Are the Department of Motor Traffic operations going in the right direction?
The Department of Motor Traffic is the Government regulator for registering motor vehicles and issuing of driving licenses according to the Motor Traffic Act.
Over the years, many charges have been levelled against irregularities and frauds taking place with the processes involved in the motor vehicle registrations and the issuance of driving licenses. These have occurred periodically.
One year back, in December 2019, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa made an unexpected fact-finding inspection visit to the Department of Motor Traffic at the Werahera Driving License office complex. After interacting with members of the public who were present to obtain various services, the President advised the staff to better understand the problems faced by the public and ensure that solutions are provided without unnecessary delays and inconvenience.
Interactive seminar in Republic of Korea on augmentation of SL power and energy sphere ft.lk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ft.lk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The Government has allocated a total of Rs. 517 million to develop five botanical gardens in the country within next year.
The five botanical gardens that will be developed next year include Peradeniya, Gampaha, Hukgala, Seethawaka and Mirijjawila. The Royal Botanic Gardens Peradeniya (1821), Hakgala Botanic Gardens (1861) and Henarathgoda Botanic Gardens, Gampaha (1876) were established by the British while Mirijjawila Dry Zone Botanic Gardens, Hambantota and Seethawaka Wet Zone Botanic Gardens, Avissawella were opened to the public in 2013 and 2015 respectively as new botanic gardens designed by local experts.
Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said the Government has recognised the importance of developing these botanical gardens to attract tourists to showcase the vast biodiversity and floriculture Sri Lanka has and to make these places popular in their travel itineraries in future.
US economy losing speed as year winds down ft.lk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ft.lk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Friday, 25 December 2020 00:00 -
The global economy is going through the toughest episode in its recent history. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a sharp global economic downturn and disrupted societies in an unprecedented manner. Governments across the world have taken decisive steps to address the economic and social consequences of the pandemic, with differing degrees of success.
In spite of the extremely adverse conditions imposed by COVID-19, proactive policy responses of the Government of Sri Lanka have already resulted in notable achievements. These include improved trade and current account balances, a robust investment pipeline, a positive response by domestic investors, a low interest rate regime and a stable exchange rate. Lower reliance on foreign financing and the timely repayment of the country’s debt obligations, along with the reduced cost on domestic debt have also resulted in a favourable shift in the public debt profile as well.