[In Parliament]
Fuel subsidy for three-wheelers
Uditha KUMARASINGHE and Irangika RANGE
Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development Minister
Rohitha Abegunawardene told Parliament yesterday that the Government has
decided to grant fuel for registered three-wheelers islandwide on
concessionary rates.
Presenting a supplementary estimate to obtain Rs. 900 million for the
fuel subsidy, the Minister said this facility would enhance the
transport service in the country.
The Minister said that 46,187 registered three-wheelers out of
350,000 three-wheelers in Sri Lanka will be entitled for this
concession.
Under this concession, approximately, 75 litres of fuel will be
provided at a concessionary rate of Rs. 1,500 each month to three
wheeler operators.
Accordingly, four litres of fuel will be issued daily.
Accordingly, 1,450 three-wheelers in Vavuniya and 3,583
three-wheelers in Trincomalee will also be eligible to obtain this fuel
concession.
Meanwhile, the Government has planned to allocate more funds to
increase the fuel concession from the budget next year.
The Supplementary Estimate was approved by the Parliament.
Disappearance of persons
Chief Government whip Urban Development and Sacred Area Development
Minister Dinesh Gunawardene told Parliament yesterday a total of 2631
disappearances of persons have been reported during the period from 1986
to 2000.
The Minister said 469 High Court cases and 12 District Court cases
have been filed in this regard. Rulings have been issued on 356 High
Court cases and 11 District Court cases, the Minister added.
Report from IGP
Chief Government Whip, Urban Development and Sacred Area Development
Minister Dinesh Gunawardene told Parliament yesterday that the Inspector
General of Police (IGP) has reported that 91 suspects who were in police
custody had died from November 2005 to August 16, 2009.
The Minister was responding to an oral question raised by the JVP MP
Lakshman Nipunaarachchi. According to the report submitted by the IGP,
the number of deaths of suspects while being in police custody were two
persons in 2005, 11 persons in 2006, 20 persons in 2007, 26 persons in
2008, and 32 persons in 2009.
|