Central Bank Appeals for Forex Inflows to Combat COVID-19 Forex Will Be Exempted from Exchange Control Regulations and Taxes
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SRI LANKA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER I SINCE 1918 FRIDAY APRIL 3, 2020 I VOLUME - 102 - NO 81 I RS. 30.00 I REGISTERED AS A NEWSPAPER IN SRI LANKA I SPECIAL EDITION CENTRAL BANK APPEALS FOR FOREX INFLOWS TO COMBAT COVID-19 FOREX WILL BE EXEMPTED FROM EXCHANGE CONTROL REGULATIONS AND TAXES The Central Bank made an appeal The special statement issued by cialised Financial Institutions – as a government authority. We also guar- mote people’s welfare during the yesterday to Sri Lankans and well- the Governor’s office further said, gesture of goodwill and assistance antee future convertibility of these current period of still-spreading wishers here and abroad to make “We guarantee that your foreign cur- to Sri Lanka and its people during deposits into foreign currency when- COVID-19, and economic reviv- foreign currency deposits within the rency deposits into the Sri Lankan the three months commencing from ever you desire to do so. All your al in the immediate aftermath. country’s banking system including banking system will be accepted April 2, 2020, in support of the wide- forex remittances will be exempted This announcement and specialized financial institutions at without hindrance from the Govern- ranging national effort to safeguard from Exchange Control Regulations appeal are made following a a time the country has launched a ment, Central Bank or any other people from coronavirus, to bring its and taxes and protected under bank- decision of the Government massive national program to safe- government authority. We also guar- spread under control and to provide ing secrecy provisions. of Sri Lanka made during guard people from COVID 19 and antee future convertibility of these healthcare and social security to the This appeal goes to all Sri Lankan the April 1st meeting of to provide sufficient healthcare and deposits into foreign currency when- people. Your foreign currency depos- expatriates and those living in Sri the Cabinet of Ministers. social security facilities. ever you desire to do so.” its in Sri Lankan banking system at Lanka with foreign currency hold- The Cabinet has decided “Your foreign currency deposits in The statement in full: “The Cen- this difficult stage will be of immense ings. The country welcomes remit- to suspend all restric- Sri Lankan banking system at this tral Bank of Sri Lanka invites all Sri help to authorities to tide over the tances inflows to the banking system tions on foreign currency difficult stage will be of immense Lankans and well-wishers living in present crisis. in Sri Lanka from them as well as inflows in Sri Lanka help to authorities to tide over the Sri Lanka and abroad to consider We guarantee that your foreign from charitable organisations, funds during COVID-19 pre- present crisis,” Central Bank Gover- depositing their savings and other currency deposits into the Sri Lan- and well-wishers all over the world, ventive period, defined nor, Prof W.D.Lakshman and Secre- funds in foreign currency within kan banking system will be accepted with the well-being of Sri Lanka and as three (3) months tary to the Treasury, S.R. Attygalle the Sri Lanka banking system – without hindrance from the govern- its people in their hearts. Such remit- commencing April 2, said in a statement yesterday. Licensed Commercial Bank and Spe- ment, Central Bank or any other tances would go a long way to pro- 2020. University student Bretton Woods style remanded for meeting urged for post- uploading fake news COVID-19 economy ISHARA MUDUGAMUWA LAKMAL SOORIYAGODA The Cabinet of Ministers has requested President A final year student attached to Peradeniya University Gotabaya Rajapaksa to convince global leaders to was yesterday remanded till April 9 by Colombo Chief convene a conference similar to Bretton Woods Magistrate’s Court for allegedly uploading fake news about Conference to overcome post COVID-19 global eco- the coronavirus on Facebook. nomic crisis. The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) had Briefing on this week’s cabinet decisions, Co-cab- arrested the suspect for uploading false and malicious inet Spokesman Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardene news on Covid-19 via his Facebook account. Police alleged said Sri Lanka had been able to take preventive that the suspect had uploaded a fake news insisting that measures to tackle the coronavirus pandemic even the Kotelawala Defence University has been separately before most of the countries in the world with the arranged for VIP persons suspected of having contracted assistance of health sector workers, Tri Forces, the Covid-19 virus. police and other relevant authorities, under the far- Producing the suspect before Court, the CID alleged sighted leadership of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. that the suspect had committed punishable offences which “As informed by the health sector authorities, the come under section six of the Computer Crimes Act and Post offices islandwide delivered the pensions and senior citizen allowances to the recipients’ doorsteps yes- period of next two weeks has been identified as a Penal Code. Taking into consideration the seriousness of terday to ease their travelling difficulties during the curfew hours and also to ensure social distancing. Here Pol- high risk period. COVID-19 is the biggest menace the offence at this juncture, the Colombo Additional Mag- gasowita Post Master Prashantha Pushpkanthi presents the relevant documents to a recipient at her doorstep. that the whole world had to undergo since World istrate Kanchana Neranjala de Silva ordered to remand the Picture by Sudam Gunasinghe War II. So none of the countries in the world can face suspect remanded till April 9. the post COVID-19 crisis alone,” he added. Considering this the Cabinet of Ministers pro- posed the President to urge global leaders to con- vene a conference similar to the Bretton Woods,” Dr. Gunawardene noted. The Bretton Woods Conference was a gathering of leaders and financial experts from all nations to regulate the international monetary and financial Relief package for over four million people order after the conclusion of World War II. ISHARA MUDUGAMUWA ment Information Department , Co- ing, Director General of Pensions Jagath “Out of the total of 659 senior citizens The Government yesterday announced cabinet Spokesman Information and Dias said the Department was ready to of more than 100 years of age, 400 of a relief package for over four million Communication Minister Dr Bandula provide pensions for 645,179 beneficiar- them will also receive Rs 5000,” he said. people including senior citizens, kid- Gunawardena yesterday said that the ies including 2,800 new beneficiaries. Meanwhile, Thilakasiri also noted ney patients, Samurdhi beneficiaries and pensioners who usually obtain their pen- “The pensioners could use the ID that 1,258,000 from the total number of differently-abled persons. sions via post offices need not personally issued by the Department of Pensions as 1,795,000 have already received their Rs. As announced at the Cabinet brief- reach Post Offices since the Department a curfew pass,” he added. 5000 in advance. ing held yesterday at the Government of Posts has already commenced a pro- Director General of the Senior Citi- Director General of the Secretariat COVID-19 Information department, the Govern- gram to deliver their pensions for the zens Secretariat Bandula Thilakasiri of Differently Abled Persons Champika ment would provide an allowance of Rs. month of April to the homes. said among 3.2 million beneficiaries who Kaluarachchi said 150,000 differently 5,000 for all four million special citizens Minister Gunawardena said that the receive Rs. 2000 per month, 600,000 abled and kidney patients will receive considering the difficulties faced by them Department of Posts has also implement- have been identified as the poorest and Rs. 5000 and a circular has already been Fund reaches during the Coronavirus outbreak. ed a special programme to deliver drugs therefore measures have been made to issued. Accordingly, Rs 750 million has Addressing the weekly Cabinet Media to the patients’ doorsteps. distribute Rs. 5000 for 560,000 including already been allocated to provide the Briefing held yesterday at the Govern- Speaking at the Cabinet Media Brief- 142,343 new beneficiaries. financial facilities, Kaluarachchi said. Rs. 314 million With direct contributions from the public, the COVID – 19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund has reached Rs. 314.5 million mark. Over 10,000 arrested The Presidential Secretariat has also received All should abide by health information about several instances of fraudsters collecting money using COVID – 19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund as cover. for violating curfew The Secretary to the President requests the public to make their contributions to the Fund only through sector guidelines - PM CAMELIA NATHANIEL the police had arrested 268 imposed from 20th of March direct bank deposits, cheques or any other approved SANDASEN MARASINGHE and religious engagements. He The police had arrested 305 curfew violators and taken into to 6.00 pm yesterday (April 2) means and not to donate money to any organizations All irrespective of party, reli- added that they would have to people for having violated the their custody 80 vehicles used the police have arrested 10,039 or individuals. gion, creed or race differences tolerate them for the time being curfew between 12.00 noon and by them. persons who had violated the The Secretary appeals to the public to inform should abide by the health sec- for the well-being of all. 6.00 pm yesterday. They had also Accordingly, within the day curfew regulations. The police such misdeeds to the nearest Police station. In this tor instructions to combat the Health Services Director taken 77 vehicles into custody, the police had arrested 573 per- had also taken into their cus- regard further information can be obtained from Mr.