President Gotabaya Rajapaksa assured to extend fullest assistance to protect artistes integrating them into the local economic environment without waiting the world to win against COVID – 19.

During former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tenure the contribution of artistes were sought for various activities. This was instrumental in artistes from top to bottom to provide their aesthetic contribution, President said.

President said the ground work will be created to harness lost opportunities in the face of COVID – 19 pandemic.

President made these comments during a discussion on issues faced by the artistes held at the Presidential Secretariat today (01).

Prof. Mudiyanse Dissanayaka pointed out the importance of teaching aesthetic subjects up to  O/L and A/L. President said this proposal will be forwarded to the Task Force on “National Education Policy”.

The reasons for not receiving royalties by the artistes domestically as well as internationally were discussed in depth. The country has lost more than USD 20 million foreign income due this situation. The artistes informed the President that they do not receive royalties for songs broadcasted over local electronic media either. The President and the Prime Minister said measures will be taken at the government level to rectify the situation and to protect the rights of the artistes.

Government’s decision to offer loans for the artistes under a low-interest-rate was admired; however the failure to implement this decision by state, banks was also highlighted during the discussion.

Artistes also conveyed the importance of taxing foreign content and pooling it for the benefit of local artistes. It was decided to launch the project proposal to allow foreign movie makers to do their shootings in local landscapes in exchange for foreign currency. The requirement to look after individual artistes in rural areas at divisional and provincial levels was also discussed.

Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Secretary to the President, P.B. Jayasundera, ministers, relevant officials, a number of movie directors, actors/actresses, singers, lyricists representing the artistic sphere participated in the event.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa visited sacred Somawathi temple premises yesterday (May 30) to engage in religious observances seeking blessing for both citizens and the country.

The President paid homage to the Chief Incumbent Ven. Pahamune Sri Sumangala Thero in order to obtain blessings.

Consequently, President Rajapaksa took part in the Kapruka offerings to Somawathi stupa.

In most extreme weather conditions, Somawathi sacred ground is subjected to flooding. To resolve the issue of mobility during flood season, Army constructed a helipad upon request by the Chief Incumbent of the Vihara. It was declared open by the President during this visit.

Following institute and personal donations along with direct deposits, the Itukama COVID-19 Healthcare and Security Fund reached Rs. 1213mn.

Rs 25mn donated by the government employees in the Central Province were handed over to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa by the governor of the North Central Province Mahipala Herath at the Presidential Secretariat today(May 29).

Meanwhile, the Old Girls Association of the Viharamahadevi College, Kiribathgoda handed over a sum of Rs 100000  to the Director-General of the Presidential Secretariat, Retired Major General KB Egodawele.

The Disaster Management Centre of the Defense Ministry donated Rs 2,47,538. Tharuni Merine Enterprises contributed a half a  million rupees while Hirushi Merine Enterprises donated a million rupees. Adhikarana Sanganayake of the North and Eastern Provinces Ven. Kirindiwela Rathana thero provided Rs 61 000. Mr. D. Priyantha Samarakoon who was quarantined at the Technical University College after his arrival from England donated Rs 25 000 while the group who arrived from Australia and were quarantined at the Ayurvedic Hospital in Rajagiriya contributed Rs 825 000. In addition, a resident of USA, Swarna S. Siriwardana, the National Building Research Organisation, Project Management Unit of the Education Ministry and the Slim Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) ltd donated Rs 1 099 668, Rs 500 000, Rs 1 013 174 and Rs 1 million respectively.

Local, as well as foreign donors, have made their contributions to the Fund. Donations to Itukama COVID – 19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund have been exempted from taxes and foreign exchange regulations. Deposits can be made through cheques, telegraphic transfers, via www.itukama.lk or by dialing #207#.

The Cabinet has approved several proposals made by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to seek required funds to pay the Rs. 5,000 allowance for Samurdhi beneficiaries and other families with financial difficulties, Co-cabinet spokesman, Information and Communication Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardane said. The Minister was speaking at a media briefing held yesterday at the Government Information Department to announce Cabinet decisions.

Dr. Gunawardane said the Samurdhi fund is not sufficient and an additional amount of Rs.16,000 million is required to pay the Rs 5,000 allowance for May. Cabinet approval has been granted to obtain a short term loan from a bank with the Samurdhi fund kept as surety.

The Minister noted that the government had spent more than Rs. 50,000 million to pay the allowance for the April and May. He added that Rs. 25.72 billion has been allocated to pay the allowance for May.

He said the Rs. 5,000 allowance was disbursed in a very transparent manner among needy persons.

Commenting on the letter to the President’s Secretary by the Election Commission Chairman asking him to reconsider the payment of Rs 5,000 for June, Minister Gunawardane said the government is not in a position to pay the allowance for June due to the election law. He said that the Cabinet of Ministers had decided not to pay the Rs. 5000 allowance paid to families who have lost their daily income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In his letter the Election Commissioner informed that the Commission received several complaints from political parties, civil society organizations and the public claiming the allowance has become politicised.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa stressed the production and supply of the pharmaceutical items should be streamlined for the benefit of the people disregarding the interests of handful of intermediaries.

Reviewing the production, import and distribution of pharmaceutical supplies during a discussion with the Chairmen of the two State Pharmaceutical Corporations held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (21), the President pointed out the necessity of deciding the medicinal requirement of the coming year by studying the demand pattern of the previous year.

Replying to a query by the President as to how the medicines supply in the country is structured, State Pharmaceutical Corporation Chairman, Dr.Prasanna Gunasena said the supply is done in three ways.

They are production by the State sector, production by the private sector and imports by both sectors.

Currently there are 750 varieties of medicines in use in the country and sometimes a scarcity could occur due to delays in procurement process in respect of imports, the Chairman said.

The President directed that no room should be left for shortages in the supply of medicines in the country. All the medicines should be of highest standards said the President while warning relevant officials not to give any chance to produce or import substandard medicines.

Chairman of State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation Dr. Uthpala Indrawansha said that his organization produces 80 medicines required by hospitals in the country. Plans are underway to domestically produce Saline and several other items.

 This will save the country around Rs. 1300 million annually, Dr. Indrawansha said.

The possibility of investing money belonging to the Employees Trust Fund and the Samurdhi Movement in the production of medicine was also explored. If such a mechanism could be put in place, these two Funds will have a permanent source of income, President observed. Secretary to the President P. B. Jayasundera, Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services Major General Sanjeewa Munasinghe and representatives of the Treasury were also present during the discussion.

Following institute and personal donations along with direct deposits, the Itukama COVID-19 Healthcare and Security Fund reached Rs 1136mn today(May 21).

Canowin Hotel @ SPAS (Pvt) Ltd donated Rs 1 million and the cheque was handed over to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat today(May 21).

Built Element Ltd, Mascons (Pvt) Ltd contributed Rs. 3 million and Mascons (pvt) Ltd donated Rs. 1 Million. Exim House Distributors (Pvt) Ltd, Exim House (Pvt) Ltd and Mr. Cyril Samarajeewa contributed Rs 250,000 each. The staff of the Tower Hall Theatre collected a sum of Rs. 90,637.69 while the staff members of the Inland Revenue Department collected Rs. 3 million for the Fund. In addition, Mr J.P Dayananda De Silva donated Rs. 100,000 to the Fund to battle COVID 19 pandemic.

Currently, the amount of Itukama COVID 19 Healthcare and Security Fund remains at 1,136,968,139.71.

Local, as well as foreign donors, have made their contributions to the Fund. Donations to Itukama COVID – 19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund have been exempted from taxes and foreign exchange regulations. Deposits can be made through cheques, telegraphic transfers, via www.itukama.lk or by dialing #207#.

For further information contact through 0760700700/ 0112320880/ 0112354340 or 0112424012.

The COVID- 19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund now operates under the brand name ‘ITUKAMA’. The Fund now has been renamed ‘ITUKAMA – COVID 19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund’.

The branding was done in order to attract more local and foreign benefactors.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa established the Fund on March 23^rd. The President’s Fund contributed Rs. 100 million to the Fund under the directive of the President.

The objective of the Fund is to strengthen the mitigation activities aimed at controlling COVID-19 pandemic and related social welfare programmes. A special account was opened at the Corporate Branch of the Bank of Ceylon to collect funds.

The account number is 85737373. Banking code is 7010 while the Branch code is 660. The SWIFT Code of the account is BCEYLKLX.

Local as well as foreign donors have made financial contributions to the Fund. Donations will be exempted from tax and foreign exchange regulations. Deposits could be made through cheques, telegraphic transfers or through www.itukama.lk website or dialing #207#.

The management of the ITUKAMA COVID -19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund is entrusted with a highly qualified panel of 18 professionals in the fields of administration, finance and banking.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Prof. W. D. Lakshman is the Chairman of the Committee. The Chief Financial Officer, Presidential Secretariat Ravindra J. Wimalaweera is the Secretary of the Committee.

The other members are Secretary to the Treasury S.R. Attigala, Defense Secretary Major General Kamal Gunaratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration J. J. Ratnasiri, Secretary to the Ministry of Health Major General Consultant Radiologist Sanjeewa Munasinghe, Acting Inspector General of Police C. D. Wickramarathna, Director General Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Director General Sri Lanka Customs Major General G. Wijitha Ravipriya, Chairman Lanka Sathosa Nushad M. Perera, Chairma Employees Trust Fund Shriyan de Silva Wijayaratne, Additional Secretary, Presidential Secretariat P. D. Indika L. Wijegunawardene, Director General (Legal), Presidential Secretariat Attorney-at-Law Hariguptha Rohanadheera, Deputy Governor Central Bank N. W. G. R. D. Nanayakkara, Senior Deputy General Manager Bank of Ceylon W. P. Russel Fonseka, and former Auditor General S. Swarnajothi. Former President of the Colombo High Court Lawyers’ Association Attorney –at-Law J. M. S.G. Jayasundara heads the Committee.

Further information can be obtained through 076 0700700/011 2320880/ 011 2354340/011 2424012.