Sri Lanka Budget 2027: 10 key proposals..
โ VAT-free books: Remove VAT on printed books, educational publications and exercise books.
โ Lower food levies: Reduce import levies on sprats, Maldive fish and dried chillies from November 13, 2026.
โ Higher welfare payments: Increase monthly allowances for kidney patients and persons with disabilities from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 12,500.
โ More housing assistance: Increase support per house from Rs. 1 million to Rs. 1.5 million, targeting 10,000 new houses in 2027.
โ Solar battery subsidies: Provide up to Rs. 250,000 for eligible new household rooftop solar installations with battery storage under Net Plus.
โ Business financing: Facilitate Rs. 174 billion in concessionary loans for entrepreneurs through banks.
โ Railway electrification: Allocate Rs. 80 billion for the first phase on three railway sections serving Homagama, Ragama and Panadura.
โ Better healthcare: Plan 1,000 Arogya Wellness Centres during 2027โ2029 and add 100 Suwa Seriya ambulances in 2027.
โ AI and digital access: Establish a national AI excellence centre, expand digital public services and provide broadband vouchers to 750,000 selected students.
โ Pensioner relief: Provide a Rs. 2,500 monthly interim allowance from July 1, 2027, for public servants who retired during 2020โ2024, pending pension revisions.
Good news from Saudi Arabia ๐ธ๐ฆ
Sri Lankan national Anojan Sivarasa, who was previously sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia and later granted clemency, has now been acquitted of all charges by a Saudi court.
Sri Lankaโs Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath says arrangements are underway to bring him home within two weeks.
Heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported Anojan and stood by him throughout this difficult journey โค๏ธ๐๐ฑ๐ฐ
๐๏ธ๐ต๐ธ Lewis Hamilton visits Gaza border weeks after calling for a 'free Palestine'
Seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton visited Egypt's Rafah crossing on Tuesday to observe humanitarian aid efforts for Gaza.
He toured Egyptian Red Crescent facilities and met officials involved in coordinating aid deliveries, weeks after publicly calling for a โfree Palestine.โ
WOMAN DROPS DUMBBELLS on gym floor after finishing exercise โ MAN CONFRONTS HER and tells her to PUT THEM BACK...
...SHE IGNORES HIM, prompting him to GRAB HER, SHOVE HER and PUNCH HER TWICE