The National Water Supply and Drainage Board has decided to levy a 15 per cent VAT on water bills and to increase the charges for new connections and services from April 5 without notifying the consumers.The consumers who use less than 25 units were exempted from the VAT hitherto and a 10 per cent VAT was charged from those who consume more than 25 units.

Asian nations should make joint efforts to deal with the pressing problems of climate change and resource shortage when energy demands keep rising as the continent becomes an important driver of the world economy, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said. Addressing the opening ceremony of the BOAO Forum for Asia (BFA) annual conference on Saturday in China's Hainan Province, Rajapaksa said the forum played a key role for Asian countries to reach consensus on global problems such as climate change, terrorism and drug trafficking.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday noted that although there is a high cost of living prevailing in the country poverty has decreased by 33 percent from 2002 to 2007. The President stated that according to the latest statistics the poverty rate is at 15 percent which was 23 percent in 2002. Addressing the launch of the Central Bank Annual Report 2007 President Rajapaksa said, "Poverty has not reduced at such a rate in Sri Lanka in recent history. However the parties condemning the government are not prepared to speak about this.'

The Environmental Conservation Levy Bill, which provides for the government to charge an Environmental Conservation Levy, was passed in Parliament yesterday without a debate. The new Bill also proposes the setting up of a National Adaptation Fund, in keeping with a proposal made at the UN Global Climate Change Summit, held in Bali last December -- which called upon countries to adopt mechanisms to face the challenges of global warming

Climate change, a creation of mankind has brought many ills to the world, but a solution is not far off as long as a concerted effort involving all countries is made to protect the environment sooner than later, Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said. Addressing media personnel at a seminar conducted to mark

The Customs yesterday nabbed a stock of red sandalwood worth over Rs.10 million which was illegally imported to Sri Lanka from India.

Heavy rains and strong winds that prevailed in Colombo and suburbs throughout yesterday uprooted trees in several places causing damages to public property while lightning caused fire at a shoe shop in Homagama. An old tree located on the boundary of the Police Field Force Headquarters in Bambalapitiya fell yesterday afternoon due to the strong winds. No casualties were reported in the incident. In Fort near the Regal Cinema another tree had been uprooted and fallen on to a moving bus due to rough weather.

Water is classified as one of the most basic human needs. Although it covers 2/3 of the earth's surface giving the allusion that it is an infinite resource we are about to be proved wrong as the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) claims that they are unable to supply water 24 hours to urban areas due to the rapidly rising demand."We are already suffering from a water shortage this year as it is difficult to accommodate the growing demand. NWSDB General Manager K.L.L Premanath said.