News
Now, Diana blames Mark Antony for stabbing Caesar!
By Saman Indrajith
SJB MP Diana Gamage told Parliament yesterday (23) that she had voted with the government, according to her conscience, the previous day when the vote was taken on the 20th Amendment to the constitution because she loved the country over her party affiliations.
Participating in a debate at the time of the adjournment of the House, MP Gamage said: We must love our country over political affiliations. I take an example from history. In ancient Rome Caesar was stabbed. Among those who stabbed Caesar was his close friend Antony. After stabbing Caesar, Antony came to address Romans with the bloodstained knife and told them what happened. Then the Romans questioned him and asked him how he being the close friend of Caesar stabbed the latter. Antony said that he loved Caesar but his love for Rome was much more than that. I did likewise when I voted with the government. I love my party but I love the stability of my country. That was why I voted with the government for the amendment.
“We all are representatives of public. We have a duty by our people. It is the people who met our cost and the expenses of this House. So we must give priority to people and act according to their wishes.
“I have a great respect for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. People gave him a mandate to develop this country. I am sure that he would do that. He cannot do that being shackled by the 19th Amendment. You cannot expect a person whose hands are tied to swim against the current. We must set him free and then hope he would swim. People wanted to do away with the 19th amendment. Therefore I voted to pass the 20th amendment.
“There could be criticisms against me. I do not care and am not afraid of them. I voted according to my conscience and I can sleep without worries.”
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
Trump cancels US-Iran meetings, urges protesters to take over institutions
Govt. bows to pressure, shelves Grade 6 reforms
AKD: Govt. agenda on track despite Ditwah disaster
SL to receive 10 helicopters from US
Foreign couple held over alleged biopiracy at Horton Plains
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